Celebrating Tet in Vietnam (#112)

Vietnamese New Year Tet lasts for a total of seven to nine days and the first day is the most important celebration in Vietnamese culture. The Eve (30 Tet) and the 1st day of Lunar New Year (mung 1 Tet) are the biggest days in the year for family in over country. Two days before & three days after TET are times for family, decoration house… that many shops, restaurants and sightseeing places are closed. If you do not mind and prefer to witness TET celebrations, get in touch with local family, enjoying TET in the North of Vietnam, it is worth. Why not? …
Celebrating Tet in Vietnam, walking on the streets of the Old Quarter, the highlight sight to see the shops lining the roads selling decorations for TET, like the days right before Christmas that people are out buying last minutes Christmas gifts, see locals that are very happy, smiling and Hanoi is so so nice to discover by your own…

Day 1: (29 Tet)

Hanoi – Arrival (no meals)

Upon arriving Hanoi, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
(Check-in time is 14:00)

In the afternoon: drive to Nhat Tan village, just on the other side of the river bank of Red river which is very near to the most famous wholesale flower market of Nghi Tam. Take a walk to visit flower farms and local farmer they plant and feed Peach Blossom (symbol of Hanoi flower), Mai (Ochna integerrima) including Yellow Mai and Mountain Mai, Violet, Daisy, Dahlia…

You will continue to visit local markets including the one on the side of Nghi Tam street and Hang Luoc – you would take a walk to these markets and the car will be waiting for you at the ending point to driver you hotel in the city center of Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: (30 Tet – Eve)

Hanoi – Duong Lam Ancient Village – Son Tay Citadel – Hanoi Homestay (B, L)

Breakfast at hotel.
08:00 am: we pick up from your hotel, travel West of Hanoi to Duong Lam village, a purely agricultural village of the Northern Red River delta where still preserve many hundred-year-old houses.

Upon arrival, bike along tiny ancient alleys to visit Mong Phu temple in Mong Phu hamlet – the only hamlet whose original village entrance gate remains intact, dedicated to national heroes.

Continue riding around the village to discover the daily life and farming working of Vietnamese peasants along the terrace with a stop in two ancient houses: the biggest ancient house was build 200 years ago and the most ancient house back to 400 years ago.

After lunch and resting, visit Ngo Quyen temple and Phung Hung temple, places dedicated to two national heroes Ngo Quyen and Phung Hung. Again biking to visit Mia Pagoda (other hamlet in Duong Lam village), is built in 15 th century and admire 287 statues of all sizes, among with are famous sculpture such as the statue of Buddha in the Himalayas and the statues of the Eight Vajra Deities.
Drive back to Hanoi, drop off at homestay in Hanoi

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: (Mung 1 Tet)

Hanoi – AM free biking around West Lake – PM visit host family “Chuc Tet” (B, L)

Breakfast at homestay

AM: free time, bike is free of charge in homestay

Light lunch in homestay to discover TET meals in Vietnam

PM: enjoy a half day to country side to visit local family, talking, eating local Tet meals and get experienced on celebrating Tet in Vietnam, especially in the country side.

Back to the city center to attend the excellent Water Puppet Show in the evening. Transfer back to your homestay for overnight.

Day 4: (Mung 2 Tet)

Hanoi – Perfume Pagoda – Ninh Binh (B, L)

08:00: Pick up at your hotel, depart to visit Perfume Pagoda. The Perfume Pagoda (Chua Huong) is in fact a vast complex of pagodas and shrines built into the limestone Huong Tich mountains. From the middle of the second lunar month to the end of the third lunar month, it is the site of a very popular religious festival which draws large numbers of pilgrims. You first start the trip by boating on a river among a beautiful karstic landscape, then you hike quite a long trail, which is all lined up with stands of food and religious souvenirs, to reach eventually the main sanctuary in a cave. Along the way, there are a great number of other places to worship. It is a festive occasion for the Vietnamese who often make the trip in large groups.

Enjoy a 1.30 hours boat trip on Yen (Swallow Bird) stream and visit Trinh temple before disembarking at Ben Duc (Duc quay). Following is a short trek to Thien Tru pagoda (the main pagoda). Get up to the mountain peak by cable car to visit pagoda inside grotto Huong Tich, where people often come to pray for health, luck… Return to Thien Tru Pagoda area on foot for lunch. After lunch, rowing back to Yen boat quay and we will ride back. Transfer directly to Ninh Binh for overnight in Ninh Binh.

Time to say good bye to your Hanoi tour guide.

Day 5: (Mung 3 Tet)

Ninh Binh – Tam Coc Caves – Dinh & Le Temples (B, L, D)

Have breakfast at hotel.

08.30 am: your local guide in Ninh Binh welcome you at hotel for a full day visit. Take boat trip on the scenic Ngo Dong river to visit Tam Coc which is known as Halong Bay on land. Boating in a sampan on the winging river watching the local life is an excellent idea you should not miss, visiting 3 caves as water grottos – ancient Vietnam capital area which under submission to be Natural World Wonders. Then a short cycling to visit Bich Dong pagoda.  Have lunch at local restaurant then visit as well the ancient dynasty temples of Dinh and Le. Back to your hotel.

Good bye your Ninh Binh tour guide & enjoy your overnight in Ninh Binh.

Day 6: (Mung 4 Tet)

Ninh Binh  – Ha Long Bay – Hanoi (Brunch), guide on junk/cruise, no escort guide back Hanoi

Breakfast at hotel.

07.30: Our private car (no guide) will pick you up to transfer to Tuan Chau jetty for your cruise

12.00: Transfer to Glory Legend Cruise

Welcome drink – receive cruise briefing, safety instructions and check in. Start cruising and explore Halong Bay – one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

Enjoy a lunch with Vietnamese dishes served while cruising through the bay, passing the most beautiful and quiet areas, such as Incense Burner, Dog Stone Islet, Fighting Cock, Soi Sim beach, Coconut Three Island

Visiting Luon cave, the perfect combination of lime-stone mountains and jade-green sea by bamboo boat with local people. Enjoy quiet space and pure air, you will feel relaxed truly. If you are lucky, you will see monkeys on islands.

Visiting the beautiful Ti Top beach for swimming (if the weather permits), Ti Top Beach is especially famous for its fresh atmosphere, clean water, and smooth white sand that create a great ambiance for tourists to relax or passengers can take steps to reach on the top of  Ti Top beach to have a whole panorama view of Halong Bay.

Back to the boat and free time while sailing to Luon Bo area, and anchor overnight.

Option: Massage service available. Please book with Cruise Manager directly (please see massage menu)

Attend the Cooking class on sundeck – How to make Vietnamese spring rolls – traditional Vietnamese food. Then enjoy Happy Hour (Buy one drink-get one free). It is time for chit chat and relaxing. Watch the magnificent sunset over Halong Bay.

19.30 – 23.00: Dinner – Deluxe Vietnamese and International BBQ Set Menu Dinner

Evening activities include: Leisure time to enjoy a chat around the bar, watching movies and many sort of Vietnam cultural films, relaxing and spending a romantic night on Glory Legend Cruise’s music, playing cards, chess are available, reading magazines in room and dining room. You may also try your luck at squid fishing & fishing from the boat.

23.00: End of Program for Day One.

Day 7: (Mung 5 Tet)

Halong Bay – Hanoi (B)

Breakfast at hotel

The day starts early onboard with Tai Chi session on the sundeck. Tai Chi also called Tai Chi Chuan, combines deep breathing and relaxation with slow and gentle movements.

Coffee, tea and pastries for breakfast are served in the dining room with morning view of bay’s landscape.

08.00 – 11.30: Transfer by tender to Sung Sot Cave. Walk up about 100 steps to the cave entrance. It takes approximately 45 minutes for cave visiting. Visit Sung Sot Cave, one of the most biggest cave in Halong bay with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Return to the boat by tender. Proper shoes are highly recommended.

Back to Glory Legend Cruises. Check out and settle your bill at reception.

Have a lunch while cruising back to the Tuan Chau Wharf. Relaxing on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery while approaching the wharf.

Disembark to Tuan Chau Wharf. Say goodbye  to the crew.

12.00 – 17.00: Return to Hanoi by shuttle bus

Stop over the middle to visit a traditional workshop and refreshment about 30 minutes.

Arrive in Hanoi

Day 8: (Mung 6 Tet)

Hanoi – Departure (B)

Breakfast at homestay

Free time for relaxing until the trasfer to the airport for flight back homeLate check out is not included

Celebrating Tet in Vietnam – Prices for Tet holiday

Price is nett per person in US$, a haft twin shared basis, tax, service charge included in the party of

Price inclusive:

• Breakfast and accommodation sharing a double room or twin cabin on Halong cruise
• Pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle as specified in the itinerary above (Please note: pick-ups will be by a guide and driver or where a guide is not necessary, a driver only. All unaccompanied drivers will be briefed in advance, and will carry a mobile phone to ensure smooth transfer arrangements)
• Boat cruises as specified in the program. All Ha Long Bay boats will be fully licensed and comply with current safety regulations.
• The services of experienced English-speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary (please note: guides will be on hand from pick-up until guests’ return to their hotel or reach their destination). Free days or part days will not include the services of a guide unless requested and included in the final itinerary.
• Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the program.
• Full board in Ha Long Bay
• Meals as indicated.
• VAT and other taxes

Price exclusive:

• International flight tickets and airport tax.
• Visas
• Dinners, except as specified above.
• Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.
• Camera fees (if any)
• Diving fees

Hotels used for Superior class or similar

Calendar Vietnamese TET, Vietnamese Lunar New Year