Part 1: Hanoi Classical Romance & City’s highlights
Arrival Hanoi, Drive through bustling streets lined with French colonial style structures on your way to Ba Dinh Square to visit Ho chi minh complex where you’ll witness the impressive marble and granite tomb of the nation’s founding father – Ho chi minh final resting-place..
From there, take leisurely walk through tranquil carp-filled ponds and well-tended gardens leading to the humble stilt house, where "Uncle Ho" once lived and One Pillar Pagoda, which was founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049 - the structure is small but has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi.
Next, visit to a Confucius temple -Temple of Literature founded in 1070 to honor Vietnam’s finest scholars. This place is considered as Vietnam's first university, also referred to as Van Mieu, to educate Vietnam's royalty, mandarins and members of the elite.
Lunch: Take walking tour that will introduce to you some of Vietnam’s finest authentic street foods. Our guide take you wandering to some typical places, market to get overview Vietnamese food, talking with artisan foodstuffs, street food vendors, stall holders, hear stories of the ingredients and history of Hanoi’s food culture and sample Northern Vietnamese cuisine. Tasting Hanoi “ Pho” or “Bún chả” - one of the oldest favorites of north Vietnam cuisine … and finish the food tour at a nice coffee shop famous with the “egg coffee” in the Old Quarter.
After that, visit Hoa Lo Prison - Known widely by the nickname ‘Hanoi Hilton’ given to it by the Americans during the Second Indochina War, Hoa Lo Prison was originally established by the French colonial government in 1896 for the purpose of detaining political prisoners and formed part of a northern network of ‘unjust and cruel prisons’. Many leading Vietnamese revolutionaries were incarcerated here during the French colonial period, Between 1964 and 1973 the prison’s inmates included several captured American pilots, notably Senator John McCain and Douglas 'Pete' Peterson, America’s first Ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Stroll around the Old Quarter discovering a number of Vietnamese handcrafts & shopping Stop at a local nice coffee shop famous with the “egg coffee” in the Old Quarter.
Part 2: Parts Unknown & Backstreet Adventures
Riding through the maze of zigzagging backstreet and narrow alleyways & markets Diving into the rivers of motorbikes and Hanoi street symphony.
Travelling with all your senses heightened: Watching, Hearing, Touching, Tasting, Smelling…
Experiencing the GOOD, the BAD, the WEIRD and even the UGLY of the city as it is what it is.
Experiencing different slides of life behind the scene, the hidden part of the iceberg, the parts unknown & train tracks.
Meeting people where they live, work, learn and pray.
Part 3: Happy Hours & Hanoi Food Culture
Eating at random street-side eateries & authentic local restaurants
Experiencing Family’s heirloom food and special delicacies
Stroll through hidden alleyways and bustling markets of Hanoi’s charming old quarter
Learn more about Hanoi’s unique food culture
Try local specialties with influences from French and Chinese cuisine
Enjoying Hanoi egg coffee and taking in a spectacular night view of Hoan Kiem lake from a hidden café.
Return to the cruise, drop off at tendered port at around 23h00 pm