Vietnam Experiences

HANOI • STREET FOOD CRAWL

No doubt you've heard, and seen, that Vietnam has some of the most delicious street eats in the world. As Anthony Bourdain states "All of the things I need for happiness: Low plastic stool, check. Tiny little plastic table, check. Something delicious in a bowl, check."

We will plan finer dining at places you should not miss, but during the day when out and about, we'll expose you to the best pho you've ever had, or stop by the bun cha cafe where Barack Obama enjoyed a taste of this terrific Hanoi dish. Thankfully, Vietnamese serving sizes are smaller and we'll loosen up the belt some and snack throughout the day.

HANOI • OPERA TROUPE

Enjoy a private encounter with the troupe from Hanoi's traditional opera in their ancient and atmospheric theater located in Hanoi's Old Quarter. Learn hands-on about making up, costumes, music, and of course, respective roles, live from the performers. Afterwards, participate along with them in your own show.

HANOI • DAN BAU BLUES

Dan Bau is a traditional single string instrument now amplified. The dan bau emits a bluesy and moody sound, changing tone with the musician’s subtle movement of the string. Learn to play this and other traditional instruments in the home of a master and his daughter, who is a prodigy on the dan bau. A delightful encounter for all ages.

HOI AN • COOKING

This delightful, yet rigorous cooking class is not to be missed. Taking place in an elegant French villa with expert instructors, after a market tour learning and shopping for ingredients, you will be taught to master 4-5 dishes, including popular Vietnamese spring rolls, papaya salad, and mouth-watering banh xeo, a Vietnamese fried crepe. The course includes a market tour, and lunch dining on your creations.

HANOI • FIGHTER PILOT

Hear Mr. My's thrilling stories of being a fighter pilot over Hanoi during the war. He was the first Vietnamese pilot to shoot down an American f-4 fighter jet in 1972. Mr. My later was invited to Kentucky to meet with his former adversaries, one, Dan Cherry, who had also shot him down during dogfights above Hanoi and recounted in General Cherry's book: My Enemy, My Friend. We'll stop into have teas with My in his Old Quarter home, sharing photos, and hearing about his amazing experiences during and after the war.

HANOI • LACQUER ARTS

Quan is one of Vietnam's foremost contemporary lacquer artists. An intellectual with deep Buddhist beliefs, Quan makes for a fascinating visit beyond his beautiful art work in his home gallery in the bohemian quarter of "Tay Ho" or West Lake in Hanoi.

Through his development of the art form, he has adapted the medium to include alternative techniques and other art disciplines, such as sculpture.

NORTH VIETNAM • CYCLING

We've organized cycling trips for over 25 years, and in some very spectacular places like Ninh Binh. Cycling is often the best way to explore Vietnam, away from traffic on footpaths through villages, farms, and picturesque landscapes.

You don't have to be an avid biker to enjoy at least some time in the saddle during your journey.

NORTHWEST • HILLTRIBE ADVENTURE

In addition to "laughing yoga" on the lake, a private class can be arranged on the bank of West Lake in Quang Ba Pagoda, a peaceful complex and perfect location for a serene yoga experience. Instructor Chi Hoan will share with the meditation, mindfulness to understand the peacefulness, positive energy & spiritual improvements of yoga. Ms. Hoan will also share tenants of Buddhism that affect the mind on the path to a enlightenment and a positive life.

HANOI • CALLIGRAPHY

Learn the ancient and tranquil art of calligraphy from a master in the atmospheric Old Quarter. Hand-on, learn to brush calligraphy in both Chinese, who introduced it to Vietnam, and in the Vietnamese Language. Your host, a skilled artist and a calligraphy master will transport you back in time delving into an art that is still revered and respected.

HALONG BAY • FISHING

Thrill to a private fishing trip with local fisherman, learning the trade as you drift through the magnificent landscapes on Halong Bay. Also visiting local fish farms, where live catch is kept and unique floating fishing villages. There are many remote beach coves where we can also arrange kayaking and dining in your own private area of Halong Bay.

HANOI • CYCLO TOUR

Thrill to a classic cyclo (pedicab) ride through the labyrinth of narrow, winding back streets and alleyways of Hanoi. Experience authentic glimpses of the capital behind the scenes. Roll past the French Colonial Quarter, gliding along verdant boulevards with views of a romantic bygone era. Stop at an egg coffee shop to taste this unique Hanoi family heirloom—“coffee with egg.”

Your driver-guide knows the city’s hidden corners: temple courtyards, quiet lakeside lanes, and markets most visitors never see. It is a delightful, open-air way to feel Hanoi’s street life and stories at every turn.

Halong Bay • Kayaking

UNESCO World Heritage site Halong Bay is one of the world’s greatest bays and not to miss if you’re traveling to Vietnam. Glide by kayak on the emerald waters, past karst towers as far as you can see. Let us organize a thrilling multi-day sea kayak expedition, drifting through quiet, mist-shrouded waters, navigating the thousands of ancient limestone karsts. During low tides, slip through low-ceiling sea caves (luons) into hidden lagoons completely hidden from the outside world.

Picnic on deserted beach coves and visit a floating village and fish farm. Join your on-board chef for cooking lessons. At sunset, drift kayak onto completely deserted, crescent-shaped white-sand beaches to set up camp under a canopy of stars. Far from the ambient light of civilization, dipping your paddle or swimming in the dark triggers explosions of bioluminescent plankton, wrapping you in a surreal, glowing neon-blue aura that feels entirely otherworldly.

Halong Bay often gets mixed reviews, but this is entirely due to the mixed and often poor quality of boats on the bay. There are only a small handful of quality charters we use in Halong, that take you away from the others to pristine areas of the bay, with outstanding service, cooking, facilities and activities.

Phong Nha • Son Doong Cave

Hidden deep within the dense jungles of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park lies Hang Son Doong, the largest cave in the world. The cave is so massive it could fit an entire New York City block, skyscrapers included.

Within Son Doong, discover a surreal ecosystem. Massive collapses in the cave's ceiling centuries ago created dolines—sinkholes that allow prisms of sunlight to flood sections of the cavern. Inside these sunlit pockets, entire subterranean rainforests have flourished, complete with unique wildlife, 70-meter-tall stalagmites, and the cave's own weather patterns. Sleeping in a tent deep within the earth while watching clouds form near the cave's roof is a magical and rare experience.

Note: This expedition is for an elite level athlete with cave experience as the multi-day expedition demands rigorous physical fitness, technical rope work, and a spirit of true exploration. You will rappel down 80-meter cliff faces into absolute darkness, wade through rushing underground rivers, and scramble over treacherous fields of giant cave pearls.

Sapa • TREKKING

Trek through the Tonkinese Alps around Sapa, where terraced rice fields cascade down mountain valleys and hill-tribe villages still offer some of Asia’s most picturesque walking trails—from leisurely day hikes to serious multi-day treks.

Lan Ha Bay • Rock Climbing

Experience the thrill of deep-water soloing in Lan Ha Bay — one of the most beautiful and rare places in the world to free climb above the sea. Climb over the water in stunning scenery of Lan Ha Bay, without any cumbersome gear or ropes, scaling up the rock face and jumping back into the emerald warm water of the bay. Join your guide for a hike to the island’s summit for breathtaking views of the bay.

From your Halong Bay cruise ship, we will arrange for you to join a professional guide climbing on routes ranging from 4+ to 7b+, suitable for beginners who have never climbed before, to intermediate and advanced climbers.

Con Dao • Snorkeling

One of Southeast Asia's newest and most remote tropical escapes. An hour’s flight from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Con Dao is the largest of a chain of a national marine park of 15 islands and islets, ringed with picturesque beaches, unspoiled coral reefs, with the best diving and snorkeling in Vietnam, featuring scenic bays, and partially-covered tropical forests with trails for hiking.

In addition to hiking, diving and exploring deserted coastal roads there are interesting wildlife-watching opportunities, spotting such creatures as the black giant squirrel and endemic bow-fingered gecko.