Join Vietnamese’s Lunar New Year

During the run-up to Tet, people are busy shopping for new clothes, food, flowers and miscellaneous decorations. They will be impressed by the colors and sounds of flower markets and lively festivals. At Tet, excursions to the countryside and visits to local homes and temples will give visitors rare opportunities to socialize with the locals and thereby get to know their gastronomy, social mores and customs during this exuberantly festive time.  Let’s come and “eating Tet” with our Lunar New Year trip through Vietnam.

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival (25th of December, Lunar Calendar)

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(Single person surcharge applicable)

Arrive at Noi Bai Airport. Pick up and transfer to a hotel. If time permits, our tour guide will show you Hanoi, the capital boasts tree-lined streets and centuries-old temples. An afternoon sightseeing tour features both cultural and historical highlights, comprising the Temple of Literature, the Ethnology Museum. The sightseeing day ends with a water puppet show, a theatrical genre reflecting the agricultural civilization of thousands of years ago. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi waiting for Tet (26th)
Our tour guide will wake you very early in the morning(3am) and transfer to the Flower Market and enjoy the unique atmosphere here. You will no doubt be introduced to various kinds of flowers from Hanoi and suburb. The sellers bring them here by bicycles, shoulder-poles, pedals and many other kinds of vehicles. The fresh air mixed with the fragrance of flowers will give tourists an unforgettable impression. We back the city when the streets are still in silent and witness a new day of people in Hanoi’s Old Quarter where you could feel the Tet atmosphere most clearly. Have breakfast, then old quarters and downtown pedicab ride. The unique ride will begin at Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son temple, stroll around the streets of vivid colors and full of goods for Tet. You’ll see the street of marmalade, cakes, sugar-dried fruits; a quarter of offerings, another of decorations or a smelled street of incense... During the time before Tet, this is the busiest center for shopping. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi-Ha Long (27th)
Before leaving for Ha Long, we drive to Nghi Tam Village for a glance at the famous flower village with colorful gardens and beds. Watch gardeners water blossoming flowers in the morning or cut and carry them by bicycle to market places. A wide variety of colorful flowers gives a sweet emotion to start a new day. Onward to Ha Long. Arrive in Ha Long, onboard cruising on the Bay. Visit some magical grottoes and relax in the best scenic beauty of Vietnam. Lunch of fresh seafood is served on board. Spend the night on boat with a special dinner of delicious food for Tet followed by a peaceful night sleep in the sound of waves tenderly kissing the boat.

Day 4: Cat Ba island before Tet (28th)
Arrive in Cat Ba island as the first lights of the dawn appear on the skyline. Enjoy the sunset on the ocean and then have breakfast. All morning is spent for walking around and see the way Cat Ba’s citizens prepare for their Tet Holiday, especially in floating villages. The colorful and bustling open-air market is one of our interesting spots. After lunch, take a hydrofoil to Hai Phong. On car back Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 5: Around Hanoi in the year’s last days (29th)
After breakfast, depart for Bat Trang village where you will have opportunity to see close up to the way Bat Trang artisans make their ceramic works and admire the most beautiful works made for Tet. These works are perfectly created with not only the skillfulness but also the spiritual belief for Tet’s sacredness. Artisans suppose that the better the works they make for Tet is, the more they will give customers good fortune for all year. Onwards to Dong Ho Village, known for its traditional paintings, and 13th-century But Thap Pagoda, filled with impressive ornaments. In Dong Ho village, our guide will introduce you unique wood-blocked paintings drawn with natural colors made from leaf, sand, ash, wood... In the past, Dong Ho village was very famous for its paintings for Tet. The paintings were popular in a large area of Red River Delta. Same to Bat Trang ceramic works, Dong Ho paintings were supposed to bring good luck to customers. Have some prayers for a new happy year with Vietnamese in But Thap Pagoda then. Back Hanoi around 4pm. Have dinner. Visit a family and attend a Chung Cake Cooking Rite with them. Such a rite will last overnight, all family members will sat together around the fire and talk till the cooking competed (12h).

Day 6: Complete the last preparations – New Year Eve (30th)
For the last day of Lunar Year, all the business have to be completed by noon, so we’ll take a short walk around the quarter before the time all the shops are closed. Have lunch. In the afternoon we visit a family in Hanoi’s center area and attend the last preparations for New Year Eve and new days with them. Cooking and laying the offerings on the altar require a lot of patience and skillfulness. The Year End party ( Tat Nien) will be held as the evening comes. All family member will gather (though they live far away from home, they often try their best to come back by Tet time to reunite with their family) and enjoy the party together. The eldest will recall all the important events of the year and remind his sons, daughters and grandchildren to do good things in the New Year. Thank and wish them good luck for new year then we fall in line with people heading forward Hoan Kiem Lake and wait for the Eve time in a very crowded and excited atmosphere. Firecracker and many interesting activities will be held to welcome new year at 12am. Along with people, take a walk to pagodas and have your own young-branch which is a symbol for prosperity and happiness. Free for relax or enjoy your own time then.

Day 7: Hanoi in the first day of New year(1st)
We pick you up around 9amin the morning. Vietnamese concept that their new year depends on the first person coming their home in the first day of year so it’s better we are not their. We visit a family to see what they do in this special day. Children’ have been waiting for this day for all year. You’ll see why when you attend a special rite with them here. Have lunch with family and you will be invited to try Vietnamese’s delicious specialties only used for Tet. A Chung cake that you cooked on 29th will surely make you unforgettable. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for a short flight to Hue, a former royal capital city where centuries-old customs are still alive in daily life. In the evening, a typical royal court dinner with a presentation of ancient dancing and music is arranged (minimum group size: 10). Overnight in Hue..

Day 8: Hue in Tet (2nd)
Hue is Vietnam’s capital during Nguyen Dynasty. Tet’s traditional rites still maintain nearly intact now. We visit a local family where you could witness these complicated rituals yourself. Then take a boat ride on the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest religious structures in Hue. Then overland to the Imperial Citadel, built in 1804 on a site chosen in accordance with the principles of geomancy, and a garden house, which used to be a royal property. Enjoy Hue cakes with the proprietor. In the late afternoon, transfer to Hoi An (140km) with a stop-over on the Hai Van Pass overlooking the scenic Lang Co Lagoon. In the evening, attend a folk show in an ancient house. Enjoy Hoi An legendary night with red lanterns and folk games. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 9: Hoi An in Tet (3rd)
Join a pedicab tour of lush Cam Nam Islet and attend an ancestral commemoration party at a local home. Then visit Hoi An, a centuries-old town with ancient houses, temples, markets and handicraft workshops. Transfer to Da Nang with a stop-over at the Non Nuoc stone-carving village where a wide variety of articles is sculptured from marble and sandstone. Take a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City in Tet (4th)
A morning city tour features the Binh Tay Market in Chinatown, Thien Hau Temple. Mingle with locals at New Year festivities, places of worship and flower markets. Visit a Chinese family and see how they enjoy Tet. Although they moved to Vietnam so long Chinese people keep their tradition very seriously. A balance between Vietnamese and Chinese custom will surely surprise you. Free in the evening. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 11: Mekong Delta in Tet (5th)
Depart for the watery world of My Tho in the Mekong Delta, just a couple of hours by road from the hustle and bustle of Saigon. Take a boat trip along the narrow waterways overhung with dense vegetation and try exotic fruits in one of the many orchards. Our boat will pass over many some floating markets where after the first days of years, people begin their business. It’s concepted that the first customer will influent on the business for all year so during these day, the markets are not very crowded. We visit a family in a floating village to see another special kind of enjoying Tet. Southern people also have their own way of “Eating Tet” quite different from Northern and Central people.

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City Departure (6th)
Spend last minutes for downtown shopping (embroideries, silk, lacquerware,...) or at leisure before check-out. Transfer to the airport for departure.

All tours include: Present of handmade work - Accommodation based on twin sharing either Executive, Deluxe or Standard - Air Conditioned transportation - Meals in full board - All admission fees - English speaking guide - Tourist insurance. NOT included are: Single person surcharge - Drinks - Personal expenditures - International air ticket and airport tax - Tips