Una oportunidad única de presenciar un show de marionetas en el agua, un arte tradicional que data desde el siglo XI. Los titiriteros escondidos permanecen con el agua hasta las caderas, ese es el escenario, en el que manejan con mucha habilidad marionetas que bailan con postes de bambú en la superficie. Muchos de los episodios relatan escenas de la vida cotidiana. El agua aparece muy verde y sucio, resultado del diseño para ocultar los mecanismos que llevan a las marionetas. La cena se sirve en un restaurante local. Duración de 3 horas, incluyendo el show de 45 min.
Idiomas
Inglés.
We start our evening walking tour at Hanoi’s largest covered market, Dong Xuan. Along the perimeter of the market, dozens of street hawkers sell a staggering variety of produce from live seafood to exotic fruits and spices. Your expert English-speaking local guide will give you an insight into the intricacies and traditions of Vietnamese food culture including details on ingredients and historical backgrounds of popular northern dishes.
We eat as we go, trying seasonal fruits and sampling a tasty French-inspired snack from a street cart. Walking through the maze of bustling streets that make up Hanoi’s Old Quarter, we tempt our tastebuds with the famed Hanoi dish Banh Cuon at a local eatery. Watch in awe as the skilled chefs demonstrate for you how this tasty dish is put together. Continuing into the atmospheric heart of the Old Quarter, we wander past street stalls and quiet residential lanes where you can observe local life that has changed little since Hanoi was founded over 1000 years ago.
Our next two snack stops are at outdoor barbeque stalls. We sit down with the Hanoi locals and sample various meat, vegetable and bread specialties that are flame grilled over hot coals for extra flavour. It’s then time for dessert as we venture down a small alley to join in the local tradition of feasting on fresh fruit served in a cup and smothered with crushed iced and condensed milk – this specialty is one not to be missed! Your local guide will then take you to one of Hanoi’s best kept secrets, a hidden café with stunning views over the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake. This hard-to-find café is one of the few left in the city that still serves egg coffee, a scrumptious local delicacy that we will sample whilst admiring the hustle and bustle of the city center below. Or, if coffee is not your style, a cold beer awaits!. At the end of the trip you are free to continue exploring the area or your guide will assist you with directions or a taxi back to your hotel.
Early departure for Halong Bay, a World Heritage as designated by Unesco in 1994 with nearly 3,000 rocky islets. The drive may take you more than three to four hours utmost depending on the high or low seasons? traffic, and will pass the Red River Delta, one of the two granaries of Vietnam. Upon arriving in Halong, we will sail our boat round its natural rocky gardens whilst a tasty seafood lunch is waiting on board. Most of the islets here are not for living due to the lack of fresh water, but are excellent for cruising to contemplate their miraculous draws on the horizon.
Many of them have great names from their inspirational shapes, including the Surprising cave, Pelican Grotto, Chopstick rock, Butterfly rock, Turtle rock, the island of Fishman?s Head, the Fighting Cocks, the Sail, the Urn, or the Sea Dog! We can wander to visit grottos, so swimming, or just lazily relax on the sundeck with our drinks. The boat will be back to the Wharf late afternoon where we take our car or coach to return to Hanoi. Trip finished at your hotel in Hanoi.
Leaving the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City behind we journey 2 ½ hours into the countryside bound for the Cao Dai temple in Tay Ninh district. First stop will be at a local family for home cooked lunch. After the lunch, we time our visit for the noon ceremony at the temples which provides an insight to this interesting religion.
Founded in Vietnam in the 1920's, Cao Daoism borrows elements from Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Taoism and Confucianism and blends them together in an effort to make the perfect religion. Cao Dai means ''high place or abode'' Following visit of Cao Dai ceremony, we continue to the Cu Chi Tunnels. The Cu Chi tunnels were built by local fighters during the Indochina conflict as a base from which the Viet Cong could operate from close to the Southern Vietnamese capital. The location proved of significant strategic importance, at the end of the infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail and within striking distance of the southern Vietnam capital.
Initial construction started in 1948 when the Viet Minh required somewhere to hide from French air attacks and by 1965, the tunnel complex was estimated to consist of 200km's of tunnels. It included, hospitals, schools, meeting rooms, kitchens and sleeping quarters. Life was difficult for the inhabitants and to protect against outside intruders bobby traps were laid throughout the complex. Today the Vietnamese government have preserved approximately 75 kilometres of the tunnels as a memorial park, in some areas tunnels have been widened and low powered lights installed so that western tourists can now fit through the complex.
Our local guide will take us on a fascinating trip around the Cu Chi Tunnels where we learn more about the conditions the people lived in, the hardships they faced and the amazing ingenuity employed to maintain life in the tunnels. We walk past huge bomb craters , evidence of the heavy bombing campaigns in the region during the Indochina conflict, discover hidden entrances right beneath your feet, wander past tiny little chimneys in the ground that dispersed smoke from the underground kitchens, sample some of the simple cuisine that local fighters would have survived on and have an opportunity to venture into the tunnels and explore the complex. Following our step back in modern history we return to the chaos of Ho Chi Minh City.
Our transport for the first half of today is a traditional cyclo, a three wheeled bicycle with a carriage at the front for the passenger to sit in, while the driver uses pedal power to power us along. This allows us to take in the sights, sounds and smells of Ho Chi Minh City without the barrier of a car window or the sound of an engine, very environmentally friendly.
Our journey takes us through Tao Dan Park to the War Remnants museum, originally opened in September 1975, the museum displays old military equipment and other related items from the Vietnam War. In the courtyard we will find some larger exhibits including a F5A fighter and a UH1-Huey helicopter. From here we continue our journey past the Reunification Palace, previously referred to as the Presidential Palace, it is the sight of the official South Vietnamese surrender on April 30th, 1975.
We will not go into the palace however our local guide will provide you with information and a chance to take come photographs. Leaving our cyclos and cyclo drivers behind we walk to the Notre Dame Cathedral, built by the French during the colonial era. It and our next destination, the General Post Office, are fine examples of architecture from the colonial period. We meet our cyclos again and ride to the Saigon Opera House and City Hall, situated in the centre of Ho Chi Minh city where scenes from the movie ''The Quiet Amercian'' were filmed, not far from the Opera House we will find the Continental Hotel where Graham Greene, amongst other famous journalists and writers, called home during their stays in Vietnam.
We leave our cyclos behind at the intersection of Ton That Dam St & Huynh Thuc Khang St and dive into a real local food market. Continuing we explore Antique shop street and shoe street. Our final visit for the day is the Ben Thanh market where your local guide will assist you in getting a taxi back to your hotel or alternatively you are free to continue exploring the area. Why not practice your bargaining skills in the Ben Thanh market. The markets original location was close to the Ben Nghe River and the old fort of Gia Dinh was where it derived its name (Ben meaning ''pier'' and Thanh meaning ''Fort''). The market was destroyed in 1859 during the French invasion of Saigon. It was rebuilt and later moved to its present location in 1899. At the end of the trip you are free to continue exploring the area or your guide will assist you in getting a taxi back to your hotel.
Descubre la impresionante belleza natural de la Bahía de Ha Long con esta fantástica excursión de un día. Atraviesa los pintorescos pueblos del norte de Vietnam antes de embarcar en una tradicional barcaza china para navegar por esas tranquilas aguas salpicadas por unos 2.000 islotes. Explora las muchas formaciones rocosas de piedra caliza y disfruta de una mariscada en el paradisíaco entorno de la bahía.
Escapa del caos organizado de Hanoi para poner rumbo al bucólico campo, viendo cómo los pastores conducen a sus rebaños durante el viaje de 3 horas y media hasta la bahía de Ha Long. Durante el trayecto, harás un alto en el camino en un centro de artesanía.
En la ciudad de Ha Long te espera la barcaza con un cóctel de bienvenida al crucero por la bahía, famosa por las espectaculares formaciones de piedra caliza que sobresalen de sus tranquilas aguas de color esmeralda. Las vistas son sencillamente fascinantes mientras el barco serpentea entre los cientos y cientos de islotes. La bahía de Ha Long, que significa Bahía del Dragón Descendente, fue declarada Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO y elegida en 2011 como una de las Nuevas Siete Maravillas de la Naturaleza.
Escucha las leyendas y los mitos que rodean a esta bahía de ensueño después de deleitarte con una fabulosa mariscada. Durante el crucero también explorarás algunas de las grutas que se formaron en muchas de las islas y visitarás un pintoresco pueblo de pescadores, donde podrás conocer la vida y las costumbres de las gentes del lugar. No desperdicies la oportunidad de sacar fotos de este maravilloso lugar antes de regresar por carretera a Hanoi.
Idiomas: Inglés.
Durante miles de años, los aldeanos que viven en el Río Rojo Delta han conservado sus tradiciones, en particular la alfarería y la pintura en madera. En un vistazo, experimentará las actividades diarias de los aldeanos. Vaya hasta la alea bat Trang, situado a unos 12 km al sureste de Hanoi. Se fundó en el siglo XVI y tiene más de 800 familias trabajando con hornos industriales encendidos con madera y carbón. Se especializan en la producción de cerámica y alfarería al por mayor usando métodos tradicionales. Párese en una fábrica familiar para ver como manufacturan sus productos. Vea a los artesanos pintar y glasear sus productos; tendrá la oportunidad de practicar su talento con arcilla mojada y un molde, o puede unirse a la clase de dibujo en la fábrica. Después tendrá tiempo libre para pasear por la aldea y volver a Hanoi para comer. Se le servirá una comida vietnamita en un restaurante local, famoso por su variedad en estofados y en su vino de arroz. Después de comer, se trasladará a la aldea del pintado de madera en Dong Ho, una de las aldeas más famosas de Vietnam. Visite a uno de los artistas que ha sido premiado con el premio Gold Hand por su trabajo. Este artista le enseñará como pintar la madera. Después volverá a Hanoi.
Empezarás este recorrido con una caminata alrededor del lago Hoan Kiem, un lugar de encuentro para los residentes de Hanoi haciendo sus ejercicios matutinos. Puedes unirte a las actividades como el Tai Chi. Después, podrás disfrutar de un desayuno local tradicional de ''Pho'' seguido de un café vietnamita en una cafetería de una azotea del Casco Antoguo. El guía te llevará hasta un restaurante familiar para recibir una clase de cocina. El primer paso será una visita en bicicleta a un mercado local Hang Be para aprender de los ingredientes de cocina local. En el restaurante, el chef te enseñará a cocinar algunos platos vietnamitas especiales. Después de la sesión de la mañana a medio día, disfrutarás de un delicioso banquete de los platos que has creado. Al final, te dirigirás de nuevo al hotel con un vehículo privado.
We start our evening Hanoi street food tour at the city’s largest covered market, Dong Xuan. Along the perimeter of the market, dozens of street hawkers sell a staggering variety of produce from live seafood to exotic fruits and spices. Your expert local guide will give you an insight into the intricacies and traditions of Vietnamese food culture including details on ingredients and historical backgrounds of popular northern dishes. We eat as we go, trying seasonal fruits and sampling a tasty French-inspired snack from a street cart. Walking through the maze of bustling streets that make up Hanoi’s Old Quarter, we tempt our tastebuds with the famed Hanoi dish Banh Cuon at a local eatery. Watch in awe as the skilled chefs demonstrate for you how this tasty dish is put together.
Continuing into the atmospheric heart of the Old Quarter, we wander past street stalls and quiet residential lanes where you can observe local life that has changed little since Hanoi was founded over 1000 years ago. Our next two snack stops on our Hanoi street food tour are at outdoor barbeque stalls. We sit down with the Hanoi locals and sample various meat, vegetable, and bread specialties that are flame grilled over hot coals for extra flavour.
Now, it's time for dessert as we venture down a small alley to join in the local tradition of feasting on fresh fruit served in a cup and smothered with crushed iced and condensed milk – this specialty is one not to be missed! Your local guide will then take you to one of Hanoi’s best kept secrets, a hidden café with stunning views over the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake. This hard-to-find café is one of the few left in the city that still serves egg coffee, a scrumptious local delicacy that we will sample whilst admiring the hustle and bustle of the city centre below. Or, if coffee is not your style, a cold beer awaits! At the end of our Hanoi tour, you are free to continue exploring the area or your guide will assist you with directions or a taxi back to your hotel.
We all know Vietnam is an absolute legend when it comes to street food, and if you want to make the most of your time (and stomach space), you’ll want to head out with an in-the-know local to pick out the best of the best of Saigon’s street food. Put your eating pants on and follow us!
Our Saigon food tour kicks off with a short walk from the Opera House to the Old Market, passing architecture that transports you back in time with glimpses of the city’s past.
Don’t be fooled by its name – the forty year old ‘Old Market’ isn’t home to antiques. Instead, it’s full of food! Dozens of street vendors tempt locals with beloved local favourites like fresh spring rolls, green papaya salad, and Vietnamese savoury steamed rice cakes, just to name a few. Here, we’ll sample some authentic local appetizers, inhaling the spicy flavours of the street stalls, and watch as local life unfolds before your eyes in the heart of Saigon.
Our immersion into local life continues as we make our way to Mong Bridge for a unique view of a intersection of life in Saigon: watching the flow of the river at sunset, the stream of traffic at rush hour, and the juxtaposition of historical periods played out in the architecture. Cool, relaxing, and perhaps even romantic, it’s here that we’ll indulge in what just might be the most famous of Saigon’s street food: banh mi! This really is classic Saigon, so eat it up – it doesn’t get much better than this!
Oh wait…we aren’t done yet!
It wouldn’t be a true local experience without enjoying coffee the way Saigonese coffee aficionados do on a daily basis. We’ll head to a popular local hem of Saigon, with a misleading (read: run-down) façade that hides within it a gourmet coffee haven. We’ll show you the local style of taking your coffee and you’ll feel right at home!
Next up on our Saigon food adventure is another one of the city’s iconic street food dishes: com tam. This dish is one of the most popular and preferred dishes by Southerners, and you can find it everywhere from street stalls to fancy restaurants. What makes it so beloved is that the ingredients are so strikingly simple, yet the tastes and flavours are truly unforgettable (we promise).
From com tam we head for the Ben Thanh Night Market to pick up a Vietnamese che dessert, a sweet soup-pudding-beverage hybrid that’s crazy popular with locals.
We’ll cap off our Saigon street food tour with, what else, street beer! At this street beer stall we’ll outfit you with a cold Saigon beer and the chance to mingle with locals – not a bad way to end the evening, is it?!
We’ve reached the end, but your local guide is happy to provide tips for exploring the area further, or assist you in getting a taxi back to your accommodation.