7-Nights Flavors of Vietnam - Luxury Small Group Journeys from $6,995

Abercrombie & Kent: Flavors of Vietnam

DAY 1 Hanoi, Vietnam

Arrive in Hanoi, the cultural heart of Vietnam, where you are met and privately transferred to your hotel.

After breakfast, visit Ho Chi Minh’s house, a simple structure located among banyan and milkweedtrees, which served as home to the revolutionary guerrilla leader who pursued independence for Vietnam. Continue to the lotus-shaped One Pillar Pagoda, dating back to the first Vietnamese empire independent from China. Next, visit the Temple of Literature, Hanoi’s first university, and then enjoy lunch at a fascinating local restaurant. Stop at a special café for a cup of Hanoi’s famous egg coffee, before continuing to Hoa Lo Prison, the infamous “Hanoi Hilton,” where American prisoners of war were once confined. Return to your hotel for a welcome cocktail and canapés. This evening, set out for a welcome dinner at Gia, a Michelin-starred restaurant serving dishes that draw inspiration from the cuisines of Vietnam’s diverse cultures.

Ride by cyclo (rickshaw) around Hanoi’s Old Quarter, and then explore Hanoi town on foot on a guided walking tour. Taste Hanoian street food and specialties, including pho and bun cha, as well as local beers or drinks along the way, for a unique Chef’s Table experience. Return to the hotel with your afternoon at leisure, free to relax or take advantage of your hotel’s amenities. Later, gather for a traditional water puppet show, a colorful and captivating experience at Thang Long Theater. Tonight, head out for dinner at another top local restaurant.

Travel to the shores of the Gulf of Tonkin, where you board your vessel, Heritage, for a cruise of picturesque Ha Long and Lan Ha bays. Relax on deck as Heritage snakes its way past countless islets, their striking karst outcrops rising dramatically from the emerald waters. Once anchored, begin exploring this secret hideaway of beaches, caves and coves. Later, watch a sunset framed against the Gulf of Tonkin on a mesmerizing Scenic Sundowner. Tonight, gather for dinner at the onboard restaurant, and then retire to your cabin to enjoy a restful night’s sleep as the waves lap gently against the hull.

Begin with optional traditional morning exercises on the sundeck, followed by breakfast. Set out for a morning excursion among the towering limestone pinnacles. Return for brunch on board as Heritage sails home to port. Disembark and drive to Hai Phong for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. Check in and relax, with your evening at leisure.

Start your day with a cyclo ride to a Tao Dan Park. Stroll through this neighborhood gathering place, and observe the locals partaking in their morning rituals, from tai chi practice to a game of badminton. Stop for a cup of freshly brewed Vietnamese Coffee before continuing to a local shop serving up Banh Mi — a crispy, light baguette stuffed with egg or other fillings, such as paté, cold cuts, and pickled vegetables.Afterward, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities.

Discover Vietnamese Coffee and Culture with a local barista and learn how to brew some of the country’s popular coffee blends.

Savor the Ultimate Noodle Experience, venturing beyond pho to sample other types of noodles from street vendors in small alleys and local neighborhoods.

Cycle the Countryside through villages, past vegetable gardens, the local market and agricultural landscapes, observing authentic local life along the way.

Tonight, immerse yourself in Ho Chi Minh City’s buzzing nightlife, riding a vintage Vespa through lively street traffic, stopping at a historic bridge to tip back a signature Vietnamese drink and take in an enchanting view of the riverside. Then, zip through side streets and alleyways to find hidden-away food stalls and restaurants.

Drive to My Tho in the Mekong Delta, where you board a traditional wooden boat to Thoi Son island. Disembark to visit a fish farming family as well as a mushroom farm and grapefruit orchard. Stop for lunch at the island’s lodge before cruising back to the mainland, returning to Ho Chi Minh City by late afternoon. After some time to relax and freshen up at your hotel, gather for an outing to the Michelin-starred restaurant Anan, for an unforgettable farewell dinner. Afterward, retire to the rooftop bar for treats such as a chocolate marshmallow dessert or a beautifully crafted cocktail, all served up with bird’s eye views of the city.

After breakfast, privately transfer to the airport for your departing flight.