Homecoming Vietnam
TOUR OVERVIEW
- 13 days
- Max people: 25
- Wifi available
- Jan 01 - Dec 31
- Min age:
- Pickup: Airpot
This trip provides a unique opportunity for an adopted child to return to his or her roots in Vietnam on an itinerary that combines rediscovering their roots with responsible tourism experiences.
You will begin your journey in Hanoi, the bustling capital city, where you will visit the Ba Vi Adoption Center, a meaningful moment to reconnect with the country of your birth. You will then continue to explore Vietnamese culture and nature, exploring Huong Pagoda and the traditional village of Duong Lam, where you will stay overnight with a local family.
The tour will continue through Vietnam’s major stops, from the majestic Halong Bay to the fascinating imperial city of Hue, to the enchanting Hoi An and dynamic Saigon. You will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in rural life by visiting the Mekong Delta.
This trip is a unique experience for the adopted child, who will have the chance to rebuild a connection with his or her roots in a context of responsible tourism that respects local communities. A valuable opportunity to explore their roots and connect with Vietnamese culture.
ITINERARY
Day 1Hanoi Arrival
Meet and greet by the driver (without a guide) at the airport exit (recognizable by the sign with your name) after you have collected your luggage and completed immigration procedures. You will be transferred and checked in at the hotel.
The rooms will be available starting from 2:00 PM. Early check-in is not included, but can be requested for an additional fee.
The rest of the day will be at your leisure (guide, transportation, and visits are not included).
Day 2Hanoi Visit
Breakfast is included at the hotel.
Meet our guide at the hotel reception at 8:30 AM. The guide will accompany you to visit the Ethnography Museum, which offers a unique opportunity to explore the cultural richness of the numerous ethnic groups present in the Vietnamese territory. After the museum visit, you will head to the Temple of Literature (Quoc Tu Giam), considered the first national university of Vietnam. It was built under the Ly dynasty in the 11th century and served as a place of worship for Confucius and a school for the education of royal children.
You will have a free lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (exterior only, as it is closed on Mondays and Fridays) and take a pleasant stroll through the botanical gardens. You will also visit the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house, where he lived and worked. Then, we will reach Ba Dinh Square, the place where Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence of Vietnam from the French in 1945. Afterward, you will visit the One Pillar Pagoda, considered one of the most important symbols of the city.
Finally, you will visit the Tran Quoc Pagoda, which dates back to the 6th century during the reign of Emperor Ly Nam De. Lastly, you will take a cyclo (xich lo) ride for about 40 minutes around Hoan Kiem Lake, known as the Lake of the Returned Sword, which brings to life the legend of a giant turtle and a magical sword used to drive the Chinese out of Vietnam. You will also explore the Old Quarter of Hanoi with its famous lively and vibrant streets.
The day will conclude with a water puppet show, which tells the daily life, culture, and beliefs of the Vietnamese people through the captivating water puppets. The tour will end around 6:00-6:30 PM.
Dinner will be on your own, and you will spend the night in a hotel in Hanoi.
Day 3Hanoi - Ba Vi adoption centre - Hanoi (One day for visiting the centre)
Breakfast at hotel.
Today the whole family will revisit the adoption center where the child was adopted – an important event to re-introduce the child to his own origins.
The visit lasts about half a day and then return to Hanoi. Free time.
Day 4Hanoi - Huong Pagoda - Duong Lam (homestay)
Breakfast is served in the hotel.
You will meet with our guide at the hotel reception at 8:30 am. You will depart from the hotel and we will enjoy a scenic two-hour drive to Perfume Pagoda, one of the most important Buddhist centers in Vietnam. Arriving at the Yen Creek Pier, you will board your private sampan boat for an hour-long journey surrounded by nature, crossing crystal clear waters and surrounded by beautiful mountains. Next, you will take an easy walk to the station, where you will take the cable car to Huong Tich limestone mountain and admire its main pagoda, Huong Tich. On the cable car ride back, you will enjoy a beautiful view of the mountain range dotted with small temples, pagodas, houses and farms.
You will have lunch at a small local restaurant.
In the afternoon, you will visit Thien Tru pagoda before taking a boat ride to the harbor.
At the end of sightseeing, you will leave for the ancient village of Duong Lam. Free dinner and overnight stay in homestay in Duong Lam.
Note: The boat ride will be guided by the locals. It would be greatly appreciated if you would be so kind as to leave a small tip (we recommend $10 per boat).
Day 5Duong Lam Visit - Thay Pagoda - Hanoi
Breakfast at the hotel.
Your guide will take you to visit the ancient village of Duong Lam, known as a living museum of the countryside and a typical Red River Delta village. You will notice the great difference as you move from the Old Quarter, with its French-style colonial buildings, to the lower, simpler buildings of the countryside. Once there, you will visit the medieval Mia Pagoda, built in the 15th century, which houses about 300 wooden or terracotta statues.
Walking through the narrow streets of the village, you will have the opportunity to visit one of the oldest houses. Next, you can ride (if you prefer) through the ancient lanes to the Mong Phu Communal House, dedicated to the Mountain God, who locals believed could protect the village from all evil. On the way to the original main gate, you will pass by old wells and laterite houses. Continuing along small paths through the fields, you will reach the Temple of King Ngo Quyen, who lived in the 10th century and defeated the Chinese in 938 AD.
Free lunch at a local restaurant.
The day continues with a visit to the Thay Pagoda, dedicated to the monk Tu Dao Hanh, who devoted his life to the practice of the Buddhist movement called Tantrism (phật giáo Mật Tông) and is considered the founder of the art of water puppets. Nestled in the spectacular mountainous landscape of Sai Son, Thay Pagoda offers travelers an unforgettable experience for the eyes and soul with its atmosphere of rural tranquility.
Return to Hanoi. Expected arrival in Hanoi around 5:30-6 pm. Free dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Note: Visitors are kindly requested to dress appropriately to visit the pagodas, clothes covering knees and shoulders are recommended.
Day 6Hanoi - Halong
Breakfast at the hotel.
Meet the driver at 8:30 AM at the hotel reception for the shared bus transfer to Halong Bay (approximately 4 hours with an intermediate stop).
Halong Bay, called the “bay where the dragon descends into the sea” in Vietnamese, is a beautiful bay with thousands of limestone islands, karst caves, sea stacks, and islets, making it a picturesque and fascinating place. Magnificent, mysterious, and majestic, Halong Bay has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1994 and is considered one of the new seven wonders of the world.
Arrival at the port is expected between 12:00-12:30 PM. Afterward, you will follow the cruise company’s program.
NOTE:
- Lunch and dinner with a seafood tasting on board the junk boat (included – no drinks).
- Overnight stay on board in a private deluxe cabin (with air conditioning and shower).
- The cruise program may be subject to changes without prior notice due to weather conditions or decisions by local authorities.
- The junk boat will only have an English-speaking guide provided by the cruise company.
Day 7Halong - Hanoi - Flight to Hue
06:30: You can participate in the early morning Tai-chi session on the sundeck or simply enjoy the stunning view of the bay while sipping a cup of tea or coffee.
07:00: Breakfast will be served in a Western style, to provide you with the energy needed to face a new day of exploration in the bay. During breakfast, you can admire the enchanting scenery, which will give you the right motivation to face new adventures.
08:15: You will have the opportunity to use kayaks to explore the Frog Pond area, the famous location where the scenes of Kong Skull Island (King Kong) were filmed in Quang Ninh in 2018.
09:30: You will return to the ship. You will have 30 minutes to freshen up and check out of your cabin. Please kindly remove all your personal belongings from the cabin, while the heavy luggage can be left outside the cabin (the staff will take care of transferring it directly to the pier).
10:00: Brunch will be served on board while the Sena Cruise – Luxury Boutique Cruise slowly navigates through the emerald-colored waters and among the numerous karst formations towards the port. You will check out from the cruise. Remember to take all your luggage with you.
11:30-12:00: Return to the port and disembark at the Ha Long cruise port.
12:00: Return to Hanoi by junk bus (about 3 hours). A stop will be made at the Aeon Long Bien Shopping Center, where you will be greeted by a private car that will take you directly to Noi Bai Airport to take a flight to Hue. Once you arrive at Phu Bai Airport, you will be met by a driver in the arrivals hall. You will be provided with a transfer and hotel accommodation in Hue.
Note: for flights destined for a foreign country, you need to arrive at the airport 3 hours in advance, while for domestic flights, it is sufficient to be there 2 hours before departure. After dinner of your choice, you can spend the night in a hotel in Hue.
Day 8Hue Visit
Breakfast is served at the hotel.
You will meet with our guide at the hotel reception at 8:30 AM. The day begins with a visit to the Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in Hue, dating back to 1601. This pagoda is considered an important spiritual site of the city and is famous for its majestic octagonal tower and the beautiful view of the Perfume River. Afterward, you will visit the Hue Citadel, which is one of the most famous relics of the ancient imperial city of Vietnam. The Citadel consists of three distinct parts: the capital city, the imperial city, and the forbidden city, known respectively as Kinh Thanh, Hoang Thanh, and Cam Thanh.
Lunch is at your own expense at a local restaurant. The rest of the afternoon will be dedicated to visiting the traditional village of Thuy Xuan, famous for its incense production. In this place, highly talented artists keep alive the precious tradition of the Vietnamese people’s soul. Subsequently, you will visit the imperial tomb of Tu Duc, a monument that best represents the architecture of the Nguyen dynasty and one of the most extraordinary constructions of the 19th century. The day will end with a visit to the Dong Ba Market. You will have the opportunity to explore and discover the wonders of this fascinating market.
Dinner is at your own expense, and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 9Hue - Danang -Hoi An Visit
Breakfast is included at the hotel, and you will depart towards the picturesque city of Hoi An, crossing through Da Nang. During the journey, you will have the opportunity to visit the Hai Van Pass, which represents the geographical, climatic, and cultural boundary between Northern and Southern Vietnam. You will make a brief stop to admire Da Nang from above, including the famous “China Beach” that stretches for over 30 km. In Da Nang, you will visit the Cham Museum, which houses the richest collection of archaeological artifacts from the ancient Cham Empire, including magnificent works of great importance belonging to this ancient people.
Arrival in Hoi An around noon. Lunch is at your own expense at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to visit the old town, which includes the famous 17th-century Japanese Bridge, the Fukien Temple, founded by a Chinese community devoted to the Goddess of the Sea, and the Phung Hung ancient house.
You will check in to the hotel for the night.
Day 10Hoi An free time
Breakfast included in the hotel.
Hoi An was an important trading port in Asia in the 17th and 18th centuries, and its architecture and lifestyle have remained almost unchanged over the years. You can take a walk through the old town to visit the former merchants’ houses, the 400-year-old Japanese bridge, the Chinese communal hall, and the colorful market.
How you spend the day is up to you, but as always we will provide some suggestions on the different attractions. Hoi An offers many other things to do: climbing marble mountains, snorkeling and diving in Cham Island (which is very close to Hoi An), relaxing on the beaches of Cua Dai or An Bang, and sightseeing. This town offers many opportunities for both fun-seekers and those who prefer cultural activities. What is the essence of Jem Travel?
- Check out the Ngoc Anh store (58 Nguyen Thai Hoc), located in the old town, where you will find antiques.
- If you want to taste a classic Vietnamese sandwich, one of the best places in Hoi An is Banh Mi Phuong, located near the market: Street Phan Boi Chau.
- Explore Hoi An on a bicycle tour accompanied by a local guide. You will cover a lot of distance, take scenic routes and pedal through major places such as rice fields and Tra Que village.
- To spend pleasant moments, we recommend coffee des Amis and Bup Restaurant Café 96.
- Visit the My Son Shrine.
- Meals included at a local restaurant and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 11Hoi An - Flight to Saigon - Visit
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Da Nang Airport in a private car for the flight to Saigon. Meeting with our guide at the airport. The day is dedicated to visiting the Independence Palace, which once housed the Presidents of South Vietnam. During the visit, we will have the opportunity to admire the North Vietnamese tank that crossed the threshold of the presidential palace in 1975, marking the end of the controversial Vietnam War. The palace, which spans five floors, offers rooms with original furnishings reflecting the style of the 1960s and 1970s, and also has a basement transformed into a bunker. A must-see in Ho Chi Minh City is the War Remnants Museum. The permanent exhibitions provide a comprehensive view of the Vietnam War, which may offer surprises compared to what we are used to hearing and seeing.
Lunch will be at your leisure at a local restaurant.
Continue your pleasant tour to Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, walking until you reach an iconic attraction of the city: the Central Post Office of Saigon, a magnificent building designed by the famous architect Gustave Eiffel. The rest of the day will be at your disposal to visit the city’s most famous market, Ben Thanh Market, which has been open since 1870. The tour will end around 3:00 pm/3:30 pm. You will then have the rest of the free time at your disposal (without a guide or driver included).
Dinner will be at your leisure, and you will spend the night at the hotel.
Day 12Saigon - Ben Tre - Saigon
Breakfast is served at the hotel.
You will meet our guide at the hotel reception at 08:30. In the morning, you will head to Ben Tre, a beautiful region located in the Mekong Delta, famous for the production of coconut sweets. Once you arrive at Phong Nam Bridge, you will take a boat trip along the Ben Tre River to discover local daily life. Along the canal, you will visit a brick kiln to observe how bricks are produced according to traditions, as well as one of the numerous workshops dedicated to processing coconuts, where you will have the opportunity to taste fresh coconut and observe how every part of this fruit is transformed into derivative products. You will continue the boat trip to the village of Nhon Thanh. Here, you will have the chance to taste fresh fruit. Afterwards, you will take a bike ride (or Tuk Tuk) along a trail that passes through villages, enjoying the view of coconut plantations, rice fields, and surrounding gardens.
Lunch will be at your leisure at a small local restaurant. A short walk will allow us to immerse ourselves more deeply in local life. Later, you can take a boat ride along the narrow canal, shaded by wild palms. Return to Saigon.
You will have the opportunity to dine freely and to spend time exploring the city or simply relaxing.
Day 13Saigon Departure
Breakfast at the hotel.
You will have free time in Saigon until the transfer to the airport without the presence of a guide. Please note that the room will be available until 12:00. Please inform us in advance if you wish to extend your stay in the room beyond the departure time. We wish you a good return journey!