February 2027 | Tết Lunar New Year | Vietnam

Markets and Traditions | Preparing for the New Year

Highlights
Pre-dawn Quảng Bá flower market · Vietnamese coffee culture workshop

Before sunrise we venture into one of Hanoi’s most colourful traditions. At the Quảng Bá flower market, trucks arrive through the night carrying blossoms from villages across northern Vietnam. In the days before Tết the market becomes a sea of colour as traders arrange peach blossoms, chrysanthemums, lilies, and kumquat trees destined for family homes and ancestral altars across the city.

After returning for breakfast and rest, the morning continues with a journey into another Vietnamese ritual. Coffee culture here is distinctive and deeply social. In a hands-on workshop we learn the art of brewing traditional phin-filter coffee and explore some of Hanoi’s most beloved variations, including egg coffee and coconut coffee.

The afternoon is yours to rest or explore at your own pace before we gather again for dinner in one of Hanoi’s distinctive local restaurants, where the flavours of northern Vietnam are celebrated with elegance and warmth. It is a relaxed moment to enjoy the city’s cuisine and settle into the rhythm of the group.

Inclusions
Breakfast · Guided Quảng Bá flower market tour  · Coffee workshop · Dinner · Accommodation in Hanoi

Karst Landscapes | Arrival in the Countryside

Highlights
Journey to Ninh Binh · Hang Múa viewpoint · Countryside dinner

Leaving Hanoi behind, we travel south into the limestone landscapes of Ninh Binh where rice fields stretch beneath towering karst mountains to experience how Tết is prepared beyond the city.

In rural communities, this is a time of return. Families gather, homes are readied, and traditions unfold at a slower, more intimate pace. The shift is immediate. Urban energy gives way to open space, paddies, and quiet villages. This our view as we enjoy a relaxed countryside lunch.

In the afternoon, we climb the stone steps of Hang Múa, where a winding staircase leads to one of the most spectacular viewpoints in northern Vietnam. From the summit the valley unfolds in every direction. Rivers wind through rice fields while limestone peaks rise sharply from the earth.

As evening falls, we gather for dinner surrounded by this natural stillness. It is a gentle contrast to the days before and a grounding pause before the New Year begins.

Inclusions
Breakfast · Lunch · Hang Múa viewpoint · Dinner · Accommodation in Ninh Binh

Arrival in the Lantern City | Tết Eve

Highlights
Domestic flight to Hội An · Lantern-lit Old Town · Tết Eve atmosphere · Riverside celebrations · Welcome dinner

We leave Ninh Binh behind this morning, travelling north to Hanoi before continuing by air to central Vietnam. By early afternoon, we arrive in Hội An, where the final hours of the year are already beginning to unfold.

The Old Town is already alive. Lanterns hang overhead, red banners line the streets, and families gather in anticipation. Every detail signals change, renewal, and the beginning of something new.

As evening deepens, we move towards the river. Lanterns drift across the water, their reflections flickering between light and shadow. The atmosphere builds steadily as the city prepares to welcome the new year.

We step into the evening together, moving through the streets as the atmosphere builds around us.

Later, we gather for dinner, a moment to pause as the evening builds around us. Along the river, lanterns drift across the water, boats move slowly through the current, and the streets fill with people welcoming the new year. As midnight approaches, the atmosphere lifts, carried by light, sound, and shared anticipation.

Inclusions
Breakfast · Domestic flight to Hội An · Light snacks and refreshments during transfer · Evening Old Town exploration · Welcome dinner · Accommodation in Hội An

From Field to Table | Hands, Herbs, and Shared Meals

Highlights
Tra Que herb village · Hands-on cooking experience · Local farming traditions · Bamboo Circus performance

This morning, we step beyond the Old Town into the surrounding countryside.

At Tra Que village, life is shaped by the land. Farmers tend neat rows of herbs and vegetables using traditional methods passed down through generations. We spend time alongside them, learning the techniques behind this way of life and gaining a deeper connection to the ingredients that define Vietnamese cuisine.

From field to kitchen, the experience continues. Guided by local hosts, we prepare and share a meal together, creating dishes that reflect both tradition and seasonality. It is a relaxed, shared moment around the table, where the group naturally comes together.

The afternoon is left open for rest or time at your own pace.

In the evening, we gather for a contemporary cultural performance. Through bamboo, movement, and live music, the Bamboo Circus offers a striking interpretation of Vietnamese life and landscape. It is energetic, expressive, and unlike anything else on the journey.

Inclusions
Breakfast · Tra Que village experience · Cooking class with lunch · Bamboo Circus performance · Accommodation in Hội An

Ancient Echoes and Lantern Light | A Farewell in Celebration

Highlights
Sunrise at Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary · Cham temple exploration · Forest lunch · Sunset rooftop cocktails · Lantern wishes on the river · Farewell dinner

Before the town begins to stir, we travel inland to Mỹ Sơn, where the remains of the ancient Cham civilisation sit quietly within a forested valley. In the early morning light, the temples feel still and atmospheric. Walking among these ruins offers a powerful contrast to the days of celebration, adding depth and perspective to the journey, we pause for a relaxed lunch in a peaceful garden setting, surrounded by greenery and the quiet rhythm of the countryside.

We return to Hội An with time to rest before the final evening.

As the light softens, we gather above the town for sunset cocktails, watching the rooftops glow as day turns to evening.

From here, we move towards the river, where lanterns drift across the water and the atmosphere settles into something more intimate. Each lantern carries a quiet wish for the year ahead, a simple ritual that connects this final night to everything that has come before.

Our journey closes with a farewell dinner, a final shared moment to reflect, celebrate, and mark the experience together.

Inclusions
Breakfast · Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary visit · Lunch · Sunset cocktails · Lantern release · Farewell dinner · Accommodation in Hội An