A visit to Vietnam is sorely incomplete without an excursion to the countryside. Particularly around Hanoi, the countryside offers a chance to see the more traditional and quiet side of Vietnam. It is highly valued by the Vietnamese for the simplicity of life and quietude of scenery. Enjoying bamboo shoot and banyan trees, communal houses, ferries and traditional villages that specialize in a craft, like the Bat Trang Pottery Village, Dong Ho Folk Painting Village, Dong Ky Carpentry Village and so on. Trips to these villages can be very enlightening and also a great chance to pick up some bargains

Alive with its tree-lined boulevards and lakes and its blend of French, Chinese and Vietnamese architecture, Hanoi is the jewel of Asia. Charming pagodas and the "36 streets and 36 wares" of the fascinating Old Quarter will vie for your attention. And, there are a multitude of other famous sights: the impressive Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi Opera House, the Museum of Ethnology, the ancient Temple of Literature...

In Ha Tay province, about 100 km outside of Hanoi, lays one of the most popular religious sites in Vietnam. The Perfume Pagoda actually consists of series of pagodas built inside grottoes. The sacred shrines are typical of Buddhist shrines found all over the world, but their unique context and importance to Vietnamese Buddhists who show up in the springtime in large numbers – make the Perfume Pagoda an obligatory stop in Vietnam’s north.

Hoa Lu, 100 km South of Hanoi, was the capital of Vietnam under the Dinh Dynasty between AD 968 and AD 980. Some of the sanctuaries and tombs have remained completely intact through all Vietnam’s wars, and can still be visited today – an important part of our historical heritage. Tam Coc is also a place of astounding natural beauty with limestone peaks, often referred as “Ha Long on land”. You will soon see why. The highlight of the trip is taking a local rowboat on the Boi River, floating between the towering limestone outcrops and traveling through three beautiful caves, making for a truly unforgettable experience.