DAY 1
Our private car will meet your flight, or collect you from your hotel if you are already in Hoi An, and deliver you to your fabulous resort in time for our Welcome Ceremony (This session is essential so please ensure you are in Hoi An in time).
After lunch you can enjoy free time to settle in, kick off your shoes, freshen up and turn off your phone. Take a dip in the resort infinity pool, soak in the amazing tub in your room, or check out the local village. Once you’ve freshened up we head into the Hoi An Ancient Town for a visit to the famous Hoi An tailors. While you’re there take a stroll through the fascinating streets of this charming town.
Once you’ve decided on your new outfits and placed your orders with the tailor, shake off the effects of your flight with a fabulous massage that implements Vietnamese Traditional Medicine to bring greater Qi-chi (Life Force Energy) and Yin-Yang balance.
Now you’re truly in relaxation mode, feeling rested and rejuvenated, you can enjoy sunset beside the ocean with a cocktail (your expense) and seafood dinner to the sound of the gentle lapping of the waves at the beachside restaurant.
DAY 2
Today we join a very special deluxe cooking class, including a tour through the Tra Que organic herb gardens, a guided tour through the local village market to purchase herbs, in depth hands-on cooking, lunch and the return trip to Hoi An by boat.
The rest of the afternoon is your time to recover and get settled! Relax, rest, meditate, swim in the pool or the nearby beach, wander, savour a Vietnamese iced coffee, explore the local area, sleep, or get to know your new friends. After dinner wind down for the night with a Clarity Session and guided meditation.
DAY 3
Rise early for the Resort Yoga Class before enjoying a lively conversation over breakfast.
Your whole morning is free today – why not visit the beautiful local beach to relax on the lounges and dip in the ocean.
After lunch we revisit the tailor for a fitting.
In the mid-afternoon discover the secrets of the perfect holiday snaps in our private Sunset Photography Workshop in the countryside and villages around Hoi An. Not just a tour, a full “i-photography” workshop where you’ll discover how to use the full potential of your phone camera and get great tips about composition.
We’ll enjoy dinner and the warm evening in an outdoor courtyard restaurant in the Ancient Town
DAY 4
Today you’ll have excellent opportunities to practice your new photography skills. Come together over breakfast to share our experiences before our car collects us for the trip out into the countryside to visit the Ancient World Heritage Site of My Son. Built 600 years before Angkor Wat by the same ethnic group, the Cham, this site is a fascinating blend of ancient and modern history and culture, as it was also the site of a major battle during the Vietnam-American War.
Enjoy free time on your return to Hoi An. This is your time! Relax, swim in the pool, meditate, sleep, head out by bicycle to explore the local area or take the hotel shuttle to the beach or into the Ancient Town to shop and explore.
In the late afternoon we have a very special experience for you! Our guest presenter is one of only a handful of Master Labyrinth Facilitators and she will guide you on a journey through a Labyrinth Walk Meditation on the beach.
After dinner explore self-care, self-love and soul-growth for wholeness in a creative workshop.
DAY 5
Rise early for breakfast on our final day in beautiful Hoi An.
Enjoy free time to gather your belongings, have a last swim in the pool and enjoy the resort facilities before we check out.
We’ll make a quick trip into the Ancient Town to collect our garments from the tailor, some last minute shopping and enjoy a final Hoi An lunch before we leave for Da Nang and our flight to Hanoi.
We arrive in Hanoi in the early evening. After checking in to our hotel in the exuberant Old Quarter have your first introduction to the busy-fun-craziness of Hanoi as we enjoy dinner.
DAY 6
Start out our first day in the vibrant craziness of Hanoi with a short calming meditation session before breakfast.
After breakfast visit a local pre-school and spend time with the children. Next we visit the Silk Village of Van Phuc to discover how silk is made as we admire and purchase fabulous high-quality silk products or fabric.
Enjoy free time after our return to central Hanoi to stroll the streets of the Old Quarter, shop at the designer shops around the hotel, or simply relax.
Tonight we share a very special relaxed dinner with a charming local Hanoian. Hear stories of life in contemporary Vietnam beyond the tourist trail, and discover how Hanoi and Vietnam has changed over the last thirty years
DAY 7
After a leisurely breakfast, we set off on a fascinating walking tour of the Hanoi Old Quarter. Learn to dodge the traffic and marvel at the bustling industry in the city's streets. We’ll visit iconic Hanoi landmarks from temples to shopping streets, Hoan Kiem Lake, the Temple Of Literature, the graffiti wall and much more. We’ll stop for Vietnamese coffee, lunch and sample street food including famous pho.
Enjoy your free time to relax, utilise the hotel facilities, wander around the Old Quarter, the French Quarter or out to the Tay Ho district, shop or people-watch.
After the leisurely afternoon enjoy a must-do Hanoi experience with a drink (your expense) and munchies – Vietnam style – at an iconic Bia Hoi, before dinner and a visit to the Weekend Walking Market in the Old Quarter which is closed to traffic in the evening.
DAY 8
Begin the day slowly before we…. Shhh! This activity’s a secret – we love surprises!!
After lunch, luxuriate in an exquisite session at an exclusive and tranquil spa. Feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and glowing after your choice of treatment (from a selection) relax before dinner.
This evening would be a great time for a true Hanoi experience with a visit the Water Puppet Theatre (extra cost) to enjoy this traditional cultural art before our evening activities.
Sample the wonderful traditional tastes of Hanoi at dinner. Delve deep later in the evening in a Self-Care Workshop and guided meditation.
DAY 9
We leave Hanoi bright and early today for the drive through the lush green countryside down to Halong Bay.
A delicious lunch will be ready for us when we check in to the cruise boat. As we sail around the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Halong Bay, we stop for a variety of activities, including the pearl farm and the magnificent Sung Sot Cave. Attend an onboard cooking demonstration before dinner and enjoy a range of after dinner onboard activities or simply relax.
DAY 10
Rise early for Tai Chi on the deck.
After breakfast our day on the water will include a hike to the summit of Titov Island for wonderful views of the vast bay and its hundreds of islands, visit to Trong Cave and the floating fishing village. Sea kayaking and spa are also available (surcharge applies).
After dinner onboard, we will hold our private Full Moon Releasing Ceremony.
DAY 11
In the morning enjoy brunch as we cruise back to shore to meet our car for the drive back to Hanoi, arriving in the late afternoon. In Hanoi, you will be taken to your new hotel and will have time to settle in. Please make your own hotel arrangements as this night's accommodation is not included in the Retreat. We meet up one last time for a Closing Ceremony and Japanese dinner in our own private room. (just for some food variety!)
We strongly suggest you use the next few days to see more of fabulous Vietnam, including Hanoi and it’s surrounds. Or speak to us about our recommendations of overnight tours outside Hanoi such as Tam Coc and Ninh Binh, or Mai Cau, including village homestays. If you have longer we strongly recommend a trip to the mountain town of Sapa. Or you may decide to spend a few days in Saigon. If you plan to leave Hanoi late in the evening of Day 11 we can arrange storage of your luggage on arrival in Hanoi until after the final dinner.
PLEASE NOTE: Accommodation for Day 11 in Hanoi is NOT included in the retreat. We finish the Retreat in the evening with dinner and a Closing Ceremony.