Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.

Today, the group will visit hospital sites in Hanoi to gain an understanding of the basic structure of Vietnam’s healthcare system, its culture and governance. In addition, the group will explore key aspects of healthcare administration, including private hospital governance, marketization within a socialist framework, quality and accreditation standards, and strategies for optimizing patient flow and pricing. 

Lunch is on your own arrangement.

Welcome dinner and cooking class – Hanoi Garden Gastronomy: An Exclusive Farm-to-Table Experience

This evening you will be transferred by private coach to a hidden garden estate that serves as a tranquil oasis amidst Hanoi’s energetic cityscape. Upon arrival, step into a peaceful sanctuary to explore the “hidden treasures” of the property: a sacred ancestral worship hall, a serene koi pond, and a lush, organic vegetable garden. Connect with the land as you personally select and harvest the fresh herbs that will define the flavors of your evening meal.

Over refreshing welcome drinks and seasonal fruits, your host will share fascinating insights into the culinary traditions of Vietnam. You’ll learn about the significance of herbs, spices, and fish sauce, and how they contribute to the harmonious flavors that define Vietnamese dishes. Discover the art of balancing contrasting tastes and textures, allowing each ingredient to shine.

Roll up your sleeves and immerse yourself in the cooking process. From chopping and sautéing to seasoning and plating, you’ll gain hands-on experience in creating authentic Vietnamese dishes from scratch. The host’s thorough instructions ensure that you develop a deep understanding of the techniques involved. Savor your creations, enjoying the feast, complemented by a special homemade dessert, bottomless herbal drinks and homemade rice wine while sharing eating etiquette and stories behind each dish.

Following your dinner, bid farewell to the garden and enjoy a comfortable transfer back to your hotel.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.

Today, the focus of the hospital site visits will be to learn about public hospital financing, the referral system, capacity constraints, workforce deployment, clinical training and research, specialty/tertiary care, and the public payer system.

Lunch is on your own arrangement.

The evening is yours to unwind or explore at your own pace. Alternatively, you can participate in tonight’s optional experience – a Private Water Puppet Show with an Artisan. There is an additional cost for this experience. We will collect interest and payment for this as we get closer to the trip.

Private Water Puppet Show with an Artisan

*** Duration: 5 hours (~16:00 – 22:00)

*** Casual attire and shoes that can get slightly wet if participating in puppet handling.

At around 16:00, you’ll be picked up at the hotel lobby by your local guide and depart your hotel for a 30-minute drive into a quiet Hanoi neighborhood, where you’ll be welcomed into the home of Mr. Liem, a renowned puppeteer from Nam Dinh province, where this tradition was born. A lifelong artist, Mr. Liem has inherited not only the technical skills of water puppetry but also its stories, rituals, and passion, passed down through generations.

Begin with a cup of tea as your host shares how water puppetry began in flooded rice fields over 1,000 years ago and how he has traveled the world showcasing this folk art. Hear his personal stories of preserving the craft and training young performers while adapting the tradition for modern audiences.

Then, enjoy a private 30-minute water puppet show performed on a mini stage built on the rooftop of his home. The performance includes traditional scenes such as lion dances, rice planting, buffalo fighting, and boat racing, all accompanied by live or recorded traditional music.

After the show, step behind the curtain to learn how the puppets are hand-carved and painted, and try your hand at manipulating the puppets in water. This hands-on segment brings a newfound appreciation for the craftsmanship, coordination, and storytelling that make this art form so enduring.

After leaving the artisan’s house, your local guide will take you to a good local restaurant for an authentic Vietnamese dinner before returning to the hotel for a rest.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.

Today, we escape the city and uncover the poetic landscapes of Tam Coc, often called “Halong Bay on land”, with its towering limestone karsts, winding waterways, and lush rice paddies. This full-day journey through the heart of Ninh Binh Province offers a tranquil contrast to Hanoi, combining scenic boat rides, cultural history, and countryside charm.

At around 07:30, depart from your hotel for a 2 hours’ drive to Ninh Binh. The rest of your morning is dedicated to hospital visits in Ninh Binh. Here we will learn about the provincial hospital role, rural access, gatekeeping vs bypass and primary care challenges and integration. 

A nice lunch will be set up at a local restaurant today to ensure the group enjoys a comfortable meal while exploring the countryside.

If time permits, continue to Tam Coc, where you’ll board a traditional sampan boat rowed by local villagers, often using their feet, for a gentle, two-hour journey along the Ngo Dong River. Float past towering cliffs, through limestone caves, and between green rice fields that ripple in the breeze. The setting is peaceful and cinematic — ideal for photographers and nature enthusiasts. This itinerary is designed for slow travel — to absorb the silence of the mountains, the simplicity of rural life, and the sacred calm of ancient temples.

We’ll head back to Hanoi in the late afternoon, so you’ll have the evening completely free to relax. Dinner is on your own tonight.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.

Today, the group will visit healthcare organizations in Hanoi to gain an understanding of public health in Vietnam.

Lunch is on your own arrangement.

The evening is yours to unwind or explore at your own pace.  Alternatively, you can participate in one of tonight’s optional experiences, detailed below. There is an additional cost for these experiences. We will collect interest and payment for this as we get closer to the trip. 

Option 1: Vespa Tour – Hanoi After Dark

*** Duration: Approx. 4 hours (18:00–22:00)

*** Guests ride as passengers behind professional drivers

*** Street food venues are basic and authentic — focus is on flavor, not formality

*** Comfortable clothing and closed shoes recommended

At 18:00, meet your guide and Vespa driver at your hotel and begin the night with a welcome drink at a rooftop café, with panoramic views of St. Joseph’s Cathedral. Your guide will introduce the route and share local insights before you zip off into Hanoi’s buzzing night.

Ride through the Old Quarter’s narrow lanes, weaving between street vendors, colonial architecture, and the city’s iconic train tracks. Stop at a tiny food stall nestled beside the railway line, where you’ll taste infused rice wine and flavorful local snacks. Continue to a neighborhood eatery to enjoy Hanoi’s signature dish — bún chả, grilled pork with fresh herbs and vermicelli noodles, prepared just like locals enjoy it. Then head to the banks of West Lake to taste fresh spring rolls and try your hand at the art of “wrap & roll” — Vietnamese style.

Wrap up the night at a live jazz club near the Hanoi Opera House, where a local band blends 1930s swing with traditional Vietnamese instruments — the perfect finish to a thrilling and flavorful night.

Option 2: Private meditation at local pagoda

*** Duration: Approx. 2 hours (16:00 – 18:00)

Late afternoon, immersion in a private meditation session at a local pagoda to experience the tranquil spiritual heritage of the region.

At around 16:00, meet your guide in the hotel lobby for a private transfer to a hidden local pagoda, followed by a warm introduction to the peaceful surroundings. Escape the frantic pace of modern life and step into a sanctuary of absolute stillness. This soulful retreat at a local pagoda offers you an opportunity to rediscover your true self and experience inner peace and clarity through the practice of Buddhism.

Following the session, your private driver and tour guide will transfer you back to your hotel to unwind, or drop you off at a local restaurant of your choice for an independent dinner.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.

Today, the group will visit healthcare sites in Hanoi and have the opportunity to synthesize and reflect on the learnings from the week, and discuss transferable lessons for health system leadership. 

This evening, we conclude our Hanoi journey with a celebratory closing dinner at La Table Hanoia restaurant. This final evening is a time for reflection and connection. Located on the third floor of the Press Club building, La Table Hanoia aspires to be more than a fine dining establishment or a modern cocktail bar. Its foundations are inspired by inspiration itself. That drive to find beauty wherever it may hide. Set above the famous Journalist Association, home to writers and journalists since the war, they are intended as a tribute to the finest creations by the gesture of the hand. At La Table Hanoia, they strive to offer beauty creations, from their fine gourmet selection of foods to the location’s elegant design.

If you are departing today, spend your morning time at leisure. The standard check-out time is 12:00 noon, late check-out is not included and subject to availability. At the scheduled pick-up time, your English-speaking guide and driver will meet you at your hotel lobby. The guide will assist with hotel check-out, help organize your luggage, and ensure everything is properly loaded into your private air-conditioned vehicle.

Alternatively, you may wish to extend your stay in Vietnam and enjoy a 2-day / 1-night excursion to Halong Bay. More details provided below.

This morning, embark on your 2-day / 1-night excursion to Halong Bay.

Inspired by the life and legacy of Vietnam’s last emperor, Bao Dai, the all-suite Emperor Cruise offers a journey steeped in elegance, privacy, and history. This two-day program blends royal comfort, curated cuisine, and off-the-beaten-path discovery, making it an ideal choice for guests seeking a refined overnight cruise in Halong Bay. With just 10 expansive suites, each with private balconies and sea-view jacuzzis, this is an immersive and personalized cruising experience designed for modern explorers with a taste for grandeur.

Begin your day with a private transfer from Hanoi to Tuan Chau Marina, with a short stop en route for refreshments. Upon arrival, enjoy a welcome drink at the Emperor Lounge before boarding your luxurious vessel.

Set sail at midday and enjoy a set lunch at Can Chanh Restaurant, featuring refined Vietnamese flavors as the ship cruises through Halong’s majestic limestone formations. In the afternoon, visit a limestone cave steeped in geological and cultural history, dating back over 10,000 years. Then continue with a leisurely bamboo boat or kayaking excursion to explore the bay’s hidden corners — calm waters, towering karsts, and serene landscapes await.

*** Kayaking and cave visits are subject to change based on weather or tide.

Back on board, indulge in afternoon tea with canapés and music on the sundeck, followed by a cooking class where you’ll try your hand at Vietnamese cuisine as the sun sets.

Dinner is served à la carte in the Royal Palace Restaurant, where a blend of Vietnamese and international dishes are elegantly presented.

The evening concludes with drinks on the top deck, optional spa treatments (advance booking required), and squid fishing beneath the stars.

Note: If you plan to depart on this day, we highly recommend booking onward flights departing after 17:00 for domestic or after 18:00 for international destinations. This allows sufficient time for the drive from Ha Long Bay, airport check-in, and potential traffic delays.

Begin the morning with Vovinam, Vietnam’s traditional martial art, practiced on the sundeck in the soft light of dawn.

A light breakfast is served before embarking on a bamboo boat excursion through calm waters, framed by lush greenery and quiet limestone walls. Watch for wild orchids and traditional fishing scenes as you float in near silence.

Return to the ship to complete packing and check out. A brunch à la carte is served in the restaurant as the ship cruises back toward the harbor.

Disembark at Tuan Chau Marina, then return to Hanoi via private vehicle, arriving mid-afternoon (around 14:00). You will be transferred to your hotel (own arrangement) or to the airport for your flight to the next destination.

For 5-6 participants, the cost is $587 USD per person in a double occupancy room.

For 7-9 participants, the cost is $572 USD per person in a double occupancy room.

For 10-14 participants, the cost is $524 USD per person in a double occupancy room.

For 15-19 participants, the cost is $499 USD per person in a double occupancy room.

Should you wish to have your own room, we can arrange this for you with an additional single supplement of $167 USD.