Hanoi Sunrise

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Hectic and historic, graceful and grand, Hanoi is a city full of character - and there's no better time to see it than in the early morning. Wake up and get swept up in the buzz during the morning rush. Watch Hanoi's residents performing their morning exercise routines on the banks of Hoan Kiem Lake and perhaps stretch tired limbs in a tai chi class. Grab a bowl of pho for breakfast then discover the secrets of the country's famous cuisine during a cooking class.

Highlights:

Watch Hanoi come to life with the sun.
Try tai chi on the shores of Hoan Kiem Lake.
Experience a different side of this hectic Vietnamese city.
Savour a delicious breakfast bowl of pho.
Shop for Vietnamese cooking ingredients at Hang Be market
Learn to cook tasty Vietnamese local dishes

Tour style:Walking & Orientation, Food, Cuisine & Market visits, Local Life & Culture
Inclusion:

English speaking local guide, Entrance fees as indicated, Transport as indicated, Meals: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch

Exclusion:

Items of a personal nature, Tips or gratuities for drivers or guide.

Group size:Maximum 12
Schedule details:

Duration: 6-7 hours
Meeting point:
Pick up at centrally located hotels in Hanoi.
Start time: 6.00 AM-6.30 AM
Finish point:
At the end of the trip you are free to continue exploring the area or your guide will assist you in getting a taxi back to your hotel.

Additional information :

Voucher exchange details:
Please present your voucher to the local guide at the beginning of the tour.
Confirmation of booking:
Please contact Hanoi Urban Adventures to confirm your tour 24 hours prior to departure.
Dress standard:
Dress standards are conservative throughout Asia, especially outside major cities. To respect this and for your own comfort, we strongly recommend modest clothing. This means clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Loose, lightweight, long clothing is both respectful and cool in the predominantly hot Asian climate.
Child policy:
Travellers should be 12 years or older for this tour.
Language: English

Also runs from:1 Apr 2012 to 31 Mar 2013

Itinerary:

With our local guide we start our Hanoi cultural tour bright and early with a walk to visit Hoan Kiem Lake (or "Lake of the Restored Sword") to experience early morning Hanoi.

Hanoi history and legend has it that in the mid 15^th century the gods provided the Emperor Le Thai To a magical sword to defeat the Ming dynasty Chinese invaders. Following the victory the emperor was boating on the lake when a giant tortoise reared up and took the sword, returning it to its rightful owners.

Today the lake is a gathering place for the residence of Hanoi doing their morning exercise. For those wanting to interact during our Hanoi tour we can join in on the morning activities such as tai chi. After a energetic start to the day we enjoy a traditional local breakfast – “real flavor of Pho” followed by a Vietnamese coffee at a roof top café in Hanoi’s old quarter overlooking the Hoan Kiem Lake.

Our local guide will then take us to a family run Vietnamese restaurant for a cooking class where the chef will introduce a traditional Vietnamese kitchen and the finer points of cooking local food, and is something you can't find on other Hanoi tours. Our first step in our cooking school is a walk to Hang Be food market to learn about Vietnamese cooking ingredients, from hot chilli to fresh vegetables and meats.

Once back at the restaurant our chef with the help of our local guide will teach us to cook a number of special Vietnamese dishes...no Hanoi travel experience is complete without tasting some local specialties. We will learn skills to take home with us to impress our friends. Following our lesson we sit down to a feast.

At the end of our Hanoi cultural tour you are free to continue exploring the area or your guide will assist you in getting a taxi back to your hotel.

Your trip:

This tour is offered on a "join-in" basis. Maximum group size is 12.

Tipping:

If you are happy with the services provided by your local guides and drivers a tip - though not compulsory - is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, it is of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many Intrepid Urban Adventures destinations. Please consider this when budgeting for your extra expenses on this tour.

Cancellations made more than 2 days prior to travel receive a full refund
Cancellations made 2 days or less prior to travel attract a 100% cancellation fee.

Hanoi Urban Adventures

The Hanoi Urban Adventure team are passionate about their city. Each of our Hanoi tours will show you different aspects of our country, different corners of its streets, unique insight into our home communities and much more! Come see the best of Hanoi and its surrounds with us.

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18°C
Feels like: 18°C
Drizzle. Fog. Mild.

Responsible Travel with Urban Adventures

Wherever we go in the world, we take a responsible attitude with us. That means travelling in a way which both respects and benefits local people, their culture, their economy, and their environment. Please read on for more information on our Responsible Travel policy and how you can be a responsible traveller for your entire journey.

Top 12 Responsible Travel Tips

The following tips are for your overall travel plans, not just for your time spent on an Urban Adventures tour.

Before leaving home, learn as much as possible about the countries you are visiting - the religion and culture, the local rules and values.
Learn some of the local language and don't be afraid to use it - simple pleasantries will help break the ice. Keep practicing.
Learn what's appropriate behaviour and body language. Like the concept of "saving face" in Asia or giving the thumbs up in western or central Europe.
Support locally owned businesses, hotels, restaurants, and other services. Eat local food and drink local brands and brews. Use public transport, hire a bike or walk where convenient - you'll meet local people and get to know the place. Use our local travel practices as a guideline.
Think first. It's best not to eat in restaurants, shop in stores or visit local shows, markets or zoos that promote cruelty or exploitation of endangered species.
Shop from traditional artisans and for locally made products, helping keep traditional crafts alive and favour local products over imported items. Bargain if that is a local practice, but bear in mind that a small amount to you could be extremely important to the seller.
Dress respectfully with an awareness of local standards. Dress modestly at religious sites and check what swim wear is suitable for pools and the beach.
Always ask first before photographing or videoing people. Send them back copies of photos to help make it a two-way exchange.
Be wary of giving gifts or money to beggars, children and people you have just met. Supporting the community through a local school, clinic, or development project may be more constructive.
Leave only footprints...take care of the environment as you would your own home. Take out all you take in, to areas away from the cities. Use alternatives to plastic and say 'no' to plastic bags. For cigarette butts, an empty film container makes a perfect portable container.
After returning home think how you can support programmes and organisations that are working to protect the welfare, culture and environment of where you've been lucky to visit.
Smile - The traveller who wishes to have a happy and successful trip should keep as calm, cheerful and friendly as humanly possible. And have fun!

Responsible Travel Code of Conduct

The following are Urban Adventures's key principles for operating responsible tours.

We aim to:

Use locally owned infrastructure on our tours where possible.
Spread the financial benefits amongst local people and operators.
Provide employment and leadership opportunities for local people.
Respect local customs and culture.
Provide safe tours for Urban Adventure partners, staff, and travellers.
Educate travellers and our partners about how and why we choose to travel this way.
Limit the negative impacts to daily lifestyles of local people not involved with Urban Adventures groups.
Limit the physical impact of trips in all destination communities-particularly sensitive natural and cultural environments.
Provide support to organisations and local communities visited by Urban Adventures groups.
Provide fun enjoyable trips to Urban Adventures travellers.
Provide opportunities for travellers to interact with local people.
Actively ban partners, staff and passenger participation in or endorsement of commercial sexual activities or illegal drug use on Urban Adventures tours.
Actively discourage the participation of Urban Adventures groups in activities which exploit animals - wild or domestic.
Use local partners that adhere to Urban Adventures' Responsible Travel and Local Travel principles and provide the best possible service to Urban Adventures travellers and staff.
Work to prevent the exploitation of children in tourism.
Support and encourage fair employment practices.
Give our travellers the best possible value.

For more information on how to be a responsible traveller, region-specific guidelines, and voluntourism, check out what our friends at Intrepid have to say.

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