
Vietnam is proud to be a gay friendly destination besides Thailand and Taiwan. Even though LGBTQ community in Vietnam is still encountering a lot of difficulties in being officially recognized, there are a great deal of activities, events involved in gay world taken place in big cities. Follow this tour for a thorough understanding of gay life in our country, with opportunities to meet and talk with people

Upon arrival at Noi Bai international airport, transfer to your hotel on your private vehicle.
The capital Hanoi is best known for its thriving contemporary arts scene and French architecture, visible by many colonial villas scattered throughout the city. Compared to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi is more traditional and refined. As Hanoi is becoming more populated with people and automobiles, the city is experiencing more traffic congestion, particularly in the Old Quarter.
Start the tour with sit down at a vintage coffee shop tucked away in a century-old house to observe the typical morning culture of Hanoians before work. Then drive to the historic Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, an imposing monument lavishly built using marble and granite, and where the preserved body of “Uncle Ho” resides. (Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed every Monday & Friday, all afternoons and from early September until mid November). After that, you can visit One Pillar Pagoda which is a historic Buddhist temple in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Wind your way afterwards to the Temple of Literature, the first University for the sons of mandarins, for an overview about Hanoian culture and appreciation for ancient Vietnamese architecture.
After lunch, continue on a cyclo ride around Hanoi Old Quarter to witness the bustling local life reflected through small crowded streets where people have been trading things for centuries.
Notes:
- Suggested time: 08:30
- Duration: 6 hours
Hầu Đồng, an age-old Spirit Possession Ritual which has just been recognized as Unesco intangible cultural heritage, is an art combination of various folk artistic values in terms of literature, music, dancing, fine arts, performing art and folk festival.
The performers, called spirit mediums (Đồng) be either male or female, are believed to be able to contact directly with the spirits of Mother Goddess, while the ceremony attendants (the audience) hope to have contact with the spirits to ask for their blessing. Interestingly, most of the male who play Đồng are gays.
They, comparing to other “Đồng”, somehow have a much better performance ability and better connection to Mother Goddess. Today meet up with a young gay who has been the spirit medium for many years, let him share with you all about his works, including the historic and cultural of Hầu Đồng, performance costumes and dances, about how he was chosen to become a spirit medium, and how his life is managed to be accepted as a gay in daily life.
Notes:
- Availability: Thursday and Saturday evening only, upon request
- Suggested time: 16:00
- Duration: 45 minutes for backstage and 45 minutes for show
Depart for a 3.5 hour journey to Ha Long Bay. Make a stop en route for some refreshment (around 15-20 minutes). On arrival in Ha Long Bay, let the vacation begin with a lunch as the boat cruises towards South East Ha Long Bay. Spend your time discovering the mysterious caves, tranquil beaches and take part in some group activities on board.
Wake up early and partake in a Tai Chi demonstration which is held on the upper deck with with complimentary tea and coffee being served. Rejuvenate your body and mind with the slow movement of Tai Chi and enjoy the dawn on the bay and enjoy breakfast while The vessel weighs anchor to sail to surrounding islands for swimming and kayaking.
Head back to the boat to relax on board. Bar opens for Happy Hour with buy one get one free on drinks. Enjoy a wonderful dinner on board tonight. Later, retire to your cabin or join the squid fishing program.
Wake up early to witness the sun rise over the bay with a cup of tea or coffee in hand on the sundeck. After, there will be an early and gentle Tai Chi demonstration. Eat a light breakfast in the restaurant (pastries, tea, coffee) and as we sail to the last sites of your cruise. Check out of your cabin as we draw closer to the mainland. Say goodbye to the crew at 11:30. You will board our tender and head back to the wharf where you will be met by your return trip vehicle to transfer back to Noi Bai airport.
Upon arrival at Da Nang airport, drive to Hoi An ancient town which is just 45-minute away.
Hoi An ancient town is a World Cultural Heritage boasts well-preserved buildings, pedestrianized streets and unique food culture since early 17th century. Many of the buildings in the town reflect historical architectural styles and the whole town is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy a walking tour in the old town for a thorough view on this historic site.
Bamboo tree is a significant symbol in both Vietnamese culture and daily life. Today meet with Mr. Tan Vo, who represents the creative young generation and brings bamboo products up to another level. Having inherited valuable skills from his father, Mr. Tan Vo has recently created a unique bicycle with the frame and handlebars made from bamboo. His family also hand-makes many other bamboo items which you can see and discover in the bamboo workshop. Try your hands on making a pen holder or a décor item under his guidance and take it home as a souvenir.
Notes:
- Suggested time: 09:00
- Duration: 7 hours
Hoi An used to be a famous seaport where the Portuguese, Dutch, Japanese, Chinese, French, etc. made their home during the 17th century. The culinary culture here is an interference of several different cultures. The effect of Chinese, Japanese and royal Vietnamese are the most significant, showed in both architecture and food. Today meet up with a Hoi An famous chef who has spent all the passion in cooking. Take a walk around the wet market to learn about Hoi An fresh ingredients and herbs, pick some for your cooking class. Back to Chef’s house for a private cooking lesson with all Hoi An special dishes, and listen to the history of each dish, understand the culture and tradition behind the dishes that loved by Hoi An locals.
Transfer back to Hoi An town.
Notes:
- Availability: Morning
- Suggested Time: 08:00
- Duration: 5 hours
The remainder of the day is free at leisure to enjoy the beach.
Morning check out hotel, take a 3-hour drive to Hue via Hai Van Ocean Pass, the most magnificent pass in Central Vietnam. Upon arrival Hue, check in hotel for a relaxing time.
Drive to Ms. Nau’s local garden house. Her house showcases the most typical Hue family culture, in which 3 generations live together and open business in their own house. Each family member has his/her own passion, typically in singing, cooking and art. And, like other traditional Hue families, everyone in Ms. Nau’s family is carefully educated with royal Hue customs and spirits. Ms. Nau herself is an interior designer. She left Saigon and got back to Hue few years ago, started her business creating macrame artworks. Her passion and talent for macrame were introduced on Hue Youth Channel many times. Join her for a quick lesson to make a simple macrame items, featuring some of Hue iconic heritages, before moving to living room area for some Hue traditional homemade snacks.
Notes:
- Suggested time: 015:00
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Capacity: Max. 8 pax
Start from your hotel to Imperial Citadel Complex, which has been officially recognized by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Its thick stones are certainly solid, towering above a moat fed by the Perfume River. Continue to visit the serene Tu Duc Royal Tomb, designed to blend in with its natural surroundings and built on principles of Feng-Shui or the elaborate Khai Dinh Royal Tomb. Its architecture showcases elements of eastern art and western design.
Notes:
- Suggested time: 08:00
- Duration: 3 hours
Discover the amazing art of making papers and drawings by bamboo paper. This is quite a new and exquisite technique which is created by a young and talented artist after many years doing research, study and practice. The art, which is called Truc Chi, requires the cleverness and passion from the artists. Visit the workshop and talk to the artists here will help you understand more about the working process. Try to create your own drawing and take it home as a souvenir.
Notes:
- Suggested time: 14:00
- Duration: 3 hours
This morning, you will be transferred to the airport to take the flight to Saigon.
Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport, enjoy lunch, then take a 1.5-hour drive to Cu Chi tunnels. The tunnel network stretches over 250km and extends to three levels underground providing you with a remarkable insight into the hardships, courage, determination and terror of a guerrilla war. Take a cruise back to Saigon on speedboat, enjoy the magnificent sunset over Saigon river.
Notes:
- Suggested time: 13:00
- Duration: 5 hours.
The darker the night gets, the more vivid Saigon becomes! Get ready for a fascinating ride by vintage vespa tonight to discover busy Saigon after dark, together with fun street food tasting in the most authentic local restaurants. Make your first stop at a small yet popular Vietnamese bread stall, line up to get a fresh bread roll before heading to a vintage coffee shop tucked away in a back alley for a briefing. Then continue to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the streets and explore an old apartment complex that comes to life at night with hundreds of food and drinks stalls. Continue riding to a hidden boutique local restaurant to taste the freshest Southern Vietnamese courses. Take a break at a 30-year-old street dessert shop. Conclude your night at an LGBT friendly speak-easy bar tucked away in a quiet alley to taste their signature cocktails and have a chat with people here. Hop back on the vespa and ride back to your hotel.
Notes:
- Suggested time: 18:30
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Special note: the itinerary is subject to change during Tet holidays
- Capacity: max. 15 pax per group. For bigger group size, clients will be divided into different private groups
Despite its modernity, Saigon maintains a strong link to the past and our walking tour takes in some of the city’s most historic landmarks. Transfer to Dong Khoi Street downtown to visit some of the beautiful French colonial-era buildings from the late 19th and early 20th century. Appreciate the splendidly restored exteriors of the Saigon Opera House and the Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires constructed from materials imported from France (entrance is only permitted when no services are being performed). Then head across the square to the Central Post Office, completed in 1891. Continue to Jade pagoda established in the early 1900s to get a glimpse of ancient history when a group of Chinese fled the new regime to Saigon around the end of 17th century under the reign of Lord Nguyen.
We then drive to Chinatown to visit the beautiful Thien Hau Pagoda, built by the Cantonese community in the early 19th century to honour the Goddess of the Sea. Take time to make a wish, write it on a small card and attach it to one of the incense coils according to local custom.
Wrap up your day with a special activity engaged in local LGBTQ community. Gather up for a small meeting and talk with the representative of LGBT association at a local coffee shop to learn more about the community in Vietnam and how they support the LGBT for a better life and to contribute to the success of the society.
Notes:
- Suggested time: 09:00
- Duration: 8 hours.
After breakfast, head to Tien Giang Province for a wonderful excursion in Mekong Delta. Board on a wooden cruise crossing 2 branches of Mekong River and heading to a small tranquil village. Make a stop to visit a local factory to see how coal is made from coconut hard-shell then back to the boat and continue your cruising trip to Tam Hiep Island.
Upon arrival at the island, stretch your leg a bit before starting your biking trip on small village paths through huge orchards to reach a special farm where the local farmers plant only the creepers (called La Sam in Vietnamese). After this interesting activity, head to a honey bee’s farm and observe the process of making longan honey. Enjoy a cup of tea with honey and lime juice before enjoying a cruising trip on the rowing boat to go deeper into the countryside via smaller canals.
After lunch, visit some other local workshops to see how coconut candies are made and enjoy traditional music before ending your trip in Mekong and transfer back to Saigon.
Notes:
- Suggested time: 08:00
- Duration: 7-8 hours
- Cycling or tri-motorcycle riding can be arranged, depending on your physical ability and length you desire
- The exploration can be done on foot, horse cart or tri-motorcycle instead of the cycling
Refresh at your hotel until 19:00, transfer to a hidden boutique restaurant for a special farewell dinner. The restaurant belongs to a young talented gay who has extensive relationship of the community and admirable passion on local food culture.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to take the departure flight home or continue the extension to other destination.