Today we skip the tourist crowds and see Hanoi through a local lens—starting early at Hoan Kiem Lake, where you’ll find the city waking up: tai chi in slow motion, speakers pumping aerobics music, and a quiet buzz of daily life.

We visit Ngoc Son Temple, perched on a small island in the lake, before grabbing a cup of cà phê sữa đá (iced coffee with sweetened milk) or the ultra-local favorite, egg coffee—a creamy, frothy blend that’s better than it sounds.

Winding through the Old Quarter, we pass faded French architecture, flower vendors on bicycles, and tiny storefronts that haven’t changed in decades. Stops include the Hoa Lo Prison, known as the “Hanoi Hilton,” the peaceful Temple of Literature, and B-52 Lake, where war history rests beneath the surface.

For lunch, we sit down to bún chả—grilled pork served with rice noodles, fresh herbs, and dipping sauce—exactly how it’s meant to be eaten.

We end the day with a walk along the train street, where homes sit just inches from the tracks. It’s surreal, photogenic, and still very much lived in. Our last stop is a bia hơi joint, where locals gather on plastic stools for cold beer and chats.

After an early breakfast, we head to Arusha airstrip for a scenic flight straight into the heart of Serengeti National Park. From the window, you’ll see the landscape shift—rolling hills give way to the vast, golden plains that make this place so legendary.

We land on a remote airstrip, where our safari guides are waiting with rugged Land Cruisers ready to take us on our first game drive en route to Tortilis Serengeti Camp. And just like that, we’re in the wild. As we make our way through the park, there’s no telling what we’ll see first—elephants lumbering through the grass, a tower of giraffes peeking over the treetops, or maybe a lion stretched out in the morning sun.

At camp, we settle in with lunch and some well-earned downtime—take a nap, flip through a book, or just enjoy the fact that you’re surrounded by one of the most incredible landscapes on Earth.

By late afternoon, we’re back on safari, venturing deeper into the Serengeti for an evening game drive. This is when the predators get moving, the golden light hits just right, and the park feels truly alive. As the sun sets, we return to camp for dinner and a relaxed evening around the fire, with nothing but the sounds of the wild in the background.