Itinerary
- Day 1
Ho Chi Minh City
You'll arrive at Ho Chi Minh City airport and meet your driver for the transfer to your hotel. After checking in, the rest of the day is yours to explore the city at your own pace. It's a good chance to get oriented and maybe grab dinner somewhere local.
Optional Activities
- Leisure exploration of Ho Chi Minh City
- Day 2
My Tho - Ben Tre
Early start at 8:00am heading to My Tho for a boat journey on the Tien River. You'll visit Dragon, Phoenix and Unicorn Islets, then walk through a fruit garden while local musicians play. Later you'll head to Ben Tre to see a coconut candy workshop and bee house. The afternoon brings a peaceful rowing boat trip through coconut-shaded canals before returning to Saigon with a stop at Vinh Trang Pagoda.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Boat trip on Tien River to Dragon, Phoenix and Unicorn Islets
- Visit fruit garden with local folk music performance
- Visit coconut candy workshop in Ben Tre
- Visit bee house and enjoy honey tea
- Rowing boat trip on small canal through coconut trees
- Stop at Vinh Trang Pagoda on return journey
- Free time for biking and walking after lunch
Optional Activities
- Picture with snake at bee house
Landmarks/POIs Tien River Vinh Trang Pagoda - Day 3
Cu Chi Tunnels - Da Nang
You'll depart at 8:30am for Cu Chi Tunnels, about 60km from Ho Chi Minh City. Spend time exploring the 220km tunnel system and learning about its role in the Vietnam War. If you're interested, you can fire an AK-47 at the site. You'll return by 2:30pm, leaving the afternoon free. At 6:00pm your driver picks you up for the train station and your overnight journey to Da Nang.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Cu Chi Tunnels
- Historical briefing on Cu Chi's role in Vietnam War
- Option to fire AK-47 at Cu Chi site
Optional Activities
- AK-47 firing experience
Landmarks/POIs Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 4
Hoi An
You'll arrive at Da Nang train station at 2:00pm and transfer to Hoi An. Once you're settled, spend the day wandering at your own pace. Check out the Japanese Bridge, walk the lantern-lit streets, visit traditional tailor shops, and try local food. If time allows, head to Cua Dai Beach to catch the sunset.
Optional Activities
- Visit Japanese Bridge
- Explore lantern road
- Visit traditional tailor shops
- Sample local specialities
- View sunset at Cua Dai Beach
Landmarks/POIs Japanese Bridge Cua Dai Beach - Day 5
My Son - Hoi An
Your hotel picks you up between 8:00am and 8:30am for the trip to My Son, a UNESCO World Heritage site. You'll have 2 hours with an English-speaking guide exploring the sacred landscape and watching traditional Champa performances. After that you'll learn rice paper making at a local house, then have lunch cooked in someone's home. The day finishes with a scenic boat trip along the Thu Bon River back to Hoi An.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local house with cold herbal tea and fresh air)
Included Activities
- Visit My Son holy land (UNESCO World Heritage site)
- Guided walking tour of My Son with local English-speaking guide
- Champa traditional performances
- Learn traditional rice paper making
- Lunch at local house with herbal tea
- Boat trip on Thu Bon River to Hoi An
Landmarks/POIs My Son Thu Bon River - Day 6
Hanoi
After breakfast at your hotel, you have free time in Hoi An until your airport transfer. You'll fly to Hanoi and settle into the vibrant Old Quarter for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Hoi An before airport transfer
- Day 7
Halong Bay
Your hotel picks you up between 7:45am and 8:15am for the roughly 3.5-hour drive through the countryside to Halong Bay. Around midday you'll board an A-Class Legend cruise at Tuan Chau Marina, check into your cabin, and get a welcome drink. You'll cruise through limestone scenery, explore Surprising Cave, and visit Titop Island for swimming or snorkeling. Later there's a sunset party on the sundeck followed by dinner and entertainment onboard.
- Meals
- Lunch (Typical local lunch in dining room or outdoor dining area), Dinner (Authentic Vietnamese menu), Breakfast
Included Activities
- Shuttle or private car transfer from hotel to Tuan Chau Marina
- Welcome drink upon arrival
- Cruise briefing with captain and crew
- Typical local lunch in dining room or outdoor dining area
- Explore Surprising Cave (Hang Sung Sot)
- Visit Titop Island for swimming and snorkeling
- Short trek to top of Titop Island with panoramic bay views
- Sunset party on sundeck
- Authentic Vietnamese dinner
- Onboard evening activities (book reading, games, movies, squid fishing)
- Cocktail bar access
Landmarks/POIs Surprising Cave (Hang Sung Sot) Titop Island Halong Bay - Day 8
Hanoi
Early risers can join optional Tai Chi on the sundeck at 6:30am. Breakfast runs from 7:00am to 8:00am while you sail through the bay. You'll explore Luon Cave by kayak or bamboo boat, then check out of your cabin at 9:00am. There's a cooking demonstration teaching you to make spring rolls before an early lunch. You'll disembark around noon and transfer back to Hanoi, arriving at your hotel around 4:30pm to 5:00pm.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Local breakfast), Lunch (Early lunch after cooking demonstration)
Included Activities
- Optional Tai Chi session on sundeck
- Local breakfast buffet
- Explore Luon Cave (Hang Luon) by kayak or bamboo boat
- Cooking demonstration - how to make spring rolls
- Early lunch before disembarking
- Return transfer to Hanoi hotel
Optional Activities
- Tai Chi session on sundeck
Landmarks/POIs Luon Cave (Hang Luon) - Day 9
Ninh Binh - Hanoi
Your hotel picks you up between 7:45am and 8:15am for the 120km journey to Ninh Binh. You'll explore Hoa Lu, Vietnam's ancient capital, visiting temples of the Le and Dinh Dynasties. At 1:00pm you'll take a boat trip through cave complexes including Sang Cave, Toi Cave, Ba Giot Cave, and Nau Ruou. In the late afternoon, tackle the 500 steps up Mua Cave mountain for panoramic views of Tam Coc and rice fields. You'll depart Ninh Binh at 6:00pm and return to Hanoi around 8:30pm.
Included Activities
- Visit Hoa Lu - historic capital of Vietnam
- Visit ancient temples of Le Dynasty
- Visit ancient temples of Dinh Dynasty
- Boat trip through cave complex (Sang Cave, Toi Cave, Ba Giot Cave, Nau Ruou)
- Visit Mua Cave
- Climb 500 steps up Mua Cave mountain
- Panoramic views of Tam Coc and rice fields
Landmarks/POIs Hoa Lu Trang An Mua Cave Tam Coc - Day 10
Hanoi
After breakfast at your hotel, you have the day to relax in Hanoi. Later you'll head to the airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Leisure time in Hanoi
