Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll land at the airport and head to your hotel to drop your bags. From there, the afternoon and evening are yours to explore at your own pace. Wander through the tree-lined streets, pop into ancient pagodas, and walk around the historic old city to get a feel for Hanoi's layout and energy.
Optional Activities
- Explore wide tree-lined avenues
- Visit ancient pagodas
- Discover thriving historic old city
- Day 2
Hanoi
After breakfast, join a guided tour through Hanoi's backstreets. You'll check out a local street market and stroll through the Vinh Phuc district before stopping at a hidden alley coffee shop. Later, ride pillion on a taxi-motorbike around Ho Tay Lake. The afternoon includes Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum exterior, the Temple of Literature, and Hoa Lo prison. Finish the day with a cold beer at a roadside bia hoi.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Hanoi street food specialty)
Included Activities
- Backstreets tour of Hanoi's capital
- Street market visit northwest of city
- Stroll through Vinh Phuc district
- Coffee stop at hidden alley shop
- Taxi-motorbike ride around Ho Tay Lake
- View Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum (exterior only)
- Stroll down Hung Vuong Avenue
- Explore Temple of Literature complex
- Visit Hoa Lo prison (Hanoi Hilton)
- Roadside bia hoi (beer) experience
Optional Activities
- Street food lunch specialty arranged by guide
- Air-conditioned car/taxi instead of taxi-motorbike (no extra cost)
Landmarks/POIs Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum Temple of Literature Ho Tay Lake Hoa Lo Prison Hung Vuong Avenue - Day 3
Hanoi to Halong Bay
Start with breakfast and then take a cyclo ride through the French Quarter, seeing the Opera House and Ly Thai To Park. Transfer to Halong Bay where you'll board a traditional junk boat. Sail through the jade waters past karst islands, have lunch onboard, and explore Trinh Nu Cave with its stalactites and stalagmites. You'll get time to swim and kayak before watching a Vietnamese cooking demo and eating seafood dinner on deck.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch onboard junk boat in Halong Bay), Dinner (Sumptuous seafood dinner onboard junk boat)
Included Activities
- Cyclo ride around Hanoi's French Quarter
- View Opera House
- Visit Ly Thai To Park
- Traditional junk boat cruise in Halong Bay
- Lunch onboard junk boat
- Visit Trinh Nu Cave
- Vietnamese cooking demonstration on sundeck
- Seafood dinner onboard
Optional Activities
- Kayaking in Halong Bay
- Swimming in Halong Bay
Landmarks/POIs Opera House Ly Thai To Park Halong Bay Trinh Nu Cave - Day 4
Halong Bay to Hanoi to Hue
The morning offers optional Tai Chi or a traditional massage on the sundeck. Explore Sung Sot Cave and its two major chambers, then head back to Hanoi mid-afternoon. Walk around the historic 36 streets of the old quarter at a relaxed pace. By evening, you'll board the overnight Reunification Express train to Hue in a basic 4-berth sleeper cabin (or fly if you prefer).
Included Activities
- Explore Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Grotto)
- Leisurely walk around '36 streets of the old quarter' in Hanoi
- Overnight train Hanoi to Hue in 4-berth sleeper cabin
Optional Activities
- Tai Chi class on sundeck
- Traditional massage
- Flight from Hanoi to Hue
Landmarks/POIs Sung Sot Cave - Day 5
Hue
You'll arrive in Hue and take a guided tour of this 19th-century Nguyen empire capital. Visit Thien Mu Pagoda with its iconic 21-meter tower, walk through the Imperial Purple Palace with its ramparts and moats, and see the Royal Tombs of the Nguyen kings, including Emperor Tu Duc's mausoleum. There's an optional long boat cruise on the illuminated Perfume River at sunset.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Hue
- Visit Thien Mu Pagoda
- Explore Imperial Purple Palace within citadel
- View Royal Tombs of Nguyen kings
- View Emperor Tu Duc's mausoleum
Optional Activities
- Long boat cruise along Perfume River at sunset
Landmarks/POIs Thien Mu Pagoda Imperial Purple Palace Royal Tombs of Nguyen Kings Emperor Tu Duc's Mausoleum Perfume River - Day 6
Hue to Hoi An
Travel south over the scenic Hai Van Pass, taking in views of beaches and lush hills. Stop for a walk and optional swim at China Beach. Arrive in Hoi An and walk through its cobbled streets and traditional homes, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year-old Tam Ky house, and the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge. Spend time browsing boutique restaurants, cafes, craft shops, and tailors.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Scenic drive through Hai Van Pass
- Walk along China Beach
- Walking tour of Hoi An historical town
- Visit Chua Ong Pagoda
- Visit Chinese Assembly Hall
- Visit 200-year-old Tam Ky house
- Visit 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge
- Visit former merchants' homes
Optional Activities
- Refreshing swim at China Beach
- Bespoke tailor services (nominal price)
- Hoi An Street Eats optional add-on by vintage Vespa (book early, numbers limited)
Landmarks/POIs Hai Van Pass China Beach Chua Ong Pagoda Chinese Assembly Hall Tam Ky House Japanese Covered Bridge - Day 7
Tra Que Village
Take a bike ride through the countryside to Tra Que village (alternative transportation available). You'll learn about age-old farming practices and traditional medicine. Put on a conical hat and help work the fields and gardens yourself. Watch a cooking demonstration and then help prepare lunch.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch prepared during hands-on cooking demonstration in Tra Que village)
Included Activities
- Bicycle ride through countryside to Tra Que village
- Learn about age-old farming practices
- Learn about traditional medicine
- Tend fields and gardens wearing conical hats
- Watch cooking demonstration
- Help cook lunch
Optional Activities
- Alternative transportation to Tra Que village (no extra cost)
Landmarks/POIs Tra Que Village - Day 8
Hoi An
This is your free day to relax or explore more on your own. Take a rowboat along the river, spend time at the beach, or use the hotel pool. If you'd prefer structured activities, optional excursions go to the UNESCO-listed My Son sanctuary or Ba Na Hills mountain resort.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Relaxing rowboat journey along river
- Beach day
- Hotel pool relaxation
- Excursion to UNESCO-listed My Son sanctuary (book and pay locally)
- Day trip to Ba Na Hills mountain resort with cable car ride and Golden Bridge walk (book and pay locally)
Landmarks/POIs My Son Sanctuary Ba Na Hills Golden Bridge - Day 9
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta
Catch an early morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City, then drive to the Mekong Delta. Cruise through the waterways on a sampan and watch daily life unfold along the river. Pass colorful trading boats and houseboats, and stop at local cottage industries making popcorn, coco candies, and paper. Lunch is served in a traditional wooden home on Dong Hoa Hiep Island.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in traditional wooden home on Dong Hoa Hiep Island)
Included Activities
- Flight from Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
- Drive to Mekong Delta
- Sampan boat cruise through waterways
- Visit local cottage industries
- Lunch in traditional wooden home on Dong Hoa Hiep Island
Landmarks/POIs Mekong Delta Cai Be Dong Hoa Hiep Island - Day 10
Mekong Delta to Ho Chi Minh City
Head to Cai Rang floating market early in the morning before driving back to Ho Chi Minh City. This former Pearl of the Orient has sleek skyscrapers, gourmet restaurants, designer malls, and bars alongside ancient pagodas, colonial landmarks, and street markets. On a walking tour you'll see Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Post Office, and the War Remnants Museum. The evening is free to do what you like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Cai Rang floating market
- Walking tour of Ho Chi Minh City
- View Notre Dame Cathedral
- View Old Post Office
- Visit War Remnants Museum
Landmarks/POIs Cai Rang Floating Market Notre Dame Cathedral Old Post Office War Remnants Museum - Day 11
Cu Chi Tunnels
Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels used during the 1960s conflict. Watch a video presentation and then walk through bush trails to see trapdoors, booby traps, living areas, weapon factories, and kitchens. You'll crawl through widened tunnel sections and see bomb craters from the war era. There's an optional firing range where you can shoot weapons from that period.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Cu Chi Tunnels
- Video presentation about tunnels and war history
- Walk through bush trails
- Explore trapdoors, booby traps, living areas, weapon factories, and kitchens
- Crawl through widened tunnel sections
- View bomb craters
Optional Activities
- Fire weapons of the era (M16s and AK47s) on firing range
Landmarks/POIs Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 12
Ho Chi Minh City
Explore more of Ho Chi Minh City starting at Reunification Palace, the former residence of South Vietnam's president until April 30, 1975, now a museum and wedding venue. See the War Room and then head to Giac Lam Pagoda, the city's oldest temple. Visit the FITO Museum, Vietnam's first traditional medicine museum with over 3,000 items. End at Ben Thanh Market for shopping and haggling practice.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Reunification Palace
- Explore War Room in palace
- Visit Giac Lam Pagoda
- Explore FITO Museum (traditional medicine museum)
- Visit Ben Thanh Market
Landmarks/POIs Reunification Palace Giac Lam Pagoda FITO Museum Ben Thanh Market - Day 13
Ho Chi Minh City Departure
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward departure flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
