Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Hanoi
You'll touch down at Noi Bai International Airport and look for your guide holding a Your Vietnam Travel signboard in the lobby. From there, it's a transfer to your hotel for check-in so you can settle in after your flight.
Optional Activities
- Early check-in (subject to hotel availability)
- Day 2
Hanoi to Ninh Binh
Early pickup gets you on the road for about 120 km heading south to Ninh Binh. You'll start at Hoa Lu Ancient Capital to see the 17th-century temples, then spend roughly 1.5 hours on a bamboo boat gliding down the Ngo Dong River past limestone formations. After a cycling tour through the surrounding village, you'll head back to Hanoi for the evening.
- Meals
- Lunch (Buffet lunch at local restaurant with specialties such as goat meat and fried rice; vegetarian options available)
Included Activities
- Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital - first capital of Vietnam with 17th-century temples of King Dinh and King Le
- Buffet lunch at local restaurant with specialties including goat meat and fried rice (vegetarian options available)
- 1.5-hour bamboo boat trip along Ngo Dong River in Tam Coc
- 45-minute cycling tour around the village
Landmarks/POIs Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Tam Coc Ngo Dong River - Day 3
Hanoi to Halong Bay
Your guide picks you up for the drive east through Red River Delta rice-farming villages toward Halong Bay. Once you board a traditional junk, you'll cruise between the bay's limestone islets and have dinner with fresh seafood. If you're interested, there's time for an evening swim before settling in for the night on your boat.
- Meals
- Dinner (Wonderful seafood meal served on the boat in the evening)
Included Activities
- Full day and night cruise on traditional junk through Halong Bay
- Exploration of 3,000 limestone islets
- Seafood meal in the evening
- Evening swim from the boat
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay - Day 4
Halong Bay to Hanoi
The morning starts early with an optional Tai Chi session on the top deck or just watching the sunrise from where you are. You'll take rowboats to explore nearby islands, come back for breakfast, then spend time on the sundeck taking in the rock formations. After brunch on board, it's back to Halong Pier and the return drive to Hanoi.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on board the junk), Brunch (Brunch on board the junk)
Included Activities
- Tai Chi session on top deck (optional participation)
- Sunrise viewing
- Morning coffee or tea
- Rowboat exploration of nearby islands
- Breakfast on the junk
- Brunch on the junk
- Sundeck time to admire rock formations
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay - Day 5
Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast at your hotel, you'll transfer to the airport and fly down to Ho Chi Minh City. Your guide will meet you on arrival and take you to your hotel to check in and get comfortable.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Day 6
Ho Chi Minh City
Starting after breakfast, you'll walk through Ho Chi Minh City's major sites like the Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the French-era Post Office. Then you'll head out to Cu Chi Tunnels, a sprawling 250-kilometer network used during the war. You'll have a chance to try boiled tapioca and hot tea before heading back to the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Reunification Palace - special national relic with historical and architectural significance
- Visit War Remnants Museum
- Explore Notre Dame Cathedral
- Explore Old Post Office (French building)
- Tour of Cu Chi Tunnels - man-made maze used as communication routes, storage, hospitals and living quarters during wartime
- Optional entry into the tunnels to discover living conditions
- Tasting of boiled tapioca and hot tea
- Lunch at local restaurant
Optional Activities
- Entry into the Cu Chi Tunnels to experience the harsh living conditions
Landmarks/POIs Reunification Palace War Remnants Museum Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon Central Post Office Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 7
Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta
An early morning pickup means a 1.5-hour bus ride through rice fields to reach the rural area around Trung Luong and My Tho. You'll check out Vinh Trang Pagoda, then cruise the Tien River to see the Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Tortoise islands. At a coconut candy mill you'll see how it's made, and later you'll take a hand-rowed sampan under the water coconut trees. There's time for seasonal fruit and honey tea while listening to traditional Southern Vietnamese folk music before returning to Ho Chi Minh City.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
- Motor boat entry into My Tho city through Bao Dinh natural canal
- Leisurely cruise on Tien River to view Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise islands
- Lunch at local restaurant
- Visit coconut candy mill
- Hand-rowed sampan trip along small canal under water coconut trees
- Seasonal fruit and honey tea with Southern Vietnamese folk music performance by locals
Landmarks/POIs My Tho Vinh Trang Pagoda Tien River - Day 8
Departure from Ho Chi Minh City
Depending on when your flight leaves, you'll have the morning to do some last shopping or see something else before heading to the airport for your departure.
Optional Activities
- Last-minute sightseeing
- Shopping
