Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll arrive in Hanoi and get settled into your accommodation. There's a welcome meeting at 6pm if you want to join in, and dinner can be arranged if you're interested. If your flight gets you there early, the Old Quarter is right there waiting with its narrow lanes packed with street food vendors and local shops worth wandering through.
Optional Activities
- Explore Old Quarter and narrow lanes with food sellers
- Dinner at local restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Old Quarter - Day 2
Hanoi
The morning takes you on a sightseeing tour hitting One-Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Your afternoon opens up with choices - there's an optional cooking class, you could take a cyclo through the French Quarter, or just relax at your hotel. Later, you might catch a water puppetry performance or head out for dinner trying Vietnamese specialties like spring rolls and pho.
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of One-Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Temple of Literature
- Visit Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh
Optional Activities
- Cookery class
- Explore French Quarter by cyclo
- Traditional water puppetry performance at Thang Ling water puppet theatre (approximately 1 hour)
- Dinner at local restaurant sampling Vietnamese cuisine including spring rolls and pho
Landmarks/POIs One-Pillar Pagoda Temple of Literature Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh French Quarter Thang Ling Water Puppet Theatre - Day 3
Hanoi to Mai Chau
After breakfast, you're looking at a four-hour drive through rural villages and paddy fields heading to Mai Chau, a quiet valley spot. Lunch waits for you at the hotel once you arrive. Then you'll bike along rice terraces with views of karst cliffs and stilt houses, passing through Van Village where White Thai people live. The eco lodge has a swimming pool if you want to cool off after cycling.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at the hotel)
Included Activities
- Four-hour drive through rural northern Vietnam
- Biking tour along rice terraces of Mai Chau Valley
- Pass through Van Village (White Thai people)
- Lunch at hotel
Landmarks/POIs Mai Chau Valley Van Village - Day 4
Mai Chau
This morning starts with breakfast before driving to Xam Khoe Village for a walking tour over to Buoc Village, home to Thai ethnic minority communities. The terrain is mostly flat as you cross rice paddy fields. You'll spend time in a stilt house experiencing local hospitality and having lunch cooked there. On the way back to Mai Chau, there's a stop at Van Mai Valley.
- Meals
- Lunch (Home-cooked lunch prepared by host family)
Included Activities
- Drive to Xam Khoe Village
- Walking tour to Buoc Village (Thai ethnic minority)
- Local hospitality in stilt house
- Home-cooked lunch with host family
- Explore Van Mai Valley
Landmarks/POIs Xam Khoe Village Buoc Village Van Mai Valley - Day 5
Mai Chau to Ninh Binh
You'll have a relaxed breakfast, then head out in the afternoon toward Ninh Binh. The town itself is fairly unremarkable, but what surrounds it is really something else - impressive cave formations, waterways, lakes, temples and these towering limestone peaks throughout the area.
Landmarks/POIs Ninh Binh - Day 6
Ninh Binh
Cycling starts through back roads and local communities to Dong Tam village where you'll stop at a temple. From there you continue through countryside toward Van Long with its spectacular limestone peaks surrounded by paddy fields. Traditional lunch happens in Vuon Thi village, prepared by hill tribe villagers. Afternoon brings a sampan ride along Ngo Dong River exploring the cave complex before heading back to Ninh Binh.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional lunch prepared by hill tribe villagers at Vuon Thi village)
Included Activities
- Cycle to Dong Tam village
- Temple visit and break
- Cycle through countryside to Van Long
- Traditional lunch at Vuon Thi village
- Sampan ride along Ngo Dong River
- Cave complex exploration
Landmarks/POIs Dong Tam village Van Long Vuon Thi village Ngo Dong River - Day 7
Ninh Binh to Ha Long Bay
After breakfast, you're off to Ha Long Bay - about 2.5 hours via the new expressway. By midday you'll board your overnight junk boat with lunch and dinner included. The boat stops at Vung Vieng fishing village where you can explore by rowing boat or kayak. You'll see the hundreds of islands, caves and grottoes scattered throughout the bay, then anchor overnight in Bai Tu Long Bay. Your boat has 10-18 en-suite cabins, a restaurant, bar and sundeck.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch served onboard after boarding), Dinner (Dinner served onboard featuring fresh seafood and regional dishes)
Included Activities
- Journey to Ha Long Bay (approximately 2.5 hours)
- Overnight junk boat cruise
- Visit Vung Vieng fishing village by rowing boat or kayak
- Explore Ha Long Bay islands, caves and grottoes
- Lunch onboard
- Dinner onboard
Landmarks/POIs Ha Long Bay Bai Tu Long Bay Vung Vieng fishing village - Day 8
Ha Long Bay to Hanoi
There's an optional sunrise viewing at 6:30am if you're up for it. Light breakfast of pastries, tea and coffee comes before visiting Thien Canh Son caves with their stalactite and stalagmite formations. The cruise continues with brunch onboard, then you head back to Hon Gai harbour and drive back to Hanoi. Your afternoon is free, and day-use hotel rooms are available if needed. Later, you'll board the Reunification Express sleeper train to Hue in soft sleeper compartments with four passengers sharing. Breakfast isn't included on the train.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Light breakfast of pastries, tea and coffee), Brunch (Brunch served onboard)
Included Activities
- Visit Thien Canh Son caves
- Brunch onboard
- Cruise in Ha Long Bay
- Return to Hon Gai harbour
- Drive back to Hanoi
- Overnight train travel to Hue
Optional Activities
- Sunrise viewing (requires 6:30am wake-up)
- Day-use hotel rooms in Hanoi
Landmarks/POIs Thien Canh Son caves Hon Gai harbour - Day 9
Hue
You arrive in Hue this morning. The day covers highlights like Royal Palace with Terracotta Warriors at the entrance and the iconic Thien Mu Pagoda, home to the city's oldest monastery. You'll learn traditional Vietnamese kite-making at the house of a national champion kite flier, then test your completed kites at the nearby Citadel grounds, which is also home to the Imperial City.
Included Activities
- Visit Royal Palace with Terracotta Warriors
- Visit Thien Mu Pagoda
- Visit house of national champion kite flier
- Learn traditional Vietnamese kite-making
- Kite flying at Citadel grounds (Imperial City)
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Dong Ba market (USD $18 per person)
Landmarks/POIs Royal Palace Thien Mu Pagoda Citadel Dong Ba market - Day 10
Hue to Hoi An
This is a packed day in the Trieu Son village area. You'll master traditional wood painting in Sinh village, then cycle leisurely through countryside lanes to Thanh Tien village, which is known for paper flowers. The route continues through paddy fields to Tien Non village (about 6 kilometres of cycling total). A boat cruise takes you back to Hue, and afterward you'll visit a martial arts school practicing Kinh Van with a demonstration. Later you drive over Truong Son Mountains through Hai Van Pass to reach Hoi An, a historic seaside town.
Included Activities
- Masterclass in traditional wood painting at Sinh village
- Cycle ride through local countryside lanes to Thanh Tien village
- Continue cycling through paddy fields to Tien Non village
- Cruise boat from Tien Non village to Hue
- Visit martial arts school practicing Kinh Van
- Martial arts demonstration
- Travel over Truong Son Mountains through Hai Van Pass to Hoi An
Landmarks/POIs Trieu Son village Sinh village Thanh Tien village Tien Non village Perfume River Truong Son Mountains Hai Van Pass Hoi An - Day 11
Hoi An
Your morning is free to explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site with its wonderfully preserved buildings from its trading post past. Head to the fish market early for colourful photos and local interaction. You'll see the iconic Japanese Bridge and traditional wooden houses and Chinese temples. The afternoon gives you options - cycling through surrounding countryside, a gentle river cruise, beach time, visiting tailor shops, or taking a 20-minute taxi ride to nearby coast.
Optional Activities
- Visit fish market
- Visit Japanese Bridge
- Explore traditional wooden houses
- Explore Chinese temples
- Hire bicycles to explore surrounding countryside
- Gentle river cruise
- Beach time
- Visit tailor shops
- Taxi ride to nearby coast (20 minutes)
- Cookery lesson - morning or afternoon (USD $39 to USD $45 per person)
Landmarks/POIs Hoi An Ancient Town Japanese Bridge Fish Market - Day 12
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
Morning departure toward Danang takes you past the Marble Mountains' five peaks (originally believed to be islands representing the five elements). You'll arrive, board a morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City, then explore District 3 by cyclo through narrow streets past ramshackle shops, local markets and houses. There's a stop at a local stall for traditional Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk and Banh Mi. You'll visit a 'secret weapons' bunker - a hidden basement cache that played a key role in the TET Offensive of 1968 for Viet Cong Team 5.
Included Activities
- Drive past Marble Mountains
- Flight to Ho Chi Minh City
- Cyclo tour of District 3
- Walking tour through narrow streets
- Visit local markets
- Traditional Vietnamese coffee and Banh Mi at local stall
- Visit secret weapons bunker
Landmarks/POIs Marble Mountains District 3 - Day 13
Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast, you're heading to the Cu Chi tunnels. First built during the French colonial war, these tunnels served as an underground command base for 10,000 Viet Cong troops during the Vietnam War. Your afternoon is free to explore at your own pace around the city.
Included Activities
- Visit Cu Chi tunnels
Optional Activities
- Visit Reunification Palace (USD $2 per person)
- Dam Sen Water Park with 31 slides and shoots and wave pool - height restrictions apply for children (USD $7 per person entrance only, excludes transport)
Landmarks/POIs Cu Chi Tunnels Reunification Palace Dam Sen Water Park - Day 14
Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta
You leave the city and drive to Mekong Delta, then catch a boat to start cycling about 10-12 kilometres along the flat Cai Thai village path with views of tributaries and delta. The boat can pick up cyclists at various stopping points if needed. You'll visit Mrs Nani's home to learn traditional rice paper making and Mrs and Mr Chin's home for refreshments including famous Banh Tieu. Lunch happens onboard the cruise boat. A transfer to traditional sampan gets you to your homestay nearby. Evening brings a Vietnamese cooking lesson followed by a homecooked meal, and your hosts might provide traditional dancing and singing.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch onboard cruise boat), Dinner (Homecooked meal after cooking lesson)
Included Activities
- Drive to Mekong Delta
- Boat to cycling start point
- Cycle approximately 10-12 kilometres (6-7 miles) along Cai Thai village path
- Visit Mrs Nani's home - learn rice paper making
- Visit Mrs and Mr Chin's home - refreshments including Banh Tieu
- Lunch onboard cruise boat
- Transfer to sampan craft
- Vietnamese cooking lesson
- Homecooked meal
Optional Activities
- Traditional dancing and singing by hosts
Landmarks/POIs Mekong Delta Cai Thai village - Day 15
Mekong Delta to Ho Chi Minh City
You cruise back along Mekong Delta past small floating markets and through a vast network of rivers and islands, crossing agricultural villages, paddy fields and mangrove swamps. By mid-afternoon you're back in Ho Chi Minh City. A day-use room is available for those with evening flights. There's an optional extension to Phu Quoc Island available - three nights on white sand beaches with 90% national park and rainforest interior.
Included Activities
- Cruise along Mekong Delta
- Pass small floating markets
- Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City
Optional Activities
- Extension to Phu Quoc Island (three nights)
- Day-use room in Ho Chi Minh City
Landmarks/POIs Mekong Delta Phu Quoc Island
