Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll arrive in Hanoi and need to be at the hotel by 1pm if you're using the airport transfer, as the welcome meeting starts at 4pm. After connecting with your tour leader, there's an optional walk through the Old Quarter where you can wander the bustling streets and check out the markets before dinner.
Optional Activities
- Airport transfer from Noi Bai International Airport
- Welcome orientation tour through Hanoi's Old Quarter and markets
- Dinner at a local restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Hanoi Old Quarter Noi Bai International Airport - Day 2
Hanoi to Pu Luong Nature Reserve
Head west from Hanoi toward Pu Luong Nature Reserve, where limestone cliffs and terraced rice fields create the landscape. Once you arrive, you'll hike across the paddy fields to reach your traditional stilt house while the bus takes your luggage ahead.
Included Activities
- Hike across paddy fields to Pu Luong Valley Home (approximately 8 kilometres/5 miles, around 2 hours 30 minutes)
Landmarks/POIs Pu Luong Nature Reserve - Day 3
Pu Luong Nature Reserve
Spend the day hiking through Pu Luong Reserve's landscapes and visiting Thai minority villages. You'll make several stops along the way and have a picnic lunch as you explore the region and see how local people live.
- Meals
- Lunch (Picnic lunch en route)
Included Activities
- Leisurely hike through Pu Luong Reserve with village visits (approximately 10 kilometres/6.2 miles, around 5 hours)
- Picnic lunch en route
Landmarks/POIs Pu Luong Nature Reserve - Day 4
Pu Luong Nature Reserve to Hanoi
This morning includes a walk beside a river where you can see the region's wooden waterwheels before heading back. Later in the evening, there's an optional chance to catch a traditional water puppet performance, a theatrical form that goes back to the 11th century.
Included Activities
- Morning walk alongside river with waterwheel views (approximately 5.5 kilometres/3.4 miles, around 2 hours)
Optional Activities
- Traditional water puppet performance in Hanoi (evening)
Landmarks/POIs Hanoi Old Quarter - Day 5
Hanoi to Halong Bay
Take a morning walking tour through Hanoi's French colonial architecture, stopping at the One-Pillar Pagoda, Confucius Temple, Presidential Palace, and Ho Chi Minh's teak stilt house. After lunch, you'll drive to Halong Bay on the Gulf of Tonkin.
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Hanoi including One-Pillar Pagoda, Confucius Temple, Presidential Palace, and Ho Chi Minh's stilt house (5 kilometres/3.1 miles, around 4 hours including sightseeing)
Landmarks/POIs One-Pillar Pagoda Confucius Temple Presidential Palace - Day 6
Halong Bay to Hue (via train)
Start with a junk cruise through Halong Bay's jade-green waters, passing thousands of jagged limestone islands and stopping at a grotto beneath towering cliffs. You'll have fresh seafood lunch onboard, then return to Hanoi and board the overnight Reunification Express train to Hue in soft sleeper class.
- Meals
- Lunch (Delicious freshly caught seafood lunch onboard junk cruise)
Included Activities
- Junk cruise through Halong Bay with limestone island views
- Grotto visit beneath towering cliffs
- Optional beach visit
- Freshly caught seafood lunch onboard
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay - Day 7
Hue
Pull into Hue mid-morning after passing through rural rice paddies. You'll freshen up and relax, then head out in the afternoon to walk through the Imperial Citadel, built by the Nguyen dynasty as a copy of Beijing's Forbidden City, seeing the outer walls and west wing.
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Imperial Citadel (7 kilometres/4.4 miles, around 3 hours 30 minutes including sightseeing)
Landmarks/POIs Imperial Citadel - Day 8
Hue
Hike through countryside and villages overlooking the Perfume River, observing rural life and local cottage industries like silk painting, bronze casting, and incense production. Stop at Vong Canh Hill for views across the river, then boat back to Hue.
Included Activities
- Hike through countryside and villages with Perfume River views (approximately 8 kilometres/5 miles, around 3 hours)
- Leisurely boat cruise along Perfume River back to Hue
Landmarks/POIs Perfume River Vong Canh Hill - Day 9
Hue to Hoi An
Drive south to Hoi An, crossing the scenic Hai Van Pass with views of thatched wooden houses and lime-green rice paddies. Once in this UNESCO World Heritage town, you can explore at your own pace, visiting the Japanese Bridge and Chinese temples, shopping, or arranging custom tailored clothing.
Optional Activities
- Visit Japanese Bridge
- Visit Chinese temples and meeting halls in Old Town
- Shopping and souvenir purchases
- Clothing tailoring services
- Riverside cafes
Landmarks/POIs Japanese Bridge Hai Van Pass Hoi An Old Town - Day 10
Hoi An to My Son
Drive about an hour from Hoi An and hike through pine forests and grasslands to reach the ancient Cham temple complex at My Son. You'll explore several temple groupings and learn about the Chams who ruled independently for 1000 years before being overcome by the Vietnamese in the 15th century.
Included Activities
- Hike through pine forest and grasslands to My Son ancient Cham site (9 kilometres/5.6 miles, around 4 hours 30 minutes, undulating terrain with high point 168 metres/551 feet)
Landmarks/POIs My Son - Day 11
Hoi An to Mekong Delta
Early morning drive to Danang Airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City, then continue south to Cai Be in the Mekong Delta. Walk through local villages surrounded by coconut palms and farmland, then boat to an island for an overnight stay at a local guesthouse.
Included Activities
- Walk through Mekong Delta villages to observe local Delta life (4 kilometres/2.5 miles, around 90 minutes)
- Boat to island accommodation
Landmarks/POIs Cai Be Mekong Delta - Day 12
Mekong Delta to Ho Chi Minh City
Walk around the island observing traditional cottage industries producing rice paper and coconut sweets, plus everyday activities like fishing and craft repair. Boat back to the mainland, meet the bus, and drive to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's largest city with around 8 million people.
Included Activities
- Morning walk on island observing traditional cottage industries (8.5 kilometres/5.3 miles, around 3 hours at leisurely pace)
Landmarks/POIs Ho Chi Minh City - Day 13
Ho Chi Minh City
Take a walking tour of Old Saigon visiting Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic GPO building, French Colonial hotels like The Rex, Independence Palace, and the War Remnants Museum. The afternoon is free to explore further, including the Ben Thanh market for shopping.
Included Activities
- Walking tour of District 1 (Old Saigon) including Notre Dame Cathedral, GPO building, French Colonial hotels, Independence Palace/Reunification Hall, and War Remnants Museum (5 kilometres/3.1 miles, around 4 hours including sightseeing)
Optional Activities
- Visit to Ben Thanh market for shopping
Landmarks/POIs Notre Dame Cathedral GPO Building The Rex Hotel Reunification Hall War Remnants Museum Ben Thanh Market - Day 14
Ho Chi Minh City Departure
Drive out of the city to Cu Chi Tunnels, an underground command base that played a central role in the 1968 Tet Offensive. You can optionally crawl through a specially adapted tunnel section to experience the confined conditions. Everything wraps up by 1:30pm and you can depart at your convenience with luggage storage available.
Included Activities
- Visit to Cu Chi Tunnels underground command base with optional tunnel crawl experience
Optional Activities
- Crawl through specially adapted section of Cu Chi Tunnels
Landmarks/POIs Cu Chi Tunnels
