Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
Your driver will pick you up at Noi Bai International Airport and take you to your hotel in Hanoi. Since check-in doesn't happen until 14:00, you can arrange early check-in for an extra fee if you'd like to get settled right away. The rest of the day is yours to relax and get ready for what's ahead.
Optional Activities
- Water Puppet Show - traditional performance with puppets on water stage featuring folk music, ancient tales and daily life in Vietnamese countryside
- Tu Phu (Four Palaces) Show - unique show about ritual of spirit practiced in Vietnamese indigenous religion with music, colors and dance performance (Thursday and Saturday only)
- Day 2
Hanoi
After an 08:30 departure, you'll head out on a half-day city tour hitting several key sites. The Temple of Literature comes first, Vietnam's original university from 1076, followed by the One Pillar Pagoda and Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum with his historic house. You'll finish at West Lake to see the old Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda. Lunch at a local Vietnamese restaurant is included, then your afternoon opens up to wander the Old Quarter or head back to rest.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at authentic Vietnamese restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Temple of Literature (Quoc Tu Giam) - Vietnam's first university founded in 1076
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda - iconic temple
- Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and historic house on stilts (viewed from outside)
- Visit West Lake and Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda - the most ancient pagoda in Hanoi
- Lunch at authentic Vietnamese restaurant
Landmarks Temple of Literature (Quoc Tu Giam) One Pillar Pagoda Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda West Lake - Day 3
Hanoi to Sapa
You'll get picked up between 06:30 and 07:00 for roughly a 5 hour drive north on the Noibai highway to Lao Cai City. Arriving in Sapa around 12:30, you'll grab lunch before heading to Lao Chai village to trek toward Ta Van and Giang Ta Chai. Along the way you'll see how local ethnic minorities live and walk through the terraced rice fields. Getting back to Sapa by 17:00 leaves time for dinner and a night at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trekking from Lao Chai to Ta Van and Giang Ta Chai village
- Explore local ethnic minorities' life and culture
- View terraced rice fields scenery
Landmarks Lao Chai Village Ta Van Village Giang Ta Chai Village 
- Day 4
Sapa to Hanoi
Breakfast happens at 07:00, and then at 09:00 you start trekking from your hotel to Cat Cat Village where H'mong people live. You'll check out their waterfall, an old French-built power station, and learn about local crafts like weaving and carved silver. By 12:30 you're back in Sapa town for lunch, then at 15:00 the drive back to Hanoi begins, getting there around 21:00.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Trekking from hotel to Cat Cat Village
- Visit waterfall in Cat Cat Village
- Visit hydroelectric power station built by French
- Learn about H'mong culture and customs
- Explore traditional crafts - weaving, carved silver, hand-forged agricultural tools
Landmarks Cat Cat Village - Day 5
Hanoi to Bai Tu Long Bay
Head over to Hon Gai pier and board your cruise at 11:45 for the safety briefing. Lunch arrives at 13:15 with local Bay specialties, then at 14:45 you can kayak to Vung Vieng floating fishing village or relax on the boat with the sauna. Happy hour runs 17:00 to 18:30 with buy one get one free drinks, and at 17:30 there's a cooking demonstration showing Vietnamese techniques. Dinner is at 19:00, and if you're up for it, squid fishing starts at 21:00 with the bar staying open. You'll sleep in the Cong Do Area.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch with the best products of the Bay), Dinner (Set menu dinner on board)
Included Activities
- Welcome briefing and safety instructions on cruise
- Kayaking to Vung Vieng floating fishing village
- Use of sauna on boat
- Cooking demonstration - Vietnamese cuisine
- Squid fishing activity
- Lunch on board
- Dinner on board - set menu
Optional Activities
- Relaxation on boat instead of kayaking activities
Landmarks Bai Tu Long Bay Vung Vieng Floating Fishing Village 
- Day 6
Bai Tu Long Bay to Hanoi
Your morning starts at 06:30 with Tai Chi on deck while you have tea and coffee. Light breakfast follows at 07:00, then at 07:30 you explore Thien Canh Son cave with its stalactites and stalagmites (about 200 steps to get there). By 09:00 you check out and put your luggage outside your cabin. Brunch happens at 09:30 on the 2nd deck, and the boat reaches the pier at 10:45. From there you transfer back to Hanoi and have the rest of the day to yourself.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Light breakfast), Brunch (Brunch served at restaurant on 2nd deck)
Included Activities
- Tai Chi practice on open deck
- Explore Thien Canh Son cave - stalactites and stalagmites
- Brunch on board
Landmarks Thien Canh Son Cave 
- Day 7
Hanoi to Hue
A car takes you to Hanoi Airport for your domestic flight to Hue, which is about 1 hour 20 minutes. Your driver meets you when you land and drives you to your hotel in Hue. After checking in, the rest of the day is free for you to settle in and explore on your own terms.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 8
Hue
Start with Thien Mu Pagoda, then pick one of three royal mausoleums to visit: Minh Mang, Tu Duc, or Khai Dinh. After that, you'll stop at Dong Ba Market, one of Hue's biggest, to see local produce and try fresh items. Your hotel drop-off happens by 12:30, leaving your afternoon open to walk around and explore at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Thien Mu Pagoda
- Visit one of three royal tombs: Minh Mang Royal Tomb, Tu Duc Royal Tomb, or Khai Dinh Royal Tomb
- Visit Dong Ba Market
Optional Activities
- Hue Imperial Citadel - VND 150,000
Landmarks Thien Mu Pagoda Minh Mang Royal Tomb Tu Duc Royal Tomb Khai Dinh Royal Tomb Dong Ba Market Hue Imperial Citadel - Day 9
Hue to Hoi An
A shuttle bus gets you from Hue to Hoi An in the morning with short stops along the way to stretch (entrance fees aren't covered). You'll pass by Hai Van Pass, Marble Mountain, and Lang Co Beach during the drive. Arriving around 14:00, you check into your hotel and can relax for the rest of the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Transfer from Hue to Hoi An by shuttle bus
- Sightseeing stops along the route
Landmarks Hai Van Pass Marble Mountain Lang Co Beach 
- Day 10
Hoi An
After breakfast, your guide walks you through the ancient streets of Hoi An. You'll see temples, museums, and old houses that still look like they did centuries ago. With roughly 850 heritage buildings in town, you'll find art galleries tucked away, cafes, ceramic and lantern shops, and silk stores. Woodworkers are out making things, craft shops line the streets, and cold drinks are everywhere. Your afternoon is yours to keep exploring on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided stroll through ancient Hoi An town
- Visit temples, museums, and preserved houses
- Explore art galleries, cafes, ceramic shops, and silk shops
Landmarks Hoi An Ancient Town - Day 11
Hoi An
You have a full free day in Hoi An with optional activities if you want them. Try visiting My Son Holy Land, the old Champa ruins in the mountains of Quang Nam province. Or experience farming life in Cam Thanh village working alongside local farmers. A Vespa tour of the surrounding area is another choice if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Discover My Son Holly Land Half day - My Son Sanctuary with Champa ruins - from $US 50 per person
- Life as a Farmer in Cam Thanh village - join farmers in land preparation, fertilizing, raking, sowing, watering and picking greens - from $US 70 per person
- Hoi An Vespa Tour - from $US 80 per person
Landmarks My Son Sanctuary Cam Thanh Village - Day 12
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
You'll head to Da Nang Airport and fly to Ho Chi Minh City. Your driver meets you on arrival and takes you to your hotel. In the afternoon, take a walking tour of the city's colonial landmarks including Saigon Opera House, City Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Central Post Office. Finish at Ben Thanh Market to pick up souvenirs and gifts.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Afternoon walking tour of Ho Chi Minh City landmarks
- Visit Saigon Opera House
- Visit Ho Chi Minh City Hall
- Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
- Visit Saigon Central Post Office
- Visit Ben Thanh Market
Landmarks Saigon Opera House Ho Chi Minh City Hall Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon Central Post Office Ben Thanh Market - Day 13
Ho Chi Minh City
You have the day to yourself in Ho Chi Minh City, the South's bustling economic hub. Wander around however you'd like, or pick an optional experience like a romantic dinner cruise on the Saigon River with traditional music and dancing. A full day visiting Cu Chi Tunnels with a cooking class is another option available.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Dinner Cruise on Saigon River - romantic evening with special dinner, traditional music and dance performance, views of Saigon nightlife - from $US 33 per person
- Cu Chi Tunnels & Cooking Class Full day - visit Cu Chi Tunnels for underground war time experience, Ho Chi Minh Agricultural Villages, work in gardens as a farmer, pick organic ingredients, hand-on cooking class with healthy cooking tips, certificate, recipes and souvenirs - from $US 74 per person
Landmarks Cu Chi Tunnels Ho Chi Minh Agricultural Villages Saigon River - Day 14
Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta
Leave the city chaos behind and head to Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta. You'll board a long-tail boat to see the different waterways, fish farms, and tropical fruit orchards. Take a tour by boat through paddies and swampland, stopping at a brick kiln, coconut workshop, and local mat-weaving house. Later, ride through the village on a Xe Loi or bike under coconut trees. After trying fresh local fruits and eating lunch by the river, you'll take a rowing sampan through water coconut canals before heading back to Saigon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at riverside restaurant)
Included Activities
- Long-tail boat experience on Mekong waterways
- Explore fish farms and exotic fruit farms
- Tour orchards, paddy fields and swamplands
- Visit brick kiln factory
- Visit coconut processing workshop
- Visit local mat-weaving house
- Xe Loi or cycling tour through village
- Sample fresh seasonal fruits
- Rowing sampan through water coconut canals
- Lunch at riverside restaurant
Landmarks Ben Tre Mekong Delta 
- Day 15
Ho Chi Minh City Departure
Before you leave, you have free time and the option to join the 'Good Morning Saigon' tour if you want. Check-out is at 12:00, though late check-out can work if rooms are available for an extra fee. Your driver takes you to Ho Chi Minh City Airport for your flight out. The tour finishes when you arrive at the airport.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City Airport
Optional Activities
- Good Morning Saigon tour - optional excursion in and around Ho Chi Minh City
