Itinerary
- Day 1
Ho Chi Minh City
You'll arrive at Tan San Nhat Airport and meet your guide for the drive to your hotel. Ho Chi Minh City greets you with constant motion and energy—motorbikes everywhere, shops lining the streets, and cafes spilling onto sidewalks. If time permits after settling in, take a walk downtown to get a feel for how locals actually live and move through the city.
- Start point
- Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam (Your Hotel, 08:00)
Optional Activities
- Stroll around downtown Ho Chi Minh City to explore local ways of life
- Day 2
Cu Chi
This morning you'll see the Reunification Palace, wander through French colonial buildings, check out a few temples, and spend time at Ben Thanh Market catching the chaos and sounds. After lunch, head northwest to Cu Chi to explore the underground tunnel network that played a major role during the Vietnam War. There are extra activities available if you want to fill more time here.
Included Activities
- Visit Reunification Palace
- See French colonial structures including Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Saigon Post Office
- Visit Jade Emperor Pagoda
- Visit War Remnant Museum
- Explore Ben Thanh Market
- Excursion to Cu Chi Tunnels with exposition hall and widened tunnel section
Optional Activities
- Fire rounds from an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range
Landmarks/POIs Reunification Palace Notre Dame Cathedral Old Saigon Post Office Jade Emperor Pagoda War Remnant Museum Ben Thanh Market Cu Chi Tunnels 
- Day 3
My Tho - Can Tho
You'll travel to My Tho and start at Vinh Trang Pagoda, then board a traditional sampan for a cruise around four islands. Stop at Unicorn Island to walk through village paths, sample tropical fruits fresh off the trees, and listen to Vietnamese folk music. Visit orchards and a bee farm, try honey tea. After lunch, cycle around Tan Thach village or spend time relaxing in hammocks. By evening, drive to Can Tho for overnight.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
- Sampan cruise around Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise islands
- Walking in village paths on Unicorn Island
- Visit fruit plantation
- Row through Thoi Son canal
- Visit family business and bee-keeping farm
- Enjoy honey tea and coconut candy workshop
- Lunch at local restaurant
Optional Activities
- Cycling around Tan Thach village
- Relaxing on hammocks
Landmarks/POIs Vinh Trang Pagoda Unicorn Island Thoi Son Canal 
- Day 4
Cai Be - Ho Chi Minh City
Head to Vinh Long and take a boat through Mekong tributaries, stopping at local cottages where you'll see rice paper makers and bonsai nurseries at work. Later you'll reach Cai Be Floating Market, where each boat specializes in just one product. On the return route, visit Vinh Trang Pagoda again and explore Cho Lon, Ho Chi Minh City's Chinatown, with its temples and narrow winding lanes.
Included Activities
- Boat excursion around Mekong River tributaries
- Visit rice paper maker cottages
- Visit bonsai nursery cottages
- Explore Cai Be Floating Market
- Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
- Explore Cho Lon (Chinatown)
Landmarks/POIs Cai Be Floating Market Cho Lon Vinh Trang Pagoda - Day 5
Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat
After breakfast at your hotel, head to the airport for a short flight to Da Lat, a hill town known as the 'City of Eternal Spring.' You'll arrive to cooler weather and a completely different atmosphere from Ho Chi Minh City—think French colonial influence, a lake setting, pine forests, and countryside spreading out around you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Flight to Da Lat
Optional Activities
- Explore Da Lat town
- Day 6
Da Lat to Nha Trang
Drive through pine-covered hills to reach the summer residence of Vietnam's last Emperor, Bao Dai, which displays Vietnamese treasures and gives insight into that era. Next, visit Lam Ty Ni Pagoda and the famous Hang Nga Guesthouse (locals call it the Crazy House for its unusual architecture). Stop at the central market and old rail station. From there, travel to the coastal city of Nha Trang, with stops at scenic Ngoan Muc Pass and Po Klong Jarai Cham Towers along the way.
Included Activities
- Visit summer residence of Emperor Bao Dai
- Visit Lam Ty Ni Pagoda
- Visit Hang Nga Guesthouse (Crazy House)
- Visit central market
- Visit old rail station
- Stop at Ngoan Muc Pass
- Visit Po Klong Jarai Cham Towers
Landmarks/POIs Emperor Bao Dai's Summer Residence Lam Ty Ni Pagoda Hang Nga Guesthouse Po Klong Jarai Cham Towers 
- Day 7
Nha Trang
Board a boat for island exploration around Nha Trang. First stop is the aquarium lake, then you'll head to Hon Mun Island where you can swim, snorkel, or just spend time on the beach. Continue to Hon Tam Island for water sports and lunch. You'll be back at Nha Trang Pier by mid-afternoon, and from there take a city tour covering Ponagar Cham Towers and Long Son Pagoda.
- Meals
- Lunch (Good restaurant for lunch)
Included Activities
- Boat trip to explore coastal islands
- Visit aquarium lake
- Swimming and snorkeling at Hon Mun Island
- Visit Hon Tam Island
- Lunch at restaurant
- Visit Ponagar Cham Towers
- Visit Long Son Pagoda
Optional Activities
- Water sports activities
- Beach relaxation
Landmarks/POIs Hon Mun Island Hon Tam Island Ponagar Cham Towers Long Son Pagoda - Day 8
Nha Trang to Danang to Hoi An
Fly from Nha Trang to Danang on VJ580, departing 12:10 and arriving 13:10. Once there, visit the Cham Museum to see limestone carvings from the ancient Kingdom of Champa. Then continue to Hoi An, a charming former seaport with influences from multiple cultures. Walk through the old town past the Japanese Covered Bridges, Pottery Museum, Tam Ky House, Chua Ong Pagoda, and the lively market area.
Included Activities
- Visit Cham Museum
- Walking tour of Hoi An
- Visit Japanese Covered Bridge
- Visit Pottery Museum
- Visit Tam Ky House
- Visit Chua Ong Pagoda
- Explore Hoi An market
Landmarks/POIs Cham Museum Japanese Covered Bridge Pottery Museum Tam Ky House Chua Ong Pagoda 
- Day 9
Hoi An to Hue
Travel toward Hue with stops at Danang Beach and the Marble Mountains (named for the five elements of the universe). Climb the Hai Van Pass for views that stretch across the landscape and coast. You'll break at Lang Co Beach for a swim if you want a pause. Arriving in Hue, Vietnam's former feudal capital, you'll explore the Imperial City and Purple Forbidden City citadel, then visit the Hue Imperial Museum.
Included Activities
- Visit Danang Beach
- Visit Marble Mountains
- Stop at Hai Van Pass
- Swim at Lang Co Beach
- Visit Hue Citadel (Imperial City and Purple Forbidden City)
- Visit Hue Imperial Museum
Landmarks/POIs Danang Beach Marble Mountains Hai Van Pass Lang Co Beach Hue Citadel Purple Forbidden City Hue Imperial Museum 
- Day 10
Hue
Start at 8:00 am with a dragon boat on Perfume River to feel the fresh atmosphere of Hue. Visit Thien Mu Pagoda to learn about Buddhism in the region. Walk through the Imperial City and Royal Palace of the Nguyen Dynasty. Stop at Dong Ba Market to shop and see daily local life. After lunch at a restaurant, spend the afternoon at two of the three famous emperors' mausoleums: Khai Dinh (showing both Oriental and Western architecture) and Minh Mang (more traditional in style).
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Dragon boat trip on Perfume River
- Visit Thien Mu Pagoda
- Explore Imperial City (Citadel)
- Explore Royal Palace of Nguyen Dynasty
- Visit Dong Ba Market
- Lunch at restaurant
- Visit Khai Dinh Mausoleum
- Visit Minh Mang Mausoleum
Optional Activities
- Shopping at Dong Ba Market
Landmarks/POIs Perfume River Thien Mu Pagoda Dong Ba Market Khai Dinh Mausoleum Minh Mang Mausoleum - Day 11
Hue to Hanoi
Drive to Hue airport for flight VN1542 departing 10:25 and landing 11:40 in Hanoi. After meeting your guide at Noi Bai Airport and transferring to your hotel, start exploring Hanoi's striking colonial buildings and old-world character. You'll visit the Temple of Literature (Vietnam's first university), the History Museum, and Hoa Lo Prison where American pilots were held. Later, check out Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple by West Lake. Finish the evening with a water puppet theatre performance after walking through the old quarter around Hoan Kiem Lake.
Included Activities
- Visit Temple of Literature
- Visit History Museum
- Visit Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton)
- Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda
- Visit Quan Thanh Temple
- Explore old quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake
- Water puppet theatre performance
Optional Activities
- Cyclo ride through old quarter streets
Landmarks/POIs Temple of Literature History Museum Hoa Lo Prison Tran Quoc Pagoda Quan Thanh Temple West Lake Hoan Kiem Lake 
- Day 12
Hanoi to Halong Bay Cruise
Hotel shuttle picks you up between 7:30 and 8:30 am. Stop in Hai Duong to see Vietnamese handicraft products before arriving at Tuan Chau Marina at 12:30 to board your Halong Bay cruise. You'll have welcome drinks and a safety briefing, then eat lunch while the boat passes floating villages. Visit Soi Sim Beach and Coconut Three Island, explore Surprising Cave and do kayaking or swimming at Titov Beach. Take a deck cooking class learning to make spring rolls and fish sauce. The evening includes a sunset party with fruits and wine, dinner with Vietnamese and Asian dishes, and optional squid fishing or bar time.
- Meals
- Lunch (Great lunch while cruising passing by islets and through Hoa Cuong floating village), Dinner (Luxury set-menu dinner with Vietnamese and Asian foods)
Included Activities
- Experience Vietnamese handicraft products in Hai Duong
- Halong Bay cruise boarding
- Welcome drink and safety briefing
- Lunch while cruising
- Pass by Hoa Cuong floating village
- Explore Soi Sim Beach
- Visit Coconut Three Island
- Visit Surprising Cave
- Kayaking at Titov Beach
- Beach swimming at Titov Beach
- Cooking class on sun-deck
- Sunset party with fruits and wine
- Dinner with Vietnamese and Asian foods
Optional Activities
- Climbing up mountain at Titov Beach for complete view of Halong Bay
- Squid fishing on boat
- Happy-hour drinks at bar
Landmarks/POIs Tuan Chau Marina Pier Hoa Cuong Floating Village Soi Sim Beach Coconut Three Island Surprising Cave Titov Beach 
- Day 13
Halong Bay Cruise to Hanoi
Begin at 6:15 am with Tai Chi on the sun-deck. Breakfast starts at 7:15 with coffee, tea, and bakeries served on board. Visit the famous Surprising Cave, which French explorers discovered in 1901. By 9:30 check out and relax on the sun-deck or in the restaurant while enjoying bay scenery. Traditional Vietnamese lunch is served at 10:15 while cruising back toward the pier. You'll disembark at Tuan Chau Pier at 12:00 and drive back to Hanoi, arriving around 16:00.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast with coffee, tea and bakeries on board), Lunch (Traditional Vietnamese lunch while cruising back to pier)
Included Activities
- Tai Chi class on sun-deck
- Breakfast on board
- Visit Surprising Cave (Hang Sung Sot)
- Traditional Vietnamese lunch while cruising
- Return drive to Hanoi
Optional Activities
- Relax on sun-deck
- Relax in restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Surprising Cave - Day 14
Hoa Lu - Tam Coc
Hotel pickup happens between 8:00 and 8:30 am for the drive to Ninh Binh province. Arrive at 10:30 to visit Hoa Lu, Vietnam's ancient royal capital. Lunch at a local restaurant starts at 12:10. Then board a small boat for Tam Coc (meaning 'Three Caves'), where you'll see Ha Long-style limestone cliffs, mysterious caves, calm streams, rice paddies, and green fields. Depart Ninh Binh at 17:00 for the return to Hanoi, arriving around 19:00.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at nice restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Hoa Lu (Ancient Royal Capital)
- Lunch at local restaurant
- Boat trip to Tam Coc
Landmarks/POIs Hoa Lu Tam Coc 
- Day 15
Hanoi Departure
You'll have free time to relax or explore more of Hanoi at your own pace if you want. Your guide will transfer you to Noi Bai Airport for departure, and the tour concludes.
Optional Activities
- Relax in Hanoi
- Further explore Hanoi
