Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Hanoi
Your driver meets you at the airport and takes you straight to the hotel. After settling in from your flight, you'll head out in the early evening to catch a traditional water puppet show, which is a distinctive Vietnamese art form where puppets get manipulated under the water's surface. Dinner arrangements are left to you, so grab something nearby if you're hungry.
Included Activities
- Water puppet show
- Day 2
Hanoi City Tour
Start with breakfast at the hotel, then at 8:00 AM your guide meets you in Hanoi Old Quarter for a walking tour. You'll see Ho Chi Minh's Complex including his Mausoleum and stilt house, the One Pillar Pagoda, Tran Quoc Pagoda sitting on West Lake, and the Temple of Literature. Around 12:30 PM you'll grab lunch at a local restaurant in the Old Quarter. After eating, check out Hoan Kiem Lake and the Museum of Ethnology. Later at 21:20 your driver takes you to Hanoi train station to board the night train heading to Lao Cai.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at your hotel), Lunch (Lunch at a restaurant in the Old Quarter)
Included Activities
- Ho Chi Minh Complex visit including Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum
- President Ho Chi Minh's stilt house visit
- Ho Chi Minh Museum visit
- One Pillar Pagoda visit
- Tran Quoc Pagoda visit
- Temple of Literature visit
- Hoan Kiem Lake visit
- Museum of Ethnology visit
Landmarks/POIs Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum One Pillar Pagoda Tran Quoc Pagoda Temple of Literature Hoan Kiem Lake Museum of Ethnology - Day 3
Sapa Trekking
You'll pull into Lao Cai station at 6:00 AM, then transfer about an hour to Sapa town and have breakfast. From there the trekking starts downhill through terraced paddies and flower farms, passing through Suoi Ho village and local homes, then Ma Tra village. You'll see a ruined French Catholic church before your pickup truck comes to collect you. The 12km drive back to Sapa takes about 20 minutes, leaving the rest of the day free.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast in Sapa town)
Included Activities
- Trekking to Suoi Ho village
- Visit to local homes in Suoi Ho village
- Trekking through Ma Tra village
- Visit to ruined French Catholic church
Landmarks/POIs Suoi Ho village Ma Tra village - Day 4
Sapa to Ethnic Villages Trek
After breakfast you head north toward O Quy Ho with stops along the way for views of Fansipan mountain and Sin Chai valley. The drive takes you through rainforest and past waterfalls until you reach Ban Khoang, a Red Zao ethnic village where you'll spend over an hour looking around and chatting with locals. From there it's about 10km more to Ta Giang Phin valley where the Black Hmong people live. An hour lunch break happens by the stream, then you trek through village paths seeing how people go about their daily routines. Back in Sapa by mid-afternoon, you'll freshen up before transferring to Lao Cai station for the overnight train returning to Hanoi.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch break on the bank of a stream in Ta Giang Phin valley)
Included Activities
- Visit to Ban Khoang Red Zao ethnic village
- Trekking in Ta Giang Phin valley
- Trek through Black Hmong villages
Landmarks/POIs Ban Khoang Ta Giang Phin valley - Day 5
Ninh Binh
Arriving at Tran Quy Cap station at 5:00 AM, your driver takes you to the hotel where you shower and have breakfast between 5:00 and 7:00 AM. At 7:00 AM a 110km bus journey through countryside brings you to Ninh Binh, reaching Bai Dinh pagoda complex at 10:00 AM. This is Southeast Asia's largest pagoda complex, featuring impressive architecture, 500 stone statues, massive bronze bells, and sweeping views. Lunch happens at noon at a local spot. At 1:30 PM you're off to Trang An Grottoes for a sampan ride through caves and temple visits. By 3:30 PM you're climbing Mua Cave up to Ngoa Long mountain peak for panoramic views, then returning by bus to Hanoi around 7:30 PM.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel (available 5:00-7:00 AM)), Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant with great local cuisines)
Included Activities
- Bai Dinh pagoda complex visit
- Sampan journey through Trang An Grottoes caves
- Trang An cave exploration including Lam Cave, Vang Cave, Dai Cave, Thanh Truot Cave
- Cao Son Temple visit
- Suoi Tien Temple visit
- Vu Lam Temple visit
- Mua Cave visit and trek to Ngoa Long mountain peak
Landmarks/POIs Bai Dinh Pagoda Trang An Grottoes Mua Cave - Day 6
Ha Long Bay Cruise (Part 1)
Leaving Hanoi at 8:00 AM, you'll reach Ha Long International Cruise Port in Bai Chay town and freshen up in the lounge. At 12:00 PM you board the Oriental Sails cruise, getting a welcome drink, safety briefing, and checking into your cabin. Lunch comes while cruising through Ha Long Bay before anchoring at Titop Island. A guided visit to Sung Sot Cave happens at 3:00 PM, followed by climbing to Titop Island peak for views and a swim. Back on the cruise by evening, you'll catch the sunset, enjoy happy hour with discounted drinks, watch a cooking demonstration with the chef, and have dinner. Afterward there's optional squid fishing with the crew, karaoke, or relaxing in your cabin.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch while cruising in Ha Long Bay), Dinner (Dinner served 19:00-21:00, private dinner available on request)
Included Activities
- Ha Long Bay cruise on Oriental Sails
- Welcome drink upon embarkation
- Guided visit to Sung Sot Cave (Amazing Cave)
- Titop Island peak visit for panoramic views
- Beach swimming at Titop Island
- Cooking demonstration and food décor with Chef
- Happy hour with discounted drinks
Optional Activities
- Squid fishing with crew
- Karaoke
Landmarks/POIs Sung Sot Cave Titop Island - Day 7
Ha Long Bay Cruise (Part 2)
You wake at 6:30 AM for a Tai-chi lesson on the sundeck, then have morning coffee or tea while taking in seascape views and breakfast with karst landscape scenery. At 8:00 AM a guided Luon cave visit explores hidden bay areas, either sharing a sampan with other travelers or paddling solo on a kayak. Returning to the cruise at 9:00 AM, you'll shower and check out at 9:30 AM as the ship heads toward Bai Chay bridge for photos. Lunch comes at 10:50 AM, and you disembark at 11:30 to 11:45 AM. A bus transfer takes you back to Hanoi, arriving around 4:30 PM. At 7:00 PM you transfer to the station to catch the SE3 train at 7:25 PM heading to Da Nang.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast while charming the labyrinth of Karst), Lunch
Included Activities
- Tai-chi lesson on sundeck
- Guided exploration of Luon cave
- Sampan or kayak tour in hidden bay areas
Landmarks/POIs Luon Cave - Day 8
Da Nang and Hoi An
A car picks you up at the station or airport in the morning. You'll have lunch featuring Da Nang specialties like pork roll, then head to the hotel to check in and rest (early check-in might be available depending on room readiness). In the afternoon, visit Non Nuoc Ngu Hanh Son Scenic Area with its blue beach, white sand, and caves holding Buddhist statues. Next stop is My Nghe Non Nuoc stone sculpture village at the mountain's base. Then you continue to Hoi An Ancient Town, roughly 400 years old, where you'll explore Cau Giay Pagoda, ancient houses like Tan Ky and Phung Hung, the Museum of Ceramics, Phuoc Kien Guild, and various handicraft workshops. Dinner and a stroll happen in the Old Town under colorful lanterns, then return to Da Nang by bus.
- Meals
- Lunch (Da Nang specialties (pork roll))
Included Activities
- Non Nuoc Ngu Hanh Son Scenic Area visit
- Cave exploration at Ngu Hanh Son
- My Nghe Non Nuoc stone sculpture village visit
- Hoi An Ancient Town visit
- Cau Giay Pagoda visit
- Ancient House of Tan Ky visit
- Ancient House of Phung Hung visit
- Museum of Ceramics visit
- Phuoc Kien Guild visit
- Handicraft workshop visit
Landmarks/POIs Non Nuoc Ngu Hanh Son My Nghe Non Nuoc Hoi An Ancient Town Cau Giay Pagoda - Day 9
Ba Na Hills
After breakfast, your car and guide pick you up at 7:00 AM to visit Ba Na Tourist Area, a premium French resort dating from 1910 where you'll experience four seasons in one day. Start at Suoi Mo Station for photos and water music shows, then ride the cable car (holder of 4 Guinness World Records) suspended over clouds with views of Ba Na Nature Reserve. See the iconic Golden Bridge, take the mountain train to the 100-year-old Wine Cellar and Le Jardin flower garden. There's a 27-meter-high Thich Ca Buddha statue at Southeast Asia's highest position and Linh Ung Ba Na pagoda to visit. Ride the world's longest cable car (nearly 6km) to check out Vong Nguyet Hill and Linh Ung Pagoda. Explore Nghinh Phong peak, Le Nim villa, Ba Na Suspension Bridge, and Christ's mountain at 1,487m for panoramic views. Enjoy Eurasian Food Court buffet lunch. In the afternoon, explore Ba Na Nui and Fantasy Park amusement park. Around 3:00 to 3:30 PM you depart for Da Nang with a stop at the Central gift shop. Return to your hotel with free time at My Khe Beach.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Buffet at Eurasian Food Court)
Included Activities
- Ba Na Tourist Area visit
- Suoi Mo Station visit
- Cable car rides (4 Guinness World Records)
- Golden Bridge visit
- Wine Cellar visit (100-year-old)
- Le Jardin flower garden visit
- Thich Ca Buddha statue visit
- Linh Ung Ba Na pagoda visit
- World's longest cable car ride
- Vong Nguyet Hill visit
- Linh Ung Pagoda visit
- Nghinh Phong peak visit
- Le Nim villa visit
- Ba Na Suspension Bridge visit
- Christ's mountain at 1,487m visit
- Ba Na Nui exploration
- Central gift shop stop
Optional Activities
- Fantasy Park amusement park games (Love wheel, SKIVER pilot, fire track, windmill, spider man, free fall tower)
Landmarks/POIs Ba Na Hills Golden Bridge Thich Ca Buddha Ba Na Suspension Bridge My Khe Beach - Day 10
Hue City Tour
After hotel breakfast, your car picks you up at 7:30 AM heading toward Hue. You'll pass through Hai Van tunnel, the longest tunnel in Southeast Asia, and spend time at Lang Co Bay, considered one of the world's most beautiful bays. Arriving in Hue at 11:00 AM, you'll visit Khai Dinh Tomb, a royal tomb from the end of Vietnam's feudal era. Lunch stops at noon. At 1:00 PM you explore the Imperial City of Hue. A group visit to Thien Mu Pagoda happens at 2:30 PM, then you return to Da Nang by bus at 3:30 PM. Dinner is on your own, though local recommendations for Da Nang cuisine will be provided. After eating, explore Love Bridge, Carp dragon culture, and Bach Dang street. On Saturdays and Sundays only, watch the Dragon Bridge spray water and fire at 9:00 PM.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch
Included Activities
- Hai Van tunnel drive-through
- Lang Co Bay visit
- Khai Dinh Tomb visit
- Imperial City of Hue visit
- Thien Mu Pagoda visit
Landmarks/POIs Hai Van Tunnel Lang Co Bay Khai Dinh Tomb Imperial City of Hue Thien Mu Pagoda - Day 11
Departure from Da Nang
Have breakfast at the hotel, then enjoy free time swimming at My Khe Beach (Forbes magazine named it one of six most charming beaches globally). Shop at the Central Specialty Supermarket or Han Market if you'd like. Try Da Nang specialty 'Bun Cha Ca Ong Ta' before your driver takes you to Da Nang airport or train station for your departure. Tour ends here.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Optional Activities
- Swimming at My Khe Beach
- Shopping at Central Specialty Supermarket
- Shopping at Han Market
- Dining on Da Nang specialty 'Bun Cha Ca Ong Ta'
Landmarks/POIs My Khe Beach
