Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Hanoi
You'll land in Hanoi and head to your hotel via airport transfer. After getting settled, the rest of your day is open so you can wander around and get a feel for the city on your own terms.
Optional Activities
- Explore Hanoi independently
- Day 2
Hanoi
Take the morning easy and relax at your hotel. At 5 PM your guide picks you up for a jeep ride through Hanoi's backstreets and markets. You'll drive through the French Colonial Quarter and Old Quarter, catch the sunset from Long Bien Bridge, and then sit down to try seven different Vietnamese dishes paired with local specialties like egg coffee and green tea.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (7 authentic Vietnamese dishes and Hanoi delicacies including unique egg coffee, local moonshine, green tea, and local beer)
Included Activities
- Explore Hanoi backstreets and markets by Jeep
- Visit French Colonial Quarter and Hanoi Old Quarter
- See Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, Ba Dinh Square, Temple of Literature, Tran Quoc Temple, West Lake, Truc Bach Lake, Hoan Kiem Lake, Opera House, Saint Joseph Cathedral, and train tracks
- Watch sunset on Long Bien Bridge
- Tasting 7 authentic Vietnamese dishes and Hanoi delicacies including unique egg coffee, local moonshine, green tea, and local beer
Landmarks/POIs Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Presidential Palace Ba Dinh Square Temple of Literature Tran Quoc Temple West Lake Truc Bach Lake Hoan Kiem Lake Hanoi Opera House Saint Joseph Cathedral Long Bien Bridge - Day 3
Hanoi to Ninh Binh
Your guide picks you up at 7:30 AM for the 120km drive to Ninh Binh. In Tam Coc you'll visit a local farmer's home to learn about traditional life and the VAC system, plus have traditional tea and peanut candies. There's an option to bike through the countryside with limestone mountains all around. After lunch, take a sampan boat through Tam Coc's caves and limestone formations on the Ngo Dong River (locals call it Ha Long on land). Later, see Hoa Lu, the ancient capital with temples from Vietnam's first emperors, before heading back to Hanoi.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Vietnamese cuisine)
Included Activities
- Visit local farmer's home in Tam Coc and learn about VAC system and Vietnamese family worshiping culture
- Enjoy traditional tea and peanut candies at local home
- Explore Tam Coc on Sampan boat through caves and limestone mountains along Ngo Dong River
- Visit Hoa Lu ancient capital and temples of first Emperor of Vietnam
Optional Activities
- Bike ride through rural area with limestone mountain system in Karst region (alternatively stay in van to visit local farmer's house)
Landmarks/POIs Tam Coc Ngo Dong River Hoa Lu - Day 4
Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay
Your driver picks you up at 8:30 AM and takes you to Hai Phong, arriving around 11:30 AM. At noon you'll board a support vessel that transfers you to the Sapphire Cruise where you get a welcome drink and safety briefing. Lunch features fresh seafood as you cruise toward Lan Ha Bay, passing the Da Chong islet with its French-built lighthouse. In the afternoon, kayak or swim at Ba Trai Dao beach in clear waters. Happy hour is 5:30 to 6:30 PM with two-for-one drink specials, then dinner at 7:15 PM. Spend your evening relaxing with cocktails, trying spa services if you want, or joining the squid fishing under stars.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Fresh seafood and assortment of appetizing delicacies), Dinner (Unique dinner in distinctive restaurant)
Included Activities
- Board luxury Sapphire Cruise with welcome drink
- Cruise through Lan Ha Bay and pass Da Chong islet with French lighthouse
- Explore Ba Trai Dao beach via kayaks or swimming
Optional Activities
- Spa services
- Watch movies
- Squid fishing
Landmarks/POIs Lan Ha Bay Da Chong Islet Ba Trai Dao Beach - Day 5
Lan Ha Bay to Hanoi
Wake early at 6:30 AM for optional tai chi on the upper deck or sit with tea and coffee watching the bay. Light breakfast of pastries, tea, and coffee arrives at 7 AM. From 7:30 to 9:15 AM you'll explore caves and remote islets in local rowing boats, taking in the World Heritage scenery. Check out of your cabin by 9:30 AM, have an early brunch, say goodbye to the crew, then board the transfer boat at 11:30 AM back to shore. Your return drive takes you back to Hanoi, arriving at your hotel around 12:10 to 12:30 PM.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Light breakfast of pastries, tea and coffee), Brunch (Early brunch before departure)
Included Activities
- Participate in daily Tai Chi sessions
- Explore mysterious caves and remote islets via local rowing boats
Landmarks/POIs Lan Ha Bay - Day 6
Hanoi to Hoi An
After breakfast at your hotel, you have free time until your driver takes you to Hanoi airport for a 1-hour flight to Danang. Once you land, you'll be picked up and driven by private car to Hoi An. Check into your hotel and spend the rest of the day exploring Hoi An at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Hoi An independently
- Day 7
My Son Sanctuary
Your guide picks you up at 8 AM and drives you 48km west to My Son Sanctuary, a World Cultural Heritage site. You'll spend 2 hours walking through over 70 towers and temples dating from the late 4th century while learning about the Cham Kingdom and catching traditional Champa performances. Next, stop at a local house to learn rice paper making and try what you've made. Lunch happens at another local home with herbal tea and fresh food. In the afternoon, take a boat down the Thu Bon River back to Hoi An, arriving by 1:30 PM.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local house with cold herbal tea and fresh foods)
Included Activities
- Visit My Son Sanctuary with 2 hours guided exploration of 70+ towers and temples
- Watch traditional Champa People performances
- Learn to make rice paper at local house
- Boat trip on Thu Bon River back to Hoi An
Landmarks/POIs My Son Sanctuary Thu Bon River - Day 8
Hoi An
This day is yours to do what you want in Hoi An. Bike to the beach for a swim and some sun, explore the charming old town by bike or rickshaw, or simply hang out by your hotel's pool. It's completely up to you how to spend it.
Optional Activities
- Bike to the beach for relaxing
- Explore old town by bike
- Explore old town by rickshaw
- Relax at hotel swimming pool
- Day 9
Hoi An to Hue
At 9 AM or 10 AM (your choice), your driver picks you up from your hotel for the 120km drive to Hue. The route crosses the iconic Hai Van Pass where you'll get mountain views the whole way. Once you arrive in Hue, check into your hotel and take the rest of the day to relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks/POIs Hai Van Pass - Day 10
Hue
Your guide picks you up at 8 AM for a full day of Hue's imperial sites. You'll visit Emperor Minh Mang's Mausoleum and Emperor Khai Dinh's Mausoleum with stops to see how conical hats and incense sticks are made. After lunch at a local restaurant, explore the Imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty including the Royal Citadel, Forbidden City, Hue Royal Museum, and the seven-story Thien Mu Pagoda on the riverbank. By evening you'll return to your hotel by boat along the Perfume River.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Emperor Minh Mang Mausoleum
- Visit Emperor Khai Dinh Mausoleum
- Stop to learn how conical hats and incense sticks are made
- Visit Royal Citadel during Nguyen Dynasty
- Visit Forbidden City
- Visit Hue Royal Museum
- Visit Thien Mu Pagoda (seven-storey)
- Return by boat on Perfume River
Landmarks/POIs Emperor Minh Mang Mausoleum Emperor Khai Dinh Mausoleum Hue Royal Citadel Forbidden City Hue Royal Museum Thien Mu Pagoda Perfume River - Day 11
Hue to Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast at your hotel, your driver takes you to Hue airport. You'll fly to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), check into your hotel upon arrival, and have the rest of the day free to check out Vietnam's most active and vibrant city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Ho Chi Minh City independently
- Day 12
Mekong Delta
Your guide and driver pick you up at 7:30 AM for a scenic drive south through green rice fields to My Tho. You'll visit Vinh Trang Pagoda and take a leisurely boat ride past stilt houses, fruit plantations, and fishing villages. Stop at Tortoise Islet for lunch in the orchard garden, then boat to An Khanh in Ben Tre, a spot that doesn't see as many tourists. From there you'll cruise on a hand-rowed sampan under water coconut trees along natural canals, taste seasonal fruit and honey tea while locals play Southern Vietnamese folk music. Later visit a family business that shows rural life, try coconut candy, and walk through the fruit plantations.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in orchard garden)
Included Activities
- Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
- Take boat ride viewing stilt houses, fruit plantations, and fishing villages
- Cruise on hand-rowed sampan under water coconut trees along natural canals
- Enjoy seasonal fruit and honey tea with Southern Vietnamese folk music
- Visit family business in fruit plantation and village
Landmarks/POIs Vinh Trang Pagoda My Tho Ben Tre - Day 13
Ho Chi Minh City
Head out to explore Cu Chi Tunnels, a network of underground passages that served as supply routes, hideouts, and living quarters for guerrilla fighters during the Vietnam War. Later, check out Ho Chi Minh City's highlights including the Independent Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Ben Thanh Market, and the War Museum.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Cu Chi Tunnels network of underground tunnels from Vietnam War
- Explore Independent Palace
- Visit Notre Dame
- Visit Ben Thanh Market
- Visit War Museum
Landmarks/POIs Cu Chi Tunnels Reunification Palace Notre-Dame Cathedral Ho Chi Minh Ben Thanh Market War Remnants Museum - Day 14
Departure
It's time to say goodbye to Vietnam as your tour ends. Check out of your hotel and your driver will take you to the airport. From there you can fly home internationally, stay longer in Vietnam, or head out to explore other parts of Asia.
