Itinerary
- Day 1
Departure
Your flight to Hanoi departs today. Pack light since you'll be moving between locations, and try to rest during the journey since you have a busy itinerary ahead.
- Day 2
Hanoi
After landing in Hanoi, you'll head straight into exploring the Old Quarter. Start by checking out Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple, then walk through the winding old town alleyways. You'll swing by St. Joseph's Cathedral and spend time at a local market before grabbing lunch with authentic pho soup. By evening, you're settled into the rhythm of Hanoi's energy.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local classic Pho soup)
Included Activities
- Visit Hoan Kiem Lake with Ngoc Son Temple
- Explore Old Quarter alleyways
- Visit St. Joseph's Cathedral
- Visit local market
- Lunch with local classic Pho soup
Landmarks Hoan Kiem Lake Ngoc Son Temple St. Joseph's Cathedral - Day 3
Hanoi to Sapa (Overnight Train)
Following breakfast, you'll see Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum from the outside, then visit One Pile Pagoda and Temple of Literature. The afternoon is yours to do whatever appeals to you. Later, grab a Vietnamese beer at Westlake with the locals before heading to the station to board your overnight train to Sapa in a shared sleeping cabin.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (outside visit)
- Visit One Pile Pagoda
- Visit Temple of Literature
- Overnight train journey to Sapa in shared sleeping cabin (up to 4 people)
Optional Activities
- Vietnamese beer and relaxation at Westlake in the evening
Landmarks Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum One Pile Pagoda Temple of Literature - Day 4
Sapa
You arrive early in Lao Cai and drive to Sapa for a hearty breakfast. Then you're on a relaxed hike through Muong Hoa Valley (easy, about 5 km over 2 hours) to see the rice terraces. After that, you'll visit Cat Cat village with its waterfall and hike toward Y Linh Ho. The rest of the afternoon is free, giving you time to settle in and enjoy the mountain air and views.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hearty local breakfast)
Included Activities
- Drive from Lao Cai to Sapa
- Hearty local breakfast
- Hike through Muong Hoa Valley with rice terraces (easy, approximately 5 km, approximately 2 hours)
- Visit Hmong village of Cat Cat
- Visit Cat Cat waterfall
- Hike toward Y Linh Ho
Landmarks Muong Hoa Valley Cat Cat village Cat Cat waterfall Y Linh Ho - Day 5
Sapa
This day involves hiking to villages of Black Hmong and Red Dzao people, walking past rice fields, waterfalls, and bamboo forests. A local family prepares lunch with regional dishes for you. Your afternoon is unscheduled, though you can book an optional visit to the night market with your guide (around USD 20, arranged on site).
- Meals
- Lunch (Fresh regional delicacies prepared by local family)
Included Activities
- Hike to Black Hmong and Red Dzao villages
- Lunch with local family
Optional Activities
- Visit local night market with tour guide (approximately USD 20 per person, bookable on site)
Landmarks Black Hmong and Red Dzao villages - Day 6
Sapa to Hanoi
You leave Sapa by coach heading back to Hanoi. Along the way, you'll stop at Ham Rong mountain range to see Silver Waterfall and Love Waterfall with a short walk around each. There's an optional lunch at a local restaurant before you continue on, arriving in Hanoi by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Coach journey from Sapa to Hanoi
- Visit Silver Waterfall
- Visit Love Waterfall
- Short walk at waterfalls
Optional Activities
- Lunch break at local restaurant
Landmarks Silver Waterfall Love Waterfall - Day 7
Hanoi to Halong Bay
Driving from Hanoi toward Halong Bay, your first stop is a traditional village for a water puppet theater performance. You'll then walk through the village to see how people live in rural areas. Lunch happens with a local family, and after that you continue toward Halong Bay, passing rice fields and spotting water buffalo working in them.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch with local family)
Included Activities
- Water puppet theater performance (guest at private show)
- Walk through traditional village
- Lunch with local family
Landmarks Halong Bay - Day 8
Halong Bay to Hue
Morning brings a traditional junk cruise through Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You'll see limestone formations, explore caves, and have lunch on the boat. The cruise wraps up in the afternoon, then you head to Halong before driving to Hanoi airport for your flight to Hue. You arrive in the former imperial city and get checked into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch on board junk)
Included Activities
- Traditional junk cruise through Halong Bay
- Visit limestone formations and caves
- Lunch on board junk
Landmarks Halong Bay - Day 9
Hue
Start after breakfast by visiting Hue's citadel with the imperial palace and a traditional Mandarin house where tea and snacks are served. You'll take a cycle rickshaw ride through the countryside, heading to Thien Mu Pagoda and catching the sunset at Emperor Khai Dinh's tomb. This day connects you to Nguyen dynasty history throughout the UNESCO-listed city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit citadel with imperial palace
- Visit traditional Mandarin house
- Tea and snacks at Mandarin house
- Cycle rickshaw ride through countryside
- Visit Thien Mu Pagoda
- Visit Emperor Khai Dinh's tomb at sunset
Landmarks Hue Citadel Thien Mu Pagoda Emperor Khai Dinh's tomb - Day 10
Hue to Hoi An
Early on, you visit Tu Hieu Pagoda in a forest setting and Tu Duc imperial tomb. Then you drive to Hoi An with a lunch stop at Lang Co lagoon for fresh seafood. The route crosses Cloud Pass to the Marble Mountains, where you can explore grottoes and Buddhist shrines. You roll into Hoi An by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Fresh seafood at Lang Co lagoon)
Included Activities
- Visit Tu Hieu Pagoda
- Visit Tu Duc imperial tomb
- Lunch of fresh seafood at Lang Co lagoon
- Cross Cloud Pass
- Visit Marble Mountains
- Explore grottoes and Buddhist shrines
Landmarks Tu Hieu Pagoda Tu Duc imperial tomb Lang Co lagoon Cloud Pass Marble Mountains - Day 11
Hoi An
A guided tour takes you through Hoi An's historic old town, and you'll visit a lantern factory to make your own lantern. Then you head to a nearby herbal settlement to learn about medicinal plants, cook a traditional lunch together, and get a herbal foot massage. Your evening is free, so relax at your hotel or wander the atmospheric lit-up old town.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional lunch cooked together at herbal settlement)
Included Activities
- Old town of Hoi An guided tour
- Visit lantern factory and make your own lantern
- Learn about regional medicinal plants at herbal settlement
- Cook traditional lunch together
- Herbal foot massage
Optional Activities
- Evening stroll through atmospherically lit old town
Landmarks Hoi An Ancient Town - Day 12
Hoi An to Saigon
Early morning transfer gets you to Danang airport for your flight to Saigon. Once there, a city tour shows you Reunification Palace, the post office, Notre Dame Cathedral, city hall, and opera house (all viewed from outside). You'll try Vietnamese coffee at your guide's favorite spot, check out Binh Tay market hall and Thien Hau temple in Chinatown, then see St. Francis church and 'medical street' before heading back to the city center.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Flight from Danang to Saigon
- City tour of Saigon
- View Reunification Palace (outside visit)
- View post office (outside visit)
- View Notre Dame Cathedral (outside visit)
- View city hall (outside visit)
- View opera house (outside visit)
- Vietnamese coffee specialty at tour guide's favorite café
- Visit Binh Tay market hall
- Visit Thien Hau temple in Chinatown
- Visit old church of St. Francis
- Visit medical street
Landmarks Reunification Palace Saigon Central Post Office Notre Dame Cathedral Ho Chi Minh City Hall Saigon Opera House Binh Tay Market Hall Thien Hau Temple St. Francis Church - Day 13
Saigon
You travel to the Mekong Delta, Vietnam's 'rice bowl', and head to Ben Tre for a boat trip through the waterways. Along the way, you'll see local handicraft businesses and orchards, and ride a traditional xe loi. Lunch comes at a family restaurant featuring regional specialties. Back in Saigon, your evening ends with a sundowner at a rooftop bar overlooking the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Regional specialties in family-run restaurant)
Included Activities
- Boat trip through Mekong Delta tropical water arms
- Visit local handicraft businesses
- Visit orchards
- Ride traditional Xe Loi
- Lunch with regional specialties in family-run restaurant
Optional Activities
- Sundowner in rooftop bar overlooking Saigon
Landmarks Mekong Delta Ben Tre - Day 14
Saigon Departure
Transfer to the airport during the day for your return flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 15
Arrival
You arrive back in Germany with your memories from Vietnam packed away.
