Itinerary
- Day 1
Flight to Hanoi
Your Vietnam journey kicks off as you board your flight from Frankfurt heading to Hanoi. It's a long flight, so settle in and get some rest before landing in this historic city.
- Day 2
Hanoi
After landing in Hanoi, you'll head into the Old Quarter to get a feel for the city. Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and check out the temple there, then wander through the historic alleyways. St. Joseph's Cathedral is worth seeing, and you can browse through a local market. Have some classic pho for lunch, then decide whether to keep exploring or head back to relax at your hotel.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local classic Pho soup)
Included Activities
- Visit Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple
- Explore Old Quarter alleyways
- Visit St. Joseph's Cathedral
- Visit local market
Landmarks Hoan Kiem Lake Ngoc Son Temple St. Joseph's Cathedral Hanoi Old Quarter - Day 3
Hanoi
Following breakfast, you'll visit Hanoi's major historical sites. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda, and the Temple of Literature are all on the agenda. The afternoon is yours to do as you like. Later, you'll join locals at Westlake to try a Vietnamese beer and wind down the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (outside visit)
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Temple of Literature
Landmarks Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum One Pillar Pagoda Temple of Literature - Day 4
Hanoi to Halong Bay
Train travel takes you to a traditional village outside Hanoi for the famous water puppet theater performance. After the show, you'll walk through the village to learn how rural life works there. Lunch happens with a local family, then you'll continue toward Halong Bay. Along the way, you'll pass rice fields where water buffalo often graze.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch with local family)
Included Activities
- Water puppet theater performance (private show)
- Walk through traditional village
- Lunch with local family
Landmarks Halong Bay - Day 5
Halong Bay Cruise to Danang & Hoi An
Early morning brings you onto a junk cruise through Halong Bay, where bizarre limestone islands and grottos come into view. You'll visit caves during the 4 to 5 hour cruise and eat lunch onboard. By afternoon you're back in Halong, then it's off to the airport for an evening flight to Danang and then to Hoi An.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch during junk cruise)
Included Activities
- Junk cruise through Halong Bay (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Cave visits
Landmarks Halong Bay - Day 6
Hoi An
A guided tour introduces you to historic Hoi An, and then you'll head to a lantern factory to make your own lantern. Visit a nearby herbal settlement to learn about medicinal plants, cook a traditional lunch together, and get a herbal foot massage. The evening is open for you to relax at the hotel or take a walk through the atmospheric old town.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional lunch cooked together at herbal settlement)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of historic Hoi An
- Lantern factory visit and make your own lantern
- Herbal settlement visit
- Cook traditional lunch with herbal settlement
- Herbal foot massage
Landmarks Hoi An Old Town - Day 7
Hoi An to Hue
Leaving Hoi An, you're headed toward Hue with a stop at the Marble Mountains to explore caves there. The scenic Cloud Pass comes next, followed by Lang Co Lagoon where a seafood lunch waits. Once in Hue, you'll walk along the Perfume River, passing the railroad station, town hall, and Hai Ba Trang School before checking out the busy Dong Ba market.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Seafood lunch at Lang Co Lagoon)
Included Activities
- Explore Marble Mountains caves
- Walk along Perfume River
- Visit Dong Ba market
Landmarks Marble Mountains Cloud Pass Lang Co Lagoon Perfume River Dong Ba Market - Day 8
Hue
Hue's imperial heritage gets your attention today. After breakfast, explore the citadel and imperial palace, then visit a traditional Mandarin house for tea and snacks. Later, a cycle rickshaw ride takes you through the countryside to Thien Mu Pagoda. You'll finish the day at Emperor Khai Dinh's tomb as the sun sets.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit citadel with imperial palace
- Visit traditional Mandarin house with tea and snacks
- Cycle rickshaw ride through countryside
- Visit Thien Mu Pagoda
- Visit Emperor Khai Dinh's tomb at sunset
Landmarks Hue Citadel Thien Mu Pagoda Tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh - Day 9
Hue to Saigon
An early airport transfer gets you on a flight to Saigon. A city tour covers the Reunification Palace, post office, Notre Dame Cathedral, city hall, and opera house (exterior views). Stop at a local café for Vietnamese coffee, then check out Binh Tay market hall and Thien Hau temple in Chinatown. The old St. Francisco church and 'medical street' round out the tour, ending with a sunset cocktail from a rooftop bar overlooking the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- City tour of Saigon - Reunification Palace (outside visit)
- City tour of Saigon - Post office (outside visit)
- City tour of Saigon - Notre Dame Cathedral (outside visit)
- City tour of Saigon - City hall (outside visit)
- City tour of Saigon - Opera house (outside visit)
- Vietnamese coffee specialty at local café
- Visit Binh Tay market hall
- Visit Thien Hau temple in Chinatown
- View old St. Francisco church
- Sunset cocktail at rooftop bar
Landmarks Reunification Palace Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon Central Post Office Saigon Opera House Binh Tay Market Thien Hau Temple St. Francisco Church - Day 10
Departure from Saigon
You'll transfer to the airport for your return flight home. If you've booked a beach extension, you'll spend relaxing days at your beach hotel instead before heading out.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Beach extension stay (optional)
- Day 11
Arrival in Germany
You arrive back in Germany with great memories from your Vietnam adventure, already thinking about stories to share with friends and family.
