Itinerary
- Day 1
Ho Chi Minh City
You'll land at Tan San Nhat Airport where your guide meets you for the transfer to your hotel. After settling in, the rest of the day is yours to explore Ho Chi Minh City on your own pace. Wander through the downtown streets, take in the controlled chaos of bikes and motorbikes, check out the shopping areas, and grab a coffee at one of the sidewalk cafes if you have time. It's a good chance to get oriented before your scheduled activities start.
Optional Activities
- Downtown exploration of local ways of life (if time permits)
Landmarks/POIs Tan San Nhat Airport - Day 2
Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast at your hotel, you'll head out to see the French Colonial architecture, starting with Independence Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Central Post Office. Later, the War Remnants Museum gives context to Vietnam's recent history. Then it's about a 90-minute bus ride to Cu Chi Tunnel where you'll walk through the tunnel systems, see the living quarters, kitchens, weapons factories, and field hospitals. Before heading back to the city by evening, you'll try some special tea and cassava snacks.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Independence Palace (Reunification Palace)
- Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
- Visit Central Post Office
- Visit War Remnants Museum
- Cu Chi Tunnel exploration including tunnel systems, living areas, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers
- Special tea and cassava snacks
Optional Activities
- Target shooting with real guns (break time activity)
Landmarks/POIs Independence Palace Notre Dame Cathedral Central Post Office War Remnants Museum Cu Chi Tunnel - Day 3
Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast, this day is flexible. You can stay at your hotel to relax or walk around Ho Chi Minh City on your own with no arranged transport. If you want something more structured, there's an optional Mekong Delta Tour that takes you to My Tho and Ben Tre with sampan cruises around the four islands, stops at fruit plantations and honey-bee farms, cycling through Tan Thach village, and lunch at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Optional Activities
- Full Day Mekong Delta Tour - My Tho to Ben Tre (Group tour: US$ 45 per person; Private tour: US$ 180 per person for 1 person, US$ 96 per person for 2 people, US$ 72 per person for 3-6 people, US$ 48 per person for 7-10 people). Includes: visit Vinh Trang pagoda, sampan cruise around Dragon/Unicorn/Phoenix/Tortoise islands, walking and orchards on Unicorn Island with tropical fruits and folk song music, hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal, family business visit, honey-bee farm with honey tea and coconut candy workshop, cycling around Tan Thach village, local villager meetings, hammock relaxing, lunch at local restaurant, transportation, English speaking tour guide, all entrance fees, boat trip, mineral water
Landmarks/POIs My Tho Vinh Trang Pagoda Mekong River Tan Thach Village - Day 4
Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An
You'll have breakfast at your hotel and some free time to explore Ho Chi Minh City before heading to the airport for your domestic flight to Danang. Once you land, your guide picks you up for the drive to Hoi An. After checking in at your hotel, you'll have the evening to settle in.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Optional Activities
- Free exploration of Ho Chi Minh City before airport transfer
- Day 5
Hoi An
After breakfast at your hotel, the day is yours to relax or explore Hoi An independently. If you want a guided experience, there are two private tour options. One focuses on My Son Sanctuary and the ancient Champa Kingdom, plus a pottery-making workshop in Thanh Ha ceramic village, the Apsara traditional music show, and a boat ride on Thu Bon River. The other combines cycling through Tra Que Vegetable Village with basket boat rowing, a fishing and cooking class, and street food tasting around Hoi An Ancient Town.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Optional Activities
- Option 1: Hoi An Ancient Town - My Son Holy Land Private Tour (US$ 156/person for 1 person, US$ 96/person for 2 people, US$ 84/person for 3-6 people, US$ 60/person for 7-10 people). Includes: visit My Son Sanctuary to explore ancient Champa Kingdom, Apsara traditional music show, Thanh Ha ceramic village pottery workshop with clay whistle gift, boat trip on Thu Bon River, walking tour around Hoi An Ancient Town including Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese Assembly Halls, Sa Huynh Museum, old houses, local market, transport, English speaking guide, boat, entrance fees, lunch, mineral water, service charge
- Option 2: Learning Fishing - Cooking Class - Hoi An Ancient Town & Street Food Private Tour (US$ 180/person for 1 person, US$ 120/person for 2 people, US$ 108/person for 3-6 people, US$ 84/person for 7-10 people). Includes: guided boat trip to Cam Nam fishing village to learn and practice fishing with local people, visit green Bay Mau water coconut forest with basket boat rowing and field crab catching, revolutionary base exploration, cycling to Tra Que Vegetable Village, special welcome drinks, cooking class with local family, Hoi An Ancient Town exploration including Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese Assembly Halls, Phuoc Kien Pagoda, Sa Huynh Museum, local market, street food tasting (Quang Noodle, Cao Lau Noodle, rice pancake, grilled meat roll, roast meat, grilled chopped meat, Mrs. Phuong Bread), transport, local boat, basket boat and fishing tools, bicycle and helmet, English speaking guide, entrance fees, cooking class, lunch, mineral water, service charge
Landmarks/POIs My Son Sanctuary Thanh Ha Ceramic Village Thu Bon River Hoi An Ancient Town Japanese Covered Bridge Chinese Assembly Halls Sa Huynh Museum Cam Nam Fishing Village Bay Mau Water Coconut Forest Tra Que Vegetable Village Phuoc Kien Pagoda - Day 6
Hoi An
After breakfast, you can relax at your hotel or explore Hoi An on your own. Alternatively, take the optional Da Nang tour which includes Marble Mountain with its cave systems, then Ba Na Hills where you'll ride the cable car past the Golden Bridge, flower gardens, wine cellar, and French Village. Lunch is at a restaurant and you'll have time at the amusement park before returning to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Optional Activities
- Da Nang - Discover Marble Mountain & Ba Na Hill Private Tour (US$ 180/person for 1 person, US$ 120/person for 2 people, US$ 108/person for 3-6 people, US$ 90/person for 7-10 people). Includes: visit Marble Mountain with cave systems representing metal, wood, water, fire, and earth elements, Ba Na Hills cable car to summit, Golden Bridge sightseeing and photos, Le Jardin D'amour flower garden, Debay Wine Cellar, cable car to French Village at 1138 meters, lunch at restaurant, Fantasy Amusement Park (4D Movie and most games included; some games with rewards require separate payment), transport, English speaking guide, cable car, entrance fees, mineral water. Note: Most games and 4D Movie included; reward games require additional payment.
Landmarks/POIs Marble Mountain Ba Na Hills Golden Bridge Le Jardin D'amour Debay Wine Cellar French Village Fantasy Amusement Park - Day 7
Hoi An to Hanoi
Start with breakfast and some leisure time to experience more of Hoi An before heading to Danang Airport for your flight to Hanoi. After landing at Noi Bai Airport, your guide arranges your transfer to the hotel. In the evening, you'll catch a traditional water puppet show, a unique Vietnamese art form that's been around since the 11th century and originated in the Red River Delta.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Included Activities
- Water puppet show
Optional Activities
- Free exploration of Hoi An until airport transfer
Landmarks/POIs Noi Bai Airport - Day 8
Hanoi to Halong Bay
Your hotel pickup is at 8:00 AM for the 3.5-hour drive to Halong Bay. You'll check in at Tuan Chau Island by 11:30 and board your cruise at 12:15 with a welcome drink and safety briefing. Lunch happens while the boat heads toward Fighting-Cock and Finger Islet. At 2:45 PM, take a bamboo boat or kayak to Luon Cave or Pearl Farm, then hit Titov Island at 4:00 PM for swimming or hiking. The sunset party with happy hour runs from 5:30-7:00 PM, and you can opt for a cooking class at 6:30 PM or dinner at 7:00 PM. Later there are spa treatments, cocktails, or squid fishing available.
- Meals
- Lunch (Delicious lunch with stunning bay views), Dinner (Fantastic, expertly prepared dinner)
Included Activities
- Welcome drink
- Lunch
- Cruise towards southeast passing Fighting-Cock and Finger Islet
- Visit Luon Cave or Pearl Farm by bamboo boat or kayaking
- Titov Island visit with swimming or hiking option
- Sunset party with happy hour (17:30-19:00, buy 2 get 1 free at bar)
- Dinner
- Free squid fishing tools provided at reception
Optional Activities
- Traditional Vietnamese cooking class on sundeck (18:30)
- Spa treatments
- Cocktails at bar
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay Tuan Chau Island Fighting-Cock Islet Finger Islet Luon Cave Pearl Farm Titov Island - Day 9
Halong Bay to Hanoi
Start early with Tai Chi at 6:00 AM on the sundeck while watching the sunrise over Halong Bay. Light breakfast comes at 7:00 AM before exploring Sung Sot Cave at 8:00 AM, one of the bay's biggest caves with stalactites and stalagmites formed over millions of years. By 9:30 AM you're back at Tuan Chau Island for brunch at 10:00 AM, then disembark at 10:45 AM for the drive back to Hanoi, arriving around 4:00 PM.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Light breakfast at restaurant), Brunch (Brunch at restaurant)
Included Activities
- Tai Chi lesson on sundeck at sunrise
- Light breakfast at restaurant
- Visit Sung Sot Cave with stalactites and stalagmites exploration
- Brunch at restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Sung Sot Cave - Day 10
Hanoi
After breakfast, take a guided walking tour through the Ho Chi Minh Complex which includes his mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, and his house on stilts. You'll also see the One Pillar Pagoda that dates back to when the city was founded, then walk through the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university. The route back takes you through Ngoc Son Temple. In the afternoon, you're free to rest or join the optional Street Food tour at 6:00 PM exploring the historic 36 Streets Old Quarter and sampling dishes at neighborhood restaurants and food stalls.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Ho Chi Minh Complex including Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, Presidential Palace, and Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Temple of Literature
- Visit Ngoc Son Temple
Optional Activities
- Hanoi Street Food tour (18:00-21:00, US$ 45/person for 1 person, US$ 35/person for 2 people, US$ 30/person for 3-6 people, US$ 25/person for 7-10 people). Includes: exploration of Hanoi Old Quarter "36 streets" to visit famous specialized food families, stalls and local restaurants, food tasting at various venues, vegetarian or special food available, visit to traditional mini restaurants, history of the old quarter (1000+ years old), food stalls in hidden alleys, comfort and hygiene assured, benefits local vendors and families, English speaking tour guide, hotel pick-up in Hanoi old quarter, authentic food (not seafood), drinks, taxi arrangement or directions back to hotel
Landmarks/POIs Ho Chi Minh Complex Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Presidential Palace Ho Chi Minh's House on Stilts One Pillar Pagoda Temple of Literature Ngoc Son Temple Hanoi Old Quarter - Day 11
Hanoi Departure
You can stay at your hotel until noon to relax or have a final walk around Hanoi. Later your guide picks you up for the transfer to Noi Bai Airport for your departure flight home.
Optional Activities
- Free exploration of Hanoi until checkout
