Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Hanoi
Your private driver will meet you at Hanoi airport and take you to your hotel in the Old Quarter area. After you check in, the rest of the day is yours to relax at the hotel or wander around the neighborhood at your own pace.
Optional Activities
- Explore Hanoi Old Quarter at own pace
- Day 2
Hanoi City Tour
A guide picks you up for a full day exploring Hanoi's cultural sites. You'll see Tran Quoc Pagoda on Golden Fish Island, the Ho Chi Minh Complex with his mausoleum, and the One Pillar Pagoda. Then you'll visit either the Vietnam Ethnology Museum or the Vietnamese Women's Museum (closed Mondays, so plan accordingly). After authentic Vietnamese lunch, you'll walk through the Temple of Literature and check out Hoa Lo Prison before heading back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Lunch (Authentic Vietnamese cuisine at a local restaurant with vegetarian options available)
Included Activities
- Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda
- Visit Ho Chi Minh Complex and mausoleum
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Vietnam Ethnology Museum (or Vietnamese Women's Museum on Mondays)
- Visit Temple of Literature
- Visit Hoa Lo Prison
Landmarks/POIs Tran Quoc Pagoda Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum One Pillar Pagoda Vietnam Ethnology Museum Temple of Literature Hoa Lo Prison - Day 3
Tam Coc Day Trip
You'll leave at 7:30 AM for Ninh Binh province, about 120 km away. After a break, explore Hoa Lu's ancient temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le. Buffet lunch includes regional specialties, then you'll spend 1.5 hours on a bamboo boat through Tam Coc. Forty-five minutes of cycling around the village lets you see how locals live. You'll return to Hanoi by 6:30 PM.
- Meals
- Lunch (Buffet lunch at a local restaurant featuring regional dishes such as goat meat and fried rice with vegetarian options available)
Included Activities
- Visit Hoa Lu temples
- Bamboo boat ride through Tam Coc
- Cycling trip around village
Landmarks/POIs Hoa Lu Tam Coc - Day 4
Halong Bay Cruise
After breakfast, check out and head to Halong Bay. The cruise team meets you at your hotel lobby between 8 and 9 AM, and you'll reach the jetty around noon. Once aboard, you'll have lunch as the cruise moves through the limestone islets. The afternoon gives you choices: swim, kayak, explore caves, or relax on deck. The cruise anchors for the night, and you'll catch the sunset before dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Halong Bay cruise through islets
- Swimming, kayaking, or cave visits (activity dependent on boat itinerary)
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay - Day 5
Halong Bay to Hoi An
The sunrise over Halong Bay comes with breakfast while you cruise back to port. You'll have an early lunch before disembarking, then transfer to Hanoi airport for your flight to Hoi An. Your driver meets you upon arrival and takes you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to settle in.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Day 6
Hoi An Free Day
Rent a bike at your hotel and cycle toward the riverside or beach. Spend time at beachside cafes with fresh fruit drinks and swim in the warm water. Pop into tailor shops to order custom clothing, bags, or shoes made overnight. Later, stroll through the Old Town as lanterns light up and local street performers entertain visitors.
Optional Activities
- Rent bicycle and explore town
- Swimming and relaxation at beach
- Visit tailor shops for custom clothing or accessories
- Explore Old Town in evening
- Watch evening street performances
Landmarks/POIs Hoi An Old Town - Day 7
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
Take a final morning in Hoi An before your driver takes you to Da Nang airport. Fly to Ho Chi Minh City and your driver will pick you up from Tan Son Nhat Airport for the transfer to your hotel in the city centre. You'll have the rest of the day free.
- Day 8
Ho Chi Minh City and Cu Chi Tunnels
Start with the Independence Palace (Reunification Palace) in the morning, then walk through French Colonial landmarks including Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. The War Remnants Museum has extensive displays from both Indochina wars. After lunch at a local restaurant, head to Cu Chi Tunnels, about 1.5 hours by bus. You'll watch an introductory video, explore the tunnel systems with their living areas and military facilities, and learn about wartime traps. Try special tea and cassava, then you can relax or try shooting at the range before returning to the city.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant), Snack (Special tea and cassava (typical food of guerillas during wartime))
Included Activities
- Visit Independence Palace
- Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
- Visit Central Post Office
- Visit War Remnants Museum
- Cu Chi Tunnels exploration with introductory video and tunnel system tour
Optional Activities
- Shooting at the range
Landmarks/POIs Independence Palace Notre Dame Cathedral Central Post Office War Remnants Museum Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 9
Mekong Delta Day Trip
Travel to My Tho on the Mekong River's left bank and visit Vinh Trang Pagoda from the late 1800s. Board a sampan and cruise past Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Tortoise Islands. Stop at Unicorn Island to walk country lanes, see orchards, taste tropical fruits, and hear traditional folk music. Visit a fruit plantation, ride a hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son Canal, stop at a honeybee farm for honey tea, and watch coconut candy being made. After lunch, cycle around Tan Thach Village to meet locals and experience daily Mekong life (or use a hammock to relax). You'll return to Ho Chi Minh City by evening.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
- Sampan cruise on Mekong River
- Visit to Unicorn Island with walks, orchards, and tropical fruits
- Traditional folk music performance
- Visit fruit plantation
- Hand-rowed sampan ride through Thoi Son Canal
- Visit honeybee farm with honey tea
- Coconut candy workshop visit
- Cycling around Tan Thach Village
Optional Activities
- Relax in hammocks (instead of cycling)
Landmarks/POIs Vinh Trang Pagoda My Tho Unicorn Island - Day 10
Departure from Ho Chi Minh City
Have a healthy breakfast on your final day, check out of the hotel, then browse local markets for souvenirs to bring home. Your driver will take you to the airport for your flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit local markets for souvenirs
