Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll start your time in Hanoi by diving into the city's cultural side. This morning takes you through Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda, and Temple of Literature, which gives you a solid grounding in the city's history and significance. After that, head over to the Museum of Ethnology to get a sense of Vietnam's diverse ethnic groups and their traditions. Later in the afternoon, wander around Hoan Kiem Lake and check out Ngoc Son Temple. The lake area is nice for an evening stroll if you're not too worn out from the day.
- Start point
- Hồ Hoàn Kiếm (Hoan Kiem Lake), Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Hanoi, 110200, Vietnam (We will pick you up at your hotel in the Old Quater)
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch in a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Temple of Literature
- Visit Museum of Ethnology
- Explore Hoan Kiem Lake
- Visit Ngoc Son Temple
Landmarks Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum One Pillar Pagoda Temple of Literature Museum of Ethnology Hoan Kiem Lake Ngoc Son Temple 
- Day 2
Hanoi to Halong Bay
Head out early by limousine bus toward Halong Bay, about 3.5 hours from Hanoi. Once you arrive, you'll board a 2-day sleeper boat cruise that takes you through the limestone formations the area is known for. Your first day includes a stop at Surprising Cave to see the stalactites and stalagmites, then kayaking through Luon Cave. After that, climb up Titop Peak for views across the bay before settling in for the night on the boat. You'll return to Hanoi the following day.
- Meals
- Lunch (Buffet lunch on boat), Snack (Afternoon Tea), Breakfast (Welcome drink upon arrival)
Included Activities
- Cruise to Halong Bay with 5.5 to 6 hours journey on 2 day-sleeper boat
- Visit Surprising Cave
- Kayaking or bamboo boat in Luon Cave
- Visit Titop Island
- Climb Titop Peak for panoramic view
Landmarks Tuan Chau Island Bo Hon archipelago Surprising Cave Luon Cave Titop Island 
- Day 3
Hanoi to Ninh Binh to Dong Hoi
Travel by limousine bus to Ninh Binh and start at Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel, which served as Vietnam's capital centuries ago. From there, continue to Trang An Grottoes for a traditional sampan ride through multiple caves along the water. You'll also climb 500 stone steps up to Mua Cave for views of the surrounding area. Late in the day, catch a night train to Dong Hoi (about 4-5 hours), so pack some snacks and settle in for the ride.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in a local restaurant with great local cuisine), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel with Dinh King Temple and Le King Temple
- Explore Trang An Grottoes
- Traditional sampan boat ride through caves
- Visit Lam Cave, Vang Cave, Dai Cave, Thanh Truot Cave
- Visit Cao Sơn Temple, Suoi Tien Temple, Vu Lam Temple
- Climb to Mua Cave on Ngoa Long Mountain
Landmarks Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel Trang An Grottoes Lam Cave Vang Cave Dai Cave Thanh Truot Cave Cao Sơn Temple Suoi Tien Temple Vu Lam Temple Mua Cave Ngoa Long Mountain 
- Day 4
Dong Hoi to Phong Nha
Head early to Dark Cave where you'll get into adventure activities like ziplining, swimming, kayaking, and mud bathing if that appeals to you. The mud is actually a natural benefit for your skin, though it's worth noting it's cold. In the afternoon, take a traditional dragon boat to Phong Nha Cave and do a 1 km cave drift followed by about a 300 m walk to explore the cave more closely. You'll be back to base by evening.
Included Activities
- Explore Dark Cave with adventure activities
- Long zipline activity
- Swimming in Dark Cave
- Kayaking in Dark Cave
- Adventure course at Dark Cave
- Water zipline at Dark Cave
- Mud bathing in Dark Cave
- Traditional dragon boat ride to Phong Nha Cave
- Drift 1 km into Phong Nha Cave
- Walk 300 m to explore Phong Nha Cave
Landmarks Dark Cave Phong Nha Cave 
- Day 5
Phong Nha
You have the day to yourself in Phong Nha. If you're up for it, join a cycling trip that takes you through the rural countryside surrounding the area, where you'll see local villages and agricultural areas. If that's too much activity, simply relax around town, grab some lunch at a local spot, and explore at your own pace. It's a good chance to recover before heading south.
Optional Activities
- Cycling trip to explore rural surroundings
- Walking and relaxation around Phong Nha
- Day 6
Phong Nha to Hue
Depart in the morning heading toward Hue, but first stop at Vinh Moc tunnel complex in the Demilitarized Zone. This historic site gives you perspective on the Vietnam War, as families lived in these tunnels and 17 children were actually born here during that time. After learning about that history, continue on to Hue, check into your hotel, and take the rest of the day to settle in and relax.
Included Activities
- Visit Vinh Moc tunnel complex in the Demilitarized Zone
Landmarks Vinh Moc Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) 
- Day 7
Hue
Start this morning with a dragon boat ride on the Perfume River heading to Thien Mu Pagoda, a significant Buddhist site in Hue. From there, visit the Imperial Citadel to see the royal architecture and layout of the old city. Stop by Dong Ba market to see how locals shop and eat. After lunch, check out Khai Dinh King's Tomb and Tu Duc King's Tomb, both of which show different royal styles. If you have energy left, visit villages that specialize in making conical hats and incense sticks.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Dragon boat ride to Thien Mu Pagoda
- Visit Thien Mu Pagoda
- Visit Imperial Citadel
- Visit Dong Ba market
- Visit Khai Dinh King's Tomb
- Visit Tu Duc King's Tomb
- Visit conical hat village
- Visit incense stick making village
Landmarks Thien Mu Pagoda Imperial Citadel Dong Ba market Khai Dinh King's Tomb Tu Duc King's Tomb 
- Day 8
Hue to Hoi An
Take the limousine shuttle bus to Hoi An, arriving mid-morning. Spend the day walking through the ancient town quarter at your own pace, browsing shops and stores, and taking in the daily rhythm of this central Vietnamese town. The old architecture and narrow streets make it easy to get lost, which is part of the appeal. Grab lunch at a local restaurant and just explore without a strict schedule.
Included Activities
- Explore Hoi An ancient town
Landmarks Hoi An ancient town 
- Day 9
Hoi An
On your last day, cycle from Hoi An's ancient town center out to Tra Que vegetable hamlet. You'll learn how locals raise and care for organic vegetables in their fields and gardens. Take photos of the coconut palms and mangrove areas, or if you prefer, take a traditional basket boat ride where you can go crab fishing in the water. It's a more relaxed way to see the rural side of the region before wrapping up your trip.
- End point
- Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam (We will drop you off at your hotel in Hoi An ancient town)
Included Activities
- Cycling from ancient town to Tra Que vegetable hamlet
- Learn about raising and caring for organic vegetables
Optional Activities
- Traditional basket boat ride for crab fishing
- Photography at coconut palms and mangroves
Landmarks Tra Que vegetable hamlet 
