Itinerary
- Days 1 - 2
Hanoi
Day two is yours to structure however you like. Wander through Hanoi's neighborhoods and streets at your own pace, checking out different attractions and getting a feel for the city without a set schedule.
Optional Activities
- Guided city exploration
- Temple visits
- Museum exploration
- Day 3
Hanoi to Ha Long Bay
Your hotel pickup happens early so you can reach Ha Long International Cruise Port on time. After boarding, you'll have lunch while cruising past limestone islands. Later, choose between kayaking or riding in a traditional bamboo boat around a fishing village. Back on the ship you'll have dinner, a cooking class, and evening entertainment.
- Meals
- Lunch (Delectable lunch on cruise restaurant along limestone islands of Bai Tu Long Bay), Dinner (Dinner served on board)
Included Activities
- Hotel pick-up and transfer to Ha Long Port
- Cruise embarkation and check-in
- Lunch on cruise
- Bamboo rowing boat trip around Vung Vieng Fishing Village OR kayaking with guide instruction
- Cooking class with chefs
- Dinner on board
- Happy Hour at bar and sun deck
Optional Activities
- Night squid fishing
- Singing and dancing activities
Landmarks/POIs Bai Tu Long Bay Vung Vieng Fishing Village Ha Long International Cruise Port - Day 4
Ha Long Bay to Hanoi
This morning starts with Tai Chi on the sun deck, then breakfast with nice views while cruising toward Thien Canh Son Cave. You'll walk through the cave and explore it before heading back to port. After lunch on the ship, you'll disembark and transfer back to Hanoi, getting there around late afternoon around 75°F/24°C.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast with tea or coffee while cruising), Lunch (Early lunch on board)
Included Activities
- Tai Chi exercise on sun deck
- Breakfast while cruising
- Visit Thien Canh Son Cave
- Early lunch on board
- Transfer back to Hanoi
Landmarks/POIs Thien Canh Son Cave - Day 5
Hanoi to Mai Chau
You'll leave Hanoi early with a scenic photo stop on the way to Mai Chau valley. Lunch features traditional food, then you'll cycle through villages to watch farmers working and locals weaving scarves. Free time later lets you do more biking and shopping, and dinner brings traditional Thai dishes with a dance performance.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional lunch in local home (vegetarian available)), Dinner (Traditional Thai dishes with dance show and ruou can wine)
Included Activities
- Hotel pick-up in Old Quarter
- Transfer to Mai Chau
- Scenic photo stop of Mai Chau valley
- Traditional lunch in local home (vegetarian available)
- Bicycle ride with guide through fields and villages
- Visit surrounding villages
- Dinner with traditional Thai dishes
- Traditional Thai dance show
- Traditional wine (ruou can) tasting
Optional Activities
- Free cycling
- Free walking
- Shopping
Landmarks/POIs Mai Chau Valley - Day 6
Mai Chau to Pu Luong
After breakfast, you're heading to Pu Luong Nature Reserve with stops at chopstick factories and photo spots along the way. Once there, take a short break then trek through mountain scenery and rice terraces. Lunch happens in a village, and then you'll settle into your accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at homestay), Lunch (Lunch in village)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at homestay
- Drive to Pu Luong Nature Reserve
- Chopstick factory viewing
- Trekking in nature reserve
- Exploration of mountain scenery and rice terraces
- Lunch in village
Optional Activities
- Photo stops along the way
Landmarks/POIs Pu Luong Nature Reserve - Day 7
Pu Luong to Ninh Binh
Breakfast at your homestay comes first, then you have free time to relax before transferring to Ninh Binh. Once you arrive, the rest of the day is open for exploring the town at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at homestay)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at homestay
- Transfer to Ninh Binh
Optional Activities
- Free exploration of Ninh Binh
- Day 8
Ninh Binh
Start with breakfast at your bungalow, then head to Tam Coc for a hand-rowed boat exploring three grottos. You'll bike around the area afterward and have a special lunch with a cooking demonstration. Next, climb Mua Cave's 500 steps to get a nice viewpoint over Ninh Binh. From there, you'll go to the train station for an overnight train to Dong Hoi.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at bungalow), Lunch (Special food at local restaurant in Tam Coc with Vietnamese cuisine cooking demonstration)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at bungalow
- Tam Coc boat tour with hand-rowed boats
- Visit Hang Ca (First Grotto)
- Visit Hang Hai (Second Grotto)
- Visit Hang Ba (Third Grotto)
- Biking around Tam Coc (30-45 minutes)
- Special lunch at local restaurant with Vietnamese cuisine cooking lesson
- Visit Mua Cave
- Mua Cave viewpoint (500 steps to summit)
- Transfer to Ninh Binh train station
Landmarks/POIs Tam Coc Hang Ca (First Grotto) Hang Hai (Second Grotto) Hang Ba (Third Grotto) Mua Cave - Day 9
Dong Hoi to Phong Nha Ke Bang
You'll arrive in Dong Hoi and transfer to Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park. Inside Paradise Cave, Asia's longest dry cave, you'll travel by electric car and then walk along wooden floors to see stalactites. After lunch, a boat goes up the Son River to Phong Nha Cave, the longest wet cave, where you'll see riverside villages and limestone formations.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at restaurant with local specialties)
Included Activities
- Pick-up from Dong Hoi station/airport/bus station
- Transfer to Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park
- Visit Paradise Cave
- Electric car transfer to cave foothills (2km)
- Jungle walk to cave entrance
- Cave exploration (approximately 1km on wooden floor)
- Stalactite viewing
- Lunch at restaurant with local specialties
- Transfer to boat station
- Boat trip (approximately 5km) along Son River
- Visit Phong Nha Cave (wet cave)
- Observation of riverside village daily life
- Viewing of limestone scenery and stalactites
- Transfer back to Dong Hoi City
Landmarks/POIs Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park Paradise Cave Phong Nha Cave Son River - Day 10
Dong Hoi to Hue
Breakfast comes first, then about a 4 hour drive takes you toward Hue. You'll tour Minh Mang Tomb with its mix of architecture and natural setting, then visit Khai Dinh Tomb which blends Eastern and Western styles. Lunch happens in between visits to the Imperial Citadel, historic Thien Mu Pagoda, and a dragon boat ride back to the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Lunch at Garden Restaurant with Western, Asian and Vietnamese food)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Transfer to Hue
- Visit Minh Mang Tomb
- Visit Khai Dinh Tomb
- Lunch at Garden Restaurant
- Visit Citadel (Imperial City)
- Visit Thien Mu Pagoda
- Dragon boat cruise
Landmarks/POIs Minh Mang Tomb Khai Dinh Tomb Citadel (Imperial City) Thien Mu Pagoda - Day 11
Hue to Hoi An
Heading south from Hue toward Hoi An, you'll stop at Tam Giang Lagoon fishing village first. The scenic Hai Van Pass offers great panoramic views, and then Da Nang gives you the Cham Museum and Marble Mountain. From there, Hoi An Ancient Town has a guided walking tour through charming streets with the Japanese Covered Bridge, temples, and historic houses showing the town's mixed cultural history.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Hotel pick-up in Hue
- Visit Tam Giang Lagoon fishing village
- Scenic stop at Hai Van Pass
- Visit Cham Museum in Da Nang
- Visit Marble Mountain
- Lunch at local restaurant
- Walking tour of Hoi An Ancient Town
- Visit Japanese Covered Bridge
- Visit Phuoc Kien Merchant Temple
- Visit Tam Ky House (200 years old)
- Visit Chua Ong Pagoda
- Explore vibrant market
- Walking tour of town streets and assembly halls
Optional Activities
- Free exploration of Hoi An at night
Landmarks/POIs Tam Giang Lagoon Hai Van Pass Cham Museum Marble Mountain Hoi An Ancient Town Japanese Covered Bridge Phuoc Kien Merchant Temple Tam Ky House Chua Ong Pagoda - Day 12
Hoi An
You'll have breakfast at your hotel and then a relaxed day in Hoi An. Spend it however you want, either walking through town or spending time at the beach.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
Optional Activities
- Highland central experience by Jeep/scooter
- Tra Que Vegetable Village (experience as local farmer)
Landmarks/POIs Tra Que Vegetable Village - Day 13
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
Transfer from Hoi An to Da Nang airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Your driver picks you up when you land and takes you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to either explore the city or rest after traveling.
Included Activities
- Transfer from Hoi An to Da Nang airport
- Airport pick-up and transfer to hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
Optional Activities
- Free exploration of Ho Chi Minh City
- Day 14
Ho Chi Minh City
The morning focuses on historical sites like Notre Dame Cathedral, the old Central Post Office, and Reunification Palace. In the afternoon, the War Remnants Museum gets your attention. Then you'll travel about 60km out to Cu Chi Tunnels to explore the 200km network of underground passages with living areas, hospitals, and command centers from the war.
- Meals
- Snack (Tea and cassava tasting)
Included Activities
- Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
- Visit Central Post Office
- Visit Reunification Palace
- Visit War Remnants Museum
- Transfer to Cu Chi Tunnels
- Introductory video screening
- Explore tunnels (approximately 1 hour)
- Tea and cassava tasting
- Return to Ho Chi Minh City
Landmarks/POIs Notre Dame Cathedral Central Post Office Reunification Palace War Remnants Museum Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 15
Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho
Early departure from Ho Chi Minh takes you through rice fields to My Tho. There's Vinh Trang Pagoda, a boat ride to see stilt houses and fruit plantations, plus Tortoise Islet with lunch in an orchard garden. Later, head to Ben Tre for a hand-rowed sampan through coconut tree canals, taste fruit and honey tea, and check out family businesses showing rural life before reaching Can Tho.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch in orchard garden)
Included Activities
- Scenic drive to My Tho
- Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
- Boat ride along river
- Viewing of stilt houses, fruit plantations, and fishing villages
- Visit Tortoise Islet
- Lunch in orchard garden
- Boat ride to An Khanh
- Hand-rowed sampan ride under water coconut trees
- Seasonal fruit and honey tea tasting
- Traditional folk music listening
- Visit family business showcasing rural lifestyle
- Coconut candy tasting
- Exploration of fruit plantations and villages
- Transfer to Can Tho
Optional Activities
- Family home-stay with dinner (can be arranged on request)
- Free time at Can Tho market
Landmarks/POIs My Tho Vinh Trang Pagoda Tortoise Islet An Khanh Ben Tre Can Tho Market - Day 16
Can Tho to Chau Doc
Start with a leisurely boat exploring the Lower Mekong tributaries and Bassac River, then head to Cai Rang floating markets. You'll watch vermicelli soup being made, explore villages, and meet locals. Learn to cross a bamboo monkey bridge, visit an orchard, and have lunch. After that, go to Chau Doc and explore Tra Su wild bird sanctuary by small boat watching storks, cranes, and tropical birds.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch)
Included Activities
- Boat trip on Lower Mekong River (Bassac River)
- Visit Cai Rang floating markets
- Vietnamese vermicelli soup making demonstration
- Village exploration and local interaction
- Monkey bridge crossing experience
- Orchard garden visit
- Lunch
- Transfer to Chau Doc
- Visit Tra Su wild bird sanctuary
- Small boat cruise through forest canals
- Bird watching (storks, cranes, tropical birds)
Optional Activities
- Visit Phong Dien floating markets (optional)
Landmarks/POIs Cai Rang Floating Markets Phong Dien Floating Markets Bassac River Tra Su Wild Bird Sanctuary - Day 17
Chau Doc to Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast, a boat trip takes you through the floating village to visit fish farms and see how people raise fish in floating houses. A Cham minority weaving village comes next so you can see traditional crafts firsthand. Tour a local Islamic mosque, then transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast)
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Boat trip through floating village
- Visit fish farm
- Visit Cham minority weaving village
- Local Islamic mosque visit
- Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City
Landmarks/POIs Cham Minority Weaving Village - Day 18
Ho Chi Minh City
Your last day before heading home. You have leisure time to explore Ho Chi Minh City however you like until it's time to transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
Included Activities
- Transfer to airport for departure
Optional Activities
- Leisure time in Ho Chi Minh City
