Itinerary
- Day 1
Ho Chi Minh City Arrival
Your driver will meet you at Ho Chi Minh City airport and take you to your hotel in Saigon Downtown. After you check in and get settled, the rest of the day is open for you to rest and adjust to the time difference before your Vietnam trip officially kicks off.
Optional Activities
- Explore Ho Chi Minh City on your own
- Experience the vibrant atmosphere and rich history of the city
- Discover local food scene
- Day 2
Cu Chi Tunnels
Pick up happens in the morning for a scenic 60 km drive (about 1.5 hours) out to the Cu Chi Tunnels. You'll watch a documentary first, then explore the underground tunnel system with its kitchens, bedrooms, and workshops. After that comes a stop at a rice paper workshop where you can taste some wartime food, then your driver takes you back to Ho Chi Minh City.
Included Activities
- Watch introduction documentary on Cu Chi Tunnels history
- Explore underground network including kitchens, bedrooms, storage spaces, weapons workshops, field hospitals, and command centers
- Visit recreated underground town
- Learn about hidden trapdoors and survival tactics
- Visit local rice paper workshop
- Taste guerrilla-style wartime food - boiled tapioca and hot tea
Landmarks/POIs Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 3
Mekong Delta
Departure is at 8:00 AM for the 2-hour drive to the Mekong Delta. Once there, you'll take a boat cruise along the Tien River stopping at four mythical animal islets. You'll visit a bee farm for honey tea and tropical fruits, check out a coconut candy workshop, and listen to traditional Southern Vietnamese folk music. Later, a bamboo rowboat takes you through mangrove canals, then you get a horse-drawn carriage ride through a village and visit Vinh Trang Pagoda before heading back to Ho Chi Minh City in the late afternoon.
Included Activities
- Boat cruise along Tien River exploring four islets - Dragon, Kirin, Tortoise, and Phoenix
- Visit local bee farm with honey tea tasting and tropical fruit sampling
- Stop at handmade coconut candy workshop to see production and taste fresh treats
- Experience live performance of Đờn Ca Tài Tử - traditional Southern Vietnamese folk music
- Bamboo rowboat ride through mangrove palm canal
- Horse-drawn carriage ride through peaceful village
- Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda - largest and most famous Buddhist temple in Southern Vietnam
Optional Activities
- Photo opportunity with pythons at bee farm
Landmarks/POIs Tien River Vinh Trang Pagoda - Day 4
Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi
After breakfast, your driver picks you up and takes you to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your flight to Hanoi. Upon landing, a transfer brings you to your hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter. You'll have the rest of the day free to check in, rest up, or take a casual walk around the city if you're not too tired.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Hanoi Old Quarter on your own
- Discover the city's attractions and local culture
- Day 5
Hanoi to Halong Bay Cruise
Your guide will pick you up between 7:30 and 8:30 AM for a scenic 3.5-hour drive to Halong Bay, with a refreshment stop in Hai Duong along the way. You'll reach Tuan Chau Harbor around noon, check into your cruise cabin, and have seafood lunch while taking in the UNESCO World Heritage views. In the afternoon, kayak out to explore a Pearl Farm, then head to Titop Island where you can swim or climb for panoramic views. Back on the cruise, there's an optional cooking class for spring rolls, followed by a BBQ seafood dinner and optional evening activities. You'll sleep in your cabin.
- Meals
- Lunch (Fresh seafood lunch cruise with vegetarian options available), Dinner (BBQ seafood dinner on board)
Included Activities
- Welcome aboard with safety briefing
- Fresh seafood lunch cruise
- Explore Pearl Farm by kayak through floating village
- Visit Titop Island for swimming or summit climb
- Hands-on cooking class - traditional Vietnamese spring rolls
- BBQ seafood dinner on board
Optional Activities
- Play chess or cards
- Sing karaoke
- Night squid fishing
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay Titop Island - Day 6
Halong Bay to Hanoi
Wake up early on the sundeck with hot tea or coffee to watch the sunrise over the bay. You can join an optional Tai Chi session if that interests you, then explore Sung Sot Cave, which is the largest cavern in Halong Bay and has impressive stalactites and stalagmites. Return to the cruise for a leisurely lunch as you sail back toward Ha Long City. After a rest stop in Hai Duong province, you'll arrive back in Hanoi around 4:00 to 4:30 PM.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Leisurely lunch on board during sail back)
Included Activities
- Breakfast on board
- Explore Sung Sot Cave - Halong Bay's largest cavern with stalactite and stalagmite formations
- Leisurely lunch on board during sail back to Ha Long City pier
Optional Activities
- Tai Chi session at dawn on sundeck
Landmarks/POIs Sung Sot Cave - Day 7
Ninh Binh
Your hotel pick-up happens between 7:25 and 8:00 AM for a day trip to Ninh Binh. You'll travel to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam, and explore the Dinh and Le dynasty temples. Then comes a bicycle ride through peaceful countryside, followed by a buffet lunch with local specialties. Next is a 1.5-hour bamboo boat ride through Tam Coc's limestone karsts and caves. You'll climb the nearly 500 steps of Mua Cave for panoramic views, and the drive back to Hanoi takes you there around 7:00 PM.
- Meals
- Lunch (Buffet lunch at Ninh Binh Excursion Restaurant featuring local specialties such as goat meat, spring rolls, chicken, fish, fried rice, and vegetable salad with vegetarian options available)
Included Activities
- Explore Hoa Lu - ancient capital of Vietnam from 968-1010
- Visit temples of Dinh and Le dynasties
- Bicycle ride around peaceful countryside
- Buffet lunch at Ninh Binh Excursion Restaurant featuring local specialties - goat meat, spring rolls, chicken, fish, fried rice, vegetable salad with vegetarian options
- Bamboo boat ride in Tam Coc (Ha Long Bay on land) along Ngo Dong River
- Climb Mua Cave summit - nearly 500 stone steps to Lying Dragon Mountain for panoramic views
Landmarks/POIs Hoa Lu Tam Coc Mua Cave - Day 8
Hanoi Free Day
This day is entirely yours to explore Hanoi however you'd like. Relax at your hotel, walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, wander through the Old Quarter, try traditional dishes like Pho or Bun Cha at a local restaurant, or take a motorbike or bicycle ride around West Lake. Several optional guided tours are available if you'd rather have some structure.
Optional Activities
- Visit Hoan Kiem Lake
- Explore Hanoi Old Quarter
- Try traditional dishes - Pho, Bun Cha, Banh Mi
- Motorbike or bicycle ride around West Lake
- Hanoi Vespa AfterDark tour
- Hanoi City Jeep Tour
- Hanoi Cyclo Tour
Landmarks/POIs Hoan Kiem Lake Hanoi Old Quarter West Lake - Day 9
Hanoi Departure
Have breakfast at your hotel and use your remaining time to explore or pick up souvenirs in Hanoi before heading to the airport for your international flight. This wraps up your Vietnam journey after a full week of experiences.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Hanoi
- Shop for souvenirs
