Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll be picked up at the airport and driven to your hotel in Hanoi. After settling in, head out to explore the Old Quarter on foot, where you can wander the narrow streets and check out local shops. Later this evening, you'll have a welcome dinner at a fine restaurant to kick things off.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome Dinner at a fine restaurant)
Optional Activities
- Walking around the Old Quarter
- Day 2
Hanoi
Starting with breakfast, you'll have a full day seeing Hanoi's historic sites. First stop is Tran Quoc Pagoda, then you'll move through Ho Chi Minh's complex and the One Pillar Pagoda. After that, head to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Temple of Literature, and Hoa Lo Prison Museum. You'll break for lunch with Vietnamese dishes, and by evening you can opt for a cyclo ride or catch a puppet show if you'd like.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Lunch (Vietnamese cuisine with 8 delicious dishes at hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda
- Visit Ho Chi Minh complex with mausoleum and historical houses
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
- Visit Temple of Literature
- Visit Hoa Lo Prison Museum
- City tour with hotel breakfast and lunch included
Optional Activities
- Cyclo Ride (US$5 per person)
- Puppet Show (US$5 per person)
- Women Museum (alternative to Ethnology Museum if closed)
Landmarks/POIs Tran Quoc Pagoda Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum One Pillar Pagoda Vietnam Museum of Ethnology Temple of Literature Hoa Lo Prison Museum Women Museum - Day 3
Hanoi to Halong Bay
Early departure from Hanoi toward Halong Bay, driving through countryside for several hours. Once you arrive, you'll board a five-hour cruise that takes you through the bay's 3,000 limestone islands. You'll get time to swim in a secluded cove and check out hidden grottoes beneath the cliffs. The night's spent onboard the cruise.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Five-hour cruise around Halong Bay with limestone island scenery
- Leisure swim in secluded cove
- Visit to hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay - Day 4
Halong Bay to Hue
After breakfast on the boat, cruising continues around Halong Bay. You'll take a sampan to visit a cave, then return for lunch on board. Later you'll disembark and head back to Hanoi by van, then catch a flight to Hue. Once you arrive in Hue, you'll have time to rest and settle into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Served onboard), Lunch (Delicious lunch/brunch on cruise)
Included Activities
- Continue cruising around Halong Bay
- Sampan visit to cave
- Day 5
Hue
Pickup happens between 8:00 and 8:30 AM for a dragon boat trip on Huong River heading to Thien Mu Pagoda. You'll tour the Imperial Citadel and Hue Royal Antiquities Museum next. Then it's over to Dong Ba Market before lunch with local tea and a foot soak with herbal water. In the afternoon, visit Khai Dinh King's Tomb and Minh Mang King's Tomb, and finish by checking out conical hat and incense stick making villages before heading back.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local restaurant with Hue tea and herbal water foot soak)
Included Activities
- Dragon boat trip to Thien Mu Pagoda along Huong River
- Visit Imperial Citadel
- Visit Hue Royal Antiquities Museum
- Explore Dong Ba Market
- Visit Khai Dinh King's Tomb
- Visit Minh Mang King's Tomb
- Visit conical hat making village
- Visit incense stick making village
Landmarks/POIs Thien Mu Pagoda Huong River Imperial Citadel of Hue Hue Royal Antiquities Museum Dong Ba Market Khai Dinh King's Tomb Minh Mang King's Tomb - Day 6
Hue to Hoi An
You'll leave Hue at noon by limousine bus heading south to Hoi An, which is about 140 kilometers away. Check into your hotel when you arrive, then join an evening walking tour through the Ancient Town. Along the way, you can sample local food and browse the tailor shops if custom clothing interests you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Local specialties during evening walking tour)
Included Activities
- Evening walking tour through Ancient Town of Hoi An
Optional Activities
- Visit tailor shops for custom clothing
Landmarks/POIs Hoi An Ancient Town - Day 7
Hoi An
This day is yours to explore Hoi An at your own pace. Stop by the local market and walk along Thu Bon River. You can wander the narrow alleys of the Ancient Town, try local food at roadside cafes, and just soak in the quiet atmosphere of this peaceful place.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit local market
- Visit Thu Bon River
- Explore narrow alleys of Hoi An's Ancient Town
- Visit roadside cafes
Landmarks/POIs Thu Bon River Hoi An Ancient Town - Day 8
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
Morning is free before your transfer to Danang airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City. You'll be welcomed and driven to your hotel in the city center. The rest of the day is open for you to rest and adjust to your new surroundings.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 9
Ho Chi Minh City
Pickup is between 7:30 and 8:00 AM for a full day tour of Ho Chi Minh City. You'll see Independence Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Central Post Office from the French Colonial period. Then visit the War Remnants Museum before driving out to Cu Chi Tunnels, about an hour away. Learn the history, watch a documentary, see homemade weapons and bamboo traps, and optionally crawl through the tunnels. On the way back, stop at local workshops making rice paper and rice wine.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Independence Palace (Reunification Palace)
- Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
- Visit Central Post Office
- Visit War Remnants Museum
- Cu Chi Tunnels tour with documentary
- View self-made weapons and bamboo traps
- Visit rice paper making workshop
- Visit rice wine production workshop
Optional Activities
- Crawl inside the Cu Chi Tunnels
- Firing AK-47 (600,000 VND per bullets)
- Try steamed cassava
Landmarks/POIs Independence Palace Notre Dame Cathedral Central Post Office War Remnants Museum Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 10
Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta
Travel to My Tho in the Mekong Delta, which is about 75 kilometers south of Ho Chi Minh City. You'll start at Vinh Trang Pagoda, then take a motor boat to Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Turtle Islands. Stop at Unicorn Island to see fruit gardens and try tropical fruits with honey tea and wine at a bee farm. Experience traditional Vietnamese music, then row a boat through quiet canals. Later you'll motor boat to Ben Tre Province for lunch and bike rides or hammock time around the village. Before heading back to the city, stop at a bonsai garden.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Vietnamese lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
- Motor boat tour to Dragon Island, Unicorn Island, Phoenix Island, and Turtle Island
- Short trek to fruit garden at Unicorn Island
- Tropical fruits, natural honey tea, and wine at bee farm
- Vietnamese traditional music shows by locals
- Rowing boat trip through peaceful canals
- Motor boat travel to Ben Tre Province
- Visit to BONSAI garden on return journey
Optional Activities
- Ride bikes around village
- Visit crocodile farm
- Rest in hammock
Landmarks/POIs My Tho Vinh Trang Pagoda Mekong River Ben Tre Province - Day 11
Ho Chi Minh City
You'll have free time in the morning before transferring to Tan Son Nhat airport for your onward flight. Final breakfast is included before you depart.
- Meals
- Breakfast
