Itinerary
- Day 1
Ho Chi Minh City
You'll arrive at Tan Son Nhat airport and meet your private guide holding a welcome sign. From there, transfer to your hotel to settle in. The rest of the day is yours to rest after traveling or wander around local markets if you're not too tired. Later in the evening, join the group for a welcome dinner with local specialities.
- Start point
- Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Trường Sơn, Ho Chi Minh City, 736900, Vietnam (Internation Terminal )
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Welcome dinner with local specialities)
Included Activities
- Hotel pickup and transfer from Tan Son Nhat Airport
- Welcome dinner
Optional Activities
- Local market exploration
- Explore surrounding area
- Day 2
Ho Chi Minh City
Start early at Ho Thi Ky Flower Market with your private guide, then head to Thien Hau Pagoda. After that, take a cyclo through Cho Lon Markets and check out traditional stilt houses. The War Remnants Museum comes next, followed by lunch of traditional pho. Spend the afternoon exploring Reunification Palace and French colonial sites like Notre Dame cathedral and the Opera House. By evening, climb to the Rex Hotel rooftop bar for cocktails and views over the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional Pho)
Included Activities
- Ho Thi Ky Flower Market visit
- Thien Hau Pagoda visit
- Cyclo tour through Cho Lon Markets
- War Remnants Museum entrance and tour
- Reunification Palace entrance and visit
- French colonial architecture viewing
- Lunch - traditional Pho
Optional Activities
- Rex Hotel rooftop bar cocktails
Landmarks Ho Thi Ky Flower Market Thien Hau Pagoda Cho Lon Markets War Remnants Museum Reunification Palace Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon Saigon Opera House Rex Hotel - Day 3
Ho Chi Minh City
Your guide picks you up early for breakfast before heading to the Cu Chi Tunnels area. First, stop at a rubber tree plantation to learn how rubber tapping works. Then walk through the tunnel networks where the Viet Cong stayed hidden, with access to hospitals, living quarters, and communication routes. You'll go underground to see the tunnels yourself. On the return trip to Ho Chi Minh City, you can stop by your hotel, grab lunch, or continue exploring. An optional street food tour runs in the evening if you want to try local dishes at traditional eateries.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Rubber plantation tour and rubber tapping process education
- Cu Chi Tunnels entrance and underground exploration
- Lunch
Optional Activities
- Street food tour
Landmarks Cu Chi Tunnels 
- Day 4
Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An
Leave Ho Chi Minh City early and take a short domestic flight to Da Nang with your guide. Local guides meet you there for the 40-minute drive to Hoi An. Check into your hotel and then take a walking tour through the pedestrianised Old Town, seeing the Japanese covered bridge, old merchant's house, and lantern-lit streets and markets. Have lunch at a local restaurant or grab street food. As the sun sets, thousands of colourful lanterns light up the streets while floating lanterns drift across the river, creating something really special.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Domestic flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang
- Private transport from Da Nang to Hoi An
- Hoi An Old Town walking tour
- Japanese covered bridge viewing
- Old merchant's house visit
- Lunch
Landmarks Hoi An Ancient Town Japanese Covered Bridge Hoi An Markets 
- Day 5
Hoi An
After breakfast, your guide drives you through the quiet green countryside around Hoi An to see authentic local village life. Watch people making rice paper and visit Kim Bong Carpentry Village to see traditional crafts. You can join locals in making noodles or weaving sleeping mats if you're interested in getting hands-on. Return to your hotel in the afternoon, then get picked up for dinner back in Hoi An Ancient Town under the glow of lanterns.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local Vietnamese meal prepared by host, may include soft green-lentil cakes and rice cakes filled with brown onions), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hoi An countryside tour
- Rice paper making observation
- Kim Bong Carpentry Village visit
- Optional noodle making or weaving mat participation
- Dinner
Optional Activities
- Make noodles with locals
- Weave sleeping mats with locals
Landmarks Kim Bong Carpentry Village - Day 6
Hoi An to Da Nang to Hoi An
Spend a full day exploring Da Nang starting at Marble Mountains. Take the elevator up Water Mountain and visit Xa Loi tower and Linh Ung Pagoda. Walk through Tang Chon Cave with its views, and see ancient pagodas and Buddha statues from the 4th century in the caves. At the mountain's base, check out the marble carving village. Head back to the city centre to see Dragon Bridge and learn about Da Nang's development. The Cham Sculpture Museum has a great collection of sandstone Hindu sculptures from the Champa Kingdom. Have lunch with Da Nang specialities. Later, drive to Son Tra Peninsula to see the tallest Lady Buddha Statue in Vietnam with views across the area. You can optionally relax at My Khe Beach if time allows. Return to Hoi An for dinner by lantern light.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Da Nang specialities), Dinner (Dinner by the light of lanterns)
Included Activities
- Marble Mountains elevator and exploration
- Xa Loi Tower visit
- Linh Ung Pagoda visit
- Tang Chon Cave exploration
- Marble carving village tour
- Dragon Bridge viewing
- Han Bridge and Tran Thi Ly Bridge viewing
- Cham Sculpture Museum entrance and tour
- Lunch
- Son Tra Peninsula visit
- Lady Buddha Statue viewing
- Dinner
Optional Activities
- My Khe Beach visit and swimming
Landmarks Marble Mountains Xa Loi Tower Linh Ung Pagoda Tang Chon Cave Dragon Bridge Han Bridge Tran Thi Ly Bridge Cham Sculpture Museum Son Tra Peninsula Lady Buddha Statue My Khe Beach - Day 7
Hoi An to Da Nang to Hanoi
Check out after breakfast and head to Da Nang airport for a 60-minute flight north to Hanoi. The local team meets you for a half-day city tour starting at the Temple of Literature, built in 1070 and home to Vietnam's first university dedicated to Confucius. Then walk around Hoan Kiem Lake where locals do tai chi and exercise, and hear the legend about an emperor, magic sword, and golden turtle. In the evening, take a food walking tour through Hanoi's streets sampling 8 authentic dishes at 6 stops including banh cuon, banh mi, bia hoi fresh beer, and famous egg coffee. End with the traditional Thang Long Water Puppets Show, an 11th-century art form with live music and traditional singing.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Food tour followed by dinner)
Included Activities
- Domestic flight from Da Nang to Hanoi
- Temple of Literature entrance and visit
- Hoan Kiem Lake visit and exploration
- Food walking tour through Old Quarter
- Thang Long Theatre water puppets show entrance
- Lunch
Landmarks Temple of Literature Hoan Kiem Lake Thang Long Theatre 
- Day 8
Hanoi to Duong Lam
Leave your hotel at 9:00 am for a scenic 50-kilometre drive to Duong Lam, an ancient village in Son Tay province showing off the agricultural heritage of the Northern Red River Delta. Walk through village pathways to Mong Phu Temple, a sacred site for national heroes King Ngo Quyen and King Phung Hung. Have a homemade Vietnamese lunch prepared by your host, and participate in making soft green-lentil cakes and rice cakes filled with brown onions (seasonal dishes vary). Visit Mia Pagoda, a 15th-century building decorated with 287 statues. Return to your Hanoi hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Homemade Vietnamese lunch prepared by local host, includes soft green-lentil cakes and rice cakes filled with brown onions (varies by season))
Included Activities
- Duong Lam ancient village tour
- Mong Phu Temple visit
- Lunch with local host
- Optional participation in making local dishes
- Mia Pagoda visit
Optional Activities
- Participate in making soft green-lentil cakes
- Participate in making rice cakes filled with brown onions
Landmarks Duong Lam Ancient Village Mong Phu Temple Mia Pagoda 
- Day 9
Hanoi to Ha Long Bay Cruise
Morning pickup for a scenic drive through the Red River Delta to Ha Long Bay. Arrive at Tuan Chau Marina around 11:30 am and check in. At 12:15 pm, transfer by tender to the Orchid Classic Cruise, a 5-star luxury vessel with classic Indochine architecture and all-wood interiors. Get welcome drinks and a safety briefing. Lunch happens while cruising Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. At 15:00, visit Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba Island with 300 metres of stalactites in various shapes. At 17:30, swim in the emerald Tra Bau waters. Back onboard at 18:00, join a cooking demonstration and happy hour with sunset views. Dinner at 19:15 is fusion cuisine made with fresh ingredients in a French neoclassical setting. At 21:00, explore the bar and sundeck, try squid fishing, watch a movie, or play chess. Sleep overnight in a Premium Suite Balcony with bay views.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner (Fusion dinner made with fresh ingredients in sophisticated space with elegant French neoclassical style and traditional oriental touches)
Included Activities
- Private transport from Hanoi to Tuan Chau Marina
- Orchid Classic Cruise check-in and boarding
- Welcome drinks
- Ha Long Bay - Lan Ha Bay cruise and exploration
- Lunch
- Trung Trang Cave visit and exploration
- Swimming in Tra Bau area
- Cooking demonstration
- Dinner
Optional Activities
- Massage service
- Squid fishing
- Movie viewing
- Chess and cards
Landmarks Ha Long Bay Lan Ha Bay Trung Trang Cave Cat Ba Island 
- Day 10
Ha Long Bay Cruise to Hanoi
Start with tai chi on the sundeck at 06:30 to refresh yourself in the bay (dawn photography available 05:30 to 06:00 depending on season). Breakfast at the restaurant starts at 07:00 while the cruise continues. At 07:30, kayak in the Ao Ech area to discover hidden parts of Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay. Return to the cruise at 08:30 and check out. Brunch at 10:00 while cruising back toward shore. Disembark at Tuan Chau Marina at 11:30. Head back to Hanoi for an Old Quarter food walking tour (about 3 to 3.5 hours). Sample 8 authentic Hanoi dishes at 6 stops: banh ran from an old lady's 50-year-old shop, banh cuon, bia hoi fresh beer and rice wine, bun cha, egg coffee or egg chocolate, and local fruit salad. Explore local culture and hidden spots in the Old Quarter.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Brunch (Delightful brunch at restaurant while cruising back), Dinner
Included Activities
- Tai chi session on sundeck
- Breakfast
- Kayaking or row boat excursion in Ao Ech area
- Brunch
- Checkout and disembark
- Hanoi Old Quarter food walking tour
- Food tour at 6 stops: Banh Ran, Banh Cuon, Bia Hoi, Bun Cha, Egg Coffee/Chocolate, local fruit salad dessert
- Dinner
Landmarks Ao Ech Area Hanoi Old Quarter - Day 11
Hanoi Departure
Your final morning is free to relax, unwind, purchase souvenirs, or just take it easy before leaving. Check out of your hotel and your guide helps with luggage to get you to the airport on time for your departure flight. Your Maika Tours Vietnam experience ends with good memories.
- End point
- Noi Bai International Airport, Sóc Sơn, Hanoi, 140800, Vietnam (International Terminal)
Optional Activities
- Relaxation and personal time
- Souvenir shopping
