Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll land in Hanoi and head to your hotel to settle in. At 5 pm, meet your group leader for an orientation session. Later that evening, the city transforms as you set out on a street food tour, sampling local dishes like bun cha and lau from vendors and small restaurants around the Old Quarter.
Included Activities
- Street Food Experience Urban Adventure - guided tour around Hanoi streets at night
Optional Activities
- Vietnamese coffee at local café
- Ninh Binh Mini Adventure (TVAN) - available for early arrivals
- Hiking In Sapa (TVAG) - available for early arrivals
- Day 2
Hanoi to Ha Long Bay
Travel from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site with roughly 2000 limestone islands dotting the water. You'll board a traditional wooden boat and cruise through the limestone formations, making stops to explore Surprise Cave. Dinner is prepared by the onboard chef, and you'll spend the night in a cabin on the water.
- Meals
- Lunch (Delicious feast prepared by onboard chef), Dinner (Delicious feast prepared by onboard chef)
Included Activities
- Ha Long Bay cruise with limestone karst scenic viewing
- Surprise Cave exploration
- Overnight Boat Cruise
Landmarks/POIs Ha Long Bay Surprise Cave - Day 3
Ha Long Bay to Hue
If you're interested, catch the sunrise over the bay from your boat. There's an option to kayak out between the limestone karsts for a different view of the landscape. Later you'll head back to Hanoi and board an overnight sleeper train heading toward Hue, so you can sleep while traveling south.
Optional Activities
- Sunrise viewing over Ha Long Bay
- Kayak experience among limestone karsts - VND250000
- Day 4
Hue
Your train arrives in Hue, the former royal capital. Start with a local breakfast of bun bo hue, then hop on a motorbike tour to see imperial sites around the city, including Thien Mu Pagoda with its distinctive tower. Later you'll sit down to a vegetarian Buddhist meal prepared by a royal family chef. Before dinner, visit Emperor Tu Duc's royal tomb and have free time to try local street food.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Local breakfast of bun bo hue (spiced beef noodle soup)), Lunch (Plant-based Buddhist meal specially prepared by chef and royal family descendant)
Included Activities
- Local breakfast of bun bo hue
- Highlights & back streets tour by motorbike
- Thien Mu Pagoda visit
- Plant-based Buddhist meal in family home garden
- Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc visit
Optional Activities
- Imperial street specialties for dinner (banh hue recommended)
Landmarks/POIs Thien Mu Pagoda Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc - Day 5
Hue to Hoi An
Begin at a three-generation coffee house where Mr Khoa teaches you about traditional salt coffee making, a local specialty. After that, you'll walk through the Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City. Then drive south along the coast through rice paddies and over the mountainous Hai Van Pass to reach Hoi An. Dinner features Cao Lau, and you'll take a nighttime walk through town with its lantern-lit streets.
- Meals
- Lunch (At local coffee house), Dinner (Cao Lau (local noodle dish) in Hoi An Old Centre)
Included Activities
- Salt coffee demonstration at local coffee house
- Imperial City entrance and guided visit
- Cao Lau dinner in Hoi An Old Centre
- Nighttime orientation walk in Hoi An with lanterns
Optional Activities
- Try making traditional salt coffee yourself
Landmarks/POIs Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Purple City Hai Van Pass Hoi An Old Centre - Day 6
Hoi An
A guided walk takes you through Hoi An's Ancient Town in the morning. Stop at Reaching Out Tea House, a social enterprise run by deaf and mute staff, for a silent tea tasting experience. In the afternoon, join a cooking class with a local chef where you'll shop at the market for ingredients and learn to prepare traditional Vietnamese dishes hands-on.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch prepared during cooking class)
Included Activities
- Ancient Town walk with leader
- Tea Tasting in Silence at Reaching Out Tea House
- Market tour for cooking class ingredients
- Cooking class with local chef
Landmarks/POIs Hoi An Ancient Town Reaching Out Tea House - Day 7
Hoi An to Nha Trang
This day is yours to use however you'd like in Hoi An. Relax poolside at your hotel, rent a bike to ride through nearby rice fields, or wander the Old Centre shopping. Your room stays available all day. Later, drive to Danang along the coast with an optional beach stop before boarding an overnight train to Nha Trang.
Optional Activities
- Hotel pool relaxation
- Bike ride in nearby rice fields
- Shopping in Hoi An Old Centre
- Beach visit in Danang area
- Day 8
Nha Trang
You'll arrive in Nha Trang around 10 am. After grabbing breakfast and checking in, explore the city at your own pace. Consider visiting Po Nagar Cham Towers, walking across Tran Phu Bridge for coastal views, or simply strolling around the beach areas. The group meets back together in the afternoon for a seafood dinner featuring local specialties.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Local seafood speciality)
Included Activities
- Seafood dinner with group
Optional Activities
- Po Nagar Cham Towers visit
- Tran Phu Bridge scenic viewing
- City strolling and exploration
Landmarks/POIs Po Nagar Cham Towers Tran Phu Bridge - Day 9
Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City
Drive to Ho Chi Minh City, stopping for lunch on the way. Once there, take a walking tour to see how the city blends old and new architecture and influences from both East and West. You'll see the General Post Office, check out Ben Thanh Market, try crispy pork belly banh mi, and visit the War Remnants Museum to understand the city's complex history.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Walking city tour
- General Post Office visit
- Ben Thanh market guided walk
- Banh mi (crispy pork belly)
- War Remnants Museum visit
Optional Activities
- Souvenir shopping at Ben Thanh market
Landmarks/POIs General Post Office Ben Thanh Market War Remnants Museum - Day 10
Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta
Leave Ho Chi Minh City for the Mekong Delta, known as the rice bowl of Vietnam. You'll cruise the river, stopping at tropical fruit gardens and small cottage industries to sample honey, coconut candy, and fresh tropical fruit. Experience traditional sampan paddling on quiet backwater channels. Later arrive at a homestay where you'll meet your hosts, explore their gardens, and eat a southern Vietnamese feast on the veranda.
- Meals
- Dinner (Southern Vietnamese feast on veranda overlooking garden at sunset)
Included Activities
- Mekong Delta boat cruise with visits to local producers
- Tropical fruit gardens visit
- Honey and coconut candy sampling
- Sampan paddling experience
Optional Activities
- Help with dinner preparations at homestay
Landmarks/POIs Mekong Delta - Day 11
Mekong Delta
Breakfast features fresh Mekong Delta fruit. Head to Cai Be for a hands-on cooking class with a local chef who puts contemporary spins on traditional Vietnamese dishes, set in a peaceful spice garden. You'll prep and cook lunch yourself, then sit down to eat what you've made. The afternoon is free for further exploring, and there's an optional group dinner that evening to wrap up the trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Fresh fruit of the Mekong Delta), Lunch (Feast prepared during cooking class)
Included Activities
- Cooking Class with local chef at Cai Be
Optional Activities
- Free afternoon exploration
- Farewell group dinner
Landmarks/POIs Cai Be - Day 12
Mekong Delta
After breakfast, your Vietnam adventure comes to an end. There are no organized activities scheduled for today, so it's time to depart or continue exploring on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Extended stay in Ho Chi Minh City (arrange with booking agent in advance)
