Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Hanoi
You'll arrive at Noi Bai International Airport and get transferred to your hotel in central Hanoi. The rest of the day is yours to spend however you'd like. Walk around the Old Quarter if you're up for it, or relax at the hotel and settle in. Dinner's on your own, so grab something local whenever you're hungry.
Optional Activities
- Walking and discovering the Old Quarter Area
- Exploring Thanh Nien Street and local Hanoi streets
- Day 2
Hanoi City Exploration
After breakfast, your guide takes you through Hanoi's backstreets and markets to see how locals actually live and work. You'll wander through the French Quarter, stop at a local café for that famous Vietnamese egg coffee, and hit the main temples like Tran Quoc and the Temple of Literature. The historic train street and Old Quarter round out the tour before you head back to the hotel by 6 PM.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel), Lunch (Lunch at local eatery in Old Quarter with traditional Hanoian dishes - Bun Cha (grilled pork and noodles))
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of backstreets and local markets in Hanoi
- Visit to Tran Quoc Temple (1000-year-old Buddhist and Taoist temple)
- Visit to Temple of Literature
- Walking tour of French Quarter
- Exploration of historic train street
- Guided tour of Old Quarter
- Vietnamese egg coffee at local café in French Quarter
- Lunch at local eatery in Old Quarter with traditional Hanoian dishes (Bun Cha)
Landmarks Tran Quoc Temple Temple of Literature Hanoi Old Quarter French Quarter, Hanoi Hanoi Train Street - Day 3
Ha Long Bay Cruise Day 1
After breakfast, you'll drive out to Ha Long Bay and board a luxury cruise at Tuan Chau Marina. Get your welcome drinks and settle into your cabin. The ship cruises past scenic spots like Incense Burner and Dog Stone Islet, then stops at Luon Cave for kayaking. Later you'll explore Titov Island's beach and hike up to catch the panoramic views. Back on the cruise, watch the sunset, catch a cooking demonstration, and have dinner with traditional and fusion dishes.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Vietnamese and international lunch with picturesque scenery of Ha Long Bay), Dinner (Deluxe dinner with traditional and fusion dishes prepared by talented chefs)
Included Activities
- Transfer from Hanoi to Tuan Chau Marina
- Check-in at luxury cruise
- Welcome drinks briefing
- Cruise past Incense Burner, Dog Stone Islet, Fighting Cock Islet, and Three Coconuts Island
- Visit to Luon Cave
- Kayaking in Ha Long Bay
- Visit to Titov Island beach
- Hike to Titov Island viewpoint for panoramic views
- Cooking demonstration on sundeck
- Bar's Happy Hour program
- Sunset viewing
- Deluxe dinner with traditional and fusion dishes
Optional Activities
- Massage service (available through Cruise Manager for additional fee)
Landmarks Luon Cave Titov Island Incense Burner Dog Stone Islet Fighting Cock Islet Three Coconuts Island - Day 4
Ha Long Bay Cruise Day 2
If you want to join in, there's an optional Tai Chi session on the sundeck at sunrise, followed by breakfast. Then you'll head into Sung Sot Cave, the largest limestone cave in the area with impressive stalactites and stalagmites that formed over millions of years. After exploring the cave, you'll return to the cruise for check-out and enjoy brunch while heading back to shore. You disembark at Tuan Chau Marina and get transferred back to Hanoi.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Coffee, tea and pastries for breakfast served in the restaurant), Brunch (Brunch while cruising back from Ha Long Bay)
Included Activities
- Tai Chi session on sundeck (optional)
- Breakfast
- Visit to Sung Sot Cave (Grotte des Surprising)
- Exploration of stalactites and stalagmites
- Hike on Bo Hon Island
- Brunch while cruising back to Tuan Chau Marina
- Transfer from Tuan Chau Marina to Hanoi
Landmarks Sung Sot Cave Bo Hon Island - Day 5
Trang An Grottoes & Ninh Binh
After breakfast, you'll drive 110 kilometers through green countryside to Trang An Grottoes. Once there, board a traditional sampan and row through the caves and temples. Lunch happens at a local restaurant, and then you head to Ninh Binh to check in. You'll explore Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel with its 17th-century temples, trek up Mua Cave, and climb Ngoa Long Mountain for views across the rice valleys before driving back to Hanoi.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant with great local cuisines)
Included Activities
- Transfer from Hanoi to Trang An Grottoes
- Traditional sampan exploration through Lam Cave, Vang Cave, Dai Cave, Thanh Truot Cave
- Visit to Cao Son Temple, Suoi Tien Temple, Vu Lam Temple
- Lunch at local restaurant with local cuisines
- Transfer to Ninh Binh hotel
- Visit to Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel
- Visit to Dinh King Temple
- Visit to Le King Temple (dating back to 17th Century)
- Trek up Mua Cave and Ngoa Long Mountain to viewpoint for rice valley views
- Return transfer to Hanoi
Landmarks Trang An Grottoes Lam Cave Vang Cave Dai Cave Thanh Truot Cave Cao Son Temple Suoi Tien Temple Vu Lam Temple Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel Dinh King Temple Le King Temple Mua Cave Ngoa Long Mountain - Day 6
Hanoi to Hoi An
After breakfast, you've got the morning and early afternoon to explore Hanoi on your own. Later you'll get transferred to Noi Bai Airport and fly to Danang, then head to your hotel in Hoi An to check in and get settled.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Optional Activities
- Free time to discover Ha Noi before airport transfer
- Day 7
Hoi An Exploration
Start the morning at My Son Sanctuary checking out the ancient Champa Kingdom's history and culture, followed by a traditional Apsara music show. From there you'll visit Thanh Ha ceramic village to watch potters work and make your own piece, getting a clay whistle to take home. You'll boat back to Hoi An for lunch. The afternoon brings a walking tour through the charming ancient town where you'll see the Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese Assembly Halls, the Sa Huynh Museum, old houses, and the local market. There's time for shopping and tailoring if you're interested.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit to My Son Sanctuary
- Apsara traditional music show
- Transfer to Thanh Ha ceramic village
- Pottery making workshop with local guidance
- Clay whistle gift
- Boat on Thu Bon River back to Hoi An Ancient Town
- Lunch at local restaurant
- Walking tour of Hoi An Ancient Town
- Visit to Japanese Covered Bridge
- Visit to Chinese Assembly Halls
- Visit to Sa Huynh Museum
- Exploration of old houses and local market
Optional Activities
- Shopping in Hoi An
- Tailor services in Hoi An
Landmarks My Son Sanctuary Thanh Ha Ceramic Village Thu Bon River Hoi An Ancient Town Japanese Covered Bridge Chinese Assembly Halls Sa Huynh Museum - Day 8
Hoi An Leisure or Optional Fishing & Cooking Class
After breakfast, you can relax at the hotel or wander around Hoi An at your own pace. If you want something more structured, there's an optional half-day fishing and cooking class. That includes visiting Cam Nam fishing village to learn techniques from locals, taking a basket boat through Bay Mau water coconut forest, cycling to Tra Que Vegetable Village, and joining a cooking class with a local family before lunch there.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Optional Activities
- Half-day Learning Fishing – Cooking Class
- Visit to Cam Nam fishing village
- Fishing instruction and practice with locals
- Basket boat excursion in Bay Mau water coconut forest
- Catching field crabs
- Exploration of revolutionary base in Hoi An during Vietnam War
- Cycling route to Tra Que Vegetable Village (3km from Hoi An)
- Cooking class with local family
- Lunch at local family home with Hoi An special foods
Landmarks Cam Nam Fishing Village Bay Mau Water Coconut Forest Tra Que Vegetable Village - Day 9
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
After breakfast, you have leisure time to explore Hoi An before transferring to Danang Airport. You'll fly to Ho Chi Minh City, also called Saigon, which is buzzing with activity and packed with bikes, motorbikes, shops, and sidewalk cafes everywhere. Take a stroll around downtown to see different neighborhoods and how locals get around.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Optional Activities
- Free time in Hoi An before airport transfer
- Downtown exploration in Ho Chi Minh City (if time permits)
- Day 10
Ho Chi Minh City Highlights & Cu Chi Tunnels
After breakfast, you'll tour the Independence Palace, designed by architect Ngo Viet Thu, then check out French Colonial buildings like Notre Dame Cathedral and the historic Central Post Office. Next is the War Remnants Museum with its extensive displays from the Indochina War. After lunch, you'll drive roughly 1.5 hours to Cu Chi Tunnel. Watch a video about how it was built and used, then explore the tunnel systems including living quarters, kitchens, bedrooms, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers. You'll see hidden trap doors and traps, try some guerrilla wartime food like special tea and cassava, and if you're interested, practice shooting before heading back to Saigon.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit to Independence Palace (Reunification Palace)
- Visit to Notre Dame Cathedral
- Visit to Central Post Office
- Visit to War Remnants Museum
- Lunch at local restaurant
- Transfer to Cu Chi Tunnel (approximately 1.5 hours drive)
- Introductory briefing and video about tunnel construction and wartime survival
- Exploration of tunnel systems and remaining areas
- Visit to living areas, kitchens, bedrooms, storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers
- Exploration of trap doors and security traps
- Wartime food tasting (special tea and cassava - guerrilla food)
- Return transfer to Saigon
Optional Activities
- Shooting range experience
Landmarks Independence Palace Notre Dame Cathedral Central Post Office War Remnants Museum Cu Chi Tunnel - Day 11
Mekong Delta My Tho
After breakfast, you'll leave Saigon's busy streets behind and head to My Tho on the left side of the Mekong River. First stop is Vinh Trang Pagoda from the late 19th century. Then you'll board a sampan and cruise around the Four Islands: Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Tortoise. At Unicorn Island you'll walk country lanes, see fruit orchards, catch folk music performances, and visit plantations. A hand-rowed sampan takes you through Thoi Son canal where you'll see family businesses, honey-bee farms, and coconut candy workshops while sipping honey tea. After lunch and a rest, you'll cycle around Tan Thach village to experience how locals live daily. If cycling's not for you, relax in hammocks instead before returning to Saigon.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Transfer from Saigon to My Tho
- Visit to Vinh Trang Pagoda (late 19th century)
- Sampan cruise around Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Tortoise islands
- Stop and walking tour on Unicorn Island
- Orchards exploration
- Tropical fruits tasting
- Folk song music performance by locals
- Visit to fruit plantation
- Hand-rowed sampan ride through Thoi Son canal
- Visit to local family business
- Visit to honey-bee farm with honey tea tasting
- Visit to coconut candy workshop
- Lunch at local restaurant
- Cycling around Tan Thach village to experience local daily life
- Meeting with local villagers
- Return transfer to Saigon
Optional Activities
- Hammock relaxing for those who cannot join the cycling trip
Landmarks My Tho Vinh Trang Pagoda Mekong River Dragon Island Unicorn Island Phoenix Island Tortoise Island Thoi Son Canal Tan Thach Village - Day 12
Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc
After breakfast, you'll have time to explore Ho Chi Minh City before getting transferred to Tan Son Nhat Airport. Then you fly to Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam's largest island and also called the Pearl Island. Settle into your hotel and enjoy free time to relax, sunbathe, or swim. You can explore the white-sand beaches, resorts along the palm-lined southwest coast, or hike through Phu Quoc National Park with its mountains, dense jungle, and various trails.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Included Activities
- Transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport
- Transfer from Phu Quoc Airport to hotel
Optional Activities
- Free time to relax at hotel or explore Phu Quoc
- Swimming
- Sunbathing
- Beach exploration
Landmarks Phu Quoc Island Phu Quoc National Park Duong Dong - Day 13
Phu Quoc Leisure or Optional Sunset Town Tour
After breakfast, you're free to relax at the hotel or check out Phu Quoc on your own. There's an optional half-day sunset town tour if you want to join, starting at 3 PM. It covers the vibrant town center and local shops, light snacks from local cafes, and you'll be at Kiss Bridge by 6:30 PM for sunset views. Dinner happens at town restaurants with local specialties, and everything wraps up around 8:30 PM with time to relax at a café or head back to your room.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Optional Activities
- Half-day discover the Sunset Town tour
- Exploration of Phu Quoc town center
- Visit to local shops
- Light snacks or refreshments at local cafes
- Visit to Kiss Bridge
- Sunset viewing from Kiss Bridge
- Dinner at town restaurants with local specialties
Landmarks Kiss Bridge - Day 14
Departure from Phu Quoc
Sleep in and enjoy your final morning at leisure with time for a last swim if you want. You'll get picked up for the drive to the airport to catch your departure flight. Safe travels.
Optional Activities
- Sleep in and leisure morning at hotel
- Final swim
