Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Hanoi
Your English-speaking guide will meet you at Hanoi airport and arrange a private transfer to your hotel. After you check in, the rest of the day is open for you to rest, adjust to the heat (around 80-90°F/27-32°C depending on season), and grab some Vietnamese food to get a feel for local flavors.
- Day 2
Hanoi Historical Tour
This morning you'll see Ho Chi Minh's stilt house, the One Pillar Pagoda, and the Temple of Literature. From there, head to the Museum of Ethnology, then wander through the Old Quarter's busy streets and walk along Hoan Kiem Lake. By evening, catch a Water Puppet Show, which gives you a real sense of how Vietnamese culture comes through in this traditional art form.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Ho Chi Minh's stilt house
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Temple of Literature
- Museum of Ethnology visit
- Old Quarter exploration
- Hoan Kiem Lake stroll
- Water Puppet Show
Landmarks Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House One Pillar Pagoda Temple of Literature Museum of Ethnology Hoan Kiem Lake - Day 3
Hanoi to Halong Bay Cruise
A shuttle bus takes you from Hanoi to Halong Bay (about 3 hours), where you'll board an overnight cruise. The water there is beautiful with all those rocky islands and karst formations rising up. You can relax on deck, go kayaking, take part in a Vietnamese cooking demonstration, and try night squid fishing if that interests you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic shuttle bus transfer to Halong Bay
- Overnight cruise with accommodation
- Kayaking through karst landscape
- Vietnamese cooking demonstration
- Night squid fishing activity
Landmarks Halong Bay 
- Day 4
Halong Bay to Da Nang & Hoi An
Start before sunrise with a Tai Chi session on the sun deck. After breakfast, take a small boat to explore a natural cave with stalactites and stalagmites. Once you're back on the ship and checked out, it's brunch and then a 3-hour shuttle ride back to Hanoi. From there, you'll head to the airport for your flight to Da Nang, where your guide meets you and takes you to your Hoi An hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Brunch
Included Activities
- Tai Chi session on sun deck
- Karst cave exploration by small boat with stalactites and stalagmites
Landmarks Karst Cave at Halong Bay 
- Day 5
Hoi An Ancient Town
A morning walking tour covers Hoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO site that's been a trading port for 2,000 years. You'll see the 400-year-old Japanese Bridge, old merchants' homes, and a Chinese communal hall. In the afternoon, spend time exploring on your own or sign up for a hands-on Vietnamese cooking class to add more to your cultural experience.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hoi An Ancient Town morning walking tour
- Visit 400-year-old Japanese Bridge
- Former merchants' homes visit
- Chinese communal hall visit
Optional Activities
- Hands-on Vietnamese cooking class in the afternoon
Landmarks Hoi An Ancient Town Japanese Bridge - Day 6
Hoi An Free Day
This day is yours to use however you want. If you're interested, there's an optional half-day tour to experience rural life with a Vietnamese fisherman or farmer in the Hoi An countryside. Or you could head out to the ancient Cham temples at My Son Sanctuary instead. Whatever appeals to you most is what you can do.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Half-day rural life tour with Vietnamese fisherman or farmer in Hoi An countryside
- My Son Sanctuary ancient Cham temples visit
Landmarks My Son Sanctuary - Day 7
Hoi An to Hue via Hai Van Pass
Drive through Hai Van Pass on a scenic morning route to reach Hue, the former imperial capital. Along the way, you'll stop at Non-Nuoc Beach, Marble Mountain, and the Cham Museum in Da Nang. Once you arrive in Hue, you'll transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax and start getting familiar with this historical city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Non-Nuoc Beach stop
- Marble Mountain stop
- Cham Museum visit in Da Nang
Landmarks Hai Van Pass Non-Nuoc Beach Marble Mountain Cham Museum 
- Day 8
Hue Historical Sites
Start by visiting the Tomb of King Minh Mang, a peaceful spot connected to Confucian beliefs. Then take a dragon boat ride along the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda. Next, explore the Imperial Citadel with its walled fortress and the Forbidden Purple City to learn about royal history. Wrap up with a walk through Dong Ba Market to see local life in action.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Tomb of King Minh Mang visit
- Royal dragon boat journey along Perfume River
- Thien Mu Pagoda visit
- Imperial Citadel exploration
- Forbidden Purple City visit
- Dong Ba Market stroll
Landmarks Tomb of King Minh Mang Perfume River Thien Mu Pagoda Imperial Citadel of Hue Forbidden Purple City Dong Ba Market - Day 9
Hue to Ho Chi Minh City
You'll have a relaxed morning before heading to the airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. After landing, transfer to your hotel and check in. The rest of the day is open for you to do whatever you prefer, whether that's resting in your room or heading out to experience the energy of this bustling city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 10
Ho Chi Minh City Tour
Get an introductory tour of Vietnam's most cosmopolitan city, which blends traditional Indochinese design with 19th-century French colonial buildings. The tour covers the Reunification Palace, Old Saigon Post Office, War Remnants Museum, and Ben Thanh Market to help you understand the country's recent history. After that, the rest of the day is yours to explore on your own. If you want, there's an optional evening A O Show (additional cost) featuring Southern Vietnamese Village culture through song, dance, and acrobatics.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Introductory city tour
- Reunification Palace visit
- Old Saigon Post Office visit
- War Remnants Museum visit
- Ben Thanh Market visit
Optional Activities
- A O Show evening performance (additional fee)
Landmarks Reunification Palace Old Saigon Post Office War Remnants Museum Ben Thanh Market - Day 11
Ho Chi Minh City Free Day
You have the full day to fill with whatever interests you. For an additional cost, you could take a leisurely cruise through the Mekong Delta, which is known as the 'Rice Bowl of Vietnam' and offers shore excursions to local villages and a look at rural life. Or simply relax and explore more of Ho Chi Minh City if you prefer to stay put.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Full Day Mekong Delta with Homemade Meal (Ben Tre Tour, Private)
Landmarks Mekong Delta - Day 12
Departure from Ho Chi Minh City
No activities are scheduled on this final day, so you have complete freedom to arrange your airport transfer at whatever time works for your departure flight. Enjoy your last moments in Vietnam and have a safe trip home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
