Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Hanoi
Your private guide meets you at Hanoi airport and transfers you by private car to your hotel. They'll handle your luggage and get you checked in so you can settle in without any hassle.
- Day 2
Hanoi City Tour
Start by visiting Ho Chi Minh Complex, Hoa Lo Prison, One Pillar Pagoda, and Temple of Literature. After lunch you'll head to the Museum of Ethnology, then take a cyclo ride through the Old Quarter. The evening wraps up with a Vietnamese Water Puppets Show before boarding an overnight train to Lao Cai.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Ho Chi Minh Complex (Mausoleum and stilt-house residence)
- Hoa Lo Prison visit
- One Pillar Pagoda visit
- Temple of Literature visit
- Museum of Ethnology visit
- Hour-long cyclo ride through Old Quarter
- Vietnamese Water Puppets Show
Landmarks Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Hoa Lo Prison One Pillar Pagoda Temple of Literature Museum of Ethnology Hanoi Old Quarter 
- Day 3
Lao Cai to Sapa
You arrive early morning and have breakfast before driving through mountains to Cao Son Market. There you'll see Red Dao, Tay, and Black H'Mong people selling handicrafts. Next comes Flower Hmong Village with scenic views along the Chay River, and you'll cruise through to Trung Do village before reaching Sapa.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cao Son Market visit
- Flower Hmong Village visit
- Chay River boat cruise to Trung Do village
Landmarks Cao Son Market Flower Hmong Village Chay River Trung Do village - Day 4
Sapa Trekking
This morning starts at a local market, then you trek about 8km through terraced rice fields to reach Lao Chai and Ta Van Village. You'll spend time with Black H'Mong and Day families learning about their daily lives and culture. By afternoon you're back in Sapa with the rest of the day free to relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sapa Market visit
- Trekking to Lao Chai and Ta Van Village (approximately 8km, 3 hours)
- Local family visits
- Terraced rice fields trekking
Landmarks Sapa Market Lao Chai Village Ta Van Village - Day 5
Sapa to Hanoi
Trek from Ma Tra Village through rice terraces to Ta Phin Village, where the Red Dao minority lives. The hike takes roughly 3 hours and ends with lunch featuring local food in the village. Then it's a 5-hour drive back to Hanoi.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Ma Tra Village trek
- Ta Phin Village trek (approximately 3 hours)
- Local lunch in Ta Phin Village
Landmarks Ma Tra Village Ta Phin Village - Day 6
Hanoi to Halong Bay
Private transfer takes you about 3 hours to Halong City where you'll board a traditional Vietnamese junk. Cruise around limestone islets and caves, watch the sunset from the deck, and have dinner on board with all meals included.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner on board)
Included Activities
- Halong Bay cruise around limestone islets and caves
- Sunset viewing from deck
Optional Activities
- Swimming
- Kayaking
- Diving
Landmarks Halong Bay 
- Day 7
Halong Bay to Ho Chi Minh City
Wake early for sunrise and a Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck. After that you can kayak or take a rowing boat to explore the local water. Around 11 AM you disembark at Tuan Chau and transfer to Hanoi airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City, arriving at your hotel in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing with Tai Chi lesson on sundeck
- Kayaking or traditional rowing boat exploration (choice)
- Day 8
Ho Chi Minh City
Morning is spent at the Cu Chi Tunnels before returning to Ho Chi Minh City to see the War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace. You'll have free time to walk past Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Saigon Post Office, and explore Dong Khoi Street.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cu Chi Tunnels visit
- War Remnants Museum visit
- Reunification Palace visit
- Notre Dame Cathedral
- Old Saigon Post Office
- Dong Khoi Street stroll
Landmarks Cu Chi Tunnels War Remnants Museum Reunification Palace Notre Dame Cathedral Ho Chi Minh City Old Saigon Post Office Dong Khoi Street - Day 9
Mekong Delta
Head out early to the Mekong Delta and cruise past Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle, and Phoenix islands. On Unicorn Island you'll explore the village, visit a tropical fruit orchard and bee-farm for honey tea. See a coconut candy workshop, then head to Dragon Island by cyclo or motorbike for homemade lunch where you can learn to make Banh Xeo and Spring Rolls. Return to Ho Chi Minh City by afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Homemade lunch with cooking experience (Banh Xeo, Spring Rolls) with local family on Dragon Island)
Included Activities
- Mekong River cruise (Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle, Phoenix islands)
- Unicorn Island village walk
- Tropical fruit orchard visit
- Bee-farm visit with honey tea
- Coconut candy workshop visit
- Dragon Island cyclo or motorbike transfer
- Homemade lunch with cooking experience on Dragon Island
- Southern traditional music
Landmarks Mekong Delta Unicorn Island Dragon Island Turtle Island Phoenix Island - Day 10
Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok
Your guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to Bangkok. Upon landing, your private guide meets you and transfers you by private car to your hotel with luggage assistance and check-in.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 11
Bangkok
Depart early for a 2-hour drive to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, about 100 km from Bangkok. You'll take a long-tail boat from roughly 8 AM to 11 AM past hundreds of vendors, or explore by 4-seat boat and walking. After lunch, visit Wat Pho to see the massive gold-plated Reclining Buddha, then finish at the Royal Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Long-tail boat ride at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
- Floating Market exploration (4-seat boat or riverside walk option)
- Wat Pho visit with Reclining Buddha
- Royal Grand Palace visit
- Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) visit
Landmarks Damnoen Saduak Floating Market Wat Pho Royal Grand Palace Wat Phra Kaew - Day 12
Bangkok to Chiang Mai
An internal flight brings you to Chiang Mai, a historic northern Thai city known for Lanna temples, local traditions, and great food. Your private guide meets you at the airport and transfers you to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Sunday Night Market visit for traditional handicrafts and relaxed atmosphere
- Nimmanhaemin Road boutiques and restaurants exploration
Landmarks Chiang Mai Night Market Nimmanhaemin Road 
- Day 13
Chiang Mai Temple and Mountain Tour
Start with a half-day temple tour of the old city visiting Wat Pra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang with its enormous partially destroyed pagoda. You'll check out Warorot Market for local life, have lunch at a local restaurant, then drive about 1 hour to Doi Suthep Mountain. Climb 309 steps to Wat Phra That to see panoramic views of Chiang Mai.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Wat Pra Singh visit
- Wat Chedi Luang visit
- Warorot Market visit
- Doi Suthep Mountain drive and temple visit
- Wat Phra That visit with panoramic city views
Optional Activities
- Tram ride to top of 309 steps (available for small surcharge for less active travelers)
Landmarks Wat Pra Singh Wat Chedi Luang Warorot Market Doi Suthep Mountain Wat Phra That - Day 14
Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary
Spend a half-day at Elephant Jungle Sanctuary learning about elephants in their natural setting from an English-speaking guide. You'll change into Karen clothing, get bananas and sugar cane to feed them, and walk through the sanctuary touching and photographing the free-roaming elephants. The rest of your day is free at the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Elephant Jungle Sanctuary visit
- English-speaking guide introduction to elephants
- Traditional Karen clothing wear
- Feeding elephants with bananas and sugar cane
- Walking with guide through sanctuary
- Elephant interaction and photography
Landmarks Elephant Jungle Sanctuary - Day 15
Departure
You have free time until your guide arrives to take you to the airport for your onward flight.
