Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Hanoi
Your driver will meet you at Noi Bai Airport arrivals and take you to the hotel. After check-in, the day is open for you to settle in and get your bearings at whatever pace feels right.
- Start point
- Noi Bai International Airport, Sóc Sơn, Hanoi, 12200, Vietnam (Arrival hall)
- Day 2
Hanoi City Tour
Start early exploring Hanoi's key cultural sites. You'll see Tran Quoc Pagoda and One Pillar Pagoda, pay respects at Ho Chi Minh Complex and Mausoleum, walk through the Vietnam Ethnology Museum, check out Temple of Literature, and end at the former Hoa Lo Prison. Lunch with local Vietnamese food happens at a restaurant along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Vietnamese cuisine at our restaurant with vegetarian options available)
Included Activities
- Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda on Golden Fish Island in West Lake
- Visit Ho Chi Minh Complex and Mausoleum with embalmed body viewing
- Walk around Ho Chi Minh's residence gardens (1954-1969)
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Vietnam Ethnology Museum (or Vietnamese Women's Museum if closed)
- Visit Temple of Literature, the first university of Vietnam
- Visit Hoa Lo Prison, former French colonial prison
Landmarks/POIs Tran Quoc Pagoda Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum One Pillar Pagoda Vietnam Ethnology Museum Vietnamese Women's Museum Temple of Literature Hoa Lo Prison - Day 3
Hoa Lu and Tam Coc
Head 120 km to Ninh Binh to see the ancient capital. You'll visit King Dinh and King Le temples at Hoa Lu, then cycle through the village to see daily life. After lunch with local goat meat specialties, take a 1.5-hour bamboo boat ride through Tam Coc's limestone caves and waterways. Return to Hanoi by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Buffet lunch with local foods including goat meat and fried rice; vegetarian food available)
Included Activities
- Visit Hoa Lu ancient capital temples of King Dinh and King Le
- Cycling around the village to discover local life
- Bamboo boat trip through Tam Coc for 1.5 hours
- Explore Tam Coc's cave system
Landmarks/POIs Hoa Lu Tam Coc - Day 4
Halong Bay Overnight Cruise
Drive 2.5 hours to Halong Bay (stopping for 20 minutes en route). Check in at the Halong City jetty, then board your boat for lunch while cruising into the bay. The afternoon is free to relax on deck or try activities before dinner and an overnight stay on the boat surrounded by limestone islands.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Served on board while cruising towards the bay), Dinner (Served on board)
Included Activities
- Cruise to Halong Bay
- Afternoon activities and relaxation on boat (depending on boat's itinerary)
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay 
- Day 5
Halong Bay to Da Nang
Watch sunrise and have breakfast or brunch while heading back to port. After disembarking, your driver takes you to Da Nang airport for your flight. Once you land, transfer to your Hoi An hotel for check-in and free time to get settled.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Served on board while cruising back towards port), Lunch
- Day 6
Hoi An Eco-Village and Cooking Experience
Join a morning tour from 8:30 to 13:00 experiencing local culture. Walk through the coconut forest and see traditional food prep, browse a colorful market to learn about ingredients, take a bamboo basket boat through Cam Thanh's nipa palm forest, try traditional fishing nets, and learn Vietnamese cooking methods. You'll prepare and eat 5 Vietnamese dishes you make yourself.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (5 Vietnamese dishes prepared during the cooking experience)
Included Activities
- Explore local colorful market and learn to deal with local sellers
- Bamboo basket boat trip through Eco-Village Cam Thanh in nipa palm forest
- Learn fishing techniques using throwing nets to catch 'Purple Crabs'
- Receive handmade gifts from nipa palm leaves (hats, watches, rings)
- Learn traditional methods for making Vietnamese foods
- Prepare and eat 5 Vietnamese dishes
Landmarks/POIs Eco-Village Cam Thanh - Day 7
Hoi An Free Day
This day is completely yours in Hoi An. Wander the old town streets, pop into shops, sit by the river, or taste the local food scene. However you want to spend it works just fine.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 8
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
Check out and head to Da Nang airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. After landing and handling airport stuff, your driver transfers you to the hotel. The afternoon is free to explore at your own pace, hitting sites like Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, Independence Palace, Ben Thanh Market, Chinatown, or the War Remnants Museum.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
- Visit Central Post Office
- Visit Independence Palace
- Visit Ben Thanh Market
- Visit Chinatown (Cho Lon)
- Visit War Remnants Museum
Landmarks/POIs Notre Dame Cathedral Central Post Office Independence Palace Ben Thanh Market Chinatown (Cho Lon) War Remnants Museum 
- Day 9
Mekong Delta Tour
Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho on the Mekong. See the late 19th century Vinh Trang Pagoda, then board a sampan visiting four islands (Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, Tortoise). At Unicorn Island, walk country lanes through orchards and enjoy tropical fruits and folk music. Take a hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal visiting family businesses and bee farms to learn about coconut candy-making. After lunch, cycle around Tan Thach village or relax in a hammock instead. Return to Ho Chi Minh City by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda from the late 19th century
- Sampan cruise around Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Tortoise islands
- Walk around Unicorn Island country lanes and orchards
- Enjoy tropical fruits at the plantation
- Enjoy folk song music performed by local people
- Hand-rowed sampan trip through Thoi Son canal
- Visit family business
- Visit honey-bee farm and enjoy honey tea
- Visit coconut candy workshop
- Cycling around Tan Thach village to meet local villagers
- Experience local daily life in the Mekong delta
Optional Activities
- Hammock relaxing for those unable to join the cycling trip
Landmarks/POIs Vinh Trang Pagoda Unicorn Island Mekong River 
- Day 10
Cu Chi Tunnels
Leave early for Cu Chi tunnels, about 1.5 hours from Ho Chi Minh City. Watch a documentary about the tunnel system and war history, then explore weapon factories, hospitals, and kitchens. You can crawl through tunnel sections if you want. Have manioc (traditional guerrilla food) and try firing AK47, MK16, or machine guns at the shooting range. Return to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Overview introduction to Cu Chi tunnels and history
- Documentary film about tunnel history and the war
- Guided tour of tunnel system including weapon factory, hospitals, and kitchens
- Crawling through tunnel sections
- Try manioc, the traditional guerrilla warrior food
Optional Activities
- Shoot AK47, MK16, or machine guns at nearby shooting range
Landmarks/POIs Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 11
Departure from Ho Chi Minh City
Enjoy a healthy breakfast at the hotel before checking out. Stop by local markets to pick up souvenirs, then your driver takes you to the airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit local markets to buy souvenirs
