Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Hanoi
You'll land at Noi Bai Airport where your driver meets you in the lobby with a Wonderscape Travel sign. From there it's a transfer to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is yours to explore Hanoi on your own terms. The city has plenty to see whenever you feel like wandering around, from ancient temples in the Old Quarter to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and One Pillar Pagoda.
Optional Activities
- Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- Explore Hanoi Old Quarter
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda
- Watch Water puppet show at Hoan Kiem Lake
- Visit Ngoc Son Temple
- Experience train street coffee
Landmarks/POIs Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum One Pillar Pagoda Hanoi Old Quarter Hoan Kiem Lake Ngoc Son Temple - Day 2
Hanoi City Tour
Your guided city tour starts between 8:00 and 8:30 am with a pickup from your hotel. You'll check out Tran Quoc Pagoda first, sitting on Golden Fish Island, then head to the Ho Chi Minh Complex where his embalmed body is on display. After that comes the One Pillar Pagoda, which is quite unique architecturally. You'll also see the Vietnam Ethnology Museum (or Vietnamese Women's Museum if the first is closed), then walk through the Temple of Literature, which was Vietnam's first university. The day wraps up at Hoa Lo Prison, a former French colonial jail that now functions as a war museum.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Vietnamese cuisine with vegetarian options available)
Included Activities
- Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda
- Visit Ho Chi Minh Complex and view the mausoleum
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Vietnam Ethnology Museum or Vietnamese Women's Museum
- Visit Temple of Literature (Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam)
- Visit Hoa Lo Prison
Landmarks/POIs Tran Quoc Pagoda Ho Chi Minh Complex One Pillar Pagoda Vietnam Ethnology Museum Vietnamese Women's Museum Temple of Literature Hoa Lo Prison - Day 3
Hanoi to Ninh Binh
An early 7:00 am departure takes you about 120 km to Ninh Binh province. There's a 20-minute break along the way before you reach Hoa Lu, the ancient capital. You'll explore temples built for King Dinh and King Le from the 17th century, then spend 45 minutes cycling through the village to get a feel for local life. Lunch is a buffet with local specialties like goat meat and fried rice. After that you'll boat through Trang An, a UNESCO site with tunnel caves featured in the Kong movie. You'll pass through Sang Cave, Toi Cave, and Nau Ruou Cave. The boat ride is followed by an evening return to Hanoi.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Buffet lunch featuring local foods including goat meat and fried rice with vegetarian options available)
Included Activities
- Visit Hoa Lu ancient capital and temples
- Cycling around the village
- Boat trip through Trang An UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Explore Trang An cave system including Sang Cave, Toi Cave, and Nau Ruou Cave
Landmarks/POIs Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Trang An Sang Cave Toi Cave Nau Ruou Cave - Day 4
Hanoi to Halong Bay
After breakfast you drive about two and a half hours to Halong Bay with a 20-minute stop in between. You arrive at the Halong City jetty around noon for check-in on your cruise. Welcome aboard includes lunch while you cruise through the bay's emerald waters surrounded by thousands of limestone islands. Afternoon activities depend on your specific boat but might include visits to caves or just relaxing on deck. That night your boat anchors among the karst formations and dinner is served onboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Served while cruising), Dinner (Served onboard)
Included Activities
- Cruise through Halong Bay
- Afternoon activities and visits (depending on boat itinerary)
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay - Day 5
Halong Bay to Hanoi to Hoi An
Start early to catch the sunrise from the boat and breathe in the fresh ocean air. Breakfast happens on deck as you cruise slowly through the islands. You'll have lunch onboard as well before heading back to Halong City pier. By 3:30 or 4:00 pm you're back in Hanoi Old Quarter with free time to rest or wander. Later a private transfer takes you to the airport for your flight to Hoi An. You'll check into your hotel there the same evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Served on the boat), Lunch (Served onboard while returning to Halong City pier)
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing in Halong Bay
- Cruise through Halong Bay islands
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay - Day 6
Hoi An Eco-Village and Cooking Experience
Your morning tour runs from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm and includes a unique coconut forest experience right in Hoi An. You'll visit a local colorful market where you can discover fresh ingredients and chat with sellers. Next you head to the Eco-Village of Cam Thanh to see the nipa palm forest and learn its anti-war history. A bamboo basket boat takes you through the area where you'll try catching fish with throwing nets and purple crabs. You'll watch traditional methods for making Vietnamese foods and then prepare five Vietnamese dishes yourself. Before leaving you make handmade gifts from nipa palm leaves to take home.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Includes 5 Vietnamese foods made by yourself)
Included Activities
- Visit local colorful market in Hoi An
- Explore Eco-Village Cam Thanh by bamboo basket boat
- Learn fishing techniques with throwing nets and purple crabs
- Learn traditional Vietnamese cooking methods
- Prepare 5 Vietnamese dishes
Landmarks/POIs Cam Thanh Eco-Village Hoi An Old Town - Day 7
Hoi An to My Son and Back
Your guide picks you up between 7:30 and 8:00 am to head to My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. You'll spend about two hours walking the landscape while your English-speaking guide shares the history. There's a traditional Champa performance to watch. You stop at a local house to learn how rice paper is made and get to eat what you make. Lunch is at another local house with cold herbal tea served in a relaxed setting. The day ends with a scenic boat ride back to Hoi An on the Thu Bon River, the largest river in Central Vietnam.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a local house with cold herbal tea and fresh air)
Included Activities
- Explore My Son Sanctuary UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site
- Learn and watch Champa traditional performances
- Learn rice paper making at a local house
- Boat trip on Thu Bon River back to Hoi An
Landmarks/POIs My Son Sanctuary Thu Bon River - Day 8
Hoi An to Hue via Hai Van Pass
After breakfast you check out and get your luggage ready. Your guide picks you up from Hoi An between 7:00 and 7:30 am (or from Da Nang between 8:00 and 8:30 am if staying there). You'll travel via one of the world's best coastal roads, either Hai Van Pass or Hai Van Tunnel, with a 30-minute stop at the peak and a quick photo opportunity at Lap An lagoon. At 11:00 am you visit Khai Dinh Tomb. Lunch follows at a local restaurant serving Hue-style dishes. The afternoon includes exploring the Imperial Citadel and Thien Mu Pagoda before you head back to your Hue hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Hue-style dishes at a local specialty restaurant)
Included Activities
- Cross Hai Van Pass or Hai Van Tunnel
- Stop and photograph at Lap An lagoon
- Visit Khai Dinh Tomb
- Visit Imperial Citadel
- Explore Thien Mu Pagoda
Landmarks/POIs Hai Van Pass Lap An Lagoon Khai Dinh Tomb Imperial Citadel Thien Mu Pagoda - Day 9
Hue to Phong Nha or Paradise Cave
Pickup from Hue city center happens between 7:00 and 7:30 am. The day involves visiting La Vang Holy Land on the way, then several revolutionary historical sites like Quang Tri Ancient Citadel, Doc Mieu Base, Hien Luong Bridge, and Ben Hai River. Lunch comes at a local restaurant. Afternoon activities depend on what day it is. On odd days you visit Phong Nha Cave, which has the widest dry cave and longest water cave. On even days you go to Paradise Cave, the longest dry cave in Asia with impressive stalactites and stalagmites (electric car transport is provided). You return to Hue around 8:30 pm.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Served at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit La Vang Holy Land
- Tour revolutionary historical sites
- Visit Phong Nha Cave or Paradise Cave (depending on departure date)
Landmarks/POIs La Vang Holy Land Quang Tri Ancient Citadel Doc Mieu Base Hien Luong Bridge Ben Hai River Phong Nha Cave Paradise Cave - Day 10
Free Day in Hue
Enjoy a complimentary breakfast at your hotel and then the whole day is yours to explore Hue at your own pace. You can discover the city's rich history, try different cuisines, and check out attractions whenever you feel like it. There's no guided tour, just free time to do what interests you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 11
Hue to Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast at your hotel your private driver takes you to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Once you arrive there's a transfer to your hotel for some downtime. Standard check-in is at 2:00 pm. Later on you can start exploring Vietnam's largest and most vibrant city at your leisure. It's got rich history, diverse food options, modern skyscrapers, and lively nightlife to discover.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks/POIs Ho Chi Minh City - Day 12
Ho Chi Minh City Colonial and War History
The morning starts at Independence Palace (Reunification Palace), built where the old Norodom palace stood. You'll see French Colonial-era buildings including Notre Dame Cathedral and the historic Central Post Office. The War Remnants Museum comes next with extensive displays from the Indochina wars. After lunch at a local restaurant you drive about an hour and a half to Cu Chi tunnels. An introductory video explains what you're about to see, then you explore the tunnel system including living areas, kitchens, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers with hidden trap doors. You'll taste special tea and cassava, the food people ate during wartime. There's an optional chance to try real shooting guns before heading back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (At local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Independence Palace (Reunification Palace)
- See Notre Dame Cathedral
- Visit Central Post Office
- Visit War Remnants Museum
- Explore Cu Chi tunnels and underground complex
Optional Activities
- Try real shooting gun at Cu Chi tunnels
Landmarks/POIs Independence Palace Notre Dame Cathedral Central Post Office War Remnants Museum Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 13
Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta
You leave Ho Chi Minh City's busy atmosphere and travel to My Tho on the Mekong River's left bank. First stop is Vinh Trang Pagoda, a late 19th-century temple. Then you board a traditional sampan and cruise past four islands known as Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Tortoise islands. At Unicorn Island you walk country lanes, visit orchards with tropical fruits, listen to folk songs from locals, and tour fruit plantations. Hand-rowing through Thoi Son canal lets you experience the rural countryside, stopping at family businesses including a honey-bee farm where you'll have honey tea and see a coconut candy workshop. Lunch is at a local restaurant with a break afterward. The afternoon brings cycling around Tan Thach village to meet locals and see daily Mekong life (hammocks are available if cycling isn't your thing). You return to Ho Chi Minh City by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (At local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
- Sampan cruise through four islands
- Stop at Unicorn Island and walk country lanes
- Tour fruit plantations
- Hand-row sampan through Thoi Son canal
- Visit honey-bee farm
- Visit coconut candy workshop
- Cycling around Tan Thach village
- Experience local Mekong Delta daily life
Optional Activities
- Hammock relaxing for those unable to join cycling
Landmarks/POIs My Tho Vinh Trang Pagoda Mekong River Dragon Island Unicorn Island Phoenix Island Tortoise Island Thoi Son Canal Tan Thach Village - Day 14
Departure from Ho Chi Minh City
It's your final day in Vietnam so enjoy a healthy breakfast at your hotel and complete checkout. You'll have some time to visit local markets and pick up souvenirs for people back home. Your private driver then takes you to the airport for your flight back. That wraps up your trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit local markets for souvenirs
