Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Hanoi
You'll land in Hanoi and your private driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel near the Old Quarter. After settling in, the rest of the day is yours to explore at your own pace or wind down from your flight.
- Start point
- Noi Bai International Airport, Sóc Sơn, Hanoi, 12200, Vietnam (Noi Bai International Airport Pick Up )
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mina Hotel or similar), Hotel (Tirant Hotel or similar), Hotel (Apricot Hotel or similar)
Optional Activities
- Explore Hanoi Old Quarter at own pace
Landmarks/POIs Hanoi Old Quarter 
- Day 2
Hanoi City Tour
Your guide picks you up at 8am for a full day through Hanoi's cultural sites. You'll see Tran Quoc Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh Complex, One Pillar Pagoda, the Vietnam Ethnology Museum (or Vietnamese Women's Museum if the first is closed), Temple of Literature, and Hoa Lo Prison. Lunch includes Vietnamese cuisine with vegetarian options available.
- Meals
- Lunch (Vietnamese cuisine at restaurant with vegetarian foods available)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mina Hotel or similar), Hotel (Tirant Hotel or similar), Hotel (Apricot Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda on Golden Fish Island, oldest pagoda in Hanoi built in 6th century
- Visit Ho Chi Minh Complex including embalmed body viewing and gardens where he lived and worked 1954-1969
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda, unique pagoda worshipping the Goddess of Mercy
- Visit Vietnam Ethnology Museum to learn about 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam (or Vietnamese Women's Museum if closed on Mondays)
- Visit Temple of Literature, first university of Vietnam founded in 1070
- Visit Hoa Lo Prison, French colonial prison built 1886-1901, now war museum
- Lunch at restaurant with Vietnamese cuisine
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
Hoa Lu and Tam Coc
You'll drive about 120 km south to Ninh Binh province to visit Hoa Lu, Vietnam's first capital. Tour the temples of King Dinh and King Le from the 17th century, then enjoy a buffet lunch with local specialties. Next comes a 1.5-hour bamboo boat ride through Tam Coc's paddy fields, rivers, and caves. After that, you'll cycle for 45 minutes around the village to see local life before heading back to Hanoi.
- Meals
- Lunch (Buffet lunch at restaurant with local foods including goat meat, fried rice, and vegetarian options)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mina Hotel or similar), Hotel (Tirant Hotel or similar), Hotel (Apricot Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Hoa Lu ancient capital with temples of King Dinh and King Le from 17th century
- Buffet lunch at restaurant with local foods including goat meat and fried rice
- 1.5-hour bamboo boat trip through Tam Coc with views of paddy fields, caves, and countryside
- 45-minute cycling around village to discover local life
Landmarks/POIs Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Tam Coc 
- Day 4
Departure
Check out of your Hanoi hotel and head to Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The cruise team meets you between 8-9am at your hotel lobby. You'll board around noon and have lunch while cruising past hundreds of islets. The afternoon includes swimming, kayaking, and cave visits depending on your boat's itinerary. By evening you'll anchor for the night, watch the sunset, and have dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch served while cruising through islets), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Le Journey Cruise or similar), Berth / Cabin (La Pandora Cruise or similar), Berth / Cabin (Doris Cruise or similar)
Included Activities
- Halong Bay cruise through hundreds of islets
- Swimming and kayaking (depending on boat itinerary)
- Cave visiting (depending on boat itinerary)
- Sunset viewing
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay 
- Day 5
Halong Bay to Hoi An
Start your morning watching sunrise on Halong Bay. You'll have breakfast while the cruise heads back toward port, then an early lunch before disembarking. From there, transfer to Hanoi airport for your flight to Hoi An. A driver meets you upon arrival and takes you to your hotel. The rest of your day is free.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast served on vessel cruising back toward port), Lunch (Early lunch before disembarking)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kim An Hotel or similar), Hotel (Silkotel Hotel or similar), Resort (Palm Garden Resort or similar)
- Day 6
Hoi An
Today's yours to explore Hoi An at whatever pace you like. Rent a bicycle from your hotel and cycle toward the riverside or beach area. Spend time at local cafes sipping fresh fruit drinks after a swim in the calm, warm water. Check out tailor shops if you want custom clothing made overnight. In the evening, walk through the Old Town as shops light their lanterns and street performances happen around you.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kim An Hotel or similar), Hotel (Silkotel Hotel or similar), Resort (Palm Garden Resort or similar)
Optional Activities
- Rent bicycle and cycle around town
- Visit riverside or beach
- Swim in sea
- Relax at beach cafes with fresh fruit drinks
- Visit tailor shop for custom clothing
- Walk through Old Town area in evening
- Watch street performances in Old Town
Landmarks/POIs Hoi An Old Town - Day 7
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
After spending remaining time in Hoi An, your private driver will take you to Da Nang airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Once you land, a driver meets you at Tan Son Nhat Airport and drives you to your hotel in the city centre. The rest of the day is free to relax.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Queen Ann Hotel or similar), Hotel (Alagon Hotel or similar ), Hotel (The Myst Dong Khoi or similar)
- Day 8
Ho Chi Minh City and Cu Chi Tunnels
Your morning covers Independence Palace (Reunification Palace), built where the former Norodom Palace stood, along with French Colonial structures like Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. You'll visit the War Remnants Museum to see displays from the Indochina wars. After lunch at a local restaurant, you'll drive about 1.5 hours to Cu Chi Tunnels. There you'll watch an introduction video, explore the tunnel systems with living areas, kitchens, bedrooms, storage, weapons factories, hospitals, and command centers. You'll have special tea and cassava, and gun shooting is optional before returning to the city.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Queen Ann Hotel or similar), Hotel (Alagon Hotel or similar ), Hotel (The Myst Dong Khoi or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Independence Palace (Reunification Palace)
- View Notre Dame Cathedral from French Colonial period
- View Central Post Office from French Colonial period
- Visit War Remnants Museum with Indochina wars displays
- Lunch at local restaurant
- Tour Cu Chi Tunnels with introduction and video
- Explore tunnel systems including living areas, kitchens, bedrooms, storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers, hidden trap doors
- Special tea and cassava served at Cu Chi Tunnels
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 9
Mekong Delta Day Trip
You'll head out to My Tho on the Mekong River's left bank. Start at Vinh Trang Pagoda from the late 19th century, then board a sampan to cruise around four islands: Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Tortoise. Stop on Unicorn Island to walk country lanes, see orchards, taste tropical fruits, and hear local folk music. Visit a fruit plantation, then take a hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal to see family businesses and a honey-bee farm with honey tea and coconut candy workshops. After lunch at a local restaurant, cycle around Tan Thach village to meet locals and experience daily life (or relax in a hammock if cycling isn't for you). Then return to Ho Chi Minh City.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Queen Ann Hotel or similar), Hotel (Alagon Hotel or similar ), Hotel (The Myst Dong Khoi or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda dating back to late 19th century
- Sampan cruise around Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Tortoise islands
- Walking around country lanes on Unicorn Island
- See orchards on Unicorn Island
- Enjoy tropical fruits and folk song music performed by local people
- Visit fruit plantation
- Hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal
- Visit family business
- Visit honey-bee farm
- Enjoy honey tea and coconut candy workshop
- Lunch at local restaurant
- Cycling around Tan Thach village to experience local daily life
Optional Activities
- Hammock relaxing for those unable to join cycling trip
Landmarks/POIs My Tho Vinh Trang Pagoda Unicorn Island Dragon Island Phoenix Island Tortoise Island Thoi Son Canal Tan Thach Village 
- Day 10
Departure
On your final day, start with a healthy breakfast and complete your hotel check-out. Head to local markets to pick up souvenirs, then your private driver will take you to the airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Healthy breakfast)
Optional Activities
- Visit local markets for souvenirs
