Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll arrive in Hanoi and get picked up by your private driver at the airport. From there, it's a short ride to your hotel in the heart of the city, right near the Old Quarter. After settling in, the rest of your day is open. You can either wander around and get a feel for the area or just rest after 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
- Relax at hotel
- Day 2
Hanoi
Your hotel pickup happens in the morning for a full day group tour around Hanoi. You'll start at the Ho Chi Minh Complex to see the mausoleum and where he lived, then head to the One Pillar Pagoda. The Vietnam Ethnology Museum comes next (or the Vietnamese Women's Museum if the first one isn't open). After that you'll see Tran Quoc Pagoda on Golden Fish Island, then walk through the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university. The tour wraps up at Hoa Lo Prison before dropping you back at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Vietnamese cuisine at tour restaurant with vegetarian options available)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mina Hotel or similar), Hotel (Tirant Hotel or similar), Hotel (Apricot Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Ho Chi Minh Complex and mausoleum
- Walk around Ho Chi Minh's gardens and residences
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Vietnam Ethnology Museum or Vietnamese Women's Museum
- Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake
- Visit Temple of Literature
- Visit Hoa Lo Prison
Landmarks Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum One Pillar Pagoda Tran Quoc Pagoda Temple of Literature Hoa Lo Prison - Day 3
Hanoi to Ninh Binh
An early pickup takes you about 120 km south to Ninh Binh province. You'll explore Hoa Lu, Vietnam's first capital, checking out the old temples of King Dinh and King Le. Lunch is a local buffet with goat meat and regional specialties. In the afternoon, you'll take a 1.5-hour bamboo boat ride through Tam Coc, which locals call 'Halong Bay on land' because of the caves and rice paddies. After a 45-minute bike ride through the village to see how people actually live, your driver brings you back to Hanoi in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Buffet lunch at restaurant with local foods including goat meat and fried rice; vegetarian options available)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mina Hotel or similar), Hotel (Tirant Hotel or similar), Hotel (Apricot Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Hoa Lu ancient capital and royal temples
- Bamboo boat trip through Tam Coc (1.5 hours)
- Cycling tour around village (45 minutes)
Landmarks Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Tam Coc 
- Day 4
Hanoi to Ha Long Bay
You'll check out and head south toward Ha Long Bay, driving through the Red River Delta with its green rice fields the whole way. Once there, you board a cruise to see the limestone formations and caves. Seafood lunch happens on the boat, then you'll visit a famous cave where you can swim or kayak closer to the floating villages. Back on board for an early dinner, you'll have free time to relax or join any activities they offer.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Seafood lunch), Dinner (Early dinner on boat)
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Le Journey Cruise or similar), Berth / Cabin (La Pandora Cruise or similar), Berth / Cabin (Doris Cruise or similar)
Included Activities
- Cruise Ha Long Bay
- Explore limestone rocks and karst grottoes
- Visit limestone cave
- Kayaking or swimming (optional during cave visit)
Optional Activities
- Kayaking at limestone cave
- Swimming at limestone cave
- Optional activities on boat in evening
Landmarks Ha Long Bay 
- Day 5
Ha Long Bay to Hoi An
After breakfast, the cruise takes you back to the limestone cave for one more look before heading to port. From there, your driver takes you back to Hanoi for a quick rest, then it's off to the airport for your flight to Da Nang. When you land, another driver picks you up and takes you to your hotel in Hoi An.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kim An Hotel or similar), Hotel (Silkotel Hoi An or similar), Resort (Palm Garden Hoi An or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit limestone cave
- Day 6
Hoi An
Your English-speaking guide meets you around 8:00 am for a cycling trip through the countryside and rivers around Hoi An. You'll see how local people live and get nice views of their neighborhoods. Then you head to Eco-Village Cam Thanh to paddle a bamboo basket boat through coconut palm waterways. You'll meet local fishermen, try catching purple crabs with traditional nets, and collect handmade gifts made from nipa palm. Lunch is at a local restaurant, then you cycle back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Delicious lunch at local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kim An Hotel or similar), Hotel (Silkotel Hoi An or similar), Resort (Palm Garden Hoi An or similar)
Included Activities
- Cycle trip through countryside around Hoi An
- Bamboo basket boat trip through Eco-Village Cam Thanh
- Meet and engage with local fishermen
- Hands-on traditional net fishing experience
- Handmade gift collection from local artisans
Landmarks Eco-Village Cam Thanh - Day 7
Hoi An
This day is yours to do whatever you want. Rent a bike from your hotel and ride around town toward the river or beach. Spend time at small cafes by the water, drink fresh fruit drinks, and go for a swim in the warm water. Stop by a tailor shop if you want custom clothes or shoes made overnight. In the evening, walk through the Old Town area when shop owners light their lanterns. There are usually colorful street performances happening around town at night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kim An Hotel or similar), Hotel (Silkotel Hoi An or similar), Resort (Palm Garden Hoi An or similar)
Optional Activities
- Rent bicycle and explore Hoi An town
- Visit beach and swim
- Relax at beachfront cafes
- Visit tailor shop for custom clothing or accessories
- Walk Old Town area in evening
- Attend street performances in evening
Landmarks Hoi An Old Town - Day 8
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
Your private driver picks you up and takes you to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. After landing at Tan Son Nhat Airport, another driver meets you and takes you to your hotel. The rest of your day is free to settle in and relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Prague Hotel or similar), Hotel (Alagon Saigon Hotel & Spa or similar), Hotel (The Myst Dong Khoi or similar)
- Day 9
Ho Chi Minh City
You'll join a group tour to Cu Chi Tunnels, an underground network of over 220 km located about 60 km outside Ho Chi Minh City. This historic site was crucial during the Vietnam War when resistance soldiers used it against US forces. You'll walk through tunnel sections and see where people lived and fought. The tour includes a demonstration of wartime cooking using smokeless stoves and you can try food soldiers ate. There's also a chance to shoot an AK-47 if you want. The tour leaves at 8:00 am and finishes by 2:30 pm.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Prague Hotel or similar), Hotel (Alagon Saigon Hotel & Spa or similar), Hotel (The Myst Dong Khoi or similar)
Included Activities
- Walk through Cu Chi Tunnels
- Explore hidden corners of tunnel system
- Experience smokeless stove cooking (optional)
- Try soldiers' traditional foods (optional)
- Shooting range with AK-47 (optional)
Optional Activities
- Cook with smokeless stoves used during war
- Try traditional wartime foods
- Shoot AK-47 rifle
Landmarks Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 10
Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta
You'll travel to My Tho, a town on the Mekong River's left bank. First stop is Vinh Trang Pagoda from the late 1800s. Then you board a sampan to cruise around four islands called Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise. At Unicorn Island you'll walk through orchards, taste tropical fruits, and hear folk songs from locals. A visit to a fruit plantation happens next, followed by a hand-rowed sampan ride through Thoi Son canal with its coconut palms. You'll see family businesses and a honey bee farm where you can have honey tea and coconut candy. After lunch, you'll bike around Tan Thach village to meet locals, or sit in hammocks if cycling isn't for you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Prague Hotel or similar), Hotel (Alagon Saigon Hotel & Spa or similar), Hotel (The Myst Dong Khoi or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Vinh Trang pagoda
- Sampan cruise around four islands: Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise
- Stop at Unicorn Island for countryside walk
- Visit fruit plantation
- Hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal
- Visit honey-bee farm and honey tea experience
- Visit coconut candy workshop
- Cycling tour around Tan Thach village
- Meet local villagers and experience daily life
Optional Activities
- Cycling tour around Tan Thach village
- Hammock relaxing for those not cycling
Landmarks Vinh Trang Pagoda Mekong Delta 
- Day 11
Ho Chi Minh City
Your final morning starts with a healthy breakfast and you'll complete your hotel checkout. Before heading to the airport, you'll have time to visit local markets and pick up souvenirs. Your private driver takes you to the airport for your flight home, ending your Vietnam trip.
- End point
- Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Trường Sơn, Ho Chi Minh City, 72100, Vietnam (Tan Son Nhat International Airport Drop Off)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit local markets for souvenirs
