Itinerary
- Day 1
Ho Chi Minh City
Your driver from Rustic Asia Travel will meet you at the airport whenever you arrive. You'll head to your hotel in Saigon Center, and then the rest of the day is yours to do as you like. It's a good chance to settle in and get oriented with the city on your own terms.
- Start point
- Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Trường Sơn, Ho Chi Minh City, 72100, Vietnam (Private pick up at airport on arrival day in Vietnam)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Acnos Saigon Hotel), Hotel (Harmony Saigon Hotel)
- Day 2
Ho Chi Minh City
Meet your guide at 8:30 am for a city tour covering Reunification Hall (the former Presidential Palace), the Old Post Office, and Notre Dame Cathedral. You'll also visit either the Jade Emperor Pagoda or War Remnants Museum depending on your preference. After that, you'll travel to Cu Chi Tunnels, a 210-mile network of underground tunnels built by guerillas starting in 1940 during the Vietnam War. You'll spend the night back in Ho Chi Minh City.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Acnos Saigon Hotel), Hotel (Harmony Saigon Hotel)
Included Activities
- Ho Chi Minh City Highlights tour including Reunification Hall, Old Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, Jade Emperor Pagoda or Ho Chi Minh War Remnants Museum
- Cu Chi Tunnels visit
Optional Activities
- Choice between Jade Emperor Pagoda or Ho Chi Minh War Remnants Museum
Landmarks Reunification Hall Old Post Office Notre Dame Cathedral Jade Emperor Pagoda Ho Chi Minh War Remnants Museum Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 3
Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi
After breakfast at your hotel, finish checking out and get your luggage ready. Your team leader will call or email with your flight details to Hanoi. Your driver takes you to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for the flight. Once you land in Hanoi, you'll have guided visits to Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda, and Dong Xuan Market. There's also an option to do the Hanoi Foodie Tour or catch the Water Puppet Theater if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mina Hanoi hotel or similar), Hotel (Hanoi Golden Silk Luxury Hotel)
Included Activities
- Temple of Literature visit
- One Pillar Pagoda visit
- Dong Xuan Market visit
Optional Activities
- Hanoi Foodie Tour
- Water Puppet Theater
Landmarks Temple of Literature One Pillar Pagoda Dong Xuan Market 
- Day 4
Hanoi to Halong Bay
Hotel pickup happens at 8:00 to 8:30 am for the scenic drive to Halong Bay, which takes about 3.5 hours. At 11:30 am you'll board your cruise and get a welcome drink of seasonal fruit juice. You'll have seafood lunch while sailing past the UNESCO World Heritage landscape. Next, there's a hike up 600 steps through Sung Sot Cave to see the limestone formations, then back to the ship. Your afternoon is spent at Titop Island where you can swim, sunbathe, check out the viewpoint, or try kayaking on the white sand beach.
- Meals
- Lunch (Seafood lunch onboard cruise), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Halong Garden Bay Cruise / Le Journey Cruise / Cozy Cruise all in 3* or similar), Berth / Cabin (Halong La pandora Cruise/ LE Journey 4*)
Included Activities
- Sung Sot (Surprising Cave) exploration with 600-step hike
- Titop Island visit with swimming, sunbathing, and kayaking
Landmarks Sung Sot Cave Titop Island 
- Day 5
Halong Bay
Rise early to catch the sunrise over the bay. You'll do Tai Chi on the sundeck, then have coffee, tea, and homemade pastries. Vietnamese breakfast happens while you cruise past the karst and stalagmite landscape. The morning includes swimming, kayaking, and trekking. At 11:00 am you'll check out from your cabin and head back to Halong Wharf. There's a stop at a souvenir shop for restrooms and to look at local hand-made products before the drive back to Hanoi, arriving around 3:30 pm.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Vietnamese breakfast with coffee, tea, and assorted homemade pastries onboard)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mina Hanoi hotel or similar), Hotel (Hanoi Golden Silk Luxury Hotel)
Included Activities
- Tai Chi exercise on sundeck
- Vietnamese breakfast onboard
- Swimming and kayaking activities
- Trekking activities
- Day 6
Hanoi to Tam Coc
After hotel breakfast, you'll drive about 80km south of Hanoi to the former capital from 1,000 years ago. You'll paddle a sampan (wooden rowing boat) through narrow streams and past 3 caves in Tam Coc. Lunch is local traditional food like mountain goat meat or buffet options at a restaurant in the area. There's time to explore the peaceful village by bicycle and optionally help farmers with their daily work if you want. You'll return to Hanoi around 7 pm.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mina Hanoi hotel or similar), Hotel (Hanoi Golden Silk Luxury Hotel)
Included Activities
- Sampan (wooden rowing boat) ride on narrow streams
- Tam Coc 3 caves visit
Optional Activities
- Traditional mountain goat meat meal or buffet lunch at local restaurant
- Cycling around peaceful village
- Farmer activities participation
Landmarks Tam Coc Caves 
- Day 7
Hanoi
You'll have a relaxed morning with breakfast at your hotel. Checkout is at noon, and then your private driver will take you to the airport at whatever time works best for you.
- End point
- Noi Bai International Airport, Sóc Sơn, Hanoi, 12200, Vietnam (Last day of adventure - Private transfer to airport )
- Meals
- Breakfast
