Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll land at Noi Bai International Airport and link up with your local guide for the 45-minute drive into Hanoi. The first stop is an orientation tour that covers Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, and Hanoi Opera House. After that, you're in for a rickshaw ride through the Old Quarter, which is where the city really comes alive with its narrow streets and local energy. Once you reach your hotel, you'll have time to settle in and explore on your own.
- Start point
- Noi Bai International Airport, Sóc Sơn, Hanoi, 12200, Vietnam (International Terminal (T2))
Included Activities
- Orientation tour including Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, Hanoi Opera House
- Rickshaw ride through the Old Quarter
Landmarks Ba Dinh Square Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Presidential Palace Hanoi Opera House Hanoi Old Quarter 
- Day 2
Hanoi to Ha Long Bay
This morning you'll head out with your guide and private vehicle toward Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site with around 1,969 karst islands dotting the water. By midday you'll board your junk, get settled in your cabin, and have a welcome drink followed by lunch. The afternoon brings a visit to a natural cave with interesting rock formations, and you'll catch the sunset from the boat. If you're interested, there are options for squid fishing, kayaking, or just hanging out on deck.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch on board), Dinner
Included Activities
- Private vehicle transfer to Ha Long Bay
- Junk cruise with welcome drink
- Lunch on board
- Natural cave exploration
Optional Activities
- Squid fishing - try your hand at fishing squid with crew tips and enjoy freshly cooked squid
- Relax on the deck - unwind while admiring the bay or watching sunrise and sunset
- Kayaking (2 people per kayak) - navigate through the landscape; subject to change based on weather conditions
Landmarks Ha Long Bay 
- Day 3
Ha Long Bay to Ninh Binh
After breakfast on board, there's an optional Tai Chi session at dawn if you want to give it a try. From there, the cruise continues with brunch served on board. Later you'll head toward Ninh Binh, which locals call the 'Ha Long Bay on land' because of its dramatic karst scenery and rice paddies. Once you arrive, you'll visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital and check out the Dinh and Le Temples, which were built to honor emperors from Vietnam's past.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on board), Lunch
Included Activities
- Optional Tai Chi session at dawn
- Brunch on board
- Visit to Hoa Lu Ancient Capital
- Dinh Temple visit
- Le Temple visit
Landmarks Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Dinh Temple Le Temple 
- Day 4
Ninh Binh to Hue
The day starts with a two-hour boat trip through limestone formations and rice fields, moving slowly past those quiet cliffs. After the boat ride, you'll bike through the countryside to reach Bich Dong Pagoda, a shrine built right into the rock with three pagodas dating back to the early 1700s. You'll grab lunch at a local restaurant, and then it's off to Ha Noi Train Station to catch the overnight train heading to Hue.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Boat trip through karst formations and rice fields (approximately 2 hours)
- Bike ride through countryside to Bich Dong Pagoda
- Visit to Bich Dong Pagoda
Landmarks Bich Dong Pagoda - Day 5
Hue
You'll pull into Hue Train Station early and your guide will be waiting for the transfer to the city center. Breakfast is Bun Bo Hue, a local soup made with rice vermicelli, beef, and spices that's a specialty here. The main sights include the Imperial Citadel and Thien Mu Pagoda, followed by a walk through Dong Ba Market, which sells everything from conical hats and basketwork to fabrics and tropical fruits. You'll have free time to grab lunch before checking into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Local breakfast - Bun Bo Hue, soup made from rice vermicelli garnished with beef, vegetables, and spices)
Included Activities
- Transfer from Hue Train Station to city center
- Local breakfast - Bun Bo Hue
- Visit to Imperial Citadel
- Visit to Thien Mu Pagoda
- Dong Ba Market exploration
Landmarks Imperial Citadel Thien Mu Pagoda Dong Ba Market 
- Day 6
Hue to Hoi An
Today you'll drive to Hoi An by way of Hai Van Pass, the highest road pass in Vietnam with views down to the Eastern Sea. There's a stop in Da Nang to visit the Cham Museum, which displays sculptures from the old Champa Kingdom. Once in Hoi An, you'll check into your hotel and then take a walk through the Ancient Town, visiting the Fujian Assembly Hall, Chuc Thanh Pagoda, wooden houses with history, and the Japanese Bridge. The evening is yours to explore the neighborhoods along the Thu Bon River.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Transfer via Hai Van Pass
- Visit to Cham Museum in Da Nang
- Stroll through Hoi An Ancient Town
- Visit to Fujian Assembly Hall
- Visit to Chuc Thanh Pagoda
- Visit to Japanese Bridge
Landmarks Hai Van Pass Cham Museum Hoi An Ancient Town Fujian Assembly Hall Chuc Thanh Pagoda Japanese Bridge 
- Day 7
Hoi An
This day is yours to spend however you like in Hoi An. You can wander the historic streets at your own pace, visit more temples or shops that interest you, or just take time to sit and absorb the feel of this UNESCO World Heritage site. There's no set schedule, so you have flexibility to do what appeals to you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Hoi An Ancient Town - Day 8
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
You'll head to Da Nang Airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. After landing, you'll drive into the heart of the city to explore Cho Lon, which is Ho Chi Minh's Chinatown with its own character and energy. There's time to see Thien Hau Temple and walk through Binh Tay Market where you'll find all sorts of goods and local products. For lunch, you'll try pho served in a stone bowl at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, a walking tour covers the Reunification Palace, Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Ben Thanh Market. The day wraps up with free time on Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant - Pho in a stone bowl with freshly prepared noodles)
Included Activities
- Visit to Thien Hau Temple
- Exploration of Binh Tay Market
- Lunch at a local restaurant - Pho in a stone bowl with freshly prepared noodles
- Walking tour of city center including Reunification Palace, Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, Ben Thanh Market
Optional Activities
- Evening stroll along Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street
Landmarks Cho Lon (Chinatown) Thien Hau Temple Binh Tay Market Reunification Palace Central Post Office Notre Dame Cathedral Ben Thanh Market Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street 
- Day 9
Ho Chi Minh City to Ben Tre
You'll travel south to Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta, a region known as the 'Land of Coconuts' since it sits between two rivers. The day begins with a calm boat ride along the Ben Tre River, stopping at a brick factory and a coconut workshop where you'll watch workers process coconuts. You'll meet a local war veteran, taste seasonal fruits, and have tea. Then it's either biking or taking a motor cart to a restaurant for lunch, where you can try 'elephant ear' fish, which is a local delicacy. After lunch, you'll board a small rowed sampan to drift through the quieter delta channels before heading back to Ho Chi Minh City.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant featuring 'elephant ear' fish, a Mekong Delta delicacy)
Included Activities
- Boat trip along Ben Tre River
- Visit to traditional brick factory
- Visit to coconut product workshop
- Meeting with local war veteran
- Sampling of seasonal fruits and tea
- Bike ride or motor cart journey through countryside
- Lunch at local restaurant - featuring 'elephant ear' fish
- Sampan journey through delta channels
Landmarks Ben Tre Mekong Delta - Day 10
Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast, you'll check out of your hotel by noon. Your last hours in Vietnam are open for you to explore more of the city, pick up any final souvenirs, or just relax and take in the local atmosphere. When departure time comes, your private driver will pick you up and take you to Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
- End point
- Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Trường Sơn, Ho Chi Minh City, 72100, Vietnam (International Terminal (T2))
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore the city on your own
- Shop for souvenirs
- Relax and soak in the local atmosphere
