Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll arrive in Hanoi and get transferred from the airport to your hotel. After settling in, you have the afternoon and early evening to walk around the city on your own. The streets here have shaded tree-lined avenues, scenic lakes, and ancient pagodas that are fairly easy to navigate. At 5pm there's a welcome meeting at the hotel to get oriented.
Optional Activities
- Explore Hanoi's tree-lined avenues, lakes, and ancient pagodas on foot
Landmarks Hanoi Old Quarter 
- Day 2
Hanoi to Halong Bay
This morning you head to Halong Bay and board a traditional junk boat for an overnight cruise through the waters with karst islands all around you. Lunch happens on deck with views of the landscape. You'll visit Trinh Nu Cave to see the rock formations inside. Optional activities include kayaking and swimming if you're interested. Later in the evening there's a cooking demonstration on the sundeck followed by a seafood dinner. Weather and the cruise operator may change some details.
- Meals
- Lunch (Tasty lunch onboard junk boat), Dinner (Sumptuous seafood dinner)
Included Activities
- Traditional junk boat overnight cruise in Halong Bay
- Visit Trinh Nu Cave
- Vietnamese cooking demonstration on sundeck
- Optional kayaking
- Optional swimming
Landmarks Halong Bay Trinh Nu Cave 
- Day 3
Halong Bay to Hanoi to Hue
Early risers can do a Tai Chi class or get a traditional massage on the sundeck before the boat heads back. You'll explore Sung Sot Cave with its two main chambers. After that, you transfer back to Hanoi, arriving mid-afternoon. Take a cyclo ride through the French Quarter to see the Opera House and Ly Thai To Park, then walk through the old quarter's historic streets. Tonight you board the Reunification Express sleeper train to Hue (4 berth basic cabin), or you can fly instead.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Grotto)
- Cyclo (rickshaw) ride around Hanoi's French Quarter
- Walk through the '36 streets of the old quarter'
- Overnight sleeper train Hanoi to Hue (4 berth basic cabin)
Optional Activities
- Early morning Tai Chi class on sundeck
- Traditional massage
- Flight from Hanoi to Hue (available for additional cost)
Landmarks Sung Sot Cave Hanoi Opera House Ly Thai To Park Hanoi Old Quarter - 36 Streets 
- Day 4
Hue
Someone meets you off the train and transfers you to your hotel. Then you join a guided tour of Hue, the old Nguyen empire capital from the 1800s. You'll see Thien Mu Pagoda, the city's oldest monastery, and the citadel with its ramparts, formal moats, and imperial palaces. Later you head to the countryside to visit the Royal Tombs of the Nguyen kings, including Emperor Tu Duc's elaborate mausoleum. At sunset there's an optional boat cruise along the Perfume River.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Hue
- Visit Thien Mu Pagoda
- Explore the Citadel
- Visit Imperial Purple Palace
- Visit Royal Tombs of the Nguyen kings
- View mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc
Optional Activities
- Sunset long boat cruise along the Perfume River
Landmarks Thien Mu Pagoda Hue Citadel Imperial Purple Palace Royal Tombs of the Nguyen Kings Mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc Perfume River - Day 5
Hue to Hoi An
This morning you transfer to Hoi An by driving over the scenic Hai Van Pass, also called the Road of the Ocean Clouds, which has views of beaches and hills below. You'll stop at China Beach for a walk and optional swim. From there you continue south to Hoi An and have the rest of the day free. This old trading port has cobbled streets, traditional homes, and small shop houses. There are boutique restaurants, cafes along the waterfront, and craft shops. An optional street eats experience is available if you book ahead.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Scenic transfer via Hai Van Pass (Road of the Ocean Clouds)
- Stop at China Beach
Optional Activities
- Stroll along China Beach
- Swimming at China Beach
- Hoi An Street Eats add-on - Vespa tour with local food exploration (book early, limited numbers)
Landmarks Hai Van Pass China Beach Hoi An Old Town 
- Day 6
Hoi An
Meet a local guide for a bike ride through the countryside to Tra Que village (non-cyclists can use other transportation at no extra charge). You'll learn about traditional farming practices and medicine. Put on a conical hat and help work in the fields and gardens. Watch a cooking demonstration and help prepare lunch. After eating, you cycle back to Hoi An. This afternoon there's a walking tour covering highlights like Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year-old Tam Ky house, and the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch prepared during cooking demonstration)
Included Activities
- Leisurely bike ride to Tra Que village
- Learn about traditional farming practices and traditional medicine
- Hands-on field and garden work
- Cooking demonstration
- Lunch preparation and meal
- Walking tour of Hoi An highlights
- Visit Chua Ong Pagoda
- Visit Chinese Assembly Hall
- Visit Tam Ky house
- Visit Japanese Covered Bridge
Optional Activities
- Alternative transportation to Tra Que village at no extra cost for non-cyclists
Landmarks Tra Que Village Chua Ong Pagoda Chinese Assembly Hall Tam Ky House Japanese Covered Bridge 
- Day 7
Hoi An
Today is free time in Hoi An. You can relax with a rowboat journey on the river, spend time at the beach, or stay at the hotel pool. If you want to do more, optional excursions include visiting the My Son sanctuary or Ba Na Hills mountain resort where you can ride a long cable car and walk the Golden Bridge.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Rowboat journey along the river
- Beach day
- Excursion to UNESCO-listed My Son sanctuary
- Day trip to Ba Na Hills mountain resort with second longest cable car ride and Golden Bridge walk
Landmarks My Son Sanctuary Ba Na Hills Golden Bridge - Day 8
Mekong Delta
Early morning transfer to Danang Airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Once you arrive, a local guide takes you to the Mekong Delta, the rice-growing region of Vietnam. You'll take a sampan through the waterways and see daily river life with trading boats, houseboats, and swimmers. You'll visit places making popcorn, coco candies, and paper. Lunch is at a traditional wooden home on Dong Hoa Hiep Island.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at traditional wooden home on Dong Hoa Hiep Island)
Included Activities
- Flight from Danang to Ho Chi Minh City
- Sampan cruise through Mekong Delta waterways
- Visit local cottage industries
- Lunch at traditional wooden home on Dong Hoa Hiep Island
Landmarks Mekong Delta Cai Be Dong Hoa Hiep Island 
- Day 9
Mekong Delta to Ho Chi Minh City
Early this morning you visit the Cai Rang floating market, then drive back to Ho Chi Minh City. The city, once called the Pearl of the Orient, is now a busy metropolis with modern buildings, restaurants, and shops mixed with old pagodas, colonial sites, and street markets. On a walking tour you'll see Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Post Office, then visit the War Remnants Museum.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Cai Rang floating market
- Walking tour of Ho Chi Minh City
- Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
- Visit Old Post Office
- Visit War Remnants Museum
Landmarks Cai Rang Floating Market Notre Dame Cathedral Old Post Office War Remnants Museum - Day 10
Ho Chi Minh City
Today your Vietnam tour ends. There's an included transfer to the airport for your flight home.
