Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Hanoi
A private driver picks you up from Noi Bai Airport and takes you to your hotel in central Hanoi. After checking in, the rest of the day is yours to do as you like. You could relax at the hotel, walk around the neighborhood, or head out to explore Hoan Kiem Lake and try some of Hanoi's food scene in the evening.
Optional Activities
- Stroll around Hanoi neighborhood
- Explore Hoan Kiem Lake
- Experience Hanoi's culinary scene
Landmarks/POIs Hoan Kiem Lake Noi Bai Airport - Day 2
Hanoi City Highlights
Your guide meets you at 8:00 AM to explore Hanoi's cultural sites. You'll see Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Uncle Ho's house on stilts, then move on to the One Pillar Pagoda and Temple of Literature. After lunch, check out the Museum of Ethnology and take a cyclo ride through the Old Quarter. By evening, you're at Hoan Kiem Lake visiting Ngoc Son Temple before catching a traditional water puppet show.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- Visit Uncle Ho's house on stilts
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Temple of Literature
- Visit Museum of Ethnology
- Cyclo ride through Old Quarter
- Visit Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple
- Traditional water puppet show
Landmarks/POIs Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum One Pillar Pagoda Temple of Literature Museum of Ethnology Hanoi Old Quarter Hoan Kiem Lake Ngoc Son Temple - Day 3
Bac Son Valley & Hill Tribe Village
Leaving at 8:00 AM from your hotel, you drive through scenic national road 1B heading to Bac Son valley. A local host family welcomes you into their stilt house for lunch. The afternoon takes you through an ethnic Tay village, and then you hike Na Lay Mountain for panoramic views of the area. That night you stay in a village home and have dinner with traditional cuisine.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local flavors at hill tribe stilt house with host family), Dinner (Traditional cuisine at home stay)
Included Activities
- Drive through scenic Bac Son valley
- Lunch at hill tribe stilt house with host family
- Walk through ethnic Tay village
- Hike Na Lay Mountain
- Home stay experience in village
Landmarks/POIs Bac Son Valley Na Lay Mountain - Day 4
Lang Son Trekking
You start with homemade breakfast at the home stay. Depending on the season, you'll either trek through Dong Lam Steppe or take a bamboo raft ride if it's July through September when water levels are high. After lunch, tackle a longer afternoon trek through valleys surrounded by limestone mountains, seeing fruit swidden fields and rice paddies. This trek runs about 3 hours, and then you return to stay another night at the home stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Homemade breakfast at home stay), Lunch
Included Activities
- Trek through Dong Lam Steppe
- Afternoon trek through limestone mountain valleys
- Views of fruit swidden fields and rice paddies
Optional Activities
- Bamboo raft ride (available during flooded season July-September)
Landmarks/POIs Dong Lam Steppe - Day 5
Tuan Chau Island & Halong Bay Cruise
After breakfast, you drive to Tuan Chau Island and Halong City before boarding a luxury cruise ship. Lunch happens on board while you cruise through limestone karsts and clear waters. A guide takes you through a fascinating cave, and then the afternoon is yours to swim, kayak, or relax on the sun deck. Dinner's on the boat as the sun sets, and you sleep on the cruise ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Served on board cruise ship), Dinner (Served on board cruise ship with sunset views of Halong Bay)
Included Activities
- Halong Bay cruise through limestone karsts
- Cave visit with guided tour
- Overnight stay on cruise ship
Optional Activities
- Swimming in Halong Bay
- Kayaking in Halong Bay
- Relaxing on sun deck
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay Tuan Chau Island - Day 6
Halong Bay to Hue
Wake early to watch the sunrise over Halong Bay. You'll do Tai Chi on the sundeck, then eat a hearty breakfast. The cruise continues exploring different areas of the bay to find hidden spots. Brunch comes on board as you head back to the pier. After disembarking and transferring back to Hanoi, you fly to Hue and check into your hotel there.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hearty breakfast on board), Brunch (Served on board as cruise returns to pier)
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing over Halong Bay
- Tai Chi session on sundeck
- Halong Bay exploration
- Cruise return to pier
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay - Day 7
Hue Imperial Capital
Your guide and driver pick you up to explore Hue, the former Imperial capital. You cruise the Perfume River visiting Thien Mu Pagoda and other religious sites. Then comes the Imperial Citadel where you'll see the Flag Tower, Noon Gate, 9 Dynastic Urns, Thai Hoa Palace, and the Forbidden Purple City. After lunch, you visit Khai Dinh King's Tomb and Tu Duc's Tomb. The day ends at a conical hat village and an incense stick-making village to see local craftsmanship up close.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Perfume River scenic cruise
- Visit Thien Mu Pagoda
- Explore Imperial Citadel
- View Flag Tower, Noon Gate, 9 Dynastic Urns, and 9 Holy Cannons
- Visit Thai Hoa Palace
- Explore Forbidden Purple City
- Visit Khai Dinh King's Tomb
- Visit Tu Duc's Tomb
- Visit conical hat village
- Visit incense stick-making village
Landmarks/POIs Perfume River Thien Mu Pagoda Imperial Citadel of Hue Khai Dinh King's Tomb Tu Duc's Tomb - Day 8
Hai Van Pass to Hoi An via Bana Hills
Starting at 8:00 AM, you head to Hoi An traveling through the Hai Van Pass with coastal views and mountain scenery. You reach Bana Hills around 10:00 AM and take the cable car up to this hill resort. The day includes exploring Fantasy Park, French Village, walking the Golden Bridge, and visiting Linh Ung Pagoda. Around 4:00 PM you leave for Hoi An, check into your hotel, and spend the evening wandering the charming streets.
Included Activities
- Traverse Hai Van Pass
- Cable car ride at Bana Hills
- Fantasy Park visit
- French Village visit
- Golden Bridge walk
- Visit Linh Ung Pagoda
Landmarks/POIs Hai Van Pass Bana Hills Golden Bridge Linh Ung Pagoda Fantasy Park French Village - Day 9
Hoi An Ancient Town & Lantern-Making
At 8:00 AM your local guide takes you through this well-preserved trading port. You'll discover historic buildings like the ancient Cam Pho communal house, the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge, the authentic Quan Thang ancient house, and the vibrant Fujian Assembly Hall. The central market shows you local life and food. Then you learn traditional lantern-making from craftsmen and make your own lantern to take home. The rest of the day is free for more exploring or relaxing at your hotel.
Included Activities
- Explore historic buildings of Hoi An
- Visit Cam Pho communal house
- Visit Japanese Covered Bridge
- Visit Quan Thang ancient house
- Visit Fujian Assembly Hall
- Visit central market
- Traditional lantern-making workshop
Landmarks/POIs Japanese Covered Bridge Cam Pho Communal House Quan Thang Ancient House Fujian Assembly Hall Hoi An Central Market - Day 10
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
The morning in Hoi An is relaxed, giving you time to shop at the ancient town or relax on Cua Dai beach. Around noon you check out and head to the airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. The team meets you at Tan Son Nhat airport and transfers you to your hotel. The rest of the day is open for exploring the city, resting at your hotel, or taking an optional motorbike tour in the evening.
Optional Activities
- Shopping at ancient town
- Relax at Cua Dai beach
- Optional evening motorbike tour
Landmarks/POIs Cua Dai Beach Tan Son Nhat Airport - Day 11
Cu Chi Tunnels & Ho Chi Minh City
Early in the morning you head to Cu Chi Tunnels, about 70 km from Ho Chi Minh City. You explore these historic tunnels used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War and learn their significance. After returning for lunch, the afternoon takes you to Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Central Post Office, War Remnants Museum, and Reunification Palace. The day ends at the top of Bitexco Tower for a sunset view over the city.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Cu Chi Tunnels
- Explore tunnel history and Viet Cong wartime use
- Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
- Visit Saigon Central Post Office
- Visit War Remnants Museum
- Visit Reunification Palace
- Sunset view from Bitexco Tower
Landmarks/POIs Cu Chi Tunnels Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon Central Post Office War Remnants Museum Reunification Palace Bitexco Tower - Day 12
Mekong Delta: Ben Tre & Can Tho
You leave Ho Chi Minh City heading to the Mekong Delta, driving 2 hours through scenic rural countryside to Ben Tre. This area is known for coconut groves, and you'll take a motorboat along narrow canals watching locals make traditional handicrafts like bricks and coconut candies. Then you ride a motor cart or cycle through coconut forests, rice fields, and vegetable gardens. After lunch, relax on a sampan boat along a small canal lined with nipa palm trees before arriving in Can Tho late afternoon for overnight.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Drive through rural Vietnamese countryside
- Motorboat ride along narrow canals
- Observe traditional handicraft production (bricks, coconut candies)
- Motor cart or cycling tour through coconut forests and rice fields
- Sampan boat ride along nipa palm-lined canal
Landmarks/POIs Ben Tre Mekong Delta Can Tho - Day 13
Cai Rang Floating Market & Mekong Delta
Starting at 6:30 AM, you take a boat to Cai Rang floating market. While it's quieter than it used to be, it's still a unique experience. After exploring the market, you cruise to Phong Dien and walk on quiet country roads to observe local life. By van you travel to Vinh Long to visit the ancient Phu Ly Pagoda, built in 1672, with its Indian, Thai, and Cambodian architecture. The route takes you through scenic rice fields of Ben Luc before you return to Ho Chi Minh City late afternoon. The rest of the day is yours.
Included Activities
- Cai Rang floating market visit
- Cruise to Phong Dien
- Walk on quiet country road
- Visit Phu Ly Pagoda
- Scenic drive through Ben Luc rice fields
Landmarks/POIs Cai Rang Floating Market Phong Dien Phu Ly Pagoda Ben Luc Vinh Long - Day 14
Departure from Ho Chi Minh City
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and take time to reflect on your Vietnam journey. You'll have time for last-minute shopping if you want before your private transfer to the airport. Whether you're heading home or to your next destination, you depart Vietnam with memories of the country.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Last-minute shopping
Landmarks/POIs Tan Son Nhat Airport
