Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Hanoi
Your driver meets you at Noi Bai Airport and takes you to your hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter. The location puts you right in the middle of everything, so you can walk around and check out colonial buildings, try street food, see Hoan Kiem Lake, and visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum whenever you feel like it.
Optional Activities
- Explore Old Quarter on foot
- Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- Visit Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword)
- Explore French Quarter colonial architecture
- Sample street food
Landmarks/POIs Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Hoan Kiem Lake - Day 2
Hanoi Full-Day City Tour
A guided tour takes you through Hanoi's history and culture. You'll see the Tran Quoc Pagoda on Golden Fish Island, then head to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and One Pillar Pagoda. Next comes the Temple of Literature, which was Vietnam's first university, followed by Hoa Lo Prison. Between stops you'll grab traditional Vietnamese lunch at a local spot. The whole group returns to the hotel after the day wraps up.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda
- Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- Photo opportunity at One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Temple of Literature
- Learn about Hoa Lo Prison history
- Guided city tour with English-speaking guide
Landmarks/POIs Tran Quoc Pagoda Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum One Pillar Pagoda Temple of Literature Hoa Lo Prison - Day 3
Halong Bay Cruise
A pickup takes you to Tuan Chau Marina for a boutique cruise. After a welcome drink and safety briefing, you sail through Con Vit Islets and have fresh seafood for lunch. During the afternoon you cruise around Lan Ha Bay's limestone karsts, then around 4:00 pm head to Ong Cam Area for kayaking and swimming. Back on the cruise, there's a cooking demonstration for making spring rolls, followed by a Sunset Party with local wine and fresh fruit. Dinner happens onboard and you sleep in your cabin.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Fresh seafood and Vietnamese specialties), Dinner (Delicious dinner at the onboard restaurant)
Included Activities
- Cruise through Con Vit Islets
- Scenic cruise through Lan Ha Bay
- Kayaking and swimming at Ong Cam Area
- Spring roll cooking demonstration
- Sunset Party on sundeck
Optional Activities
- Onboard fishing
- Movie screening
- Bar socializing
- Wi-Fi access
- Games
Landmarks/POIs Lan Ha Bay Ong Cam Area - Day 4
Halong Bay to Danang
Early morning brings coffee and tea at 6:30 am, then at 7:00 am you take a traditional rowing boat to Dark and Bright Cave to explore this hidden Halong Bay spot. Back on the cruise you check out, have lunch while sailing to Tuan Chau Marina, then take a shuttle back to your Hanoi hotel around 3:00 to 3:30 pm. Later you transfer to Noi Bai Airport for your flight to Danang.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Light breakfast of coffee and tea at 6:30 am), Lunch
Included Activities
- Watch sunrise over Halong Bay
- Explore Dark & Bright Cave by traditional rowing boat
- Visit surrounding islets
Landmarks/POIs Dark & Bright Cave - Day 5
Danang to Hue
The bus heads from Danang toward Hue Imperial City, stopping at Hai Van Tunnel on National Route 1A, which marks the border between provinces. After that you visit Lang Co Beach, a 10 km stretch of white sand and turquoise water. Next is Khai Dinh Tomb, which mixes Western and Eastern architecture. Lunch happens at a local restaurant. Then you see the Hue Citadel complex, over 500 hectares including the Forbidden City where the Nguyen Dynasty ran things. The Thien Mu Pagoda on the Perfume River is your last stop before heading back to Danang.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Delightful lunch at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Stop at Hai Van Tunnel
- Visit Lang Co Beach
- Learn about Khai Dinh Tomb
- Visit Hue Citadel and Forbidden City
- Visit Thien Mu Pagoda
- Boat trip on Perfume River
Landmarks/POIs Hai Van Tunnel Lang Co Beach Khai Dinh Tomb Hue Citadel Thien Mu Pagoda Perfume River - Day 6
Danang to Hoi An
Your morning is free to explore Danang on your own, so you might check out Da Nang Beach, Marble Mountain, or Lady Buddha. The markets at Han or Con are options too. Around noon you check out and head to Hoi An. Once there, you can walk the old streets and see Chinese, Japanese, French, and European architecture blended together. The 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the Chinese-style Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall are worth seeing. You stay overnight in Hoi An.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Da Nang Beach
- Visit Marble Mountain
- Visit Lady Buddha
- Shop at Han Market
- Shop at Con Market
- Explore Hoi An Old Town
- Visit Japanese Covered Bridge
- Visit Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall
Landmarks/POIs Da Nang Beach Marble Mountain Lady Buddha Japanese Covered Bridge Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall - Day 7
Hoi An Cooking Class and Cam Thanh Village
After a hotel pickup, you stop at a local market to learn bargaining and grab fresh ingredients for cooking class. Then you travel to Cam Thanh village surrounded by coconut palms. A traditional coracle boat ride along the Thu Bon River is relaxing, and while you're there you watch a local artist and learn palm leaf souvenir crafting. Back at cooking class, you prepare several dishes under the chef's guidance: fried spring rolls, crispy rice pancakes, papaya salad with chicken, and Cao Lau noodles. A car brings you back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Feast prepared during cooking class: fried spring rolls, crispy rice pancakes, papaya salad with chicken, and Cao Lau noodles)
Included Activities
- Local market visit with bargaining tutorial
- Traditional coracle boat ride on Thu Bon River
- Local artist performance
- Palm leaf souvenir crafting
- Cooking class with chef
- Prepare fried spring rolls, rice pancakes, papaya salad with chicken, and Cao Lau noodles
Landmarks/POIs Cam Thanh Village Thu Bon River - Day 8
Free Day in Hoi An
After 3 days in Hoi An, this day is yours. You can lounge on An Bang Beach, sit at a quiet café with Vietnamese coffee, or get custom clothing made by local tailors. The tailoring here is fast and cheap, with custom outfits ready in just a few hours. You can visit tailors in person or order online, and the prices are often lower than other countries. Many tourists leave with made-in-Hoi-An clothing and international publications have recognized the quality.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Relax on An Bang Beach
- Drink Vietnamese coffee at a café
- Custom tailoring service
- Explore Hoi An Old Town
Landmarks/POIs An Bang Beach - Day 9
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
Your driver takes you to Da Nang Airport in the morning for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. When you land at Tan Son Nhat Airport, a representative meets you and arranges a private car to your hotel in the city center. After checking in, you can explore and hit famous spots like Notre Dame Cathedral next to the Central Post Office, the Reunification Palace, and the War Remnants Museum.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
- Visit historic Central Post Office
- Visit Reunification Palace
- Visit War Remnants Museum
Landmarks/POIs Notre Dame Cathedral Central Post Office Reunification Palace War Remnants Museum - Day 10
Mekong Delta My Tho and Ben Tre
After breakfast your guide and driver pick you up for the Mekong Delta trip. You drive 2 hours to My Tho and Ben Tre, then take a motorboat along the Mekong River watching fish cages and floating houses. Next you switch to a small hand-rowing boat through creeks with coconut trees overhead. At a coconut island you learn candy-making and try some. Unicorn Island comes next by motor car, with traditional Vietnamese music and tropical fruit tastings. A bee-keeping farm is another stop for honey tea. Lunch happens under tree shade, then you explore the village or bike around before traveling to Can Tho. You check in and have free time.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch under the shade of trees)
Included Activities
- Motorboat trip along Mekong River
- Hand-rowing boat through coconut creek
- Visit coconut island
- Learn coconut candy-making
- Sample coconut candies
- Visit Unicorn Island
- Vietnamese traditional music performance
- Tropical fruit tasting
- Visit bee-keeping farm
- Honey tea tasting
Optional Activities
- Walk around the village
- Bike around the village
Landmarks/POIs Mekong River My Tho Unicorn Island - Day 11
Can Tho Floating Market to Ho Chi Minh City
After an early breakfast and checkout, you take a motorboat to Cai Rang Floating Market, the largest and most colorful in the Mekong Delta. Once you're done exploring, you walk through the village and see a rice noodles-making shop. The Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery is next. A tasty lunch comes before the ride back to Ho Chi Minh City.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Tasty lunch)
Included Activities
- Motorboat trip to Cai Rang Floating Market
- Explore Cai Rang Floating Market
- Visit village
- Visit rice noodles-making shop
- Visit Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery
Landmarks/POIs Cai Rang Floating Market Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery - Day 12
Departure from Ho Chi Minh City
Your last day starts with breakfast. You can shop at Ben Thanh Market or just rest and get ready to leave. Your driver arranges your transfer to the airport for your flight home or to your next destination.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Shop at Ben Thanh Market
Landmarks/POIs Ben Thanh Market
