Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Hanoi
A car picks you up from Noi Bai International Airport and takes you to your hotel for check-in. After that, the day is open for you to do whatever you want. Walk through the Old Quarter's narrow streets where vendors line the sidewalks, try some local street food, or just relax at your hotel after traveling. Hanoi's got a really energetic feel to it, so there's plenty to take in even if you're not doing anything formal.
Optional Activities
- Explore the Old Quarter
- Local street food exploration
- Day 2
Ninh Binh Day Trip
Following breakfast, you'll travel south to Ninh Binh province by limousine bus for just over 2.5 hours, with a short stop along the way. First up is Hoa Lu, the ancient capital, where you can learn some Vietnamese history. Then there's a buffet lunch with local dishes and vegetarian choices. In the afternoon, you head to Trang An, a UNESCO site with caves that were used in Kong: Skull Island filming. You'll take a 2-hour boat trip and do a short cycling tour around the area before heading back to Hanoi by late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Buffet lunch featuring local cuisine including vegetarian options)
Included Activities
- Visit Hoa Lu ancient capital
- Boat trip through Trang An cave system (2 hours)
- Cycling trip around village
- Entrance fee to Trang An
Landmarks/POIs Hoa Lu Trang An - Day 3
Halong Bay Overnight Cruise (Part 1)
After breakfast, you're picked up and driven to Tuan Chau Marina for noon check-in. Lunch happens while sailing through emerald water with limestone karst mountains all around. You can either kayak for an hour around a former floating village or swim. Later, there's an optional cooking class where the chef shows you how to make Vietnamese spring rolls. As evening comes, join the sunset party on the upper deck with other passengers, listen to music, and watch the Halong Bay scenery before dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Tasty lunch served while cruising through emerald waters), Dinner
Included Activities
- Kayaking around former floating village (1 hour)
- Cooking class demonstration - Vietnamese spring rolls
- Sunset party on upper deck
- Swimming
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay Tuan Chau Marina - Day 4
Halong Bay Cruise (Part 2) to Ho Chi Minh City
Wake early to photograph the sunrise or join a tai chi session on the upper deck. Then you'll explore Sung Sot cave, which is one of Halong Bay's major attractions, and continue sailing past various islands to see Rising Dragon Bay. Before checking out, lunch is served. After that, you drive back to Hanoi in the afternoon, transfer to the airport, and catch a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. You'll stay overnight there.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Sunrise photography or Tai chi demonstration
- Explore Sung Sot cave
- Sailing through islands and islets of Halong Bay
- Entrance fee to cave
Landmarks/POIs Sung Sot Cave - Day 5
Mekong Delta My Tho
Head into the Mekong Delta to check out My Tho, the main city in the region. Start at Vinh Trang Pagoda, which has intricate mosaics made from broken pottery and a large white Buddha surrounded by peaceful gardens. Take a scenic boat ride along the Mekong River to see traditional stilted houses, fruit plantations, and fishing villages. After lunch, visit An Khanh village, known for its fruit orchards and coconut sweets. You'll taste seasonal fruits, honey tea, and coconut candies while local artists perform Southern Vietnamese folk music.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
- Boat trip along Mekong River
- Visit An Khanh village
- Tasting of seasonal fruits, honey tea, and coconut candies
- Traditional folk music performance
Landmarks/POIs Vinh Trang Pagoda Mekong River An Khanh Village - Day 6
Cu Chi Tunnels
Visit the Cu Chi tunnels, an extensive underground network that was used by Vietnamese guerrilla fighters attacking Saigon during the war. Learn how the tunnel system stretched toward Cambodia and how fighters used it for guerrilla warfare. The drive there and back takes over an hour each way, passing green paddy fields, local farmers, and water buffaloes. You'll spend a couple of hours in the tunnel maze going through trap doors, storage areas, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers, and kitchens. Try cassava, which was a main food source during the war.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Entrance fee to Cu Chi Tunnels
- Guided tunnel exploration
- Tasting of cassava
Landmarks/POIs Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 7
Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap
After breakfast and checking out, you're driven to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your flight to Siem Reap. When you land at Siem Reap Airport, a local driver takes you to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Siem Reap on your own schedule.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Siem Reap
- Day 8
Angkor Temples Full-Day Exploration
Starting early after breakfast, you'll spend a full day exploring the Angkor Temples. Begin at Angkor Thom's South Gate with its four stone faces of Avalokiteshvara. From there, see Bayon temple, the Elephant Terrace, and the Terrace of the Leper King. Head north to Preah Khan, a sprawling 12th-century temple complex built by Jayavarman VII and called the 'Sacred Sword.' After lunch with traditional Khmer cuisine, visit Ta Prohm temple where tree roots have grown into the ancient stones. Finish at Angkor Wat, the largest temple complex in the world, which started as a Hindu shrine and later became a Buddhist temple.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional Khmer cuisine)
Included Activities
- South Gate of Angkor Thom
- Bayon temple
- Elephant Terrace
- Terrace of the Leper King
- Preah Khan temple
- Ta Prohm temple
- Angkor Wat
- Entrance fee to temples
Landmarks/POIs South Gate of Angkor Thom Bayon Temple Elephant Terrace Terrace of the Leper King Preah Khan Ta Prohm Angkor Wat - Day 9
Siem Reap Free Day
This day is free time for shopping at the local market or heading out to Chong Khneas, a floating village on Tonle Sap Lake, one of Asia's largest and most distinctive lakes. You can arrange this on your own or ask your hotel for help organizing transportation.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Shop at local market
- Visit floating village of Chong Khneas
Landmarks/POIs Chong Khneas Floating Village Tonle Sap Lake - Day 10
Departure from Siem Reap
After hotel breakfast, take a short walk through a quiet Siem Reap neighborhood to see how local life works, or hop in a tuk tuk to Tonle Sap Lake for a boat cruise through the floating villages. Return to Siem Reap for lunch, then drive to the airport for your departure flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Walk through Siem Reap neighborhood
- Tuk tuk ride to Tonle Sap Lake
- Boat cruise through floating villages
Landmarks/POIs Tonle Sap Lake
