Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll arrive in Hanoi and head to your hotel in the city center. After settling in, the rest of the day is yours to wander around the capital at your own pace. The city is known for its pho, and you'll find local eateries everywhere if you're hungry.
Optional Activities
- Explore local Pho eateries with guide recommendations
- Leisure exploration of Hanoi
- Day 2
Hanoi
Start with Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and stilt house, then walk through the One Pillar Pagoda and Temple of Literature. Later in the afternoon, you'll check out the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology before taking a cyclo ride through the Old Quarter past Hoan Kiem Lake. By evening, catch a traditional water puppet show.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum
- Visit Ho Chi Minh's traditional stilt house
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Temple of Literature
- Visit Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
- Cyclo tour through Old Quarter
- Pass by Hoan Kiem Lake
- Visit Ngoc Son Temple
- Cross The Huc Bridge
- Water puppet show
Landmarks Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum One Pillar Pagoda Temple of Literature Vietnam Museum of Ethnology Hoan Kiem Lake Ngoc Son Temple The Huc Bridge - Day 3
Hanoi to Pu Luong
You'll travel 4 hours to Pu Luong Nature Reserve, passing through tropical forests and terraced rice fields along the way. After lunch at the lodge, explore local ethnic Thai and Muong villages with traditional stilt houses. Later, head up to watch the sunset over the rice fields.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Travel to Pu Luong Nature Reserve
- Explore ethnic Thai and Muong villages
- View traditional stilt houses
- Sunset viewing over terraced rice fields
Landmarks Pu Luong Nature Reserve - Day 4
Pu Luong
Take a downhill hike through rice field valleys with panoramic views toward Uoi Village. Stop in Lan Village to see traditional brocade weaving and have lunch at a local home. In the afternoon, cycle to Hieu Village, swim at the waterfall, cross suspension bridges, and return to the lodge.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a local home in Lan Village)
Included Activities
- Downhill hiking through rice field valleys
- Visit Uoi Village
- Visit Lan Village for traditional brocade weaving demonstration
- Lunch at local home
- Cycling tour
- Cross suspension bridges
- Visit Hieu Village
- Swim in Hieu waterfall
Landmarks Uoi Village Lan Village Hieu Village Hieu waterfall - Day 5
Pu Luong to Hanoi
Spend a relaxing morning in Pu Luong with fresh air and views of the terraced fields. Return to Hanoi in the afternoon where you have free time to explore. Visit the Cathedral or Dong Xuan Market, find hidden alley cafes, or just soak in the lively atmosphere of the old streets.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Cathedral
- Visit Dong Xuan Market
- Explore hidden alley cafes
- Stroll through charming old streets
Landmarks Cathedral (Hanoi) Dong Xuan Market - Day 6
Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay
Your private car takes you to the port for check-in on a luxury cruise. After boarding, you'll sail through Lan Ha Bay (a UNESCO site) with lunch served onboard. Later, take a bamboo boat through Sang Cave, swim in Tra Bau's emerald waters, watch the sunset from the top deck, and join a Vietnamese cooking class before dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Traditional Vietnamese Dinner)
Included Activities
- Cruise through Lan Ha Bay
- Bamboo boat cruise through Sang Cave
- Swimming in Tra Bau
- Traditional Vietnamese cooking class
- Sunset viewing from cruise top deck
Landmarks Lan Ha Bay Sang Cave Tra Bau - Day 7
Lan Ha Bay to Hoi An
Begin with tai-chi on deck followed by breakfast. Hike through Cat Ba National Park on Cat Ba Island, a UNESCO biosphere reserve with rare species, then explore Trung Trang Cave's stalactites and stalagmites. You'll return to the cruise for panoramic bay views, then fly to Da Nang and drive to Hoi An for check-in.
- Meals
- Brunch
Included Activities
- Tai-Chi session on cruise deck
- Hiking in Cat Ba National Park
- Explore Trung Trang Cave
Landmarks Cat Ba Island Cat Ba National Park Trung Trang Cave - Day 8
Hoi An
Drive about an hour to My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO Heritage Site with 20 Cham monuments from the 2nd-13th centuries (there's an option to watch an Aspara dance performance). Return to Hoi An for a walk through the Old Town, visiting the Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese Assembly Hall, Tan Ky Ancient House, and Chinatown. Stop at a lantern-making workshop to create your own traditional lantern.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit My Son Sanctuary
- View 20 Cham monuments
- Orientation walk of Hoi An Old Town
- Visit Japanese Covered Bridge
- Visit Chinese Assembly Hall
- Visit Tan Ky Ancient House
- Visit Chinatown
- Traditional lantern-making workshop
Optional Activities
- Watch Aspara dance performance
Landmarks My Son Sanctuary Japanese Covered Bridge Chinese Assembly Hall Tan Ky Ancient House 
- Day 9
Hoi An to Da Nang and back
Start in Da Nang with a cable car ride to Ba Na Hills, which holds five world records. You'll stop at Linh Ung Pagoda, Le Jardin D'amour flower garden, and the iconic Golden Bridge, plus enjoy the amusement activities at the top. In the afternoon, visit Marble Mountains with its caves, tunnels, towers, and pagodas, then spend time at My Khe Beach before returning to Hoi An.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Ba Na Hills cable car ride
- Stop at Linh Ung Pagoda
- Visit Le Jardin D'amour flower garden
- Visit Golden Bridge
- Ba Na Hills amusement complex
- Visit Marble Mountains
- Explore Marble Mountains caves, tunnels, towers, and pagodas
- Leisure time at My Khe Beach
Landmarks Ba Na Hills Linh Ung Pagoda Le Jardin D'amour flower garden Golden Bridge Marble Mountains My Khe Beach 
- Day 10
Hoi An
Today is yours to freely explore Hoi An. Shop at ateliers for custom-made garments, swim at An Bang Beach or Cua Dai Beach, take a boat on Hoai River at night and release paper lanterns, or discover local restaurants and street food. You'll have the full day to do whatever interests you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Custom-made garment shopping at local ateliers
- Visit An Bang Beach
- Visit Cua Dai Beach
- Swimming at beaches with lifeguards
- Boat ride on Hoai River at night
- Release paper lanterns on Hoai River
- Explore Old Town
- Dining at local restaurants for Banh mi, Com ga, Mi Quang, Banh xeo, vegan, or Halal options
Landmarks An Bang Beach Cua Dai Beach Hoai River - Day 11
Hoi An to Whale Island
After breakfast, you'll fly from Hoi An to Nha Trang, then take a boat to Whale Island. Check in at Whale Island Resort, the only eco-resort on the island in Van Phong Bay. Spend the afternoon relaxing however you like, whether sunbathing, swimming, or just exploring the resort and soaking in the natural sounds.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Transfer to Whale Island
- Check-in at Whale Island Resort
Optional Activities
- Sunbathing
- Swimming
- Explore resort
Landmarks Whale Island Van Phong Bay 
- Day 12
Whale Island
This day is all about water activities. You can go scuba diving or snorkeling to see colorful and well-preserved coral reefs. In the afternoon, try beach volleyball, yoga on the sand, or relax at the beach bar with a cocktail while watching the sunset.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Scuba diving
- Snorkeling
- Beach volleyball
- Yoga on the sand
- Sunset cocktails at beach bar
Landmarks Whale Island - Day 13
Whale Island
Hike the forest trails to the highest point on Whale Island and take in panoramic views of Van Phong Bay from the summit. Afterward, spend the rest of the day at your own pace, experiencing the island's natural beauty and peaceful atmosphere.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Trek through forest ecosystem
- Hike to highest point on Whale Island
- Panoramic view of Van Phong Bay
Optional Activities
- Explore island at own pace
Landmarks Whale Island Van Phong Bay - Day 14
Whale Island to Ho Chi Minh City
Leave Whale Island and fly to Ho Chi Minh City. Transfer to your hotel in the city center and settle in. Later, explore the city at leisure and try local street food like com tam, banh xeo, and oc (snails and shellfish).
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Ho Chi Minh City at leisure
- Try local street food: Com tam, Banh xeo, Oc
- Day 15
Ho Chi Minh City
Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, a 250 km underground network from wartime. You'll explore sections that served as war shelters, kitchens, hospitals, and command centers, plus see guns and traps. In the afternoon, check out the Reunification Palace, War Remnant Museum, Central Post Office, and Notre Dame Cathedral, each showing different parts of Vietnam's cultural and historical story.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Cu Chi Tunnels
- Crawl through tunnel sections
- View guns and traps
- Visit Reunification Palace
- Visit War Remnant Museum
- Visit Central Post Office
- Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
Landmarks Cu Chi Tunnels Reunification Palace War Remnant Museum Central Post Office Notre Dame Cathedral - Day 16
Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta
Travel to Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta, known as Vietnam's coconut kingdom. Take a motorized rickshaw tour to see coconut processing where shells become charcoal and flesh becomes desserts. Later, boat ride through Chet Say Canal watching coconut transfers while sipping fresh coconut water. Visit Nhon Thanh for traditional sedge mat weaving, have lunch at a local restaurant, then cruise by sampan through coconut groves before returning to Ho Chi Minh City.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant with Mekong specialties)
Included Activities
- Motorized rickshaw tour
- Visit Phong Nam cottage industry for coconut processing
- Boat ride on Chet Say Canal
- Visit Nhon Thanh for traditional mat weaving
- Sampan boat cruise through coconut groves
- Cruise small canals of Mekong Delta
Landmarks Ben Tre Phong Nam Chet Say Canal Nhon Thanh Mekong Delta 
- Day 17
Ho Chi Minh City
Your final morning is free with no scheduled activities. When you're ready, transfer to the airport for your departing flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
