Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll arrive in Hanoi and get settled into your hotel in the city center with your guide and driver. The rest of the day is open for you to explore on your own pace. Your guide can point you toward some good local Vietnamese restaurants if you want recommendations for dinner.
Optional Activities
- Explore Hanoi at leisure
- Dine at a Vietnamese restaurant recommended by guide (Michelin Guide listed)
- Day 2
Hanoi
Spend the morning checking out Hanoi on your own. Your guide meets you at the hotel in the afternoon to start a tour at Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake, then heads to the Temple of Literature and Hoan Kiem Lake. You'll walk through Dong Xuan Market and try local specialties like Bun Cha, Banh Cuon, and Banh Mi. The day finishes with Egg Coffee at a hidden cafe or local beer before you head back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Local Hanoi specialties including Bun Cha (grilled pork with vermicelli), Banh Cuon (steamed rice rolls), Banh Mi, and Che (sweet soup))
Included Activities
- Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda
- Explore Temple of Literature
- Visit Hoan Kiem Lake
- Walking tour to Dong Xuan Market
- Local food tasting: Bun Cha, Banh Cuon, Banh Mi, and Che
- Egg Coffee or local beer experience at a hidden café
Optional Activities
- Self-guided exploration of Hanoi in the morning
Landmarks Tran Quoc Pagoda Temple of Literature Hoan Kiem Lake Dong Xuan Market - Day 3
Hanoi to Ha Long Bay
Leave Hanoi behind as you travel by private car to the port and board a cruise into Ha Long Bay. Lunch comes while you cruise past limestone formations and hidden coves. In the afternoon, explore Sung Sot Cave with its stalactites and stalagmites, then visit Titov Island where you can swim or hike for views. Back on the cruise, you'll catch the sunset from the top deck, take part in a traditional cooking class, and stay aboard overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch while cruising Ha Long Bay), Dinner (Dinner aboard cruise)
Included Activities
- Cruise in Ha Long Bay
- Visit Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave)
- Visit Titov Island
- Swimming in Ha Long Bay
- Hiking to top of Titov Island for panoramic views
- Traditional Vietnamese cooking class
- Sunset viewing from cruise top deck
Landmarks Ha Long Bay Sung Sot Cave Titov Island 
- Day 4
Ha Long Bay to Hoi An
Start your morning with Tai-Chi on deck followed by breakfast. A traditional bamboo boat takes you to Luon Cave with a local boatman. Brunch is back aboard while the cruise heads toward shore and you take in the bay views. From there, transfer to Hanoi airport for your flight to Da Nang, then drive to Hoi An. You'll settle into your hotel and have the evening to explore on your own.
- Meals
- Brunch (Brunch aboard cruise)
Included Activities
- Tai-Chi session on deck
- Guided tour to Luon Cave by traditional bamboo boat with local boatman
Optional Activities
- Self-guided exploration of Hoi An
Landmarks Luon Cave 
- Day 5
Hoi An
Head to Bay Mau Coconut Forest and glide through the Hoi An riverside on a basket boat. You can try boat dancing or shop for handicrafts made from coconut leaves. A visit to a local home includes a foot massage and you'll help prepare a traditional lunch. After that, explore Hoi An Ancient Town's streets, check out the market, the Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky Ancient House, and Chinese Assembly Halls. You'll have free time later to wander the alleys and explore on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional lunch prepared with local family)
Included Activities
- Basket boat ride through Hoi An riverside at Bay Mau Coconut Forest
- Boat dancing (optional activity during basket boat ride)
- Shopping for coconut leaf handicrafts
- Foot massage at local home
- Traditional lunch preparation with local family
- Explore Hoi An Ancient Town historic streets
- Visit Hoi An Market
- Visit Japanese Covered Bridge
- Visit Tan Ky Ancient House
- Visit Chinese Assembly Halls
Optional Activities
- Self-guided exploration of Hoi An in late afternoon/evening
Landmarks Bay Mau Coconut Forest Hoi An Ancient Town Hoi An Market Japanese Covered Bridge Tan Ky Ancient House Chinese Assembly Halls 
- Day 6
Hoi An to Hue
Start at Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village where artisans work with over 300 years of tradition. Visit the Marble Mountains with their caves, tunnels, towers, and pagodas. The Museum of Cham Sculpture comes next, showing the world's largest collection of Cham ethnic artifacts from the 5th to 15th centuries. In the afternoon, head to Son Tra Peninsula for views and visit Linh Ung Pagoda. Drive along the scenic Hai Van Pass with ocean vistas to reach Hue, check in, and have free time.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village
- Visit Marble Mountains
- Visit Museum of Cham Sculpture
- Visit Son Tra Peninsula
- Visit Linh Ung Pagoda
- Drive along Hai Van Pass
Landmarks Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village Marble Mountains Museum of Cham Sculpture Son Tra Peninsula Linh Ung Pagoda Hai Van Pass - Day 7
Hue
Begin at the Imperial Citadel, the former seat of the Nguyen Dynasty, exploring its history and architecture. Then visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of Vietnam's well-known landmarks. A boat ride takes you to Thuy Bieu Village for a bike tour through countryside, visiting local artisans working with paper painting and joss paper. You'll learn about traditions and have a cooking class with lunch at a local garden house. In the afternoon, see Tu Duc Tomb, a royal tomb from the Nguyen Dynasty. Stop at Dong Ba Market to experience local life, then return to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local garden house following cooking class)
Included Activities
- Visit Imperial Citadel
- Visit Thien Mu Pagoda
- Boat ride to Thuy Bieu Village
- Bike tour through Thuy Bieu Village countryside
- Visit local artisans specializing in paper painting and joss paper making
- Traditional cooking class and lunch at local garden house
- Visit Tu Duc Tomb
- Explore Dong Ba Market
Optional Activities
- Self-guided exploration in late afternoon
Landmarks Imperial Citadel Thien Mu Pagoda Thuy Bieu Village Tu Duc Tomb Dong Ba Market - Day 8
Hue to Ho Chi Minh City
Transfer to Hue Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. When you arrive, meet your guide and head to the city center. In the afternoon, check out iconic spots including the Reunification Palace and War Remnants Museum which documents Vietnam's history from 1955 to 1975. Visit the Central Post Office with its colonial French architecture. The rest of the day is open for you to explore Ho Chi Minh City on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Reunification Palace
- Visit War Remnants Museum
- Visit Central Post Office
Optional Activities
- Self-guided exploration of Ho Chi Minh City
Landmarks Reunification Palace War Remnants Museum Central Post Office 
- Day 9
Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta
Travel out to Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta, known as Vietnam's coconut kingdom. A motorized rickshaw takes you through the area where locals have lived off coconut for generations. At Phong Nam you'll see how coconut shells become charcoal and coconut flesh becomes desserts. Stop at Nhon Thanh, known for traditional sedge mat weaving, and try making a mat with a craftsman. Lunch at a local restaurant features Mekong specialties. In the afternoon, take a sampan boat through coconut groves along small canals, visit a local market, then return to Ho Chi Minh City.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant with Mekong Delta specialties)
Included Activities
- Motorized rickshaw ride in Ben Tre
- Visit Phong Nam cottage industry
- Visit Nhon Thanh for mat weaving experience
- Traditional mat making with local craftsman
- Sampan boat ride through coconut groves and canals
- Visit local market
Landmarks Ben Tre Mekong Delta - Day 10
Ho Chi Minh City
Your trip across Vietnam ends here. After breakfast, the morning is free with no scheduled activities. When you're ready, your driver will take you to the airport for your departing flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Self-guided exploration of Ho Chi Minh City in the morning
