Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
Land in Hanoi and jump right into exploring the old town's narrow alleyways. You'll see the characteristic Vietnamese tube houses squeezed together along the streets, then head into the street food scene. Grab bánh mì from a street vendor and find a spot for pho, where you can watch the city come alive around you.
Optional Activities
- Explore old town alleyways and Vietnamese tube houses
- Street food tasting (bánh mì, pho)
Landmarks/POIs Hanoi Old Town - Day 2
Dry Halong Bay
Early start for a day trip to Ninh Binh with your group and guide. First stop is Dinh King Temple, then you'll head to Dry Halong Bay and get on a sampan boat to float through the waterways. After that, tackle the 500 steps up to Mua Cave Mountain, where you'll get panoramic views of the limestone karsts below.
Included Activities
- Dinh King Temple visit
- Dry Halong Bay group tour with Mua Cave Adventure
- Sampan boat trip through waterways
- Mua Cave Mountain hike (500 steps)
Optional Activities
- Bike or scooter ride to attractions
Landmarks/POIs Dinh King Temple Mua Cave Mountain Dry Halong Bay (Tam Coc) - Day 3
Halong Bay
Board a traditional boat in Halong Bay with your group to see the limestone formations up close. You'll visit Thien Cung, also called the Grotto of the Heavenly Palace, then switch to kayaking through water tunnels and narrow waterways that wind between the rocks.
Included Activities
- Halong Bay group tour with traditional boat exploration
- Thien Cung Grotto (Grotto of the Heavenly Palace) visit
- Kayaking through water tunnels and waterways
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay Thien Cung Grotto - Day 4
Hanoi to Da Nang
Spend the morning walking through Hanoi's old town alleyways one final time and visit the Temple of Literature. After lunch, head to the train station and board an overnight train to Da Nang in a 4-seater cabin. You'll sleep on the train and arrive in the morning.
Included Activities
- Temple of Literature visit
- Old town alleyway exploration
Optional Activities
- Stroll past flower markets and local shops in named streets (Hang Ma, Hang Ca)
Landmarks/POIs Temple of Literature - Day 5
Da Nang to Hoi An
Arrive in Da Nang and travel to Hoi An, known for its colorful paper lanterns hanging throughout the town. Get settled at your accommodation, then wander the narrow alleyways for shopping. Try local dishes like cao lau and white rose dumplings at various spots around town.
Optional Activities
- Stroll through old town alleyways
- Local specialty tasting (cao lau, white rose dumplings)
- Fruit smoothie by the river
- Tailor shop visits for custom clothing (costs extra)
Landmarks/POIs Hoi An Old Town - Day 6
Hoi An Countryside Bike Tour
Early morning bike tour through villages south of Hoi An with your guide and group. Stop at a local family's home for breakfast, then cycle through rice fields and vegetable farms. Visit a family distillery to taste traditional rice wine, and return to Hoi An by evening for more exploring and another bowl of cao lẩu.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Banh Beo (rice flour cakes) prepared by local family)
Included Activities
- Hoi An by Bike group tour through countryside
- Local family breakfast (Banh Beo)
- Traditional family chapel visit
- Family-run distillery visit with rice wine tasting
- Evening stroll through Hoi An
Optional Activities
- Cao lầu dinner in Hoi An
Landmarks/POIs Japanese Bridge Quang Nam Province Villages - Day 7
Hoi An Old Houses and Market
Check out historic old houses in Hoi An like the Tran Family Chapel and Old House of Quan Thang to see how people lived traditionally. Head to the central market early morning to beat the crowds and see the local vendors selling colorful fruit, vegetables, and street food options.
Included Activities
- Tran Family Chapel visit
- Old House of Quan Thang visit
- Central market exploration
Landmarks/POIs Tran Family Chapel Old House of Quan Thang Hoi An Central Market - Day 8
Hoi An Beaches
Relax on Hoi An's beaches, starting with Bai Bien Cua Dai Beach or An Bang Beach. Both have palm trees, white-golden sand, and turquoise water. Spend the day swimming or lounging, then grab a cool cocktail and watch the sun move across the sky.
Optional Activities
- Bai Bien Cua Dai Beach visit
- An Bang Beach visit
- Cocktails and swimming
Landmarks/POIs Bai Bien Cua Dai Beach An Bang Beach - Day 9
Hoi An
Explore on your own or return to your favorite spots from earlier days. Visit Chuc Thanh Pagoda, one of Hoi An's oldest temples, which sits in a garden with exotic plants and fragrant flowers. In the evening, fill up on street food from vendors around town.
Optional Activities
- Chuc Thanh Pagoda visit
- Garden exploration with exotic plants and flowers
- Street food tasting
Landmarks/POIs Chuc Thanh Pagoda - Day 10
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
Leave Hoi An for Da Nang airport and fly to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's largest city with about 8 million people. You'll see colonial buildings mixed with modern skyscrapers showing French influences throughout. After checking in, walk through Ben Thanh Market where hundreds of stalls sell everything from souvenirs to street food.
Optional Activities
- Ben Thanh Market exploration
- Street food tasting
Landmarks/POIs Ben Thanh Market - Day 11
Ho Chi Minh City
Start your self-guided tour at Notre Dame Cathedral, built between 1863 and 1880, which shows Ho Chi Minh City's French colonial past. Walk to the old post office next door, then spend time at the War Remnants Museum with its 20,000-plus exhibits including tanks and aircraft. Finish by relaxing at cafes near Tan Dinh Church and recharge at Le Van Tam Park.
Optional Activities
- Notre Dame Cathedral visit
- Old post office visit
- War Remnants Museum visit (20,000+ documents and exhibits including tanks and airplanes)
- Café stops near Tan Dinh Church
- Le Van Tam Park exploration
Landmarks/POIs Notre Dame Cathedral Ho Chi Minh City Central Post Office War Remnants Museum Tan Dinh Church Le Van Tam Park - Day 12
Mekong Delta
Full day tour of the Mekong Delta with your group and guide navigating through rivers, swamps, and islands. Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda to see the giant Buddha, then take a rowing boat through mangrove jungles and palm tree lined paths. Stop at a traditional coconut candy orchard before heading back to your accommodation.
Included Activities
- Mekong Delta group tour with boat trip to local fruit farm
- Vinh Trang Pagoda visit
- Rowing boat journey through Mekong
- Orchard visit for traditional coconut candy making
Landmarks/POIs Mekong Delta Vinh Trang Pagoda - Day 13
Ho Chi Minh City
Use your last hours to soak up Vietnam's energy and chaos before heading to the airport. Listen to the honking mopeds, smell the street food cooking, grab something to eat, and chat with locals. Take in the vibrant atmosphere one final time before you depart.
Optional Activities
- Final exploration and street food experiences
- Soaking in local atmosphere
