Itinerary
- Days 1 - 2
Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City
You'll arrive in Ho Chi Minh City after an overnight flight. Depending on when you touch down, the afternoon and evening are open for you to start getting a feel for the city on your own terms. Grab some food, walk around the neighborhoods, or just settle into your hotel and rest up before things get going.
- Day 3
Cu Chi Tunnels and Ho Chi Minh City
This morning you're heading to the Cu Chi Tunnels, an extensive underground network that served as Viet Cong bunkers, tunnels and field hospitals during the Vietnam War. After exploring the site, lunch comes at an organic farm. Later you'll return to Ho Chi Minh City to visit Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum. Each location tells part of the city's colonial and wartime story.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at organic farm), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Cu Chi Tunnels
- Lunch at organic farm
- Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
- Visit Central Post Office
- Visit Reunification Palace
- Visit War Remnants Museum
Landmarks/POIs Cu Chi Tunnels Notre Dame Cathedral Central Post Office Reunification Palace War Remnants Museum - Day 4
Mekong Delta Cruise
You're heading west to Ben Tre for a cruise through the Mekong Delta, often called the 'Rice Basket of Vietnam'. You'll paddle through palm-lined canals and have lunch with typical local dishes. From there, it's on to Can Tho where you'll spend the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Typical Mekong lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through Mekong Delta
- Paddle through palm-lined canals
- Lunch in Mekong Delta
Landmarks/POIs Mekong Delta - Day 5
Cai Rang Floating Market
Early on you'll check out the Cai Rang floating market to see what vendors are selling and watch how vermicelli rice noodles get made. By evening you'll be back in Ho Chi Minh City.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Cai Rang floating market
- Learn vermicelli rice noodle production
Landmarks/POIs Cai Rang Floating Market - Day 6
Dalat
The drive takes you west into the highlands toward Dalat, a former colonial hill town with a much cooler climate than the lowlands. Along the way you'll stop at a tea plantation in Bao Loc to learn how tea is grown and processed.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit tea plantation in Bao Loc
- Learn about tea cultivation
Landmarks/POIs Bao Loc Tea Plantation - Day 7
Dalat Attractions and Vintage Train
You'll visit the Domaine de Marie Church, walk through the Flower Gardens and stop at an embroidery workshop to see artisans at work. In the afternoon you'll board a vintage open-air train that heads out to the countryside hamlet of Trai Mat. By evening you're back in Dalat, having coffee by Xuan Huong lake.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Domaine de Marie Church
- Visit Flower Gardens
- Visit embroidery workshop
- Ride vintage open-air train to Trai Mat
- Local coffee by Xuan Huong lake
Landmarks/POIs Domaine de Marie Church Dalat Flower Gardens Trai Mat Xuan Huong Lake - Day 8
Nha Trang
The winding road takes you down from the highlands and along the coast to Nha Trang, Vietnam's main beach destination. Once there you'll get out on the water for a cruise around the bay's islands, with time to swim in the warm waters.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise around Nha Trang Bay islands
- Swimming in bay waters
Landmarks/POIs Nha Trang Bay 
- Day 9
Qui Nhon
You'll walk through Dam market this morning and see the Po Nagar Cham Towers. After that it's a drive south to the seaside city of Qui Nhon, where you'll stay for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Dam market
- Visit Po Nagar Cham Towers
Landmarks/POIs Dam Market Po Nagar Cham Towers - Day 10
My Lai Memorial and Hoi An
Today you're visiting the Son My area to pay respects at the My Lai massacre memorial, which honors unarmed civilians who died during one of the Vietnam War's darkest events. After learning their story, you'll head to the charming town of Hoi An.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit My Lai massacre memorial
Landmarks/POIs My Lai Memorial - Day 11
Hoi An
This morning includes a walking tour of Hoi An, a relaxed and beautifully preserved town that feels like it's stuck in another era. You'll see a historic family home, the Japanese Bridge, a Chinese temple and the local market. The afternoon is yours to spend however you'd like.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Hoi An
- Visit historic family home
- Visit Japanese Bridge
- Visit Chinese temple
- Visit Hoi An market
Landmarks/POIs Japanese Bridge Hoi An Market - Day 12
Hue
You're taking the scenic route to Hue by driving over the Hai Van Pass. Hue was once the seat of the Nguyen emperors and still carries that imperial atmosphere. You'll visit the Royal Tomb of Minh Mang, an impressive complex with over 40 monuments, pools and gardens.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Royal Tomb of Minh Mang
Landmarks/POIs Hai Van Pass Royal Tomb of Minh Mang - Day 13
Hue Imperial Citadel and Perfume River Cruise
Today you're exploring the Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City inside it. Later you'll take a cruise on the Perfume River to visit the An Hien House and the seven-storey Thien Mu Pagoda.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Imperial Citadel
- Visit Forbidden Purple City
- Cruise on Perfume River
- Visit An Hien House
- Visit Thien Mu Pagoda
Landmarks/POIs Imperial Citadel Forbidden Purple City Perfume River An Hien House Thien Mu Pagoda - Day 14
Hanoi
After a short flight you'll arrive in Hanoi, Vietnam's capital. You'll start with the Fine Arts Museum, then take a cyclo tour through the atmospheric Old Quarter. To end things, you'll try Hanoi's famous egg coffee, a local specialty.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Fine Arts Museum
- Cyclo tour of Old Quarter
- Hanoi egg coffee experience
Landmarks/POIs Fine Arts Museum Old Quarter - Day 15
Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi Attractions
A walking tour today focuses on Ho Chi Minh's story and legacy. You'll visit his Mausoleum and Presidential Palace, plus the humble stilt house where he lived. After that you'll check out the One Pillar Pagoda and the beautiful Temple of Literature.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Ho Chi Minh sites
- Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- Visit Presidential Palace
- Visit Ho Chi Minh House on Stilts
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Temple of Literature
Landmarks/POIs Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Presidential Palace Ho Chi Minh House on Stilts One Pillar Pagoda Temple of Literature - Days 16 - 17
Halong Bay Cruise and Quintessence of Tonkin Show
You'll spend the day on a cruise ship sailing through Halong Bay. There's time to swim, kayak or explore caves scattered throughout the bay. You'll sleep onboard, then return to Hanoi. Your final evening includes The Quintessence of Tonkin show, an open-air performance that tells the history of northern Vietnam.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Halong Bay cruise
- Swimming in Halong Bay
- Kayaking in Halong Bay
- Visit Halong Bay caves
- Overnight on cruise ship
- The Quintessence of Tonkin show
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay - Day 18
Departure
You'll fly back to the UK today, arriving either the same day or the following day depending on flight times.
