Itinerary
- Days 1 - 2
Ho Chi Minh City
Your overnight flight gets you to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's biggest and most energetic hub. After you land and get settled into your hotel, the rest of the afternoon is free to do as you like. This evening, there's a welcome dinner waiting for you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 3
Ho Chi Minh City
This morning you'll head out to the Cu Chi Tunnels to learn about the Viet Cong's guerrilla warfare strategies during the war. From there, you'll stop for lunch at an organic farm before heading back to Ho Chi Minh City. In the afternoon, a guide takes you through the city's colonial buildings and modern sites, hitting the War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, Central Post Office, and Notre-Dame Cathedral.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (At organic farm), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Cu Chi Tunnels
- Lunch at organic farm
- Guided city tour of Ho Chi Minh City
- Visit War Remnants Museum
- Visit Reunification Palace
- Visit French Colonial Central Post Office
- Visit Notre-Dame Cathedral
Landmarks/POIs Cu Chi Tunnels War Remnants Museum Reunification Palace French Colonial Central Post Office Notre-Dame Cathedral 
- Day 4
Mekong Delta
You'll travel southwest to Ben Tre for a boat trip through the Mekong Delta. Paddling through the palm-lined canals, you'll visit a bee farm and try some honey tea, grab lunch, then see the beautiful gardens at Vinh Trang Pagoda before heading back to Ho Chi Minh City by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Boat trip on Mekong Delta
- Paddle through palm-lined canals
- Visit bee farm and enjoy honey tea
- Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda gardens
- Lunch included
Landmarks/POIs Mekong Delta Vinh Trang Pagoda - Day 5
Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An
A short flight takes you to Danang, then you'll transfer to Hoi An, a charming UNESCO town. Walking through streets lined with traditional silk lanterns, you'll check out an old merchant family's house, Quan Cong Temple, the Japanese Bridge, and the busy market. If you're interested, there's an option to visit the famous late-night tailors who can make custom clothing in 24 hours.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit old merchant family's house
- Visit Quan Cong Temple
- Visit Japanese Bridge
- Visit market
- Dinner included
Optional Activities
- Late-night visit to local tailors for custom-fit clothing (24-hour service available)
Landmarks/POIs Quan Cong Temple Japanese Bridge Hoi An Market 
- Day 6
Tra Que
Head into the countryside to Tra Que, a farming cooperative that provides vegetables and herbs to local restaurants using natural seaweed fertilizer from the village lagoon. You'll walk through the gardens, watch farmers work, and try some traditional farming techniques yourself. The afternoon is free to relax or explore more on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Tra Que cooperative farming community
- Stroll through gardens
- Try traditional farming techniques
Landmarks/POIs Tra Que - Day 7
Hoi An to Hue
Driving across the scenic Hai Van Pass, you'll reach Hue, the scholarly heart of Vietnam's imperial history. The day includes the imposing Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Purple City, then the UNESCO Royal Tomb of Minh Mang with its 40 monuments set in gardens and pools. After that, you'll stop at the old Thien Mu Pagoda and wrap up with a cruise on the Perfume River.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Drive across Hai Van Pass
- Visit Imperial Citadel
- Visit Forbidden Purple City
- Visit Royal Tomb of Minh Mang
- Visit Thien Mu Pagoda
- Cruise on Perfume River
- Dinner included
Landmarks/POIs Hai Van Pass Imperial Citadel Forbidden Purple City Royal Tomb of Minh Mang Thien Mu Pagoda Perfume River - Day 8
Hue to Hanoi
A flight brings you to Hanoi, Vietnam's leafy and laid-back capital. After you arrive and settle in, the afternoon is yours to explore the city at your own pace and get a feel for the place.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Day 9
Hanoi
Today you'll discover Hanoi's historic sites including Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, the Stilt House in the Presidential Palace gardens, One Pillar Pagoda, and the Confucian Temple of Literature. Later, a cyclo ride takes you through the Old Quarter's atmospheric streets, and you'll finish with authentic Vietnamese coffee overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum
- Visit Stilt House
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Confucian Temple of Literature
- Cyclo tour through Old Quarter
- Vietnamese coffee at café overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake
- Dinner included
Landmarks/POIs Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum Presidential Palace One Pillar Pagoda Confucian Temple of Literature Old Quarter Hoan Kiem Lake - Day 10
Christmas Eve
You'll board a traditional sailing ship and cruise into the UNESCO waters of Halong Bay. Excursions include kayaking and exploring island caves throughout the day. This evening on Christmas Eve, a special Vietnamese-style Christmas dinner is served on deck under the stars.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Christmas Eve - Vietnamese style dinner served on deck)
Included Activities
- Board traditional sailing ship
- Cruise Halong Bay
- Kayaking excursion
- Explore island caves
- Christmas Eve Vietnamese-style dinner on deck
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay 
- Day 11
Lan Ha Bay - Christmas Day
On Christmas morning, watch the sunrise, then sail into Lan Ha Bay, a quieter version of Halong Bay with fewer cruise ships because of its protected status. You can choose between kayaking at Ho Ba Ham (Three Tunnel Lake) with its limestone tunnels, or touring the colorful Cua Van Fishing Village. A Christmas drinks reception happens on deck this evening before another night aboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Christmas Day dinner)
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing over Halong Bay
- Sail into Lan Ha Bay
- Kayaking at Ho Ba Ham (Three Tunnel Lake)
- Tour of Cua Van Fishing Village
- Christmas drinks reception on deck
Landmarks/POIs Lan Ha Bay Ho Ba Ham (Three Tunnel Lake) Cua Van Fishing Village Cat Ba National Park - Day 12
Hanoi - Boxing Day
On Boxing Day, wake early for the sunrise and either join a Tai Chi session on deck or head out early to Sung Sot Cave, a massive grotto with impressive stalactite and stalagmite chambers. Return for brunch as the ship sails back to the mainland. Later you'll drive to Hanoi, and the rest of the day is free. Tonight, catch the Quintessence of Tonkin show, an open-air performance about northern Vietnam's rich history.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Brunch (On board as you sail back to embarkation point), Dinner
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing over Halong Bay
- Tai Chi session on deck at sunrise
- Visit Sung Sot Cave
- Brunch on board
- Sail back to embarkation point
- Quintessence of Tonkin show - open-air performance
Landmarks/POIs Sung Sot Cave - Day 13
Departure
Your hotel will arrange a transfer to the airport based on your flight time. Any time before you need to leave is free to enjoy the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
