Itinerary
- Days 1 - 2
Hanoi
Another full day in Hanoi to really get to know the place. You can walk around at your own speed, duck into neighborhoods, try street food vendors, and soak up the local rhythm. By now you're starting to feel less like a visitor and more like you actually know where things are.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 3
Hanoi
Start your morning at the Ethnology Museum checking out Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups and their full-size replica longhouses. After grabbing lunch, head across the Red Bridge over Hoan Kiem Lake to reach Ngoc Son Temple. Later, take a cyclo ride through the Old Quarter's tight alleys and narrow streets. Finish the evening sampling Vietnam's specialty dishes for a real food-focused experience.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Culinary whirlwind adventure through the city, tasting Vietnam's specialty dishes)
Included Activities
- Visit Ethnology Museum with displays on 54 ethnic minority groups and full-size replica longhouses
- Cross Red Bridge over Hoan Kiem Lake
- Visit Ngoc Son Temple
- Cyclo tour of Hanoi's Old Quarter
- Foodie tour with tasting of Vietnam's specialty dishes
Landmarks/POIs Ethnology Museum Hoan Kiem Lake Red Bridge (Hoan Kiem Lake) Ngoc Son Temple Hanoi's Old Quarter - Day 4
Hanoi
Walk through the Ho Chi Minh Quarter this morning to learn about the Vietnamese War and its impact on the city. Visit Ho Chi Minh's residence, known as the Humble House on Stilts, then see his Mausoleum on the Presidential Palace grounds. After lunch, head to the One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature, where you'll find Hanoi's first university surrounded by quiet gardens and scholarly history.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Ho Chi Minh Quarter with insight into Vietnamese War
- Visit Humble House on Stilts (Ho Chi Minh's residence) at Presidential Palace
- Visit Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Temple of Literature (Hanoi's first university)
Landmarks/POIs Ho Chi Minh Quarter Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Presidential Palace (Humble House on Stilts) One Pillar Pagoda Temple of Literature - Day 5
Hanoi to Halong Bay
Drive 2.5 hours to reach Halong Bay and board your two-night cruise. Lunch is served onboard as you drift into the bay. Spend the afternoon choosing between kayaking, swimming, or relaxing on an island beach. Explore the underground caves before heading to the deck for sunset and a drink. Dinner follows before you settle into your cabin for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch onboard cruise), Dinner (Freshly prepared dinner)
Included Activities
- Cruise to Halong Bay
- Kayaking, swimming, or island beach relaxation
- Visit underground caves on islands with climbing up and down steps inside and outside caves
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay - Day 6
Halong Bay
Get up early for a Tai Chi lesson on deck while watching the sun rise over the water. The seascapes change as you cruise deeper into the bay. Visit floating villages, discover hidden caves, and spend time on sandy beaches. Another night onboard gives you time to relax and take in more of the bay's landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tai Chi lesson on deck at sunrise
- Visit floating villages
- Visit hidden caves
- Visit sandy beaches
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay - Day 7
Halong Bay to Hue
Head back toward port this morning, stopping to explore one of the bay's impressive cave systems. You'll have an early lunch onboard before disembarking. From there, transfer to the station to board the Reunification Express, your overnight train heading south to Hue. The journey itself becomes part of the experience.
- Meals
- Lunch (Early lunch before disembarking)
Included Activities
- Visit one of Halong Bay's impressive caves
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay - Day 8
Hue
You'll arrive in Hue this morning and leave the Reunification Express behind. Spend the day exploring this city steeped in dynastic history. Visit the imposing Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City, then head to the Royal Tomb of Minh Mang, a UNESCO World Heritage site with 40 monuments spread through gardens and reflecting pools. Stop at the old Thien Mu Pagoda before taking a cruise on the Perfume River.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Imperial Citadel
- Visit Forbidden Purple City
- Visit UNESCO World Heritage Royal Tomb of Minh Mang (40 monuments, gardens, and pools)
- Visit Thien Mu Pagoda
- Cruise on Perfume River
Landmarks/POIs Imperial Citadel of Hue Forbidden Purple City Royal Tomb of Minh Mang Thien Mu Pagoda Perfume River - Day 9
Hue to Hoi An
Board the Reunification Express for a scenic 3-hour journey south to Danang, then transfer by road to Hoi An, a laid-back ancient city with a completely different feel. This afternoon, venture out to Tra Que, a small farming community outside town. Walk through the lush green gardens and watch farmers at work, getting a sense of rural Vietnamese life just beyond the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Tra Que farming community with stroll through gardens and observation of farmers at work
Landmarks/POIs Tra Que - Day 10
Hoi An
Take a walking tour of Hoi An's Old Town this morning, stopping at the Chua Ong Chinese Pagoda and a 200-year-old merchant house. Check out the Japanese Covered Bridge, then visit the Hoi An Folklore Museum to understand local life better. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore at your own pace, grab lunch, or simply wander.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Old Town
- Visit Chua Ong Chinese Pagoda
- Visit 200-year-old merchant house
- Visit Japanese Covered Bridge
- Visit Hoi An Folklore Museum
Landmarks/POIs Chua Ong Chinese Pagoda Japanese Covered Bridge Hoi An Folklore Museum - Day 11
Hoi An to Saigon
Transfer back to Danang and catch a 1.5-hour flight south to Saigon, Vietnam's bustling southern metropolis. The afternoon is free, so spend it soaking up the vibrant atmosphere and getting used to the faster pace of the city. By evening, head to the A O show, a performance featuring local circus performers, dancers, athletes, and artists doing incredible feats.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- A O show performance featuring local circus performers, dancers, athletes, and artists
- Day 12
Saigon
Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, a vast network central to Viet Cong operations during the war, including the Tet Offensive. You'll meet a Vietnamese veteran who shares his firsthand account, offering real insight into what happened here. Later, explore Saigon's blend of local culture and colonial history, seeing the Notre-Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office. End at the War Remnants Museum for a sobering look at this era.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Cu Chi Tunnels (Viet Cong military operations and Tet Offensive site)
- Meet Vietnamese veteran and hear his story
- Visit Notre-Dame Cathedral
- Visit Central Post Office
- Visit War Remnants Museum
Landmarks/POIs Cu Chi Tunnels Notre-Dame Cathedral (Saigon) Central Post Office (Saigon) War Remnants Museum - Day 13
Mekong Delta
Travel to My Tho and board a boat to cruise the Mekong River. Paddle through palm-lined canals observing daily life along the delta, then sit down for lunch featuring typical Mekong Delta dishes. Before returning to Saigon, make a stop at Vinh Trang Pagoda, a beautiful and historic temple in the region.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Typical Mekong dishes), Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise on Mekong River
- Paddle through palm-lined canals
- Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
Landmarks/POIs Mekong River Vinh Trang Pagoda - Day 14
Fly back to UK
Head to the airport for your flight back to the UK. You'll arrive the same day or the following day depending on flight times and time zones, bringing your Vietnam journey to a close.
