Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll arrive at Noi Bai International Airport where a driver will meet you for the transfer into Hanoi. Diamond Legend Hotel is right in the city center, and you'll have access to your room from 2:00 PM onward. The afternoon and evening are wide open. Some people like to head straight to the Old Quarter for a walk around the narrow streets and see what's happening, while others prefer to rest after the flight and grab dinner nearby.
Optional Activities
- Explore Hanoi Old Quarter on foot
Landmarks/POIs Hanoi Old Quarter - Day 2
Hanoi
Today you'll pick between a morning or afternoon vietnamese coffee workshop. You'll learn how to roast, grind, and brew five different Vietnamese coffees, then sit down for a full traditional lunch that comes with wine pairings. After that, in the evening you'll join a guide for a street food tour through the Old Quarter. You'll stop at hidden stalls and vendors trying authentic local dishes as you walk through the neighborhood.
- Meals
- Lunch (Full Vietnamese lunch featuring five regional dishes with welcome refreshments and snacks), Dinner (Street food tastings during Old Quarter Food Tour including Pho, Bun Cha, Banh Mi, Banh Cuon, Banh Xeo, Nom Bo Kho, Thit Xien Nuong, Banh Ran Ngot, Che, Ca Phe Trung)
Included Activities
- Vietnamese Coffee Workshop - hands-on brewing masterclass with five iconic Vietnamese coffees (Egg, Coconut, Salted Hue, Traditional Brown, Pour-over)
- Traditional Vietnamese lunch during coffee workshop with five regional dishes
- Wine pairing with lunch (free-flow soft drinks, beer, and unlimited local wines)
- Flavour Quest Hanoi: Old Quarter Street Food Tour - guided exploration of local stalls and vendors with samples of time-honored dishes
Landmarks/POIs Hanoi Old Quarter - Day 3
Hanoi to Ha Long Bay
Breakfast comes early at your hotel, then you have a 2.5-hour drive south through the Red River Delta. You'll pass rice fields and rural villages before reaching Ha Long Bay. Once you board Le Journey Cruise, there's a welcome drink and Vietnamese lunch while you start cruising past the limestone karsts. The afternoon gives you choices: kayaking, swimming, exploring caves, or just relaxing on deck. You'll watch the sunset from a quiet cove, and dinner is a multi-course Vietnamese meal served onboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Early breakfast at Diamond Legend Hotel, Hanoi), Lunch (Fresh Vietnamese set lunch onboard cruise), Dinner (Multi-course Vietnamese feast in dining room)
Included Activities
- Scenic drive through Red River Delta
- Embarkation and safety briefing with welcome drink
- Vietnamese set lunch onboard cruise
- Afternoon activities: Kayaking or Bamboo boat tour among hidden lagoons, swimming off secluded sandy beach, or cave exploration with stalactites
- Optional spring-roll cooking demonstration
- Sunset and happy hour in tranquil cove
- Multi-course Vietnamese dinner in dining room
Optional Activities
- Tai chi session onboard
- Sun-lounger relaxation on open deck
Landmarks/POIs Ha Long Bay - Day 4
Ha Long Bay to Ninh Binh
Wake before sunrise to see Ha Long Bay come alive with light. After a light breakfast on the ship, you'll do morning sightseeing. Options include Surprising Cave with its stalactites, Ti Top Island for beaches and views from the summit, or Luon Cave for kayaking through lagoons. Early lunch happens around noon before disembarking. From there it's a 3.5-hour transfer through emerald rice paddies and karst landscapes to Ninh Binh. You'll check into Trang An Peaceful Homestay and settle into your private riverside bungalow to watch the sunset.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Light breakfast onboard cruise), Lunch (Early lunch onboard cruise), Dinner (Family-style dinner at homestay)
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing over Ha Long Bay
- Choice of cave exploration (Surprising Cave, Luon Cave) or island visit (Ti Top Island) with kayaking or bamboo boat option
- Light breakfast and early lunch onboard cruise
- 3.5-hour scenic transfer through Red River Delta to Ninh Binh
Landmarks/POIs Surprising Cave Ti Top Island Luon Cave - Day 5
Ninh Binh to Train (en route to Hoi An)
Start this morning with a bike ride through rice paddies, then head to Hoa Lu to see Vietnam's first capital. You'll walk around centuries-old temples honoring King Dinh and King Le. After a local lunch, you'll get in a rowboat and float through the UNESCO-listed Trang An Landscape Complex, gliding through emerald rivers and mystical caves named Sang, Toi, and Nau Ruou. Before you check out, there's time to climb Dragon Mountain Viewpoint for panoramic views. Later you'll board an overnight sleeper train heading to central Vietnam.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at homestay), Lunch (Local lunch at restaurant in Ninh Binh)
Included Activities
- Scenic bicycle ride through rice paddies
- Visit to Hoa Lu, Vietnam's first capital, including temples of King Dinh and King Le
- Local lunch at restaurant
- Rowboat journey through UNESCO-listed Trang An Landscape Complex
- Cave exploration: Sang Cave, Toi Cave, Nau Ruou Cave
- Dragon Mountain Viewpoint climb with panoramic views
- Transfer to Ninh Binh Railway Station
- Overnight soft sleeper train to Tra Kieu Station
Landmarks/POIs Hoa Lu Trang An Landscape Complex Sang Cave Toi Cave Nau Ruou Cave Dragon Mountain Viewpoint - Day 6
Tra Kieu to Hoi An
You'll arrive at Tra Kieu Station around 8:30 AM and take a short private transfer into Hoi An. Check into your hotel, then the rest of the day is yours to control. Rent a bicycle and ride to the riverside or An Bang Beach. Spend time at beachfront cafes sipping cold fruit juice, or stop by local tailor shops if you want custom-made clothes. As evening comes, the Old Town lights up with lanterns. You'll find shops, live music, and street performances as you wander around.
Optional Activities
- Bicycle rental and cycling through backstreets toward riverside or An Bang Beach
- Visit beachfront cafes for cold drinks and swimming
- Custom tailor shops for clothing, shoes, or handbags
- Evening stroll through lantern-lit Old Town
- Street performances and cultural shows
Landmarks/POIs Hoi An Old Town An Bang Beach - Day 7
Hoi An
Pick either a morning session (8:15 AM to 1:00 PM) or a private afternoon session (2:30 PM to 7:00 PM) for your 5-hour cooking class. You'll explore the colorful central market with a chef-guide, take a 25-minute boat ride on the Thu Bon River, walk through herb gardens, then prepare multiple Vietnamese dishes at your own workstation. After cooking everything, you'll sit down and eat what you made. You get back to central Hoi An with free time for the rest of the day.
- Meals
- Lunch (Full Vietnamese lunch with dishes prepared during cooking class: fresh rice paper rolls, Hoi An pancakes, seafood salad, Mi Quang chicken noodles, and additional BBQ lemongrass beef. Includes welcome drinks and 1 bottle of water per person.)
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of Hoi An central market with chef-guide
- Scenic 25-minute boat ride on Thu Bon River
- Herb garden tour to learn Vietnamese aromatics (lemongrass, coriander, Vietnamese basil)
- Hands-on cooking class (2.5 hours) preparing Vietnamese dishes: fresh rice paper, rice paper rolls with shrimp, Hoi An pancakes with shrimp and herbs, seafood salad with Tra Que herbs, Mi Quang chicken noodles, food decoration (tomato rose, cucumber fan)
- Full Vietnamese lunch/dinner with dishes you prepared
- Recipe notes provided
Landmarks/POIs Hoi An Central Market Thu Bon River Tra Que Herb Village - Day 8
Hoi An
Spend your morning in a 2-hour lantern-making workshop learning about the cultural meaning of Hoi An's silk lanterns. You'll craft your own foldable lantern in traditional shapes like lotus, diamond, sunrise, or sunset. Vietnamese herbal tea is served while you work, and your instructor gives you a bonus lantern they've made. In the afternoon, head to An Bang Beach and relax at a local club with swimming, sunbathing, and optional spa services. Later you'll gather with the group for a farewell dinner in the Old Town.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Dinner (Farewell dinner with group at local restaurant in Old Town)
Included Activities
- Lantern-making workshop (2 hours) including instruction in cultural significance and techniques
- Foldable handmade silk lantern (yours to take home)
- Bonus lantern made by instructor
- Traditional herbal tea and bottled water during workshop
- Hotel pickup and drop-off for lantern workshop
- Farewell dinner with group celebration
Optional Activities
- Swim or sunbathe at An Bang Beach
- Refreshing drinks by the sea
- Optional massage or spa services (at own cost)
Landmarks/POIs An Bang Beach Hoi An Old Town - Day 9
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
You'll have breakfast at Kiman Hoi An Hotel before checking out and heading to Da Nang International Airport. A domestic flight takes you south to Ho Chi Minh City. When you land, a local driver will be waiting with a comfortable transfer to Prague Hotel in downtown Saigon. The hotel sits on iconic Backpacker Street, within walking distance of Bui Vien Street and major landmarks like Independence Palace and Notre-Dame Cathedral. The rest of the day is yours to relax or start exploring the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at Kiman Hoi An Hotel)
Optional Activities
- Explore Saigon at own pace
- Visit Independence Palace
- Visit Notre-Dame Cathedral
- Explore Bui Vien Street
Landmarks/POIs Independence Palace Notre-Dame Cathedral Bui Vien Street - Day 10
Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta
Early morning at 7:20 AM you head to My Tho on the Mekong River's northern bank. You'll board a traditional sampan and cruise past four poetic islands: Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Tortoise. On Unicorn Island, you'll walk through orchards and sample fresh tropical fruits while listening to live Southern folk music. After that comes a fruit plantation visit, a hand-rowed sampan ride through narrow canals on Thoi Son Island, and a local honey farm where you'll try fresh honey tea and see coconut candy being made. Lunch happens at a garden restaurant, and the afternoon gives you choices like cycling around Tan Thach Village to meet locals or relaxing in a hammock. You'll return to Ho Chi Minh City by late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Delicious local lunch at garden restaurant in heart of delta)
Included Activities
- Scenic drive from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho
- Traditional sampan cruise on Mekong River
- Visit to Unicorn Island orchard with fruit sampling and live Southern folk music
- Fruit plantation visit
- Hand-rowed sampan ride through narrow canals on Thoi Son Island
- Local honey farm exploration with fresh honey tea
- Coconut candy making demonstration
- Local lunch at garden restaurant
- Cycling trip around Tan Thach Village or hammock relaxation (optional)
- Return transfer to Ho Chi Minh City
Optional Activities
- Cycling around Tan Thach Village (optional for non-cyclists, hammock relaxation available)
Landmarks/POIs Mekong River Dragon Island Unicorn Island Phoenix Island Tortoise Island Thoi Son Island Tan Thach Village - Day 11
Ho Chi Minh City
At 9:00 AM you'll start exploring old Saigon in the atmospheric Nguyen Thien Thuat backstreet neighborhood. You'll see traditional guitar-making shops, laundry-draped balconies, street vendors, and food stalls in 1960s-era apartment blocks. Ban Co Market comes next where you can try che, a sweet Vietnamese dessert. Moving through Districts 10 and 5, you'll observe daily life and authentic urban culture. By 11:30 AM you're exploring Chinatown's traditional medicine quarter on Hai Thuong Lan Ong and Trieu Quang Phuc streets, walking past aromatic Chinese medicine shops. You'll visit Thien Hau Temple dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea and have local lunch before returning around 1:00 PM. After some downtime, you'll reunite for a farewell dinner and party celebrating your journey from north to south.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Hearty southern-style lunch at local restaurant), Dinner (Farewell dinner and celebration with group)
Included Activities
- Explore Nguyen Thien Thuat backstreet neighborhood
- Visit traditional guitar-making shops
- Ban Co Market visit with che tasting
- Exploration of Districts 10 and 5 local neighborhoods
- Chinatown traditional medicine quarter exploration on Hai Thuong Lan Ong and Trieu Quang Phuc streets
- Visit to Thien Hau Temple
- Local lunch at restaurant
- Farewell dinner and celebration with group
Optional Activities
- Walking tour option available instead of motorbike tour (notify travel advisor in advance)
Landmarks/POIs Nguyen Thien Thuat Backstreet Ban Co Market Chinatown Thien Hau Temple - Day 12
Ho Chi Minh City Departure
This is your final breakfast in Ho Chi Minh City. Depending on your flight time, you might have a chance to walk through a nearby market or grab one last cup of rich Vietnamese coffee. When you're ready, your private driver will pick you up at the hotel and take you to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your departure.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Final breakfast in Ho Chi Minh City)
Optional Activities
- Final stroll through nearby market
- Enjoy final cup of Vietnamese coffee
Landmarks/POIs Tan Son Nhat International Airport
