Itinerary
- Day 1
Ho Chi Minh City
You'll land at Tan Son Nhat International Airport where your local guide and private driver meet you. From there, head to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City to get settled in. If your arrival time works out, take a walk through the nearby neighborhoods to see the colonial buildings, street food vendors, and how locals go about their day. Keep things relaxed tonight so you're ready for what's ahead.
- Start point
- Bạch Đằng, Phường 2, 72100, Tân Bình, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Tan Son Nhat International Airport)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Alagon Saigon Hotel or similar), Hotel (Prague Hotel or similar), Hotel (The Myst Dong Khoi or similar)
Optional Activities
- Walk through nearby neighborhoods to explore colonial buildings and street food stalls
Landmarks Tan Son Nhat International Airport 
- Day 2
Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta
An air-conditioned minivan picks you up from District 1 early in the morning. You'll travel to My Tho in the Mekong Delta and check out Vinh Trang Pagoda with its interesting mix of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Khmer design. Next, hop on a traditional sampan boat on the Tien River to cruise around four legendary islets. Wander through Unicorn Island's tropical fruit orchards, taste fresh seasonal fruits, and listen to traditional folk music before grabbing lunch at a local Mekong-style restaurant. During the afternoon, drift along narrow canals in a hand-rowed sampan under nipa palms, stop at a honeybee farm to try honey tea and make coconut candy, then cycle through Tan Thach Village to meet residents. You'll get back to Ho Chi Minh City by late afternoon.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional Vietnamese set menu lunch with regional specialties at a Mekong-style restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Alagon Saigon Hotel or similar), Hotel (Prague Hotel or similar), Hotel (The Myst Dong Khoi or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda - 19th-century pagoda with Vietnamese, Chinese, and Khmer architecture
- Traditional sampan boat cruise on Tien River around Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Tortoise islets
- Walk through tropical fruit orchards on Unicorn Island
- Enjoy fresh seasonal fruits on Unicorn Island
- Listen to traditional đờn ca tài tử folk music performed by locals
- Hand-rowed sampan ride along Thoi Son Canal beneath nipa palm trees
- Visit local honeybee farm
- Enjoy honey tea and observe coconut candy making demonstration
- Bicycle ride through Tan Thach Village
- Meet local villagers and observe daily life
Optional Activities
- Rest in a hammock and enjoy countryside breeze (alternative to cycling for non-cyclists)
Landmarks Vinh Trang Pagoda Tien River Unicorn Island Thoi Son Canal Tan Thach Village 
- Day 3
Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An
After breakfast at your hotel, your driver takes you to the airport for a short domestic flight to Da Nang. Once you arrive, you're met and transferred to your hotel in Hoi An, a UNESCO-listed town. The rest of the day is yours to spend however you'd like. Wander through the ancient alleyways, check out temples and local shops, or sit down with Vietnamese coffee by the river.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kim An Hotel or similar), Hotel (Royal Riverside or similar), Resort (Palm Garden Beach Resort & Spa or similar)
Optional Activities
- Stroll through ancient alleyways of Hoi An
- Visit temples in Hoi An
- Explore local shops
- Sip Vietnamese coffee by the river
Landmarks Hoi An Ancient Town 
- Day 4
Countryside Cycling & Farming Experience
Start early when your guide meets you at the hotel for a bicycle ride through rice fields, shrimp farms, and bamboo groves with buffalo and ducks along the way. You'll stop for photos of the rural landscape, then climb into a traditional bamboo basket boat to cruise through the water coconut palm forest and try crab fishing. Visit local artisans crafting bamboo handicrafts, then keep cycling to Thanh Nam Fishing Village to see fishermen and learn how they harvest seafood. At 10:30 AM you'll pick between lantern-making or buffalo-riding. Head to Tra Que Herb Village for a welcome drink and garden walk, then get hands-on with farm work using traditional tools. You'll have a herbal foot bath and take a cooking class to make spring rolls, crispy rice pancakes, and banana flower salad. Enjoy the seven-dish lunch that features food you prepared, then relax on a boat ride along the Thu Bon River watching fishermen cast nets before heading back to your hotel in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Seven-dish Vietnamese lunch featuring food prepared during cooking class)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kim An Hotel or similar), Hotel (Royal Riverside or similar), Resort (Palm Garden Beach Resort & Spa or similar)
Included Activities
- Scenic bicycle ride through rice fields, shrimp farms, and bamboo groves
- Photo break in countryside landscape
- Traditional bamboo basket boat cruise through water coconut palm forest
- Crab fishing experience
- Visit local bamboo handicraft artisans
- Bicycle ride to Thanh Nam Fishing Village
- Observe fishermen and seafood harvesting techniques
- Lantern making with local artisans (choose this or buffalo riding)
- Buffalo riding experience (choose this or lantern making)
- Visit Tra Que Herb Village
- Refreshing welcome drink at herb village
- Garden walk and meet local farmers
- Hands-on farm work: picking weeds, digging, planting vegetables, watering with traditional tools
- Herbal foot bath using medicinal herbs from village garden
- Cooking class: Tam Huu spring rolls, crispy rice pancakes (Banh Xeo), banana flower salad, fish in clay pot
- Seven-dish Vietnamese lunch featuring prepared dishes
- Thu Bon River boat cruise with observation of local fishermen casting nets
- Explore Dai Chiem estuary
Landmarks Cam Thanh Village Thanh Nam Fishing Village Tra Que Herb Village Thu Bon River Dai Chiem estuary 
- Day 5
Hoi An
You have two choices today. First option is a free day in Hoi An where you set the schedule. Unwind on An Bang Beach, find hidden alley cafes, shop for tailor-made clothing, or just relax and wander. The second option is a full-day Ba Na Hills excursion departing at 7:30 AM. For that trip, you'll drive through the countryside in an air-conditioned vehicle and ride the cable car with panoramic views. See the Golden Bridge held by giant stone hands, visit Linh Ung Pagoda with its 27-meter Buddha statue, walk through Le Jardin D'Amour Flower Gardens, and optionally check out the Debay Wine Cellar (entry fee separate). Have buffet lunch at a mountaintop restaurant, then explore Chua Mountain with Linh Chua Linh Tu Temple, Fantasy Park, and French Square. The cable car ride back takes you to your hotel by 5:30 PM.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kim An Hotel or similar), Hotel (Royal Riverside or similar), Resort (Palm Garden Beach Resort & Spa or similar)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
Optional Activities
- Free day exploring An Bang Beach
- Discover hidden alley cafés
- Shop for tailor-made clothing
- Solo exploring at own pace
- Ba Na Hills full-day excursion: High-quality A/C vehicle transfer
- Ba Na Hills cable car ride (world-renowned for length and elevation)
- Visit Golden Bridge held by giant stone hands
- Visit Linh Ung Pagoda with 27-meter Buddha statue
- Wander through Le Jardin D'Amour Flower Gardens
- Visit Debay Wine Cellar (entry fee not included)
- Buffet lunch at mountaintop restaurant
- Explore Chua Mountain summit (1,487 m)
- Visit Linh Chua Linh Tu Temple
- Explore Fantasy Park indoor amusement park
- Discover charming French Square with street performances and European-style buildings
Landmarks An Bang Beach Ba Na Hills Golden Bridge Linh Ung Pagoda Le Jardin D'Amour Flower Gardens Debay Wine Cellar Chua Mountain Linh Chua Linh Tu Temple Fantasy Park French Square 
- Day 6
Hoi An to Hanoi
Eat breakfast at your hotel and spend your final morning in Hoi An at a relaxed pace. Take a short walk to grab one last Vietnamese coffee or pick up tailor-made souvenirs. Your private driver then transfers you to Da Nang Airport for a short domestic flight to Hanoi, the historic capital. You'll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in the city center. The rest of your day is open. Explore the Old Quarter at your own pace, relax at a lakeside cafe, or rest up before your next experience.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Diamond Legend or similar), Hotel (Tirant Hotel or similar), Hotel (GRAND HOTEL du LAC Hanoi or similar)
Optional Activities
- Short walk to grab Vietnamese coffee
- Pick up tailor-made souvenirs
- Explore Old Quarter
- Relax at a lakeside café
Landmarks Hanoi Old Quarter 
- Day 7
Hanoi to Halong Bay Cruise
After breakfast, get picked up from your hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter for a scenic 3.5-hour drive to Tuan Chau International Cruise Port. You'll arrive around noon, finish check-in at the cruise lounge, and board the Le Journey Cruise. Get a welcome drink and cold towel as the ship sets out and you take in your first views of limestone karsts rising from the sea. Have lunch in the ship's restaurant while sailing past iconic islets. In the afternoon, disembark to visit the Surprising Cave, the largest cave in Halong Bay, then head to Titop Island to swim in emerald waters or climb to the summit for panoramic views. Back on the cruise, catch the sunset party on the sundeck with Vietnamese tea, coffee, and fresh fruit, then join a cooking class with the chef to make fresh spring rolls. You'll dine on the top deck under the stars if weather allows, surrounded by Halong's quiet beauty. Later, you can try squid fishing off the boat's back, have a cocktail at the Sky Bar, or just relax on deck watching the bay. The cruise anchors in a quiet spot for your overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Delicious lunch in ship's restaurant while sailing), Dinner (Beautifully prepared dinner on top deck under the stars (weather permitting))
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Le Journey Cruise or similar), Berth / Cabin (Calista Cruise (New 6-Star Class) or similar)
Included Activities
- Scenic 3.5-hour drive from Hanoi to Tuan Chau International Cruise Port
- Welcome aboard Le Journey Cruise with welcome drink and cold towel
- Onboard lunch in ship's restaurant
- Sail past iconic islets
- Visit Surprising Cave - largest and most spectacular cave in Halong Bay
- Visit Titop Island
- Swim in emerald waters at Titop Island
- Climb to summit of Titop Island for panoramic bay views
- Sunset party on sundeck with Vietnamese tea, coffee, and fresh fruit
- Spring rolls cooking class with ship's chef
- Dinner on top deck under the stars (weather permitting)
Optional Activities
- Squid fishing off the back of the boat
- Sip cocktail at Sky Bar
- Relax on deck and watch the bay at night
Landmarks Tuan Chau International Cruise Port Halong Bay Surprising Cave Titop Island 
- Day 8
Halong Bay to Hanoi
You'll wake to Halong Bay's peaceful beauty and have breakfast on board. Cruise toward the Natural Preservation Area and explore Luon Cave by kayak or bamboo raft, gliding under limestone arches between towering cliffs where you might spot monkeys. Get back to your cabin at 9:30 AM, pack your bags, and leave them outside your door. Browse for souvenirs onboard and enjoy an early lunch as the cruise heads back to port. You'll disembark at Tuan Chau Marina around 11:00 AM and transfer back to Hanoi by air-conditioned shuttle, arriving around 3:00 PM to check into your hotel. That evening, you can opt to join a 3-hour Street Food Tour starting at 6:00 PM. A local food guide walks you through bustling alleyways and hidden food spots tasting 6-7 authentic dishes including beef pho, crispy pancake, grilled pork skewers, steamed rice rolls, green papaya salad, fried spring rolls, and Vietnamese sandwich, ending with egg coffee or a local dessert drink. You'll learn the cultural stories behind each dish and see iconic spots like Hanoi Train Street before returning to your hotel around 9:00 PM.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Light breakfast on board), Lunch (Early lunch on board as cruise sails back to port)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Diamond Legend or similar), Hotel (Tirant Hotel or similar), Hotel (GRAND HOTEL du LAC Hanoi or similar)
Included Activities
- Light breakfast on board
- Morning cruise toward Natural Preservation Area
- Kayaking at Luon Cave
- Bamboo raft option at Luon Cave
- Glide under limestone arches and between towering cliffs
- Opportunity to spot monkeys on rock faces
- Browse souvenirs onboard
- Early lunch on board
- Transfer back to Hanoi via air-conditioned shuttle
Optional Activities
- Hanoi Old Quarter Street Food Tour: Walking tour through alleyways and hidden food spots
- Taste beef pho (Phở)
- Taste crispy pancake (Bánh Xèo)
- Taste grilled pork skewers (Thịt Xiên Nướng)
- Taste steamed rice rolls (Bánh Cuốn)
- Taste green papaya salad
- Taste fried spring rolls
- Taste Vietnamese sandwich
- End with egg coffee or local dessert drink
- Learn cultural stories behind each dish
- Explore Hanoi Train Street
Landmarks Luon Cave Natural Preservation Area Tuan Chau Marina Hanoi Train Street 
- Day 9
Hanoi Departure
Have your final Vietnamese breakfast at the hotel and finish check-out. Depending on your flight time, you might take a short walk around the Old Quarter or grab some last-minute souvenirs from nearby markets. Your private driver picks you up and takes you to Noi Bai International Airport in time for your departure.
- End point
- Đường Nội Bài, Mai Đình, 12200, Sóc Sơn, Hanoi, Vietnam (Noi Bai International Airport)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Final Vietnamese breakfast at hotel
Optional Activities
- Short stroll around Old Quarter
- Pick up last-minute souvenirs from nearby markets
Landmarks Noi Bai International Airport
