Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
Your Vietnam journey kicks off this evening at 6 pm when you'll meet your local leader and other travelers. If you arrive early, spend some time walking around Hanoi and getting familiar with the leafy streets at your own pace. After the group meeting, you'll head to a local brew hall to grab some fresh bia hoi beer and get to know everyone.
Optional Activities
- Explore Hanoi on foot
- Sample bia hoi (fresh local beer) in open-walled brew halls
Landmarks/POIs Hanoi 
- Day 2
Hanoi to Sung Village
After breakfast, you'll drive from Hanoi to Sung Village, where about 70 families of Dzao 'Tien' people live. Lunch happens with your hosts, then you'll walk around the village and trek to Sung Cave. You'll check out a 100-year-old tea plantation, participate in a handicraft workshop, and finish with a home-cooked dinner at your homestay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Da Bac - Homestay Lunch with local hosts), Dinner (Da Bac - Homestay Dinner (home-cooked))
Included Activities
- Sung Cave & Village Tour
- Sung village to Da Bia hike
- Visit 100-year-old tea plantation
- Handicraft workshop
Landmarks/POIs Sung Village Sung Cave - Day 3
Sung Village to Hanoi
This morning brings a 10 km hike from Sung Village to Da Bia, passing through local villages and meeting people from the ethnic Muong tribe. You'll keep an eye out for the stone monument at Da Bia Mountain's peak. After lunch, you'll take a scenic boat cruise on Hoa Binh hydropower reservoir, then head back to Hanoi for a water puppet show tonight.
- Meals
- Lunch (Da Bac - Da Bia Lunch)
Included Activities
- Sung village to Da Bia hike
- Hoa Binh Reservoir Cruise
- Water puppet show
Landmarks/POIs Da Bia Mountain Hoa Binh hydropower reservoir - Day 4
Hanoi to Cat Ba Island
You'll start by visiting the Blue Dragon Children's Foundation this morning, then travel to Cat Ba Island. From there, you'll board a boat for a day cruising Lan Ha Bay, where limestone islands rise from the water. Lunch comes on board, and you'll paddle around the giant karsts by kayak before staying overnight on Cat Ba Island.
- Meals
- Lunch (Cat Ba Island - Lan Ha Bay Lunch (on board))
Included Activities
- Blue Dragon visit
- Boat trip on Lan Ha Bay
- Kayaking
- Lan Ha Bay Lunch
Optional Activities
- Swim at one of the beaches on Cat Ba Island
Landmarks/POIs Blue Dragon Children's Foundation Lan Ha Bay Cat Ba Island - Day 5
Cat Ba Island to Hanoi
Head back to Hanoi this morning and take a city tour to see how Southeast Asian, Chinese and French influences shaped the architecture. You'll visit the One Pillar Pagoda and Temple of Literature. Shared hotel rooms let you freshen up before the overnight train. There's time to shop on Hang Gai Street or try street food. Meet at the hotel lobby at 9 pm to transfer to the train station.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Temple of Literature
- Ho Chi Minh Complex
Optional Activities
- Shopping on Hang Gai Street
- Sample street food in Hanoi
Landmarks/POIs One Pillar Pagoda Temple of Literature Hang Gai Street - Day 6
Hue
You'll arrive in Hue this morning, Vietnam's former imperial capital where busy streets and peaceful areas mix together. The morning is yours to relax or walk around on your own. Grab a classic Hue breakfast of bun bo if you're hungry. After lunch, you'll visit the Imperial Citadel complex with its temples, pavilions, moats, gates and walls. Check out Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace and the 19th-century Ancestral Altars. During free time, explore Dong Ba Market for local goods and street food.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Imperial City Full Day Tour
Optional Activities
- Visit Dong Ba Market
- Sample banh khoai royal rice cake and Emperor Nguyen specialties
Landmarks/POIs One Pillar Pagoda Imperial Citadel of Hue Ngo Mon Gate Thai Hoa Palace Ancestral Altars Dong Ba Market 
- Day 7
Hue
Today's adventure happens on a motorbike as your driver takes you around the Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City, where you'll learn about damage from the Tet Offensive during the Vietnam War. Then you'll ride to a special vegetarian lunch at a convent or Buddhist monastery. After eating, you'll visit the royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, set on a lake with frangipani bushes and pine trees. This evening, ask your leader for recommendations on where to try Imperial Street specialties.
- Meals
- Lunch (Hue - Vegetarian Lunch at Pagoda)
Included Activities
- Highlights & back streets tour by motorbike
- Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc
- Vegetarian Lunch at Pagoda
Optional Activities
- Try Imperial Street specialties
Landmarks/POIs Forbidden Purple City Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc - Day 8
Hue to Hoi An
You'll travel by bus south through coastal rice paddies and stop at Lang Co Beach. The route crosses the dramatic Hai Van Pass along a scenic highway with views back to Lang Co Beach. The Marble Mountains provide a spectacular backdrop as you arrive in Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site. You'll take a walking tour of the Old Town, visiting a historic trader's house, the Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese assembly hall and a museum.
Included Activities
- Old Town walking tour
Optional Activities
- Stop at Lang Co Beach
Landmarks/POIs Lang Co Beach Hai Van Pass Marble Mountains Hoi An Old Town Japanese Covered Bridge - Day 9
Hoi An
Hoi An is all yours today. If you're up for activity, rent a bicycle to explore the surrounding countryside and see rural Vietnam. You could visit My Son, a UNESCO World Heritage temple complex showing Cham civilization culture, or take a cruise on the Thu Bon River. The Central Market has paintings, woodwork, ceramics and lanterns to browse. Hoi An's also known for talented tailors who can copy your favorite clothing within a few hours.
Optional Activities
- Hire a bicycle and tour the countryside
- Daytrip to My Son Cham (UNESCO World Heritage temple complex)
- Cruise along the Thu Bon River
- Visit Central Market
- Visit street stalls selling paintings, woodwork, ceramics and lanterns
- Private Hoi An: My Son Discovery - USD73
- Cooking class - USD33
- Food Adventure Urban Adventure - USD39
- Private Bike, Boat and Dinner Experience - USD69
Landmarks/POIs My Son Cham Thu Bon River Central Market - Day 10
Hoi An to Quy Nhon
You'll drive through central Vietnam toward the seaside city of Quy Nhon, stopping at Bich Hoa Tam Thanh village to see famous murals and paintings showing a different side of Vietnamese country life. You'll arrive in Quy Nhon in the early afternoon and take an orientation walk with your leader. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore or rest by the sea.
Included Activities
- Bich Hoa Tam Thanh - village visit
Optional Activities
- Explore Quy Nhon at your own pace
- Relax by the sea
Landmarks/POIs Bich Hoa Tam Thanh Quy Nhon - Day 11
Quy Nhon to Ho Chi Minh City
This morning you'll visit a local family that's practiced martial arts for three generations. You'll meet the master, learn about martial arts secrets and health benefits, watch a demonstration and try your own moves under his guidance. Then you'll visit the ancient Do Ban citadel, the last capital of the Champa Kingdom from the 11th to 15th centuries. You'll return to Quy Nhon to freshen up or organize luggage before the overnight train to Ho Chi Minh City.
Included Activities
- Quy Nhon - Martial art master visit and demonstration
- Quy Nhon - Do Ban ancient citadel
Landmarks/POIs Do Ban citadel - Day 12
Ho Chi Minh City
You'll arrive in Ho Chi Minh City early this morning, the country's largest city with a dynamic blend of old and new, east and west. Shared hotel rooms let you refresh before your day tour. You'll see the GPO, Reunification Palace and Opera House. You'll visit the War Remnants Museum and Notre Dame Cathedral. The evening is free, so stop by Ben Thanh Market to pick up last-minute snacks, cooking utensils or gifts.
Included Activities
- Ho Chi Minh City - City tour
- Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum
Optional Activities
- Visit Ben Thanh Market
- Reunification Palace - VND40000
- Cu Chi Tunnel Experience Urban Adventure - USD39
- Saigon Street Food by Night Urban Adventure - USD29
Landmarks/POIs General Post Office (GPO) Reunification Palace Ho Chi Minh City Opera House War Remnants Museum Notre Dame Cathedral Ben Thanh Market 
- Day 13
Mekong Delta
You'll travel south to the Mekong Delta and board a boat to explore its waterways. Known as 'the rice bowl' of Vietnam, this fertile delta grows rice, tropical fruit and flowers for the whole country. You'll disembark at Ben Tre and visit a local cottage industry to sample the region's famous candy. Take a tuk-tuk around the village, sample tropical fruit, visit a honey farm and learn about rural life. After lunch with regional specialties like elephant-ear fish, you'll paddle sampans along canals under water coconut trees. Stay overnight at a riverside guesthouse.
- Meals
- Lunch (Mekong Delta - Boat Cruise Lunch (regional specialties including elephant-ear fish)), Dinner (Mekong Delta - Guesthouse Dinner)
Included Activities
- Mekong Delta - Boat Cruise and Homestay
- Mekong Delta - Boat Cruise Lunch
Optional Activities
- Sample candy at local cottage industry
- Tuk-tuk tour around Ben Tre village
- Visit honey farm
- Sample tropical fruit
Landmarks/POIs Mekong Delta Ben Tre 
- Day 14
Mekong Delta to Ho Chi Minh City
Say goodbye to the Mekong Delta this morning and take the bus back to Ho Chi Minh City. The afternoon is free to see any sights or try any food you didn't get to before. Maybe spend your final night celebrating with a bowl of pho, toasting with your new friends to a trip well-traveled.
Optional Activities
- Explore remaining Ho Chi Minh City sights
- Sample local delights
- Enjoy pho or other Vietnamese specialties
- Day 15
Ho Chi Minh City
Your Vietnam adventure ends after breakfast today. There are no activities included, so you're free to leave whenever you'd like. If you want to stay longer, talk to your booking agent about extending your trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast
