Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Hanoi
You'll arrive at the airport and hop onto an open-air bus for a tour of Hanoi's key landmarks. The route takes you past the Opera House, Hoa Lo Prison, and Hanoi Train Street, which runs through a residential area where trains still pass between buildings. It's a good introduction to the city's mix of history and daily life.
Included Activities
- Open-air bus tour of Hanoi including Opera House, Hoa Lo Prison, and Hanoi Train Street
Landmarks/POIs Hanoi Opera House Hoa Lo Prison Hanoi Train Street - Day 2
Hanoi
This morning you'll head to Ba Dinh Square to see the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh Museum, then visit Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum. After that, you'll walk through the 36 Streets Old Quarter where narrow lanes are packed with shops and street food vendors. Later in the day, you'll watch a water puppet performance with traditional music, a local art form that dates back centuries and tells stories from Vietnamese folklore.
Included Activities
- Ba Dinh Square visit including Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh Museum
- Walking tour of the 36 Streets Old Quarter
- Water Puppet Performance with traditional Vietnamese folk music
Landmarks/POIs Ba Dinh Square Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Ho Chi Minh Museum 36 Streets Old Quarter - Day 3
Ha Long Bay
You'll board the Paradise Elegance cruise ship and head out into Ha Long Bay's limestone-filled waters. During the afternoon, there's time for kayaking through Luon Cave or swimming, and you can hike up Titop Island if you want the views from above. Back onboard, activities include Tai Chi classes, a cooking lesson, movie night, or fishing for squid after dark. Dinner comes with wine service.
- Meals
- Dinner (Romantic dinner with wine)
Included Activities
- Overnight cruise on Paradise Elegance
- Luon Cave kayaking exploration
- Swimming or hiking to Titop Island summit with panoramic views
- Tai Chi classes
- Cooking class
- Movie night
- Live music in lounge or nighttime squid fishing
- Romantic dinner with wine
Landmarks/POIs Ha Long Bay Luon Cave Titop Island - Day 4
Ha Long Bay to Hanoi to Danang
If you're up for it, join the optional Tai Chi session at sunrise on the deck overlooking the bay. After breakfast, you'll explore Surprise Cave, the largest cave in Ha Long Bay, hiking through its limestone passages. Once you return to shore, a transfer takes you back to Hanoi for your flight to Danang.
Included Activities
- Hiking tour of Surprise (Sung Sot) Cave with limestone formations
Optional Activities
- Optional early morning Tai Chi meditation class with Ha Long Bay backdrop
Landmarks/POIs Surprise Cave (Sung Sot Cave) - Day 5
Danang to Hoi An
Starting outside Hoi An, you'll spend time with water buffalo in the local fields, then take a traditional bamboo boat through Bay Mau Coconut Forest. From there, a guided walk takes you through Hoi An Ancient Town with stops at the Cantonese Assembly Hall and the Japanese Bridge. As evening comes, you'll take a boat ride and release a lantern onto the water, part of a tradition that's been going on here for generations.
Included Activities
- Water buffalo encounter in Hoi An outskirts
- Bay Mau Coconut Forest bamboo boat cruise with professional boatmen
- Walking tour of Hoi An Ancient Town including Cantonese Assembly Hall and Japanese-styled canal bridge
- Evening boat ride with lantern release ceremony
Landmarks/POIs Bay Mau Coconut Forest Hoi An Ancient Town Cantonese Assembly Hall Japanese-styled Canal Bridge - Day 6
Hoi An to Danang to Hue
You'll walk through Marble Mountain to see Buddhist grottos and pagodas carved into the limestone formations. After that, you'll travel to Hue, the former imperial capital. The Tu Duc Tomb sits in a peaceful setting with gardens and pine trees around it. Tonight includes dinner set up in an imperial-style space with classical music playing.
- Meals
- Dinner (Hue Royal Cuisine in elegant imperial era setting with live classical music)
Included Activities
- Marble Mountain exploration including Buddhist grottos and pagodas
- Tomb of Tu Duc visit with gardens and pine groves
- Hue Royal Cuisine dinner in imperial era setting with live classical music
Landmarks/POIs Marble Mountain Tomb of Tu Duc - Day 7
Hue to Ho Chi Minh City
This morning covers the Hue Monuments complex, a UNESCO site that preserves 200 years of Vietnam's history. An afternoon flight gets you to Ho Chi Minh City. Later, you'll board a vintage-style ship on the Saigon River for dinner while watching the city's lights reflect off the water.
- Meals
- Dinner (Exquisite dinner aboard vintage-styled ship on Saigon River with skyline views)
Included Activities
- Complex of Hue Monuments UNESCO World Heritage Site visit
- Saigon River Dinner Cruise with skyline views aboard vintage-styled ship
Landmarks/POIs Complex of Hue Monuments Saigon River - Day 8
Ho Chi Minh City
You'll browse Ben Thanh Market picking through local goods and picking up souvenirs while learning how Vietnamese markets work and what daily life looks like here. Later you'll travel to Cu Chi Tunnels, an underground network from the Vietnam War. Walking through these passages gives perspective on what people went through during that period.
Included Activities
- Ben Thanh Market visit and browsing
- Cu Chi Tunnels complex exploration
Landmarks/POIs Ben Thanh Market Cu Chi Tunnels
