Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Hanoi
You'll arrive in Hanoi whenever works for you. Your driver meets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel. After settling in, spend the rest of the day however you like - rest up from travel or start wandering around the city on your own.
Optional Activities
- Explore Hanoi city independently
- Day 2
Hanoi City Tour
After breakfast, your guide picks you up for a full day around Hanoi's cultural sites. You'll see Tran Quoc Pagoda on Golden Fish Island, the Ho Chi Minh complex including his mausoleum, and the One Pillar Pagoda. Then it's off to the Vietnam Ethnology Museum to learn about the country's 54 ethnic groups. Grab lunch at a local spot serving Vietnamese food, then check out the Temple of Literature and the historic Hoa Lo Prison. You'll head back to your hotel as evening comes around.
- Meals
- Breakfast (At hotel), Lunch (Vietnamese cuisine at restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda
- Visit Ho Chi Minh complex and mausoleum
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Vietnam Ethnology Museum (or Women's Museum if Monday)
- Visit Temple of Literature
- Visit Hoa Lo Prison
- Guided city tour of Hanoi
Landmarks/POIs Tran Quoc Pagoda Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum One Pillar Pagoda Vietnam Ethnology Museum Temple of Literature Hoa Lo Prison - Day 3
Hanoi to Halong Bay
After breakfast, you depart between 8:30 and 9:00 am for a 3.5-hour drive to Halong City, passing through countryside and rice paddies. Board your Chinese junk boat and cruise through Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site. You'll visit an impressive cave, swim in the emerald waters, then anchor for the night. Dinner's served on the boat, and later you can relax under the stars or try swimming in the phosphorescent water.
- Meals
- Breakfast (At hotel), Lunch (Selection of freshest seafood served on board), Dinner (On board the cruise boat)
Included Activities
- 3.5-hour drive to Halong City
- Halong Bay cruise on Chinese Junk
- Visit Amazing Cave
- Swim in Halong Bay
- Overnight cruise in Halong Bay
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay Amazing Cave - Day 4
Halong Bay to Hanoi
Wake early to catch the sunrise and have breakfast on the boat while cruising past the islands. Stop at a floating fishing village to see how fishermen live and work. The boat then heads back to Halong City pier, and you'll drive to Hanoi, arriving around 3:30 or 4:00 pm. After checking into your hotel, you've got the evening free to wander the Old Quarter, try street food, or pick up souvenirs.
- Meals
- Breakfast (On the boat), Lunch (On the boat during return cruise)
Included Activities
- Sunrise cruise through Halong Bay
- Visit floating fishing village
- Halong Bay to Hanoi return cruise and drive
Optional Activities
- Explore Old Quarter of Hanoi independently
- Local street food tasting
- Shopping for souvenirs
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay Hanoi Old Quarter - Day 5
Hanoi to Hoi An
Breakfast is at your hotel, then you have the morning and early afternoon to explore Hanoi's Old Quarter at your own pace and do some shopping. In the late afternoon, head to the airport for your flight to Hoi An. Once you land, your driver takes you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax or start checking out this UNESCO World Heritage ancient town.
- Meals
- Breakfast (At hotel)
Included Activities
- Flight from Hanoi to Hoi An
Optional Activities
- Explore Old Quarter of Hanoi independently
- Shopping in Hanoi's Old Quarter
- Explore Hoi An Ancient Town independently
Landmarks/POIs Hoi An Ancient Town - Day 6
Hoi An City Tour
Today you'll explore Hoi An's historic trading center with its well-preserved old architecture. You'll visit a temple in the city center with Chinese and Japanese influences, a pagoda for sailors and fishermen, and a chapel from the 1700s. Stop by the Sa Huynh Museum near the famous Japanese Covered Bridge to learn about Hoi An's earliest days. Later, take a boat on the Thu Bon River to Kim Bong Village to watch traditional woodworkers and shipbuilders at work. The evening is free for you to wander around Hoi An at your leisure.
Included Activities
- Visit temple in central Hoi An
- Visit pagoda dedicated to sailors and fishermen
- Visit chapel from the 1700s
- Visit Sa Huynh Museum
- Boat trip on Thu Bon River to Kim Bong Village on Cam Kim Island
- Visit Kim Bong Village to see woodworkers and shipbuilders
Optional Activities
- Leisurely explore Hoi An Ancient Town independently
Landmarks/POIs Hoi An Ancient Town Japanese Covered Bridge Sa Huynh Museum Kim Bong Village - Day 7
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City via My Son
After breakfast, you depart at 8:30 am for the drive to My Son, a World Heritage site about 50 km southwest of Hoi An. There you'll explore red brick towers and sanctuaries built between the 7th and 13th centuries by the Cham people. After returning to Hoi An for lunch, you'll have free time to shop in town. Later you fly to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's largest city known for busy street markets, sidewalk cafes, and modern bars.
- Meals
- Breakfast (At hotel), Lunch (In Hoi An)
Included Activities
- Visit My Son World Heritage site
- Flight from Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
Optional Activities
- Shopping in Hoi An
Landmarks/POIs My Son - Day 8
Ho Chi Minh City & Cu Chi Tunnels
After breakfast, your guide takes you around Ho Chi Minh City's main sights. You'll see the Notre Dame Cathedral with its neo-Romanesque style, the historic Central Post Office designed by Gustave Eiffel, and the Reunification Palace, the former presidential residence of South Vietnam. After lunch at a local restaurant, head out to the Cu Chi Tunnels, an extensive underground network that was important during the Vietnam War. You'll learn about how they were built, explore the complex, and try simple food that soldiers ate. Then it's back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (At hotel), Lunch (At local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
- Visit Central Post Office
- Visit Reunification Palace
- Visit Cu Chi Tunnels
- Explore Cu Chi Tunnels complex
- Sample simple wartime cuisine at Cu Chi Tunnels
Landmarks/POIs Notre Dame Cathedral Central Post Office Reunification Palace Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 9
Mekong Delta Day Trip from Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast, your guide picks you up at 8:00 am for the drive to My Tho, capital of Tien Giang Province on the Mekong River, about 75 km southeast of Ho Chi Minh City. Check out one or two islands known for making traditional coconut candy and running bee farms. Visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in the Mekong Delta region, surrounded by gardens with intricate architecture and detailed sculptures. You'll reach it by boat along the river. Afterward, drive back to Ho Chi Minh City and check into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (At hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit one or two islands producing traditional handcrafts in Mekong Delta
- Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
- Boat trip on Mekong River
Landmarks/POIs My Tho Vinh Trang Pagoda - Day 10
Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap & Angkor Complex
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap. You'll arrive around noon and meet your guide and driver for the transfer to the city. Then you'll start exploring the Angkor Complex by visiting Angkor Thom, a massive walled city covering 10 sq km with moats. You'll enter through the South Gate lined with demon and god statues, then see the Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper Kings, the ruined Baphuon, Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, and the Bayon Temple known for its giant smiling stone faces. Watch the sunset from an ancient temple's upper level before heading back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (At hotel)
Included Activities
- Flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap
- Visit Angkor Thom
- Visit Terrace of the Elephants
- Visit Terrace of the Leper Kings
- Visit Baphuon temple
- Visit Royal Enclosure
- Visit Phimeanakas temple
- Visit Bayon Temple
- Sunset viewing at ancient temple
Landmarks/POIs Angkor Thom Terrace of the Elephants Terrace of the Leper Kings Baphuon Royal Enclosure Phimeanakas Bayon Temple - Day 11
Angkor Temples Tour
After breakfast, continue exploring the Angkor temple complex. You'll visit Angkor Wat, the most significant temple and largest, crossing wide moats and causeways lined with naga statues to reach the inner sanctuary. Check out the intricate carvings and the famous Churning of the Ocean of Milk relief. Next is Ta Prohm, with jungle still covering much of it for a mystical feel. Continue to Banteay Srei with its pink sandstone and finely preserved carvings, then Takeo, Thommanon, Chau Say Tevoda, and Ta Prohm again. Return to your hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast (At hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Angkor Wat temple
- Visit Ta Prohm temple
- Visit Banteay Srei temple
- Visit Takeo temple
- Visit Thommanon temple
- Visit Chau Say Tevoda temple
- Guided temple tour of Angkor complex
Landmarks/POIs Angkor Wat Ta Prohm Banteay Srei Takeo Thommanon Chau Say Tevoda - Day 12
Departure from Siem Reap
After breakfast, you have the morning free to do what you like in Siem Reap or shop for souvenirs. Your driver will pick you up from the hotel and take you to the airport for your departure. Try to arrive at least 3 hours before your flight to have enough time for check-in and security.
- Meals
- Breakfast (At hotel)
Included Activities
- Airport transfer from hotel to airport
Optional Activities
- Explore Siem Reap independently
- Shopping for souvenirs
