Itinerary
- Day 1
Ho Chi Minh City
You'll arrive at the airport and be met by a driver who takes you to your hotel. After checking in, the day is yours to do what you like - whether that's resting up from travel or heading out to check out the local scene at your own pace.
Optional Activities
- Explore Ho Chi Minh City on your own to experience local culture and attractions
- Day 2
Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels
Following breakfast, you'll see Ho Chi Minh City's key historical spots starting with Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office designed by Gustave Eiffel, then move on to the Reunification Palace. In the afternoon, drive about 1.5 hours to Cu Chi Tunnels, an underground network used during the Vietnam War. You'll walk through sections of the tunnels, learn how they were built and used, try traditional fighter cuisine, and get a real sense of what conditions were like. The full drive takes about 75 km each way.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel), Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
- Visit Central Post Office
- Visit Reunification Palace
- Explore Cu Chi Tunnels - war remnants and underground complex
- Sample traditional cuisine from the Vietnam War period
Landmarks/POIs Notre Dame Cathedral Central Post Office Reunification Palace Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 3
Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho
Your guide picks you up at 8:00 am and heads southeast toward My Tho, roughly 75 km away in Tien Giang Province along the Mekong River. You'll visit handcraft islands where locals make coconut candy and run bee farms, then continue to Vinh Trang Pagoda, the region's oldest. A boat ride gets you there through gardens with detailed architectural work and sculptures. Afterward, you return to Ho Chi Minh City for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel)
Included Activities
- Explore one or two islands known for traditional handcrafts - coconut candy and bee farms
- Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
- Boat trip along the Mekong River
Landmarks/POIs My Tho Vinh Trang Pagoda Mekong River - Day 4
Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An
This morning is free to wander Ho Chi Minh City or do some shopping before heading to the airport for your flight to Hoi An. Once you land, a driver picks you up and brings you to your hotel. From there, the rest of the day is open for relaxing, wandering around, or shopping.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel)
Optional Activities
- Explore Ho Chi Minh City on your own
- Shopping in Ho Chi Minh City
- Day 5
Hoi An to My Son
You depart at 8:00 am for My Son, a UNESCO World Heritage site about 50 km southwest of Hoi An. This former capital of the Cham people has red brick towers and sanctuaries dating from the 7th to 13th centuries. You'll walk through the valley, see the intricate carvings on temples, and learn about Cham history before returning around 1:00 pm. Lunch is on your own, then the afternoon is free to browse Hoi An's famous lanterns, get clothing tailored, or pick up handmade souvenirs.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit My Son UNESCO World Heritage site
- Explore lush valley and learn about Cham civilization
- Admire intricate carvings and sculptures on temples
Optional Activities
- Shopping for lanterns, tailor-made clothing, and handcrafted souvenirs in Hoi An
Landmarks/POIs My Son - Day 6
Hoi An to Hue
The day covers historic Hoi An, once a major trading port with temples featuring Chinese and Japanese influences, plus a pagoda for sailors and a 1700s chapel. You'll check out the Sa Huynh Museum near the Japanese Covered Bridge, then take a boat to Kim Bong Village on Cam Kim Island to see traditional woodworkers. After that, you drive toward Hue, stopping at the Cham Museum, Ngu Hanh Son Mountain in Da Nang (tickets are your expense), Hai Van Pass with views of Son Tra Peninsula, and Lang Co Beach. You reach Hue in the afternoon with time to explore the imperial city.
Included Activities
- Visit temple in Hoi An with gilded statues
- Visit pagoda dedicated to sailors and fishermen
- Visit chapel from the 1700s
- Visit Sa Huynh Museum
- Boat trip along Thu Bon River
- Visit Kim Bong Village on Cam Kim Island - see traditional woodworkers and shipbuilding families
- Stop at Hai Van Pass - views of Son Tra Peninsula
- Stop at Lang Co Beach
Optional Activities
- Visit Cham Museum in Da Nang (ticket purchase required)
- Visit Ngu Hanh Son Mountain in Da Nang (ticket purchase required)
- Explore restaurants and shops in Hue
Landmarks/POIs Japanese Covered Bridge Sa Huynh Museum Kim Bong Village Cham Museum Ngu Hanh Son Mountain Hai Van Pass Lang Co Beach Son Tra Peninsula - Day 7
Hue
After breakfast, a boat takes you along the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue's oldest and most revered pagoda, with river views and history about its cultural significance. Next come the mausoleums of Emperor Khai Dinh and Tu Duc, two key Hue landmarks. Lunch at a local restaurant serves traditional Vietnamese food, then you tour the Imperial Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Nguyen Dynasty architecture and the Purple Forbidden City. Late in the day, you visit Thuy Xuan village to see traditional incense production before finishing at Dong Ba market, the city's largest and busiest marketplace, for souvenirs and local items.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel), Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant with traditional Vietnamese cuisine)
Included Activities
- Boat trip along Perfume River
- Visit Thien Mu Pagoda
- Visit mausoleum of Emperor Khai Dinh
- Visit mausoleum of Tu Duc
- Visit Imperial Citadel - UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Explore Purple Forbidden City
- Visit Thuy Xuan incense-making village
- Visit Dong Ba market
Landmarks/POIs Perfume River Thien Mu Pagoda Mausoleum of Emperor Khai Dinh Mausoleum of Tu Duc Imperial Citadel Purple Forbidden City Thuy Xuan incense-making village Dong Ba market - Day 8
Hue to Hanoi
You have the morning and early afternoon free to explore Hue however you want until it's time to head to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. After landing, a driver transfers you to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is yours to settle in and relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel)
Optional Activities
- Explore Hue at your leisure
- Day 9
Hanoi
With your guide, you explore Hanoi starting at Tran Quoc Pagoda on Golden Fish Island in West Lake, built in the 6th century and the city's oldest pagoda. You'll see the Ho Chi Minh complex with his embalmed body and two houses from 1954-1969, plus the One Pillar Pagoda. The Vietnam Ethnology Museum covers Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups (or the Women's Museum if your tour falls on Monday). After lunch at a local restaurant with Vietnamese food, you visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university from the 11th century, and wrap up at Hoa Lo Prison, called the 'Hanoi Hilton' by American POWs during the Vietnam War.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel), Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant with Vietnamese cuisine)
Included Activities
- Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda
- Visit Ho Chi Minh complex - view embalmed body
- Walk around Ho Chi Minh complex gardens
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Vietnam Ethnology Museum or Women's Museum (if Monday)
- Visit Temple of Literature
- Visit Hoa Lo Prison
Landmarks/POIs Tran Quoc Pagoda Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum One Pillar Pagoda Vietnam Ethnology Museum Women's Museum Temple of Literature Hoa Lo Prison West Lake Golden Fish Island - Day 10
Hanoi to Halong Bay
Between 8:30-9:00 am, a minivan or bus picks you up for the 3.5-hour drive to Halong City through countryside and rice paddies. At the port, you board an authentic Chinese junk for your cruise through Halong Bay, a World Heritage Site. Fresh seafood lunch is served on board before you visit a cave, swim in the water, then anchor for the night. Dinner comes with sunset views, and you can relax on deck or head to your cabin.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch on board with selection of fresh seafood), Dinner (Dinner on board)
Included Activities
- Cruise through Halong Bay
- Visit Amazing cave
- Swim in Halong Bay waters
- Overnight on boat
Optional Activities
- Swim in phosphorescent water at night
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay - Day 11
Halong Bay to Hanoi
Wake early to catch the sunrise and enjoy the ocean air. Breakfast happens on board while you cruise past thousands of islands, perfect for photos. You'll visit a floating fishing village and hear about the fishermen's daily lives. Lunch is served as you head back to Halong City pier, arriving around 3:30-4:00 pm. After checking in at your Hanoi hotel, the evening is free to check out the Old Quarter, browse shops for souvenirs, and sample local street food.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on board), Lunch (Lunch on board)
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing on Halong Bay
- Cruise through Halong Bay islands
- Visit floating fishing village
- Leisurely cruise back to Halong City pier
Optional Activities
- Explore Old Quarter of Hanoi on your own
- Shop for souvenirs
- Sample local street food
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay Old Quarter - Day 12
Hanoi Departure
After breakfast at your hotel, you head to the airport for your international flight home or to your next stop. Legend Travel Group handles your airport transfer, making sure your departure goes smoothly.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel)
