Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi Arrival (N/A)
Welcome to Hanoi. Enjoy a walking tour in the old quarter.
Driver and tour guide will meet you at the Noi Bai airport, takes a 45-minute drive to Hanoi Old Quarter, briefs them about city attractions, and checks into a hotel. Your tour guide takes you on a stroll through Hanoi, visiting notable sites like Ba Da, Lo Ren Street, Lan Ong Street, Dong Xuan market, and Ta Hien Street. Discover the Hanoi Great Cathedral, metal goods production, traditional medicine sales, Dong Xuan market, and street cuisine, including tasting some delectable regional dishes.
Ovenight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Ha Noi city full-day (B, L)
Have breakfast at your hotel.
9:00 AM: Tour guide will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the Temple of Literature, Khue Van Cac, where you will see the World Heritage “stone steles” and Quoc Tu Giam, the country’s first national university.
The Ethnology Museum offers a comprehensive understanding of Vietnamese culture through traditional clothing, tools, and ethnic groups. The French Quarter, a “little Paris” in Hanoi, features tree-lined boulevards, government headquarters, and a square. Visit Ho Chi Minh’s grave and the Presidential Palace. Experience water puppet shows, which depict daily life and culture, often incorporating traditional music.
Return to the hotel.
Day 3: Ha Noi – Ninh Binh – Ha Noi (B, L)
Have breakfast at your hotel.
8:00 am: Travel from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, passing through the Red River Delta’s countryside. Visit Van Long, a 3-generation rural family, where you can engage in private discussions and explore their villages. Explore the stunning rice fields, river, and limestone mountains along the dyke, stopping at various locations for photo opportunities and local interaction. Visit the 11th-century Thung La Temple, enjoy a 20-minute drum show, and explore Van Long Nature Reserve by sampan boat. Visit an embroidered village after a boat ride for an embroidery lesson with skilled local craftsperson Mrs. Lam, demonstrating age-old trade methods and practicing fabric work.
End of the day, transfer back to your hotel in Ha Noi.
Day 4: Ha Noi – Hai Phong – Lan Ha Bay (B, L, D)
9:00 am: Pick up in Hanoi Old Quarter, drive 2.5 hours to Lan Ha Bay, passing villages and rice fields, stop for drinks and restrooms, and arrive at the harbor in the afternoon.
12:30 pm: Experience luxury on Peony Cruises, board a luxurious craft, and enjoy a special lunch featuring fresh food and delicacies before sailing to Lan Ha Bay, one of the world’s most beautiful bays.
3:30 pm: Experience the natural beauty of the Dark and Bright Cave, Lan Ha Bay seascape, and enjoy local attractions, bamboo boat swimming, and Peony Cruise’s mini pool with jacuzzi.
7:30 pm: Enjoy a romantic dinner at the restaurant on Peony Cruise.
9:00 pm: Enjoy the bay’s nightlife from the top deck, featuring music, cocktails, films, and relaxation. Fish squid with sailors or unwind in the room.
Overnight cruise.
Day 5: Hai Phong – Lan Ha bay – Quang Binh (B, L)
6:30 – 7:30 am: Breakfast is served at the Peony Cruise restaurant.
8:00 am: The cruise will arrive at Frog Pond, offering kayaking and relaxation in the four-season mini pool on Lan Ha Bay, a silk ribbon crafted from green mountains, blue seas, and diverse fauna.
9:30 am: After checking out, enjoy lunch at the restaurant. Pay extra fees at reception and front desk costs for port transportation.
11:15 – 11:30 am: Disembark and move back to the port.
11:30 – 11:45 am: Arrive at Tuan Chau International Marina Station, meet a driver, then travel 2.5 hours on Highway No.5B, crossing the Red River Delta, drop off at the hotel, transfer to Hanoi Train Station.
Overnight train journey to Quang Binh.
Day 6: Dong Hoi City – Phong Nha (B, L)
The tour guide and driver meet at DONG HOI airport for an early morning flight to Quang Binh province, famous for Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a World Heritage site with 85,754 ha of geological and ecological value.
Explore Phong Nha Cave, a famous 1994 discovery known for its underground river and stalactites. Take a boat to the grotto gate and admire natural masterpieces like Bi Ki Cave and Celestial Palace.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and discover the Paradise Cave (Thien Duong Cave), Asia’s longest cave, discovered in 2005. Explore its mystical and extraordinary stalactites and stalagmites through various rooms after a forest walk.
Transfer to your hotel, check in, and enjoy your stay in this peaceful town.
Day 7: Phong Nha – Quang Tri – Hue (B)
After breakfast, a driver and tour guide will pick you up and transfer you to Hue, the ancient capital of Vietnam. Visit the Vinh Moc Tunnel, a 1.7 km long, 10 to 23 m deep tunnel used as a bomb shelter.
Continue your journey to visit Hue, a stop on the 17th Parallel, Vietnam’s border between Communist and non-Communist factions. Explore the museum, flag tower, Ben Hai River, and Hien Luong Bridge for unique history.
Arrive in Hue late afternoon and check into your hotel. Enjoy a leisurely stroll to explore the ancient capital at night.
Day 8: Hue full-day (B)
Pick-up from the hotel, transfer to the Huong River for the Royal Boat Trip to East City Villages Explore local life on both sides, then disembark for a bike ride through Tien Non, Thanh Tien, and Sinh villages. The trip takes you through the daily life of the villages, including Tien Non village, where you meet villagers working on fields and vegetable gardens, and Thanh Tien village, an artificial paper flower village with 400-year-old traditions. Visit Sinh village, Hue’s 400-year-old folklore print cradle, meet Mr. Phuoc for traditional print techniques, and discover beautiful souvenirs before returning to the city by boat.
Visit the 1601-year-old Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue, renowned for its octagon tower and stunning Perfume River view, as a spiritual highlight in the city.
Visit Hue Citadel, a symbol of Vietnam’s imperial city, inspired by Vauban fortifications. The city consists of Kinh Thanh, Hoang Thanh, and Cam Thanh, with beautiful sites like the flag tower, South Gate, and Dynasty temple area.
Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.
Day 9: Hue – Hoi An (B, L)
7:30 am: Visit Khai Dinh King’s tomb, built 11 years ago (1920–1931) on Chau Tru Hill, featuring a blend of oriental and western styles. Climb a hundred steps to the worship palace, where porcelain fragments, a giant painting, and a royal object museum await.
Continue driving to Hoi An via Mandarin Road and Sea Cloud Pass (Hai Van Pass). Visit Da Nang’s Cham Museum, My Khe Beach, and Linh Ung Pagoda, and take photos of fishermen. Enjoy a breathtaking ocean view and Da Nang city before driving to Hoi An, an ancient town.
Explore Hoi An’s Old Town, a typical South-East Asian trading port from the 15th–19th centuries, showcasing exchanged cultures, historic buildings, religion, daily business, and local lifestyle.
Cam Pho, an ancient communal house in Hoi An, is a cultural exchange site where visitors can learn Japanese tea ceremonies and make toys from coconut leaves with local experts.
Explore Hoi An’s iconic Chua Cau, a 17th-century Japanese covered bridge, and the authentic Quan Thang ancient house, featuring lively architecture and sculptures by Kim Bong carpentry village craftsmen. Enjoy a glimpse into Hoi An family life and its 400-year-old style.
Today, we visit the 17th-century Phuc Kien, or Fujian Assembly Hall, a gathering place for Fujian residents, traders, and visitors, and a religious site honoring Thien Hau. We’ll return to the hotel or explore the city.
Day 10: Hoi An (B, L)
Visit Kim Bong village, known for its wood carving, cycle to Hoi An Pier, and ferry across the Thu Bon River. Enjoy idyllic landscapes and learn about local artisans’ techniques, including a visit to a carpenter’s workshop and the opportunity to buy wood products as souvenirs.
Explore Vietnam’s countryside on cycling trails, encountering artisans like Duoc, Kha, and Huynh Ri, and witnessing palm and rice fields, buffaloes, and farmers. Experience unique experiences and unique encounters.
A boat trip on the Thu Bon River leads to Cam Thanh village, where you can enjoy crab-catching in the water palm tree forest. Relax at the fisherman’s house, enjoy green tea and foot massages with medicinal herbs, and prepare local dishes like crispy pancakes, spring rolls, and grilled fish. Return to your hotel.
Day 11: Hoi An – My Son – Ho Chi Minh city (B, L)
8:00 am: Tour guide and driver pick up from hotel for a half-day excursion to My Son, sacred valley of Champa Kingdom, 40km from Hoi An Town. Recognized as a World Culture Heritage site by UNESCO, preserves 70 ruined architecture works.Your tour guide will provide an in-depth explanation of cultural, historical, and architectural values while visiting relics and attending a traditional Champa dancing show before leaving the sanctuary.
After an excursion, transfer to Danang Airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Arrive at Tan Son Nhat airport, met by a professional tour guide who shares city highlights, experiences, and check-in time.
Day 12: Ho Chi Minh city (B)
Have breakfast at your hotel.
9:00 am: Visit the Independence Palace, once South Vietnam’s President’s home, a five-story palace preserved in late 1960s style. Take a leisurely tour of Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, a picturesque spot with French colonist influences, and the North Vietnamese tank attack in 1975.
Walk to the must-see city landmark toward Nguyen Hue Walking Street. The magnificent Saigon Central Post Office was created by renowned architect Gustave Eiffel. It is a functioning post office with lovely interior accents.
Pickup by car, then a short drive to Binh Tay Market. The largest market in the city, with hundreds of stalls, serves as a central location for many of Saigon’s needs, including apparel, trinkets, and food products. Additionally, there is a food court where guests can experience regional specialties and street food.
Visit Quan Am Pagoda, an ancient Taoist pagoda dedicated to Guan Yin, and the Traditional Medicine Museum (FITO) to learn about medicinal herb recipes and antique tools.
End of the day, drop you back to hotel
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh city – Tay Ninh – Ho Chi Minh city (B, L)
8:00 am: Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, an underground city in Vietnam War history covering over 250km. Dug over 20 years with pickaxes and shovels, the tour includes special tunnel visits. Visit the less-touristy Ben Duoc memorial temple, built in 1993 in memory of the Vietnamese killed at Cu Chi.
Visit the Cao Dai Temple, a sacred Vietnamese attraction influenced by Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Roman Catholicism, where you can attend midday mass.
Have lunch at a local restaurant, then transfer back to the hotel in the afternoon.
Day 14 : Ho Chi Minh city – Ben Tre (B, L, D)
8:00 am: Transfer to Ben Tre, Mekong Delta River region, famous for coconut candy. Visit Hung Vuong pier, the boat trip, Mr. Tu Lo’s brick kiln, and Nhon Thanh Village for fresh fruit tasting. Explore the villages on a bike ride, enjoying coconut ranges, rice fields, and vegetable gardens. Enjoy a lunch with elephant ear fish, explore local life, and take a boat ride on a canal.
Visit Ben Tre, where you’ll meet the homestay host, participate in making Banh Xeo Nam Bo, have dinner, and stay overnight.
Day 15: Ben Tre – Long Xuyen (B, L)
Enjoy a 1-1.5-hour bike ride from Dong Hoa to Tam Binh, passing durian, sapota, and longan gardens, and meet locals before visiting the village market and returning for refreshments. (Experience a unique and authentic excursion by cycling to Ngu Hiep Island, where the Mekong River’s alluvium forms a fertile garden, after a 1-hour walk with locals.) Our tour guide offers motorbike rides for non-bike riders, allowing pillion rides to Long Xuyen via Sa Dec, where we visit Kien An Cung pagoda and Huynh Thuy Le’s house from Marguerite Duras’ novel. Explore Sa Dec’s fruit, vegetable, and fish market, then visit the Cao Dai temple and crocodile farm in Long Xuyen, where you’ll stay overnight.
Day 16: Long Xuyen – Ho Chi Minh city (B, L)
The morning involves visiting the authentic floating market and village in Long Xuyen, visiting Cu Lao Ong Ho, taking a boat trip to Ton Duc Thang’s museum, and taking a bike ride on the peaceful island before returning to Saigon.
Day 17: Ho Chi Minh city (B)
A private driver will pick you up from the hotel lobby for 30 minutes to Tan Son Nhat airport, depending on your flight.
End of our services!
