11 Nights Itinerary Coverage: Hanoi - Halong Bay - Hoi An - Hue - Ho Chi Minh
On arrival at Hanoi Airport, you will be greeted by our local representative and transfer to pre-booked hotel. No activities planned for the day. Overnight in Hanoi.
Enjoy breakfast at hotel and proceed for sightseeing. We start our day with visit to Uncle Ho’s final resting place known as Ho Chinh Mausoleum. Located in Ba Dinh Square and a must visit place with brilliant architecture. A short walk from here you will dive into culture and peaceful environment at Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Next, we visit Vietnam’s very first university known as Temple of Literature, symbol of the significant influence of Confucianism on Vietnamese history and culture.
This afternoon we will embark on a cyclo tour cruising through the lively Old Quarter, home of traditional Vietnamese culture. Explore the colorful shops and street food vendors creates an aw-inspiring picture for visitor. Evening is at leisure or we can arrange few other activities at an additional cost. Overnight in Hanoi.
Morning after breakfast, check out from hotel and drive towards the serenity of Halong Bay. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its breathtaking beauty of limestone karsts and tropical islets rising above up from the emerald waters. On arrival, board the traditional Vietnamese Junk boat.
Enjoy lunch on board with views of lovely islets.
After lunch you will visit a Pearl Farm to get knowledge about culturing, harvesting, and sculpting of these precious gemstones. Following the pearl farm tour, if weather permits you can visit Ti Top beach and to get mesmerizing views of bay you can climb up to the top. Return to your boat afterwards and join the chef for cooking class followed by sunset views from top deck and dinner on board. Overnight on cruise.
This morning you can join T’ai Chi classes on cruise or simply wake up with expansive sunrise views and enjoy breakfast.
After breakfast visit Sung Sot Cave, one of the biggest caves in Halong Bay. Return to cruise and do check out formalities followed by transfer to Hanoi. On arrival, board the flight from Hanoi Airport to Da Nang. On arrival in Da Nang, you will be met by our driver and transfer to your hotel in Hoi An for the remaining day at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.
Embark on a walking tour of Hoi An’s ancient town with your expert guide. Walk along the narrow tranquil streets, old houses, colorful marketplaces, and ancient temples providing insights on the historic Vietnam from ancient times.
You will stop at Japanese Covered Bridge famous for its unique architecture and old merchant houses. Try traditional herbal drink at a street shop and Thanh Dong organic village to meet the local farmers to know about the working routines and helping them out. Enjoy a relaxing foot massage before returning to your hotel. Overnight in Hoi An.
Morning at your own in Hoi An to relax or explore the town as per your interest.
In optional activities you can choose to be a craftsman where you can learn to craft your own lantern or life as a farmer in Cam Thanh village. Overnight in Hoi An.
After breakfast check out from hotel and drive to Hue via Hai Van Pass – one of Vietnam’s most majestic passes offers stunning views of Truong Son Mountain. On arrival, check in at hotel.
Afternoon at leisure or you can explore Hoi An on your own, explore local markets and street food. Overnight in Hue.
After breakfast, meet your guide at hotel and proceed for city tour. Start with Thien Mu Pagoda - most preserved religious monument with hundreds of years of history and impressive architecture. Our next stop is Imperial Citadel, once used to be home of Nguyen Royal Family, you will explore Flag Tower, The King’s Palace and the museum.
You can explore Dong Ba market and then enjoy lunch with a local family at their historic house and gain insights on Vietnamese culture.
Rest of the time at leisure. Overnight in Hue.
This morning after breakfast, you will be transferred to airport to board flight for Ho Chi Minh city. On arrival, meet our driver and transfer to hotel.
After freshen up join our local guide for heritage walking tour of Saigon tells the incredible story of its heritage, culture, bustling streets, and historical sights.
Meet the guide at Saigon Opera House and stroll down Dong Khoi, a fancy and luxurious street to observe French architecture. Stop for coffee on the street and pass by City Hall and Nguyen Hue walking street. Stop at Opera House and the former Hotel De Ville know in present times as City Hall. Then wander up to Notre Dame Cathedral and Saigon Central Post Office, one of the oldest buildings in Ho Chi Minh City famous for its iconic structure. Continue to the War Remnants Museum, all the memories of the war with America are kept at this museum and must visit place.
Our final stop is Ben Thanh Market, one of the oldest surviving structures in Saigon famous among locals and visitors for its rich blend of history, culture, and commerce through its diverse array of shops and stalls. Return to hotel after the tour and stay overnight.
After breakfast you will be joined by our guide for day trip to Cai Be town, for a boat ride on the mighty Mekong River. Visit an ancient house enroute enjoying amazing views of surrounding areas. Board a traditional sampan boat and cruise through the small canals to the unique Cai Be floating market for one-of-a-kind experience followed by home cooked lunch with local family.
Return to hotel afterwards for overnight stay.
Delve into historic tour of Cu Chi Tunnels an hour’s drive away. This morning get picked by our driver and guide for Cu Chi Tunnels Day Tour. The dark, Cu Chi Tunnels is a legendary underground system of over 220 kms of tunnels, played crucial role during the war and now a must visit place for history lovers. On the way to tunnels you will have ample of photography opportunities as you passed through lush green rice paddies, rural ambience, and typical Vietnamese lifestyle. Once you arrive at tunnels, walk through some of the tunnels, discover the hidden corners and imaging what was life like here of soldiers. You can indulge in exploring various artifacts and meet a local family to understand the tunnel life much better.
Return to hotel after the tour for overnight stay.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Ho Chi Minh Airport with iconic highlights of this 12 Days Vietnam Tour.
Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City. It runs north to south, so you start with the capital and the bay, move through the central coast and the old imperial city, and finish in Saigon.
On Day 2 you visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his house on stilts, and the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university. In the afternoon there's a cyclo ride through the Old Quarter, with its shops and street food stalls. The evening is free.
You board a traditional junk boat on Day 3 and have lunch on board. Then you visit a pearl farm and, weather permitting, Ti Top beach, where you can climb up for a view of the bay. Back on the boat there's a cooking class with the chef, sunset from the top deck, and dinner. The next morning has an optional T'ai Chi session and a visit to Sung Sot Cave before you head back to Hanoi.
It's a long day, but it's all arranged. After the cave visit, you're driven back to Hanoi and fly to Da Nang. A driver meets you there and takes you to your Hoi An hotel, and the rest of the day is free. Airfares aren't part of the price, so check how the domestic flights are handled in your quote.
Three nights. Day 5 is a guided walk through the ancient town, with the Japanese Covered Bridge, old merchant houses, a herbal drink stop, a visit to Thanh Dong organic village and a foot massage. Day 6 is free, and you can choose optional activities like making your own lantern or spending time with farmers in Cam Thanh village.
You take the Hai Van Pass, a mountain road with big views over the Truong Son range, and reach Hue in time to check in. The next day is a Hue city tour covering Thien Mu Pagoda, the Imperial Citadel and Dong Ba Market, with lunch at a local family's historic home.
On Day 9 you fly in from Hue and take a heritage walk through Saigon. It covers the Opera House, Dong Khoi Street, City Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, the War Remnants Museum and Ben Thanh Market. Day 10 is a Mekong Delta trip to Cai Be with a sampan ride through the canals, the floating market and a home-cooked lunch. Day 11 is the Cu Chi Tunnels.
It's a network of more than 220 km of underground tunnels used during the war, about an hour's drive from the city. You can walk through parts of it and see artifacts. The passages are narrow and dark, so anyone who is claustrophobic or has trouble bending down should talk to the team about it first.
Included: accommodation, meals as mentioned, private transportation, guide services and 24x7 support on the ground. Not included: airfares, meals other than those mentioned, entrance fees, travel insurance and personal expenses.
Yes. If you want extra nights in Hoi An, a different hotel category, or a few of the optional activities added in, share it when you send your inquiry and the team will plan around it.
