Essential Highlights of Vietnam

Trip Highlights

• Unique tour of Hanoi's lesser-known areas
• A glimpse into the most remarkable parts of Vietnam in just 14 days
• The tranquility of Southern Vietnam

Trip Summary

Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi

You will be warmly welcomed upon arrival at Hanoi Airport and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Meals are at your own expense. Overnight stay in Hanoi.

Hanoi Old Quarter is the heart of sightseeing and food adventures - Photo by Elena Ermakova / Shutterstock.com

Day 2: Hanoi City Tour

After your morning pickup, enjoy a full day city tour of Hanoi including the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Museum, The Presidential Palace, the Stilt House, and One Pillar Pagoda). Next, visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before heading to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. Later, explore the daily life of locals with a walking tour in the Old Quarter. Return to your hotel. Dinner is at your own expense. Overnight in Hanoi.

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

Day 3: Hanoi to Halong Bay

After breakfast, you will be transferred from your hotel to Halong Bay. Arrive in Halong around noon and board our traditional wooden boat/cruise. Spend the day relaxing, sightseeing, and swimming. Visit a Floating Fishing Village and swim if the weather allows. Meals included. Overnight on board.

Cruising in Halong Bay

Day 4: Kayaking in Halong Bay

Start the morning with a serene Tai Chi session on the deck. Enjoy a kayaking trip to explore nearby caves, hidden coves, and floating villages. Lunch will be served on a support boat. Return to your main boat for dinner and overnight.

Kayaking in Halong Bay

Day 5: Halong Bay to Hanoi

Awake on the bay to the sounds of waves and birds signaling a new day. After breakfast, explore a beautiful limestone grotto. Return to your boat for one last view of Halong Bay as we cruise back to the dock. Drive back to Hanoi for an overnight stay. Dinner is at your own expense. Overnight in Hanoi.

Hanoi at night

Day 6: Hanoi to Hue

After breakfast, transfer to Noi Bai Airport for your flight to Hue. Upon arrival at Phu Bai Airport, you will be taken directly to your hotel. In the afternoon, embark on a city tour including the Citadel, the Forbidden Purple City, the Imperial Museum, and Dong Ba Market. Dinner and overnight stay in Hue.

Museum of The Imperial City in Hue

Day 7: Hue City Tour to Hoi An

After hotel breakfast, discover the ancient capital city by cruising along the Perfume River. Visit Thien Mu Pagoda and the ornate Minh Mang tomb. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before transferring to Hoi An. Admire the scenic views as you travel over the Hai Van Pass and stop at the Cham Museum and a handicraft village at the foot of Marble Mountain. Check in at your hotel in Hoi An and enjoy free time to explore the town. Dinner is at your own expense. Overnight in Hoi An.

Huong River in Hue

Day 8: Hoi An to My Son and back

Your morning begins with a pickup at your hotel for the transfer to My Son, a UNESCO World Heritage site located 50 km southwest of Hoi An. My Son served as a capital and religious center for the Cham people from the 7th to the 13th centuries and is considered one of Southeast Asia's most significant archaeological sites, alongside Angkor in Cambodia, Bagan in Myanmar, and Ayutthaya in Thailand. Spend time exploring this historic area before returning to Hoi An for lunch and free time to shop or explore the ancient town. Meals are at your own expense. Overnight in Hoi An.

Ancient Hindu temples of Cham culture in My Son

Day 9: Free Day in Hoi An

Enjoy a free day in Hoi An for relaxation—swim at the beach or explore the ancient town. Meals are at your own expense. Overnight in Hoi An.

Hoi An - Vietnam

Day 10: Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City

In the morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, enjoy a day tour of the city's most beautiful attractions including the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office, the Reunification Palace, and the famous War Remnants Museum. Lunch will be provided at a local restaurant. Dinner is at your own expense. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Central Post Office in Ho Chi Minh City

Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho, Ben Tre and Can Tho

Morning pickup from your hotel and departure from Ho Chi Minh City along the scenic National Highway. Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda in My Tho, followed by a leisurely boat ride along the river, where you will pass stilt houses, fruit plantations, and fishing villages. Proceed to Tortoise Island for lunch in an orchard garden. Then, take a boat ride to An Khanh, a less touristy attraction in Ben Tre, where you can enjoy a hand-rowed sampan ride. Savor seasonal fruit and honey tea while listening to traditional Southern Vietnamese folk music. Visit a family business exemplifying the rural lifestyle, taste delicious coconut candy, and observe local villagers' pastoral life, before proceeding to Can Tho for dinner and an overnight stay.

Floating market in Can Tho

Day 12: Floating Village and return to Ho Chi Minh City

Enjoy a leisurely morning boat trip through the picturesque tributaries of the Lower Mekong River (Bassac River). Visit the Cai Rang floating market, known as one of the liveliest in the region. Learn how Vietnamese vermicelli soup is made and take a stroll around the village to meet the friendly locals. Experience crossing a "Monkey Bridge," made from a single bamboo stem, and visit an orchard garden. Lunch at a local restaurant. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. Dinner is not included.

Monkey Bridge in Vietnam

Day 13: Cu Chi Tunnels Tour and return to Ho Chi Minh City

This morning, enjoy a half-day tour to the legendary Cu Chi Tunnels, a complex of tunnels that were severely damaged by bombs but played a crucial role during the war. In their prime, the Cu Chi Tunnels served various purposes including living quarters, storage facilities, and command centers. The violent past has faded into a peaceful rural landscape filled with rice paddies, ducks, and water buffaloes. After a visit to the tunnels and watching a short introductory video about their construction, you will have an opportunity to explore the tunnels. Enjoy light refreshments such as tea and cassava, a staple food for guerrillas during the war. Return to Ho Chi Minh City and enjoy the rest of your day at leisure. Meals are at your own expense. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Cu Chi Tunnels

Day 14: Departure from Ho Chi Minh City

Enjoy free time until your transfer to the airport for your flight back home. Trip ends.