Day 1: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City
You’ll be picked up at the airport upon arrival and transferred to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore at your own pace. You’ll be staying overnight at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Meals: N/A
Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City or Similar
Day 2: Cu Chi Tunnels
After an early breakfast, you’ll head out of central Saigon to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, a significant war relic in Vietnam and globally renowned. After the visit, you’ll return to the city, with the rest of the day free for your own activities. Overnight at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City or Similar
Day 3: Mekong Delta discovery
Depart Saigon for a scenic two-hour drive to the Mekong Delta, with stops along the way to visit a Cao Dai church and the Vinh Trang Pagoda. In the Mekong Delta, enjoy a boat cruise on a branch of the Mekong River, visit local cottage industries, and experience a motor cart ride (or bicycle) followed by a sampan rowing along a winding canal. Afterward, drive back to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City or Similar
Day 4: Ho Chi Minh City sightseeing – Fly to Hue
Enjoy a tour of Ho Chi Minh City, exploring key sites such as the War Remnants Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, Independence Palace, and Ben Thanh Market. After the tour, transfer to the airport for a short flight to Hue. The evening is free for you to experience Hue’s nightlife at your own pace. Overnight at your hotel in Hue.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue or Similar
Day 5: Hue local life, monuments, and country landscapes adventure
Spend a full day exploring the Hue countryside by motorbike, discovering royal monuments and the area’s natural beauty. (Alternatively, you can opt for a car or van ride instead.) Visit a local market, the centuries-old Thanh Toan covered bridge, and a farming exhibition house. Next, visit the ancient Tu Hieu Pagoda and one of the emperor’s mausoleums. In the afternoon, explore the relics of the ancient Tiger-Elephant Arena and visit a traditional handicraft village renowned for making paper flowers. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon, with the evening free for your own activities. Overnight at your hotel in Hue.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue or Similar
Day 6: Hue Royal city discovery – Hoi An
Morning: Embark on a bicycle tour to visit the traditional bronze casting village and Thien Mu Pagoda. Continue your ride to explore the Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden City. Afterward, leave Hue for a scenic drive to Hoi An, stopping at the top of Hai Van Pass for panoramic views. Upon arrival in Hoi An, check in to your hotel, and enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure to relax and make use of the hotel facilities. Overnight at your hotel in Hoi An.
Notes: You can take the tour by car/van.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An or Similar
Day 7: Hoi An sightseeing
Today, take your time to explore Hoi An on foot, visiting notable sights such as the central market, former merchants’ houses, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, and the Chinese communal hall, among others. As you stroll through the town, you’ll also have the opportunity to sample some local specialties. Overnight at your hotel in Hoi An.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch/Dinner in the food tasting tour
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An or Similar
Day 8: Hoi An country experience and cooking class
Morning: Begin your day with a bicycle tour through the Hoi An countryside, cycling along hidden alleys, passing through rustic villages, and exploring green farmlands. Later, enjoy a bamboo boat rowing trip through the water coconut forest. Continue to Tra Que village, where you’ll participate in a cooking class to learn and prepare some local specialties. The afternoon is free for you to spend at your leisure. Overnight at your hotel in Hoi An.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch at the cooking class
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An or Similar
Day 9: Hoi An – Fly to Hanoi – City sightseeing – Night train to Sapa
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Afternoon: Visit the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, and Hoan Kiem Lake with Ngoc Son Temple.
Afterward, enjoy a leisurely walking tour through the Hanoi Old Quarter, where you can taste some local Hanoi specialties. Evening: Transfer to the train station for an overnight train ride to Lao Cai, the gateway to the Sapa mountain retreat. Overnight on the train.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner in the food tour
Accommodation: Overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai or Similar
Day 10: Sapa and hill tribe villages
Arrive in Lao Cai early in the morning (around 5:30-6:00 AM) and take a one-hour drive uphill to Sapa town. After breakfast and a short rest, set out on a walk down the hillside to visit Cat Cat village, explore the Cat Cat waterfalls, and enjoy a traditional music performance. Continue your walk to Sin Chai village. Return to Sapa town and check into your hotel. The remainder of the day is free for you to explore the charming town of Sapa at your leisure.
Optional: You can also choose to take a cable car ride to visit Fansipan Mountain.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa or Similar
Day 11: Trekking Muong Hoa valley – Night train back to Hanoi
Take a short transfer to the starting point for a trek through the Muong Hoa River valley, visiting Lao Chai village, Y Linh Ho village of the Hmong people, and Ta Van village of the Dzay people. Along the way, you’ll visit local homes and schools, with opportunities to interact with the local community. You can choose a light or more challenging trek based on your fitness level.
Afterward, take some time to explore the area or enjoy a refreshing swim in the Muong Hoa stream. Later, you’ll be picked up by bus and returned to Sapa town, where you’ll have free time at your leisure. At 4:30 PM, transfer to Lao Cai city for your overnight train ride back to Hanoi. You’ll travel in an air-conditioned soft sleeper cabin.
Optional: You can choose to visit the Sapa botanical garden or indulge in a relaxing foot massage before your departure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Overnight on the train from Lao Cai to Hanoi (AC soft sleeper cabin) or Similar
Day 12: Hanoi – Halong Bay cruise (joined tour)
Arrive in Hanoi early in the morning, around 5:30 AM. Enjoy breakfast at a local restaurant (a day room at a hotel is available for an additional cost). At 8:30 AM, you’ll be picked up from the hotel and depart Hanoi for a drive to Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay. Upon arrival around noon, check in on board your cruise. Afternoon: Kayak through the karsts and take in the stunning natural scenery, or enjoy a swim at one of the beaches. In the evening, join a sunset party on board. Dinner and overnight stay on board, surrounded by the islands and beneath a starry sky.
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel, Lunch & Dinner on board
Accommodation: Overnight on board – Private ensuite cabin or Similar
Day 13: Halong Bay further cruise – Hanoi
Wake up early if you’d like to catch the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, take a rowing boat tour to explore a natural tunnel and visit a floating village. Later, continue your cruise to explore another part of Bai Tu Long Bay and Halong Bay. Disembark from the boat in the late morning (around 11:00 – 11:30, depending on the boat and tide). Then, drive back to Hanoi. The evening is free for you to spend at your leisure. Overnight at your hotel in Hanoi.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch/Brunch on board
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi or Similar
Day 14: Hanoi – Departure
Enjoy your free time at leisure until it’s time to check out at 12:00 PM. Afterward, you’ll be picked up from the hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight home. Safe travels!
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
