Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Hanoi
You'll land at Noi Bai International Airport where your guide meets you for the drive into central Hanoi. Once you check into your hotel, the rest of the day is yours to wander around the Old Quarter at your own pace or just hang out at the hotel if you're tired from traveling. You'll grab dinner on your own tonight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Walk and discover the Old Quarter area on your own
- Day 2
Hanoi
This morning you head out to Tram Tue, a Buddhist zen center sitting on the Red River bank. You'll take an introductory course with the CEO, learn about Buddha's teachings, check out the agarwood ecosystem and tea collection, and taste vegetarian food before participating in a traditional tea ceremony and practicing meditation. After lunch, you'll return to Hanoi to see the Ho Chi Minh Complex (mausoleum, Presidential Palace, and stilts house), One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, and Ngoc Son Temple before having dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Special Vietnamese vegetarian food cooked by gourmet chefs), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Tram Tue Buddhist zen center with introduction course from CEO
- Learn about Worshiping Space of Buddha's Three Treasures and Zen/Meditation Center
- Visit Agarwood ecosystem and taste high-class Vietnamese and Chinese teas
- Taste special Vietnamese vegetarian food prepared by gourmet chefs
- Attend traditional tea ceremony with CEO and monk
- Practice Zen/Meditation with agarwood incense
- Visit Ho Chi Minh Complex including mausoleum, Presidential Palace, and Ho Chi Minh's stilt house
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Temple of Literature
- Visit Ngoc Son Temple
Landmarks Tram Tue Buddhist Center Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Presidential Palace Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House One Pillar Pagoda Temple of Literature Ngoc Son Temple 
- Day 3
Hanoi to Mu Cang Chai
You'll leave the hotel at 8:00 AM and drive northwest toward Yen Bai province, taking in countryside views along the way. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant, then continue with some scenic photo stops at Khau Pha Pass and Che Cu Nha viewpoint. You'll arrive at your accommodation in the late afternoon, check in, and can either relax or take a short trek through H'mong hill tribe villages to see rice terraces and meet local people.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Scenic stop at Khau Pha Pass
- Scenic stop at Che Cu Nha viewpoint
- Optional short trek to see rice terraces and H'mong hill tribe villages
Optional Activities
- Trek through H'mong hill tribe villages
- Interact with locals and learn about their daily life and culture
Landmarks Khau Pha Pass Che Cu Nha Mu Cang Chai Rice Terraces 
- Day 4
Mu Cang Chai to Sapa
Your journey to Sapa starts at 7:00 or 8:00 AM through the northern Vietnamese countryside. After checking into your hotel and freshening up, your guide takes you to a local eatery for a special lunch. In the afternoon, you'll walk through Cat Cat Village, where the Black H'Mong ethnic minority lives, seeing families work the terrace fields with buffalo and visiting a traditional house before finishing at Cat Cat Waterfall for a short break. You'll be back at the hotel before 6:00 PM with the evening free.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Special lunch arranged by local people at local eatery)
Included Activities
- Visit Cat Cat Village with Black H'Mong settlement
- Visit local traditional house and meet local family
- Walk through terrace fields
- Visit Cat Cat Waterfall
Landmarks Cat Cat Village Cat Cat Waterfall 
- Day 5
Sapa
After breakfast, you'll start a 12 km trek at 9:30 AM through small trails down Muong Hoa Valley toward Lao Chai village of the Black H'Mong people. You'll see their daily life and learn how they make traditional clothes, handicrafts, and indigo. From there, you'll continue to Ta Van village where the Giay people live, a smaller ethnic group with rich culture and beautiful houses on rice paddy fields. You'll experience the fresh air, terraced fields, streams, and interact with local families throughout this valley.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- 12 km trek through Muong Hoa Valley on small trails
- Visit Lao Chai village of Black H'Mong ethnic people
- Learn about traditional clothes making, handicrafts, and indigo production
- Visit Ta Van village of Giay people
- Interact with local families and learn about their culture and customs
Landmarks Muong Hoa Valley Lao Chai Village Ta Van Village - Day 6
Sapa to Hanoi
Your driver and guide pick you up after breakfast to take you to Fansipan Mountain via the world's longest and highest cable car. You'll ride up to the 3,143-meter peak known as Indochina's rooftop, enjoy the views, and take photos of the lush green subtropical vegetation. After returning to Sapa by cable car, you'll drive back to Hanoi on a 5-hour journey, arriving at the bus station around 7:30 or 8:00 PM where a guide transfers you to your hotel for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cable car ride to Fansipan Mountain peak
- Visit highest point of Fansipan Mountain
- Enjoy views from 3,143-meter peak
- Cable car return to Sapa
Landmarks Fansipan Mountain - Day 7
Hanoi to Ha Long Bay (Cruise Day 1)
You'll have breakfast at your hotel before leaving at 8:30 AM to travel through the Red River Delta landscape toward Ha Long Bay. You arrive at Tuan Chau Marina at 11:30 AM, board the cruise at noon with welcome drinks and a briefing, then check into your room. At 12:30 PM you'll enjoy Vietnamese and international lunch while passing scenic areas like Incense Burner, Dog Stone Islet, Fighting Cock Islet, and Three Coconuts Island. Afternoon activities include kayaking in Luon Cave and swimming at Titov Island with a hike for panoramic views. There's a cooking demonstration on sundeck, happy hour (buy 1 get 1), and sunset watching before dinner at 7:00 PM. Massage is available if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Vietnamese and international lunch), Dinner (Deluxe dinner with traditional and fusion dishes)
Included Activities
- Cruise through Ha Long Bay passing Incense Burner, Dog Stone Islet, Fighting Cock Islet, and Three Coconuts Island
- Visit Luon Cave with kayaking opportunity
- Visit Titov Island with swimming and hiking to viewpoint
- Cooking demonstration on sundeck
- Watch sunset from boat
Optional Activities
- Massage service available at spa
Landmarks Ha Long Bay Incense Burner Dog Stone Islet Fighting Cock Islet Three Coconuts Island Luon Cave Titov Island 
- Day 8
Ha Long Bay (Cruise Day 2) to Hue
You'll wake early at 6:15 AM for a Tai Chi session on the sundeck with sea views before breakfast arrives at 7:00 AM with coffee, tea, and pastries. Next you visit Sung Sot Cave, the largest limestone cave on Bo Hon Island, with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites formed over millions of years (bring proper shoes since it can be wet). You'll return to the cruise at 9:30 AM to check out and settle your bill, then enjoy brunch at 10:00 AM while cruising back before disembarking at 11:30 AM. A transfer gets you to Noi Bai Airport by 2:30 PM for your 4:30 PM Vietnam Airlines flight VN1545 to Hue, arriving at 5:50 PM. You'll be picked up and transferred to your hotel for a relaxing evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Coffee, tea and pastries), Brunch
Included Activities
- Tai Chi session on sundeck
- Visit Sung Sot Cave with tour of stalactites and stalagmites on Bo Hon Island
Landmarks Sung Sot Cave Bo Hon Island 
- Day 9
Hue
Your guide and driver pick you up at 8:00 AM to explore the ancient capital. You'll travel upstream on the Perfume River to visit Gia Long Tomb, the mausoleum of the first Emperor of Nguyen Dynasty, then head to Thuy Bieu village for a cycling tour through rural life, communal houses, ancient temples, local markets, and shady garden paths. You'll see how traditional incense sticks and silk paintings are made, have lunch at a local house, then visit the Imperial City and Royal Palace of the Nguyen Dynasty to learn about history and architecture. You'll also check out Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue's oldest pagoda, and finish with a dragon boat ride along the Perfume River back to Hue city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a local house)
Included Activities
- Visit Gia Long Tomb with exploration of mausoleum complex
- Cycling tour through Thuy Bieu village
- Visit communal houses in Thuy Bieu village
- Visit ancient temples in Thuy Bieu village
- Visit local house to see traditional incense stick making
- Visit workshop for traditional silk painting and votive paper offerings
- Visit Imperial City and Royal Palace of Nguyen Dynasty
- Visit Thien Mu Pagoda
- Dragon boat ride on Perfume River
Landmarks Gia Long Tomb Thuy Bieu Village Imperial City of Hue Thien Mu Pagoda Perfume River - Day 10
Hue to Hoi An
After breakfast at your hotel, you'll be picked up around 8:00 AM for a transfer to Hoi An. In the afternoon, take a walking tour of Hoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Southeast Asia's best-preserved traditional port cities. This half-day city tour takes you through architecturally interesting lanes with historic houses preserved in their original state. Your guides will share stories about Hoi An's architecture, people's lifestyle, and their own experiences.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Half-day walking tour of Hoi An Ancient Town
- Explore architecturally interesting lanes and historic houses
Landmarks Hoi An Ancient Town 
- Day 11
Hoi An
You have the day free to explore Hoi An on your own, or you can choose the popular Cu Lao Cham Island tour starting at 8:45 AM from Cua Dai port. This all-day excursion takes you to an island destination with lush forests, nice beaches, and a charming village. You'll visit the protected suite, 200-year-old Champa Wells, Au Thuyen fishermen's mooring point, Hai Tang Pagoda (an old island temple), and the seafood market. Speed boats take you to Ong Beach for snorkeling with coral species unique to Cham Island. Lunch with seafood specialties happens at a local island restaurant with free time to relax. You'll return to Cua Dai Port by 2:00 PM.
Optional Activities
- Cu Lao Cham Island tour with speedboat from Cua Dai port
- Visit protected suite on Cu Lao Cham Island
- Visit 200-year-old Champa Wells
- Visit Au Thuyen fishermen's mooring and shelter
- Visit Hai Tang Pagoda on the island
- Visit seafood market on Cu Lao Cham Island
- Snorkeling with coral species at Ong Beach
- Lunch with seafood specialties at local restaurant
Landmarks Cu Lao Cham Island Ong Beach Hai Tang Pagoda - Day 12
Hoi An to Danang Airport (Departure)
You'll have breakfast at your hotel and check out whenever you're ready. Your driver will be waiting outside to transfer you to Danang Airport for your departure flight. Safe travels!
- Meals
- Breakfast
