Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
Your private driver picks you up at the airport and takes you to your hotel. Once you've checked in and settled, wander around Hanoi's historic streets at your own pace. The old quarter has narrow alleyways and colonial architecture that gives you a feel for the city before heading back to rest.
- Start point
- Noi Bai International Airport, Sóc Sơn, Hanoi, 12200, Vietnam (Noi Bai International Airport)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mina Hotel and Spa Hanoi or similar), Hotel (Tirant Hotel or similar), Hotel (Apricot Hotel or similar)
Optional Activities
- Explore the streets of Hanoi
- Day 2
Ninh Binh - Tam Coc
Meet your guide in the morning and drive to Ninh Binh province to see Hoa Lu, Vietnam's former capital. You'll cycle through local villages to watch how people live day to day. After a buffet lunch, climb into a bamboo boat for a scenic 1.5-hour ride through Tam Coc's waterways. The afternoon includes nearly 500 steps up Mua Cave for panoramic views over the landscape before heading back to Hanoi.
- Meals
- Lunch (Buffet lunch at Ninh Binh Excursion Restaurant with local dishes including goat meat, spring rolls, fish, chicken, fried rice, vegetable salad, and vegetarian options)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mina Hotel and Spa Hanoi or similar), Hotel (Tirant Hotel or similar), Hotel (Apricot Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Hoa Lu ancient capital
- Cycling tour around village
- Buffet lunch at Ninh Binh Excursion Restaurant
- 1.5-hour bamboo boat ride in Tam Coc
- Climb Mua Cave (Dragon Peak)
Landmarks Hoa Lu Tam Coc Mua Cave (Dragon Peak) - Day 3
Hanoi to Sapa
Have an early breakfast at the hotel and check out. A limousine bus takes you on a 6-hour journey to Sapa in the mountains. Once you arrive and get to your accommodation, the rest of the day is yours to walk around town and get acclimated to the mountain setting.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Panorama Sapa Hotel or similar), Hotel (Amazing Hotel Sapa or similar), Hotel (Silk Path Grand Resort and Spa or similar)
Optional Activities
- Explore Sapa town
Landmarks Sapa 
- Day 4
Sapa - Y Linh Ho - Lao Chai - Ta Van
After breakfast, your guide meets you at 9:30 am to start a 12 km trek. You'll visit Y Linh Ho and Lao Chai villages where Hmong people live, passing rice terraces and mountain views the whole way. Lunch happens in Lao Chai village by the river, then you keep hiking to Ta Van village. Here you'll stay overnight with a local Dzay family and learn about their daily routines and traditions.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Lao Chai village nearby the river), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Panorama Sapa Hotel or similar), Hotel (Amazing Hotel Sapa or similar), Hotel (Silk Path Grand Resort and Spa or similar)
Included Activities
- 12 km trekking
- Visit Y Linh Ho village
- Visit Lao Chai village
- Visit Ta Van village
- Lunch in Lao Chai village
- Overnight stay at local Dzay house
Landmarks Y Linh Ho Lao Chai Ta Van 
- Day 5
Ta Van - Giang Ta Chai - Sapa - Hanoi
Your last trekking day starts with breakfast before heading to Giang Ta Chai village, home to Red Dao people. The route takes you through bamboo forest in Hoang Lien National Park, passing a waterfall and rattan bridge. After lunch at a scenic spot, you continue to Su Pan village. From there, a car takes you back to Sapa, then you take the limousine bus back to Hanoi.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mina Hotel and Spa Hanoi or similar), Hotel (Tirant Hotel or similar), Hotel (Apricot Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Trek to Giang Ta Chai village
- Trek through bamboo forest in Hoang Lien National Park
- Lunch at scenic location
Landmarks Giang Ta Chai Hoang Lien National Park - Day 6
Hanoi to Ha Long Bay
Have breakfast, then the cruise crew picks you up from your hotel. You travel through the Red River Delta with its emerald rice paddies toward Ha Long Bay. On the water, you explore limestone rocks and karst grottoes by boat, have a seafood lunch, then visit a famous limestone cave where kayaking or swimming near floating villages is an option. Return to the boat for early dinner with optional evening activities or downtime.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Seafood lunch), Dinner (Early dinner)
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Le Journey Cruise or similar), Berth / Cabin (La Pandora Cruise or similar), Berth / Cabin (Doris Cruise or similar)
Included Activities
- Scenic route to Ha Long Bay
- Cruise exploring limestone rocks and karst grottoes
- Seafood lunch
- Visit limestone cave
- Kayaking or swimming near floating villages
- Early dinner
Optional Activities
- Onboard activities on the boat
Landmarks Ha Long Bay 
- Day 7
Ha Long Bay to Hanoi
Wake early for an optional Tai Chi class or enjoy a hearty breakfast on deck. The boat stops at another limestone cave filled with stalagmites and stalactites before cruising back to the main harbor. You'll arrive in Hanoi around 5:00 pm with the rest of the evening free to relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mina Hotel and Spa Hanoi or similar), Hotel (Tirant Hotel or similar), Hotel (Apricot Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Tai Chi lesson (optional)
- Visit limestone cave with stalagmites and stalactites
- Cruise back to Hanoi
Optional Activities
- Tai Chi lesson
Landmarks Ha Long Bay - Day 8
Hanoi to Hoi An
Have breakfast at the hotel and enjoy some free time. A private car then takes you to the airport for your flight to Hoi An. After you land and check into your hotel, you're settled for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kim An Hotel Hoi An or similar), Hotel (Silkotel Hoi An or similar), Hotel (Palm Garden Hoi An or similar)
- Day 9
Hoi An
Check out tailoring workshops in the morning to see how custom clothes are made. Grab a Banh Mi sandwich for lunch, then spend the afternoon exploring Hoi An's ancient town. Once it gets dark, head to the lantern market to watch traditional lanterns being crafted. Around 9 pm, watch the free outdoor theatre performance on Nguyen Thai Hoc street, then light a candle box and set it on the water before the night ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kim An Hotel Hoi An or similar), Hotel (Silkotel Hoi An or similar), Hotel (Palm Garden Hoi An or similar)
Optional Activities
- Visit custom tailoring shops
- Eat Banh Mi sandwich at Madam Khanh's stand
- Explore ancient town sights
- Visit lantern market
- Watch outdoor traditional theatre performance
- Light candle box in water
Landmarks Hoi An Old Town - Day 10
Hoi An
Explore Hoi An at your own pace, checking out Japanese merchant houses, pagodas, temples, and antique warehouses, or sit in a riverside café and watch the day go by. If you prefer something guided, join the optional Hoi An Eco Tour to experience countryside and rivers with a guide, try traditional net fishing, and paddle through coconut palm waterways in bamboo basket boats.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kim An Hotel Hoi An or similar), Hotel (Silkotel Hoi An or similar), Hotel (Palm Garden Hoi An or similar)
Optional Activities
- Explore Hoi An independently
- Relax at riverside café
- Hoi An Eco Tour - countryside and rivers tour with English-speaking guide
- Hands-on experience of traditional net fishing
- Paddle boat trip in bamboo basket boat through coconut palm paradise
Landmarks Hoi An Old Town Thu Bon River - Day 11
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast, take your flight to Ho Chi Minh City and check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to rest and recover from your travels so far.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Queen Ann Hotel or similar), Hotel (Alagon Sai Gon Hotel or similar), Hotel (The Myst Dong Khoi or similar )
- Day 12
Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta
A pickup comes at 7:20 am to take you to My Tho on the Mekong River. You'll board a sampan and cruise around four islands, stopping at Unicorn Island to walk country lanes, see orchards, sample tropical fruits, and hear local folk music. Continue through Thoi Son canal visiting family businesses, a honey-bee farm, and participate in honey tea and coconut candy workshops. Lunch happens at a local restaurant, then you cycle around Tan Thach village to meet people and see daily life or relax in a hammock. Return around 5:30 pm.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Queen Ann Hotel or similar), Hotel (Alagon Sai Gon Hotel or similar), Hotel (The Myst Dong Khoi or similar )
Included Activities
- Sampan cruise around four islands
- Stop at Unicorn Island
- Visit fruit plantation
- Hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal
- Visit family business
- Visit honey-bee farm
- Honey tea and coconut candy workshop
- Lunch at local restaurant
- Cycling around Tan Thach village or hammock relaxing
Landmarks Mekong Delta My Tho 
- Day 13
Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels
Travel about 1.5 hours to Cu Chi Tunnels and watch an introductory video about tunnel construction and wartime survival. Walk through the remaining tunnel systems including living spaces with kitchens and bedrooms, plus military sections like storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers. See trap doors and dangerous traps throughout the tunnels. Try special tea and cassava from the guerilla era, then you can optionally do real gun shooting practice before heading back to Ho Chi Minh City.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Queen Ann Hotel or similar), Hotel (Alagon Sai Gon Hotel or similar), Hotel (The Myst Dong Khoi or similar )
Included Activities
- Introductory video about tunnel construction
- Explore remaining tunnel systems and living areas
- See hidden trap doors and dangerous traps
- Special tea and cassava served
Optional Activities
- Real shooting gun practice
Landmarks Cu Chi Tunnels 
- Day 14
Ho Chi Minh City
Have a healthy breakfast on your final morning. Check out of the hotel, then visit local markets to pick up souvenirs and last-minute items. After that, head to the airport for your flight home.
- End point
- Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Trường Sơn, Ho Chi Minh City, 72100, Vietnam (Tan Son Nhat International Airport)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit local markets for souvenirs
