Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
Your driver picks you up from your hotel to head to a local market in Hanoi where you'll select fresh ingredients for the day. After browsing through the stalls and learning what goes into authentic Vietnamese cooking, you'll head to a cooking class with a professional chef. There you'll prepare several traditional dishes from scratch, then sit down to eat what you've made paired with local wines. Your driver takes you back to your accommodation by evening.
Included Activities
- Local market tour to purchase cooking class ingredients
- Hands-on Vietnamese cooking class with professional chef
- Tasting of prepared Vietnamese traditional meals
- Local wine tasting
Landmarks Hanoi 
- Day 2
Hanoi to Hue
You'll make your way to Hanoi train station on your own to catch an overnight train heading south to Hue. The 13-hour journey gives you time to settle in, meet other travelers, and rest as the train rolls through the Vietnamese countryside. Various departure times run throughout the day depending on which train you choose.
- Day 3
Hue
After arriving in Hue, your full-day tour starts with a dragon boat trip on the Perfume River to reach Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. From there you'll tour the Imperial Citadel and the Royal Antique Museum to understand Hue's royal history. Lunch happens at a busy local market where you can try street food. Later in the afternoon, you'll visit the elaborate tombs of Minh Mang and Khai Dinh, then stop by a workshop where locals craft conical hats and incense using traditional methods before heading back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Lunch (Vietnamese lunch)
Included Activities
- Dragon boat tour on Perfume River (Huong River)
- Visit to Thien Mu Pagoda (Pagoda of the Celestial Lady)
- Imperial Citadel tour and exploration
- Royal Antique Museum visit
- Dong Ba market visit with local bargaining experience
- Vietnamese lunch
- Tomb of Minh Mang visit
- Tomb of Khai Dinh visit
- Conical hat and incense-making workshop visit
Landmarks Thien Mu Pagoda Imperial Citadel of Hue Royal Antique Museum Dong Ba Market Tomb of Minh Mang Tomb of Khai Dinh Perfume River - Day 4
Hue to Hoi An
You head to the bus station in Hue and catch a public bus heading to Hoi An, a charming riverside town about 2.5 hours south. Buses run throughout the day so you can pick a time that works for your schedule. The ride takes you through central Vietnam with views of coastal areas and farmland.
- Day 5
Hoi An
Starting early, you'll hop on a bicycle to cycle out to Cam Kim Island just outside Hoi An. The route winds past rice fields where locals work the land. You'll stop at Kim Bong carpentry village to watch traditional boat builders at work, then visit a family home to learn how they weave sleeping mats by hand. The family prepares a homemade lunch for you before you cycle back into town later that afternoon.
- Meals
- Lunch (Homemade local lunch)
Included Activities
- Bicycle pickup and selection
- Cycle tour crossing Thu Bon river with locals
- Kim Bong carpentry village visit with fishing boat builder observation
- Cam Kim Island visit
- Local family visit to observe weaving sleeping mats tradition
- Homemade local lunch with local family
Landmarks Cam Kim Island Kim Bong Carpentry Village Thu Bon River 
- Day 6
Hoi An to Nha Trang
An overnight bus departs Hoi An in the evening, heading south to Nha Trang on a 13-hour journey. You'll sleep on the bus as it travels through the night and into the following morning, so you can rest and arrive at your next destination without losing a full day.
- Day 7
Nha Trang
A boat takes you out to the islands surrounding Nha Trang for a day of snorkeling and swimming. You'll spend time at Mun Island getting underwater to see the coral and fish, then head to Mot Island where lunch and complimentary red wine and fruit await at a floating bar. The afternoon brings relaxation at Tam Island, and you have the option to try water sports or visit a local fishing village if you're interested before the boat returns you to shore.
- Meals
- Lunch (Fresh cuisine lunch at Mot Island)
Included Activities
- Hotel pickup and transport to harbor
- Boat trip to Mun Island (Ebony Island)
- One hour snorkeling at Mun Island
- Swimming and sunbathing at Mun Island
- Snorkeling equipment provided
- Marine wildlife and coral reef viewing
- Fresh cuisine lunch at Mot Island
- Floating bar visit with complimentary red wine and fruit
- Boat trip to Tam Island
- Relaxation and sunbathing at Tam Island
- Fishing village observation
- Hotel drop-off
Optional Activities
- Jet ski at Tam Island
- Catamaran at Tam Island
- Wave killer water sport at Tam Island
- Canoe at Tam Island
Landmarks Mun Island Mot Island Tam Island - Day 8
Nha Trang to Dalat
You catch a public bus from Nha Trang heading west to Dalat, a mountain town known for cooler weather and agriculture. The 8-hour ride climbs through different terrain as you move inland. Buses run hourly throughout the day so you can choose when to depart and arrive by evening.
- Day 9
Dalat
An English-speaking guide picks you up for a motorcycle adventure through Dalat's countryside. Riding on the back, you'll head to Paradise Lake for views, then Elephant Waterfall where the scenery shifts to lush forest. Along the way you stop at a K'ho minority village, vegetable farms, mushroom farms, and a coffee plantation to see how locals live and work. You'll also visit a silk factory to watch traditional weaving before heading back to town.
Included Activities
- Motorcycle tour with English-speaking driver/guide
- Truc Lam meditation center visit
- Paradise Lake (Tuyen Lam Lake) visit
- Elephant Waterfall visit
- Linh An Pagoda visit
- K'ho minority village (Chicken minority village) visit and cultural immersion
- Vegetable farm visit
- Mushroom farm visit
- Coffee farm visit
- Silk factory visit
Landmarks Truc Lam Monastery Paradise Lake Elephant Waterfall Linh An Pagoda - Day 10
Dalat to Ho Chi Minh City
You head to Dalat bus station and catch a bus heading south to Ho Chi Minh City. The 8-hour journey takes you through changing landscapes as you descend from the highlands back to the coast. Buses depart every hour throughout the day depending on availability, giving you flexibility with your departure time.
- Day 11
Ho Chi Minh City
A scooter tour takes you through Ho Chi Minh City's neighborhoods to visit six different food spots that locals actually eat at regularly. Your guide navigates through traffic and side streets, stopping at each location to try local specialties with all food and drinks included. You'll pass through the Ho Thi Ky Flower Market, explore the Chinatown area in District 10, and finish up at Xom Chieu market (also called Market 200) as evening sets in.
- Meals
- Multiple meals (Street food tasting at 6 local restaurants throughout 4 hours including Vietnamese snacks and local specialties)
Included Activities
- Scooter ride through Ho Chi Minh City districts
- Visit to The Venerable Thich Quang Duc Monument
- Ho Thi Ky Flower Market visit
- District 10 Chinatown exploration with photo stops and explanations
- Xom Chieu market (Market 200) visit
- Street food tasting at 6 local restaurants
- All food and drinks throughout tour
Landmarks The Venerable Thich Quang Duc Monument Ho Thi Ky Flower Market Xom Chieu Market
