Hours Before Start
Warmly welcomed at Noi Bai Airport, Hanoi. Founded over 1,000 years ago, Hanoi is Vietnam’s capital and a city rich in history, with the streets of its Old Quarter dating back to the 14th century. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.
Start your day by visiting a local market and learning about Vietnamese culture. Stop at Long Bien Bridge – a symbol of Hanoi’s resilience during the Vietnam War. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Presidential Stilt House where Uncle Ho lived and worked. Then explore the Temple of Literature – Vietnam’s first university.
After lunch, visit the Vietnamese Women’s Museum, then hop on a cyclo to explore the Old Quarter. Pass by Hoan Kiem Lake, Dong Xuan Market, St. Joseph’s Cathedral, and the Hanoi Opera House. End your day with a traditional Water Puppet Show. Overnight in Hanoi.
Depart for Mai Chau. Stop at Thung Khe Pass for a panoramic view. Enjoy lunch with a local family. Take a bike ride through rice fields and limestone mountains, visiting villages like Pom Coong, Lac, Nhot, and Na Phon. Visit Mrs. Mang’s family – skilled in traditional Thai embroidery and weaving.
Continue to Pu Luong Nature Reserve via a scenic route. Overnight in Pu Luong.
After breakfast, trek to Kho Muong village, explore the beautiful rice terraces, and visit Doi Cave – the largest in the area with millions of years-old limestone formations.
Enjoy lunch with local ingredients prepared by ethnic minorities. Continue your trek through Uoi and Lan villages, enjoy panoramic views, and learn about local brocade weaving. Relax at your lodge and swim in the infinity pool. Overnight in Pu Luong.
After breakfast, visit Pho Doan market (open on Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday). Then bike to Hieu Waterfall and enjoy a local lunch. Depart for Ninh Binh, stopping to see traditional water wheels. Arrive in Tam Coc, check in, and relax. Overnight in Ninh Binh.
Visit Hang Mua (Mua Cave) and climb to the top of Ngoa Long Mountain for stunning views. Bike through rice fields to a local family’s home to learn about rural life.
After lunch, take a boat trip through Trang An – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit limestone caves and temples. Then visit Hoa Lu – Vietnam’s 10th-century capital. Overnight in Ninh Binh.
Depart for Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Board a cruise and explore thousands of limestone islets. After lunch, check in your cabin and enjoy swimming or kayaking. Join a cooking class and watch the sunset from the sundeck. Dinner and overnight on board.
Join a Tai Chi session at sunrise. Explore a cave before returning to the harbor. Enjoy brunch on board. Transfer to Noi Bai Airport for your flight to Hue. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Hue.
Take a boat trip on the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda and the tomb of Emperor Minh Mang. In the afternoon, explore the Citadel, Imperial City, Forbidden Purple City, and Dong Ba Market. Overnight in Hue.
Drive to Hoi An, with stops at Lang Co Beach, the Cham Museum, and Marble Mountain. Explore Hoi An’s ancient town: Tan Ky House, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Japanese Covered Bridge, and riverside market.
Optional: Join the Lantern Festival (on the 14th–15th lunar day). Overnight in Hoi An.
Travel to My Son Sanctuary – a UNESCO site and the spiritual center of the ancient Champa Kingdom. Explore red brick towers and temples built between the 7th and 13th centuries. Return to Hoi An. Free time for shopping or tailoring. Overnight in Hoi An.
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Upon arrival, visit Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, War Remnants Museum, and Ben Thanh Market. Overnight in Saigon.
Drive to Cai Be, explore the Mekong Delta by boat. Visit local cottage industries, including rice paper and candy workshops. Enjoy lunch in an orchard. Cruise through canals to Vinh Long, then transfer to Can Tho. Overnight in Can Tho.
Visit Cai Rang Floating Market in the early morning. Sample local fruits and explore small canals. Return to Saigon in the afternoon. Overnight in Saigon.
Free time until transfer to the airport for your departure flight. End of services.
