If you are coming to Vietnam for the first time, go from North to South; we will witness a fascinating blend of tradition and modernity that truly captures the essence of this vibrant country. Starting from Hanoi, the northern capital, we can explore ancient temples, bustling markets and taste delicious street food, and participate in multiple excursions that take Hanoi as a meeting point. As we descend into Saigon (officially Ho Chi Minh City), we will encounter a striking contrast of skyscrapers mixed with historical landmarks such as Cu Chi Tunnels and Ben Thanh Market. During the journey, we will have many opportunities to integrate with local people and deeply explore the diverse cultures and customs of each region in Vietnam. This unique experience will give us a taste of Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage as well as the country’s rapidly evolving modern landscape.
Welcome to Vietnam!
Upon your arrival, our guide and vehicle will pick you up at Noi Bai International Airport. We'll head to the city and check-in hotel.
At your leisure for the afternoon to clear up our jet lag and refresh.
Before the Dinnertime, our Guide will be back to take us to Ta Hien area in the Old Quarter, hang around and enjoy a delicious local dinner. Overnight in Hanoi.
After breakfast, our guide and vehicle will welcome us at our hotel to start a nice tour in Hanoi. Being a one-thousand-year city (since 1010 AD), Hanoi is a cultural hub, from where we can go to explore the northern mountains, as well as plain paddy fields of the Red River delta, or go straight to the coastal area to refresh.
We will save today for the visits to get as close as possible to the daily life of Vietnamese people. Our car will take us to pass by the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, where he is resting, then we will head to Tran Quoc pagoda, the oldest Mahayana Buddhism temple of Hanoi, which was originally built in the 6th century, before crossing the street to a special memorial site of Hanoi: the monument of Mr. John McCain, a Vietnam War pilot veteran who later became a friend of Vietnam and a key person during the Vietnam - USA relation normalization in 1990s.
Later, our car will take us back to near Hoan Kiem Lake to visit the St. Joseph Cathedral, a beloved attraction of young Hanoi people. The place is also known for good street foods, cakes and local snacks. From the church, we will go (by car) to Cai Mam restaurant for delicious local dishes. From Cai Mam, later we will walk some minutes to O Quan Chuong, the only remaining ancient gate of Hanoi. From here some cyclos will meet us and the cycloboys will pedal us for about an hour round the Old Quarter and the Old French Quarter of Hanoi. This trip will be a wonderful time to watch the daily life of Hanoi and take fun pictures of exciting scenes, as well as pass by the city’s landmarks. At the end of the tour, the cyclo will take us to the “Hilton Hanoi Museum’’ that maintains the memories of the two Vietnam Wars, a remarkable place to help us understand the price of peace!
Back to the hotel by our car afterwards.
Free at leisure in the evening. Overnight in Hanoi.
After breakfast at hotel, a bus of our cruise with a cruise guide will pick you up at the meeting point up to Halong Bay, a great UNESCO World Heritage in Northern Vietnam.
Welcome onboard and take a trip on a deluxe cruise with excellent and exciting activities [swimsuits recommended]. Being a bay with nearly 2,000 islands and islets, some with craters, Halong has been recognized twice by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage to emphasize its value and the need to be protected. This journey will awaken all our senses with the beauty of nature, the savory taste, the comfy facility, and the perfect service right at one of the natural wonders of the world. Overnight on-board.
Noted: The specific program of activities will be very diverse and depend on the itinerary of each cruise
Wake up in one of the most beautiful bays in the world, enjoy breakfast, and visit stunning caves in the morning. At noon, after the trip, we will be back to Hanoi to rest and prepare for the long journey ahead.
Dinner at your arrangement. Overnight in Hanoi.
Note: The specific program of activities will be very diverse and depend on the itinerary of each cruise.
After breakfast, our guide and vehicle will take us to the airport for our flight to Hue, the last capital of Vietnam's feudal dynasties.
Welcomed by our guide in Central Vietnam.
(Lunch at your own arrangement for flexibility)
Coming to the ancient capital of Hue, we will be immersed in a peaceful and gentle atmosphere with historical relics, where the remnants of a memorable period are maintained. We will visit Khai Dinh Tomb, one of the royal architectural masterpieces featuring a unique blend of Asian and European styles. Continue our trip with a visit to the Imperial City, the former royal palace of the Nguyen Dynasty, where you can learn about the history and culture of Hue from Thai Mieu, Cuu Dinh, Kien Trung Palace and so on.
Have dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at Hue.
After breakfast at the hotel, our guide will take us to visit the Perfume River, the symbolic river of Hue. Perfume River is located in the center of Hue city, so we can visit many different places at the same time. Walking on Truong Tien Bridge built by the company of Gustave Eiffen, which crosses the romantic Perfume River. Standing on the bridge, one can watch the poetic beauty of both sunrise and sunset over the town. Continue our journey to Thanh Toan Bridge, a traditional wooden bridge located next to a beautiful village, where you can walk around and chat with the locals or visit a small “museum’’ of agricultural tools nearby.
Have lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, we will visit Thien Mu Pagoda, the center of Hue’s spiritual life of Hue since ancient times. And few people know that this temple was founded during the reign of Lord Nguyen Hoang, who laid the foundation for the Nguyen dynasty, with the purpose of gathering spiritual energy for the ancient country.
At the end of the day, we will continue to visit Dong Ba Market, a traditional market that symbolizes the atmosphere of Hue. Travelers come here to experience sightseeing, go shopping, and enjoy Hue cuisine. In the market, there are many different items from fashion, handicrafts to souvenirs and specialties to bring back as gifts.
Cross the Perfumed River by boats or speed boats from the pier behind Dong Ba. Our car will meet us by Toa Kham pier to take us back to the hotel.
Dinner at your arrangement. Overnight in Hue.
Have breakfast at hotel before our vehicles take us to DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) full-day tour. We'll delve into the history of the Vietnam War from 1954 to 1975 hereby, venture through the captivating landscapes of Quang Tri province encompassing lush forests, majestic mountains, and meandering rivers. We'll have an opportunity to explore the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail, witness the remnants of US combat bases, gain insights into military surveillance, and journey through the historic DMZ that once marked the boundary between the North and the South Vietnam exactly in the way Han River is separating the North and South Korea now, along the Ben Hai River, just 60 miles north of Hue City.
We will step back in time and witness the scene of many destroyed foundations of former American military bases buildings, monuments dedicated to local war heroes, and hundreds of war relics displayed within a US combat base-turned-museum.
Back to Hue late in the evening.
Dinner at your arrangement. Overnight in Hue.
After breakfast, we will go down south to Da Nang City. Along the way, we can make stops to take pictures and relax at Lang Co Beach in Thua Thien Hue. From Lang Co Beach, we can see the beautiful landscape of Vietnam, with the Bach Ma mountains and Son Tra Peninsula in the distance. Have lunch at Lang Co.
Continue to Da Nang City, we will checkin hotel located in the city center or near the beach. Our guide will take us around, see and listen to instructions explaining the famous architectural highlights of Da Nang Tourist City: the Administration Building, Dragon Bridge, enjoy some coffee near the Dragon Bridge overlooking the city or walk around to enjoy the fresh air of the city, so-called by the Vietnamese “the best city to settle in Vietnam”.
Dinner at your arrangement. Overnight in Da Nang.
Have breakfast at hotel before our guide and car pick us up to go to Ba Na Hills and spend a full day here. Sun World Ba Na Hills is the most significant resort and recreational complex in Vietnam. At a height of 1,487 meters from sea level, we will find ourselves relaxing in the typical rotation of four seasons in a single day and numerous festivities, recreations, and diverse cuisine.
Having a buffet lunch at Ba Na Hills.
Afternoon, we’ll visit the Golden Bridge, a prominent golden silk stripe that shines among the majestic mountains, along with a pair of giant stone hands that seemingly hold the bridge. A modern masterpiece that is memorable to many visitors. After getting off the cable car, our car and guide will take us to Hoi An, an old seaport of Central Vietnam dating back to the 17th century before Danang took over this role. The architecture of Hoi An is a combination of the Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese styles, and this is perhaps the best town in Vietnam to hang around on foot, once designated by Wanderlust Magazine as the best ancient town in South East Asia.
Dinner at your own arrangement. Overnight in Hoi An.
After breakfast, our guide will take you to Tra Que Vegetable Village to enjoy the scent of fresh vegetables. The seaweed is grown organically without chemicals, and these renowned vegetables are located in the rural areas near Hoi An, allowing you to observe the villagers in their daily routines. Visitors can relax and enjoy various activities, such as cycling, motorbike tours, walking tours, foot massages with herbal treatments, learning about vegetable farming, and making Tam Vi rolls with locals before lunch. Have lunch at Tra Que Vegetable Village.
In the afternoon, our guide will take us to go to My Son. My Son Sanctuary in Quang Nam is one of the most impressive temple ruins in South East Asia. Listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1999 features over 70 structures and ancient buried treasures. The temples, reflecting a 10-century journey through different Cham Kingdom architectural styles, attract tourists, especially those fascinated by ancient civilizations and spiritual architecture.
Moreover, the significance of My Son Sanctuary resides in the Cham towers constructed for worship. These towers were built using a mysterious method, possibly involving baking the structures for increased durability.
Dinner at your own arrangement. Overnight in Hoi An.
We will have breakfast at the hotel, then our guide will pick you up at the hotel and depart to Bay Mau Coconut Forest. You will discover the peaceful coconut forest and be welcomed warmly by the local people here. You can enjoy some fun activities at the village such as basket boat spinning, fishing crabs, casting the fishing net and the fisherman will show you how to paddle a basket boat.
Have lunch at a local restaurant at Bay Mau Coconut Forest before our car take us back to Danang Airport to take the flight to Saigon.
Welcome to Saigon (officially Ho Chi Minh City)! Our guide in Saigon will meet us at the airport. Transfer to our hotel for checkin and refresh.
Dinner at your own arrangement. Overnight in Saigon.
After breakfast, we will visit the Notre Dame Cathedral (outside), the Saigon Central Post Office, which are both mentioned in every memory of the city as its dear symbols. Go on to the exciting District 5, where strong traditions of the Chinese community still exist. Here we will visit Thien Hau Pagoda, considered one of the temples with the oldest history of the Chinese people in Saigon. From the pagoda we will walk up to Binh Tay market, a trading center of the Vietnamese and Chinese communities here to experience and learn about the influence of the Chinese community as one of the two forces that shape the city.
Have lunch in Saigon.
In the afternoon we will go out to Cu Chi Tunnels. A huge underground system not far from Saigon, Cu Chi is the evidence of the fierce Vietnam War. For many years before 1975, Cu Chi had covered troops of Vietnamese guerillas not only from attacks but protected their daily lives; it became a strong base for the Vietnamese forces during the conflicts and is now a weird war remnant that can make anyone of us feel a stronger love to peace and everyday life upon each time visiting this place.
Back to Saigon. Dinner at your own arrangement. Overnight in Saigon
After breakfast, we can go shopping or hang around until our guide and vehicle take us to the Tan Son Nhat Airport for our departure flight.
Goodbye, and hope to see you for a longer trip in Vietnam!