Discover Hanoi by vintage sidecar, travelling along the city's grand boulevards and historic landmarks. Pass the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, ride beside West Lake and enjoy a refreshing coconut coffee or fruit juice. Visit a significant temple in Tay Ho before continuing past the Temple of Literature and finishing at the Hanoi Opera House for a memorable photo stop.
Accommodation: La Siesta Lakeside Hanoi or similar (Breakfast)
Day-by-Day Experience
The Spirit of Vietnam
01
Arrival, Ho Chi Minh City
Arrival at Ho Chi Minh City International Airport on a morning flight. Meet your local guide and transfer to the hotel
Optional: Private sunset cruise in Saigon
Accommodation: The Myst Dong Khoi or similar
02
Ho Chi Minh City
This morning take a scenic speedboat journey along the Saigon River to the Cu Chi Tunnels. On arrival, explore the extensive underground tunnel network used during the Vietnam War, including command shelters and hidden passages. You will get a chance to crawl through sections for an immersive wartime experience. Return by boat to Ho Chi Minh City.
After lunch a discovery tour through lesser-known Saigon. Visit District 3’s oldest café (1938) before exploring bustling street markets and local residential “Chung Cu” apartment blocks unchanged since the 1960s. Continue through Ho Thi Ky flower market and Khmer food quarter, sampling local snacks. End in a vibrant street-food district for dinner before return transfer to hotel.
Optional: Saigon Opera House Evening AO Show
Accommodation: The Myst Dong Khoi or similar (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
03
Ho Chi Minh
Depart Ho Chi Minh City at 8:00am and travel approx. 2.5 hours to a lesser visited region of the Mekong Delta. Board a private boat to explore river life, visiting a local workshop before continuing to a quiet island for a traditional lunch at a guesthouse.
In the afternoon, cycle along narrow village paths through orchards and farmland, with a stop to sample Sâm jelly at a local farm. Continue by sampan through mangrove waterways before meeting your driver for the return transfer to Ho Chi Minh City.
Accommodation: The Myst Dong Khoi or similar (Breakfast, Lunch)
04
Ho Chi Minh - Hue
Hotel check-out and transfer to Ho Chi Minh City Airport for the flight to Hue.
Upon arrival, meet your local guide and transfer to the Perfume River. Board a private boat for a nice lunch cruise. Depart while the gleaming orange lights over the ancient town. As the cruise winds gracefully through the heart of this historic city, indulge in the backdrop of ancient architecture and lush greenery while savouring traditional Vietnamese dishes from delicate spring rolls to aromatic local delicacies.
This afternoon explore Hue by traditional rickshaw through the Imperial City and surrounding historic quarters. Pass through the vast citadel complex, observing everyday life within its walls before continuing on a guided walk through the Imperial Enclosure and the Forbidden Purple City, once home to the Nguyen emperors.
Continue by rickshaw beyond the citadel to Kim Long Village, an atmospheric former mandarins’ district. End at a local café for a refreshment before onward travel.
Accommodation: Pilgrimage Village or similar (Breakfast, Lunch)
05
Hue
Begin with a short transfer to Thanh Toan Bridge before cycling through rural lanes and canal networks to a fishing village on Chuon Lagoon. Continue by boat across the lagoon to observe traditional fishing methods and local wetland life. Cycle onward along a coastal route to a secluded beachside restaurant for a relaxed lunch. After lunch return transfer to your hotel in Hue, with the afternoon at leisure.
Accommodation: Pilgrimage Village or similar (Breakfast, Lunch)
06
Hue - Hoi An
Morning at leisure before departing for Hoi An via Hai Van Pass. Enjoy the picturesque drive with a photo stop on top of Hai Van Pass.
Accommodation: Anantara Hoi An Resort or similar (Breakfast)
07
Hoi An
Begin with a guided walking tour of Hoi An Ancient Town, exploring its lantern-lit streets and historic yellow façades. Visit the local market with your chef to learn about fresh herbs and spices central to Vietnamese cuisine.
Continue by boat to a riverside island farm on the Thu Bon River for a hands-on cooking class. Prepare and enjoy your own traditional Vietnamese dishes before returning by boat to Hoi An. Afternoon at leisure.
Accommodation: Anantara Hoi An Resort or similar (Breakfast, Lunch)
08
Hoi An - Hanoi
Transfer to Danang Airport for the morning flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, pick up and transfer to the hotel for check-in.
Transfer to Hoan Kiem Lake for sunset drinks at a rooftop bar overlooking the lake and Old Quarter. Continue by traditional rickshaw through the French Quarter, passing the Opera House and Trang Tien Avenue before returning to the Old Quarter. Conclude with a refined Vietnamese dinner in a beautifully restored historic house.
Accommodation: La Siesta Lakeside Hanoi or similar (Breakfast, Dinner)
09
Hanoi
from $5469 per person
Optional: Experience
10
Hanoi - Mai Chau
Depart Hanoi and travel west to the scenic Mai Chau Valley, home to the White Thai ethnic community. Enjoy lunch at a traditional stilt-house guesthouse in a peaceful village before exploring the valley by bicycle. Cycle along quiet backroads through rice paddies and rural hamlets, meeting local farmers and experiencing everyday village life. Later, transfer to your lodge and enjoy time at leisure.
Accommodation: Mai Chau Ecolodge or similar (Breakfast, Lunch)
11
Mai Chau
Travel through the mountains of Hoa Binh Province to the H'mong villages of Hang Kia and Pa Co, where changing landscapes of plum orchards and cornfields replace the rice paddies. Enjoy a leisurely walk to a traditional village for lunch at a local guesthouse.
Visit a H'mong cultural house before taking part in a hands-on batik dyeing workshop to learn about traditional textile-making. Return to Mai Chau Valley via a scenic mountain route.
Accommodation: Mai Chau Ecolodge or similar (Breakfast, Lunch)
12
Mai Chau - Ninh Binh
After breakfast, depart Mai Chau and travel approximately 3.5 hours to Ninh Binh. Arrive in Tam Coc, renowned for its dramatic limestone karsts, winding waterways and picturesque rice fields.
Enjoy a leisurely bicycle ride through the picturesque countryside of Tam Coc, passing rice fields and dramatic limestone karsts. Afterwards, relax over lunch at a local restaurant overlooking the scenic Tam Coc waterway.
Cycle to Bich Dong Pagoda and climb its three levels for panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Later, board a traditional sampan for a peaceful cruise through the scenic waterways of Tam Coc, timed to enjoy the softer afternoon light and avoid the busiest part of the day.
Accommodation: Tam Coc Garden Resort or similar (Breakfast, Lunch)
13
Ninh Binh - Ha Long/Lan Ha Bay
Depart Ninh Binh and travel to Tuan Chau Marina to board your overnight cruise through the spectacular Halong and Lan Ha Bays. Enjoy lunch on board as you sail among the iconic limestone karsts, with the afternoon dedicated to sightseeing, relaxation and optional activities, subject to weather and cruise schedule.
Watch the sunset from the sundeck before dinner. Overnight on board in a private en-suite balcony cabin.
Accommodation: The Au Co or similar (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Inclusions
-
13 breakfasts, 10 lunches & 4 dinners
-
Domestic airfare
-
Accommodation in shared twin room with air-condition (AC) and private bathroom
-
Meals as stated in the programme
-
Transfers and tours with locally stationed English speaking tour guides in air-conditioned vehicles
-
All entrance fees as mentioned in the programme
-
Reusable refill steel bottle
-
International airfares
-
Optional tours
-
Surcharges for night-time services especially applied for transfers with arrivals after 23:00 hrs and arrivals or departures before 06:00 hrs.
-
Personal travel insurance
-
Personal expenditure, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry, camera fees, communications, postage, gratuities etc.
-
Meals and services other than mentioned in the programme
-
Drinks with meals
-
Visa application and visa stamp fees at Vietnamese embassies overseas and/ or upon arrival (Please note that a visa is compulsory for most nationalities.)
-
Early check-in and late check-out at hotels, if not mentioned in the programme
Exclusions
Begin the day with a complimentary Tai Chi session on deck before breakfast as the cruise continues through Halong Bay. Visit the impressive Sung Sot Cave, renowned for its spectacular limestone formations, before enjoying brunch on board during the return cruise to Tuan Chau Marina.
Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi, day at leisure before heading to Hanoi International Airport for your onward flight.
Optional: day-use accommodation before your transfer to the airport.
(Breakfast)
14
Departure, Ha Long Bay - Hanoi
Pricing
Day 1...Private sunset cruise in Saigon - $390 per person
After a short transfer to the city’s pier, you board a nice private sampan for a comfortable sunset cruise on the Saigon River. Two hours of indulgence with the gleaming lights of sunset beautifying the green banks of the city’s outskirts, beautiful views of the illuminated Saigon skyline, and a free flow of drinks to make sure you don’t get thirsty. Upon disembarkation, you are driven back to your hotel.
Day 2...Saigon Evening - Saigon Opera House - $140 per person
AO SHOW
Explore Vietnam’s peaceful country life and see it contrasted with frantic urban living. A O is a humorous show using bamboo cirque, contemporary dance and acrobatics. The exclusive musical score is played live by folk instruments.
Show duration: 60 minutes
Day 14...Hotel Day Use - $290 per person
Optional day use at hotel in Hanoi centre with pool until transferring to Hanoi Airport