Vietnam North to South - 12 Days

Once you arrive in Hanoi, you'll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free for you to relax, explore at your own pace, or enjoy a meal at a local restaurant.

After breakfast, at 8:30, you may visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, Hanoi’s oldest pagoda, dating back to the 6th century. We then continue to the Ho Chi Minh Complex, where we explore the Mausoleum, the Museum, and the iconic One Pillar Pagoda. After lunch at a local restaurant, we visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, before concluding the morning at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology to learn about the country’s 54 ethnic groups.

We’ll then take a walking tour around Hoan Kiem Lake, where we visit Ngoc Son Temple, dedicated to 13th-century military leader General Tran Hung Dao.

Tonight, you will have the option to see a 45-minute Water Puppet Show, a traditional Vietnamese art form rooted in the daily life of Northern Delta rice farmers. With its distinctive folk style, it is recognised as a unique intangible cultural heritage of Vietnam.

Hanoi - Halong Bay. Today, once we have arrived at Sunworld International Harbor, we’ll check in and enjoy a welcome cocktail as the crew provides a safety briefing and the cruise sets off towards Bai Tu Long Bay.

As we cruise towards the Cap La area, we will enjoy a Vietnamese lunch on board. You will then have the opportunity to kayak among limestone islets or swim and relax on the beach (weather permitting). As we cruise to Cong Do to anchor, we can enjoy the views and the sunset party during Happy Hour from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. You can also join a Vietnamese cooking class before dinner is served on the sundeck. Afterwards, you can try squid fishing or unwind with a board game.

Halong Bay - Vung Vieng - Hanoi. This morning, you will have the opportunity to join a Taichi lesson on the sundeck, before enjoying a light breakfast as we cruise towards the Floating Fishing Village of Vung Vieng. Once we have arrived, we will visit Vung Vieng, one of the largest in Ha Long Bay, where you’ll have the chance to learn about the daily lives of local fishermen, and while here, you will have the option of embarking on a bamboo boat, kayaking, or exploring.

We will then make our way to our cruise boat and you will check out at the reception. Brunch will be served as we cruise back to Hon Gai Harbour along a different route. Once we arrive, we return to our hotel in Hanoi.

Hanoi - Hue. After breakfast, we will be transferred to the Hanoi airport for our onward flight to the imperial city of Hue. Once we have arrived, we will be met and transferred to our hotel, where you will have the rest of the day to explore Hue at your own pace, grab a coffee at a cafe, or relax.

This morning at 8:00 AM, we’ll be picked up from our hotel in Hue and begin with a dragon boat ride to Thien Mu Pagoda, an iconic riverside temple. At 9:15 AM, we explore the Imperial Citadel, once the seat of the Nguyen emperors, followed by a visit to Dong Ba Market at 11:30 AM to experience its lively local trade.

After lunch at a local restaurant at 12:15 PM, we visit the elaborate tombs of Emperors Minh Mang and Khai Dinh. At 4:00 PM, we stop at a village known for making conical hats and incense before returning to our hotel in Hue city centre.

Hue - Hoi An. Today, we’ll be picked up at 10:00 AM for a three-hour journey to Hoi An. Along the way, we’ll stop at Hai Van Pass to take in the stunning coastal views. Once we have arrived in Hoi An, we will enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we head to My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. With our guide, we explore the remarkable architecture and cultural heritage of the ancient Champa Kingdom. We’ll also have the chance to witness a traditional ritual and a restored Champa dance performance.

After our visit, we start our journey back to Hoi An by boat, along the Thu Bon River, offering a different perspective of the region. Along the way, we stop to visit Kim Bong Carpentry Village, known for its skilled artisans and traditional woodcraft.

Hoi An - Da Nang- Ho Chi Minh City. After breakfast, we embark on a walking tour through the historic centre of Hoi An, visiting key landmarks such as the Japanese Bridge, Kwan Temple, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall and Tan Ky Old House. You’ll also have time to explore local art galleries and tailor shops, and if you wish, have clothes made to order in the old town.

We will then enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, before heading to the airport for our onward flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Once we have arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, we will be met and transferred to our hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore the night life in Ho Chi Minh, grab dinner or relax.

This morning, we begin our Ho Chi Minh City tour with visits to Notre Dame Cathedral and the historic Central Post Office. We then explore the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum. If time allows, we’ll also stop at Ben Thanh Market for some free time to shop and explore.

In the afternoon, we travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi, around 60 km away. On arrival, we watch a short video introducing the construction and wartime use of the extensive 200 km tunnel network. You’ll then explore the tunnels yourself, gaining insight into how they functioned as underground cities with living quarters, command centres, field hospitals and hidden entrances. Afterward, we enjoy tea and cassava, the staple food of guerrilla fighters during the war. We will see the peaceful rice paddies and riverbanks with ducks and water buffalo, hide Cu Chi’s violent past. The area still bears signs of the intense battles and heavy bombing it endured during the 1960s, when it was designated a "Free Target Zone." After we will make our way back to Ho Chi Minh City, where you will have the rest of the day at leisure.

Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta - Can Tho. Today, our guide will meet us in the hotel lobby between 07:30 AM and 08:30 AM to begin our journey from Ho Chi Minh City. As we travel through the countryside, we pass by green rice fields and local farms before arriving in the riverside town of My Tho. Here, we board a boat to explore the waterways of the Tien River, continuing on to Ben Tre, where we navigate through its coconut-lined canals. Here, you will have a chance to try coconut candies and honey tea before we enjoy lunch featuring fresh fish and river shrimp.

In the afternoon, you can take a walk through the countryside or watch a traditional folk music performance. At night, we will make our way to our accommodation in Can Tho, where you can spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Can Tho - Con Son Island - Ho Chi Minh City. This morning, we’ll set off to explore Cai Rang Floating Market, one of the largest in the Mekong Delta. As we move through the busy waterways, we’ll see boats piled high with fresh produce, household items, and local goods. We’ll have the chance to observe rice noodle makers at work, visit a riverside village, and try crossing a traditional bamboo “monkey bridge.”

After exploring the vibrant floating market, we return to the boat to check out and disembark. We then visit Con Son Islet, located in the Hau River, known for its lush orchid gardens and welcoming local community.

We enjoy lunch on the island with a variety of local dishes. After the meal, we board the boat back to the mainland. You’ll have some time for last-minute shopping at Can Tho Market and to visit Vinh Trang Pagoda. We then make our final journey back to Ho Chi Minh City.

After our final breakfast, depending on your departure flight time, you may have some time to further explore Ho Chi Minh, enjoy some last-minute shopping, grab a coffee at a cafe, or relax before your transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Safe travels!