Best of Vietnam from South to North

Ho Chi Minh City

Day 1: You’re in Vietnam!

Welcome to the beautiful country of Vietnam! Land in Ho Chi Minh City, where our representative will pick you up from the airport. Proceed to your hotel and check in. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure. Relax in your hotel or head our for some street food on your own. You never know what you will find!

Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnel - Ho Chi Minh City

Day 2: Discover the Tunnels of Cu Chi

Wake up and enjoy your first breakfast in Vietnam! Then, it’s off to your first adventure. Via private car, head to the tunnel network of Cu Chi, with a total length of 250 kilometers. Once used to shelter thousands of Vietcong guerrillas during the war and provide communication routes and other facilities, today it is the perfect place to learn about Vietnamese history. In the afternoon, return to the city and start your tour of historic landmarks and must-see sights. Visit the Old Saigon post office, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Opera House. Move on to see the Reunification Palace and the ethnic Chinese district of Cholon. Return to your hotel for a relaxed evening.

Ho Chi Minh City - Ben Tre - Ho Chi Minh City

Day 3: Explore the Ben Tre River

After a delicious breakfast, you will depart for your day trip to the Ben Tre river in the mighty Mekong delta. Upon arrival in Ben Tre town, hop into a motorboat - the best way to explore the area! Stop in several noteworthy locations along the way, such as a brick kiln where you can watch the brick-making process. Take a look at coconut fruit processing, and stop in villages where you can learn about how families make traditional sleeping mats. Relax at a local house as you stop for a break with tea and fresh fruit. In the afternoon, switch out your boat for a motorized cart, which will take you through the rich rice fields and vegetable gardens of the area. In the late afternoon, head back to Ho Chi Minh City for your overnight stay.

Ho Chi Minh City - hue

Day 4: Visit the Majestic City of Hue

It’s another exciting day of your adventure through Vietnam! After you finish your breakfast, transfer from your hotel to the airport for your onward flight to Hue. Upon arrival in Hue, drop your bags at your hotel before heading out for an afternoon visit to the majestic Imperial Citadel of Hue. View the Citadel from the tranquil Perfume River, as you cruise on a sampan. Stop for a visit to the traditional Thien Mu Pagoda upstream of the Citadel. Afterwards, get back on land and take a private car to the Tomb of Emperor Minh Mang. The rest of the evening is yours to spend as you wish! Choose to check out more of Hue or rest in your hotel room.

hue - Danang - hoi an

Day 5: Experience the Stunning Vietnamese Coastline

Today, it is time for your next destination: the city of Hoi An. Travel along the scenic Hai Van mountain pass. Gaze out the window at the spectacular Vietnamese coastline that floats by during the drive. You will make a pit stop at the white, sandy beach of Lang Co and enjoy the feel of the cool water between your toes. Your next stop is in Da Nang, where you will get the chance to visit the Cham Museum, where one can find the largest collection of sculptures and relics from the Khmer, or Cham, period. In the afternoon, you will arrive in the wondrous city of Hoi An, an astounding UNESCO World Heritage Site. Head to your hotel for your overnight stay.

hoi an - My Son - hoi an

Day 6: Hike to Holy My Son

Today you will have the opportunity to experience one of Vietnam’s treasures for yourself! After you’ve enjoyed your breakfast, get ready for a drive along Indochina’s mountainous spine. Stop at today's destination, and put your hiking shoes on. Take a hike up to My Son, Vietnam’s most spectacular historic and religious site with 68 Hindu temples, My Son was the holiest place in the Champa kingdom for over 900 years. The structures are elaborately decorated with ornate sandstone bas-relief panels, however, many have been damaged by pillaging and U.S. bombings. In the late morning, head back to Hoi An. In the afternoon, stroll through the small streets and visit sites such as the Japanese Bridge, the Chinese Temple, and the Tan Ky trading house before getting the chance to enjoy some fabulous local food.

hoi an - Danang - hanoi

Day 7: Experience Unique Culture in Hanoi

Wake up and enjoy the delicious breakfast. Then, it’s off to the airport for your next flight to the city of Hanoi. Spend the afternoon by exploring the city. Your first stop of the day is at Vietnam’s first university, the thousand-year-old Temple of Literature. Move on to visit the Ethnology Museum, and learn about the culture and traditions of Vietnam’s many diverse ethnic groups. Continue your journey through the city to the gorgeous Ngoc Son Temple, located on an island in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake. Then, get ready for a special treat, as you get to try egg coffee, a local delicacy that has become continually hard to find. Sip on your coffee or other refreshments as you overlook the stunning lake. In the evening, head to a traditional water puppet show, a unique cultural experience. Afterwards, return to your hotel.

hanoi - halong Bay

Day 8: Cruise through Spectacular Halong Bay

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before transferring to Halong Bay. An UNESCO World Heritage Site encompassing around 3000 islands of karst limestone. Be welcomed in Halong as you board a beautiful cruise ship that will take you through the bay. View the bay from the deck of the ship, and take in the stunning karst formations as you traverse the labyrinth of islands. Enjoy lunch and dinner of fresh-caught seafood, which is included in your cruise. As night slowly falls, gaze up at a million stars that shine down on the bay before retiring to your cabin for the evening.

halong Bay - hanoi

Day 9: Watch the Sunrise over Halong Bay

The sunrise is spectacular on Halong Bay, and is an experience in and of itself - we suggest you set your alarm clock! Watch as beautiful shades of orange and pink fill the horizon and reflect off the calming water. Enjoy breakfast on your boat before taking a refreshing dip in the bay itself. As the morning progresses, you will continue to explore the bay from aboard your ship before enjoying your onboard lunch. In the afternoon, step back on land and head back to Hanoi. The rest of the day is yours to use as you see fit. Go out on the town and look for dinner or pick up a last-minute souvenir. If you’d rather, choose to relax in your hotel room instead.

hanoi

Day 10: Say Goodbye to Hanoi!

Wake up and have your breakfast. The morning is yours to pack your bags or stretch your legs before your transfer to the airport for your return flight. Say goodbye to the beautiful city of Hanoi and come again soon!