The Very Best of Vietnam

Arrival Flight: Guest’s own tickets

Xin Chao! Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam.

A warm greeting awaits at Noi Bai International Airport ; your private guide and driver will meet you OUTSIDE the arrivals lounge and transfer you to your hotel in Hanoi.

Please look for your tour guide who holds up your names on a welcome signboard.

While every effort is made to have your room available upon arrival, check in time is at 02:00pm ; your room may or may not be ready before this time. Your tour guide will provide additional details regarding your stay, and you will be able to ask any questions you may have. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Today with the help of your private guide and driver, you will get to explore the city’s top attractions, sample Hanoi’s authentic local dishes away from the tourist trails, hunkering down with the locals on the street at a variety of atmospheric food stalls.

Morning

Begin with a tour of Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex where the Vietnamese people honour the country’s ‘Great Father’. Here you’ll visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum which contains the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh and his House on Stilts to observe how he lived and how his life unfolded to become one of modern history’s greatest names. Nearside his house is the miniature 11th-century One Pillar Pagoda , a Buddhist temple of historical and cultural significance.

Continue to visit the millennia-old Temple of Literature and explore its role in the country’s past, as both a university and a Confucius temple.

Enjoy lunch at Lan Ong Restaurant , where history, culture, and modern Vietnamese dining come together in an intimate and immersive experience.

Afternoon

After lunch, visit the historic Hoa Lo Prison (nicknamed the Hanoi Hilton), once used by French colonists and later for U.S. prisoners of war.

Take a fun cyclo ride through the French Quarter , admiring its colonial architecture, including the Vietnam History Museum , Metropole Legend Hotel , and Opera House .

We then take a short walk to continue to Train Street to see the train drive through the cafe street, sip on Vietnamese Cappuccino or other beverages while taking in the surroundings.

Finish the day with a walking tour through Hanoi’s Old Quarter (in contrast to the French Quarter) to discover the street food scene in Hanoi where it feels like you are never further than a few metres from a street food stall. Your guide will talk you through the ingredients and the different herbs of each dish, while you are crouching on tiny plastic stools in a back alley. Sample delicious dishes like Nom Du Du ( green papaya salad), Banh Mi Pa Te (a sandwich that reflects Vietnam’s culinary heritage), and the famous Hanoi dish Bun Cha (grilled pork and noodles).

Overnight in Hanoi.

Morning

After breakfast, the limousine staff will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to Sapa . The drive is approximately 5 hours. Established as a hill station by the French in 1922 , Sapa today is a must-visit destination in the Northwest. This is northern Vietnam’s premier trekking base , from where hikers launch themselves into a surrounding countryside of cascading rice terraces and tiny hill-tribe villages that seem a world apart.

Afternoon

After arriving Sapa and checking into your hotel, your private guide and driver will pick you up and take you (40-minute drive) to Tram Ton Pass , a height of 2047 meters above sea level, the highest pass in Vietnam. Enjoy amazing views of the surrounding mountains and lush forests of the Hoang Lien National Park. From there, you will trek 30 minutes through a tropical rain forest enjoying the wonderful flora and fauna. Continue to trek along a stream arriving at the Love Waterfall , a wonderful place to relax in Sapa. Return to Tram Ton Pass and drive back to Sapa where the balance of the day will be free at your leisure.

You can stroll around the town, visit the Old French Church , or climb the Dragon’s Jaw Mountain where you can enjoy the panoramic view of the Old town below.

Overnight in Sapa.

After breakfast, we will be met by our local guide and then we first sneak through the market leaving the busy town behind.

The first part is on the road but we soon turn to the right and walk on a small path down the valley to Y Linh Ho village settled down by the Muong Hoa River and from here to the Black H’mong village of Lao Chai . Black H’mong is one of the biggest minority groups in the Sapa area. They are proud of their culture and keep their traditions and way of living. They have their own language and wear traditional indigo blue clothing. The H’mong peoples have just recently changed their living way from sifting style into the sedentary one. So there are still a lot traces of the past time can be seen: rudimentary houses, stone wall around homes…

Lunch at a local restaurant.

After this you continue to Ta Van village (1.200 m) to visit Zay people . Zay is a fairly small minority group of about 38.000 people who live mainly in the mountains in Northwest Vietnam. The development has meant that some of their old customs have been lost but many women still wear traditional shirts with a purple, blue or green color. The Zay houses are built of wood and bamboo with a clay floor.

If you visit the valley sometime in between May and October, you will be able to observe and experience how the local do planting and harvesting, one of the most important activities in the daily life.

After visiting Ta Van village, the car will return you to Sapa. The trip ends around 15.30pm.

Approx: 30 mins driving/ 5 hours walking/ 1 hour lunch

The morning is free at leisure.

After checking out, your guide and driver will transfer you to Fansipan Cable Car Station to enjoy the cable car ride – the world’s longest and highest cable car, running up from the sleepy Sapa Town to the peak of 3,143-meter Fansipan Mountain , known as Indochina’s rooftop.

Upon arrival, you will take a 20-minute cable car ride through the clouds up to Mountain Fansipan. Enjoy the view from the highest point of this incredible mountain. The lush green and subtropical vegetation makes this mountain beautiful.

Leaving Fansipan Mountain you will you’ll continue onwards to Lao Cai Station for your night train journey back to Hanoi.

You will have the opportunity to drop your bags at a local restaurant near the station where you can have dinner before boarding the train. Accommodation on the train will be on a private four-berth soft sleeper compartment with air-conditioning . The train leaves around 20:00 and arrives in Hanoi at 06:00 the next morning.

Overnight on the air-conditioned train.

Arrive Hanoi in the early morning (at around 05:20 ). A hotel staff member will pick you up from your cabin. Please remain inside the train station – next to your cabin , as the staff will locate you by the name of your cabin. From there, you will take a short 3-minute walk to a nearby hotel. Kindly ensure you take care of your own luggage.

07.45 – 8.30 : Our bus will pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi and start your trip to explore the most amazing bay in the North of Vietnam. On the way, we will have a quick stop in the middle of the way to rest.

11.40 : Arrive at our waiting lounge at Ha Long international cruise port, you will have a bit of time to relax. Wait for our captain to finish the registration and transfer by tender to our boat.

12.35 : Enjoy a welcome drink and spend a couple of minutes briefing about safety on the boat and activities included then we check in our cabin.

13.00 : Delicious Vietnamese set menu will be served while leisurely cruising further into Bai Tu Long Bay.

15.00 : Arrive in the kayaking area – that is Cap La Island . Enjoy kayaking through the karst and breathtaking nature, swimming and relaxing.

17.30 : Get back to the boat and enjoy our Sunset party while our cruise sailing to the overnight anchorage. Attend a Vietnamese cooking demonstration. You can quickly learn a simple but delicious Vietnamese dish that Gordon Ramsey (a 2 Michelin Star Chef) used to guide – Nem Cuon or challenge yourself in fruit and vegetable carving.

19.00 : Sumptuous set dinner on board.

20.30 : Free time to challenge yourself in Vietnamese puzzle games, or gathers your group/family for a board game; try your luck with squid fishing or simply have a cocktail and enjoy the quiet night on the bay.

Note: If your time permits, we would highly recommend an additional night on board which gives you a lot more time to relax and take in the amazing landscape. You’ll get to cruise deeper into the Bay where it’s more beautiful and less crowded.

Overnight on Cruise

06:30 : Sunrise Tai-chi section on sundeck or catch a morning view of the stunning bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee.

07.00 : Breakfast will be served in Western style, familiar to you to fulfill your strength and ready for another exploring day.

08.00 : Explore the well-hidden Thien Canh Son Cave .

09.00 : Upon return to the boat you will have about 30 minutes to freshen up and finish packing.

10.00 : Enjoy a traditional Vietnamese lunch on the boat.

10.30 : Cruises back to the harbor.

11.00 – 11:30 : Disembark at Ha Long cruise port.

11.30 – 12:00 : Our bus will take you back to Hanoi.

15.00- 15.30 : Upon arival at your hotel in Hanoi, your private car will pick you up and head directly to the airport for the flight to Da Nang, in the central of Vietnam.

Upon arrival at Da Nang Airport , you will be picked up by your private guide & driver and taken to your hotel in Hoi An , the UNESCO heritage town. Hoi An has a pick of two beaches just 5kms (3 miles) away with so many beautiful beach resorts so please advise us if you prefer to stay on the beach.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Morning

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel to visit a local fishing village by cycling on level ground to the Thu Bon River . For safety purposes, you will be given a short bicycle competency test. For those uncomfortable with riding a bicycle, a private car can be arranged at surcharge .

Ride along country lanes at a peaceful pace viewing local life and pause to see farmers toiling in their rice fields using centuries of farming practices. Peddle your way through palm forests, across bridges, fields of water buffalo…

Take a short break in a local family at Cam Thanh Village before enjoying a 1.5 hours ride on Traditional Basket Boat (round boat) in the Water Coconut Palm Forest . Learn how to sail the basket boat and spend your time to catch fishes and “purple crabs” in the Canal.

Continue to ride your bike to Tra Que Organic Vegetable Village where a large variety of vegetables is produced for the local community. At the village, you will be shown the environmentally sustainable practices which the local villagers have used for centuries and is still being used extensively today.

After some farming practices, head a local family to enjoy a foot massage and the traditional herbal foot dip. You will then ride back to the hotel to rest during the day. Get ready for the afternoon walking and food tour.

Afternoon

Your tour guide will pick you up and take you to the Ancient Quarter of Hoi An , a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you will embark on a walking tour visiting the major attractions such as Chua Ong Pagoda , Tan Ky Ancient House, Fujian Assembly Hall , and the Japanese Covered Bridge .

Continue to visit the Precious Heritage Museum , home to the permanent exhibition of Réhahn’s Precious Heritage Collection . While transporting you to the furthest reaches of Vietnam, the collection will unveil the rich cultural tapestry of the ethnic tribes

The highlight of the day is the visit to the Reaching Out Tea House , a welcome little oasis of calm in the busy, vibrant Old quarter, owned and operated by the mute and deaf people. Here you will be treated with delicious cakes and incredible tea in the Eastern style.

Now, it’s time for your Hoi An street food discovery tour . With your guide, you will weave in and out the tiny alleyways, get to chow down with the locals at stalls you’d never discover on your own. Every day at 4 pm, Hoi An’s streets filled with a myriad of street food carts, stalls, and vendors. The street food tour is a great introduction for you to enjoy a few of the Hoi An specialties cooked up by the locals, to introduce you to the faces behind the stock pots and to teach you how the Hoi An locals deal with those condiment trays!

Overnight in Hoi An.

Spend your full day to relax at your leisure in this UNESCO heritage town, which has some of the best food, architecture, and shopping in all of Vietnam. Hoi An is the perfect place to potter around, shop at the many tailor stores, and dine at the town’s fabulous restaurants. In this town, you can get a suit/ tuxedo made within 24 hours at a reasonable price. You can also take an opportunity to join a cooking class to learn about the arts of Vietnam culinary; visiting the local market, choosing ingredients and preparing and cooking Hoi An special dishes. This is great fun.

Overnight in Hoi An.

After breakfast, you will be collected by your private guide and transferred in a private vehicle (approximately 4 hours) to the Royal City of Hue . Today’s journey over the Hai Van Pass will be one of the most scenic drives of your trip. En route, you will stop to visit the Marble Mountains, My Khe Beach —once home to American GIs during the war—as well as Lang Co Beach and its nearby fishing village.

Arrive in Hue around midday and check into your hotel.

Spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

Overnight in Hue.

Morning

Your day will start with a short visit to Thanh Toan Village where you can see the lively morning market. This is where the locals come to buy their daily food. Nearby are the 300-year-old Thanh Toan bridge and a Cultural Museum where you can visit and talk to the locals.

Continue on to the Hue Royal Complex , former home to the Nguyen Dynasty, the last Monarchy of Vietnam from 1802 – 1945. You will explore the ancient and atmospheric walled Citadel which contains the former Imperial Palace and the Forbidden Purple City .

Wind your way to the Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities , a captivating museum in Hue that displays a remarkable collection of artifacts from the Nguyen Dynasty, providing a unique window into royal history and culture.

Enjoy lunch in a selected restaurant.

Afternoon

You will visit the final resting place – called the King tomb of Tu Duc , then head to Vong Canh Hill to watch the sunset over the Perfume River. On the way back to town, you will visit a local workshop where you can see how incense sticks and traditional conical hats are made.

Overnight in Hue.

Morning

After breakfast, you will be picked up and driven to Hue Airport for a short flight heading south to Ho Chi Minh City , still called Saigon by the locals. It is the largest city in Vietnam and is located near the Mekong Delta.

Arrive and transfer to your hotel in the city centre for check-in.

Afternoon

In the afternoon, we visit the Reunification Palace . The war officially ended here on April 30th 1975 when tank 843 of the North Vietnamese Army crashed through the gates of the home of the President of the Republic of Vietnam.

Then you’ll go on to see outside of the Notre Dame Cathedral constructed by French colonists during their settlement. Across the road is the Old Saigon Post Office , a neoclassical architectural building which is considered one of the main tourist attractions in the city.

Get back to the hotel and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.

Overnight in HCM City

After breakfast, your personal guide awaits to take you on a 1.5-hour journey to the lesser-known section of Cu Chi – the Ben Duoc tunnels , Fewer visitors tread upon this site, offering you the chance to savor an unparalleled, personalized experience as you venture into the Cu Chi Tunnels.

Upon arrival, you will watch a short introductory video from the period before exploring the tunnels, the most famous battlegrounds in the world. The hidden network of Viet Cong tunnels is believed to stretch to “hundreds of miles,” in total length, and to include living quarters, storage rooms, makeshift hospitals, and kitchens, etc. Although originally very narrow, some parts have been widened for the tourists and you have the opportunity to explore parts of the system.

Arriving at Bn Duoc, immerse yourself in history through a documentary . Gain profound insights into the tunnels’ past and the remarkable stories they hold. With your experienced guide by your side, navigate the labyrinthine passages that once sheltered brave Viet Cong soldiers , functioning as their fighting bunkers, meeting room, kitchen, hospitals, and more. For those seeking an authentic connection, embrace the opportunity to crawl through a section, reliving the soldier’s experience. As we wrap up the walking tour, indulge in a taste of history by savoring cassava, a staple of the Viet Cong Soldiers’ diet, accompanied by a refreshing tangy tea.

As the morning journey draws to a close you’re escorted back to the city while enjoying a delightful lunch at a local restaurant en route.

Get back to the hotel and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.

Overnight in HCM City

Morning

After breakfast, your private guide and driver will take you out of HCM City in a private vehicle and onto some beautiful country roads to Ben Tre Town in the Mekong Delta , famous for its vast rice fields, numerous waterways, and beautiful landscapes. Known as the ‘rice bowl’ of Vietnam, this region produces most of Vietnam’s fruit, rice, sugar cane, and coconuts.

Following a scenic two-hour drive through lush farmlands, we’ll arrive in Ben Tre. A motorized boat journey will lead us through intricate waterways within the coconut forest. Along the way, we’ll pause at local cottage industries to witness brick-making and handwoven sleeping mat craftsmanship, traditional skills passed down through generations.

A leisurely walk along village lanes will introduce us to local homes where we can sample fresh fruits and indulge in honey tea while enjoying a Tai Tu music show .

A serene sampan ride through palm-fringed canals offers tranquility amidst tropical greenery. As we enjoy the peacefulness, we’ll appreciate the contrast to bustling HCM City.

Experience the charm of local life with a Motor Cart (xe lôi) ride through hamlets, rice fields, coconut groves, and vibrant orchards.

Afternoon

After savoring a delightful local meal featuring specialties like Tiger Prawns and Elephant Ear Fish , we’ll make our way back to the pier and journey back to Ho Chi Minh City.

The evening is yours at leisure. You can explore the vibrant night market and immerse yourself in authentic local cuisine. Alternatively, relax with a cocktail on the rooftop bar of the iconic Rex Hotel, soaking in its historic charm.

Overnight in HCM City.

Have breakfast at the hotel and free at leisure till check-out time. Depending on your departure flight, your private will pick up and transfer you to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your flight home or travel on to more adventures, we will help you with the planning.

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The Very Best of Vietnam

15 days

Note for solo travelers

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