Vietnam Classic Highlights 12 Days

Airport pickup with private transfer to your hotel. Free evening to explore the Old Quarter’s bustling streets where locals dine on tiny stools at street-side eateries.

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Meals: N/A

Begin your day with the Ho Chi Minh Complex, a site of profound significance to Vietnamese people. Here, you’ll visit the serene stilt-house where Uncle Ho lived simply despite his stature, the architectural marvel of the One Pillar Pagoda. Then you will visit the Temple of Literature – Vietnam’s first university founded in 1070.

In the afternoon, deepen your understanding of Vietnamese history and culture at one of Hanoi’s premier museums (our travel expert will help you select between Hoa Lo Prison, Women’s Museum, Fine Art Museum, or Vietnam History Museum based on your interests).

Then, experience Hanoi through all your senses during a walking tour that takes you through vibrant local markets filled with exotic fruits and spices, past the striking neo-gothic Saint Joseph Cathedral, the magnificent French-built Opera House, and around the legendary Sword Lake where history and mythology intertwine.

As twilight falls, enjoy an included dinner of authentic northern Vietnamese specialties, introducing you to the distinctive regional flavors that have made Vietnamese cuisine internationally acclaimed.

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, our driver will take you to Ninh Binh. Your first stop is Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s first feudal capital, where two ancient temples honor the emperors Dinh and Le who ruled during the 10th century.

After lunch, board a small sampan boat for a mesmerizing journey through Tam Coc. As your local rower skillfully navigates using only their feet, you’ll glide past vibrant rice fields and through three natural limestone caves where stalactites hang just above your head.

Complete your day with a leisurely bicycle ride through picturesque villages to Bich Dong Pagoda, a three-tiered temple built into the mountainside that offers panoramic views across this stunning landscape that has captivated countless travelers and filmmakers alike.

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, transfer to Halong Bay, where a warm welcome awaits as you board your elegant overnight cruise vessel. Settle into your comfortable cabin before enjoying a delicious lunch served as you begin sailing through the emerald waters of UNESCO-protected Bai Tu Long Bay. The less-visited sister bay to Halong offers equally stunning scenery but with notably fewer tourist boats, allowing for a more serene experience among the thousands of limestone islands rising dramatically from the sea.

Spend your afternoon kayaking through hidden lagoons accessible only at certain tide levels, swimming in crystal-clear waters, or relaxing on the pristine beaches of Cap La Island. Return to your vessel as the sun begins to set, casting a golden glow across the bay’s iconic limestone pillars.

Evening brings a fresh seafood dinner served on the open deck, followed by squid fishing, star gazing, or simply relaxing with a cocktail as your boat anchors for the night in a tranquil cove surrounded by the bay’s majestic karst formations.

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Greet the day with an optional early morning Tai Chi session on the sundeck as the mist lifts to reveal Halong Bay in ethereal morning light. After a light breakfast, visit Vung Vieng floating fishing village, where generations have lived on the water in homes that rise and fall with the tides.

Board a traditional bamboo boat rowed by village residents to observe this unique way of life that has existed for centuries among the bay’s protective islands. Return to your cruise vessel for a final brunch while sailing back to the harbor through more breathtaking scenery.

Your driver will then transfer you to Hanoi airport for your afternoon flight to Hue. Upon arrival in this historically rich city, check into your hotel and enjoy an evening at leisure to begin absorbing the more relaxed rhythm of central Vietnam.

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Immerse yourself in Vietnam’s royal heritage with a comprehensive exploration of Hue’s imperial treasures. Begin at the imposing Imperial City, a vast complex surrounded by a 10-meter high wall and moat where Nguyen Dynasty emperors ruled for over a century. Wander through ornate gates, peaceful courtyards, and opulent reception halls that reveal the sophistication of Vietnam’s last royal dynasty despite war damage throughout the decades.

Board a traditional dragon boat for a scenic cruise along the poetically named Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue’s unofficial symbol. This seven-story octagonal tower has witnessed centuries of Vietnam’s turbulent history while maintaining its serene presence on the riverbank.

Complete your day with a visit to one of Hue’s elaborate royal mausoleums – either Tu Duc’s romantic lakeside retreat, Khai Dinh’s fusion of Vietnamese and European designs, or Minh Mang’s symmetrical perfection—each offering insight into the emperor’s personality and reign while set in parklike surroundings.

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Meals: Breakfast

Today features one of Asia’s most spectacular coastal drives as you journey from Hue to Hoi An. The route takes you along the South China Sea and up the famous Hai Van Pass, or “Ocean Cloud Pass,” where mountains meet sea in dramatic fashion.

Descend to visit Lang Co Beach with its pristine white sand before continuing south past the Marble Mountains and the rapidly developing coastal city of Da Nang. Arrive in Hoi An by early afternoon with time to settle into your accommodations before taking your first stroll through this ancient town as evening approaches.

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Meals: Breakfast

Lang Co Beach is one of the most beautiful and peaceful beach in Vietnam

After breakfast, meet your guide for an insightful walking tour through Hoi An’s remarkably preserved Ancient Town. This former trading port blends architectural influences from its multicultural past, creating a uniquely atmospheric destination unlike anywhere else in Vietnam. Visit the iconic 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge with its attached temple, followed by the ornate Phuc Kien Assembly Hall built by Chinese merchants from Fujian province with its intricate carvings and ceramic figurines.

Step inside the Tan Ky ancestral house, maintained by the same family for seven generations, to see how wealthy merchants once lived with its fascinating blend of Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese elements. Complete your guided experience at Hoi An’s bustling central market where produce, spices, and seafood create a colorful sensory display.

The afternoon is yours to explore independently.

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Meals: Breakfast

Today offers a perfect opportunity to balance cultural exploration with seaside relaxation at An Bang beaches. The soft white sand and gentle waves ideal for swimming, with numerous beach clubs offering comfortable loungers, umbrellas, and refreshments for a perfectly relaxing day.

For those seeking more active experiences, several optional excursions are available for an additional cost.

1. Visit the My Son Sanctuary with its ancient Cham temples dating from the 4th to 13th centuries set in a jungle valley.

2. Join a hands-on cooking class to master Vietnamese culinary techniques with market visits and herb garden tours.

3. Explore sustainable farming practices at Tra Que Village, or cycle through picturesque countryside past rice fields, water buffalo, and traditional villages.

Tour guide: N/A

Meals: Breakfast

Our driver will pick you up at the hotel this morning and take you to the airport in time for the early departure to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). When you arrive, our driver and guide will greet you and take you to the city center to check into your hotel.

We begin our half-day city trip in Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon with signature famous attractions just a few highlights:

• The Old Post Office: Stunning colonial-era building in Ho Chi Minh City with shops and cafes.
• Notre Dame Cathedral: Iconic landmark in Ho Chi Minh City with a striking red brick facade and beautiful stained glass windows.
• Independence Hall: Historical site in Ho Chi Minh City with significance in Vietnam’s history, especially during the Vietnam War.
• War Remnants Museum: Somber museum in Ho Chi Minh City showcasing the impact of the Vietnam War through photographs and exhibits.
• Ben Thanh Market: Busy marketplace in Ho Chi Minh City for shopping, street food, and a lively atmosphere.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City and the evening are your leisure.

Tour guide: English speaking guide

Meals: Breakfast

Today is entirely yours to explore independently. For those wishing to venture beyond the city, two popular optional excursions are available:

Option 1: The Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour reveals an immense network of underground passages used during the war, offering insight into the ingenuity and determination that defined Vietnam’s wartime experience.

Option 2: Alternatively, a full-day Mekong Delta excursion takes you into Vietnam’s fertile “rice bowl” with sampan boat journeys through narrow canals, visits to cottage industries producing coconut candy and rice paper, and tropical fruit orchards where you’ll sample fresh exotic fruits straight from the tree.

Tour guide: N/A

Meals: Breakfast

Mekong Delta boat trip

Enjoy a final breakfast at your hotel before your private driver arrives for your transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

Tour guide: N/A

Meals: Breakfast