Day 1 Ho Chi Minh City arrival
Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, your private guide and driver will greet you and transfer you to a centrally located luxury hotel. After settling in, enjoy a welcome dinner at a renowned local restaurant, featuring classic Vietnamese dishes like pho and fresh spring rolls, setting the stage for your grand adventure.
Day 2 Ho Chi Minh City tour
Today you explore Saigon’s captivating history and energy. Visit the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, and the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral. Stroll through bustling Ben Thanh Market, where vendors sell everything from spices to silk. Your guide shares stories of colonial times and modern life as you soak in the city’s atmosphere.
Day 3 Mekong Delta – Ben Tre
Drive into the lush Mekong Delta, then board a private boat for a cruise through coconut-shaded canals. Visit a family-run workshop making coconut candy and sample fresh tropical fruit. In the afternoon you arrive at a local homestay, where a family welcomes you for dinner and an evening of stories about delta life.
Mekong homestay Day 4 Cai Rang floating market – Can Tho
Wake before dawn and take a boat to Cai Rang, the Mekong’s most vibrant floating market. Hundreds of boats laden with fruit and vegetables create a kaleidoscope of color. After the market, return to Can Tho and check into your hotel. The afternoon is free to explore the city’s riverside promenade and local markets.
Day 5 Mekong – Ho Chi Minh City
Visit a local rice noodle workshop to see how the region’s staple food is made. Then drive back to Ho Chi Minh City, arriving in the early afternoon. The rest of the day is yours to relax, revisit a favorite spot, or discover a new café. Perhaps enjoy a drink at a rooftop bar overlooking the city.
Day 6 fly to Da Nang – Hoi An
A short morning flight takes you to Da Nang, from where you transfer to the enchanting town of Hoi An. In the afternoon, a walking tour introduces you to the Japanese Covered Bridge, ancient merchant houses, and the colorful market. As evening falls, the town glows with hundreds of lanterns reflected in the river.
Day 7 Hoi An lantern workshop & countryside
This morning you participate in a traditional lantern‑making class, crafting your own colorful souvenir. Then cycle through emerald rice paddies to Tra Que vegetable village, where you help farmers water and tend their organic gardens. Return to Hoi An for a free evening to explore the night market.
Lantern workshop Day 8 Hoi An free day
A full day at leisure to enjoy Hoi An as you wish. You might choose to relax on An Bang beach, have clothes tailored by one of the town’s famous seamstresses, or take a cooking class. In the evening, perhaps set a lantern afloat on the river—a magical experience for all ages.
Day 9 My Son Sanctuary
A morning excursion takes you to My Son Sanctuary, the holy land of the Cham people and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Wander among red‑brick temples set in a lush valley, learning about the ancient civilization that built them. Return to Hoi An in the afternoon, with time to relax or explore further.
Day 10 Hoi An – Hue via Hai Van Pass
Today you travel the scenic coastal road over the legendary Hai Van Pass, stopping at panoramic viewpoints and the sleepy fishing village of Lang Co. Arrive in Hue, the former imperial capital, and check into your hotel. The evening is free to stroll along the Perfume River or sample royal cuisine.
Day 11 Hue Imperial City
Explore the magnificent Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City, once home to Vietnam’s emperors. Afterward, take a dragon boat cruise on the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, the city’s oldest pagoda, and a traditional royal tomb. The day ends with a taste of Hue’s famous imperial cuisine.
Day 12 Hue – Phong Nha cave
Journey to Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, home to some of the world’s most spectacular caves. Board a boat and glide into the immense Phong Nha cave, admiring massive stalactites and an underground river. The sheer scale and beauty leave you awestruck. Overnight in a comfortable eco‑lodge near the park.
Phong Nha cave Day 13 Paradise cave & flight to Hanoi
Visit Paradise Cave, renowned for its impressive wooden walkways and ethereal formations that stretch for kilometres. After lunch, transfer to Dong Hoi airport for a short flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and enjoy a free evening in Vietnam’s elegant capital.
Day 14 Hanoi city tour
Discover Hanoi’s rich heritage with visits to Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, his simple stilt house, and the Temple of Literature—Vietnam’s first university. In the afternoon, take a cyclo tour through the bustling Old Quarter, then enjoy a traditional water puppet show, a unique art form born in the rice paddies.
Day 15 Hanoi – overnight train to Sapa
After a free day exploring Hanoi’s museums or cafes, board an overnight soft sleeper train to Lao Cai. The comfortable cabins allow you to rest as the train winds through the northern countryside. Wake up in the mountains, ready to explore the region’s stunning landscapes and hill tribe cultures.
Day 16 Sapa – hill tribe trekking
Arrive in Lao Cai and transfer to Sapa, nestled among terraced rice fields. Trek through the breathtaking Muong Hoa Valley, visiting local Hmong and Red Dao villages. Learn about their traditions, textiles, and daily life. The scenery of emerald terraces and misty peaks is unforgettable. Overnight in a comfortable Sapa hotel.
Sapa Day 17 Fansipan cable car & Sapa free afternoon
Ride the cable car to the summit of Fansipan, the highest peak in Indochina (3,143 metres). On clear days the panoramic views over the Hoang Lien Son mountains are spectacular. Descend and spend a free afternoon exploring Sapa town, perhaps visiting the local market or simply relaxing with a coffee overlooking the valley.
Day 18 Sapa – Hanoi by night train
Enjoy a final morning in the mountains, perhaps with a short walk to a nearby village. In the afternoon, transfer to Lao Cai station for the overnight train back to Hanoi. Reflect on your mountain adventure as the train carries you southward. Soft sleeper cabins ensure a restful journey.
Day 19 Hanoi arrival – Halong Bay cruise
Arrive early in Hanoi and drive through the countryside to Halong Bay. Board a luxury junk and set sail among thousands of limestone karsts. Enjoy a seafood lunch as you cruise, then kayak into hidden lagoons, visit a floating village, and watch the sunset from the deck. Overnight on the bay.
Day 20 Halong Bay – Hanoi
Join a Tai Chi session on the sundeck as the sun rises over the bay. Explore a magnificent cave filled with stalactites before returning to the boat for a sumptuous brunch. Disembark mid‑morning and drive back to Hanoi. The remainder of the day is free for last‑minute exploration or relaxation.
Day 21 Hanoi free day
A completely free day to explore Hanoi at your own pace. You might visit the Ethnology Museum to learn about Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups, shop for souvenirs in the Old Quarter, or simply sip egg coffee at a historic café like Giang. Your guide can offer suggestions based on your interests.
Day 22 Hanoi – Ninh Binh (Tam Coc)
Day trip to Ninh Binh province, often called “Halong Bay on rice paddies.” Board a sampan rowed by a local to glide through Tam Coc’s three caves, with karst peaks rising above flooded rice fields. Visit the ancient capital Hoa Lu with its temples dedicated to 10th‑century kings. Return to Hanoi in the evening.
Day 23 Hanoi free day
Another free day for deeper discovery. You could take a Vietnamese cooking class, visit the tranquil West Lake, or explore the vibrant Long Bien market. Alternatively, simply relax at your hotel and enjoy the facilities. Your guide is available to help arrange any activities.
Day 24 Hanoi free day
A final day in Hanoi to soak up the city’s charm. Visit the women’s museum, stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake, or catch a performance at the opera house. In the evening, perhaps enjoy a farewell dinner at a fine dining restaurant before preparing for the next leg of your journey.
Day 25 Hanoi – fly to Luang Prabang
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Luang Prabang, Laos. Upon arrival, your local guide welcomes you and takes you to your hotel. The evening is free to explore the charming night market, where hill tribe people sell textiles and handicrafts, or simply relax by the Mekong with a cool drink.