Day 1: Hanoi arrival

Hanoi - Airport: 30km, ~40min drive

Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, meet our driver who then escorts you to the city center. After making sure of your successful hotel check-in, they will be pleased to leave you free time for your own lunch and leisure to recover after the long flight.

Meals Included: None
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 2: Hanoi - Explore the Millennian Old Capital (B)

Start with breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, head to West Lake to visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, a spiritual highlight of Hanoi. The pagoda is surrounded by a large garden with ancient trees, valuable Buddhist statues, and notably, the impressive statue of Buddha in Nirvana.

Next, visit the Ethnography Museum, arguably Hanoi’s finest museum. This visit offers a glimpse into the cultural diversity of Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. You’ll see traditional costumes of each ethnicity and enjoy a pleasant stroll through the museum garden, which showcases a collection of traditional wooden houses from various Vietnamese minority groups.

In the afternoon, tour the Temple of Literature, another must-visit site that deepens your understanding of Vietnam’s ancient culture. This is one of the few remaining well-preserved vestiges from the royal era.

Then, our guide will take you to a special neighborhood (Train Street) where local house doorsteps are right on the railway track that cuts through the area. A unique glimpse of Hanoi!

Continue on foot with a walk to Dong Xuan Market, a hub of commerce, culture, and spirituality. Finally, head to Long Bien Bridge, a relic from the war era, formerly known as Paul Doumer Bridge, constructed during the French Indochina period by Daydé & Pillé.

Meals on your own.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 3: Hanoi - White Thais Valley - Mai Hich / Home stay (B/D)

Hanoi - Mai Chau: 150km, ~3h40min drive

After breakfast at the hotel, drive from Hanoi towards Mai Chau Valley (~160km, ~3h40min drive), the home of the White Thai ethnic group. En route, stop to visit the local market at Xuan Mai for an authentic discovery and to enjoy magnificent panoramic views of the valley.

Upon arrival in Mai Chau, enjoy lunch on your own in the village.

In the afternoon, take a walking tour followed by a bike ride through the rice paddies. Along a small path, you’ll pass through Thai villages such as Nhot, Pomcoong, and Lac. Don’t miss visiting their traditional stilt houses and exploring their crafts (embroidery, weaving). You’ll have the opportunity to meet and interact with friendly and welcoming villagers and even participate in their daily activities in the fields.

Finally, head to Mai Hich village, a charming oasis valley surrounded by lush limestone mountains.

After settling into a lovely stilted wooden house, join your hosts in cooking dinner and share enjoyable moments with your guide, driver, and the host family.

Overnight in a private room without air conditioning, with external toilets and shower.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Homestay in Mai Hich

Day 4: Mai Hich - Light Hiking - Tam Coc (Inland Halong Bay) (B)

Mai Chau - Ninh Binh: 142km, ~3h40min drive

Breakfast at the homestay.

In the morning, explore a mosaic of rice paddies framed by jungle-capped karst peaks dotted with small villages and their traditional wooden stilt houses. Embark on a 2 to 3-hour hike through authentic surrounding villages including Mai Ha and Xam Khoe. Depending on local conditions, you may also have the opportunity to enjoy a bamboo raft ride on the river.

Return to the homestay around noon for an included lunch.

Early in the afternoon, depart for Tam Coc (~150km, ~3h30min drive), nicknamed the "Inland Halong," located in Ninh Binh province.

Check into the hotel upon arrival. Dinner on your own.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Ninh Binh

Day 5: Explore Tam Coc & Its Surroundings (B/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning, start your day with a rowboat ride through the spectacular scenery of Tam Coc, navigating among stunning karst islets set in a lush aquatic landscape and through beautiful caves.

Then, visit the Bich Dong pagoda (pagoda in the Jade Cave), situated on the side of a steep mountain. Here you’ll discover three pagodas and a monastery built in the 17th century. Those who have seen the movie "Indochine" will remember this magical and surreal location.

After a lunch on your own, visit Hoa Lu, which was the capital of Vietnam’s first independent dynasties (968 to 1009) after nearly a thousand years of Chinese rule.

Then, take a bike ride through the nearby villages to Hang Mua Peak, the muse of Tam Coc. Climbing the 486 stone steps to the summit, you'll be rewarded with a fantastic panoramic view of the "Inland Halong Bay."

Enjoy a special dinner featuring a Vietnamese fondue (Lẩu) at a local restaurant.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Ninh Binh

Note: Tam Coc is where scenes from the film "Indochine" were shot. It is the most picturesque and thus the most touristy site in the region. On-site, you can choose with your guide to replace Tam Coc with less touristy but also less scenic sites like Van Long or Thung Nham. No change in pricing.

Day 6: Tam Coc - Cat Ba Island/Cruise & Overnight on a Junk (B/L/D)

Ninh Binh - Hai Phong: 170km, ~2h40min drive

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning, depart from Tam Coc for Cat Ba Island via the Hai Phong region (130km, ~2h30min drive).

Upon arrival, first board a local ferry to reach Cat Ba Island (20-minute cruise). Then around 12:15 PM at Ben Beo port, board a traditional wooden junk to start your discovery and relaxation cruise with an overnight stay aboard.

During the cruise, you’ll have the opportunity to kayak and explore the largest fishing village in the bay.

The junk will first head to Lan Ha Bay before moving into Ha Long Bay, where we navigate towards secluded islands. Sailing is possible depending on the wind.

You may swim or sunbathe on the beach, weather permitting.

Lunch and dinner will be served aboard, featuring seafood (fish, shrimp, squid, shellfish, oysters) as well as meat and vegetables.

The evening is free for relaxation. Participate in communal activities like card games or night fishing if you wish.

Overnight on the boat in a comfortable cabin equipped with a bathroom and air conditioning.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight on Junk

Day 7: Cat Ba Island - Hanoi - Flight to Hue

Hanoi - Hue: 770km, 1h flight

An early morning wake-up is recommended if you want to witness the sunrise over the bay - a truly fabulous moment!

Breakfast will be served on board in the dining room as the junk sails towards the Viet Hai fishing village. Nestled between Cat Ba National Park and limestone peaks, this village has maintained the most authentic characteristics of Red River Delta villages: small mud-wall cottages emerge from lush gardens, animals coexist with humans, and smoke from the huts rises into the sky. This serene atmosphere contrasts sharply with the touristy areas of Cat Ba, providing a mysterious and extraordinary experience for visitors and locals alike.

After disembarking, take a bicycle ride through this picturesque village. If cycling isn't to your liking, you can opt for a walk on the beach or a visit to a fish farm (please arrange with your guide or the crew on board).

Our off-the-beaten-path program does not include touristy cave visits.

Return to the junk to check out of your cabin and enjoy the last photo sessions.

Lunch included before disembarking around noon.

Meet your driver and transfer to Cai Vieng pier where you'll take the ferry to Hai Phong.

Then, travel to Hanoi airport (~150km, ~3 hours drive) to catch your flight to Hue.

Upon arrival in Hue, you will be greeted by a driver and transferred to the city (~20km, ~40-minute drive). Dinner on your own.

Meals Included: Brunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Day 8: Hue City Tour (B)

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning, meet your guide and driver and head out to explore a local market in Hue.

Then, proceed to the Hue Citadel, a vast fortified area built on the same blueprint as Beijing’s Forbidden City. It consists of three parts: the Forbidden Purple City for the imperial family, the Royal City where ceremonies were held, and the Capital City, which served as the administrative center. Majestic in its size and beauty, the Citadel is a testament to the grandeur of the period, as is Hue's culinary art.

In the afternoon, visit the tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, one of the most beautiful sites in Hue. It exudes tranquility and is a model of traditional Vietnamese art. This is also an opportunity to learn about the history of the Nguyen dynasty.

On the way, visit a conical hat-making workshop. This is a chance for us to offer you traditional hats from our country.

Finally, visit the Thien Mu Pagoda (Heavenly Lady Pagoda). With its picturesque location on the riverbank and atop a hill, the Thien Mu Pagoda and its surroundings form a complex rich in history, bearing witness to nearly four hundred tumultuous years of nation-building and religious beliefs in Vietnam.

Meals on your own.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Day 9: Hue Countryside by Bike - Da Nang - Hoi An (B/L)

Hue - Hoi An: 140km, ~2h30m drive

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning, drive in a private vehicle to La Chu village (~9km north of Hue), known for its vegetable and herb farming (onions, chives, coriander, basil, etc.).

At the village entrance, start your bike ride through the charming countryside. First stop at a family-owned workshop that makes paper votive offerings—a deeply cherished belief among the Vietnamese.

Continue to a small daily local market. Explore the stalls selling meats, spices, and fresh vegetables and fruits, under the curious and friendly gaze of local women unaccustomed to seeing tourists.

Follow a small path through vegetable fields where, if lucky, you can meet and talk with local farmers. Experience typical countryside scenes with fields, rice paddies, banana plants, rivers, lotus ponds, and in the background, mountains still bearing the scars of Agent Orange dropped by the American military over forty years ago.

Before leaving this bucolic setting, visit a family specializing in the production of “Bánh Lọc” – a small cake made from rice flour mixed with shrimp. You'll have a chance to try making this dish yourself.

Next, enjoy a short cooking class and lunch of various local specialties in a family restaurant.

After lunch, relax your feet in a hot bath scented with medicinal herbs, courtesy of the host family.

In the early afternoon, return to Hue and depart for Hoi An, passing over the Hai Van Pass, which offers a stunning panorama of the central coastline at its summit. Take this opportunity for some beautiful photos.

Check into the hotel in Hoi An at the end of the day. Dinner on your own.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Day 10: Hoi An Ancient Town - Countryside Bike Tour (B)

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning, set out to explore the ancient town of Hoi An, a paradise for lovers of refined Vietnamese cuisine, history, beach life, and enthusiasts of tailor-made clothing shopping. It’s also considered the most picturesque small town in Vietnam. On foot, you will stroll through the narrow streets discovering the ancient wooden houses of traders (such as Tan Ky and Phung Hung) where several generations have lived. These houses are architectural jewels of the old town.

Next, you will visit other remarkable sites including the famous Japanese Bridge, the Chinese temples (Cantonese Congregation and Fujian Congregation), the Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall, and the town market.

There is an option to watch a Cham performance in an old house.

In the afternoon, discover the countryside of Hoi An by bicycle. Ride to Kim Bong village (~3m from the city), recognized as a national intangible heritage in 2016, inviting you to discover the unsuspected wood products found in many architectural and religious works of the country. Take time to stop at a Kim Bong workshop to appreciate the meticulous work the sculptor dedicates weeks or even months to.

Continue pedaling to Thanh Ha pottery village, known for its pottery since the 16th century. You will have the opportunity to try making pottery yourself. Visit the Pottery Museum of the village before returning to Hoi An to participate in a lantern-making class. Finally, take home your own lantern as a souvenir.

Meals on your own.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Day 11: Hoi An - Danang - Flight to Saigon (B)

Danang - Saigon: ~850km, 2h flight

After breakfast at hotel, our driver will meet and transfer you to Danang Airport for flight to Saigon. Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, meet our guide and driver who then escort you to the hotel in city center for check-in. You will then have time for your own lunch and relaxation.

In the afternoon, we take a half day to visit all famous sites of this bustling city. The first destination is the now-demolished wartime American Embassy. After that, we head to the Reunification Palace, the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until April 30, 1975 when the North Vietnamese tanks came crashing through the front gates, bringing the U.S.-Vietnam War to a dramatic end; followed by some French colonial structures including the Old Saigon Post Office, the Notre Dame Cathedral. Notre Dame Cathedral was built between 1877 and 1883, and the stones used to create it were exported in its entirety from France. Apart from the religious meaning, the even more special captivating point of this Cathedral is its special neo-Romanesque style of architecture. Next to the cathedral stands the Central Post Office, finished in 1891. It is another fine example of French architecture and is Vietnam's largest post office. After visiting  the War Remnant Museum, if time permits, we continue our trip to the bustling Ben Thanh Market, which is a fantastic place for bargains of every kind! There are a number of vendors and food stalls in the market food section that offers guests many freshly delicious dishes. You also can find any goods for daily use as well as variety of eye-catching local handicrafts, souvenirs here.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Day 12: Saigon - Ben Tre (Mekong Delta) - Can Tho

Saigon - Can Tho: 157km, ~3h drive

After breakfast at the hotel, we leave the bustling city of Saigon behind us and depart for the Mekong Delta known to locals as ‘Vietnam’s biggest rice basket’.

10h30: Pick up at Phong Nẫm Pier (Phong Nẫm bridge) in Ben Tre province. Take the boat along the Chẹt Sậy river – one of branch of Mekong river, sight - seeing daily activities along the river like fishing, water transfering... Stop at the brickwork to see the local people make brick by hand (traditional way). Enjoy fresh coconut juice.

11h45: Visit coconut husking factory, to see the local people husking coconut by hand.

12h00: Continue with boat. Visit one of the plenty of coconut processing workshop where coconut candy are made and have a chance to learn the coconut candy making process located along the canal (Lan Thanh coconut candy workshop) - taste tropical fruit - honey tea.

12h30 Turn on natural scissors creeks where they look smaller and smaller to go to the village. Take a walk to the family making sleeping mat. Afterward, being on motor cart or biking and traveling through some traquil villages where vegetable garden to be able to touch on real life and find out tropical culture from peasants.

13h15: Lunch at the local restaurant on your own cost.

14h30: Take the rowing boat at the small canal.

14h50: Arrive Nhà Việc bridge for a drive to Can Tho.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho

Day 13: Cai Rang Floating Market - Saigon

Rising early at around 6am to the sounds of the Delta coming to life for another day, we have breakfast and start our day with a boat cruise along the seemingly endless waterway of Mighty Mekong River. We arrived at Cai Rang floating market, the biggest and most famous floating market in the Mekong Delta. View hundreds of boats which are packed with mango, bananas, papaya and pineapple… all for selling, buying and exchanging. We visit the lush orchards and are treated to delicious tropical fruits.

We then drive back to hotel in Saigon.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Day 14: Saigon - Departure

Saigon - Airport: 8km, ~20min drive

After breakfast at hotel, time free until your driver meets and transfers you to the airport for your flight to another destination. We thank you for travelling with us!

Meals Included: Breakfast