- Overview
- Itinerary in Detail
- Gallery
Day 1. Arrival in Hanoi
Day 2. Ha Noi
Day 3. Ha Noi – Tu Le
Day 4. Tu Le – Mu Cang Chai
Day 5. Mu Cang Chai – Bac Ha
Day 6. Bac Ha – Ha Giang
Day 7. Ha Giang – Quan Ba – Dong Van
Day 8. Dong Van – Meo Vac
Day 9. Meo Vac – Bao Lac – Cao Bang
Day 10. Cao Bang – Ban Gioc – Cao Bang
Day 11. Cao Bang – Ba Be
Day 12. Ba Be – Ha Noi
Day 13. Ha Noi – Ha Long Bay
Day 14. Ha Long – Ha Noi – Flight to Hue
Day 15. Hue
Day 16. Hue – Hoi An
Day 17. Hoi An
Day 18. Hoi An – Da Nang – Flight to Can Tho
Day 19. Can Tho – Ben Tre
Day 20. Ben Tre – Ho Chi Minh City
Day 21. Ho Chi Minh City – Departure
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN HANOI
Arrive in Hanoi, the capital of unified Vietnam and one of the most charming cities in Southeast Asia, with its authenticity, large shady avenues, numerous lakes, manicured gardens, and well-preserved architecture. Meet your guide and driver, then transfer to your hotel. Free time for a stroll around the city. Dinner on your own. Overnight at a hotel in Hanoi..
Arrive in Hanoi, the capital of unified Vietnam and one of the most charming cities in Southeast Asia, with its authenticity, large shady avenues, numerous lakes, manicured gardens, and well-preserved architecture. Meet your guide and driver, then transfer to your hotel. Free time for a stroll around the city. Dinner on your own. Overnight at a hotel in Hanoi..
DAY 2: HANOI SIGHTSEEING AND MOTORBIKE TOUR (B/L/-)
After breakfast at the hotel, meet your local guide at 08:30 and start your city tour with a visit to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, founded in 1076. Known locally as Quoc Tu Giam, this place of learning was established inside a temple to educate Vietnam’s nobles, scholars, and society’s elites. Its well-preserved architecture and tranquil gardens offer intriguing glimpses into Vietnam’s past. Later on, take a walk around the Old Quarter, also known as "the 36 streets" and Hoan Kiem Lake to learn more about the legend of the lake and the temple of Jade.
Visit St. Joseph’s Cathedral, one of the first buildings built by French colonists during their expansion in Indochina and still intact in Hanoi after two fierce wars, and emerge in the serene and peaceful atmosphere of Pagoda Ba Da, hidden in a very quiet corner in the middle of Hanoi's busy traffic, just a few steps from the cathedral.
In the afternoon, you will discover the different neighborhoods of Hanoi on the back of a Russian Minsk motorcycle. First stop at a local restaurant in Ba Dinh District, where you can taste one of the city's specialties, “pho" or rice noodles, served in a variety of ways: rolled, stirred, and fried. After having filled your stomach with delicious food, head off to a hidden farmland on the Red River bank to discover the countryside on the edge of bustling Hanoi, where people plant bananas and vegetables and live in floating homes. On your way back to the city center, stop at Long Bien Bridge, a historic bridge across the Red River that was built by the French from 1898 to 1902 and designed by Gustave Eiffel.
Next stop is Hanoi’s largest open-air second-hand market in Hai Ba Trung district. Emerge yourself in the narrow alleys of residential areas nearby, then take a walk around a wet market to learn about ingredients used daily in Vietnamese meals and taste tropical fresh fruits. Continue heading towards Dong Da District, the most populated area of Hanoi with more than 400.000 residents per km2. Stop at the train street, where houses are built just a few meters away from the railway. Later on, visit a local house with a separate kitchen and bathroom that brings back memories of Hanoi in the 1960s. The journey concludes with Hanoian egg coffee at an old coffee shop. Return to your hotel at around 16:30. Overnight in Ha Noi.
DAY 3: HANOI – TU LE (B/L/-) 270km
This morning, you will depart from Hanoi at 08:00 for Yen Bai, a province in the north-east region of Vietnam populated largely by ethnic minorities, where mountains are sculpted into masterpieces by magnificent rice terraces classified as national heritage.
Reach Nghia Lo at noon and have lunch in a Black Thai ethnic village nestled in the fertile valley of Muong Lo, considered one of the main rice granaries of Northern Vietnam. Enjoy a short walk or bike ride to discover peaceful hamlets inhabited by Thai and Hmong minorities.
In the afternoon, continue to Tu Le, where you go for another hike through Thai villages located in a beautiful valley at the foot of Khau Pa Pass. Take a stroll through the rice fields of this scenic village. Overnight in Tu Le.
DAY 4: TU LE – MU CANG CHAI (B/-/-) 36km
After breakfast, at 08:00, leave for Mu Cang Chai through the famous Khau Pha pass, enjoying the stunning scenery over the valley from the pass, and be ready for a full hiking day in the enchanting villages of La Pan Tan and Mang Mu to admire the beauty of the amazing rice terraces that Mu Cang Chai has to offer. Overnight in Mu Cang Chai.
DAY 5: MU CANG CHAI – BAC HA (B/-/-) 210km
After breakfast, at 08:00, leave for another half-day of trekking in the paths of Pung Luong commune, passing through bamboo forests and terraced rice fields. In the afternoon, take a long but beautiful drive to Bac Ha. Arrive in the late afternoon and overnight in Bac Ha.
DAY 6: BAC HA – HA GIANG (B/-/-) 150 km
After breakfast at the hotel, visit the weekly Bac Ha market, one of the most colorful markets in northeastern Vietnam, where every Sunday morning minority ethnic groups, including the Flower H'mong, Phu La, and Dao Tuyen, gather to buy and sell homemade products. Then visit the nearby Hoang A Tuong mansion, which has Oriental and European architectural influences. Built in the early 20th century, the luxurious building reflects the golden age of the father and son, Hoang Yen Chao and Hoang A Tuong, rulers of the region at that time. Continue to Ha Giang City and arrive in the late afternoon. Overnight in Ha Giang.
DAY 7: HA GIANG – QUAN BA – DONG VAN (B/-/-) 145 km
After breakfast, leave Ha Giang at 08:00 and move along the national road 4C and make several stops on the way to enjoy the spectacular scenery of Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark: Quan Ba Heaven Gate; walk up to Co Tien Mountain for the marvelous panorama of Quan Ba Valley; walk around Nam Dam village of the Red Dzao ethnic group. Stop for a lunch break in Yen Minh town.
After lunch, continue towards Dong Van and stop for a walk around an ancient town in Pho Bang and a visit to the historical site of the Vuong Palace, known as the H'mong King Palace, in Sa Phin village. Overnight in Dong Van.
DAY 8: DONG VAN – MEO VAC (B/-/-)
After breakfast, walk around Dong Van's old town and Thien Huong village, home to the Tay and Nung ethnic groups. Continue to the furthest northern point of Vietnam and visit the Lung Cu flagpole tower, which you can climb and enjoy the view of the Chinese border from the top.
In the afternoon, drive towards Meo Vac, climbing up the majestic Ma Pi Leng mountain pass. Stop to admire the poetic landscapes and then take a boat trip on the Nho Que River to admire the imposing river scenery that is surrounded by mountains and hills. Overnight in Meo Vac.
DAY 9: MEO VAC – BAO LAC – CAO BANG (B/-/-) 180km
After breakfast, depart at 08:00 for Cao Bang city, crossing the landscape of the Cao Bang province, inhabited mostly by the Nung ethnic group. Continue towards Cao Bang City and stop en route to enjoy the view of Me Pia Pass and its 14 winding slopes. Overnight in Cao Bang City.
DAY 10: CAO BANG – BAN GIOC – CAO BANG (B/-/-) 85km
Today you discover the different highlights of the Non Nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Global Geopark, the second geopark in Vietnam after the Dong Van Kart Plateau in Ha Giang. After breakfast, drive toward the Chinese border to visit Ban Gioc waterfalls, the breathtakingly majestic falls that demarcate the border between Vietnam and China, and Nguom Ngao Cave, or "Tiger Cave," that is known for its wonderful limestone formations.
On the way back to Cao Bang, visit Thang Hen Lake and Nui Thung Mountain, passing through Ma Phuc Pass. Overnight in Cao Bang City.
DAY 11: CAO BANG – BA BE LAKE (B/-/-) 125km
After breakfast, depart for Ba Be Lake National Park. In the afternoon, depart for a walk to Ba Be Lake pier, where the private boat will be waiting. Head to An Ma temple and walk up to the top of the islet to enjoy a nice view of the Lake. Continue the cruise up to the North of the lake, then explore the west side of the Nang River up to a small village on the bank of the river. Then, enjoy a nice walk in the forest to reach the spectacular Dau Dang Waterfall.
In the afternoon, continue to transfer to Hua Ma Cave, which features thousands of stalactites and stalagmites of different shapes. Take a leisurely walk into the cave to discover the best scenery of nature. Return to the homestay in the mid-afternoon.
DAY 12: BA BE LAKE – HA NOI (B/-/-) 250km
After breakfast in homestay, depart at 08:30 for a long drive back to Hanoi. On the way, stop in Thai Nguyen to visit the Museum of Vietnam's Ethnic Cultures (closed on Mondays) to gain an insight into the lives of Vietnamese ethnic groups inhabited in the northern area during the Indochina War. Arrive in Hanoi at around 14:00 and time at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.
DAY 13: HA NOI – HA LONG (B/L/D) 150km
After breakfast at the hotel, depart at 08:30 from your hotel through the Red River Delta to Tuan Chau Pier, where you will board a selected cruise for your overnight stay on Lan Ha Bay. Lunch will be served while the vessel starts cruising through thousands of limestone islets emerging from the emerald water. Join in some activities such as kayaking or swimming, or just relax on the sun deck and enjoy the stunning scenery of this World Heritage Site. Dinner with fresh seafood and overnight on the cruise.
Alternatively, breakfast at the hotel and depart at 08:30 from your hotel to Ha Long International Port, where you will board a selected cruise for your overnight cruise on the pristine Bai Tu Long Bay. After the on-board safety briefing, lunch will be served while the vessel starts cruising through thousands of limestone islets emerging from the emerald water. Join in some activities such as kayaking, cave exploring, floating village visits, or just relax on the sun deck and enjoy the stunning scenery of this charming bay. Dinner and overnight on the cruise.
The itinerary is subject to change due to the weather and operating conditions without prior notice.
DAY 14: HA LONG – HA NOI - FLIGHT TO HUE (B/Brunch/-)
Enjoy a beautiful sunrise over the bay, followed by a light breakfast. As the cruise sails back to the pier, enjoy brunch on board while admiring the limestone rock formations that glide by. Upon disembarkation, your driver will be waiting to take you to Hanoi’s Noi Bai Domestic Airport for a short flight to Hue. On arrival, your driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. Overnight in Hue.
DAY 15: HUE (B/-/-)
Depart from your hotel at 08:30 and you will spend a full day visiting Hue, the former capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945 during the reign of the Nguyen dynasty emperors, declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1993. Start your tour with a visit to the Imperial Citadel, the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty emperors. The Citadel was inspired by Vauban fortifications and is composed of three sections; the capital city (Kinh Thanh), the Imperial city (Hoang Thanh), and the Forbidden City (Cam Thanh). Continue to the Buddhist shrine Thien Mu Pagoda, also known as the Pagoda of the Heavenly Lady, which was built in the seventeenth century and is easily recognizable by its octagonal tower.
In the afternoon, visit Tu Duc's mausoleum, one of the most beautiful royal tombs of the Nguyen dynasty with unique architecture and perfect harmony with the natural landscape. Visit the nearby Thuy Xuan incense-making village, where you'll be amazed by the smell of aloeswood and the sight of innumerable bouquets of colorful bamboo incense sticks being sundried along the village roads. Continue to Khai Dinh Emperor’s mausoleum, where you can admire the blend of traditional architecture of the Nguyen Dynasty with European touches, which not only shows Khai Dinh Emperor’s characters but also makes it unique from the other tombs in Hue. Overnight in Hue.
DAY 16: HUE – HOI AN (B/-/-)
After breakfast, meet your guide at 8:30 and leave Hue for Hoi An on a scenic drive through the fishing village of Lang Co and Hai Van Pass. Continue to Hoi An and stroll through the narrow streets of the atmospheric Hoi An Ancient Town. This UNESCO Site is a precious gem that shows a range of architectural influences. Visit the Japanese covered bridge, one of the Chinese communal halls, and former merchants’ houses. Return to your hotel at around 16:30 and overnight in Hoi An.
DAY 17: HOI AN (B/-/-)
After breakfast, meet your guide at 08:30 and depart towards the southwest of Hoi An for My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in a lush valley, My Son was once the capital and religious center of the Cham people. With its impressive red brick towers and sanctuaries, My Son is considered to be in the same league as some of Southeast Asia's greatest archaeological sites, along with Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Bagan in Myanmar, Ayutthaya in Thailand, and Borobudur in Indonesia. Return to Hoi An at lunchtime and have time at leisure to relax or do some shopping. Overnight in Hoi An.
DAY 18: HOI AN – DA NANG – FLIGHT TO CAN THO (B/-/-)
Breakfast and time at leisure until your driver transfers you to Da Nang airport for a short flight to Can Tho. On arrival at Can Tho airport, meet your local guide and transfer to the hotel for check-in.
Depart from your hotel at 14:00 and head to the meeting point. Take the bike and get ready for a 7–10 km ride through local villages. On the way, you’ll pass through small, rustic roads in the countryside and encounter many interesting activities of the locals. Stop by one of the biggest organic cacao farms, where you can have the chance to learn about the progress of making chocolate manually and taste a fantastic cup of chocolate drink.
Embark on a ferry to cross through a river to move to "Giàn Gừa," one of the hidden gems in Can Tho with a majestic view. You’ll sneak into the beautiful series of narrow paths covered with the green of trees before you head to "Giàn Gừa." Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere, and don’t forget to take some memorable photos before getting back to the meeting point. Finish the tour by 18:00. Overnight in Can Tho.
DAY 19: CAN THO – BEN TRE (B/-/D) 125km
This morning, rise early and get a unique taste of life in the Mekong on a cruise over the colorful Cai Rang floating market. At 07:00 embark on the Mystic Sampan Cruise, while enjoying your breakfast served with Vietnamese and Western tasty dishes, you can comfortably observe the scenery of local daily life on the river banks. After breakfast, the Mystic Sampan cruises into the heart of the Cai Rang floating market, where you will see a maze of boats loaded with fruits, vegetables, or groceries for trade. You may also join the market by calling for fruits or a drink. Leaving the market, our tour guide takes you to a local workshop where you have a great time learning how locals make "Hu Tieu" - rice noodles.
Lunch at your own arrangement, and then depart for Ben Tre, known as the coconut kingdom of Vietnam. After 3 hours of driving, you arrive in a charming village hidden under hundreds of coconut palm trees. Welcome to Mekong Home, a family house composed of several bungalows, set in a tropical garden and on the Mekong River bank. Fresh coconut juice will be served, and then you will check into your room. Take a little break before leaving with a family member for an introduction to local fishing techniques.
In the evening, you participate in a cooking class and learn how to make "Bánh xèo" - Vietnamese pancakes made from rice milk. Dinner is ready to be served with fresh dishes cooked in local style, such as caramelized pork and fish soup, spring rolls, etc.
After dinner, relax in a lemongrass and ginger foot bath, a local therapeutic method to relieve the pain and fatigue of the legs. Overnight in Ben Tre.
DAY 20: BEN TRE – HO CHI MINH CITY (B/L/-) 90km
Enjoy your breakfast and depart for Ham Luong pier, where you take a boat trip to explore the local life and family-owned business activities along the Ben Tre River, one of the Mekong River’s tributaries. Stop at a brick kiln and learn about a traditional method of making bricks. Continue to visit one of the plenty of coconut workshops along the waterway to discover how every single part of the coconut, including the shell, the meat, and the water, is processed to produce a variety of products: coconut milk, coconut candy, coconut oil, and even floor mats and charcoal.
Next stop is a sleeping mat workshop, where you can learn about hand weaving techniques and enjoy some fresh fruits and tea. Later on, take a motor cart (xe lôi) or ride a bike on the shady paths of the peaceful countryside, passing by green rice fields and vegetable plains, to touch on real life and get to know tropical peasant culture. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant with local specialties such as elephant-ear fish and river shrimp.
In the afternoon, take a rowing boat on small canals shaded by wild coconut palm trees until Hung Vuong Pier, where your driver is ready to transfer you back to Ho Chi Minh City. Arrive at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City at around 17:00. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
DAY 21: HO CHI MINH CITY - DEPATURE FLIGHT (B/-/-)
Depart from your hotel at 08:30 to explore Ho Chi Minh City through its market, pagoda, and historical buildings. The best place to learn about local life is the market and the best time to visit it is undoubtedly in the morning. Start the day at the Bàn Cờ market in district 3, where you can find everything from fresh vegetables, fish, meat, and second-hand clothes to street food stalls scattered in narrow alleys. Continue walking to Nguyen Thien Thuat apartment building to admire the life scenes of the inhabitants of Saigon.
Next stop at the FITO museum (Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine) that offers an in-depth look at the fascinating world of traditional Vietnamese medicine. Located on a small street in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, the museum is home to a collection of nearly 3,000 objects related to traditional remedies, some of which date back to the Stone Age.
Later on, let’s go back in time to delve into the history of Vietnam with a stop at Đỗ Phủ cafe which was once the operational base of the Liberation Army of South Vietnam. While the coffee is prepared, discover the secret bunker of weapons used for the Attack on the Indepe nden ce Palace during the 1968 offensive and take pictures of the old car used to transport weapons to Cu Chi tunnels. Enjoy your coffee in the atmosphere of this historical house before heading to the hidden Van Phat Pagoda in Jewelry Street of China Town in district 5. You will be amazed by the vibrant colors of the typical Chinese architecture and especially by the ten thousand Buddha statues inside the pagoda. Here at the pagoda you can also learn how Vietnamese people preserve the cremation urns of their family members.
Continue to the French Quarter in District 1 to visit Saigon Central Post Office, a vital part of Ho Chi Minh City's colonial legacy. Time at leisure until your driver transfers you to the airport for departure flight.
