Vietnam Heritage & Nature Discovery – 18 Days / 17 Nights

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN HANOI

Arrive in Hanoi, the capital of unified Vietnam and one of the most charming cities in Southeast Asia. The city captivates with its authentic character, broad shady boulevards, numerous lakes, manicured gardens, and well-preserved architecture.
Upon arrival, meet your guide and driver, then transfer to your hotel. Enjoy some free time to take a leisurely stroll around the city at your own pace.
Dinner on your own.
Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 2: HANOI SIGHTSEEING AND MOTORCYCLE 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 (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 (“the 36 streets”) and stop at Hoan Kiem Lake to learn more about the legend of the lake and the Ngoc Son (Jade) Temple.
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 then 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, discover different neighborhoods of Hanoi on the back of a Russian Minsk motorcycle. First stop at a local restaurant in Ba Dinh District to taste city specialties like “pho” (rolled, stirred, fried). After lunch, head to a hidden farmland on the Red River bank to discover countryside life 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 (built 1898–1902).
Next stop is Hanoi’s largest open-air second-hand market in Hai Ba Trung District. Immerse yourself in the narrow alleys of nearby residential areas, then walk through a wet market to learn about daily ingredients and taste tropical fresh fruits.
Continue toward Dong Da District, the most populated area of Hanoi. Stop at the train street, where houses are built just a few meters from the railway. Visit a local house with a separate kitchen and bathroom reminiscent of the 1960s.
Conclude with Hanoian egg coffee at an old coffee shop. Return to your hotel around 16:30.
Overnight in Ha Noi.

DAY 3: HANOI – MAI CHAU VALLEY – PU LUONG (B/L/-)

Ha Noi – Mai Chau: 150 km ~ 4 hours | Mai Chau – Pu Luong: 40 km ~ 1 hour
Depart Hanoi at 08:00 through mountains, fertile valleys, and rural villages. Stop at Thung Khe (White Rock) Pass to admire the panorama over the valley.
Arrive at the picturesque Mai Chau Valley, surrounded by karst formations and rice fields. Lunch, then cycle through Thai minority villages.
Later, transfer to Pu Luong via a breathtaking mountain pass with panoramic views.
Overnight in Pu Luong.

DAY 4: PU LUONG (B/L/-)

Breakfast with peaceful mountain scenery. At 08:30, descend into a beautiful valley to walk around rice terraces and small paths toward Uoi Village at the foot of the mountain. Continue downhill to a local home, rest, then cycle through the paddies of Lan Village and learn about Black Thai weaving.
Continue to Hieu Village for a refreshing swim at the foot of Hieu Waterfalls, one of the reserve’s most beautiful cascades. Ride back to the local home where the car awaits for transfer to your accommodation.
Overnight in Pu Luong.

DAY 5: PU LUONG – NINH BINH (B/L/-)

Pu Luong – Ninh Binh: 130 km ~ 3 hours
Depart 08:00 for Ninh Binh. En route, visit the Ho Dynasty Citadel (UNESCO), capital of Vietnam 1398–1407 — the only remaining stone citadel in Southeast Asia.
Continue through landscapes with vast pineapple plantations. Arrive Ninh Binh at lunchtime.

In the afternoon, visit the Trang An Landscape Complex (UNESCO) and unwind on a peaceful riverboat ride through a series of caves amid jagged karst and valleys — the famed “Halong on Land.”
Overnight in Ninh Binh.

DAY 6: NINH BINH – HA LONG (B/L/D)

Ninh Binh – Ha Long: 200 km ~ 3.5 hours
Depart 08:30 for Tuan Chau Harbor and embark your overnight cruise on Lan Ha Bay. Lunch served as you cruise among thousands of limestone islets.
After sailing past idyllic rock formations, anchor in mid-bay for sunset.
Dinner with fresh seafood.
Overnight on board.
Note: Itinerary subject to weather and operations.

DAY 7: HA LONG – HA NOI – NIGHT TRAIN TO DONG HOI (B/BRUNCH/-)

Enjoy sunrise over the bay, light breakfast, then brunch while cruising back past dramatic karst formations.
Disembark and transfer to Hanoi. Leisure time until your night train departs at 19:30.
Overnight on board in a 4-berth cabin.

DAY 8: DONG HOI – PHONG NHA (B/-/-)

Dong Hoi – Phong Nha: 45 km ~ 1 hour
Arrive early at Dong Hoi station, meet your guide, breakfast in town, then drive to Phong Nha.

In the afternoon, explore Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park. Boat the Son River to Phong Nha Cave (stalactites, stalagmites, Cham altars and inscriptions). Continue to Tien Son Cave with hundreds of formations in varied shapes and sizes.
Overnight in Phong Nha.

DAY 9: PHONG NHA (B/-/-)

After breakfast, drive along the Ho Chi Minh West Trail to the drop-off point and hike through primary forest to the famed Paradise Cave — the longest dry cave in Asia.
Continue to Mooc Spring with a short stop at Eight Ladies Cave, a poignant historical site. At Mooc Spring, kayak, swim the cool blue waters, and enjoy abundant bird and butterfly life.
Return around 16:00. Overnight in Phong Nha.

Alternative: Visit Dark Cave & Chay River: 400 m zipline, swim to the cave entrance, guided mud-bath adventure inside, then kayaking/swimming on the river. Return ~16:00. Overnight in Phong Nha.

DAY 10: PHONG NHA – DMZ – HUE (B/-/-)

Phong Nha – Dong Ha: 145 km ~ 2h45’ | Quang Tri Citadel – Hue: 65 km ~ 1.5 hours
Depart 08:00 south to the DMZ. From Dong Ha, follow historic Route 9 toward Khe Sanh, passing The Rockpile, the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and Ta Con airfields.
Visit the Vinh Moc Tunnels for insight into subterranean life during the war. Continue to the Ben Hai River (former border between North and South Vietnam), then the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel.
Arrive Hue around 18:00.
Overnight in Hue.

DAY 11: HUE VESPA TOUR AND SIGHTSEEING (B/-/-)

Start 08:00 with coffee/juice at a local café to meet your guide and group. Ride vintage Vespas through atmospheric streets to a family temple and see French-colonial homes along the riverside.
Wander a bustling local market, ferry across the Perfume River, and rejoin the Vespas. Visit a worship materials workshop and a folk art printing studio (try your own print over green tea). Cruise scenic rice paddies; pause at an ancient bridge. Return ~12:00.

Afternoon: visit the Imperial Citadel (Vauban-inspired; Kinh Thanh, Hoang Thanh, Cam Thanh) and the riverside Thien Mu Pagoda (17th c.).
Return around 17:00.
Overnight in Hue.

DAY 12: HUE – HOI AN (B/-/-)

Hue – Hoi An: 125 km ~ 3 hours
Depart 08:30 to Tu Duc’s Mausoleum, then the colorful Thuy Xuan incense village.
Continue to Minh Mang’s Mausoleum — a grand complex of palaces, temples, and pavilions harmonizing with nature.
In the afternoon, drive via Lang Co and the spectacular Hai Van Pass to Hoi An (arrive ~17:00).
Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 13: HOI AN COOKING CLASS AND WALKING TOUR (B/L/-)

Depart ~08:30 for a hands-on cooking class with Chef Van. Visit a local market to buy fresh ingredients, then return to Van’s home to prepare a selection of regional dishes. Share your creations over drinks around the kitchen table.

In the afternoon, stroll the Hoi An Ancient Town (UNESCO) to see a blend of architectural influences. Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese assembly hall, and former merchant houses.
End the day with tea at Reaching Out Tea House, a tranquil social enterprise supporting artisans with disabilities.
Return ~17:30.
Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 14: HOI AN (B/-/-)

Breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure to relax or explore on your own.
Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 15: HOI AN – DA NANG – FLIGHT TO CAN THO

Breakfast and free time until transfer to Da Nang Airport for a short flight to Can Tho. Meet your guide on arrival and check in to the hotel.

Depart 14:00 for a 7–10 km cycling experience through local villages and rustic countryside roads, observing daily life.
Visit a large organic cacao farm to learn manual chocolate making and enjoy a chocolate drink.
Ferry across the river to Giàn Gừa, a hidden gem shaded by an immense mangrove-like canopy. Wander the narrow green paths and enjoy the serene atmosphere before returning to the meeting point (finish ~18:00).
Overnight in Can Tho.

DAY 16: CAN THO – BEN TRE (B/-/D)

Can Tho – Ben Tre: 130 km ~ 3 hours
Rise early for the colorful Cai Rang Floating Market aboard the Mystic Sampan; breakfast served onboard while observing river life. Cruise into the market’s heart among produce boats, then visit a workshop to see how Hu Tieu (rice noodles) are made.
Lunch at your own arrangement, then drive to Ben Tre, the coconut kingdom. Arrive at Mekong Home, a family-run riverside homestay in a tropical garden. Enjoy fresh coconut juice and check in.
Later, learn local fishing techniques with a family member.
Evening cooking class to make Bánh xèo (savoury rice pancakes). Dinner of regional specialties follows.
After dinner, relax with a lemongrass & ginger foot bath — a traditional remedy for tired legs.
Overnight in Ben Tre.

DAY 17: BEN TRE – HO CHI MINH CITY (B/L/-)

Ben Tre – Ho Chi Minh City: 90 km ~ 2 hours
After breakfast, boat from Ham Luong Pier to explore local life on the Ben Tre River. Visit a brick kiln and coconut workshops (milk, candy, oil, mats, charcoal). Stop at a sleeping-mat weaving house for tea and fruits. Ride a xe lôi (motor cart) or bicycle along shady lanes past rice and vegetable plots.
Lunch at a local restaurant with specialties like elephant-ear fish and river shrimp.
In the afternoon, take a rowing boat through coconut-shaded canals to Hung Vuong Pier, then drive back to Ho Chi Minh City (arrive ~17:00).
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY 18: HO CHI MINH CITY – DEPARTURE (B/-/-)

Depart 08:30 to explore Saigon via its market, pagoda, and historical sites. Start at Bàn Cờ Market (District 3), then walk to Nguyen Thien Thuat apartments for daily-life scenes.
Visit the FITO Museum (Traditional Vietnamese Medicine) with ~3,000 artifacts, some dating back to the Stone Age.
Stop at historic Đỗ Phủ Café — once a resistance base — to see the secret weapon bunker used for the 1968 Independence Palace attack and the vintage weapons car, then enjoy coffee.
Head to hidden Van Phat Pagoda (Jewelry Street, Chinatown, District 5), notable for its vibrant Chinese architecture and ten thousand Buddha statues; learn about the preservation of family cremation urns.
Continue to the French Quarter (District 1) to visit the Saigon Central Post Office, a key colonial landmark.
Time at leisure until your transfer to the airport for your departure flight.