Upon arrival at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport, you will be welcomed by our guide holding a sign with your name on it. After approximately 50 minutes to 1 hour transfer, you will be at your hotel for check-in.

 

Hanoi or “River-bound City” as its name literally means is Vietnam’s capital with a thousand-year-old history dating back to 1010. The city’s fascinating beauty, which is characterized by unique cultural relics, ancient streets of antique houses, elegant French colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards, and romantic lakes has made it one of the most charming cities of Asia.

Meal: Welcome Dinner
Overnight in Hanoi

Start your day with breakfast at the hotel before embarking on a full day Hanoi city tour. Begin by visiting the Ho Chi Minh Complex, where you’ll explore the life of Vietnam’s founding father, including the colonial-era Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. A stop at the One Pillar Pagoda, an 11th-century Buddhist temple, is also included. Next, visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national university, dedicated to Confucius.

 

After lunch at a local restaurant, continue your city tour with a visit to Hoan Kiem Lake, the centerpiece of Hanoi, steeped in legend and history. You’ll also visit Train Street, where you can enjoy a cup of iconic egg coffee at a cozy café while watching trains pass by.

 

In the evening, embark on a Hanoi street food tasting tour. Walk through the Old Quarter with your local guide, sampling exotic fruits, hawker street food, and local specialties like pork crepes and noodles. Discover the rich culture of Vietnam through its cuisine and end your tour with a sweet treat or a chilled beer at a café near Hoan Kiem Lake.

 

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Streetfood
Overnight in Hanoi

In the morning, transfer from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, about approximately 2.5-hour drive with a stop along the way.

 

Upon arriving at Tuan Chau Wharf, you’ll transfer to Calypso Cruise and receive a warm welcome with drinks. After a brief introduction and safety briefing, you’ll check in and enjoy lunch while cruising through Ha Long Bay, admiring the fascicating natural scenery.

 

In the afternoon, join a guided exploration of the Dark and Bright Cave area, where you can kayak or take a sampan to a picturesque lake formed by a karst landscape. Afterward, return to the cruise for a swim, either in the sea or the onboard pool.

 

Later, participate in a cooking demonstration with the Chef, and have dinner at the cruise restaurant. The evening is yours to relax, watch films, sing karaoke, or try squid fishing with the crew. The cruise will anchor at Lan Ha Bay.

 

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight on cruises in Ha Long Bay

Begin the day with a Tai-chi lesson on the sundeck, followed by breakfast. Afterward, you’ll take a bus from Gia Luan Pier to Trung Trang Grotto on Cat Ba Island, where you’ll explore the significant karst landscape of Cat Ba National Park. Return to Calypso Cruises, check out, and enjoy an early lunch before transferring back to Tuan Chau Wharf for drive back to Hanoi.

 

In the afternoon, you’ll have free time to explore Hanoi’s Old Quarter. After dinner at a local restaurant, take the night train to Dong Ha in Quang Tri province.

 

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight on train (4 soft berths cabin)

Arrive at Dong Ha train station, have breakfast, and then embark on a DMZ tour. The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), established by the 1954 Geneva Accords along the 17th parallel, served as a dividing line between North and South Vietnam and became one of the most heavily militarized areas during the Vietnam War. Today, it stands as a powerful reminder of the war’s legacy, featuring key historical sites that reflect the intense battles and human struggles of the era. You will visit Truong Son Cemetery, Vinh Moc Tunnels, Ben Hai River, and Hien Luong Bridge. Truong Son Cemetery is the largest soldiers’ cemetery in the DMZ area, dedicated to the estimated 25,000 men, women, and children who died on the Truong Son Trail, better known in the West as the Ho Chi Minh Trail. At Vinh Moc, you can explore an impressive complex of tunnels where over a thousand people sheltered, sometimes for weeks on end, during the worst American bombardments. Then proceed to visit Ben Hai River, which became a significant landmark in the partition of the country into northern and southern zones along the 17th parallel, as defined by the Geneva Accords of 1954. The DMZ separating the two parts extended about 5 kilometers (3 miles) on either side of the river, and Hien Luong Bridge, a beam bridge built from steel by the French in 1950.

 

After the tour, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before transferring to Hue for hotel check-in and leisure time. Have dinner at local restaurant.

 

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight hotel in Hue

In the morning, give your hand at a teaching English program, spending your meaningful time with children. In Vietnam, English skills are still developing, and with the country’s fast growth, English has become essential in education. You’ll be placed in schools around Hue, teaching students aged 6 to 11. With a poor teacher-student ratio and local teachers needing English proficiency, your guidance will be crucial. The program aims to create an English-speaking environment to boost students’ and teachers’ confidence. Volunteering for this project will offer you a rewarding and challenging experience. Your assistance will support young students in improving their English skills. Take pride and joy in doing this!

 

Next, visit Duc Son Pagoda, which operates an orphanage providing shelter and care to disadvantaged children, including the homeless, disabled, orphans, and victims of Agent Orange. For over 20 years, the nuns have nurtured and educated thousands of poor children, many of whom have gone on to achieve higher education and secure stable jobs.

 

Lastly, stop at Dong Ba Market to explore the cultural lifestyle of Hue locals.

 

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner  

Overnight hotel Hue

After breakfast at the hotel, you will transfer to Da Nang, a 110 km journey by car. The drive offers breathtaking views along the Hai Van Pass, where you can enjoy stunning headland-and-bay panoramas as the road hugs the mountainside and overlooks the Pacific Ocean. After lunch in Da Nang, you will continue to Hoi An and visit Cam Thanh Coconut Village. Located about 5 km southeast of Hoi An, Cam Thanh Village is renowned for its craft of making coconut paintings and its water coconut forest ecosystem. You can bike from Hoi An town, stopping at a local family that specializes in making rice paper. Along the way, you will enjoy the scenic rice paddy fields and learn about traditional rice production methods. Or explore the water coconut forest, where you can learn about the daily life of Vietnamese fishermen, their families, and their community. The experience includes learning traditional fishing techniques and paddling unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boats through tranquil coconut-palm-flanked waterways.

 

Afterward, stroll around Hoi An Ancient town where you will visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Pottery Museum, the 200-year-old Tamky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda, and the vibrant local market.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight hotel in Hoi An

Start your day with breakfast at the hotel, then join a cooking class at Tra Que Village. You will ride a bicycle to Hoi An’s colorful central market, where you’ll have the opportunity to interact with local sellers and learn about the ingredients to be used in your cooking lesson later. Afterward, continue cycling to Tra Que Vegetable Village. Upon arrival, you’ll be warmly welcomed and taken on a walk through the vegetable gardens, where local farmers work their fields using traditional methods that have been passed down for hundreds of years. After a relaxing foot herbal massage, it’s time to cook lunch. With the guidance of the chef, you’ll learn the traditional techniques for preparing and cooking Vietnamese food. After the lesson, enjoy the meal you’ve prepared. Return to your hotel in Hoi An.

 

In the late afternoon, bike to An Bang Beach to enjoy some beach time. Have dinner at a local restaurant near the beach.

 

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight hotel in Hoi An

In the morning, enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Your guide and driver will then pick you up for the transfer to Son My Memorial, a journey of approximately 2.5 to 3 hours from Hoi An.

 

Upon arrival, visit the Son My Memorial, located at the site of the infamous My Lai Massacre, where over 500 civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, were killed by American soldiers. The route to Son My offers views of picturesque countryside, including rice paddies and vegetable gardens.

 

At the memorial, gain deeper insight into the tragedies of the Vietnam War. You will also have the opportunity to meet survivors who witnessed the massacre in 1968. This visit provides a meaningful chance to reflect on the resilience and hope for peace that the Vietnamese people embody.

 

Have lunch at a local restaurant, then transfer back to Hoi An. Enjoy some free time at your leisure until your tour guide and coach pick you up for dinner at a local restaurant.

 

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight hotel in Hoi An 

After breakfast, transfer to Da Nang airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, meet your tour guide and transfer to a local restaurant for lunch.

 

In the afternoon, take a half-day tour to visit Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, a neo-Romanesque cathedral built over 130 years ago by the French colonists, with materials imported entirely from Marseilles. Next, visit the Saigon Post Office, an impressive colonial building designed and constructed in the early 20th century by the famous French architect Gustave Eiffel. Afterward, stroll around Ben Thanh Market before checking in at your hotel and relax.

 

Have dinner at a local restaurant.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city

In the morning, check out and meet your guide and driver for a transfer to Cat Tien National Park, about a four-hour drive away.

 

In the afternoon, enjoy an exciting walk with the tour guide into the tropical jungle to learn more about the variety of plant and animal life. Hike through the rainforest, marvel at the Giant Tung Tree, and immerse yourself in the harmony of the wildlife. The trekking route can be extended to visit additional sites such as Lagerstroemia ovalifolia (Bang Lang), Tetrameles nudiflora (Tung), and Cycas rumphii (Thien Tue).

 

In the late afternoon, a jeep will take you through the forest to the Nui Tuong grassland, allowing you to observe wildlife, including sambar deer and wild boar feeding at night. There is also a chance to spot civets, fishing cats, lorises, pangolins, gaurs, and nocturnal birds.

 

Have dinner and overnight in Cat Tien.

 

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight in Cat Tien

Have breakfast at the hotel.

 

Today, visit the Crocodile Lake, home to about 200 Siamese crocodiles and many rare bird species listed in Vietnam’s. After a 20-minute drive, embark on a 5 km hike to the swamp. If fortunate, you might witness the graceful peacock courtship dances, hear melodious songs from colorful birds perched on century-old trees, or spot innocent deer foraging for food. Immerse yourself in the peaceful scenery as you paddle around the lake for an hour, learning about the freshwater Siamese crocodile and hearing local myths about this wetland.

 

Lunch at a local restaurant then transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight hotel Ho Chi Minh

After breakfast at the hotel, check out and transfer by car to Cai Be in Vinh Long, about a 2-hour drive away. Upon arrival, board a cruise to Tan Phong Island to experience local daily life. Along the way, stop to see how locals use dried water hyacinth to craft handmade products like baskets, bags, hats, and wallets. Visit a local garden, enjoy tea, and listen to traditional music. The boat will then take you through smaller canals, allowing you to enjoy the peaceful scenery. Lunch can be served at a homestay or on the boat.

 

In the afternoon, embark on a bike ride along paths that wind through villages, passing lush orchards, small bridges, and glimpses of the tranquil Mekong River, offering a view of the serene rural life of the Mekong Delta. Later, return to the homestay to join a cooking class and prepare some local dishes.

 

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight in homestay

After breakfast at the homestay, visit a local workshop to learn how rice paper, coconut candy, and pop-rice are made. Enjoy some sweets with a cup of hot tea. Next, take a boat trip to the brick kilns to see how locals craft beautiful pottery from clay. Continue along the floating village to observe catfish farming on the Mekong River. Visit the local market in town before the cruise ends at Vinh Long City.

 

Have lunch at a local restaurant, then transfer to Ho Chi Minh City by car. Upon arrival, visit Cho Lon, the city’s Chinatown, and stop at the Thien Hau Temple, dedicated to Thien Hau, the goddess of seafarers, built in the early 19th century. Conclude with a short visit to Ben Thanh Market.

 

Check in hotel and free at leisure. Have dinner at local restaurant

Meal:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at the hotel in Ho Chi Minh city

Morning, you will have breakfast at hotel then transfer to Cu Chi, the northernmost suburban district of Ho Chi Minh City. Discover the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, which were once a major underground hideout and resistance base of Viet Cong forces during the two wars against the French and the Americans. The tunnels, entirely hand-dug, formed a highly intricate network of interlinked multilevel passageways at times stretched as far as the Cambodian border and totaling over 120 km in length. Its complexity was beyond imagination containing meeting rooms, kitchens, wells, clinics, schools, depots, trenches, and emergency exits all aimed for guerrilla warfare. The tunnels were deep and strong enough to withstand destructive bombings and self-contained enough to outlast prolonged sieges.

 

Have lunch at local restaurant then transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City for departure flight.