The Essence of Vietnam In 18 Days

You'll arrive in Hanoi and your private driver meets you at the airport, then takes you to your hotel near the Old Quarter. After settling in, the rest of the day is open for you to either wander around the neighborhood or just rest after your flight.

Overnight in Hanoi

At 8:00 AM: Our driver and guide will pick you up by a sharing Limousine. Head to Ninh Binh, a place rich in history, culture, religion, and natural beauty. Take pictures along the Red River delta.

• Visit Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s capital from the 10th to 11th centuries. It’s protected by limestone mountains and rivers, offering stunning scenery.
• At Hoa Lu, visit temples honoring Emperors Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh, who played key roles in Vietnam’s independence from China.
• Have lunch at a local restaurant. Then, head to Tam Coc, also known as “Halong Bay on Land.”
• Board a private sampan boat for a 90-minute ride along the Ngo Dong River.
• Visit Mua cave, which attracts visitors with its many interesting stories. Climb 500 stone steps to see all the way to Tam Coc, and enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the countryside and Ngo Dong river.

The return to Hanoi will leave you the rest of the afternoon and evening at your leisure.
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Overnight in Hanoi Old Town 

After an early breakfast, you check out and board a limousine bus for the roughly 6-hour drive to Sapa in the mountains. Once you arrive and get settled at your accommodation, you're free to explore this mountain town however you like for the rest of the day.

Overnight in Sapa

Meals: Breakfast

Following breakfast, your guide meets you at 9:30 am for a 12 km trek through mountain terrain. You'll walk through Hmong villages and past rice terraces, have lunch by the river in Lao Chai village, then continue to Ta Van where you'll stay at a homestay and spend time with the local Dzay people learning about their daily routines and traditions.

Overnight in Ta Van

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Lao Chai village nearby the river), Dinner

After breakfast, you trek to Giang Ta Chai village through a bamboo forest, passing a waterfall and rattan bridge before reaching Su Pan village. Lunch follows, and then you drive back to Sapa to catch the limousine bus returning to Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast (Delicious breakfast), Lunch

You check out in the morning and get picked up for the drive across the Red River Delta to Halong Bay.

After boarding your cruise, you'll take in the limestone rock formations and karst grottoes while enjoying a seafood lunch.

Later, you can kayak or swim around the grottoes, then head back to the boat for an early dinner with optional activities in the evening.

Overnight on cruise.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Note: In case of bad weather (the boat is not allowed to push off or not allowed to overnight in the sea), the Ha Long bay tour could be canceled without notice. We will consider other replacement tours or a refund based on the specific circumstances.

Rise early to catch the sunrise with breakfast served in the dining room, then join a Tai Chi class on the sun deck. You'll tour a limestone cave with stalagmites and stalactites, then check out and have brunch as the cruise heads back to the harbor. Your driver will transfer you to your accommodation in Hanoi afterward.

Overnight in Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast (Breakfast served in the dining room), Brunch (Brunch while sailing back to harbor)

You spend your final moments in Hanoi before your private driver takes you to the airport for your flight to Da Nang. Once you land, another driver picks you up and drives you to Hoi An. The remainder of the day is yours to explore at your own pace.

Overnight in Hoi An

You have a free day in Hoi An to spend however you like. Rent a bicycle from your hotel and cycle around town toward the riverside or beach. Take a swim in the warm, calm waters and relax at beachside cafes with fresh fruit drinks, or sign up for an optional eco-tour if that appeals to you.

Overnight in Hoi An

Have breakfast and prepare for your private car transfer to Hue. The drive takes you through Hai Van Pass, a famous road known for its mountain and sea views. After you arrive and check in, you'll have free time to wander around and get to know the area.

Overnight in Hue

Your guide meets you at 8:00 to 8:30 am for a full day of Hue's imperial sites. You'll take a boat trip on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, then visit the Imperial Citadel and Royal Antiques Museum where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled from 1802 to 1945.

After browsing the busy Dong Ba market and having lunch, you'll see Khai Dinh's Tomb with its mix of Vietnamese and European design, plus Minh Mang's Tomb with Confucian architecture. You'll also pass conical hat and incense stick villages.

By 4:00 to 5:00 pm you're back at your hotel.

Overnight in Hue

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (Delicious Vietnamese lunch)

On your final day in Hue, your private driver takes you to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Your driver picks you up at Tan Son Nhat Airport and transfers you to your hotel in the city center. From there, you're free to relax or explore however you'd like.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Starting at 7:30 am from your hotel, you head to Cai Be for a boat ride through what remains of the wholesale floating market on the Tien River. You'll see small villages with ancient houses and learn about indigenous culture, visit a family making coconut fudges and rice popcorn, and listen to Southern Vietnamese folk music.

After paddling through small canals, you arrive at Tan Phong Island and have lunch while learning to prepare Vietnamese dishes. You'll cycle through village paths meeting locals and visiting Ba Kiet's ancient house, then boat back to Cai Be before transferring to Can Tho for the night.

Overnight in Can Tho

After breakfast, you meet your guide for a leisurely boat trip through the Lower Mekong River tributaries (Bassac River) to visit Cai Rang floating market, known for its lively activity. You'll then transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City, check in at your hotel, and rest for the remainder of the day.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Following breakfast at your hotel, you have free time until your driver picks you up to take you to the airport. You'll board your flight to Phu Quoc island and settle into your accommodation once you arrive.

Overnight in Phu Quoc

You'll spend your day exploring Phu Quoc island at your own pace. The island offers watersports like snorkeling and scuba diving, or you can simply relax on the beaches with white sand and clear water.

Overnight in Phu Quoc

You have another day to relax on Phu Quoc's beaches. Since beach time goes quickly, make the most of your remaining hours on the island however feels best to you.

Overnight in Phu Quoc

On your final day, have a healthy breakfast and complete your hotel check-out. Stop at local markets to pick up souvenirs for friends and family back home. Your private driver then takes you to the airport for your flight home, wrapping up your Vietnam adventure.

Trip Ends.