14 Days Hanoi Hue Hoi An Mekong Saigon Tour

Hanoi is well known for its history, architecture, charm, tranquility, and cuisine. Our first visit is to the Ho Chi Minh Complex and Ba Dinh Square, an important pilgrimage site for many Vietnamese. The surrounding area is a traffic-free zone filled with botanical gardens, monuments, memorials, and pagodas. It includes the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh Museum, and the One Pillar Pagoda.

Next, visit the 11th-century Temple of Literature, Hanoi’s first university. From here, continue to Bun Cha Huong Lien, the famous local eatery where President Barack Obama dined with Anthony Bourdain.

In the afternoon, we drive approximately 25 minutes to the Ethnology Museum, which offers an insightful glimpse into the country’s lengthy history. The museum displays over 15,000 photos and 10,000 objects and artifacts depicting the lives, customs, and habits of Vietnam’s 54 recognized ethnic groups.

End your day by walking through the Hanoi Old Quarter. This bustling district features scooters, bicycles, cyclos, and cars navigating around pedestrians. The best way to enjoy its charming colonial architecture is to wander at a leisurely pace with your guide. Be sure to stop for a cup of Vietnamese coffee or a snack from a street vendor.

After some relaxation or shopping, prepare for an exciting overnight journey to Sapa by train.

We arrive in Lao Cai around 5 a.m., where we meet our guide and transfer for a spectacular one-hour journey up the impressive mountains to Sapa.

Seeing is believing! The stunning vistas and breathtaking mountainous rice terraces are indescribable until experienced firsthand.

Upon arrival at the hotel, enjoy breakfast, freshen up, and take some leisure time before beginning the day’s exploration.

Our trek starts with a visit to Ta Van Village. We continue down the valley along local trails and across rice paddies to visit Dzay ethnic minorities and Black H’mong communities, observing their contrasting cultures and daily lives.

The interaction and closeness with the local minority groups provide an incredible experience.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and leave your luggage before starting the day’s trek.

We trek downhill from Sapa town to Cat Cat Village. This two-hour trek takes us through rice paddies, ethnic minority villages, and flower and vegetable gardens until we reach a magnificent waterfall nestled in lush mountains.

After a rest, continue to Cat Cat Village of the Black Hmong tribe. Explore the village and observe traditional fiber processing techniques such as weaving, dyeing hemp cloth, and peeling bark. Visitors are encouraged to try these activities, providing plenty of laughter for the locals.

Return to Sapa for some free time to explore the town or shop for traditional wares. Later, transfer to Lao Cai for our overnight train back to Hanoi.

Your Vietnam beach vacation begins with a trip to Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with nearly 2,000 jungle-clad limestone pillars. Known as the “Bay of Descending Dragons,” it is a world-famous destination.

Depart from your hotel and travel to Halong, passing tranquil villages and fields with water buffalo en route.

Upon arrival, enjoy a welcome drink and a freshly caught seafood lunch while sailing through the bay. Marvel at the stunning rock formations from the sundeck or your private cabin. Activities include swimming, kayaking, and exploring caves.

In the late afternoon, participate in a Vietnamese cooking demonstration with onboard chefs and enjoy a seafood feast for dinner under the stars.

Spend the night aboard in an elegant cabin featuring handcrafted wooden interiors and air-conditioning. Optionally, try night fishing before resting.

Rise early to catch the sunrise over Sung Sot Cave while joining a Tai Chi class with the boat’s instructor.

Enjoy a light breakfast on the upper deck while admiring the emerald waters and rocky islands. Explore Sung Sot Cave, swim, and relax before cruising back to the jetty. A brunch is served as you sail past more fascinating rock formations.

Return to Hanoi, with time to relax or shop for last-minute bargains before taking an afternoon flight to Hue.

Today, we visit Hue's oldest 19th-century pagoda, Thien Mu (Heavenly Lady) Pagoda, which is famous for its Buddhist teachings.

Boarding our dragon boat from the base of the pagoda, we cruise down the Perfume River, watching local fishermen while passing through the banks of Hue’s town.

Continuing, we visit the Hue Citadel, Vietnam’s former imperial capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, you will discover the history of Vietnam during this period, as well as the daily life of the royal family and the typical architecture of this imperial construction.

Being the former royal capital, Hue's surrounding countryside contains several of the tombs of the former Nguyen Emperors, including the Minh Mang Tomb.

Before returning to your hotel, stop at the Dong Ba Market for some shopping.

After a relaxing morning, we set out on our spectacular drive to Hoi An.

We pass through Lang Co fishing village, set within beautiful blue lagoons, before heading up and over the spectacular Hai Van Pass. At the highest point, we stop to immerse ourselves in and gaze at the breathtaking scenery, 980 meters above sea level.

Arriving in Hoi An town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can explore the historic and quaint atmosphere at your own pace.

The rest of the afternoon is free for you to enjoy the peaceful ambience of this charming ancient town or spend time with skilled tailors, treating yourself to tailor-made clothes for which Hoi An is renowned.

Following breakfast, we drive to My Son, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located 50 km southwest of Hoi An.

Situated in a lush valley, My Son was a capital and religious center of the Cham people, now marked by red brick towers and sanctuaries. My Son is considered among Southeast Asia's greatest archaeological sites, comparable to Angkor in Cambodia, Bagan in Myanmar, Ayutthaya in Thailand, and Borobudur in Indonesia. These towers and sanctuaries were built from the 7th to 13th centuries.

We return to the outskirts of Hoi An town for a spectacular lunch prepared by a local family within a small farming village.

Upon arrival, we are welcomed by the family and enjoy a traditional herbal drink before embarking on a guided walk through the local farmland. We learn about the village's history, observe harvesting processes, and discover the traditional uses of herbs and vegetables in cooking and Vietnamese medicine.

The family showcases their culinary skills by preparing your lunch during an engaging cooking demonstration.

After lunch, we bid farewell to the family and head back to town. We meet our Xic Los for a leisurely ride through areas not often visited by tourists, passing tiny lanes of Hoi An town and countryside, local homes, cornfields, sweet potato farms, and lush fruit gardens.

We stop at a local fishing village, where we board a boat for a magical cruise down the Cua Dai estuary to Hoi An town.

We return in the mid-afternoon, allowing you some free time to enjoy the tranquil ambience of this ancient town or visit the skilled tailors to treat yourself to tailor-made clothes.

Enjoy a leisurely morning before our afternoon flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

Upon arrival in Saigon, we transfer to our hotel.

With over eight million inhabitants and four million motorbikes, Saigon is truly a city that never sleeps.

This morning, we begin with a half-day city tour with your guide on hand to offer insights into everyday life in Vietnam. Famous landmarks include the colonial-era government quarter, with its vibrant yellow French-style post office. Continue off the tourist track to experience the local life of bustling Saigon. Learn about Vietnamese and Chinese communities as you travel to Cho Lon, one of the world’s largest and oldest Chinatowns.

In the afternoon, travel out of town to see the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, where thousands of Viet Cong soldiers lived during the Vietnam War. It’s possible to enter a few of the tunnels if you are comfortable with narrow spaces, as well as view exhibitions and videos about the tunnels when they were in use.

The evening is at your leisure. You can head to a trendy restaurant or cocktail bar, or try street food near central Ben Thanh Market.

Today, we head to Cai Be floating market to explore the typical Vietnamese lifestyle of the Mekong Delta.

Upon arrival at Cai Be land market, visit rice factories in An Cu Village, then head to Dong Hoa Hiep to explore an ancient house. Next, travel by boat to Cai Be floating market and a handicraft workshop. From there, continue to Tan Phong Island, where you will take a rowing boat along the small canals. Pass through Mekong Ecolodge for a short break, then enjoy a bicycle ride to explore and participate in activities with the local people on the island.

Visit a local family to learn how to make jack leaf cakes, a specialty of the island. You will join hands to make and enjoy the cakes. Relax on hammocks under the shade of a 200-year-old milk fruit tree and experience crossing a Monkey Bridge, a typical feature of the Southwest region of Vietnam. These unique activities will leave you with unforgettable memories.

After bidding farewell to the locals, learn how to knit water hyacinth. Under their guidance, you can craft a beautiful hat yourself. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

In the late afternoon, participate in a cooking class where the family will showcase their culinary skills in preparing your dinner. Enjoy the meal you have just cooked.

After breakfast, take a cycling tour through traditional villages filled with ancient houses, fruit trees, bonsai gardens, and a serene atmosphere. Witness the fascinating process of making coconut candy, bang conical hats, and rice paper. This offers a glimpse into the cultural lifestyle of the Southwestern region.

Return to the Mekong Ecolodge to check out and freshen up before our journey back to Saigon.

We arrive in Saigon by mid-afternoon, leaving you with free time to relax or explore at your leisure.

In the evening, join your guide for a farewell celebration dinner as we say "Cảm ơn, Tạm biệt!" (Thank you, goodbye!).

All good things must come to an end. Enjoy your free time until your transfer to the airport for your departure flight. Late checkout is exclusive and subject to availability.