9 Day Vietnam Itinerary with Top Highlights

Your Vietnam Beach vacation begins with a trip to Halong Bay, a collection of almost 2000 islands and jungle-clad limestone pillars in the Tonkin Gulf. Called “Bay of Descending Dragons” in Vietnamese, the archipelago is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a world-famous travel destination.

Leave the hotel with a shuttle bus and go to Halong with a pass through incredible scenery en route for tranquil villages and buffalo on fields.

Upon arrival, enjoy a welcome drink and a delicious freshly caught seafood lunch while sailing out of the Bay, passing amazing-shaped mountains. Enjoy the seascape from the sundeck or even in your private cabin through a glass window. Take swimming, kayaking and visit caves on the island to get more experience. In the late afternoon, we take part in a Vietnamese cooking demonstration by the onboard chefs and enjoy the seafood feast for dinner as stars emerge from behind those jungle-clad limestone pillars.

Spending the night on board in the elegant cabin and handicraft wooden interiors with air-conditioning. Or there is an option of night fishing before an overnight stay aboard.

Rise early to catch the sunrise over Sung Sot Cave while taking part in a Tai Chi class with the boat’s Tai Chi guru.

Enjoy a light breakfast, and sitting on the upper deck, you can relax while taking in the breathtaking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the emerald water of the bay. Then, you can explore Sung Sot Cave, swim, and relax. Cruise back to the jetty while brunch is served as you cruise through the bay and observe more fascinating rock formations.

Return to Hanoi by cruise shuttle bus.

Take a private car for transfer to the airport for a domestic flight to Hue.

Upon arrival, our driver will pick you up and transfer to the hotel for check-in

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

We will continue visiting 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, 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, where you will get to see the Minh Mang Tomb.

Before returning to your hotel, stop at the Dong Ba Market to shop.

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. There, we stop at the highest point to immerse ourselves in the scenery and gaze at the stunning scenery 980 meters above sea level.

After stopping for lunch at My Khe Beach, where you can take a refreshing dip in the ocean, we head to Hoi An.

Upon arrival in Hoi An, we transfer to the hotel for check-in.

The rest of the afternoon is free at leisure for you to enjoy the peaceful ambiance of this quaint ancient town or spend some time with the skillful tailors, treating yourself to tailor-made clothes, which Hoi An is renowned for. 

The tour guide and driver will come to pick you up at your hotel by shuttle bus. We will have a meeting point at the restaurant. After taking the welcome drink, we visit Hoi An’s colorful market and experience this busy market's fantastic sights, sounds, and aromas. 

We will be able to interact with local sellers and purchase some of the ingredients used in the coming cooking lesson. After that, we boarded the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise for about 25 minutes along Thu Bon River to Cooking School.

This is a chance to view local river life and ensure your camera is in your hand. Upon arrival, we explore the cooking school’s herb and vegetable garden before learning about some of Hoi An and Vietnam’s well-known dishes.

The cooking lesson lasts about two hours. The Chief first demonstrates each dish before we prepare it ourselves. The class briefly introduces Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration). After the lesson, we enjoyed our products.

The rest of the day is free for leisure.

After a relaxing morning, we take a flight to Saigon. 

Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, you will be met by the Driver and transferred to the hotel for check-in. 

Rest day is free at leisure to explore this bustling city of Saigon.

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

If today is your leisure day, head to a trendy restaurant or cocktail bar or try street food near central Ben Thanh Market.

Today, we will visit the Cai Be floating market to experience typical Vietnamese life in the Mekong Delta.

Upon arrival at the Cai Be land market, visit rice factories in An Cu Village and Dong Hoa Hiep to visit the ancient house. Afterward, you will go straight to Cai Be floating market and handicraft workshop by boat. After leaving these places, you will go to Tan Phong Island to take the rowing boats along the tiny canals. Passing through Mekong Ecolodge to take a short break, you will take the bicycles to start exploring and taking in some activities with the island's locals.

You will go straight to the local family to learn how to make jack-leaf cakes, which are known as the specialty on this island. You will join hands to make cakes and enjoy them. You will be free to lie down on the hammocks under the shades of a 200-year-old milk fruit tree to enjoy the atmosphere there. You will also have the experience of going over the Monkey bridge, which is popular in the Southwest of Vietnam. Surely, you will have unforgettable memories here.
 
Say goodbye to the local people. You will keep going to them to learn how to knit water hyacinths. With their guidance, you can use water hyacinth to knit a beautiful hat by yourself. Have lunch at the local restaurant.
 
Late afternoon participating in cooking class and dinner with what you’ve cooked
 
In the late afternoon, the family would love to show off their skills in whipping up your dinner, giving you a creative cooking demonstration. Enjoy the dinner that you have just cooked.

After breakfast, we take a cycling walk through the traditional villages with many ancient traditional houses, set amongst a peaceful atmosphere, fruit trees, bonsai garden, and witness the unusual yet fascinating process of coconut candy, the bang conical hat, and rice paper in the making. It is the typical cultural lifestyle of the South–Western region.

Cycle back to the Mekong Ecolodge for check-out and freshen up before returning to Saigon.

All good things must come to an end; you have free time until transfer to the airport for a departure flight with a bid farewell (Late checkout is exclusive and subject to availability)