Join this 10-day Vietnam tour travelling from south to north. Begin in Ho Chi Minh City, with guided sightseeing and a Saigon River, followed by a Mekong Delta day trip. Head to Hue for a city tour before travelling to Hoi An to explore the ancient town and relax at a nearby beach. Continue to Hanoi to visit the Temple of Literature and Ho Chi Minh Complex. Cruise Halong Bay, with time to relax onboard, swim, and explore hidden caves, before returning to Hanoi to end the tour.
Trip Highlights
Included
Not Included
Itinerary
Saigon River Cruise
Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, your driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in District 1 in the city centre. Check-in is available from 2 PM; once you have checked in, you will have the afternoon at leisure. The hotel is within walking distance of numerous restaurants, cafés, and cultural attractions.
At 7 PM, make your way to the hotel lobby to meet your guide, who will take you to the banks of the Saigon River for a 1-hour cruise. As you sail, you can enjoy a local beer while getting to know your fellow travellers, with views of the city's skyline in the background. Once we disembark, our guide will take us back to the hotel.
Approx driving time & distance: 45 minutes & 10km.
Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City
Mekong Delta Exploration
Ho Chi Minh City - The Mekong Delta - Ben Tre - Ho Chi Minh City. We will leave the hotel at 8 AM for a two-and-a-half-hour drive through the lesser-travelled parts of the region, stopping about 30 km from the mouth of the Mekong River.
From here, we will embark on a private boat tour to explore the lush delta. As we travel, you will have the opportunity to interact with the locals and learn about their way of life while navigating the Mekong. We will stop at a local factory before the boat travels to small island where we will stop for lunch at a local guesthouse.
In the afternoon, we will visit a local honeybee farm before cycling around the island to explore. Next, we will visit a local farm where you can sample authentic sam jelly, a traditional Vietnamese dessert made from sam fruit, typically mixed with coconut milk, sugar, and sometimes jelly or agar-agar. We will then continue through the orchards and board a small sampan to explore the mangroves. We will then meet with the driver, who will take us back to our accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City.
Approx driving time & distance: 4 hours & 190km.
Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City | Breakfast, Lunch
Ho Chi Minh City Tour & Flight to Hue
Ho Chi Minh City - Hue. Today, we will meet in the lobby before we depart by 9 AM for a journey through Ho Chi Minh City in an open-top electric buggy. We’ll journey through the heart of the city, driving in style through District 1. Along the way, we’ll pass iconic colonial landmarks like the Central Post Office, City Hall, Opera House, and Ben Thanh Market, with stops for brief historical insights.
Our ride ends at Pont des Messageries Maritimes, the city's oldest walking bridge, built in 1882 by Gustave Eiffel, linking District 1 to the once-notorious District 4. Once a mafia stronghold, it is now a vibrant working-class district with a riverside charm reminiscent of the Mekong Delta. We’ll cross the bridge, and stop at a local café where you can enjoy a refreshment. We will then explore a bustling covered market and navigate its maze-like alleys before enjoying a street-food lunch beneath the city’s iconic chung cu residential blocks.
After lunch, we will transfer to the airport for your included flight to the imperial city of Hue. Upon arrival, you will be met and taken to your hotel, which is conveniently located near Hue’s bustling streets.
Approx driving time & distance: 1.25 hours & 30km.
Overnight: Hue | Breakfast, Lunch
Hue City Tour & Drive to Hoi An
Hue - Hoi An. Our morning begins with a stroll through the Purple Forbidden City, the former imperial residence, uncovering Vietnam’s feudal history. Walking from the Southern Gate to the Northern Gate, we gain insight into royal life before a stop at a cozy café where you can enjoy a refreshment.
Next, we ride a traditional rickshaw through the Imperial City, passing lakes, monuments, and bustling streets before heading to Kim Long Village, once home to the Emperor’s Mandarins.
At around midday, we’ll savour Hue’s famous banh, traditional dumplings, at a family-run garden eatery where recipes have been passed down for generations.
After our light meal, we embark on a 3-hour drive to Hoi An, including a drive along the breathtaking Hai Van Pass, one of the world's most scenic coastal roads en route to our accommodation.
Approx driving time & distance: 3.5 hours & 140km.
Overnight: Hoi An | Breakfast, Lunch
Exploring Hoi An & Beach Time
This morning at 9 AM, we’ll stroll through the ancient town of Hoi An as our guide leads us through its charming streets and narrow alleys lined with historic, yellow-walled houses. Along the way, the guide will point out points of interest and make a stop for you to try the local coconut coffee.
Mid-morning, we will travel by electric buggy from the ancient town to a nearby seaside village. We’ll stroll through the village’s narrow alleys, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere, before having lunch at a beachside restaurant. Afterward, we’ll take a buggy transfer back to the hotel. If you prefer to stay and unwind on the beach for a few hours, you can make your own way back to the hotel - we recommend Grab, which is Southeast Asia's take on Uber!
Overnight: Hoi An | Breakfast, Lunch
Hoi An to Hanoi
Hoi An - Da Nang - Hanoi. You will be transferred to the airport in Da Nang this morning for your included flight north to Hanoi. Once you have arrived, you will be met and transferred to a restaurant specialising in food from northern Vietnam situated in the city centre.
At 2:30 PM, we’ll hop on an electric buggy for a tour of Hanoi’s heart, including Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter, and colonial landmarks. After a 1-hour ride, we’ll walk through Dong Xuan Market and along Phan Dinh Phung Avenue, passing the Northern Gate, Cua Bac Church, and colonial villas. The less than 2 km walk ends at our hotel, with views of Truc Bach Lake. The rest of your day is at leisure.
Approx driving time & distance: 1.5 hours & 60km.
Overnight: Hanoi | Breakfast, Lunch
Discover Hanoi
Today begins at Hanoi’s Temple of Literature, where we explore its peaceful courtyards as our guide shares insights on Confucianism. We then walk to a nearby tea house to enjoy the iconic lotus tea. Continuing through narrow alleys, a vibrant market, and along the iconic Hanoi railway, we end at a popular open-air restaurant, where you can try some delicious street food.
After a short drive, we explore the Ho Chi Minh Complex, including the museum, One-Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house, and the Presidential Palace gardens. We then unwind at a traditional bia hoi, a relaxed outdoor spot serving fresh local beer, before returning to our hotel.
You will then have the rest of the day at your leisure, you can choose to enjoy the sunset from the rooftop, explore the nightlife in Hanoi, or relax.
Overnight: Hanoi | Breakfast, Lunch
Cruising Halong Bay
Hanoi - Halong Bay. After breakfast at the hotel, we will be picked up between 8 - 9 AM for a bus journey through the Red River Delta to the coast, with an approximate 2.5-hour drive to the marina.
On arrival, we'll check in onboard our cruiser for the night, and enjoy a welcome drink. As we cruise, we will be able to enjoy lunch with the limestone backdrop surrounding us.
In the afternoon, we’ll reach a less-travelled area where you can relax, sunbathe, and explore at your own pace. You can enjoy the rest of your day on the sundeck, and don't forget to catch the sunset, it's a good one! There's also time to enjoy an aperitif or join a cooking demonstration before dinner.
Approx driving time & distance: 2.5 hours & 150km.
Please note: Transfers between Hanoi and Halong Bay are by shuttle bus. Activity details may vary based on the boat, the weather, and local decisions. The cruise includes an English-speaking cruise manager.
Overnight: Overnight cruise - Halong Bay | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Return to Hanoi
Halong Bay - Hanoi. This morning, you will have the chance to join a Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck while enjoying the sunrise over the emerald waters of Halong Bay. As we sail, we will stop to explore one of the bay's hidden caves before making our way back to shore. We then retrace our steps back to Hanoi. You’ll have the rest of the day to tick off any final sights, do some souvenir shopping or relax in the hotel.
Approx driving time & distance: 2.5 hours & 150km.
Overnight: Hanoi | Lunch
Hanoi
Today marks the end of our tour through Vietnam. After breakfast and hotel check out, an included transfer will take you to the airport. Safe travels!
Approx driving time & distance: 45 minutes & 30km.
Breakfast
Prices & Dates
All departure dates are guaranteed to operate when there are 2 persons booked on the tour. 'Twin/Double' prices are per person when there are 2 people on the same booking sharing a room. 'Single' prices are applicable to solo travellers and anyone wanting the privacy of their own room.
Hotels
The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.
Aquari Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City
This sleek hotel overlooking the Saigon River features a glass facade and is a 12-minute walk from the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, 2 km from Bến Thành Market, and 8 km from Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Polished rooms come with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and coffeemakers. On-site amenities include an upscale restaurant, a casual cafe, a gym, a spa with a sauna, hot tub, and steam room, as well as massage services and 24-hour room service.
Alba Spa Hotel, Hue
Situated 500 metres from Huong River in Hue, Alba Spa Hotel provides comfortable accommodation in a serene setting. Guests can rejuvenate in the Alba hot and cool mineral spa pools, an age-old practice for health and vitality. The hotel is 810 metres from Notre Dame Cathedral, 1 km from An Dinh Palace and Trang Tien Bridge, 12 km from Phu Bai Airport, and 80 km from Da Nang International Airport. Rooms feature neutral décor, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, safety deposit boxes, tea/coffee makers, slippers, and hairdryers for added convenience.
Vinh Hung Old Town Hotel, Hoi An
This relaxed hotel offers views of the Thu Bồn River and is a 3-minute walk from Hoi An Night Market and a 6-minute walk from the Japanese Covered Bridge, with Da Nang International Airport 29 km away. The warmly styled rooms feature Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, minibars, balconies, and sitting areas. On-site amenities include a casual restaurant/bar, an outdoor pool, and sun loungers.
Le Jardin Hotel Haute Couture, Hanoi
This elegant hotel offers panoramic views of Hanoi and Hoan Kiem Lake, with a tour desk providing access to nearby attractions like the Ho Chi Minh Museum, One Pillar Pagoda, and Bach Ma Temple. Rooms feature free Wi-Fi, bottled water, tea and coffee makers, satellite TV, and bathrobes. Guests can unwind at the bar and open-air café, enjoying drinks and light snacks while soaking up the city’s vibrant atmosphere.
Renea Cruise, Halong Bay
Situated in Ha Long, 700 metres from Bai Chay Beach, Renea Cruises Halong offers beachfront accommodation with barbecue facilities. This 4-star cruise features a 24-hour front desk, concierge service, shared lounge, room service, and currency exchange. Some rooms offer sea views, and the on-board restaurant serves Vietnamese cuisine with vegetarian, dairy-free, and vegan options available on request. The cruise also boasts a sun terrace and provides fishing activities. Ha Long Queen Cable Car is 1.1 km away, Vincom Plaza Ha Long is 6.5 km away, and Cat Bi International Airport is 45 km from the property.
At a Glance
