Classic Vietnam From Hanoi

On arrival in Hanoi, transfer to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore at your leisure. Stay the next two nights at Flower Garden Hotel Hanoi

After breakfast, meet your guide for a full-day tour of Vietnam’s capital. Begin with a visit to Hoan Kiem Lake and the bustling Dong Xuan Market. Continue to the Ho Chi Minh complex, including Ba Dinh Square, the Presidential Palace (viewed from outside), and Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house, set amidst peaceful gardens. Also within the complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, an iconic symbol of Hanoi founded in 1049.

After time for your own lunch, visit the Temple of Literature – Vietnam’s first university, established in 1070 – and the notorious Hoa Lo Prison, known during the Vietnam War as the "Hanoi Hilton." The tour also includes St Joseph’s Cathedral and the French colonial Opera House. Finish with a stroll through the Old Quarter, where you can enjoy a traditional Vietnamese egg coffee while soaking up the street scenes.

Depart Hanoi around 7:30 AM for Halong City, travelling by shuttle bus. On arrival, board your overnight cruise and enjoy lunch as you begin sailing through the dramatic limestone karsts of Halong Bay. In the evening, unwind on the deck or at the bar, or relax in your private cabin.

Start the day with a Tai Chi session on the sundeck, followed by brunch on board. Disembark and return to Hanoi by shuttle bus, then transfer to the airport for your flight to Hue. On arrival, transfer to your hotel. The afternoon is at leisure.

This morning, visit Tu Duc’s tomb, a serene complex set among lakes and frangipani trees. Continue to the Imperial Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former royal residence of the Nguyen emperors. End the morning at Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue’s oldest and most iconic religious site.

Travel onward to Hoi An via the Hai Van Pass, a scenic route marking the divide between north and south Vietnam. On arrival, check in to your hotel. The evening is free for you to explore Hoi An

Discover Hoi An’s well-preserved Old Town on a guided walking tour. Once a major trading port, Hoi An blends Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese and French influences in its architecture. Visit a traditional merchant house, the Hoi An Museum, a Chinese Assembly Hall, Chau Ong Pagoda, and the famous Japanese Covered Bridge. You’ll end the tour in the Ancient Town, with free time to explore at your own pace

Fly to Saigon, then travel straight to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Watch a short documentary before exploring parts of this vast underground network used during the Vietnam War. You’ll gain insight into guerrilla warfare and the resourcefulness of the Viet Cong. Return to Saigon and check in to your hotel. The evening is free to enjoy the city’s lively atmosphere.

Travel south to Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta, known for its fertile landscape and traditional way of life. Cruise the waterways and visit a brick-making factory and a coconut workshop, before meeting a local family who hand-weave mats.

Ride a pedicab through the village and enjoy lunch featuring regional specialities, including Elephant Ear Fish. On the return to Saigon, stop at a Cao Dai temple – home to a uniquely Vietnamese religion blending elements of major world faiths. In the evening, gather for a farewell dinner at HOME Vietnamese Sai Gon.

Begin with a walking tour through central Saigon, taking in key colonial-era landmarks such as Dong Khoi Street, the Rex Hotel, Municipal Theatre, and the Post Office. Continue to the outside of the Reunification Palace and the site of the former US Embassy.

Visit the War Remnants Museum, Ba Chieu wholesale market, and the Jade Emperor Pagoda, noted for its elaborate carvings. Return to your hotel to collect your bags before transferring to the airport for your onward flight. (Late check-out not included.)