Classic North Vietnam

On arrival in Hanoi, transfer to your hotel and enjoy free time until your tour briefing and welcome drinks with your fellow travellers. Stay the next two nights at Le Jardin Hotel & Spa

We begin our full-day city tour at 8am with an orientation drive past notable landmarks such as Long Bien Bridge, St Joseph’s Cathedral and the Opera House. Continue on foot through the bustling Old Quarter, where traders have worked the 36 ancient streets for generations. We then explore the Ho Chi Minh Quarter, including the mausoleum, Presidential Palace (viewed from outside), Uncle Ho’s stilt house and the One Pillar Pagoda.

After a short drive, we view the Citadel and Flag Tower – both part of a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2010. Lunch is included at the KOTO Van Mieu restaurant, a social enterprise supporting hospitality training. In the afternoon, we visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, followed by visits to Tran Quoc and Ngoc Son Temples. Our final stop is the Hoa Lo Prison Museum – better known as the “Hanoi Hilton” – where U.S. pilots were held during the Vietnam War. Return to your hotel where the day concludes.

Please note: The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays. The Ho Chi Minh Museum and Citadel are closed on Mondays. Annual maintenance usually occurs from September for 2–3 months, during which the mausoleum can only be viewed from the outside. All other areas in the complex remain accessible.

At 8am, depart Hanoi for a 90km drive south to Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s 10th-century capital. Visit the sanctuary of Dinh Tien Hoang and the temple dedicated to the Le Emperor. After the Le Dynasty, the capital moved to Hanoi.

Following lunch (own arrangement), we continue to the Trang An Landscape Complex – a striking UNESCO-listed region of limestone karsts and valleys. A small boat journey takes us through its dramatic scenery and cave systems, which show evidence of over 30,000 years of human history. Afterwards, transfer to your hotel in Ninh Binh for check-in. Overnight at Ninh Binh Hidden Charm Hotel

This morning we travel from Ninh Binh to Halong City, gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Halong Bay, famed for its 3,000 limestone karsts rising from emerald waters. Board a traditional junk boat and begin your overnight cruise.

Enjoy a freshly prepared lunch on board as we sail through this stunning seascape, with opportunities to explore its quieter corners. In the evening, relax in your private cabin or unwind on the deck or in the bar. Overnight aboard Victory Star Cruise

Rise early for an optional Tai Chi session on the sundeck or simply soak in the final views of Halong Bay. Enjoy a buffet brunch before disembarkation. Return to Hanoi by road for your onward flight to Hue, the former imperial capital located on the Perfume River. Overnight at Silk Path Grand Hue Hotel & Spa

At 8am, meet your guide for a half-day city tour of Hue. We begin at the serene tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, nestled among lakes and frangipani trees. Then visit Bunker Hill for sweeping views over the Perfume River and surrounding plains, followed by a brief stop at the historic Tiger Arena.

Next, explore the Imperial Citadel – once home to the Nguyen emperors. Although heavily damaged during the 1968 Tet Offensive, restoration efforts are ongoing. We end the tour with a short boat trip to the iconic Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue’s oldest and most celebrated.After lunch (own arrangement), drive south via the Hai Van Pass – a scenic stretch dividing northern and southern Vietnam. On arrival in Hoi An, check in to your hotel. The evening is free for you to explore.

This morning, enjoy a guided walking tour of Hoi An’s UNESCO-listed Old Town. Once Vietnam’s busiest trading port, Hoi An’s architecture reflects a mix of Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese and European influences. French missionary Alexandre de Rhodes introduced both Catholicism and the Romanised Vietnamese script here.

The tour includes visits to a traditional merchant’s house, Hoi An Museum, a Chinese Assembly Hall, Chau Ong Pagoda and the Japanese Covered Bridge. Your tour concludes in the heart of the Ancient Town, where you can spend more time exploring at your leisure.

After breakfast, transfer by road to Danang. Your tour ends with a drop-off at Danang Airport for your onward journey.

Alternatively, if you’ve chosen to extend your stay, you will be transferred to your beach resort in the Danang-Hoi An area.