Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi & Mai Chau - 12 day tour

Ho Chi Minh City - The Mekong Delta - Ben Tre - Ho Chi Minh City. After breakfast, 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 - 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 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.

Please note: The flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Hue is not included in the cost of your tour. We can assist in booking this flight.
Overnight: Hue  |  Breakfast, Lunch

Hoi An - Da Nang - Hanoi. You will be transferred to the airport in Da Nang this morning for your 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.

Please note: The flight from Da Nang to Hanoi is not included in the cost of your tour. We can assist in booking this flight.
Overnight: Hanoi  |  Breakfast, Lunch

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: Halong Bay  |  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hanoi - Mai Chau. After breakfast, we will meet with our guide at the hotel before departing west to the Hoa Binh Region en route to the shores of the Song Da reservoir, encircled by forested mountain slopes. Here, we will clamber aboard a motorboat, which will take us over the water to the mountainous area of Mai Chau. On arrival, we will enjoy a late lunch with views of the lake and the surrounding area.

After lunch, we’ll transfer to Mai Chau Valley, known for its rice fields and wooden stilt houses. We will continue to a secluded sub-valley in the heart of the community, to explore a community-based tourism project. We’ll cycle along quiet back roads with our guide, meeting local farmers and children herding buffalo. Later, we’ll head to our accommodation, where you can swim in the pool before dinner.
Approx driving time & distance: 3.5 hours & 120km.

Please note: Some members of the tour will be leaving in Hanoi, and not continuing with us to Mai Chau.
Overnight: Mai Chau  |  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Mai Chau - Hang Kia - Hanoi. Today, we take a scenic drive through the mountains. As we travel, we'll notice the environment change, with rice paddies fading and being replaced by plum trees and corn fields. We are making our way to Hoa Binh province and ascending to the rocky plateau, home to the villages of Hang Kia and Pa Co. As we enter the H’mong ethnic region, we’ll encounter locals in vibrant attire residing in traditional wooden houses with ground-floor living spaces.

We will be dropped off and will embark on a relaxed 3-km walk to the village of Hang Kia. We visit a cultural house showcasing H’mong artefacts and enjoy a hands on traditional batik dyeing workshop to explore the art of H’mong fabric. We will then make our way to a local guesthouse for lunch.

It's then time to return to Hanoi, arriving in the late afternoon. The rest of your final day in Vietnam is at leisure.
Approx driving time & distance: 4 hours & 160km.
Overnight: Hanoi  |  Breakfast, Lunch