From the moment you land at Hanoi airport we will be with you every step of the way. If this is your first holiday to Vietnam, don’t stress. Our driver will be waiting at the arrival gate holding a sign with your name. The hour-long trip from the airport to your hotel provides a visual feast. Stare in wonderment at the whirring washing-machine of traffic and distinctive architecture of the nation’s capital.

• Hotel: 3 Star  – Contact us to Upgrade
• Activities: 

Transfer: Private Airport Transfer

Today, after checking out of your Hanoi hotel, consider leaving extra luggage behind. Pack essentials for your Halong Bay excursion: swimsuit, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, toiletries, change of clothes, and warm clothing for winter (Dec-Feb). Don’t forget your camera and passport.

A shuttle bus will pick you up for the journey; note it’s a shared service, but private transfers can be arranged for an additional cost. Upon arrival at Tuan Chau Harbour, transfer to your Ha Long Bay Cruise and settle in with a welcome drink and safety briefing. Enjoy lunch as you sail through Lan Ha Bay, a serene extension of Halong Bay, passing Finger Islet and Candle Islet. Weather permitting, kayak in Ao Ech (Three Peach area) to explore the unique limestone formations. Return for a tea ceremony and relax during “Happy Hour” onboard. In the evening, dine on a deluxe dinner, sip cocktails or try activities like squid fishing before retiring to your cabin for the night, anchored in a tranquil spot chosen by the captain.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Cruise: 3 Star Boat  – Contact us to Upgrade
• Activities: Ha long Bay & Lan Ha Bay Cruise

Transfer: Shared Car to Harbour (private car at additional cost)

After checking out of your cabin, enjoy a light breakfast as we sail towards Cat Ba Island, passing breathtaking karst formations. Explore the Tra Bau floating village, the famous filming location for Kong Skull Island (King Kong) in Quang Ninh in 2018 through a kayaking adventure, immersing yourself in local culture. Return to the boat for check-out and brunch as we cruise back to the harbor. Disembark around midday, bid farewell to the crew, and return to Hanoi by bus or private car if you have requested. Please note, schedules and activities may vary due to weather conditions. All meals are included, and dietary preferences should be communicated in advance. Don’t forget your passport and payment method for onboard expenses.

You will be transferred to your hotel in Hanoi and have the rest of the afternoon and evening to relax and explore the hustle and bustle of this top Vietnam city.

Hint: Add an extra day on a Ha Long Bay cruise to get the ultimate waters edge experience.

• Meals: Lunch & Dinner
• Hotel: 3 Star Hotel  – Contact us to Upgrade
• Activities:  Ha long Bay & Lan Ha Bay Cruise
• Transfer: Shared Car to Hotel (private car at additional cost)

After breakfast, a private transfer will take you to Hanoi Airport for a short hour long flight to Hue – the spiritual capital of Vietnam and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Our driver will pick you up from Hue airport and transfer you directly to the hotel.

After checking in, your private guide will greet you at your Hue hotel. They will introduce you to our team of highly skilled motorbike drivers who will accompany you on a captivating historical Hue tour. Your safety is paramount, which is why we partner with only the most qualified drivers.

During the tour, you’ll explore the highlights of Hue city and the countryside. You’ll visit a royal tomb, the ancient citadel, and the storied Forbidden Purple City, all while local guides, passionate about their hometown of Hue, share captivating stories and insights. Hue’s historical significance from the Vietnam War adds another compelling layer to your experience.

The day concludes with a scenic ride along the Perfume River to a tranquil pagoda, where local monks have prepared an authentic vegetarian lunch for your group.

• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
• Hotel: 3 Star  – Contact us to Upgrade
• Activities: Hue City Tour by Motorbike (as passenger)
• Transfer: Airport transfer in Hanoi & Hue, Domestic Flight Hanoi to Hue

Your journey from Hue to Hoi A begins, spanning 160km through picturesque landscapes. You’ll traverse coastal rice paddies to reach the quaint fishing village of Lang Co, then embark on the breathtaking Hai Van Pass. This iconic route climbs to 496m (1,627 ft), celebrated in Top Gear as “a deserted ribbon of perfection—one of the best coastal roads in the world.” Passing through Da Nang, you’ll explore the captivating Marble Mountains. These five limestone hills are named after the elements (metal, wood, water, fire, and earth) and are dotted with caves, ancient pagodas, and intricate sculptures crafted with fascinating history.

• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
• Hotel: 3 Star  – Contact us to Upgrade
• Activities: Hai Van Pass & Marble Mountain Transfer

Transfer: Transfer to Hoi An

The Best of Vietnam would not be complete without discovering the picturesque riverside town of Hoi An, where optional activities abound. Choose from a half-day countryside cycling tour, scuba diving, and snorkeling at Cham Island and basket boat rides. Immerse yourself in local culture with visits to the ancient ruins of My Son, joining in on a Hoi A cooking class, making a lantern or getting adventurous on a Hoi An Jeep Tour.

This is also the perfect time to relax by the hotel pool or indulge in shockingly cheap priced massages, facial, or pedicure.

*Please note – Additional optional tours mentioned above are not included.

• Meals: Breakfast x 2
• Hotel: 3 Star  – Contact us to Upgrade
• Activities: Contact us to add activities to your free days in Hoi An
• Transfer: 

Today, after checking out of your hotel, you’ll transfer to Da Nang airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival at Saigon airport, our driver will be waiting for you with a sign displaying your name. The journey to your hotel will take about 30 minutes through bustling traffic.

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, dazzles with bright neon lights, vibrant shopping districts, and chic cafes. Its wide, tree-lined boulevards reflect its French colonial past, while modern skyscrapers signify its leap into the 21st century. Amidst this modernity, the city’s chaotic motorbike traffic adds a unique charm—watching the swarm of overloaded bikes and unique passengers is an experience in itself.

Check-in at your hotel (early check-in subject to availability). Lunch is at your own expense. Later, venture west from Ho Chi Minh City to the Cu Chi Tunnels, where you’ll explore the renowned tunnels used by communist guerrillas during the Vietnam War. Stretching over 250 km and spanning three underground levels, these tunnels offer a profound insight into the challenges, bravery, determination, and hardships of guerrilla warfare. Return to your hotel around 5pm and enjoy a free evening in the big city.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Hotel: 3 Star  – Contact us to Upgrade
• Activities: Cu Chi Tunnels Half Day Tour

Transfer: Airport Transfers Hoi An/ Da nang & Saigon, Domestic Flight Da nang to Saigon

The mighty Mekong Delta, where colourful floating villages, rare birdlife, boats stacked with vibrant local fruit, water buffalo, and rice paddy workers toil away beneath the irrepressible Vietnamese sun co-exist in an utterly beguiling ecosystem.

Our guide will pick you up from the hotel and take you to the township of Ben Tre, where you will climb aboard a private boat for a leisurely, culture-rich expedition down the Mekong Delta. Activities include visiting one of the coconut processing workshops along the canal, before steering through narrow rivers to smaller creeks where there is an opportunity to meet local villagers. These workshops are part of the local cottage industries that provide a hands-on experience of traditional local crafts and productions. Marvel at the unique lifestyles of the villagers, who have lived and thrived on the river for centuries.

From here, take a motor cart or cycle through the enchanting countryside of vibrant green rice fields and vegetable plains to gain a better understanding on how the local people live. A traditional lunch will be served at a restaurant followed by an afternoon of rowing along the Water Palm Creek, before boarding the boat back to the Hung Vuong Pier. A Private transfer will then take you back to Ho Chi Minh City.

• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
• Hotel: 3 Star  – Contact us to Upgrade
• Activities: Mekong Delta Full Day

Transfer: Private Tour

Enjoy free time until your driver comes to pick you up at your hotel for your airport transfer. If you are not wanting your trip to end, ask us about our suggested Vietnam and Southeast Asia tour upgrades and extensions.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Hotel: Departure Day
• Activities: 
• Transfer: Private Airport Transfer

Enjoy free time until your driver comes to pick you up at your hotel for your airport transfer. (Psst…If you don’t want your trip to end, ask us about our Vietnam and Southeast Asia tour upgrades and extensions!)

• Meals: Breakfast
• Hotel: N/A – it’s time to go!
• Activities: Leaving (reluctantly!)‍
• Transfer: Private airport transfer