Ultimate Vietnam Journey: 12 Days by Land, Rail & Water

Morning

When you arrive at Noi Bai Airport, our tour guide will meet you and take you to your hotel in Hanoi. Check in and have a rest.

NOTE: The hotel's check-in time is 14:00. There will be an additional charge if you want to check in earlier.

Afternoon/Evening

You will have free time to discover the beautiful capital city. Check out our optional tour below to discover Hanoi's Old Quarter.

Morning

Enjoy a delicious breakfast and the tour guide will meet you at 08:00 and take you to the must-visit attractions of Hanoi on an adventurous motorbike tour.

You will have a chance to visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s very first university of Confucianism. Continue to the iconic 1000-year-old One Pillar Pagoda, an ancient pagoda with the one-of-a-kind classical architecture of a lotus.

Travel to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and look at the resting place of the greatest Vietnamese leader from the outside. 

NOTE: The mausoleum is temporarily closed on Mon and Fri every week & from Jun - Aug every year.

Head to the picturesque West Lake and discover the tranquil beauty of the antique Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda. Marvel at the pagoda's majestic architecture and soak in the peaceful ambiance of this sacred site.

End the tour with authentic Vietnamese food in a local restaurant.

Afternoon

Return to your hotel to relax. Pack your luggage and get ready for the transfer to Sapa. Along the way, marvel at the breathtaking scenery of terraced rice fields, misty mountains, and traditional villages.

Arrive in Sapa and transfer to your hotel for check-in. After settling in, take some time to unwind.

Morning

Wander down the valley to Y Linh Ho to witness the breathtaking scenery of the terrace fields, imposing mountains, and the native people working.

Continue walking to Lao Chai village, where the Black Hmong live, learn about their culture and special customs, and see their daily activities.

Have a rest when you stop for a picnic lunch along the way.

Afternoon

You will continue your journey to the Zay settlement of Ta Van, a village hidden in the foggy cloud, with beautiful rice paddies and a natural ecosystem. Offering spectacular landscapes and cultural experiences.

After that, our driver will take you back to your hotel in Sapa.

Your plans for the rest of the day are entirely up to you.

Relax and sleep in a lovely local hotel.

Morning

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and fill your stomach as you will have the last trekking adventure to Cat Cat Village, a great place for sightseeing, and experiencing the way of life in the mountainous area.

There, you may see the remains of a hydroelectric power station built by the French during their colonial rule in Vietnam, as well as the spectacular Cat Cat waterfall and giant bamboo water wheels.

Take your time to interact with the friendly ethnic people here or buy some handicraft products and souvenirs.

Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch by the side of a dreamy river.

Afternoon

Continue trekking 3km to the dreamy Sin Chai Village where the Red Dao inhabits. Hiking up the mountain admire a gorgeous painting of rice paddles, waterfalls, and vast forests.

After that, you will take a jeep ride to Sapa town, then take the shared limousine bus around 14:30 back to Hanoi.

Evening

Arrive at your hotel in Hanoi and enjoy your free time.

Morning 

After breakfast at the hotel, the driver will pick you up around 08:00 and take you to Halong Bay, a famous UNESCO World Heritage site.

11:30 - 12:00: When you arrive at the pier, get on board and begin exploring this stunning bay.

Lunch will be served with fresh seafood. Enjoy the magnificent landscape of limestone mountains while cruising into the bay.

Afternoon

Depending on the itinerary of each cruise, you may participate in many amusing activities such as discovering caves, kayaking, or swimming in the cool sea.

17:30: Return to the junk and take part in Happy Hour and see the beautiful sunset on the sundeck or join a Vietnamese cooking class.

Enjoy your dinner and spend the night on board.

Morning

On the second day at Halong Bay, you can get up early to join a Tai Chi class on the boat, or simply enjoy the spectacular sunrise over the bay.

Breakfast will be served while the boat continues to cruise deep into the bay and explore the most beautiful caves and islands in the area. 

On the journey back to the main dock, brunch will be served for you before heading back to Hanoi.

Around 11:00 - 12:00: Get off the cruise and say goodbye to the crew.

Afternoon

The driver will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel in Hanoi. Time to relax.

Evening

In the evening, our driver will transfer you to the train station for you to catch the night train to Da Nang.

Morning

Arrive at Da Nang around noon and the driver will take you to the hotel in Hoi An to check in.

Afternoon

Booster your energy with a local food tour at 15:00. Our guide will meet you at the hotel and then start the culinary adventure to learn about both the cuisine and the culture of Hoi An:

The first stop is a famous local restaurant where you will try Hoi An’s unique dumplings.

Go through a small alley to visit a hidden eatery for a delicious Bun Bo (Beef Noodle Soup), a popular dish among the people here. Then, relax your stomach with a cool cup of traditional Vietnamese Coffee.

Travel to the peaceful Tra Que Vegetable Village and take a look at the lush fields under the sunset.

Continue to sample the iconic Banh Mi, Banh Khot, and the unique Balut that is very weird for foreigners.

End the trip in a local restaurant by the river for a special dinner with cold beers and delicious food.

Evening

The food tour ends at 20:00. After that, you will have free time to explore the pretty Ancient Town at night or return to your hotel and take a rest.

Morning

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then follow your guide to cycle through the green rice paddies of Cam Thanh Ecological Village to make you excited with a farming trip.

This is a chance to participate in the farmer's work such as learning the detailed steps of growing rice and riding buffalo to rake the field, pick vegetables, and more.

After that, lunch will be served at the local’s house.

You can take a rest, then go on a boat, travel down to a local fishing village, and join the local fishermen in their fishing activities.

Afternoon

Have more fun while cruising to the lush water coconut palm jungle, where you can watch a very interesting basketboat rowing performance.

Trip ends. Pick up and back to your hotel. You are free for the rest of the day.

Have a free day to discover the beauty of Hoi An before you take the flight to Ho Chi Minh City at Da Nang Airport.

Arrive at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, the driver will take you to the booked hotel for check-in and relax.

Morning

Enjoy your breakfast in the hotel, and start your tour by exploring Cu Chi Tunnel - considered one of the most special man-made works in Vietnam.

Have an in-depth look at the history of the tunnels and the Vietnam War by watching a documentary. Then, take a walk inside the jungle and see the traps, the secret entrances, the bunkers, and the hideouts

Explore the 200km long underground tunnels and structures, ranging from hospitals to bedrooms to ammo storage, and more

You can also touch your hands on a real gun with the firing-gun services available here (with an additional charge).

On the way back home, you will stop for a light lunch at a local restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City.

Afternoon

Join our tour guide on a city trip to discover Saigon's major attractions.

First, pay a visit to the War Remnants Museum comprises a series of themed rooms in several buildings with numerous documents, films, and objects about the Vietnam War.

The 2nd stop is the Reunification Palace, the placemarks where the Vietnamese Revolutionary Army won the battle and became a special national monument.

Take a look at Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral from outside and the Old Post Office, both of which the outstanding symbols of French architecture.

Travel to a local market, where you could practice your haggling skills, learn about local life and culture, and shop for souvenirs.

NOTE: Saigon Cathedral is temporarily closed for renovation.

Return to your hotel for relaxation after an active day.

You will have free time to explore the vibrant city in the evening.

Morning

Around 08:00, you will be picked up from the hotel for the transfer to Ben Tre Province.

Get on a boat and cruise along the dreamy Ham Luong River, a branch of the Mekong River, where you can see many lush islets created by alluvials.

The boat will make several stops at local businesses so you may observe how residents here make a living.

Time to join a fascinating workshop about coconut candy-making - where you can learn how to create their specialties sample the sweet coconut candies, and see how locals weave a mat from straws in a mat weaving house.

Stopping at a peaceful village for a short walk to experience authentic Delta village life or get on special local transportation - “xe loi” (a kind of motorized rickshaw) through the forest and visit lush fruit orchards.

Local specialties will be served in a peaceful riverside restaurant during lunch.

Afternoon

Take a sampan boat ride along peaceful canals as a way to unwind and enjoy the tranquility of the Mekong River.

Get off the board and return to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh at 17:00 and enjoy the last night in this bustling city.

Enjoy your last day in Vietnam before the tour guide comes and transfers you to the airport for your flight home. 

Note: The check-out time is at 12:00. You can contact us for a late check-out with a surcharge.