Vietnam Itinerary 8 days: North & Center Retreat

This 8-day Vietnam itinerary is created for travelers who desire to get away from their busy life and reorganize their mental wellbeing. You will have the opportunity to discover the intriguing and magnificent 36 streets of Hanoi Old Quarter and the ethnic minority settlements nestled among paddy fields surrounded by high mountain peaks in Mai Chau. Moreover, you can restructure your body and spirit with a four-night wellness getaway at a health and spa expert in Hoi An.

Day 1: Welcome to Hanoi

After taking a flight to Hanoi, the driver will take you to the hotel to check in. You should take a short rest in your private room before Hanoi exploration by yourself. You are highly recommended to discover:

• Hanoi Half Day City Tour: Walk along Hanoi's ancient streets to sightsee and admire their beauty. In addition to delicious cuisine, Hanoi also has many shops selling silk scarves and bags that are friendly to nature and have existed for centuries. If you don't worry that tomorrow's trip to Mai Chau will take a lot of your energy, you should get your overnight on Ta Hien street, one of Hanoi's best nightlife towns. 

Hanoi Old Quarter

• Hanoi Street Food Walking Tour: Most foreigners know Banh Mi (a traditional bread with a lot of toppings inside), but not everyone knows that Vietnam also has many other special 'banh' like Banh Cuon (steam rice rolls with mushrooms and pork), Banh Goi (fried pillow cakes), Banh Xeo (fried rice pancake with pork, shrimp, veggies), Banh Bot loc (steam rice nugget with pork, shrimp), etc. You can enjoy them at every eatery around your stay in Hanoi Old Quarter.

Hanoi Pillow Cakes

Things to do Try Hanoi street food Sightsee Hanoi Old Quarter with its ancient fusion beauty Shope for silk scarves and souvenirs Enjoy Ta Hien nightlife

 

Day 2: Poetic Mai Chau

Wake up with the sunshine, then enjoy your Hanoi breakfast before heading to Mai Chau by a modern van. During the long way, you can take a short break for a light meal. You will come to Mai Chau at the mid-day. Maybe you will feel a bit tired from having to sit for a long time, but that will quickly dissipate by the delicious local lunch here. If you want a vegetarian meal, please order with your tour guide.

In the afternoon, you will go riding with your tour guide to observe farmers working in the fields and locals weaving scarves. Moreover, you frequently go for walks and shopping in the nearby tranquil communities.

In addition, you can refresh your mind and body with these two options (additional surcharge): 

• Take a plunge in a natural pool to unwind and relieve tension and strain.
• Rejuvenate your body and mind with the massage by well-trained professionals

Mai Chau Valley

Things to do Taste delicious local lunch in Mai Chau Cycle tour around farms, scarves households Walk along and go shopping in a peaceful place

 

Day 3: Mai Chau Culture

In the morning, you will visit Na Meo and Na Mo's remote villages. Here, you will have a chance to explore the culture and behaviors of the local habitats. This particular commune in Mai Chau has five ethnic groups living in harmony, including Thai, Muong, Dao, Kinh, and Xinh Mun. Each ethnicity has different customs that you can charter to wear and take some photos of. Relax and walk along the villages to explore by yourself and buy some interesting stuff. 

Mai Chau Culture

In the afternoon, prepare your package, then go back to Hanoi Capital. You will stay in Hanoi when the sun goes down. After an energetic trip, you should take your rest time in your private room. 

Things to do Visit Na Meo and Na Mo villages Explore ethnic culture and behavior Take some photos of yourself with ethnic customs

 

Day 4: Hoi An Free Day

Enjoy your last meals in this ancient capital. After that, you will fly to Hoi An to continue your 8-day Vietnam holiday. Complete your check-in process, then begin discovering Hoi An by yourself.

You can refer to some Hoi An tours, such as the Half-Day Walking City Tour‎, Motorbike Street Food Tour Half Day, Life as a Farmer in Cam Thanh village, and My Son Sanctuary Half-Day Tour.

Or you can discover the town by yourself through a local street food tour. Hoi An offers a lot of unique and delicious cuisine like Banh My Hoi An (Hoian Bami/Hoian Bread with pork, veggie, and special sauce), My Quang (Quang noodles), Banh vac/Banh bot loc (steam rice cake with pork and shrimp), etc. 

Moreover, you can walk along these ancient streets and admire their historical and cultural beauty. 

Hoi An Free Day

Things to do Sample some Hoi An local street foods Walk along ancient streets

 

Day 5 - 6: Hoi An Wellness Retreat

Relax and refresh your mind with unique treatment at the wellness resort. You will have three days out of Vietnam itinerary 8 days to help your body relax and rejuvenate. 

You will have the opportunity to experience 15-minute walking in the reflexology pool and a 45-minute body massage at a Hoi An Wellness & Spa. Moreover, you can participate in yoga classes and Tai-chi sessions every day. If you want to relax with sauna and steam services, they are offered to you every time you request. The resort creates different activities each day so that you can join a lot of enjoyable in-house activities during your wellness retreat time there. 

Hoi An Wellness Retreat

Things to do Experience 15-minute walking in the Reflexology pool  Relax with a 45-minute body massage at My Chi Wellness & Spa. Participate in yoga classes and Tai-chi sessions Refresh with sauna and steam services Enjoy in-house spa activities

 

Day 7: Tra Que Vegetable Village

Tra Que Vegetable Village is for your second last day in Vietnam itinerary 8 days that you should refer to get more experience. The village is on the way from Hoi An to Da Nang, so it's not difficult to get here from either Da Nang or Hoi An. You can travel by bike, cab, or motorcycle for maximum convenience.

Tourists visiting Tra Que Village are exposed to the serene setting and get the opportunity to learn about the cultural lifestyle of the residents. You will be interested in witnessing or even participating in local farmers' operations, including ground scraping, sowing, watering, harvesting, and other tasks rarely seen in modern towns. Tra Que inhabitants do not use artificial fertilizers; instead, they nourish their farm using algae found only in a lagoon in Tra Que hamlet. Tra Que herbs and vegetables are well-known for their quality, safety, and great taste.

Then it's time for lunch when you'll want to stop at one of the many welcoming local families who feed tourists notable Hoi An cuisine such as Cao Lau, Quang noodles, Banh Xeo, etc. Some tourists opt to take villagers' culinary courses after a wandering trip, commonly included in a day excursion to Tra Que village. Joining a whole tour trip to enjoy an eco excursion and a cookery experience in a unique location is a fantastic option.

Things to do Learn about the cultural lifestyle of the residents Witness or even participate in local farmers' operations Taste Hoi An signature cuisine at a local family Enjoy an eco excursion or a cooking class

 

Day 8: Da Nang Departure

Admire Hoi An ancient town, while tasting the local breakfast and enjoying your free time on this last day before moving to Da Nang International Airport for your flight. You should keep your memories by shopping and finding some attractive souvenirs for your family and friends. 

Above is the schedule for the best 8-day Vietnam itinerary stretching from North to Central. During the trip, you can not only admire the majestic beauty of Vietnam's mountains and forests but also discover the culture and people here.

Hope that this detailed travel guide on the 8-day Vietnam tour will be helpful and give you exciting trips.

Khanh Linh

(Image source: Internet)