Day 1: Hanoi – Arrival

Arrive in Hanoi and transfer to hotel. The rest of the morning is free for rest or to begin exploring the city. In the afternoon, take a one-hour cyclo ride through the old quarter to enjoy the Hanoi’s beautiful late-afternoon colors and to visit a traditional Vietnamese “long house”.
OVERNIGHT IN HANOI.

Day 2: Hanoi – Sightseeing – Bac Ninh – Hanoi

After breakfast visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex containing the Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh’s former home and the One Pillar Pagoda followed by the Temple of Literature and Hoan Kiem Lake and the bustling Old Quarter. Afternoon drive to Bac Ninh, the cradle of traditional Vietnamese music and theatre. On arrival take a horse-drawn cart through country lanes to visit the Dinh Bang communal house and Do temple. Enjoy local folk songs before returning to Hanoi.
OVERNIGHT IN HANOI. [Breakfast]

Day 3: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay

Drive the 170km to Vietnam’s most spectacular natural wonder, Ha Long Bay. Board a refurbished wooden sailing junk for a cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay. Drop anchor for the night near a remote island.
OVERNIGHT ON JUNK. [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

Day 4: Ha Long Bay – Boat Cruise – Ninh Binh

Spend a half-day cruising through new waters, stopping to visit colorful grottoes and swim near deserted beaches. In the afternoon proceed to a small village known as the birthplace of water puppetry in the Red River Delta. Enjoy tranquil scenes of rice fields and rural life before meeting the puppeteers who specialize in this ancient art form. Enjoy a water puppet performance, eat local delicacies and fly lanterns to bring good luck. Proceed to Ninh Binh in late afternoon.
OVERNIGHT IN NINH BINH. [Breakfast, Lunch]

Day 5: Ninh Binh – Sightseeing 

Begin cycling to Thung Nang valley stopping to meet children at a kindergarten. Continue by boat to Thung Nang valley and have a short walk. Cycle back to Tam Coc. In the afternoon drive to Kenh Ga, a secluded floating village in Ninh Binh with a dramatic landscape of limestone cliffs and caves. Travel serenely by boat witnessing scenes of fishermen, children going to school, and everyday life along the riverfront. Drive back to Ninh Binh, stopping en route at Hoa Lu to visit temples dedicated to two ancient Vietnamese kings. OVERNIGHT IN NINH BINH. [Breakfast]

Day 6: Ninh Binh – Dong Hoi

Drive to Dong Hoi with stop in Vinh for lunch. Arrive Dong Hoi in the afternoon and free to relax on the beach.
OVERNIGHT IN DONG HOI. [Breakfast]

Day 7: Dong Hoi – Phong Nha – Hue 

In the morning boat cruise to visit the Phong Nha cave, the largest and one of the most beautiful in all Vietnam and now the country’s fifth UNESCO World Heritage site. The cave forms part of Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park and contains excellent limestone formations, grottoes, cave and forest as well as several 1,000m plus unexplored peaks. In the afternoon proceed to Hue.
OVERNIGHT IN HUE. [Breakfast]

Day 8: Hue – Sightseeing – Hoi An

Morning boat cruise through the center of Hue on the romantic Perfume River. Visit the elegant Thien Mu Pagoda along the riverbank. Visit the Imperial Citadel and the elaborate tomb of Emperor Tu Duc. Continue to Hoi An by car.
OVERNIGHT IN HOI AN. [Breakfast]

Day 9: Hoi An – Sightseeing 

Take a half-day walking tour of this quaint town, visiting ancient merchants’ houses, a Hokkien temple, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, and colorful riverside market. In the afternoon visit a lantern workshop. Guests learn how the lanterns are made then have a chance to create their own. Finish the day with a sunset boat trip on the Thu Bon River to Thanh Ha pottery village.
OVERNIGHT IN HOI AN. [Breakfast]

Day 10: Hoi An - Qui Nhon 

In the morning drive to Qui Nhon. Stop en route at Sa Huynh Beach and at Tam Quan. Along the rest of the drive, view the daily life of rural villagers processing cassava, farming rice and weaving grass and visit the Banh It Cham Towers. Arrive in Qui Nhon late in the afternoon.
OVERNIGHT IN QUI NHON. [Breakfast]

Day 11: Qui Nhon - Nha Trang

The drive from Qui Nhon to Nha Trang passes through perhaps the most beautiful stretch of coastline in all of Vietnam. The range of colors and vistas along this coastal drive are unparalleled in Southeast Asia. Stop en route at a Cham ruin near Tuy Hoa and at Dai Lanh Beach to enjoy the crystal clear, turquoise waters.
OVERNIGHT IN NHA TRANG. [Breakfast]

Day 12: Nha Trang - Boat Cruise

Enjoy Nha Trang’s azure waters and white sandy beaches. Take a morning boat cruise to offshore islands in Nha Trang Bay. Afternoon excursion to the Po Nagar Cham Towers, the Museum of Dr. Yersin and Nha Trang Cathedral. A visit to a local fish market is optional.
OVERNIGHT IN NHA TRANG. [Breakfast]

Day 13 Nha Trang – Ho Chi Minh City

The coastal road continues as we drive from Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City. Stop en route to visit My Nghiep traditional weaving village in Phan Rang.
OVERNIGHT IN HO CHI MINH CITY. [Breakfast]

Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels - Sightseeing

After breakfast, drive to the remarkable Cu Chi tunnels, just outside Ho Chi Minh City. During the war “Viet Cong” guerillas built a labyrinth of narrow tunnels, using them to hide during bombing raids and stage surprise attacks. Return to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon for a half-day city tour. Visit the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, Chinatown, Binh Tay Market and Thien Hau Temple. OVERNIGHT IN HO CHI MINH CITY. [Breakfast]

Day 15: Ho Chi Minh City - Ben Tre - Boat Cruise

Drive through the scenic Mekong Delta to My Tho and board a boat to an orchard garden. Take a horse-drawn cart to Quoi Son to visit a bee farm and float on a sampan through narrow, tree-lined canals. Continue to Tan Thach commune to visit a family-run enterprise making coconut candy. After lunch continue by boat to Phu Tuc village for the overnight stay. Try fishing whilst sightseeing on a late-afternoon rowboat trip. Enjoy the hospitality of a local family and have a traditional dinner. Afterwards take in a performance of traditional rural music. Spend the night in a local house in Ben Tre.
OVERNIGHT AT HOMESTAY IN BEN TRE. [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

Day 16: Ben Tre - Cai Be Bartering - Ho Chi Minh City

Drive to Cai Be and take a boat to the floating market to practice the age-old art of bartering. Visitors will be supplied with sweets, sugar, milk, etc. which they can then barter for different kinds of local fruits. The trip includes a visit to an old house, a family-run business producing a local version of popcorn. Return to Ho Chi Minh City.
OVERNIGHT IN HO CHI MINH CITY. [Breakfast]

Day 17: Ho Chi Minh City - Departure

The morning is free for shopping before transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for departure.
End of services. [Breakfast]