Essential Vietnam Tour – 12 Days

Get the best of Vietnam enriched by diverse landscapes, long-standing cultures, and intriguing history. From the magnificent Halong Bay to the ancient houses of Hoi An, enjoy this 12-day immersive tour for a true connection with the S-shaped country’s remarkable wonders.

Duration: 12 Days/ 11 Nights
Departure Dates: Listed in Price & Inclusion
Start/ End: Hanoi/ Ho Chi Minh City
Tour Route: Hanoi – Hoa Binh – Halong Bay – Hue – Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City
Tour Type: Explore and Experience
Tour Category: Small Group Tours

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
Day 2: Hanoi City Tour
Day 3: Hanoi – Hoa Binh
Day 4: Hoa Binh – Hanoi
Day 5: Hanoi – Halong Bay
Day 6: Halong Bay – Hue
Day 7: Hue City Tour
Day 8: Hue Village Tour
Day 9: Hue – Hoi An
Day 10: Hoi An Cooking Class – My Son Holy Land
Day 11: Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City
Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City Departure

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival – Old Quarter Cyclo Tour & Water Puppet Show (L, D)

Upon Hanoi arrival, our guide and driver will transfer you to Hanoi Pearl Hotel for check-in and repose. After lunch, join in a cyclo tour to explore the Hanoi Old Quarter of 36 iconic streets and experience the unique and vibrant life. In the evening, enjoy a Water Puppet Show to understand more about Vietnamese long-established art and culture.

Day 2: Hanoi City Tour (B, L)

The Vietnamese capital city, Hanoi, is an astounding city in Asia with tree-lined boulevards, buildings with French colonial architecture, dreaming lakes, friendly people, ancient pagodas and temples which have been the highlights within its age of more than a thousand years old.

After breakfast, visit Ho Chi Minh complex comprising of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his stilt-house residence, the yellow Presidental Palace, Ho Chi Minh Museum, and One-pillar Pagoda. Next move to the Temple of Literature which is famous for the first university in Vietnam and was built in the 11^th century.

In the afternoon, explore the infamous Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton) constructed in the French colonial period and the Museum of Ethnology which has been preserving the tradition and cultures of over 50 Vietnamese ethnic groups. Overnight in Hanoi

Day 3: Hanoi – Hoa Binh (B, L, D)

Journey west today by car to reach Hoa Binh province which is home to some ethnic minorities and owns the largest hydro-electric power station in Southeast Asia.

Upon arrival, visit villages of Muong and Dzao ethnic groups to see their daily life and work. Enjoy lunch at a local stilt house. In the afternoon, see the great Hoa Binh Dam before embarking on a boat for an interesting cruise on the reservoir lake. Overnight in Hoa Binh

Day 4: Hoa Binh – Hanoi (B, L)

In the morning, continue to visit the rustic villages in the surrounding area before getting on the vehicle to return to Hanoi. On the way, stop at Ho Chi Minh Trail Museum to gain more understanding of the Vietnam War and President Ho Chi Minh. Overnight in Hanoi

Day 5: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B, L, D)

In the morning, our vehicle will pick you up at the hotel and transfer you to Halong Bay. Upon arrival at cruise, you will be welcomed by the ship’s cruise with a drink and lunch among the fantastic view of Halong Bay.

After lunch, begin your exploration at the Bay when the ship cruises through spectacular landscapes. Reach Bai Tu Long bay and the two towns of Hon Gai and Cam Pha with the extraordinary scene of limestone karst. Then explore Vung Vieng fishing village by boat to get a closer look at the daily work of local fishermen. Later, get back to the ship and enjoy Happy Hour with a special drink menu.

In the evening, join in a cooking demonstration onboard to see how professional chef cooks special Vietnamese dishes and learn how to do it. The rest of the night is your leisure to enjoy the peaceful moments at Halong Bay or a special massage to relax your body. At night, you have an option to participate in squid fishing crew and experience a great night with hard-working  fishermen.

Day 6: Halong Bay – Hue (B, L, D)

Wake up early this morning to participate in a Taichi lesson and behold the miraculous Halong Bay at dawn. After breakfast, explore the mysteries of Halong Bay at Thien Canh Son cave and Sung Sot cave.

At noon, enjoy lunch with fresh seafood and receive a farewell from the ship’s crew. Our vehicle will bring you back to Hanoi then transfer to Noi Bai airport for a short flight to Hue. Our driver will be waiting for you at Hue airport. Overnight in a hotel in Hue.

Day 7: Hue City Tour (B, L)

After breakfast, begin your Hue city tour at royal tombs of King Khai Dinh and King Tu Duc of Nguyen dynasty in the 19^th century. Lunch at a local restaurant

In the afternoon, visit Hue Imperial City, the royal palace of Vietnam last dynasty which represents the outstanding architectures and constructions of Vietnamese people including magnificent palaces, monuments, and pagodas. Later, stroll around Dong Ba market to see the vibrant trading and purchase of local people. Overnight in Hue

Day 8: Hue Village Tour (B, L)

After breakfast, you will be picked up at Toa Kham Wharf and join in a dragon boat trip along Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda which is considered the oldest religious construction in Hue.

Back to the boat to continue the cruise to Hue Ecolodge in Thuy Bieu Village. Upon arrival, spend 2 hours cycling around the village including gardens and ancestral temples. Then visit some handicraft families of incense and joss paper to see their work with joy and enthusiasm.

After that, have your lunch with traditional and royal Hue dishes and cakes then enjoy relaxing moments by immersing your feet in the water of medicinal herbs and relaxing your body by excellent massage. Overnight in Hue

Day 9: Hue – Hoi An – Walking Tour (B, L)

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Hoi An and we will arrive in this ancient town before lunch.

In the afternoon, participate in a walking tour visiting Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky old house, Pottery museum, Chinese temples, and Vietnamese former merchant’s houses. In the evening, stroll around the old street in Hoi An to find some street food for your dinner. Overnight in Hoi An

Day 10: Hoi An Cooking Class – My Son Holy Land (B, L)

This morning, participate in a cooking class teaching you how to cook traditional Hoi An dishes such as Banh Xeo. You will eat exactly what you cook today.

In the afternoon, our vehicle will bring you to My Son Holy Land – the relic of the Champa Kingdom. It was the capital of Cham Civilization ruling Central Vietnam for nearly a thousand years. Overnight in Hoi An

Day 11: Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)

Move to Danang this morning for a flight to Saigon where our driver is willing to transfer you to a hotel. In the afternoon, visit Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, Reunification Palace, and War Remnant Museum which are the historical relics from the French colonial period. Spend the night exploring Ben Thanh Night Market to find your favorite foods for dinner. Overnight in Saigon

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City Departure (B)

After breakfast, wait for our vehicle to pick you up and transfer you to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your flight home. Trip ends.