Highlights Of Viet Nam II 9 Days 8 Nights | South to North Vietnam

DETAILED ITINERARY:

DAY 1: HO CHI MINH CITY (MEALS: NOT INCLUDED)
Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City and transfer to the hotel.

The rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Road distance: approx. 8 km
Road transfer time: approx. 30 minutes
Main experiences: airport arrival, transfer, leisure time

DAY 2: FULL DAY HO CHI MINH CITY TOUR (MEALS: BREAKFAST, LUNCH)
After breakfast, begin a full-day exploration of Ho Chi Minh City. The first stop is Cholon, the Chinatown district, where guests discover markets, traditional shops and the Cantonese Thien Hau Pagoda, one of the oldest Chinese-built temples in the city.

Continue to the FITO Museum, one of Vietnam’s earliest private museums dedicated to traditional medicine and pharmacy, with nearly 3,000 objects related to traditional Vietnamese medicine dating back to very early periods.

Return to the city center to visit Ben Thanh Market, a lively place to browse local handicrafts, branded goods, Vietnamese art and souvenirs.

After lunch, continue with the War Remnants Museum, the History Museum or the former Presidential Palace, depending on operational conditions and client interest. Then stroll through Ho Chi Minh City’s colonial quarter, passing the old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street, the Continental Hotel, the Opera House and City Hall.

Return to the hotel at the end of the afternoon.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Main experiences: Cholon, Thien Hau Pagoda, FITO Museum, Ben Thanh Market, museum or palace visit, colonial quarter
Walking level: light to moderate
Note: route may be adjusted depending on client interest

The Reunification Palace

DAY 3: HO CHI MINH CITY - MEKONG DELTA - HO CHI MINH CITY (MEALS: BREAKFAST, LUNCH)
This morning, leave the city behind for a drive to Ben Tre, known as the land of coconuts in the Mekong Delta.

Upon arrival, board a local boat for a first glimpse into the region’s maze of waterways. Cruise along the Chet Say River and observe river transport, coconut-processing facilities and everyday life along the banks.

The program includes visits to handmade brick kilns, coconut shell charcoal kilns and various stages of coconut preparation. Enjoy fresh coconut water on board, then continue to a coconut candy workshop where warm candy can be tasted fresh from the oven, together with seasonal fruits and honey tea.

Return to the boat and continue to a mat weaving village in Nhon Thanh. From here, guests travel by buggy or bicycle along the village road to the rowing boat pier, followed by a rowing boat ride through a peaceful coconut water canal.

Lunch is served at a riverside restaurant. After lunch, return to the pier and drive back to Ho Chi Minh City, arriving in the late afternoon depending on traffic.

The rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Road distance: approx. 100 km each way
Road transfer time: approx. 2 hours each way
Main experiences: local boat, coconut workshops, buggy or bicycle, rowing boat, Mekong Delta village life

Ben Tre Island

DAY 4: HALF DAY CRUISE TO THE TUNNELS OF CU CHI - JOIN-IN TOUR (MEALS: BREAKFAST, LUNCH)
In the morning, guests are picked up at the hotel and transferred to Tan Cang pier to join a shared speedboat tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels.

On board, enjoy a light breakfast with pastry, bottled water and seasonal fruits while cruising along the Saigon River and observing life on the riverbanks.

Upon arrival at Cu Chi, the visit begins with a documentary film introducing the tunnel system and its wartime legends. The excursion continues with jungle walks, traps, secret entrances, bunkers and underground hideouts. Guests may also see rice-paper and rice-wine production, enjoy green tea and tapioca, and optionally try shooting at the rifle range, with bullets excluded.

After the visit, enjoy a traditional Vietnamese lunch before returning to Ho Chi Minh City.

The rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Program duration: approx. 6 hours
Main experiences: shared speedboat, historical visit, jungle walk, tunnel exploration
Note: hotel pick-up and drop-off apply in District 1; entering the tunnels is optional

Cu Chi Tunnels

DAY 5: HO CHI MINH CITY - DANANG - HOI AN (MEALS: BREAKFAST)
After breakfast, transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for the short flight to Danang. Upon arrival, continue by road to Hoi An.

Hoi An Ancient Town was once a major international trading port and has preserved much of its architectural heritage and relaxed way of life. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Main experiences: domestic flight, transfer to Hoi An, leisure time

DAY 6: HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN - A MUST VISIT PLACE (MEALS: BREAKFAST)
Spend a half day walking through Hoi An with a local guide. Explore its traditional houses, the Japanese Covered Bridge, old alleys and the atmosphere of a town that has preserved its trading-port heritage for centuries.

Then leave the more crowded areas behind to discover lesser-known stories within the old town. Visit an ancient house where the art of healing through martial arts has been passed down through generations. This unique method combines Qigong, Tai Chi and traditional Vietnamese martial arts, and guests may try a few simple movements under the guidance of the master.

Finally, visit a cozy local home to enjoy a typical dessert before returning to the hotel.

The afternoon is at leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Main experiences: walking tour, local cultural encounters, healing martial arts, local dessert
Walking level: light to moderate

Hoi An Ancient Town

DAY 7: HOI AN - DANANG - HANOI - HALF DAY CITY TOUR (MEALS: BREAKFAST)
Transfer to Danang Airport for the short flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.

In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Literature, founded in 1070 and regarded as Vietnam’s first university. Continue to the One Pillar Pagoda, one of the country’s most iconic temples, and the area of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house, viewed from outside.

Later, walk through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, including Hang Be Market and the area around Hoan Kiem Lake, to experience the character of the capital.

Finish the day with a water puppet performance.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Main experiences: domestic flight, Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda, Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, water puppet show
Walking level: light to moderate
Note: route may be adjusted depending on client interest

Temple of Literature

DAY 8: HANOI - LAN HA BAY (MEALS: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER) 
After breakfast, leave Hanoi for Hai Phong to begin the cruise on Lan Ha Bay, located southeast of Cat Ba Island. As a geological extension of Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay offers equally impressive limestone scenery in a quieter and less visited setting.

Arrive at Got Pier around midday and complete check-in formalities. After the onboard welcome, lunch is served while the cruise begins its journey into the bay.

Spend the afternoon enjoying activities or visits depending on the boat’s itinerary, or simply relax on board with panoramic views of the limestone formations.

Dinner is served on board.

Overnight on Lan Ha Bay.

Road distance: approx. 140 km
Road transfer time: approx. 2 hours, including one short stop
Main experiences: transfer, cruise, sightseeing or leisure on the bay

Cruise On Lan Ha Bay

DAY 9: LAN HA BAY - HANOI DEPARTURE (MEALS: BREAKFAST)
Wake up to a fresh morning in the bay and enjoy breakfast or brunch on board while the cruise slowly returns toward port.

After check-out and disembarkation, transfer back to Hanoi Airport for the onward departure flight.

Please note that the cruise program may be adjusted depending on weather conditions.

Road distance: approx. 140 km
Road transfer time: approx. 2 hours
Main experiences: morning cruise, return to port, onward airport transfer

***END OF SERVICES***

SERVICES

✅ WHAT’S INCLUDED:

• Accommodation in a shared twin or shared double room
• Meals as mentioned in the program
• English or French-speaking guide
• Other languages and a national guide can be arranged on request with applicable supplements
• Private air-conditioned vehicle as mentioned in the itinerary
• Tours and transfers as mentioned in the program
• Entrance fees for the visits included in the program
• Boat trip as mentioned in the itinerary

❌ WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:

• Meals other than those mentioned in the program
• Services other than those mentioned in the program
• International and domestic flights
• Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls and other personal expenditure
• Tips
• Travel insurance

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• We strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance, including emergency medical evacuation coverage, for trips to Vietnam.
• Prices are valid for 30 days from the date of offer. After this period, prices and conditions may be readjusted.
• Air ticket costs are subject to change without prior notice by the airlines.
• Reservations during peak periods such as Christmas, New Year, Vietnamese Lunar New Year and national holidays may be subject to supplementary charges.
• Hotel rooms are generally available from 14:00 on the arrival day until 12:00 on the departure day. A supplement may apply for early check-in or late check-out.
• Please note that all services and tours above are currently proposed for reference only, and no reservations will be made before we receive your confirmation.
• If one or more proposed services are not available at the time of booking, we will try to find alternative options or similar services in order to avoid major changes to the program.
• Sightseeing arrangements, outdoor activities, domestic flights and cruise operations may be adjusted depending on weather conditions, flight schedules and actual operating arrangements.