Welcome to Vietnam! Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport (HAN), you will be transferred to your hotel in Hanoi. The hotel will provide your welcome packet containing all the information you will need on tour.
Vietnam’s capital offers layers of Chinese and French influence, gaggles of scooters and a wealth of incredible restaurants. Spend the rest of your day at leisure.
Travel time: Driving – approx. one hour
Meet your tour director in the morning to explore Hanoi. Visit the grounds of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and view the preserved body of Ho Chi Minh in its glass case. Wander through the park to the Presidential Palace, then stop by Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, the leader’s historic private residence which still stands just as it did over 50 years ago.
Next, enjoy a guided experience through the Temple of Literature – Vietnam’s first university, built in the 11th century. Visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, then venture across the Huc Bridge for a visit to the 18th-century Ngoc Son Temple on Hoan Kiem Lake. From here, you can view the recognisable Turtle Tower, one of Vietnam’s most enduring architectural symbols.
Travel time: Driving – approx. three hours (200km)
Today, you will transfer to the Tuan Chau Marina, where you embark on an overnight cruise through Ha Long Bay.
Enjoy a welcome drink onboard while meeting with the cruise manager and the crew. View the hundreds of islets of Ha Long Bay while enjoying lunch, before anchoring late this evening for a night floating between the dramatic limestone peaks.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 2.5 hours (250km)
Five-star Ha Long Bay overnight cruise
Start your morning on the expansive sundeck with fresh tea and coffee, enjoying the dawn on the bay. Energise your body and soul during a tranquil tai chi class, watching the sun rise over the bay.
Continue your morning cruising among the tree-trimmed cliffs of Ha Long Bay’s Natural Preservation Zone. Admire your surroundings as you sail through this pristine environment, before packing up your things and preparing to disembark. Once the vessel arrives back at Tuan Chau Marina, rejoin your coach for the ride from Ha Long back to Hanoi to embark on your flight from Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) to Da Nang International Airport (DAD).
Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in the coastal city of Hoi An for an evening at leisure.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 3 hours / Flight – approx. 1.5 hours
Rise and shine for a half-day of leisure before your guided tour of the town and street food tour in the evening. You may wish to fill your morning or afternoon with an optional activity (surcharges apply).
In the evening, follow your guide as you visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, first constructed in the 16th century. Nearby, pay a visit to the Museum of Sa Huynh Culture and unearth the region’s Iron Age-history with a collection of local artefacts, including an impressive exhibit of burial jars.
Discover the Chinese- and Japanese-influenced architecture of the Tran Family Chapel, a 200-year-old ancestral hall. Conclude your tour with a stop at the traditional Fujian Assembly Hall, constructed in the 17th century and later repurposed as a temple for worshipping Thien Hau, a Chinese sea goddess.
As you wander the streets of Hoi An, follow your guide’s expert advice and sample fragrant local dishes, from hearty cao lau noodle soup to fresh banh mi and invigorating Vietnamese coffee. Taste Hoi An’s best culinary offerings and enjoy an included beer, coffee or soft drink before returning to your hotel.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 15 minutes
Hoi An street food tour
After breakfast at your hotel, the rest of the day is yours to spend freely. Take the chance to explore Hoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed district. Perhaps choose to visit the merchant residence Tan Ky House – filled with antiques and eye-catching architecture – or check out Hoi An Night Market.
After breakfast, enjoy a final hour or two exploring Hoi An before being transferred back to Da Nang International Airport (DAD) for your return flight to Ho Chi Minh City, historically known as Saigon. Spend the evening at leisure.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 2 hours / Flight: – approx. 1.5 hours
Sofitel Saigon Plaza five-star stay
Join your guide in the hotel lobby and set off for your Saigon city tour and see the landmark buildings, such as the War Remnants Museum, the soaring Notre Dame Cathedral, Ho Chi Minh City Opera House and City Hall. Gaze upon the intricate detail of Saigon Central Post Office, then learn about the history of the Reunification Palace, where a convoy of tanks broke through in 1975.
The rest of your day is yours to explore at leisure. Consider a trip to the colonial-era Fine Arts Museum, the delicately carved Jade Emperor Pagoda, or simply settle in at one of the city’s many cafes and enjoy a traditional Vietnamese coffee.
Travel time: Driving – approx. one hour
Sofitel Saigon Plaza five-star stay
Wake up early and meet with your guide to head towards Cu Chi, just 60 kilometres south of Ho Chi Minh City. Considered a powerful remnant of the conflict that once threatened Vietnam, this city is legendary for its seemingly endless tunnels. Uncover the city beneath a city, an extraordinary testament to the Viet Cong’s ingenuity.
After your tour around this historic site, return to Ho Chi Minh City and enjoy the afternoon at leisure.
This evening, travellers who book a Superior Upgrade will enjoy a special dinner at ST25 by KOTO, where locally sourced ingredients are transformed into a flavourful feast.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 1.5 hours
Sofitel Saigon Plaza five-star stay
After breakfast, wave goodbye to your fellow travellers and make your way to Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) for your flight home.
Travel time: Driving – approx. one hour