Today is yours to enjoy at your leisure in Hanoi. Choose your own path, or join in on an optional activity to better soak up this vibrant city (surcharges apply).
Learn the secrets of Vietnamese cuisine in a hands-on cooking class, beginning with a visit to a bustling wet market before creating fragrant dishes in a tranquil garden setting. Or venture to Quang Phu Cau incense village, where vibrant pink and red incense sticks dry in dazzling patterns under the sun, offering spectacular photo opportunities.
For history lovers, Duong Lam Ancient Village is a living museum of rural Vietnam, with centuries-old houses, mossy temples and winding alleys. Share a traditional lunch with a welcoming local family before visiting the remarkable Mia Pagoda and temples dedicated to national heroes.
In the evening, meet your tour guide and fellow travellers at 6.30pm for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
After a leisurely breakfast, enjoy a relaxed morning before meeting your guide at the hotel for an afternoon exploration of Hanoi. Begin at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed Mondays, Fridays and afternoons), where the revered leader’s embalmed body lies in state. Stroll through the leafy grounds of the Presidential Palace before visiting the modest Stilt House, Ho Chi Minh’s personal residence, preserved exactly as it was in his final years.
Continue to the 11th-century Temple of Literature, a Confucian sanctuary and Vietnam’s first university, then gain fascinating insights into the country’s cultural diversity at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, home to artefacts representing Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. Later, cross the iconic red Huc Bridge to Ngoc Son Temple, perched on a jade islet in Hoan Kiem Lake, and admire views of the Turtle Tower — one of Hanoi’s enduring landmarks.
As evening falls, soak up the lively atmosphere of the Old Quarter, where buzzing streets are lined with market stalls and food vendors, before transferring to Hanoi Railway Station.
At 9pm, you’ll board the Chapa Express Train to Sapa, where you’ll travel in comfort in a VIP cabin designed for two guests. Settle in and let the gentle rhythm of the rails lull you to sleep as you journey through the northern highlands from Hanoi to Lao Cai.
Travel time: Train — eight hours
Awake early as your train pulls into Lao Cai Railway Station, the gateway to Vietnam’s northern highlands. Transfer by vehicle to the cool mountain town of Sapa, where you’ll have the chance to freshen up and enjoy breakfast before your day of adventure begins.
Set out on a guided trek through Muong Hoa Valley, one of the most picturesque regions in Vietnam. Follow winding trails past cascading rice terraces, babbling streams and towering mountains, as water buffalo amble nearby. Along the way, visit the welcoming villages of Lao Chai, Ta Va, and Giang Ta Chai. Each community offers a unique glimpse into Vietnam’s cultural tapestry, with colourful traditional dress, age-old customs and warm smiles at every turn.
Pause for rest and photographs as your guide shares stories of local life, then enjoy a simple lunch in Ta Van village before continuing your trek. Afterwards, return to Sapa by vehicle, where the evening is free to explore at leisure.
Travel time: Trek — 5—6 hours; 7—8km
Trek through Sapa’s hills
This morning is yours to explore Sapa at your own pace, or you may choose to join an optional activity (surcharge applies). Wander through the town’s colourful markets, where communities gather to sell handmade textiles and fresh produce, or ascend by cable car to the summit of Mount Fansipan, the highest peak in Indochina, for sweeping views across mist-shrouded valleys and rugged mountain ranges.
In the afternoon, depart Sapa and enjoy a scenic drive back to Hanoi, arriving in the evening.
Travel time: Driving — six hours
Following breakfast at your hotel, set off on a scenic drive south to Ninh Binh, a region of striking natural beauty often called ‘Ha Long on Land.’ Your journey begins in Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s first capital, where you’ll step inside temples dedicated to ancient emporers of the Dinh and Le Dynasties. Though much of the citadel has been lost to time, the surviving temples and stone foundations still echo with the spirit of Vietnam’s early rulers.
Continue through the picturesque countryside to Tam Coc, pausing along the way to capture photographs of village life and the breathtaking landscapes. Here, board a traditional wooden sampan for a tranquil journey along the winding waterways. As your boat glides past emerald rice paddies and beneath looming limestone karsts, you’ll quickly understand why this region has earned its famous nickname.
After returning to shore, transfer to your hotel in Ninh Binh. The evening is free for you to relax and enjoy at leisure.
Travel time: Driving — two hours
Travel to the UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay, where dramatic limestone pillars rise from emerald waters. Board your luxury cruise and enjoy lunch on deck as you sail into this natural wonder. Spend the afternoon exploring hidden caves, visiting floating villages, or swimming at secluded beaches. As the sun sets, capture golden light shimmering across the bay before enjoying a freshly prepared dinner onboard.
Travel time: Driving — approx. 3.5 hours
Ha Long Bay overnight cruise
Start your day with Tai Chi on the sundeck, breathing in the crisp sea air as the sun rises over the karsts. Enjoy brunch as your ship cruises back to port, then transfer to Hanoi Airport for your flight to Hue. On arrival, transfer to your hotel and spend the evening at leisure.
Travel time: Driving — three hours; flying — approx. one hour
Silk Path Grand Hue Hotel five-star stay
Step back in time with a full-day guided exploration of Hue, Vietnam’s imperial capital for more than 140 years.
Begin with a peaceful boat trip along the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, one of Vietnam’s oldest and most revered religious sites. Continue to the heart of Hue to discover the Imperial City, a vast 19th-century complex modelled after Beijing’s Forbidden City before being damaged during the Vietnam War.
In the afternoon, travel into the countryside to visit the Tomb of Tu Duc, the elegant resting place of Vietnam’s longest-reigning emperor, surrounded by tranquil lotus ponds, shaded pavilions and graceful courtyards that capture the serenity of this imperial retreat.
Return to the city in the evening, where the rest of the night is free to enjoy at your leisure.
Silk Path Grand Hue Hotel five-star stay
This morning, bid farewell to Hue and journey south toward Hoi An, travelling along one of Vietnam’s most breathtaking coastal routes — the Hai Van Pass. With its twisting curves, sudden bends, and sweeping vistas of mountains and sea, this road is often described as one of the most scenic in Asia.
Continue to Da Nang, a coastal city known for its long golden beaches and striking modern bridges. Here, stop for lunch and a visit to the Cham Museum, which houses the world’s most extensive collection of Cham sculpture, offering insight into this ancient civilisation.
Before reaching Hoi An, explore the mystical Marble Mountains, a cluster of limestone and marble outcrops riddled with caves and pagodas. Wander through grottoes adorned with statues and enjoy panoramic views over the surrounding countryside.
Arrive in Hoi An by late afternoon. The evening is free for you to relax or begin exploring the lantern-lit streets of this enchanting town.
Travel time: Driving — three hours
Enjoy a leisurely morning in Hoi An, with time to relax at your hotel, explore the shops, or join an optional activity (surcharge applies).
In the late afternoon, set out on a guided walking tour of Hoi An’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town, where centuries of history are beautifully preserved in ochre-hued merchant houses, lantern-lit alleys and riverside markets. Visit the 16th-century Japanese Covered Bridge, originally and continue to the Sa Huynh Culture Museum where remarkable artefacts reveal the region’s Iron Age heritage. Step inside the Tran Family Chapel, a 200-year-old ancestral hall blending Chinese and Japanese influences, and admire the ornate Fujian Assembly Hall, dedicated to the sea goddess Thien Hau.
As you wander, your guide will introduce you to the flavours of Hoi An on a street food adventure. Taste local delicacies such as cao lau noodles, banh mi and banh khot, sip rich Vietnamese coffee, and raise a glass of cold local beer at a lively street stall. This perfect blend of culture and cuisine showcases the very best of Hoi An before returning to your hotel for an evening at leisure.
Today is free to enjoy Hoi An at your own pace. Browse tailor shops, cycle to An Bang Beach, or relax at a riverside café. Optional tours are available for those who wish to dive deeper into the region’s culture and cuisine.
After checking out of your hotel, transfer to Danang Airport (DAD) for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s buzzing southern metropolis. On arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SAI), transfer to your hotel. Spend the evening discovering the local area or relaxing at your hotel.
Five-star Sofitel Saigon Plaza stay
This morning, join your guide for a fascinating tour of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), a metropolis where sleek skyscrapers rise above incense-filled temples and French colonial architecture lines bustling boulevards.
Visit the moving War Remnants Museum, which offers poignant insight into Vietnam’s modern history, and admire the soaring twin bell towers of Notre Dame Cathedral, built during French colonial rule. Continue to the elegant Central Post Office, designed by Gustave Eiffel, and pass the grand Opera House and ornate City Hall. Step inside the historic Reunification Palace, where tanks famously stormed the gates in 1975, marking the end of the Vietnam War.
The afternoon is yours to explore at leisure. You may wish to browse the exhibits at the Fine Arts Museum, admire the intricate carvings of the Jade Emperor Pagoda, or simply relax at a cafe, sipping a rich Vietnamese coffee while watching the city’s lively streets unfold around you.
Five-star Sofitel Saigon Plaza stay
This morning, meet your guide for a full-day excursion into the lush landscapes of the Mekong Delta, where life flows with the rhythm of the river. Board a motorboat and cruise past coconut plantations and stilted homes along the banks, watching locals at work producing coconut products and charcoal.
Disembark to explore the countryside by bicycle, pedalling along quiet island paths shaded by palms. Visit a farm that cultivates suong sam, a native plant used to make refreshing green grass jelly. Try your hand at picking the leaves and preparing this unique local dessert.
Pause for a traditional home-cooked lunch at a villager’s house, before continuing to another family-run workshop where coconut brooms are still crafted by hand. Later, glide by sampan along tranquil canals lined with water coconut palms, a serene finale to your Mekong journey.
Return to your hotel in the late afternoon, where the evening is yours to relax.
Five-star Sofitel Saigon Plaza stay
This morning, travel outside of Ho Chi Minh City to the legendary Cu Chi Tunnels, located about 60 kilometres away. This extraordinary underground network, stretching more than 200 kilometres, played a pivotal role during the Vietnam War. Hidden beneath the jungle floor, the tunnels connected command posts, hospitals, living quarters and supply routes, allowing the Viet Cong to move unseen.
Learn about the resilience and ingenuity of those who lived here, and, for those who wish, experience the thrill of descending into the narrow passageways yourself. See cleverly disguised entrances and the notorious bamboo-spiked traps that made this area so formidable.
Return to your hotel in the afternoon, where the remainder of the day is free until the evening. Tonight, gather with your group for a farewell dinner, sharing memories and highlights of your unforgettable journey through Vietnam.
Five-star Sofitel Saigon Plaza stay
After breakfast and checkout by noon, transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) for your departing flight and onward travels.