After breakfast, meet your tour director for a full-day exploration that delves into the heart of Vietnam’s history and culture. Your journey begins at the Ho Chi Minh Complex, a site of immense national importance. Here, you’ll visit the grounds of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and view the preserved body of Ho Chi Minh in its glass case (excluding Mondays, Fridays and afternoons when the Mausoleum is closed). Then, wander through the park to see the elegant Presidential Palace and the humble, traditional Stilt House where the revered leader once lived.
Next, find a moment of peace at the Temple of Literature, a beautiful example of traditional Vietnamese architecture and the country’s first university, founded in the 11th century. Continue your discovery at the fascinating Vietnam Museum of Ethnology to learn about the country’s diverse ethnic groups. The tour then moves to the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake, where you’ll cross the iconic red Huc Bridge to visit the 18th-century Ngoc Son Temple, a sanctuary perched on a small island.
Tonight, you will be formally welcomed to Vietnam with a special dinner at a local restaurant. It’s the perfect opportunity to connect with your fellow travellers and share the excitement of the journey ahead while enjoying authentic Vietnamese cuisine.
Today marks a highlight of your Vietnamese adventure as you journey from the city to the coast for an unforgettable overnight cruise on the spectacular, UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay. Upon arrival at Tuan Chau Marina, you’ll step aboard the magnificent Capella Cruise, your luxurious floating hotel for the night. After a welcome drink and a briefing from the cruise manager, you’ll settle in and discover the ship’s incredible facilities, including six decks, a pool, and a jacuzzi.
Enjoy a delicious lunch in the restaurant as you begin to glide out into the bay, watching as hundreds of jungle-topped limestone karsts rise majestically from the tranquil, emerald waters. The afternoon is yours to indulge; take a dip in the pool, make a splash on the thrilling waterslide, or find a spot on the expansive sundeck to watch a dazzling sunset over the bay. For those who have booked the Superior Upgrade, this moment is made even more special with an included hour of free-flow drinks. Your day culminates with dinner onboard before the vessel anchors for a magical night spent floating in a quiet cove, surrounded by the bay’s dramatic limestone peaks
Travel time: Driving – approx. 2.5 hours
Ha Long Bay overnight cruise on Capella
Start your morning on the expansive and luxurious Capella I cruise 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 with premium amenities 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
This morning, your guide will lead you on a walking tour through Hoi An’s enchanting ancient town. You’ll visit the iconic 16th-century Japanese Covered Bridge , the Museum of Sa Huynh Culture where you can unearth the region’s Iron Age history , the 200-year-old Tran Family Chapel , and the traditional Fujian Assembly Hall, a 17th-century structure later repurposed as a temple for the sea goddess Thien Hau.
The afternoon is yours to relax and explore at your own pace. You may wish to indulge in your included spa treatment at Ginger Wellness today (available from 2pm), or save this rejuvenating experience for tomorrow. For your evening, you could choose to join an optional street food tour to sample local specialties (surcharge applies) , or perhaps a half-day tour to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed My Son Sanctuary, a religious complex of ancient temples.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 15 minutes
Enjoy a full day at leisure to soak up the unique atmosphere of Hoi An and create your own adventure. This is another opportunity to use your included spa treatment if you haven’t already. You could also choose from several exciting optional excursions to enhance your day (surcharges apply).
Embark on a full-day trip to Ba Na Hills to see its spectacular landmarks, including the famous Golden Bridge held aloft by giant stone hands. Alternatively, immerse yourself in Vietnamese cuisine with a half-day Cooking Class & Biking Tour, or explore the peaceful countryside by eco-friendly buggy on a Hoi An Craft and Countryside tour, visiting traditional carpentry and pottery villages. The day is yours to design before your journey continues south tomorrow.
After breakfast, transfer to Da Nang International Airport (DAD) for your onward flight to Ho Chi Minh City, historically known as Saigon. Upon arrival, you will check into your five-star accommodation.
The evening is at your leisure to explore the city’s incredible dining scene on your own.
Travellers who have booked a Superior Upgrade will enjoy a special included dinner tonight at ST25 by KOTO, a unique restaurant that supports disadvantaged youth by providing culinary training, where locally sourced ingredients are transformed into a flavourful feast.
Please note: Travellers who book the Superior Upgrade will attend the included dinner at ST25 by KOTO, and as such will not be able to book optional experiences during the evening.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 2 hours / Flight – approx. 1.5 hours
Your day of discovery begins with a morning journey to the historic Cu Chi Tunnels , located 60 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City. Considered a powerful remnant of the Vietnam War, this legendary city beneath a city is an extraordinary testament to the ingenuity of the Viet Cong. You’ll have a fascinating opportunity to explore the vast underground network and learn about its crucial role in the country’s history.
After returning to Ho Chi Minh City, you will embark on a guided tour of the city’s most important landmarks. You’ll see a fantastic blend of history and architecture, from the soaring Notre Dame Cathedral and the intricate detail of the historic Saigon Central Post Office to the grand Ho Chi Minh City Opera House and City Hall. The tour also includes a visit to the poignant War Remnants Museum and the Reunification Palace, where the war famously ended with the fall of Saigon in 1975. After a comprehensive day of sightseeing, the evening is yours to enjoy at leisure.
Travel time: Driving – approx. one hour
Enjoy your final full day in Vietnam with a day of leisure to explore Ho Chi Minh City at your own pace. You can spend the day shopping for souvenirs, revisiting a favourite landmark, or choosing from one of the exciting optional experiences available.
You could embark on a full-day optional excursion to the lush, watery world of the Mekong Delta, where you’ll cruise along canals, visit local workshops, and cycle through village paths to see a different side of Vietnamese life (surcharge applies). Alternatively, coffee lovers can immerse themselves in the city’s renowned cafe culture on a half-day ‘Vietnamese Coffee Culture Unveiled’ tour, sampling everything from traditional filter coffee to the famous local egg coffee (surcharge applies).
Tonight, your incredible journey through Vietnam concludes with a memorable farewell dinner. You and your fellow travellers will share stories, reflect on the highlights of your adventure, and toast to the experiences you’ve shared.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 1.5 hours
After breakfast at the Pullman Saigon Centre, check out and transfer to the Hotel des Arts Saigon MGallery Collection, your meeting point for the Mekong River cruise.
Board the RV Tonle Pandaw and get settled into your cabin as the vessel casts off into the waterways of southern Vietnam. Watch Ho Chi Minh City’s skyline recede from the sundeck as you sail toward the Mekong Delta, the afternoon unfolding at an unhurried pace. Lunch is served onboard as the crew introduces themselves and outlines the days ahead. As evening sets in, the ship moors overnight on the quiet waters of the Vam Co River.
Your RV Tonle Pandaw cruise inclusions:
Three nights aboard the RV Tonle Pandaw in a Stateroom
All main meals daily (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Entrance fees and English-language guide services
Gratuities to crew
Sampan excursions, village visits and cultural experiences as per itinerary
Local mineral water, jugged coffee, teas and tisanes
Mekong River Cruise
The morning begins early on the Cho Gao Canal, a working waterway built by the French in 1876 that still carries a steady flow of cargo between the delta and the city. It’s a fascinating ground-level look at river life before the landscape opens out into the lush farming country of Ben Tre province.
Board sampans to drift through mangrove forests and bamboo groves, stopping at fruit orchards and a local handicraft village where artisans work with coconut wood, rattan and silk. The Mekong Delta produces around half of Vietnam’s rice, and the agricultural richness of this region is evident at every turn. Back aboard, the afternoon is yours to relax on the sundeck as the ship continues south toward Chau Doc.
Head ashore by minivan for a short drive to Sam Mountain, where the Hang Pagoda sits built into the rock face at its base. Climb the steps for broad views stretching across the delta plains and into Cambodia, or linger at the local market below.
Back at river level, a sampan trip takes you out to the floating fish farms near Chau Doc before a private Lion dance performance at a local village. In the afternoon, settle back on board as the RV Tonle Pandaw navigates a web of canals toward the Vietnam-Cambodia border, where the vessel anchors overnight. A cold drink on the sundeck as the light fades makes for a fine way to mark the crossing.
Your Mekong River cruise concludes here, in the heart of Cambodia’s capital. After breakfast, complete immigration formalities before disembarking at the Phnom Penh Autonomous Port on Sisowath Quay, with the process expected to finish around 10:30am. Make your own way to the airport for your ongoing journey.