Hanoi – Halong Bay – Danang – Ho Chi Minh City – 9 Days

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival – City Tour
Day 2: Hanoi – Hoa Lu – Trang An – Hanoi (B)
Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Overnight on Cruise (B, L, D)
Day 4: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Fly to Danang (B, Brunch)
Day 5: Danang – Ba Na Hills – Golden Bridge – Danang (B)
Day 6: Danang – Hoi An Bamboo Basket Boat & Walking Tour – Danang (B)
Day 7: Danang – Fly to Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels (B)
Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta (My Tho) – Ho Chi Minh City (B)
Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City Half-day City Tour – Departure (B)

Full Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival – City Tour

In the morning, arrive at Noi Bai Airport where our guide will welcome you and transfer you to the hotel (hotel check-in is from 2:00–3:00 PM; early check-in is not included).

In the afternoon, begin your Hanoi exploration with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Complex, including Ba Dinh Square and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum from outside, followed by Tran Quoc Pagoda, the city’s oldest temple located on the peaceful West Lake.

In the evening, enjoy a cyclo ride through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, a maze of narrow streets filled with shops, cafés, and local markets.

Dinner not included and night at hotel.
Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi – Hoa Lu – Trang An – Hanoi (B)

Breakfast at hotel.

In the morning, depart Hanoi at around 8:00 AM for a drive southward to Ninh Binh province. Visit Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s ancient capital in the 10th and 11th centuries, where you will explore the temples of King Dinh and King Le set amid dramatic limestone mountains and rice fields.

In the afternoon, embark on a serene boat ride along the river through the Trang An Eco-Tourism Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Glide through water caves and admire the diverse flora and fauna before returning to Hanoi at around 4:00 PM.

Dinner not included and night at hotel.
Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Overnight on Cruise (B, L, D)

Breakfast at hotel.

Pick up at the hotel after breakfast and transfer to Halong Bay via the Expressway. On arrival at Tuan Chau Marina, board your cruise, enjoy a welcome drink, and listen to a short briefing on safety regulations.

Begin your exciting journey to discover the beauty of Halong Bay, passing through some of the most beautiful spots and admiring the grandeur of the bay with thousands of limestone islands as the vessel heads toward Luon Cave and Titop Island. Enjoy lunch on board while cruising.

In the mid-afternoon, go kayaking around the thousand-year-old rock formations in the Luon Cave area. Then, transfer by tender to Titop Island, where you can relax on the beach or hike to the top for stunning views of Halong Bay.

Return to the cruise and participate in a sunset party and cooking class while the vessel cruises toward the shore. Relax on the sundeck, sipping traditional Vietnamese tea or coffee amid wonderful scenery and a beautiful sunset. Halong Bay is calm during the day, but when the sun goes down, it becomes even more tranquil and peaceful.

Dinner on board.
Overnight on the cruise.

Note:
• From 2–8 pax: Join cruise bus
• From 9 pax onward: Private transfer

Day 4: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Fly to Danang (B, Brunch)

Wake up early to join a Tai Chi session on the sundeck before enjoying a light breakfast. Then visit Sung Sot Cave, one of Halong’s largest and most impressive caves.

Continue cruising past Ba Hang Fishing Village and Dog Islet while you join a cooking demonstration and enjoy a hearty brunch on board. Disembark at Tuan Chau Marina and meet your driver for the journey back to Hanoi.

In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for your flight to Danang. On arrival, meet your local guide and transfer to the hotel for check-in.

Dinner not included and night at hotel.
Overnight in Danang.

Day 5: Danang – Ba Na Hills – Golden Bridge – Danang (B)

Breakfast at hotel.

In the morning, travel to Ba Na Hills and enjoy a scenic cable car ride up the mountains. Visit the beautiful Le Jardin d’Amour gardens, the historic Debay Wine Cellar, and Linh Ung Pagoda.

In the afternoon, walk across the iconic Golden Bridge, the famous landmark held up by giant stone hands, and admire panoramic views of the mountains. Continue to the French Village with its charming European-style architecture, lively street performances, and diverse dining options. Have fun at Fantasy Park with a variety of games and attractions.

In the evening, return to Danang and spend the night at leisure.

Note: Tickets exclude the Wax Museum, Wine Cellar, indoor climbing, and the Alpine Coaster.

Dinner not included and night at hotel.
Overnight in Danang.

Day 6: Danang – Hoi An Bamboo Basket Boat & Walking Tour – Danang (B)

Breakfast at hotel.

Today, join an excursion to Cam Thanh Water Coconut Village. As a “fisherman for a day”, you will learn traditional fishing techniques and how to row a unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boat, as well as try catching crabs and coconut mussels while exploring the tranquil coconut-palm-flanked waterways that once witnessed fierce battles during the war.

Later, discover Hoi An Ancient Town, originally a Cham seaport that has been influenced over centuries by traders from many cultures. On an exciting walking tour, visit the famous Chinese Assembly Halls & Temples, Old Houses, the Japanese Covered Pagoda Bridge, the Old House of Tan Ki, and the Sa Huynh Culture Museum. Stroll along narrow streets lined with low-tiled houses and assembly halls that reflect the town’s multi-cultural past.

After the tour, drive back to Danang.

Dinner not included and night at hotel.
Overnight in Danang.

Day 7: Danang – Fly to Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels (B)

Breakfast at hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s bustling economic hub. Upon arrival, continue the journey to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an extensive underground network used during the Vietnam War. Explore the maze of tunnels—some of which have been widened for visitors—and learn how soldiers once lived and fought in these challenging conditions. Along the way, see the remains of an American tank and numerous bomb craters created by 500 lb bombs dropped by B-52 bombers.

After returning to the city, visit the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Post Office, two of the most important architectural landmarks from the French colonial era.

Dinner not included and night at hotel.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta (My Tho) – Ho Chi Minh City (B)

Breakfast at hotel.

In the morning, depart from your hotel for the peaceful town of My Tho, the gateway to the Mekong Delta. Begin with a visit to Vinh Trang Pagoda, an impressive Buddhist temple blending Vietnamese, Khmer, and European architectural styles.

Continue with a scenic boat trip along the Mekong River, where you will stop to visit local homes and orchards, a coconut candy workshop, and a honeybee farm. Enjoy a sampan ride through palm-shaded canals, taste tropical fruits and honey tea, and experience a traditional Southern folk music performance.

In the late afternoon, return to Ho Chi Minh City.

Dinner not included and night at hotel.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City Half-day City Tour – Departure (B)

Breakfast at hotel.

Spend the morning exploring the highlights of Ho Chi Minh City. Visit the Reunification Palace, once the Presidential Palace of South Vietnam, before stopping at Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Post Office, both iconic landmarks reflecting the city’s French colonial heritage.

Afterward, enjoy free time for last-minute shopping at Ben Thanh Market or relax at leisure. Depending on your flight schedule, transfer to the airport for your departure flight. Tour ends.