Secrets of Vietnam Expedition

Day 1: Hanoi – Arrival

Upon your arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, you will be warmly greeted by our private driver and English-speaking guide, followed by a comfortable transfer to your central hotel. Enjoy free time to refresh and take a relaxed initial stroll around your hotel’s neighborhood.

Hanoi, the political and cultural capital of Vietnam since 1010, is celebrated for its centuries-old architecture, rich culinary heritage, tranquil lakes, and vibrant street life. Whether you seek imperial history, exquisite handicrafts, or simply an atmospheric café terrace, Hanoi is the perfect opening chapter to your Vietnamese journey.

Overnight in Hanoi

Day 2: Hanoi – City Tour

Morning:
Set out to explore Hanoi’s essential cultural landmarks. Begin at the historic Ho Chi Minh Complex, visiting the monumental Mausoleum, the French colonial Presidential Palace, and the modest wooden House on Stilts where President Ho Chi Minh lived. Beside it stands the iconic One Pillar Pagoda, founded in 1049 atop a single stone column to evoke a blossoming lotus flower. Continue to the venerable Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national university established in 1070 under the Ly Dynasty in honor of Confucius, preserving 82 historic doctoral stone stelae perched upon stone turtles. Before lunch, stop on the eastern shore of West Lake to visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest Buddhist shrine in the capital, renowned for its serene lakeside aura.

Afternoon:
Immerse yourself in the bustling tempo of Hanoi’s historic heart aboard a traditional pedal-powered cyclo (xich lo), gliding through the labyrinthine lanes of the legendary Old Quarter. On foot, reach peaceful Hoan Kiem Lake, cross the scarlet wood The Huc Bridge, and visit Ngoc Son Temple perched on a verdant islet. Conclude the afternoon with a charming traditional Water Puppet Show (or alternatively, enjoy an authentic egg coffee while witnessing the evening energy of the famed Train Street).

Overnight in Hanoi

Day 3: Hanoi – Countryside Jeep adventure

Morning:
After breakfast, embark on an exhilarating, off-the-beaten-path excursion aboard an authentic vintage open-top military Jeep. Leave the bustling city center by crossing the historic Long Bien Bridge, the iconic cast-iron landmark engineered by Gustave Eiffel spanning the mighty Red River. On the opposite bank, the scenery shifts dramatically into serene dike roads, fragrant guava orchards, organic vegetable patches, and sweeping green paddy fields. Arrive at the legendary Co Loa Citadel, the ancient spiral-walled capital of Vietnam founded in the 3rd century BC under King An Duong Vuong. Before returning, visit a welcoming rural home shaded by banana palms to sip hot green tea and share authentic conversations about Northern village life.

Afternoon:
Ride the Jeep back into the city to savor a delicious lunch featuring classic Hanoi specialties. The remainder of the afternoon is yours at leisure, relax at your hotel, shop for bespoke lacquerware and silk, or wander the leafy tree-lined boulevards of the French Quarter.

Overnight in Hanoi

Day 4: Hanoi – Mai Chau

Morning:
Depart the capital heading southwest toward the mountainous landscapes of Hoa Binh province. The road winds scenic contours up to the dramatic Thung Khe Pass (White Stone Pass), offering sweeping panoramic vistas of the valley below, often wrapped in ethereal morning mist. Descending into Mai Chau Valley, a pastoral haven unfolds before you: a flat emerald-green basin framed by rugged limestone peaks and dotted with traditional ethnic stilt hamlets.

Afternoon:
Savor an authentic lunch of Northern highland specialties prepared with farm-to-table ingredients. In the afternoon, explore Lac and Poom Coong villages on foot or by bicycle along peaceful village paths. Meet friendly White Thai families residing in spacious raised bamboo-and-teak homes, and observe local women weaving vibrant brocades and scarves on traditional wooden looms according to ancestral customs passed down through generations.

Overnight in Mai Chau

Day 5: Mai Chau – Ninh Binh – Tam Coc

Morning:
Enjoy a tranquil breakfast amid rural serenity before driving toward Ninh Binh. Upon arrival, explore the historic site of Hoa Lu, the 10th-century ancient imperial capital of Vietnam. Visit the two restored dynastic temples dedicated to King Dinh Tien Hoang and King Le Dai Hanh, nestled against steep limestone foothills.

Afternoon:
Board a traditional hand-rowed sampan for a scenic journey along the tranquil Ngo Dong River through Tam Coc. Towering limestone karsts rise sheer out of verdant rice paddies, earning this wonderland the title of “Inland Halong Bay.” Continue exploring the picturesque rural trails to Bich Dong Pagoda, an ancient Buddhist sanctuary built into three cascading levels of a karst cliffside, accessed across a lotus-filled bridge.

Overnight in Ninh Binh

Day 6: Ninh Binh – Bai Tu Long Bay

Morning:
After a hearty breakfast, transfer from Ninh Binh to the coastal harbor of Bai Tu Long Bay, the quieter, unspoiled eastern neighbor of Halong Bay. Arrive around midday, step aboard your boutique cruise ship with a welcome drink, and attend a brief cruise and safety briefing. Relish a gourmet seafood lunch as the junk glides gently among thousands of majestic limestone islands and islets.

Afternoon:
Navigate into secluded lagoons. In the afternoon, visit the floating fishing village of Vung Vieng on a local bamboo rowboat, gaining a firsthand look at traditional waterborne life. Afterward, enjoy free time to kayak on crystal-clear waters of the Cap La area. As the sun dips below the horizon, head up to the open sundeck for a golden-hour sunset party and a fun Vietnamese cooking demonstration with the onboard chef. A sumptuous dinner is served on board, followed by evening leisure, stargazing, or night squid fishing.

Overnight on cruise

Day 7: Bai Tu Long – Hanoi

Morning:
Greet the new day with an invigorating Tai Chi session on the open deck as dawn illuminates the karst seascape. After a light early breakfast, the ship tenders to the secluded Thien Canh Son Cave, famed for its sparkling stalactites, stalagmites, and panoramic clifftop lookout overlooking the bay. Return aboard to pack luggage and enjoy a lavish farewell buffet brunch as the ship slowly sails toward the harbor, disembarking around noon.

Afternoon:
Meet your private driver at the pier for your expressway transfer back to Hanoi. Check in to your central hotel. Evening at leisure to explore vibrant night markets, sample local street food delicacies, or enjoy a drink at a rooftop terrace overlooking the city.

Overnight in Hanoi

Day 8: Hanoi – Can Tho – Cai Be

Morning:
Following breakfast, transfer to Noi Bai Airport for your direct flight to Can Tho, the riverine capital of the Mekong Delta. Upon arrival, journey through the lush countryside toward the quiet waterways of Cai Be. Visit an artisanal handicraft workshop to witness the making of traditional Delta treats: crispy rice paper, fragrant coconut candy, and popped puffed rice. Stroll through a lush fruit orchard to savor tropical fruits and hot tea while listening to the delicate melodies of UNESCO-recognized Don Ca Tai Tu folk music. Afterward, enjoy an authentic home-cooked lunch at a charming island homestay.

Afternoon:
Set out on a leisurely bicycle ride along quiet village footpaths, observing daily river life up close: rambutan and longan orchards, rural schools, parish churches, pagodas, and traditional wooden homes. Return to your homestay to unwind and savor the peaceful pastoral twilight.

Overnight in homestay

Day 9: Cai Be – Chau Doc – Tra Su Forest

Morning:
Awake early to breathe in the refreshing morning breeze of the Mekong. Walk along the island path to take in the vibrant village morning market, where local vendors trade fresh herbs, river fish, and freshly harvested produce. After breakfast, bid a warm farewell to your hosts and take a boat back to the mainland. Board your private vehicle and drive westward to Chau Doc in An Giang province, near the Cambodian frontier.

Afternoon:
Explore the enchanting Tra Su Cajuput Forest (Rung Tram Tra Su). Board a small motorboat and transfer into a silent rowboat to glide through a dense, brilliant green carpet of water lettuce and duckweed. Drift beneath towering, submerged cajuput trees, spotting grey herons, egrets, and rare endangered waterbirds nesting in the wild canopy.

Overnight in Chau Doc

Day 10: Chau Doc – Muslim Cham villages and Khmer pagodas

Morning:
Dedicate the morning to uncovering the remarkable ethnic mosaic of An Giang province. Cross the river by boat to visit the riverbank Cham communities of Da Phuoc and Tan Chau Phong. Step inside the serene whitewashed village mosque and observe skilled craftswomen weaving traditional sarongs and patterned silk brocades on vintage wooden looms.

Afternoon:
Journey into the rolling hills of Tri Ton district, the historic cradle of Vietnam’s Khmer minority. Here, the landscape evokes neighboring Cambodia: visit majestic Theravada Buddhist pagodas (such as Ta Pa or Hang Cong Pagoda) with their soaring gilded multi-tiered roofs, sacred murals, and resident monks draped in saffron robes, set against vast emerald rice paddies framed by tall palmyra sugar palms.

Overnight in Chau Doc

Day 11: Chau Doc – Ho Chi Minh City

Morning:
After breakfast, check out and journey east by private vehicle across the expansive alluvial plains of the Mekong Delta toward the energetic southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Afternoon:
Arrive in Saigon in the early afternoon and check in to your centrally located hotel. The remainder of the day is free to absorb the dynamic contrast between French Indochinese colonial heritage and futuristic illuminated skyscrapers. We recommend an evening walk along pedestrianized Nguyen Hue Boulevard or cocktails at one of Saigon’s legendary panoramic rooftop lounges.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City – City Tour

Morning:
Begin with Saigon’s premier historical landmarks: the neo-Romanesque Notre-Dame Cathedral built with red Marseille bricks, the grand Central Post Office engineered under Gustave Eiffel’s direction with classic arched vaults and antique hand-painted maps, and the historic Reunification Palace. Visit the poignant War Remnants Museum, an essential stop providing deep insight into the resilience of the Vietnamese nation.

Afternoon:
AHead southwest into bustling Cho Lon, Vietnam’s largest Chinatown. Visit the 18th-century Ba Thien Hau Pagoda, dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea, renowned for its intricate porcelain dioramas and giant spiral incense coils hanging from the rafters. Conclude with a walk through the colorful commercial stalls of Binh Tay Market before returning to your hotel. Evening at leisure.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City – Mui Ne

Morning:
After breakfast, check out from your hotel and depart by private vehicle along the modern expressway, reaching the sun-drenched shores of Mui Ne in approx. 3.5 comfortable hours.

Afternoon:
Arrive in Mui Ne and check in to your beachfront resort. The afternoon is dedicated to pure relaxation: take a dip in the resort pool or take a barefoot walk along the golden sands lined with coconut palms.

Overnight in Mui Ne

Day 14: Mui Ne – Free & Easy

A full day completely at your own rhythm without any scheduled itineraries. Pamper yourself with rejuvenating spa treatments, read under the shade of coastal palms, try water sports, or simply unwind listening to the gentle rhythm of the waves.

Overnight in Mui Ne

Day 15: Mui Ne – Free & Easy

A full day completely at your own rhythm without any scheduled itineraries. Pamper yourself with rejuvenating spa treatments, read under the shade of coastal palms, try water sports, or simply unwind listening to the gentle rhythm of the waves.

Overnight in Mui Ne

Day 16: Mui Ne – Ho Chi Minh City – Departure

Enjoy your final refreshing swim in the ocean and a relaxed seaside breakfast. Check out of the resort in accordance with your international flight schedule. Meet your private driver for the direct highway transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City, arriving at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in good time for your flight home or your next adventure.