Ancient meets modern Vietnam trip

Arrive in Hanoi and begin your Vietnam travel experience at a relaxed pace. Upon landing, you will be met by your private guide and transferred to your hotel for check-in and time to unwind after the journey.

If you wish, enjoy a short walk nearby to absorb the city’s atmosphere, from leafy boulevards to street cafés. Your local host is available to provide orientation, practical tips, and suggestions tailored to your interests, setting a calm and welcoming tone for the days ahead.

Spend the day in Hanoi on a full-day photography walking tour led by a professional photographer. Begin with coffee overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake before capturing scenes at Ngoc Son Temple, the Gothic St. Joseph Cathedral, and the wooden stamp workshops of Hang Quat Street. As the light softens, photograph daily life and sunset views on the historic Long Bien Bridge.

After lunch, continue your journey through Ba Dinh Square to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the lotus-shaped One Pillar Pagoda, and the Temple of Literature. Focus on striking compositions and local stories where colonial heritage and Vietnamese tradition meet.

Leave Hanoi early for Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best places to visit in Vietnam for dramatic seascapes.

Board your cruise and glide past iconic limestone islets and formations such as Dinh Huong, Cho Da, and Ga Choi, set against sandy beaches and emerald waters. Visit Thien Cung Grotto near Ha Long City, entering through a forested gateway to discover impressive stalactites and natural cave formations stretching over 130 meters.

Enjoy fresh seafood tastings on board, with alternatives available on request.

Enjoy a relaxed morning at leisure in Ha Long Bay, taking in the limestone karsts and calm emerald waters from the deck. After brunch on board, disembark and transfer back to Hanoi.

From there, continue by flight to Da Nang, followed by a private transfer to Hoi An. The journey connects northern Vietnam’s seascapes with the historic charm of central Vietnam, allowing time to rest and reflect as you transition to the next chapter of your Vietnam trip.

Enjoy hotel pickup in Hoi An and a shared coach transfer to Fusion Lounge Hoi An. After a short briefing, set out by electric scooter across Cam Nam Island to explore local beliefs, artisan workshops, and Hoi An’s long tradition as a town of tailors and designers.

Pause at a riverside restaurant overlooking the Thu Bon River for a local snack, then continue to a nearby pottery village to watch master potters at work.

Conclude the experience with drinks at a relaxed beach bar on An Bang Beach before returning to Fusion Lounge Hoi An.

Visit a local fishing village to meet Vietnamese fishermen, their families, and the surrounding community. Take part in hands-on fishing activities, learning how to use round nets and cast nets, pilot traditional bamboo basket boats, and even join a lively basket boat race.

Continue cruising toward Cua Dai through coconut palm-lined waterways, listening to firsthand wartime recollections and learning how these waterways shaped local life and trade.

In the evening, transfer from Hoi An to Hue, traveling along the coast and mountain passes as you continue your journey into Vietnam’s former imperial capital.

Enjoy a free day in Hue to experience the city at your own pace. Take a gentle walk along the Perfume River, explore nearby streets, or relax at a quiet café to absorb the atmosphere of the former imperial capital.

You may browse local markets or enjoy unstructured time before the days ahead. Optional activities and cultural visits can be arranged on request, allowing flexibility and ease throughout the day.

Cruise along the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda before exploring the UNESCO-listed Hue Citadel, with its three enclosures and the former Forbidden Purple City. Enjoy guided stories that bring imperial architecture, court rituals, and daily life under the Nguyen emperors to life.

Continue to the royal tombs of Tu Duc and Khai Dinh, where intimate courtyards, worship temples, and sculpted figures reflect the contrasting artistic visions of each ruler.

In the evening, transfer to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City, continuing your journey from Vietnam’s imperial heartland to its dynamic southern metropolis.

Enjoy a free day in Ho Chi Minh City to explore at your own pace. Wander through nearby neighborhoods, relax at a café, or browse local markets for a first taste of the city’s energy.

You may choose to visit a museum, enjoy a spa treatment, or simply observe daily life from the sidewalk. Optional experiences can be arranged on request, allowing the day to unfold naturally and without a schedule.

Experience Saigon in true Vietnamese style from the back of a Vespa scooter. Ride through the city to visit a local bird club and the Thich Quang Duc Monument, then continue to the flower market and a traditional funeral house for insight into everyday customs.

Explore Ong Bon Pagoda, browse the tailor’s accessories market, and discover the Chinese medicine quarter in Chinatown before stopping at a local market in District 2.

Along the way, pass key landmarks including the City People’s Committee building, Rex Hotel, the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Central Post Office, the former CIA building on Dong Khoi Street, and the Opera House.

Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta for a day immersed in river life and local craft. Ride a traditional xe loi through Huu Dinh village before boarding the Mango Cruise along the An Hoa River.

Visit a brick kiln, then cycle to Phong Nam to observe coconut processing and hu tieu noodle making. Stop at the home of Mrs. Huong to enjoy fresh fruit before gliding through narrow canals by rowing a sampan.

Enjoy lunch at Mango Home, then cycle to My Long Village to watch Mr. Sau Tuong’s family produce rice paper using traditional methods. Continue by boat to Ben Tre town for your return transfer to Ho Chi Minh City.

Enjoy a relaxed departure day at your own pace until your transfer to the airport. Spend time with a final coffee, light shopping, or a quiet stroll nearby if time allows.

When ready, a private transfer will take you to the airport for your onward flight, ensuring a smooth and unhurried conclusion to your Vietnam trip.