Leisure Vietnam trip

Arrive in Hanoi, Vietnam’s thousand-year-old capital, and meet your private transfer to the hotel for check-in and time to settle in. Explore the atmospheric Old Quarter, visit ancient temples, and browse bustling markets.

Sip egg coffee at a neighborhood café, discover contemporary art galleries, and let your local guide tailor the day’s experiences to begin your Vietnam travel with authentic cultural moments.

Meet at your Hanoi Old Quarter hotel and explore the city by jeep, weaving through backstreets, alleys, markets, and local neighborhoods for a glimpse of everyday life.

Visit both iconic landmarks and hidden corners, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Tran Quoc Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, the French Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake, the Hanoi Opera House, and Long Bien Bridge.

Conclude with a meal at Hidden Gem Café, savoring authentic dishes based on family heirloom recipes, with vegetarian and vegan options available.

Meet a young chef, the daughter of one of Hanoi’s most respected culinary figures, at Hang Be Market. She leads a lively introduction to market culture and essential Hanoian ingredients before welcoming you into her home and restaurant in the Old Quarter for a hands-on cooking session.

Prepare classic dishes such as chả giò, nộm, and bánh gối using the freshest produce, then enjoy your creations as she shares Vietnamese cooking techniques refined through years of research and practice.

Enjoy a relaxed transfer from Hanoi to the limestone landscapes of Ninh Binh, taking in rural scenery along the way. Explore braided rivers by boat, cycle past rice paddies and hidden villages, and meet local artisans.

Thoughtfully curated activities offer immersive cultural encounters and photogenic karst vistas, giving your Vietnam itinerary a peaceful, memorable rhythm.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before exploring the Trang An Landscape Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site of soaring limestone karsts, rice paddies, and forested cliffs. Continue to Hoa Lu to visit the Dinh and Le dynasty temples and experience Vietnam’s early history.

In the afternoon, glide through Tam Coc on a two-hour sampan ride with a local rower, passing three natural caves and admiring the dramatic karst scenery often called “Ha Long Bay on Land.”

Depart Tam Coc for a scenic drive from Ninh Binh to Ha Long Bay via the new highway. A UNESCO Natural Heritage site, Ha Long Bay features more than 1,600 limestone islets rising from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin.

On arrival, begin your cruise with a leisurely lunch as the boat glides into the quieter reaches of Southeast Ha Long Bay.

Spend the afternoon exploring hidden caves, strolling along serene beaches, and joining interactive onboard cooking activities that showcase regional flavors. Overnight on board in comfortable cabins with attentive, personalized service.

Wake to gentle waves and a fresh sea breeze, then join a morning tai chi session on deck as limestone karsts and fishing villages drift past. Enjoy a relaxed brunch with tea or coffee before disembarking around midday and transferring to Hanoi or Noi Bai International Airport for your flight to Hue.

Arrive in Hue and transfer to your hotel for check-in. Vietnam’s former imperial capital, Hue, is known for its royal tombs, ancient pagodas, and historic Citadel.

Spend the afternoon exploring tomb complexes, passing through storied gates, or enjoying a Perfume River cruise with a tasting of traditional royal cuisine.

Explore the Imperial Citadel within the Complex of Hue Monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enter through the main gate as your guide brings the stories of the royal court to life, then admire restored halls, tranquil gardens, and the lingering imperial atmosphere.

In the evening, visit Ms. Nau’s garden house for a home-hosted meal with a traditional Hue family. Meet three generations, learn about royal Hue customs, discover Ms. Nau’s macramé and design work, and enjoy authentic, home-cooked Hue dishes.

Rise early for a short drive from Hue to Tam Giang Lagoon, the largest lagoon in Southeast Asia. Visit an ancient fishing village and a local fisherman’s home to see traditional net weaving and bamboo sampan making, then join a gentle boat ride to observe houseboat communities and daily life on the water.

Paddle past unique aquaculture farms and stop at a nearby vegetable garden, where you help prepare a farm-to-table lunch with your hosts.

Travel from Hue to Hoi An along a gentle, scenic coastal road with sweeping views and glimpses of rural life. On arrival, transfer to your hotel and meet local hosts ready to tailor this stage of your journey.

Explore Hoi An’s lantern-lit streets, sample distinctive central Vietnamese cuisine, and choose from personalized experiences such as a guided walking tour, a hands-on cooking class, or cycling through nearby rice fields to immerse yourself in the town’s living history.

Stroll through Hoi An’s atmospheric lanes on a guided walking tour of one of the best places to visit in Vietnam. Discover well-preserved merchant houses blending Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese styles, cross the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, and visit the Chaozhou Chinese Assembly Hall with its intricate wood carvings.

Browse the colorful market, sample regional cuisine, and enjoy tailor-made experiences shaped to your interests.

Enjoy a free day to explore Hoi An Ancient Town at your own pace. Personalize your time with a hands-on cooking class, lantern-lit evening strolls, boutique shopping, or photography of historic merchant houses and the Japanese Covered Bridge for an authentic local experience.

Note: The Hoi An entrance ticket allows access to five sightseeing sites within the Ancient Town over 24 hours and grants entry to the town throughout your stay.

Enjoy another free day to shape your own Hoi An experience. Venture beyond the historic core with a countryside cycling trip, a basket-boat ride through nearby coconut forests, or a visit to local craft workshops such as lantern making or wood carving.

Relax at a riverside café, browse contemporary boutiques, or enjoy a sunset boat ride on the Thu Bon River for a slower, more local perspective of Hoi An.

Enjoy your final day in Hoi An at leisure. Unwind with a morning yoga or spa treatment, join a coffee-roasting or tea-tasting experience, or visit nearby beaches such as An Bang for a relaxed seaside escape.

Spend the afternoon packing custom-made garments, enjoying a farewell lunch by the river, or capturing last impressions of Hoi An’s quiet corners before departure.

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at your Hoi An hotel, followed by a final stroll through the old town, time to collect tailored keepsakes, and a last taste of cao lầu. After check-out, transfer to Danang Airport for your onward flight.

Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City and transfer privately to your hotel for check-in. Formerly known as Saigon, the city is Vietnam’s commercial heart, alive with bustling streets and motorbikes. Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring markets, joining a street-food walk, or enjoying sunset views from a rooftop bar.

Drive from Saigon to Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta for a hands-on, tailor-made experience. Visit a traditional brick kiln and a coconut workshop where every part of the fruit is turned into candy or handicrafts.

Try your hand at weaving in a family-run mat workshop, then travel by tuk-tuk or bicycle to a fruit farmer’s home. After a local lunch, paddle a private sampan through palm-lined canals to observe daily river life before returning to Saigon by car.

Drive northwest from Saigon to the Cu Chi Tunnels, an extensive underground network that once housed living quarters, supply routes, communications, and hospitals for the Viet Cong. Walk the site to gain insight into the hardship and resilience of the Vietnamese people during the American War.

Return to the city for a half-day Saigon tour, visiting Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, the Presidential Palace, and the War Remnants Museum, and end the day with a taste of Saigon’s street coffee.

Enjoy breakfast and leisure time at your Ho Chi Minh City hotel, with tailor-made options for a final market stroll or a café stop to savor local flavors and capture last memories of your Vietnam trip.

When ready, a private transfer takes you to Tan Son Nhat International Airport, with check-out assistance and airport support for a smooth departure.