Untamed Vietnam trip | Raw culture and local nights

Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam’s thousand-year-old cultural capital. Begin your Vietnam travel experience wandering the atmospheric lanes of the Old Quarter, visiting ancient temples, sipping coffee in modern cafés, and discovering local art galleries and bustling markets.

On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in.

Begin at your Old Quarter hotel for a tailor-made jeep tour through Hanoi’s backstreets, narrow alleys, and local markets, meeting families and street vendors along the way.

Continue to key landmarks 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 organic Hanoi flavors at Hidden Gem Café, enjoying family-style recipes with vegan options available.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before traveling from Hanoi to Pu Luong in Thanh Hoa Province and checking in on arrival. Spanning 17,600 hectares across Ba Thuoc and Quan Hoa, Pu Luong Nature Reserve is known for its primeval forests and dramatic terraced rice fields.

Hike to the iconic bamboo waterwheels along the Cham Stream, handcrafted by Thai and Muong communities, and watch them turn in a living display of traditional irrigation, sustainable farming, and local heritage.

Begin a gentle hike from Pu Luong into a valley of cascading rice terraces en route to Uoi Village. Follow shaded paths to a scenic viewpoint with sweeping mountain and village views, then descend to a local home for a short rest.

Continue by bicycle through Lan Village and surrounding paddies, with time to visit a family practicing traditional brocade weaving.

End at Hieu Village to enjoy the waterfall and share lunch with locals before returning to your pick-up point, a memorable highlight of your Vietnam itinerary.

Drive from Pu Luong to Ninh Binh for a curated visit to the Trang An Landscape Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site of dramatic limestone karsts, rice paddies, and forested valleys.

Continue to Hoa Lu to explore the 10th-century temples of the Dinh and Le dynasties set amid tranquil countryside. In the afternoon, glide through Tam Coc on a two-hour boat ride with a local rower, passing through natural caves and winding waterways.

Depart Ninh Binh by private transfer through scenic countryside to Ha Long Bay. On arrival, begin your cruise with a welcome lunch as the vessel glides into the quieter waters of Southeast Ha Long Bay.

Explore hidden limestone caves, swim at tranquil beaches, and join onboard cooking classes to learn Vietnamese recipes, before unwinding beneath starlit skies.

Wake to the sound of waves and a gentle sea breeze, then join a morning tai chi session on deck as the boat cruises through Ha Long Bay. Watch life unfold in floating fishing villages and admire towering limestone karsts before enjoying a relaxed brunch with tea or coffee and stories shared by your guide.

Return to shore around midday and transfer to Hanoi or Noi Bai International Airport for your onward flight to Phong Nha.

Transfer from your Phong Nha hotel to the Oxalis office for a safety briefing, gear fitting, and bag preparation before trekking through jungle trails to the Rao Thuong Stream and Doong Village within Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, one of the best places to visit in Vietnam.

After lunch with local hosts, hike to Hang En camp, then don helmets and headlamps to explore the cave, swim in a turquoise lake, and sleep beneath the vast cavern sky.

After breakfast, climb behind the camp into the vast cave chambers to admire the dramatic stalagmites and stalactites while learning about the geology of Quang Binh Province. Pause at the cave entrance for panoramic views over the Hang En campsite, perfect for photos.

Wade through underground streams to a sandy exit, return to camp for lunch, then cross streams and complete a steep 450-meter climb back to the road, where a waiting bus with cold drinks takes you back to Phong Nha.

After breakfast, depart Phong Nha for a drive through Quang Binh Province to the former Vietnam DMZ in Quang Tri.

Explore the Vinh Moc Tunnels, stand on the banks of the Ben Hai River at the former 17th Parallel, cross Hien Luong Bridge, and discover remnants of the McNamara Line for deeper insight into the Vietnam War.

Continue to Hue and check in at your hotel along the Perfume River. In the evening, explore the imperial city of the Nguyen Dynasty, sample refined royal cuisine, and visit moss-covered pagodas and vibrant local markets.

Rise early in Hue for a short drive to Tam Giang Lagoon, the largest in Southeast Asia. Visit an ancient village and a local fisherman’s home to see traditional net weaving and bamboo sampan making, then cruise across the lagoon to observe boat-dwelling communities and unique aquaculture systems.

Paddle alongside local fishers as they demonstrate traditional techniques before joining a nearby vegetable farm for a hands-on, farm-to-table lunch prepared together.

Step into imperial history at the Imperial Citadel, the centerpiece of the Complex of Hue Monuments and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Walk through grand gates as your guide brings the royal court to life, revealing restored palaces, tranquil gardens, and traces of wartime history.

Later, travel along the scenic Hai Van Pass on a dramatic coastal drive of jungle-clad mountains and sweeping sea views, before transferring to your hotel in Hoi An.

Discover My Son, the lost Champa capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site located about 1.5 hours from Hoi An. Walk among the surviving temple towers set in a jungle valley beneath Cat’s Tooth Mountain as your guide shares insights into Cham history and Shiva worship.

Return to Hoi An Ancient Town to visit the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, the Chaozhou Chinese Assembly Hall, and the lively market. Pause at a hidden teahouse for traditional Vietnamese tea, with optional cooking or craft workshops available.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel in Hoi An, then check out and transfer to Danang Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival, continue onward to Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta.

Depending on timing, enjoy a relaxed introduction to the region with a riverside walk, a visit to a local café, or a short boat ride along palm-lined canals before settling in for the night and preparing for deeper exploration the following day.

After breakfast, set out on a cycling route of about two to two and a half hours through fruit orchards and coconut groves on Oc Island. Stop at a local market, visit a family workshop weaving baskets from coconut stems, and learn traditional processing techniques.

Cross the Mekong by ferry and continue along quiet paths, passing simple huts and daily river life, with a visit to a fish farm to learn about local catfish varieties. Return to Mekong Home, then travel back to Saigon.

Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City and transfer to your hotel for check-in. As evening falls, explore the city by vintage Vespa, sampling street food, visiting a hidden coffee spot, dining at a boutique southern restaurant, enjoying local desserts, and ending the night with cocktails at a tucked-away speakeasy.

Explore Saigon’s colonial-era landmarks, including Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, and the Presidential Palace, then reflect at the War Remnants Museum. Pause over authentic Saigon street coffee for a glimpse of daily life before heading to Cho Lon.

Wander Binh Tay Market, the traditional medicine streets, and Thien Hau Temple, and visit the FITO Museum to learn about Chinese herbal traditions preserved in Vietnam.

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and final moments at your Ho Chi Minh City hotel, with time for a local cà phê, last-minute shopping, or a short tailor-made walk to absorb everyday street life.

Later, transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your departure flight, with private airport assistance available for a smooth and personalized farewell.