Spend eight days in Vietnam discovering the highlights and traditions of this eternally beautiful and historically significant country on a Premium adventure. Take part …
Premium Vietnam
Spend eight days in Vietnam discovering the highlights and traditions of this eternally beautiful and historically significant country on a Premium adventure. Take part in enriching local encounters as your leader shows you the soul of this diverse pocket of Asia. Get lost in the districts of colourful Hanoi, cruise past the limestone karsts of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay, discover the old-world charm of Hoi An’s ancient city and navigate the winding streets and chaotic traffic of Ho Chi Minh City with a local leader by your side. As a Signature Experience, you’ll also visit the Cu Chi Tunnels with a war veteran who will share his personal experiences.
Xin chao! Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam’s vibrant capital city. When you arrive, you’ll be met at the airport by a local representative and transferred to your hotel. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight, where you’ll meet your trip leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, Hanoi is the perfect place to explore on foot. Maybe head to the city’s colourful Old Quarter or check out the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum, showcasing ancient and contemporary Vietnamese art. This evening, join your leader for a welcome dinner at an award-winning restaurant in a beautiful villa. Dive into the world of Vietnamese cuisine as your leader introduces you to a range of classic dishes made with the freshest local ingredients.
Depart Hanoi and travel to Ha Long Bay – one of the great natural treasures of Vietnam and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Board your Feature Stay accommodation for the evening – the sleek Capellacruise, featuring comfortable suites with private balconies and boasting an attentive, friendly crew. Set sail in style as unforgettable views of scattered islands and towering limestone karsts slowly unfold in front of you. Explore the bay and sit down for a seafood lunch on board. The sites you visit here will vary, but you may stop at a cave where your leader can point out interesting rock formations, or maybe a fishing village to learn about local life. In the afternoon, you’ll have the chance to swim, kayak or simply relax on the beach. Soak in the scenic surroundings with a dinner on deck before settling in for a night of stargazing and swapping stories.
Start your day with a peaceful breakfast and some relaxation time on board the boat before returning to Hanoi in the mid-afternoon. Spend some free time exploring on your own, then join your group in the early evening for a leader-led walk through the city. From the French Quarter, you’ll head to the oldest ice cream shop in Hanoi to cool off before discovering more of the Old Quarter. Finish at a hidden traditional apartment for a classic Hanoian tea. Then, walk past historical landmarks including the Hanoi Opera House, Trang Tien Street, the Metropole hotel, the National State Bank, Hoan Kiem Lake, Hang Be Market and Cau Go Street, finishing at a traditional tube house.
After breakfast today, you’ll take a mid-morning flight to Hoi An. Enjoy a Vietnamese lunch in a quiet garden setting that feels more locally rooted than the busy tourist flow. Then, set off on a guided walking tour of Hoi An’s Old Town and discover a blend of treasures and cultural influences from the city’s history as a trading port. Follow pagoda-lined streets to a Chinese assembly hall, cross the Japanese Covered Bridge, enter the ornately decorated historic house of a former trader and check out a local museum. Hoi An’s trading port was particularly known for its pottery, and centuries-old pottery villages still exist to this day. No trip to Vietnam is complete without trying its famed coffee – your leader will take you to a local coffee shop where you can savour a delicious brew as you watch the hustle and bustle of Hoi An. Maybe try a traditional ca phe trung (coffee whipped with egg and sweetened condensed milk) or a refreshing iced coconut coffee.
Today, you are free to explore as you wish. Maybe set off by bike with a local guide for a casual cycle through emerald-green rice paddies and villages. Then, board a boat for an amazing Thu Bon River view. After, feast on authentic cuisine with a selection of Vietnamese dishes at a local family’s restaurant. Or, skip the cycling and head straight to a farm-to-table dining experience in the agricultural village of Tra Que. The town is famous for cultivating over 40 different types of vegetables and herbs, particularly the aromatic herbs used in local rice-noodle dishes.
This morning, fly to Ho Chi Minh City to start your exploration of this bustling hub. There’s no such thing as too much Vietnamese coffee, so start off by learning about the country’s coffee heritage and sustainable farming practices and prepare your own traditional Vietnamese coffee. After, take a city walk with your leader to see Ho Chi Minh City from past and present perspectives. Stroll past famous landmarks such as the ornate City People’s Committee Building, the City Opera House, a viewpoint of the CIA building, and the French-era Central Post Office. Landmarks and civic buildings contrast with the modern, commercial energy of the city centre – notice how beauty and sophistication sit alongside deeper layers of wartime and political history. In the evening, the food stalls at Ben Thanh Market might reel you in with the sweet and savoury scents of pho and bun mam.
Today, head out for a Signature Experience at the Cu Chi Tunnels – an extensive underground network (some 200 km/124 mi) of tunnels dug initially by the Viet Minh and later expanded by the Viet Cong. They housed hospitals, dwellings and schools and were extensively used for refuge, storage and as a military base. As you explore this labyrinth, you’ll be guided by a war veteran who will share a first-hand account of life during the war. He will also share his in-depth knowledge of the tunnel system. Your leader will explain more about its history and the 1968 Tet Offensive. A section of the tunnels has been widened to give visitors a feel for what underground life must have been like. After, return to Ho Chi Minh City for some free time. This evening, enjoy a final dinner with your fellow travellers at a highly regarded contemporary Vietnamese restaurant by renowned chef Ngo Thanh Hoa.
Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you wish to spend some more time in Ho Chi Minh city, contact your booking agent to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).
Trip Inclusions
Meals
7 breakfasts and 3 dinners are included
Transport
Boat, Plane, Private Minibus
Accomodation
Hotel (6 nights), Overnight boat (1 night)
Included Activities
Complimentary Arrival Transfer
Hanoi - Welcome Dinner
Fast Track Airport Service on Arrival
Halong Bay - Overnight Boat Cruise
Hanoi – City Tour
Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
Hoi An - Vietnamese Coffee Stop
Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnamese Coffee Workshop
Ho Chi Minh City – City Tour
Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels with war veteran
Trip Highlights
Explore the cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with a local leader who will help to uncover the vibrant mix of influences – from French to Asian traders to indigenous peoples.
Share a group dinner in Ho Chi Minh City at a contemporary Vietnamese restaurant by renowned chef Ngo Thanh Hoa.
Fall asleep to the gentle rocking of your Feature Stay – an overnight cruise in UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay on a boat as dazzling as its surroundings. Take in the views while enjoying dinner on deck.
Explore the charming Old Town of Hoi An – a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its canals and historic architecture. Sit down to enjoy a famed egg coffee at a local cafe and relax from the hustle and bustle.
Visit the Cu Chi tunnels in Ho Chi Minh City with a war veteran who will share his first-hand account of life during the war.