Travel the length of Vietnam, stopping in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and the beaches and small towns of the central coast in between.
You will begin in dynamic HCMC and explore its historical attractions and colorful outdoor markets, then take a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels or cruise the narrow canals of the Mekong Delta
Next you will fly to Dalat, the “City of Eternal Spring”, and you will visit Truc Lam Thien Vien and Pagoda, take the short train ride on the old Cremaillere Railway, pamper yourself at the Six Senses Spa at Ana Mandara Villasor tee up a round of golf.
After that, you’ll spend several days in a secluded island resort overlooking beautiful Nha Trang Bay. Snorkel or dive among the coral reefs in crystal blue waters, hike nature trails, cool off in your pool, indulge in spa treatments or just relax on the white sand beach and admire the unspoiled mountain and sea views.
Then you will fly to Danang and drive on to Hoi An, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage site. It is a riverfront port town crammed with historic homes, tiny museums, cafes, and bustling silk and fish markets. You can opt to stay at a luxury beach resort in nearby Danang, or a boutique riverside hotel in the heart of Hoi An.
Your next destination will be Hue, the former imperial capital. It is home to numerous palaces, royal tombs, pagodas and temples, built under the Nguyen dynasty, on the banks of the Perfume River.
You will next venture to Hanoi, Vietnam’s artistic and intellectual capital. You will see some of Vietnam’s most well-known sites and museums, dine in French colonial villas converted into gourmet restaurants and enjoy people watching at stylish cafes.
Following your time in Hanoi, you will board the Victoria Orient Express, bound for remote Sapa, a mountain village near the Chinese border. Here you will view spectacular waterfallsand drive through mountain valleys. After visiting the locals, you can retreat to your mountain chalet, where you can enjoy fondue by the fire, swimming, tennis, and mountain walks.
Lastly, you will spend anight in Halong Bay, where thousands of limestone rock sculptures jut dramatically from the sea and numerous grottoes have created an ephemeral, fantastic landscape. A perfect ending to an exciting and enriching trip!
You will be met at the HCMC airport by your guide, who will take you to your hotel to check in. You'll have free time to relax or explore, then it's off to dinner and a renowned restaurant before your overnight stay in HCMC.
You will begin your urban experience in bustling HCMC (formerly Saigon), the country's commercial center and home to a growing number of upscale restaurants and shops. You will visit Chinatown, the Thien Hau Pagoda, the Reunification Palace, the Opera House and the Hotel de Ville. If you so desire, you can also visit the moving War Remnants Museum.
Next up, you will explore colorful outdoor markets and Dong Khoi Street, the city's main shopping boulevard with shops selling clothes and accessories by new Vietnamese designers, hill tribe crafts, high quality linens and housewares. You will surely be ready for another relaxing overnight stay in HCMC.
In the morning you will drive to the Cao Dai temples in Tay Ninh. Cao Dai Holy See Temple is the cathedral of the Cao Dai religion, whose followers worship Jesus Christ, Confucius, Taoism, and Buddha. You will observe the midday service and then have lunch.
Following lunch, you will drive to visit the Cu Chi tunnels. The tunnels consist of more than 200 kilometers of underground systems. This main axis system has many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters, and entrances to other tunnels. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction, giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life was like during the U.S.-Vietnam War. You will return to HCMC for an overnight stay.
You will head to lush My Tho, where you will cruise on a private boat through the green vegetation of the canals to an orchard, where we you will be treated to a delicious lunch in a local restaurant in the heart of the Mekong, complete with tropical fruits. You will also visit VinhTrang Pagoda, which exhibits a combination of Asian and European styles. You will then arrive in Can Tho for an overnight stay.
You will wake up to the sounds of the Mekong River welcoming a new day and take a boat trip to join in the Cai Rang floating market. This is one of the most bustling floating markets in the Mekong Delta, with hundreds of small boats jostling for space to sell their goods. After sampling local fruits, your guide will escort you back to the hotel through the myriad canals. You will have lunch at a local restaurant before returning to Ho Chi Minh City for an overnight stay.
Alternative for early birds: Join the floating market on the "The Lady Hau" cruise.
Enjoy breakfast on the "Lady Hau" while cruising to the floating market. When the "Lady Hau" arrives at Cai Rang floating market, guests are transferred to a local traditional boat to enter the market. Then, continue cruising with the hotel's guide along narrow creeks to visit a noodle factory and an orchard. After sampling local fruits, our guide will escort you back to the hotel by local boat through the myriad canals. (Starting at 6:30 AM, the Lady Hau cruise and tour extension takes around 4 hours; minimum 4 persons).
You will be free until transfer to the airport for a flight to Nha Trang. You will be picked up and transferred to the hotel and have more free time before anovernight stay in Nha Trang.
You will have a full day cruise on Nha Trang Bay, with some stops for snorkeling and swimming. You will stay overnight in Nha Trang.
You will have free time at the resort and stay another night in Nha Trang.
You will be free until transfer to the airport for a flight to Danang. You will be picked up and transferred to Hoi An for an overnight stay.
You are free to explore on your own and will stay another night in Hoi An.
You will leave Hoi An for Hue. In the afternoon you will embark on a tour of Hue City, including the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City, the Imperial Museum and Dong Ba market. Tonight you will enjoy the fine cuisine of Hue in a local restaurant and have overnight stay in Hue.
After breakfast at the hotel, you will board a private boat and go cruising on the romantic Perfume River. Being the ancient capital, Hue is surrounded with many tombs of emperors past, and a visit to some of these tombs will be on the itinerary for today. The charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) will be the first stop of the day, and from here you will cruise further to ornate Minh Mang's Tomb. You will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to visit Tu Duc's Tomb and Khai Dinh's Tomb. You will have an overnight stay in Hue.
You will transfer to the airport for a flight to Hanoi, the colonial capital city, famous for tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and classic pagodas and temples.
In the afternoon you will explore Hanoi, from the fascinating Old Quarter to hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing, lacquer-ware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more. You can also shop for impressive modern art in the city's many galleries after visiting Hanoi's main cultural attractions, including the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature. You will stay overnight in Hanoi.
You will have a full day of leisure to explore this charming city.
In the evening your guide will take you to the Hanoi Train station for the overnight train to Lao Cai, where you will begin your Sapa adventure.
Once at the Lao Cai station (around 6 a.m.), there will be a vehicle waiting to transfer you to Sapa. The drive to Sapa is only 33 km, but it takes around 1.5 hours. Once at Sapa, you will check in to the hotel (early check in subject to availability). You can freshen up and have breakfast at the restaurant in the hotel and then enjoy a free morning to explore town. In the afternoon you will take a walking tour to the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat, home to the H'mong hill tribe minority people. As you walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa, you will meet some of the local minority people on their way to and from Sapa. Here you will have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with the families that live in the area. You will have an overnight stay in Sapa.
Following breakfast, you will explore the Sapa Sunday market and then set out on a 3-4 hour trek that will take you along buffalo paths and trails and through the hill tribe villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van, home to the H'mong, and Dzay people. This is an absolutely spectacular walk through stunning scenery, and is an area inhabited by some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. You will stop for a picnic lunch on the way to Ta Van village and then transfer back to Lao Cai for the Express train and an overnight journey back to Hanoi.
Arriving in Hanoi at around 5 a.m., you will be picked up and taken to a restaurant for breakfast and morning coffee. You will then leave Hanoi by private vehicle at 8:30 a.m., arriving at the jetty around 12:30 p.m. You will set off on a deluxe cruise and enjoy a welcome drink after check in.
A fresh seafood lunch will be served at 1 p.m. At that time, you will begin a 3.5 hour cruise through mystic Halong Bay, to see the amazing karsts and their many different formations. You will also see Mat Quy (Monster's face) Islet, But Moc Islet, Cap De Islet, Trong (Drum) Cave, Trinh Nu Cave, and a floating fishing village, with its unique way of life. Then, you will head to Luon Cave and enjoy swimming, sun bathing at Ti Top beach or climbing the peak of the mountain for a breath-taking panoramic view of Halong Bay. You will enjoy another seafood feast for dinner, and for the night owls, there is an option of night fishing before an overnight stay aboard.
Rising to the sound of the bay waters, you will have time for an early morning dip, followed by breakfast. Sitting on the upper deck, you can relax while taking in the breathtaking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the emerald water of the bay.
After breakfast, you can explore Sung Sot Cave, swim and relax. You will cruise back to the jetty while brunch is served as you are cruising through the bay and observing more fascinating rock formations. You will then rejoin your car and drive back to Hanoi for an overnight stay.
There is no activity planned for today, so you are free to enjoy yourself souvenir shopping until transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
