Vietnam North to South Private Journey | 11 Days 10 Nights

VIETNAM NORTH TO SOUTH

11 days | 10 nights

A private journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, combining culture, heritage, spectacular scenery, traditional villages and the waterways of the Mekong Delta. This tailor-made itinerary is designed for first-time visitors wishing to discover the best of Vietnam in 11 days.

From US$3,750 per person

The price may vary depending on the chosen departure date, flight prices and availability of flights, hotels and other services.

Day 01 | Arrival in Hanoi

Included meals: No meals included

Welcome to Vietnam. After immigration and customs at Hanoi Airport, meet your private guide and driver and transfer to your hotel. Check-in is from 14:00.

Your guide will adapt the afternoon visits to your wishes and energy levels. Dinner is at your own expense. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 02 | Discover Hanoi

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Explore Hanoi by cyclo through the 36 streets of the Old Quarter, where traditional Asian charm meets French influences. Discover streets associated with trades such as cooking, plumbing, musical instruments and toys.

Visit Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, But Tower, Dai Nghien ink stand, the red wooden The Huc Bridge and a local market.

After lunch, visit the Temple of Literature, known as Vietnam’s first university. Continue to West Lake and cycle through its quieter surroundings. Visit Phu Tay Ho, dedicated to the Mother Goddess Thanh Mau. An optional spa and massage stop is available at your expense. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 03 | Hanoi to Ha Long Bay

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Drive approximately 3–4 hours to Ha Long Bay and board your overnight cruise. Enjoy lunch while sailing towards Bai Tu Long Bay, passing islets such as Indochina Studio and Am Islet.

Cruise among limestone pinnacles rising from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy time to relax, kayak or swim, according to the cruise programme and conditions.

Anchor in the Cong Do area for dinner on board. Overnight in a private, air-conditioned cabin with its own bathroom and hot shower. The cruise is shared with other guests; a private boat may be requested.

Day 04 | Ha Long Bay, Hanoi and flight to Hue

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Greet the dawn on Bai Tu Long Bay with tai chi on the sundeck, followed by breakfast with tea, coffee and biscuits. Visit Vung Vieng fishing village by bamboo boat to discover life on the water. Enjoy brunch while returning to the harbour.

Meet your guide and driver for the approximately four-hour journey towards Hanoi Airport. En route, visit Con Son Pagoda and Kiep Bac Temple, dedicated to General Tran Hung Dao. Fly to Hue, meet your local guide and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Hue.

Floating-village visits may change as local authorities progressively relocate residents to land for safety and environmental reasons.

Day 05 | The imperial heritage of Hue

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Discover the UNESCO-listed Imperial City. Hue was Vietnam’s capital under the Nguyen dynasty from 1802 to 1945; its monuments, tombs, pagodas and temples tell the story of the country’s last imperial dynasty.

Continue to Phu Mong village to see garden houses dating from the Nguyen period. Visit the Minh Mang Mausoleum, set among pines and frangipani trees. Discover workshops making incense and traditional hats along the way, and finish at Dong Ba Market. Overnight in Hue.

Day 06 | Hue, Ba Na Hills and Hoi An

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Depart after breakfast towards Hoi An, an important Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries. Cross Hai Van Pass, the Ocean Cloud Pass, and stop for views over Da Nang Bay. Driving time for the day is approximately four hours, excluding visits.

At Ba Na Hills near Da Nang, take the cable car above jungle and waterfalls. Walk across the Golden Bridge, held by two giant stone hands. Explore Le Jardin d’Amour flower gardens, Debay Wine Cellar and Linh Ung Pagoda with its 27-metre white Buddha statue.

Continue by cable car to the French Village, with its cathedral, cobbled squares and cafés. Enjoy an international buffet lunch featuring Vietnamese and Western dishes. Spend the afternoon at leisure, with attractions such as the Alpine Coaster and Fantasy Park, before descending by cable car with your guide. Continue to Hoi An, arriving towards the end of the day. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 07 | Hoi An’s countryside and craft villages

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, cycle to Tra Que farming village, known for fresh herbs and vegetables. Walk through the gardens and learn about cultivation techniques passed down through generations. Join farmers in simple activities such as preparing soil, planting herbs and watering with traditional equipment. Enjoy a refreshing herbal drink.

Continue to Cam Thanh for a round bamboo basket-boat ride through canals lined with water coconut palms. Learn about local fishing, river life and the use of bamboo and natural materials.

Cross the Thu Bon River to Kim Bong, a carpentry village known for wooden sculptures, furniture, traditional boats and architectural details. Visit Thanh Ha pottery village, with around 500 years of history, and watch family artisans shape bowls, vases and decorative objects.

Return to central Hoi An. Optional stops for custom-made shoes or tailored clothing are available at your expense. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 08 | Hoi An, My Son and a rum distillery

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Discover the Fujian sanctuary dedicated to Thien Hau, protector of sailors and fishermen; Phuc Thanh Pagoda, founded in 1454; and the Japanese Bridge, built in 1593 between Cam Pho and Minh Huong. Visit Phuoc Kien Communal House, built in 1792, and Tan Ky traditional house, whose preserved decoration reflects Hoi An’s merchant heritage. An optional photography-gallery visit can be arranged.

In the afternoon, visit My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating from the 4th to the 13th centuries. Explore Hindu tower-temples and learn about Cham architecture and religious traditions. A short Cham dance performance may be included, depending on the schedule.

Return to Hoi An in the late afternoon and visit Indochine rum distillery. Discover French distillation methods used to transform freshly pressed sugarcane into white and aged rum. The proposed tasting includes three white rums and two aged rums. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 09 | Hoi An, Da Nang and flight to Ho Chi Minh City

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Transfer to Da Nang Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon. Meet your local guide on arrival and transfer to your hotel.

Tour Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office and Reunification Palace. Continue in the afternoon to Cho Lon Market, Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnants Museum. Dinner is at your expense. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 10 | Mekong Delta: My Tho and Ben Tre

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Leave Ho Chi Minh City for the Mekong Delta. Total return driving time is approximately three hours. In My Tho, visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, a 19th-century temple blending Vietnamese, Chinese, Khmer and European influences. Admire its gardens, façade and Buddha statues.

Board a traditional motorboat on the Mekong River, passing fishing boats, floating fish farms and cargo vessels. Cruise past Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise islands, surrounded by tropical vegetation.

Explore Thoi Son, also called Unicorn Island. Walk through fruit orchards and taste seasonal fruits such as rambutan, longan, jackfruit and dragon fruit, subject to availability. Enjoy honey tea and learn about beekeeping. Listen to Don ca tai tu, Southern Vietnamese traditional music recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.

Take a small rowing sampan through narrow canals shaded by water coconut palms. Continue towards Ben Tre and visit a family workshop making coconut candy. Observe the process from coconut-milk extraction to cooking, cutting and wrapping. Discover other coconut products such as oil, shell handicrafts and household items. Return to Ho Chi Minh City at the end of the day.

Day 11 | Departure from Ho Chi Minh City

Breakfast

Breakfast at your hotel and free time at leisure. Transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your departure flight. End of the journey.

Suggested hotels and cruise

Accommodation is subject to availability at booking. Similar properties may be substituted. Hotels are proposed in the 5-star category, as listed in the original programme.

Included services

• Accommodation in a shared double room at the selected hotels or similar.
• A two-day, one-night shared cruise in Ha Long Bay, in a private cabin.
• English-speaking local guides in each region, as specified in the programme.
• International flights and airport taxes.
• Two domestic economy-class flights: Hanoi–Hue and Da Nang–Ho Chi Minh City.
• Entrance fees for the sightseeing visits listed in the programme.
• Meals as indicated in the daily itinerary.
• Private vehicle with an experienced driver.
• Local VAT.

Additional services

• Bottled water and fresh towels available during the journey.
• Masks and hand sanitiser available.
• A personal welcome meeting at your hotel, offered without additional charge if the schedule permits.
• Round-the-clock trip support from the Hanoi office.

Excluded services

• Vietnam entry visa, if required.
• Drinks, tips and personal expenses.
• Meals not specified as included.
• Travel insurance and any supplementary coverage required by local authorities.
• Health formalities or medical documentation, if required by local authorities.
• Any service not explicitly listed as included.

Useful information

• Hotel check-in is from 14:00; check-out is by 12:00.
• Itineraries and activities may change or be cancelled without prior notice due to weather or local regulations.
• Driving and flight timings are approximate and subject to the confirmed schedule.
• The cruise is shared with other guests, with a private air-conditioned cabin and bathroom. A private boat may be requested.
• Visits and activities are subject to operating conditions and local schedules.