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Day 1 Ho Chi Minh City

Xin chao! Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm today, where you'll get to know your fellow travellers and meet your legendary group leader. If you arrive early before the meeting, perhaps head to Pham Ngu Lao Street to see the local open-aired market, visit Vinh Nghiem Pagoda or one of the amusements parks. Ho Chi Minh City has a dynamic atmosphere and a French influence. After the welcome meeting, you may like to join your group for an optional meal at one of the city's fantastic eating spots. Because this trip doesn’t spend much time in Ho Chi Minh City, you might even choose to spend an extra day or two here to see the sights.

Day 2 Ho Chi Minh City

After breakfast today, you’ll visit one of the most important sites in Ho Chi Minh City, the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. These complex tunnels were used by the Viet Cong in the long war against the Americans and were instrumental to the Vietnamese victory. You'll be amazed by the ingenuity of these dangerous tunnels. Later in the day, take a tour of the city, passing the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Opera House. Head to the War Remnants Museum for a sobering yet informative lesson on the Vietnam War. Here you’ll see things like old military equipment, an F5A fighter and a UH1-Huey helicopter.

Day 3 Mekong Delta Homestay

Today you'll travel south by private minibus to Cai Be. When you arrive, you’ll board a boat and explore the intricate waterways of the Mekong Delta. Often referred to as ‘the rice bowl’ of Vietnam, the fertile delta is where rice, tropical fruit and flowers are grown for the whole country. You'll get a chance to get off the boat to visit an orchard and sample some tropical fruit. You’ll then continue on the cruise and visit a selection of local cottage industries along the way where you'll experience local life and the industries surrounding the river up close. For sunset today, you’ll make your way up one of the many canals to your homestay where you’ll tuck into a wonderful meal of local specialities. Your guesthouse accommodation tonight will be simple, but the experience will be rewarding.

Day 4 Ho Chi Minh City

Travel back to Ho Chi Minh City today and enjoy some free time to do a bit of sightseeing at your leisure. We recommend exploring the city’s restaurants and trying Ho Chi Minh City’s distinctive fresh and flavoursome food. In contrast to the north of Vietnam, the cuisine here is spicier, sweeter and more varied. There are also plenty of street food stalls if you’d like to take a few bites of the local fare.

Day 5 Dalat

After exploring Ho Chi Minh City, take a bus transfer to Dalat. Temperate and cool compared to the rest of the country, Dalat has gained the name “City of Eternal Spring” due to the mists that cover its nearby valleys nearly all year around. This fairytale nickname spreads to its amazing architecture – the Hang Na guesthouse, an expressionist masterpiece, stands as a towering, melted stone obelisk over the lush garden below. There’s also plenty of charming Art Deco-influenced structures and gardens littering the area as well. This afternoon, perhaps go for a wander through the streets for a better feel of the city or find a café for a cup of artichoke tea, a regional specialty.

Day 6 Dalat

Dalat’s soothing climate isn’t just a great reprieve from the heat of Vietnam's coast, it also creates the perfect environment to grow a wide selection of fruits, vegetables and herbs. Take a full day to stroll through the tranquil gardens of this city, darting past plantations full of plump vegetables, dazzling flowers, medicinal herbs, aromatic lavender and juicy strawberries. You'll enjoy a guided garden visit to learn more about this fruitful area.

Day 7 Nha Trang

After breakfast this morning travel by minibus to the coastal town of Nha Trang. On arrival, stretch your legs with a leader-led orientation walk. Then, enjoy free time in the afternoon and evening in this stunning coastal city -you might like to make a beeline straight to the beach or try a mud bath. Be sure to find a beach side bar for a cocktail at sunset and then tuck into some of this town's epic seafood - your leader knows all the good spots, so be sure to ask them for their top tips.

Day 8 Nha Trang / Overnight train

After breakfast this morning, enjoy a leisurely boat trip in Nha Trang Bay. You'll stop at Mieu Island to learn about local fishermen's life here, and even get a chance to give it a go yourself with the rowing bamboo basket boat. Then you'll hop to Tam Island and enjoy swimming and snorkelling in the turquoise water amongst the stunning corals. Head back to Nha Trang in the early afternoon. This evening, board an overnight train to Da Nang. Conditions are basic on these trains and hygiene standards may be lower than what you’re used to at home, however overnight trains are the best way to brush shoulders with the locals and make the best use of your time. Most trains have a dining carriage serving simple food, but we recommend stocking up on snacks before you board.

Day 9 Hoi An

You'll arrive in Hoi An early today. Recently declared a World Heritage site, Hoi An was a major trading port with the West from the 15th to the 19th century. Today it has been restored to look exactly as it did more than a century ago, giving it an old-world feel full of nooks and crannies for you to explore. You’ll have some free time to wonder the city and adventure at your own leisure this afternoon. Hoi An is very much a shopping mecca. Why not browse the paintings, woodwork, ceramics, embroidery all made by the locals? The city is also famous for its talented tailors who work with beautiful fabrics for a good price.

Day 10 Hoi An

Enjoy another free day in the town of Hoi An. You’ll have time to see the beautiful Chinese shophouses, enjoy the busy market, visit Cua Dai Beach, cycle to the rice fields or browse the array of art galleries. With plenty of options to keep you busy in this quaint city, you can build the day into whatever you wish.

Day 11 Hue

This morning, wave goodbye to Hoi An as we make tracks to the white sand and blue sea of My Khe Beach. Continue on the journey and cross the dramatic Hai Van Pass and make a quick stop at the fishing village of Lang Co before making your way to Hue. The former imperial capital of Vietnan, Hue contains the treasures of Vietnam’s royal history, and has a curious blend of bustling streets and tranquil settings. You'll explore the Imperial Citadel this afternoon - this fortress houses the Imperial City and the citadel-within-a-citadel, the Forbidden Purple City. This icon was almost completely destroyed during the Vietnam War, and the ruins and holes left by bombs are a reminder of the destruction caused by the war. In your free time here you might like to visit to Dong Ba Market which offers locally made goods, fresh produce and tantalising street food. This is a good place to try the specialties enjoyed by Emperor Nguyen such as the banh khoai royal rice cake.

Day 12 Hue

Today’s adventure will be taken on the back of a motorbike. You’ll have your own driver who will take you first on a drive around the Imperial Citadel, including the Forbidden Purple City. The latter was almost completely destroyed during the Tet Offensive in the Vietnam War, but its humble, foliage-covered ruins remain a testament to its proud history. Here you'll gain some insight into the horrific damage endured during the war. Next, you'll ride to a special lunch spot at a convent or Buddhist monastery for a delicious home-cooked vegetarian feast. After lunch, drive to the royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, set amid a lake, frangipani bushes and pine trees. This evening, perhaps ask your leader for the best place to try imperial street specialties.

Day 13 Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Today, we'll take a minibus to the Vinh Moc Tunnels. These were used during the Vietnam War as shelter for the villagers who were escaping intense bombing. Incredibly, the locals here lived in the underground system that went over three levels. You’ll get a chance to enter the tunnels which remain in their original form. This afternoon, continue on to your home stay tonight located at the center of Phong Nha. Your host is a family of 3 generations and you'll be able to experience how the locals go about their daily routines while staying here.

Day 14 Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park / Overnight train

After breakfast today, visit the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage site contains the oldest known karst mountains in Asia. The area is also known for its enormous cave system. You’ll visit the Thien Duong Cave (Paradise Cave), then take a cruise up the Son River towards the Phong Cave - the scale of the place is truly astounding. In the late afternoon, travel to Dong Hoi and catch an overnight sleeper train to Hanoi.

Day 15 Hanoi

Arrive in Hanoi early in the morning and transfer to your hotel. Vietnam’s capital is famous for its beautiful lakes, shaded boulevards, public parks and French-style Old Quarter. As an emerging city in South East Asia, Hanoi has an attractive contrast of modern office buildings, old Buddhist temples and a labyrinth of ancient streets. Later in the day, you’ll visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, including One Pillar Pagoda and the Ho Chi Minh Museum.

Day 16 Da Bac

This morning, visit Vun Art center first, a social enterprise that employs people with disabilities to make art pieces with recycled silk scraps. Hear from them about the great things that they do and then make the drive to Sung village. There are around 70 families living at Sung Village and the majority are Dzao ‘Tien’ people. Farming and forest plantation are their main source of income. You'll enjoy a traditional lunch at your homestay then take an introductory walk around the village. After getting to know the village better, take a short trek (2 kilometres) to the alluring Sung Cave and visit a 100-year-old tea plantation. The trek has some steep and slippery sections so please ensure you have suitable footwear for this activity. After a handicraft workshop, return to your homestay accommodation for a nice hot shower and a delicious dinner.

Day 17 Hanoi

This morning, you'll get the opportunity to take in more of the Vietnamese highlands on a 10 kilometre (6.2 mi) trek from Sung Village to Da Bia. The first 8km of the trek is mostly flat ground along well-worn buffalo tracks. The final 2km gradually inclines and for a period of approximately 300m there are some steps to climb, however the walk will be a steady relaxed pace. Keep an eye peeled for the monumental stone at the peak of Da Bia Mountain during the hike that takes us through the local villages, meeting people from the ethnic Muong tribe along the way. Stop for lunch at Da Bia before enjoying a scenic 1.5 hour boat cruise on Hoa Binh hydropower reservoir. Arrive at Thung Nai then board a bus transfer to Hanoi, where you'll arrive at around 6 pm. Enjoy a water puppetry performance later on - a unique and traditional Vietnamese art form.

Day 18 Halong Bay

After breakfast today, drive to Bai Chay Harbour towards the famous world heritage site of Halong Bay. A blue-green bay studded with limestone outcrops, this area is full of beaches and natural grottos. You’ll take a boat through the limestone peaks and caves filled with stalactites and stalagmites and have the chance to go for a swim or perhaps take a kayak out on the bay. Spend the night on board the boat beneath a sky alive with starlight. The boat has twin-share cabins with air-conditioning and private facilities. There’s also a dining room and bar where you can enjoy the day’s meals.

Day 19 Hanoi

After breakfast today you'll return to Hanoi, arriving mid afternoon and enjoy some well deserved free time. Why not relax with a bia hoi (freshly brewed draught beer) at one of the microbars in the Old Quarter? or perhaps mark the end of your trip with an optional farewell dinner. 

Day 20 Hanoi

There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart the accommodation at any time. There’s so much to see and do in Hanoi, why not stay a day or two longer? We’ll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you have extra time, you may like to do an Urban Adventure tour. Your leader will be able to assist you in booking the tour of your choice. See urbanadventures.com/destination/hanoi-tours.

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh Arrival

Meals: Dinner

Transfer Via: International Flights on your own arrangements

Private Airport Pick-Up: Ho Chi Minh City

Accommodation: Grand Silverland On your arrival at Tan San Nhat airport, our local tour guide and driver will pick you up then transfer to your hotel. Our Tour Guide will take you out for a Welcome Dinner

Day 2: Cu Chi Tunnels And Ho Chi Minh City Tour

Meal: Lunch

Accommodation: Silverland Central Hotel & Spa

Our tour guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel at 8am and we will depart for the Cu Chi Tunnels, an underground tunnels network constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the struggle for independence. Cu Chi tunnel is a home to around 10,000 people for several years, it took about 25 years to build the underground city.

The tunnel system was an excellent way for the Vietcong to move around the countryside undetected by the Americans. enjoying a scenic drive through the picturesque villages. On arrival we will watch a short introductory video before exploring the Cu Chi Tunnels, the most famous battlegrounds in the world. We will explore the complex tunnel system and view may craters left from B52 bombing raids. After that we will stop for lunch on the way back to Ho Chi Minh city for the city tour. Ho Chi Minh city, formerly named Saigon is a largest city of Vietnam. In this tour you will learn about Vietnamese history in the War Remnants Museum and the Reunification Palace, admire French-colonial architecture at the General Post Office, Opera House and Notre Dame Cathedral. Our driver will transfer you back to your hotel around 5.30pm.

Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City- Mekong Delta Day Tour

Accommodation: Silverland Central Hotel & Spa

We start our day at the lobby of hotel and head to the peaceful town of My Tho where we visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda. Next, we will have a boat ride, visit local homes and orchards, a coconut candy workshop, a honeybee farm, take a sampan ride on palm-shaded creeks, try a taste of seasonal fruit, honey tea, and enjoy a performance of traditional Southern singing. Later of the day, we return to Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 4: Ho Chi Minh City - Danang - Marble Mountain - Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Transfer Via: Domestic Flight, VN120@ 1015 – 1135

Private Airport Transfer: Ho Chi Minh City

Private Airport Pick-Up: Danang to Hoi An

Accommodation: Thanh Binh Riverside Hotel

On your arrival at Danang airport, our local tour guide and driver will pick you up then transfer to local famous restaurant for lunch. After lunch, we will visit Marble Mountain, it is a popular sightseeing location in Da Nang because of its alluring beauty. Stone steps carved into the mountain lead to a Buddhist Pagoda. You can also discover stunning caves and enjoy the beautiful view from the top of the mountain. Upon arrival to the mountain, we will climb up the stone stairs and visit the caves and pagodas as well as admire the beautiful panoramic view. We will then head down the mountain and visit the stone village where the skilled local sculptors create many marble products. Before getting back to the hotel in Hoi An, we head to Linh Ung Pagoda, built under the reign of King Minh Mang in the Nguyen Dynasty (the 19th century), legend has it a Buddhist statue drifted downstream to the area and got anchored at a sandy embankment.

Day 5: My Son Half Day

Accommodation: Thanh Binh Riverside Hotel Our tour guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel at 8am and then we will depart for the ancient Cham ruins of My Son. On arrival we will visit the Tra Kieu capital and explore the majestic ancient ruins at My Son. My Son, located 69 km southwest of Danang and 75kms from Hoi An, was an imperial city during the Cham dynasty. My Son is the former capital of the ancient Cham civilization that ruled Central Vietnam from the second to the thirteenth century and is considered to be one of the best-preserved Cham structures in Vietnam.

Day 6: Cham Island Tour

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Thanh Binh Riverside Hotel After breakfast, will get pick you up at your hotel and transfer to Cua Dai pier. Embark on a speedboat to Cham Island, the Hoi An Global Biosphere Reserve. The sea has colorful shells, stones and twinkling coral reefs creating fanciful underwater gardens with hundreds of millions of species of fish and tropical sea-creatures. On the island, there is a rich ecosystem of different species, including precious birds such as Yen (swallow). After a 40-minute boat ride, you will arrive at Cu Lao Cham, a large area that consists of several small islands about 25 nautical miles off the coast. Here you will enjoy the fresh atmosphere of the sea with clean white sand, cool water and beautiful scenery and get the chance to view the daily activities of the residents in the fishing village. Cham Island has also been a trading port of Cham’s Kings and foreign countries and is recorded in many historical books of Vietnam. You will spend a half-day at Lang Beach where you will visit interesting places such as Au Thuyen, a shelter for boats in bad weather, the ancient Hai Tang Pagoda and the Ong Temple. Then you will go snorkeling in the ocean. When the tour concludes, you will be returned to your hotel.

Day 7: Hai Van Pass and Lang Co Village Tour – Hue

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Eldora Hue PRIVATE TRANSFER: Hoi An - Hue Today you will check out of your hotel after breakfast to travel to Hai Van Pass on the highway one. Hai Van Pass is an impressive landscape. It is like a giant dragon, lying on the border between Thua Thien, Hue Province and Da Nang City. This is the highest pass in Viet Nam (500m above sea level). After Hai Van Pass you will visit Lang Co Beach with its gradually slopping, white sand beach, shallow waters and the average temperature of 25°C’. After lunch we will travel to your hotel in Hue.

Day 8: Hue City Tour

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Eldora Hue Our tour guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel lobby around 8am before boarding the Dragon boat to cruise the Perfume River. Our first stop is the charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda), before continuing to visit King Khai Dinh’s Tomb and King Tu Duc’s Tomb. After lunch at a local restaurant, we will visit Hue Imperial City, the home of Vietnam’s last royal Dynasty, then travel on to Dong Ba Market to see the daily life of local people. Hue, Vietnam’s former Royal Capital, is a city that represents the outstanding demonstration of the power of the vanished Vietnamese feudal empire, including a complex of monuments, tombs and pagodas that attract tourists coming from all over the world.

Day 9: Phong Nha Cave Tour

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Eldora Hue After breakfast our tour guide & driver will pick you up from your hotel lobby at 8AM and depart from Hue to Phong Nha. We will take a Dragon boat trip along Son river to Phong Nha cave and Tien Son cave. We will first visit Tien Son cave or normally called as Dry cave, one of the most spectacular caves in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park. Found in 1935 by a local inhabitant by accident, Tien Son is 200m above the sea level and is nearly 1 KM long. The cave features thousands of amazing stalactites and stalagmites naturally shaped in different fairy-tail formations. At this stage, visitors are able to access only 400m of the cave with light system since the rest of the cave is underground and quite dangerous. After lunch we will visit the Phong Nha cave – Water cave. Just 1 KM away from Tien Son cave, Phong Nha is the World Heritage Site of Quang Binh Province since 2003. The cave is well-known for its fame as the oldest Karst Mountain in Asia which formed around 400 million years ago with the longest underground river system of 8 KM long and 50 metres height. Phong Nha cave also includes an array of grottoes and chambers such as Bi Ky Grotto, Cung Dinh Grotto. After visiting the cave, our boat will take us back to the mainland and you will be transferred to your hotel in Hue.

Day 10: Hue – Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast

TRANSFER VIA: Domestic Flight, VN12@ 1230 – 1340 PRIVATE AIRPORT TRANSFER: Eldora Hue to Hue airport PRIVATE AIRPORT PICK-UP: Hanoi ACCOMMODATION: Hanoi Pearl Hotel On your arrival at Noi Bai airport, our local tour guide and driver will pick you up then transfer to your hotel in Hanoi. Your day at leisure.

Day 11: Hanoi City Tour

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Hanoi Pearl Hotel Our tour guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel at 8am and then we will visit Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum and his former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace, the Ho Chi Minh museum, One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, and the Museum of Ethnology. The colonial capital city Hanoi is a unique Asian city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental pagodas and temples dating back a thousand years. After lunch, we will take a cyclo tour in Hanoi’s old quarter and experience traditional street life before watching Water Puppet show. In the afternoon, you have the option to visit museums such as the Hanoi Hilton or Hoa Lo Prison, the National Museum of Vietnamese History, the Vietnam Military History museum, and the Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts. Our driver will drop you off at your Hanoi Hotel around 5pm.

Day 12: Hanoi - Halong Bay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Glory Legend Cruise Our cruise bus will collect you from your hotel in Hanoi and transfer you to Halong City on a scenic drive. After arriving at Tuan Chau island, take a break and welcome drink at Glory Legend Cruise Lounge. Then we will transfer you to the Glory Legend Cruise. Once on board you will be greeted with a complimentary drink and meet the crew for briefing. Enjoy lunch with Vietnamese and International dishes served while cruising through the bay, passing the most beautiful and quiet areas, such as Incense Burner, Dog Stone Islet, Fighting Cock, Soi Sim beach, Coconut Three Island. Visiting Luon cave, the perfect combination of lime‐stone mountains and jade‐green sea by bamboo boat with local people or kayaking based on your preference. Visiting the beautiful Ti Top beach for swimming (if the weather permits). Passengers can take steps to reach on the top of Ti Top beach to have a whole panorama view of Halong Bay. Back to the boat and free time while sailing to Luon Bo area, and anchor overnight. In the late afternoon, we will have a Vietnamese cooking class with our expert chef before an Vietnamese and International BBQ Set menu dinner. Relax in the evening. Overnight on Glory Legend Cruise. Evening activities include: Leisure time to enjoy a chat around the bar, watching movies and many sort of Vietnam cultural films, relaxing and spending a romantic night on Glory Legend Cruise’s music, playing cards, chess are available, reading magazines in room and dining room. You may also try your luck at squid fishing & fishing from cruise.

Day 13: Halong Bay - Cua Van Village - Bai Tu Long Bay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Glory Legend Cruise In the morning head to the upper deck to participate in our daily Tai Chi sessions. Relax with an early morning cup of tea, coffee or juice anywhere you wish on the boat and watch the never ending miraculous scenery unfold before you. Transfer to day boat to visit Cua Van village, a small community with around 700 residents living in the root of Ngoc Mountain. Visit Cua Van village by a rustic – row boat, meet the local people who will help you row the boat for sightseeing. Back to day boat for visiting Bai Tu Long Bay, enjoy beauty of Bai Tu Long Bay, free kayaking and swimming at Ba Ham Lake area situated in the middle of a narrow, rectangular area, with the all four sides enclosed by vertical cliffs. (if the weather permit). After a Set‐menu lunch on day boat, you will be transferred back to Glory Legend Cruise. Free time on boat for relaxing. A Deluxe Vietnamese Dinner will be served on board. Evening activities include: Leisure time for chatting around the bar, watching many sorts of Vietnam cultural films. Relaxing and spending a romantic night on Glory Legend Cruise’s music. Reading magazines in room and dining room.

Day 14: Halong Bay – Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Hanoi Pearl Hotel Start your morning with a Tai Chi exercise or a photo hunt. Coffee, tea and pastries for breakfast are served in the dining room with morning view of bay’s landscape. After breakfast, we will visit the amazing Sung Sot Cave discovered by the French in 1901. After that you will return to the boat to freshen up and check out of your cabin. Have brunch while cruising back to the Tuan Chau Wharf. Relaxing on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery while approaching the wharf. Disembark to Tuan Chau Wharf. You will be transferred back to your hotel in Hanoi by shuttle bus. You will have a short stopover to visit a traditional workshop and refreshment about 30 minutes. Arrive in Hanoi at about 5pm.

Day 15: Hanoi Departure

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer Via: International Flight on your own arrangement PRIVATE AIRPORT TRANSFER: Hanoi Pearl Hotel to Noi Bai airport