Compare Classic Vietnam: Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City by G Adventures vs Viet Nam Classic Tour 10 Days 9 Nights by Viland

Day 1 Hanoi

Arrive at any time.

There are no planned activities today until an evening welcome meeting. After the meeting, opt for dinner out with the group.

Day 2 Hanoi/Ha Long

Enjoy a Ha Long Bay cruise on a junk boat with visits to a cave and an island lookout. Savour a seafood lunch and dinner.

Drive to Bai Chay harbour, the jumping off point for Ha Long Bay. Thousands of islands with intricate cave systems rise dramatically from the waters. Sail past limestone karst mountains in the junk boat and stop to visit some of the islands and caves. In the evening, devour a seafood dinner, then opt to enjoy a drink on deck under the stars.

Day 3 Ha Long/Huế

Enjoy breakfast and lunch on board before sailing back to the port and return to Hanoi. Enjoy some time in the city before an overnight train to Hue.

Interested in local cuisine? Opt to pre-book the "Hanoi Foodie Culture Tour" activity on the checkout page to include this optional on your tour.

Day 4 Huế

Guided tour of the Imperial Citadel, Royal Tomb and Tien Mu Pagoda.

Arrive early to Hue, once the imperial capital of Vietnam. Start the day with a visit to the Tien Mu Pagoda followed by a visit to the tomb of one of Vietnam’s former emperors. After, opt for a vegetarian lunch at a local nunnery. While in the city, try some local Hue specialties such as banh khoai (Hue savoury pancakes), and banh bot loc boc tom thit (thin rice paper filled with meat and shrimp). Wash it all down with a Hue beer. Opt to pre-book the "Hue Motorbike Tour" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.

Day 5 Huế/Hoi An

Drive the Hai Van pass. Take advantage of Hoi An's many options over the 2.5 days in town. Opt for a cooking class, riverboat trip, bike ride, beach time, tailor visit or My Son ruins.

Cross the Hai Van Pass (weather permitting), with fantastic views in all directions, before arriving to Hoi An in the afternoon. With three nights here, there's plenty of time to explore all this charming town has to offer.

Day 6 Hoi An

Explore all Hoi An has to offer. Dive into the culture, hang out on the beach or get clothes tailor-made in one of the many shops around town. Enjoy a noodle making demonstration and lunch at Oodles of Noodles, a G Adventures-supported project.

Day 7 Hoi An

Spend a free day exploring all Hoi An has to offer.

Day 8 Hoi An/Ho Chi Minh City

Fly from Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City with free time to explore this hectic city.

Drive to Da Nang for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City, once the capital of South Vietnam and the country’s commercial centre. Start exploring the small alleys and busy streets, keeping an eye out for laquerware shops and delicious local food stalls.

Day 9 Ho Chi Minh City

Enjoy a guided tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels and learn more about the Vietnam War. Use free time in the afternoon to explore sprawling Ho Chi Minh City.

With some free time in the city, opt to visit the Thien Hau and Giac Vien pagodas and stroll through the immense Ben Thanh Market. Also well worth a visit are the Reunification Palace (the residence of South Vietnam presidents before 1975), the city's Chinese quarter of Cholon, and the War Remnants Museum.

Day 10 Ho Chi Minh City

Depart at any time.

Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh Arrival

Arriving at Tay Son Nhat airport, we will greet you at airport with ‘Welcome’ sign board, and then you will be transferred to hotel in Ho Chi Minh city. You will have the rest of the day to decompress after a long flight. We encourage you to get out and explore the city surrounding the hotel. There is lots of great food options nearby, and after a nice exotic meal you can find yourself a wonderful $10 massage, or grab a few cold beers from the roadside stalls and watch as people pass you by.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

Day 2: Mekong Delta Fullday Trip

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Over 60 million people depend on the Mekong Delta as their primary source of income or sustenance, and it connect 6 different countries. We will pick you up from your hotel in Ho Chi Minh city and then transfer to My Tho, on a 2.5 hour drive. 

On arrival at My Tho, after visiting Vinh Trang pagoda, take a motor boat to enter My Tho city, through Bao Dinh natural canal. Take a leisurely cruise on the Tien River to view the four beautiful islands known as  the Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise islands.Visit the coconut candy mill and take a boat trip along the small canal on a hand-rowed sampan under the shadow of the water coconut trees along natural canals.
Enjoy lunch at the local restaurant, then enjoy seasonal fruit & honey tea to the sound of "Southern Vietnamese folk music", performed by locals.
Meet at the bus and return to Ho Chi Minh City. This trip provides a fascinating insight into daily life in the Mekong Delta. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city

Day 3: Halfday City Tour – Da Nang – Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel and take the morning to visit the Independence Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office, and the War Remnants Museum. The Independence palace, also known at the Reunification palace, was built on the sight of the former Norodom palace. The Independence palace is a widely known landmark of Ho Chi Minh City and was designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu. Continue seeing the beautiful structures from the French Colonial times such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the historic Central Post Office. Followed by the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum, the museum has a vast display of photos and stories from the horrific American War. The morning will finish with lunch at a local Vietnamese restaurant.

Transfer back to hotel. Take a short break until we transfer to you to your flight to Da Nang or night train.
Arrival in Da Nang, you will be transferred to Hoi An. Check in and overnight in Hoi An.

Day 4: Hoi An Farming & Fishing Like Locals!

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Cycle along a beautiful, narrow road to a local fishing village named Cam Thanh. In this village you will stop at a rice paddy field, as well as a fish and shrimp farm… You will also have the chance to traverse the most dangerous bamboo bridges in Vietnam the “monkey bridges”, and visit an ancient cemetery and holy temples.

Join in special farming work with the local farmers by ploughing the field, and even try your luck at riding water buffalo with the farmers. Watch the locals make palm-thatched houses. They will use completely naturally sourced water palm tree materials and bamboo forest materials. Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants on our planet, reaching growth of up to 1mm every 90 seconds, it’s a perfect renewable building material! Explore the water palm coconut paradise. Join local fishermen by catching fish and purple crabs, with unique fishing nets, and paddle the traditional Bamboo Basket boat. Learn how to make souvenirs with palm leaves.

Have lunch at the local home, learn how to make fresh rice milk and cook traditional Hoi An stuffed pancakes (Banh Xeo). Return to your hotel.
Overnight in Hoi An

Day 5: Hoi An Shopping And Beach Day

Meals: Breakfast

You are free to explore Hoi An ancient town, get some tailored clothes and accessories handmade, or take a bicycle to explore the countryside and head down to  the beautiful white sand of An Bang beach. Don’t forget to eat as much as possible too, Hoi An is arguably the best place for food in the nation.
Overnight in Hoi An

Day 6: Hoi An – Fly To Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast

You are to do any last minute wandering before we are ready to take you to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. Our driver will hold a ‘welcome’ sign board with your name on, then transfer you to the hotel in Hanoi for check in.
Overnight in Hanoi

Day 7: Halong Bay - World Heritage Site - Overnight On Cruise

Meals:Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

With over 1600 islets, countless towering limestone karsts and hidden jungle caves, Vietnam’s “Bay of Descending Dragons” is a must-see destination for every traveller to Southeast Asia. Stay for 1 night in the bay aboard a Halong Bay cruise to experience all that this magical landscape has to offer.
At 8am, we will fetch you from your hotel, to head to Halong Bay. We will arrive slightly before noon, at the Halong Bay Pier, where you will be transferred to the cruise ship. Once on board the ship, you will be provided a welcome drink, followed by cruise briefing and safety instructions, conducted by the host of the boat. After that, you will check in your cabin.
Lunch will be served on board while cruising and passing by Dog islet, Fighting Cock islet (symbol of Halong Bay), Hoa Cuong fishing village, and Swan islet. After lunch, the ship will continue exploring the wonders of Halong bay, passing by countless islands including Soi Sim beach, Coconut Tree Island.
We will anchor the vessel at Frog Pond area, where you can take time to explore this beautiful scenery by kayaking through the majestic scenery and swimming in emerald coloured water.
Relax on the sundeck with some cocktails, complimented by a variety of tropical fruits and best local wines. Then attend a cooking demonstration with our chef to learn one of the most popular cuisines in Vietnam: spring rolls. If you don’t want to cook, you can refresh yourself in the Jacuzzi.
For dinner, we specially prepare a 11-course meal to reward your taste buds and stomach. After that, you can engage in various evening activities, such as relaxing at leisure, doing squid fishing, going for spa services and dipping into the Jacuzzi.

Day 8: Halong Bay – Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Wake up to a refreshing morning with an organized Tai Chi class scheduled at 6.30am. Once, we have revived our bodies with smooth, deliberate, flowing movements, you may enjoy a light breakfast with our assorted homemade pastries, along with coffee, tea or fresh fruit juices.
We will move next on to Sung Sot Cave, where you will have the option to climb up and down 600 steps, to the magnificent limestone formations of the most beautiful and biggest cave in Halong bay. After the visit to the cave, you will check out of the cabin, and settle your bill, if you have incurred any additional expenses, like drinks or snacks in the bar.
A beautiful brunch buffet will be served as the ship cruises back to the Halong Bay harbour.
Our coach will pick you up and return back to Hanoi. ETA to be about 5pm, if the traffic is cooperative. Overnight in Hanoi

Day 9: Hanoi - Explore The Old Quarter

Meals: Breakfast

You have a free day in Hanoi to explore, and get all your shopping done. There are all sorts of shops for clothing, souvenirs, and artwork, you won’t have trouble finding what you want. There’s even a local market in walking distance if you want to see how the locals buy their goods. Add in a plethora of Cafes and restaurants to try and you will fall in love with this eclectic city of the orient.
Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 10: Hanoi Departure

Meals: Breakfast

Your driver will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your onward flight home.
End of services!