Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Vietnam – Hanoi – Bai Tu Long Bay – Hue – Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City
100% customisable for you
Bags packed, passports at the ready and excitement levels officially sky-high – today's the day you’re off to Vietnam. Head to the airport, whizz through security and settle into the lounge for some drinks and nibbles before boarding.
Your first flight will take you to a hub in Asia, where you’ll have a short stopover to stretch your legs before your second overnight flight to Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi. All in all, the journey will take around 17 hours, so queue up some films, fluff up the neck pillow and try to catch some sleep before arriving the next day.
When you touch down in Hanoi this morning, you’ll be whisked away by private transfer to your hotel in the heart of the city – your base for the next two nights.
After your long journey, take a power nap if needed, though nothing wakes you up quite like Hanoi. Meet your private guide for a tour of the historic centre, diving straight into the dizzying streets of the Old Quarter where weaving scooters and sizzling street-food stalls create a sensory overload in the best possible way.
Escape the chaos at Hoan Kiem Lake and amble around the ornate Ngoc Son Temple, perched on a small island. Fancy a pick-me-up? Head to a local café for a traditional Vietnamese egg coffee, topped with a velvety, custard-like foam that’s equal parts drink and dessert – not one to miss.
Round off the day with a Hanoian family, who’ll welcome you into their home for a feast of traditional Vietnamese dishes.
Fancy seeing Hanoi at dawn? We can arrange a sunrise scooter tour through the city’s streets to Quang Ba Flower Market, where buckets of fresh blooms are bought and sold in a flurry of activity.
With a coconut coffee in hand, the day is all yours. Perhaps learn about Vietnam’s past at the Temple of Literature, the country’s first university, admire the lotus-inspired One Pillar Pagoda or step inside the Quan Thanh Temple. Art aficionados can browse the collections at the National Fine Arts Museum or catch a performance at the Hanoi Opera House, while history buffs may prefer a visit to the National Museum of History.
All that exploring is bound to work up a hefty appetite. Follow the irresistible aromas into the nearest street food market and dive chopstick-first into Vietnam’s legendary culinary scene. From banh xeo (savoury pancakes) to smoky bun cha (grilled pork with noodles), there’s plenty of delicious dishes to sink your teeth into.
Bid a warm farewell to Hanoi this morning and hit the road (with a local driver at the wheel) for the two-and-a-half-hour journey to Hon Gai Port.
Here, it’s all aboard a traditional wooden junk boat for a cruise through Bai Tu Long Bay and an overnight stay on board. Often overshadowed by its famous neighbour, Ha Long Bay, this UNESCO-listed seascape is every bit as spectacular, with thousands of limestone karsts rising from emerald waters – just with far fewer crowds to share them with.
Spend the day soaking up life on deck, gliding between the rocky outcrops and watching fishing boats chug across the water. And as evening falls, gather for a delicious dinner on board, clinking glasses of rice wine as the setting sun casts the bay in a golden glow. Cheers to that.
A day on the water is bound to lull you to sleep, so afterwards retreat to your cosy cabin for an early night.
Stretch, breathe and welcome the day with a Tai Chi session on deck as dawn breaks across Bai Tu Long Bay. Then tuck into breakfast, admiring the shimmering views of the bay as you set sail back towards Hon Gai Port.
From here, you’ll be privately transferred through the rolling rice fields of the Red River Delta en route to Hanoi Airport. Along the way, make a pitstop at But Thap Pagoda and watch as worshippers adorn the temple grounds with offerings of fruit and flowers as swirls of incense curl through the air.
Then, it’s up and away on the one-hour flight to Hue. When you touch down in this ancient city, you’ll be whisked away to your hotel – home for the two nights.
After a jam-packed day, bypass any dinner deliberations with a restaurant recommendation from our local Concierge, where pho is likely to feature on the menu. This Vietnamese classic consists of rice noodles served in an aromatic broth, elevated by a generous squeeze of lime.
Another day, another adventure. This morning, meet your private guide and step back to the age of emperors as you explore Hue, Vietnam’s former imperial capital.
Trace the Perfume River, crossing between the ancient citadel and the French Quarter, where elegant colonial facades sit alongside family-owned cafés (salt coffee, anyone?). Next, hop into a rickshaw, with your guide at the wheel, and rattle your way to Xuan Vien Tieu Cung, a garden house dating back to the Nguyen Dynasty.
Next, dive into Dong Ba Market, where stalls are piled high with all sorts of intriguing ingredients destined for the wok. Then, round off the explorations with visits to the Tomb of Emperor Tu Doc and the striking Mausoleum of Emperor Khai Dinh, two remarkable reminders of the city’s royal legacy.
Still raring to go? We can also arrange a creative tour of Hue’s artisan villages, or a visit to a historic garden house.
Rise and shine, it’s another fun-filled day in Vietnam. This morning, it’s onwards to Hoi An, with your local driver taking care of the three-hour journey south. With our destination-specific playlist providing the soundtrack, admire sparkling bays and bobbing fishing boats as you wind your way along the coast.
Prefer your sightseeing with a side of pedal power? Instead of the private transfer, we can arrange for you to travel to Hoi An by bicycle. It may take a little longer, but that’s all part of the adventure.
When you arrive in Hoi An, check in to your charming guesthouse – your home away from home for the next two nights.
When hunger strikes, follow the lantern-lined streets in search of a legendary banh mi. Although technically a sandwich – packed with everything from barbecued meats to fresh vegetables and fragrant herbs – this Vietnamese favourite is more than capable of stealing the show at dinnertime.
Welcome to Hoi An, a city filled with honey-hued streets, ancient tea houses and the gentle ring of bicycle bells. Today is all yours to soak up its splendour. Wander along the Thu Bon River, where traditional sampan boats drift across the water, before crossing the iconic Pagoda Bridge and flitting between incense-swirled temples and merchant houses.
If you fancy a wardrobe refresh, head to one of the local tailor shops, where rolls of silk spill from the shelves and bespoke creations take shape. Flip through the catalogue, choose a fabric and let the magic happen.
Or if you’re craving some R&R, make a beeline for nearby Ha My Beach and while away the hours soaking up that oh-so glorious Vietnamese sunshine.
Feeling hungry after all that city roaming? You’re in for a real treat this evening. Head to the agricultural village of Tra Que, where a local family will welcome you into their home. After a stroll through their vegetable garden, tuck into a home-cooked feast, swapping stories between bites.
Fuel up this morning with a steaming bowl of bun bo hue, the city’s beloved noodle soup brimming with beef, fragrant herbs and lemongrass that’s been kick-starting mornings here for generations.
After polishing off the last spoonful, you’ll be privately transferred to Da Nang Airport, a journey of around one hour. From here, board your one-and-a-half-hour flight to Ho Chi Minh City, known as the electric capital of the south.
When you land, you’ll be driven to your guesthouse in the heart of the city, your base for the next two nights. And after a few jam-packed days, take things slowly by spending the afternoon stretched out by the pool.
By the time evening rolls around, head to the nearest street food market and discover what southern Vietnam has on the menu. While many of the culinary classics remain, tropical fruits, sweeter flavours and coconut-laced dishes serve up a distinctly southern spin.
Lace up your best walking shoes today for a tour of the Cholon district, Ho Chi Minh City’s historic Chinatown. Follow your guide thorough a labyrinth of narrow alleyways, where shopfronts adorned with Chinese characters sit alongside ornate pagodas and family-run eateries.
Then explore one of Cholon’s most intriguing wartime relics: a basement that once served as a clandestine weapons cache for the Saigon Commandos during the Vietnam War. Finish the tour with a cup of velvety butter coffee – another Vietnamese caffeine concoction unlocked.
Fancy taking your taste buds for one last spin around the city? We can also arrange an evening street food tour by scooter.
Your last morning in Ho Chi Minh City is all yours to explore. Pick out a hand-painted postcard at the Central Post Office, scribble a note to a friend or family member back home and send it on its merry way. Then, search for the perfect keepsake in Binh Tay Market, wander the deity-honouring Ngoc Hoang Pagoda or delve into Vietnam’s age-old healing traditions at the Fito Museum.
And just when you’ve mastered the art of crossing a Saigon street like a true local, it’s sadly time to begin the journey home. This evening, you’ll be privately transferred to Ho Chi Minh City Airport for your return flight, with a quick stopover in an Asian hub along the way.
All in all, you’ll spend around 17 hours in the air, landing the next day – plenty of time to start dreaming up your next big escape...
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from checking you in for your flights to our network of local Concierges
