You arrive in Hanoi,

Welcome to Vietnam! Upon your arrival in Hanoi, we will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.

This afternoon we will head to Ba Dinh Square, where we will view the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. We will visit the famous One-Pillar Pagoda, founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049.

We will then head to Hanoi’s Old Quarter, where we will visit Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple before exploring the lively streets, which will offer you another fascinating perspective on the city’s character and history. Finally, we will head to Dong Xuan Market, with its lively stalls and vibrant trade in local products. End the day with a traditional water puppet show.

Hotel accommodation

Breakfast at the hotel,

Leave your hotel early this morning for a two-hour drive thru rural northern Vietnam to Hoa Lu, the country’s first capital. Visit the temples dedicated to Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang of the Dinh Dynasty (968–80) and Emperor Le Dai Hanh of the Le Dynasty (980–1009). In the late morning, head to the town of Tam Coc to enjoy a Vietnamese lunch. Along the way, stop to photograph the local villages and the stunning scenery.
Visit Mua Cave, with 500 steps leading to the summit of Mua Mountain. From there, you can admire the beautiful scenery of Hoa Lu.
After lunch, board a private sampan to visit Tam Coc. As the boat glides gently thru the water, observe the massive limestone karsts rising above the verdant rice paddies—hence the area’s other name: "Halong on land."

Hotel accommodation

Breakfast at the hotel,

08:00–08:30: Hotel pickup (in Hanoi’s Old Quarter) and departure for Halong. Rest stop along the way.

11:30–12:00: Arrival at Ha Long Port, welcome aboard, and safety briefing. The cruise will take you on a 5-hour journey along a two-day, overnight cabin-boat route, renowned for its stunning passages, uninhabited islets, and rock formations that locals have imaginatively named after their shapes, such as the Cockfight and the Thumb. Enjoy a delicious Vietnamese lunch on board.

1:45–2:00 PM: Arrival at the Bo Hon archipelago. You will visit the Surprising Cave to observe numerous stalagmites and stalactites adorned with various forms of marine life. Next, you can kayak or take a bamboo boat thru Luon Cave to discover the beautiful lagoon. Visit Titov Island, with its sandy beach next to the imposing limestone mountain and the bay as a backdrop. Climb to the summit of Titov for a panoramic view of the bay, a paradise.

4:30 PM: Return to the port. There will be time to sunbathe on the upper deck with music and enjoy the company of fellow travelers in an iconic natural landscape.

5:30–6:00 PM: Deboard for the bus ride back to Hanoi. Brief stop on the way.
8:00–8:30 PM: Return to your hotel/accommodation and end of the trip.

Note: This tour may be subject to change depending on weather conditions.

Accommodation on the cruise

Breakfast at the hotel,

Breakfast at the hotel. Free time until your transfer to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, our driver will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel. Check-in.

Nite in Ho Chi Minh City.

Breakfast at the hotel,

In the morning, we will visit the famous Cu Chi, an incredible network of underground tunnels built by the Vietnamese resistance during the long struggle for independence. The tunnels, over 250 km long and up to three levels deep in some sections, played a fundamental role in the Viet Cong’s victory over the Americans, allowing them to control an extensive rural area surrounding Ho Chi Minh City.

In the afternoon, we will visit the Reunification Palace, the former palace of President Thieu and his predecessors. Today, this building is a museum and a venue for official receptions. Inside, you can visit the president’s private quarters, the “War Room” from which South Vietnamese forces were controlled, and, most poignantly, the room where the North Vietnamese army finally took control in 1975.

Nearby are the Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral, built between 1877 and 1883 and one of the city’s main landmarks. In the Neo-Romanesque style, Notre Dame is the main seat of the Catholic religion in modern Vietnam. Continue to the Jade Emperor Pagoda, located on the edge of District 1. It dates back to 1909 and was built by Cantonese Buddhists. This tranquil oasis was designed according to feng shui principles, showcasing ornate statues and effigies. I ended with a visit and some shopping at the Ben Thanh Market.

Night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Breakfast at the hotel,

Airport transfer to board your flight to your country.