Ventures Through Vietnam 14 Days

Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you will be welcomed by the guide of Asia Tour Advisor and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore the tree-lined boulevards, French Indochinese architecture and tranquil lakes of this unique city.

Hanoi has many great restaurants with French, Vietnamese and international cuisines available. Ask your guide for personal recommendations.

Hanoi is Vietnam’s capital city and home to seven million people. Traditional and refined with French colonial architecture, tree-lined boulevards, scenic lakes and a bustling Old Quarter, Hanoi has a sophisticated charm. Observe locals practicing Tai Chi by the lake, with barbers and food vendors plying their sidewalk trade.

It is unmissable in terms of its pretty pagodas, ancient temples, enchanting French colonial quarter and cultural institutions. Just as fun, however, is darting down its winding lanes and discovering your own favourite hidden corners.

After a satisfying breakfast at your hotel, our local tour guide will pick you up to embark on an exploration of Vietnam's capital city, Hanoi. With over a thousand years of history, this city is rich with captivating cultural and historical sites. Your itinerary includes visits to the imposing Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, home to the preserved body of "Uncle Ho."  and his House on Stilts to observe how he lived and how his life unfolded to become one of modern history’s greatest names. 

You'll also experience the delicate beauty of the One Pillar Pagoda, Tran Quoc Temple are a spiritual and cultural symbol of Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam. With special features in its structure along with historical values, the temple will surely be a real eye-opener for tourists.

After lunch, continue to visit the millennia-old Temple of Literature and explore its role in the country’s past, as both a university and a Confucius temple. Next is Hoa Lo , a prison used by the French colonists in Vietnam for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. Prisoners of War.

To cap off your day, enjoy a one-hour cyclo tour through the bustling and lively Old Quarter, immersing yourself in the vibrant marketplace atmosphere.  Sample delicious dishes like Nom Du Du (green papaya salad), Banh Mi Pa Te (a sandwich that reflects Vietnam’s culinary heritage)

Our journey embarks from Hanoi where we'll pick you up for a scenic drive through the verdant landscapes of the Red River Delta. Our destination: the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage site, Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay. Here, you'll embark on a luxurious cruise for an enchanting overnight cruise.

As you relax on board, you'll be captivated by the breathtaking limestone karsts that majestically emerge from the azure waters, surrounded by thousands of jungle-clad islands seemingly suspended on the gentle waves. The turquoise waters of the Gulf of Tonkin conceal hidden grottoes and ancient caves, creating a timeless and mesmerizing world.

Enjoy a delicious seafood lunch with breathtaking views and a refreshing drink. Our next destination is a charming fishing village, where locals have ingeniously turned their boats into a floating community. Meet fishermen, explore a stunning lagoon by kayak or rowboat, and unwind on deck as the sun sets. Spend a delightful overnight stay on board!

Kickstart your day with Tai Chi on the top deck or savor the sunrise over the bay. Sip on morning coffee or tea before setting out to explore nearby islands via rowboat.

Upon returning to the junk, witness a fruit carving demonstration and participate in a cooking class, learning to create traditional Vietnamese cuisine from scratch. Enjoy a Vietnamese lunch on board as you cruise back to Halong City. Upon arrival, your driver will be waiting at the dock to take you to Noi Bai Airport for your short flight to Hue.

Upon arrival in Hue, your tour guide and driver will transfer you to your hotel in Hue

Hue is one of the most charming towns in the Central Vietnam and has a long and illustrious history as it used to be one of the main royal capitals of the country.

Today you will explore the royal city of Hue once served as an imperial capital to the Nguyen Lords, a feudal dynasty which reigned from the 17th to the 19th century. With splendid emperors’ tombs, ancient pagodas and the remains of the citadel, the city retains its royal charm.

After breakfast, you are picked up by your private guide and driver and begin your day with a visit to the atmospheric Imperial Citadel, a large complex that contains the remains of the former Imperial Palace and Forbidden Purple City, where the emperors and his family once lived. The two-hour walking tour allows you to see the magnificent architecture and gardens as your guide explains the events and the intrigue of the former royal court.

From the Imperial City, your guide will take you to visit the iconic Thien Mu Pagoda – Hue’s most famous religious site with its origins dating back to 1601. Here you will explore the pagoda’s landscaped gardens, the seven-tiered octagonal tower, and watch the monks chanting.

Hue is famous for its Royal cuisine. The Nguyen Emperors’ banquets were legendary. Some feats were said to have included 300 rare dishes served in more than a thousand bowls. Today your guide will take you to the fine-dining Ancient Hue restaurant where you will be served a royal lunch. This old fashioned style meal which brings a boutique and unique experience.

After lunch, you will explore the tomb of the longest-reigned Emperor Tu Duc, located in a tranquil setting of gardens and ponds, inspired by the Chinese Confucianism, harmonious design of balance and symmetry for the emperor’s resting place.

Continue to visit the tomb of King Khai Dinh, designed in traditional Vietnamese style with a European touch making it unique from the other tombs in Hue.

Following your immersive day in Hue's cultural treasures, the evening opens to you, providing a canvas upon which you can relax or choose to further explore the city's captivating offerings.

After breakfast and check out of your hotel, meet your private guide and driver for a three-hour drive to Hoi An via the stunningly Hai Van Pass. Also known as the “Cloudy Pass,” this winding mountain road overlooks the lush countryside, sandy beaches, the blue waters of the South China Sea, and the coastal city of Da Nang.

En route, you will pause in Danang to visit the Marble Mountain with its beautiful caves of worship and the Museum of Cham Sculpture’s collection of artifacts dating back to the seventh century.

Upon arriving in Hoi An, you'll check in to your hotel and have the rest of the afternoon to unwind on the sandy shores of Cua Dai Beach.

Hoi An thrived as a bustling port city from the 16th to the 19th century, conducting trade with merchants from China, Japan, India, Indonesia, and Europe. 

Today, the UNESCO World Heritage Old Quarter of Hoi An preserves the city's past with ornate pagodas, antique trading houses, and historic tile-roofed shops. These have been transformed into art galleries, boutique restaurants, bars, and cafes. 

Hoi An is renowned for its architectural fusion of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and European styles, offering a rich cultural tapestry. Surrounding the city are scenic countryside landscapes with traditional farming and fishing, as well as sandy beaches featuring modern seaside resorts.

Breakfast at your hotel a walking tour of Hoi An's ancient town centre will take you back in time to when its was a major trading port in Asia. Visit old shophouses, the 400 year-old Japanese Bridge, a Chinese communal hall and the colorful market in this well-preserved town. Then free time for relaxing on Cua Dai Beach.

Breakfast at your hotel, free time until transfer to Danang airport for a flight to Nha Trang. Arrive in Nha Trang, pick you up and transfer you to hotel. Free time.

Start from your hotel to Cau Da port. Tri Nguyen Aquarium on Mieu Island is the first place to visit, many sea species of Nha Trang/Khanh Hoa province make a small ocean world there. Mun Island is the best island for snorkeling where you can see lots of lives colorful corals and fish. You will also be able to see caves in which the sea swallows make their nest.Then relaxing, swimming & doing water sports or other activities at Mot Island, Tranh Beach Island or on a small island calling “Mini beach”. Taking a fresh lunch at the island. On the way back you will visit a fishing village before going to the shore. Relax yourself at Thap Ba Mud Spa after the trip.

Breakfast at your hotel, free time for relaxing on beach

Breakfast at your hotel, free time until transfer to airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh city. Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, pick you up and transfer you to hotel. Free time.

Today you'll take a deep dive into Vietnamese history and explore the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, used as a shelter for Vietnamese soldiers during the war. Learn about why the tunnels were constructed and how they helped people survive in harsh wartime conditions. 

Wander the remaining tunnel systems, which include the living areas, kitchens, and martial facilities, as well as hidden doors and dangerous traps. Finish the tour with Try some of the main food of the Viet Cong Soldiers with a cassava tasting served with tangy tea. 

In the afternoon, return to the city to visit Independence Palace, also known as the Reunification Palace, 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 exploring the beautiful buildings from French Colonial times, such as the Notre Dame Cathedral.Then visit Ben Thanh Market, one of the largest markets in Ho Chi Minh, to see the local life here. After the tour, return to your hotel.

Ben Tre is one the best area of the Mekong Delta that seems to retain the feeling of being a complete backwater, to fascinatingly invite tourists to the untouched and natural landscapes to discover its rustic local life, beautiful canals and traditional activities

After breakfast, your private guide and driver will take you out of Ho Chi Minh City in a private vehicle and onto some beautiful country roads to Ben Tre Town in the Mekong Delta, famous for its vast rice fields, numerous waterways, and beautiful landscapes. Known as the ‘rice bowl’ of Vietnam, this region produces most of Vietnam’s fruit, rice, sugar cane, and coconuts.

After the two-hour drive through the lush farming land, you will arrive in Ben Tre where you will set out on a motorized boat trip on narrow channels winding through the coconut forest. During the boat ride, you will stop at the local cottage industries to see how the local people make bricks and weave sleeping mats by hand. Learn about their craft handed down through generations.

Take a leisure walk along the village lanes, visiting the local homes to try fresh fruits, taste delicious honey tea while enjoying a local Tai Tu music show. Continue to visit another workshop where the local delicacy of coconut candy is produced and a wide range of coconut husk and fiber products are skillfully handcrafted.

Next, take a small sampan through palm-fringed back canals, gliding peacefully along the hidden waterways surrounded by an immense variety of tropical plants. The quiet, rural setting is a welcome and restorative retreat to the frenetic buzz of Ho Chi Minh City which seems far, far away.

Enjoy sitting in the back a Motor Cart (xe lôi) passing local hamlets, rice fields, coconut groves, and lush orchard farms while meeting with local people.

After finishing your sightseeing tour your guide will take you to a riverside restaurant for lunch with local specialties then return to the pier and drive back to Ho Chi Minh City.

This evening you will be free to visit the night market to discover the authentic local cuisine .Overnight in Ho Chi MInh City

Your time will be your own until your private car and driver arrives to take you to the airport for your flight to next destination

Finish unforgettable Vietnam Tour with Asia Tour Advisor. Good bye & see you in the next time! AsiaTourAdvisor can arrange additional customized trips for you if the above itinerary does not match your expectations.