Vietnam Grand Discovery

You're met at Noi Bai International Airport and transferred to your hotel in the heart of the capital. Once settled, ease into the city with an evening stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake and into the Old Quarter's 36 streets, each still loosely named for the trade once sold there.

A full day exploring the capital: the Ho Chi Minh Complex including the Presidential Palace grounds and One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature — Vietnam's first national university, founded in 1070 — and Hoan Kiem Lake with its red Huc Bridge and Ngoc Son Temple. The afternoon is free to wander the Old Quarter's markets and cafes.

A drive to the coast (around 3.5 hours) to board your overnight cruise. Sail out among nearly 2,000 limestone karsts and islets, with a cave visit, kayaking or bamboo boat through a hidden lagoon, a Vietnamese cooking demonstration and dinner on board as the light fades over the bay. [[CONFIRM]] Cabin category and vessel to be advised.

Wake to tai chi on deck and sunrise over the karsts, then a final morning of sightseeing — Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave or Ti Top Island, depending on your cruise route — before brunch on board and disembarkation. Transfer back to Hanoi by early evening, with the rest of the day free.

A private road transfer via Lao Cai up into the Hoang Lien Son mountains (around 5–6 hours), climbing steadily into cooler air and misty valleys. [[CONFIRM]] Overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai available as an alternative. Arrive in Sapa town in the afternoon with time to settle in and take in your first views over the valley before dinner.

A day of walking rather than riding: down into Cat Cat, a Hmong village set beside a waterfall, then along trails through the Muong Hoa Valley's terraced rice fields, past Hmong, Dao and Giay hamlets. Distances and difficulty are set to suit the group — this can be a gentle valley walk or a fuller day's trek.

A morning cable car ride up to the summit area of Fansipan, Vietnam's highest peak at 3,143 metres, for panoramic views across the Hoang Lien range on a clear day. In the afternoon, transfer back down to Hanoi (or Lao Cai for an overnight train, if preferred), arriving in the evening.

A domestic flight from Hanoi to Da Nang, then a short private transfer (around 45 minutes) south to Hoi An. [[CONFIRM]] Domestic flight carrier and cost inclusion. Settle into your riverside hotel, with the evening free to wander the lantern-lit lanes of the Ancient Town for the first time.

A guided walk through the UNESCO-listed Ancient Town: the 16th-century Japanese Covered Bridge, historic merchant houses such as Tan Ky, the Chinese assembly halls and the always-busy Central Market. The afternoon is free — browse the famous tailor shops, take a basket-boat ride through the coconut palms, or simply relax by the river.

An early visit to My Son, the crumbling Hindu temple ruins of the ancient Cham kingdom set in a jungle valley, before continuing north over the Hai Van Pass — a dramatic coastal mountain road between Da Nang and Hue with sweeping sea views. [[CONFIRM]] Road transfer assumed; a rail alternative along the same coastline is also available.

A full day in Vietnam's former imperial capital: the walled Citadel and Imperial City of the Nguyen dynasty, the seven-story Thien Mu Pagoda overlooking the Perfume River, and the tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh with its elaborate blend of Vietnamese and European styles. In the late afternoon, a dragon boat ride on the Perfume River rounds out the day.

A domestic flight from Hue to Ho Chi Minh City. [[CONFIRM]] Domestic flight carrier and cost inclusion. On arrival, an orientation tour of the former Saigon: Reunification Palace, the exterior of the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, the old Saigon Central Post Office and the bustling Ben Thanh Market.

A half-day trip out to the Cu Chi Tunnels, part of a vast underground network used during the war, with sections widened for visitors to explore and exhibits on how the tunnel system functioned. Return to the city for a free afternoon and evening — extend into the tunnels' quieter side sections, or simply rest before the delta day ahead.

A full day out to the Mekong Delta, driving to Can Tho and boarding a boat before dawn for the Cai Rang floating market, where hundreds of vessels trade fruit, vegetables and household goods on the water. Continue by boat and on foot through orchards and canal-side villages before returning to Ho Chi Minh City in the evening. [[CONFIRM]] Day-trip format assumed; an overnight My Tho/Ben Tre alternative with a homestay can also be arranged.

Enjoy a final breakfast and, depending on your flight, a little free time in Ho Chi Minh City for last-minute shopping or a relaxed morning coffee. You're then transferred to the airport for your onward journey — or, if you'd like to extend, we can add an island escape in Phu Quoc, a Cambodia extension into Siem Reap, or additional days in any region of this itinerary.