Vietnam Adventure

Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport, where a local representative greets you with a welcome sign and assists with visa procedures and luggage collection. After clearing customs, meet your guide at the exit and transfer to your hotel in Hanoi. Settle in and enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure.

Meet your guide and driver this morning and head to Hoan Kiem Lake to witness Hanoi’s daily rhythm. Watch locals begin their day with tai chi and aerobics. Join in if you feel up for it. Visit Ngoc Son Temple, located on a small island in the lake, then continue to a traditional café to try a glass of iced coffee known as cà phê sữa đá or opt for Hanoi’s famous egg coffee.

Walk through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, observing its French colonial architecture. Continue to Hoa Lo Prison, once used to hold Vietnamese, American, and French prisoners of war. Visit Huu Tiep Lake to see the remains of a US B-52 bomber resting in the water.

Return to the Old Quarter for a lunch of grilled pork and vermicelli noodles known as bún chả. In the afternoon, explore the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, established in 1076. Admire the architecture and peaceful courtyards that reflect centuries of academic tradition. Later, walk along Hanoi’s narrow train street where the tracks pass just steps from residential doorways. Capture unique photos of this iconic location.

End the day at a local bia hơi spot and enjoy a refreshing glass of draft beer among local patrons. After the tour, return to the hotel to freshen up before your evening transfer to the railway station for the overnight train to Lao Cai.

Please note it is best not to eat breakfast before the tour, since the day includes several tastings.

Arrive early in Lao Cai and transfer to Sapa for a delicious breakfast at a local restaurant. From Sapa, take a short drive to the trailhead at the foot of Fansipan and set off on foot, descending a dirt path through rice terraces to a suspension bridge that leads into the Black H'mong village of Y Linh Ho. After time in the village, rest by the river with fruit and crackers while looking out over the Muong Hoa Valley.

The trail climbs and drops along a riverside mountain path to Cat Cat village. Here, visit the waterfall, listen to a music performance, or stop at a family home where a local villager introduces their embroidery craft. Follow a stream up the hillside to meet your vehicle for the transfer to your ecolodge in the Sapa area. The trek crosses one of the most scenic parts of the Sapa valley, with rice terraces, waterfalls, and mountain views, and its dirt trails make for a moderately challenging workout.

Please note the trail can be slippery during rainy spells.

Terrain: Moderate, on dirt trails through rice terraces and along a riverside mountain path

Head deeper into Hoang Lien National Park this morning to the trailhead near Sin Chai village, an area well off the main tourist routes with views of high mountains and deep valleys. The trail leads to the Red Dao village of Nam Nhiu, where you meet villagers, visit their homes, and learn about daily life in a community that works mostly in farming. From there, a small dirt trail drops into a valley dotted with bamboo huts, which local farmers use as overnight shelters during the harvest season. Pass rice terraces and a river, then follow a quiet road to Nam Cang village.

Nam Cang lies at the far end of the Sapa valley, and its Red Dao women wear some of the most colorful and varied clothing of any of Vietnam's ethnic groups. The village is known for its herbal baths, local medicine, and embroidery. Explore with your guide to see how villagers make writing paper, silver jewelry, and embroidery, then sit down to lunch before meeting your vehicle for the drive back to your ecolodge. The day includes about two hours of driving in total.

If you would prefer a more energetic route to Nam Nhiu, an optional harder trek begins with a short, steep climb, then follows quiet trails with views of rice terraces and green forest. This route is only suitable in dry weather, so let your Trip Planner know if you are interested.

Hiking length: 3 to 3.5 hours
Hike Distance: 5.3 miles / 8.6 kilometers
Terrain: Moderate, on dirt trails, rice terraces, and quiet roads

Start the day with breakfast at the lodge before setting out on a half-day trek to the Red Dao village of Lech. Follow the road for a while, then descend toward a river through rice terraces with wide views across the valley. Cross the river on a stone bridge and climb a trail to the village, where you may see women working on traditional embroidery in their doorways. Return to the lodge afterward to rest, or take the scheduled shuttle into Sapa.

Check out late in the morning and ride a shared shuttle bus back to Hanoi in the afternoon. On arrival, check in to your hotel in Hanoi and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Please note the shuttle to Hanoi travels with a driver only, so no guide joins this leg.

Hiking length: 3 hours
Terrain: Easy, on a road, rice terrace paths, and a village trail

After breakfast, ride a shared shuttle bus from Hanoi to Ha Long International Cruise Port and board a tender to your boat, a wooden junk modeled on the old Vietnamese court vessels. Settle in with a welcome drink and safety briefing, then sit down to a Vietnamese set lunch as the boat cruises into Bai Tu Long Bay, the limestone seascape just northeast of Ha Long Bay.

In the afternoon, explore Cap La Island by kayak, go for a swim, or relax among the limestone islands. Toward evening, join the sunset party followed by a Vietnamese cooking demonstration or fruit carving session. Dinner is a set menu on board, and the rest of the night is free for board games, squid fishing, or time on deck under the stars.

Please note the cruise program varies by boat, and activities depend on the weather.

Begin the morning with a tai chi session on the sundeck, followed by breakfast on board. Transfer to a smaller day boat to explore deeper into the bay, stopping at Thay Cave, where you can kayak and swim. Lunch is served on the day boat before a visit to Vung Vieng, a floating fishing village, and a local pearl farm.

Return to the main boat in the afternoon for a sunset party and cooking demonstration, followed by dinner on board. Spend the evening squid fishing, playing games, or relaxing on deck.

Greet the sunrise with tai chi on the sundeck and have breakfast before an early visit to Thien Canh Son Cave, one of the hidden caves of Bai Tu Long Bay. Return to the boat to pack and check out, then take in views of the bay and its islands as the boat cruises slowly back to the harbor.

After disembarking at Ha Long International Cruise Port, meet your guide and driver for the transfer to Noi Bai Airport and your flight to Hue. In Hue, your guide and driver meet you for the transfer to your hotel in Hue, and the rest of the day is free.

Today, cycle through Hue’s historic Thuy Bieu village, where the grandeur of the Imperial City blends seamlessly with the simplicity of rural life. Explore well-preserved communal houses, beautiful garden homes, and unique wooden architecture that reflect the village’s deep connection to the Nguyen dynasty’s rise and fall. Visit the Roman amphitheater, once the site of duels between tigers and elephants, the temple-cemetery dedicated to royal war elephants, and the traditional bronze casting village. Continue your journey with a cruise along the Perfume River to the famed Thien Mu Pagoda, followed by a visit to the magnificent Purple Forbidden City, built by Emperor Gia Long in the early 19th century. End the day with a transfer back to your hotel in Hue.

After breakfast, check out and meet your guide and driver for a scenic journey to Hoi An. Along the way, cross the Hai Van Pass, Vietnam’s highest and longest mountain pass, offering panoramic views of Lang Co beach and the tranquil fishing villages below. Stop for photos to capture the stunning landscapes as you drive through this historic boundary between the ancient kingdoms of Đại Việt and Champa.

Arrive in Hoi An and check in to your hotel in Hoi An. Take some time to rest before setting off for an afternoon walking tour through the town’s enchanting streets. Explore hundreds of historic buildings, pagodas, and ancient homes that showcase Hoi An's rich multi-cultural heritage. Visit key landmarks, including the Japanese Covered Bridge, Pottery Museum, the 200-year-old Tan Ky House, Chua Ong Pagoda, and the lively local market.

Enjoy the evening at your leisure, allowing time to wander through Hoi An’s charming streets or relax at your hotel.

Head out early by minibus to My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the former religious center of the Champa kingdom. Walk the temple site with your guide to learn its history and legends, then cycle along small country roads, stopping for photos along the way.

After lunch at a small local restaurant, a one-hour boat ride on the Thu Bon River brings you back to Hoi An. Spend the evening at your leisure.

Bike Distance: 17 miles / 27 kilometers

After breakfast, enjoy free time in Hoi An until your guide and driver pick you up for the transfer to Da Nang Airport and your departure flight, or spend more time exploring Vietnam on your own.