This is a suggested itinerary. Dates, stops & activities are all flexible.
14 Days: Hanoi - Da Bac - Cuc Phuong National Park - Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City - Vinh Long
Activities: sightseeing and history, gentle cycling, traditional crafts, hilltribe villages, night safari, overnight train, beach time
Day 1: Chào bạn! Welcome to Hanoi, where you’ll be greeted at the airport and taken to your hotel for check-in, then the rest of the day is yours to explore this vibrant metropolis that blends 1,000 years of living history with the modern energy of a major Asian city.
Day 2: Your day begins at 08:00 with visits to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex and the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university dating back to 1070 AD, followed by lunch at a local restaurant featuring authentic Hanoian phở. In the afternoon, you’ll stop at Ngoc Son Temple before ending this enriching day with a cyclo (rickshaw) ride around Hoan Kiem Lake and through the lively Old Quarter. Or if you want to delve deeper into Vietnam's cuisine, consider adding a cooking class or dinner with a local family. (B/L)
Day 3: This morning, you’ll head outside central Hanoi to a historic hub of traditional water puppetry to meet a local artisan family for a workshop tour. Spend the morning learning about this unique art form, enjoy a private demonstration, and even try controlling the puppets yourself. The afternoon is free unless you opt for a three-hour electric bike ride around West Lake and Banana Island, a scenic route through hidden alleys, lakeside paths, and quiet countryside-like roads before returning to your hotel around 16:30. (B/L)
Day 4: Departing Hanoi at 08:00, you’ll travel 90 km west to Sung Village for an authentic cultural experience with the Dao Tien minority people. Share lunch with a local family and chat with neighbours, then take a scenic 6 km walk through the forest to Mong Stream, for a boat ride along the Da River to Mo Hem Village. Upon arrival, you’ll have time to swim or kayak before sharing a home-cooked dinner with your host family, then enjoy a performance of traditional music and try your hand at making bánh oc cakes. Overnight in a homestay. (B/L/D)
Day 5: Mornings in Mo Hem are beautiful so take time to breathe the cool, fresh air and watch the sun rise over the lake. After breakfast, learn more about the culture of the Muong people and visit a fish farm, before continuing by boat and car to Cuc Phuong National Park for check-in at a basic park service bungalow. Rest or optionally visit to the Turtle Conservation Centre, then after dark a park guide leads you on a night walk in search of nocturnal wildlife including civets, owls, flying squirrels, lorises, bats and cats. (B/L/D)
Day 6: After breakfast, venture deep into Cuc Phuong National Park, beginning with a visit to the Endangered Primate Rescue Center to learn about conservation efforts for critically endangered species like the Delacour’s langur and the gibbon. Then set out on a 3–4 hour guided trek through dense rainforest, where ancient trees, exotic flora, and possible wildlife sightings are brought to life by your guide’s insights into the park’s ecosystem and history. Around 16:00, explore the photogenic Bich Dong Pagoda perched on a mountainside, before continuing to Ninh Binh train station for dinner and your 22:00 night train to Danang. (B/L)
Day 7: After arriving at around 12:00, hop in the van and drive to Hoi An along National Highway 1, passing rice fields, local villages, Cau Hai Lagoon, the fishing village of Lang Co, and the scenic Hai Van Pass with its sweeping coastal views. Check in and enjoy a late lunch and then a free afternoon to relax. You can wander the atmospheric old town in the evening or stay near Cua Dai or An Bang beaches to combine relaxation with cultural exploration. (B)
Days 8 - 10: These days are yours to unwind and enjoy Hoi An’s slow, peaceful pace, whether you prefer relaxing on the beach, dining at beachfront restaurants, or exploring the culture and history of the old town. If you’d like something more active, we can arrange family-friendly experiences such as cycling and kayaking in the countryside, wood carving or lantern-making workshops, photography and cooking classes, or hands-on conservation activities. There’s plenty to do in Hoi An—just ask if you’d like more details! (B)
Day 11: Early morning transfer to Danang Airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City, where your guide will meet you and then take you to Bach Dang Pier around 13:00 to board a speedboat to the Cu Chi Tunnels. As you cruise upriver, the scenery quickly shifts from urban sprawl to lush jungle, taking about 1.5 hours to reach the underground tunnel network, where you’ll explore hidden bunkers and booby traps, sample the cassava root that Viet Cong fighters survived on and even crawl through a tunnel section. Return to the city by boat, arriving at your hotel around 17:00 with the evening free at leisure. (B)
Day 12: At 08:00, you’ll be picked up from your hotel for a two-hour drive to Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta, where you can experience the unique riverine life and lush landscapes that make this region Vietnam’s agricultural heartland. After meeting your local guide, take a boat to An Binh Island to visit a floating fish farm, then begin a gentle cycling journey past fruit gardens and canals, stopping at a local home for a freshly cooked lunch before continuing to explore the island. You’ll visit a coconut candy workshop and a Cao Dai temple before settling into your family-run ecolodge to relax by the pool and enjoy a dinner of local specialties. (B)
Day 13: After breakfast at the lodge, take a boat to Thanh Duc village on the mainland before setting off on another morning of leisurely cycling beneath the lush jungle canopy. You’ll pass pottery workshops, vibrant rice fields, vegetable farms, and canalside villages where local children greet you as you ride along small waterside paths. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then drive back to Ho Chi Minh City, arriving at your hotel around 17:00. (B)
Day 14: Your journey comes to an end as you transfer to Saigon airport for your onward flight. Depart with unforgettable memories of Vietnam’s fascinating culture, stunning landscapes, and warm hospitality. (B)
Prices from: £1500 per person (based on a family of 4)
Services included: hotels on shared room basis, meals, transfers and activities as mentioned, entry fees, English speaking guide, 24 hour assistance
Services not included: flights, drinks, tips and personal expenses.
Note: stops can be extended, added or cut - just ask us!
