Vietnam Grand Tour: 14 Days from South to North

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City to visit the most evocative site of the Vietnam War history: the Cu Chi Tunnels, a district that was heavily devastated, deforested, razed to the ground, bombed, and contaminated with all possible chemical agents, including Agent Orange, during the war. During the excursion, you will visit a wide section of the tunnels to experience the sensations of underground life. Cu Chi is an excellent example of the spirit, strength, and determination of the Vietnamese people for peace and freedom.

Return to the city. Free lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, discover Saigon with a visit to the Quan Am Pagoda, one of the city’s oldest pagodas dedicated to Guan Yin, featuring elements of Taoism and the folk worship of the “Queen of Heaven.” Then, among the most symbolic icons, we visit the Central Post Office, built in the late 19th century with Renaissance and Gothic style influences. We continue to Notre Dame Cathedral (exterior only, as it is currently under renovation) and the Ben Thanh Market.

At the end, return to the hotel in Saigon. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

A morning journey toward Ben Tre, a beautiful region of the Mekong Delta famous for its coconut candy production. Arrival at the Phong Nam Bridge for a boat trip on the Ben Tre River to discover local daily life. Stop at a kiln to observe traditional brick making. Along the canal, you will visit one of the many coconut processing workshops where you can taste fresh coconut and see how every single part of this fruit is transformed into its derivative products. Continue your boat trip along a canal to the village of Nhon Thanh. This will be an opportunity to taste fresh fruit. Take a bicycle ride (or Tuk Tuk) along a small path through the villages and enjoy the views of coconut trees, rice fields, and vegetable gardens.

Lunch included at a local restaurant (not included).

A short walk will help you discover local life more closely. This is followed by a boat ride on a small canal shaded by wild palms. After the visit, transfer to Can Tho.

Free dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Can Tho.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Today you will wake up to the sounds of the Mekong River!

You will begin the day with a boat trip to reach the Cai Rang floating market—the largest and most vibrant in the Mekong Delta. Here you can observe the sampans filled with goods such as rice, fruit, and handcrafted products, which merchants transport at dawn to sell in the floating market.

NOTE: The Cai Rang market is at its best between 5:00 and 7:00 AM.

After the market visit, you will stop at a local family home that has been hand-producing traditional “hủ tiếu”—typical Vietnamese noodles—for three generations. Guided by them, you can discover and try the preparation stages firsthand. You will then visit a fruit garden. Finally, you will stop at the evocative Binh Thuy ancient house, surrounded by an orchid garden, where several scenes from the film “The Lover” were filmed.

After the visit, return to Saigon. Transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for the flight toward Hue.

Upon arrival at Phu Bai airport, meet our driver, recognizable by the welcome sign with your name, at the exit after baggage claim. Transfer to the hotel.

Check-in and overnight stay in Hue.

Breakfast at the hotel.

The day begins with the Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in Hue, dating back to 1601. It is the spiritual highlight of the city and well known for its majestic octagonal tower and splendid views over the Perfume River. The next stop is the Hue Citadel, the sole remaining symbol of what was once the imperial city of Vietnam. It is inspired by Vauban fortifications. The city is composed of three parts: Kinh Thanh (the capital), Hoang Thanh (the imperial city), and Cam Thanh (the forbidden city).

Free lunch at a local restaurant.

The rest of the afternoon will be dedicated to the traditional incense village of Thuy Xuan, where talented artists preserve the “soul” of the Vietnamese nation day after day, followed by the Imperial Tomb of Tu Duc, the most representative monument of Nguyen dynasty architecture and one of the most wonderful constructions of the 19th century. The day concludes with the Dong Ba Market.

Free dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure for Hoi An (125 km – approx. 3 hours) along the Mandarin Road and the Hai Van Pass. During the journey, stop at the top of the Hai Van Pass (Pass of the Clouds) to admire the breathtaking view of the Lang Co fishing village, the ocean, and the city of Da Nang.

Upon arrival in Da Nang, visit the Cham Museum, the richest in archaeological artifacts from the ancient Champa Empire, which houses extraordinary works of art of great historical and cultural value. Continue with a visit to the Linh Ung Pagoda, from which you can admire the majestic statue of the Goddess of Mercy, also known as Lady Buddha. Stop to photograph the fishermen on the beach, then continue the journey along the coastal road until reaching the ancient city of Hoi An.

Arrival in Hoi An, check in at the hotel. Break for lunch (not included).

In the afternoon, discover the Old Quarter. The first stop is Cam Pho – built according to traditional Chinese architecture, this building serves as a center for worship, trade, and commercial negotiations, as well as cultural exchange between locals and Chinese and Japanese merchants. Take a short walk to the symbol of the city of Hoi An – the Chua Cau or the Japanese Covered Bridge, built in the 17th century to allow access to the Japanese quarter from the Chinese quarters. Continue toward the Quan Thang Ancient House – one of the most authentic ancient houses in Hoi An; its lively and refined architecture and sculptures were crafted in Oriental style by artisans from the famous Kim Bong carpentry village. The house offers a glimpse into the daily life of a Hoi An family. If time permits, we can also visit the Phuc Kien (Fujian) Assembly Hall, built in the 17th century as a meeting place for residents, merchants, and visitors from the specific area of China called Fujian.

Free dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Hoi An.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free time at your disposal in Hoi An.

At [time to be defined]: Pick up from the hotel and transfer to Danang airport in time for your flight to Hanoi.

Upon arrival at Noi Bai airport, meet the driver (no guide), recognizable by the welcome sign with your name, at the exit after baggage claim.

Free dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Hanoi.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Pick up by the guide to visit the Ethnology Museum (closed every Monday), which offers a unique opportunity to explore the cultural richness of the numerous ethnic groups present in Vietnam. After the museum, it will be time for the Temple of Literature (Quoc Tu Giam); considered the first national university of Vietnam, it was built under the Ly dynasty in the 11th century. The complex served as a place for the worship of Confucius and a school to teach royal children.

Free lunch at a local restaurant (not included).

In the afternoon, you will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (exterior only, as it is closed on Mondays and Fridays) before taking a pleasant walk in the botanical gardens and visiting the Presidential Palace, the Ho Chi Minh stilt house where he lived and worked, and Ba Dinh Square, the place where Ho Chi Minh read the declaration of Vietnam’s independence from the French in 1945. Then, a stop will be made at the One Pillar Pagoda, considered one of the most important symbols of the city.

Afterward, you will visit the Tran Quoc Pagoda, dating back to the 6th century during the dynasty of Emperor Ly Nam De. Finally, you will take a rickshaw ride (cyclo) of about 40 minutes around Hoan Kiem Lake (the Lake of the Restored Sword), which evokes the legend of a giant tortoise and a magic sword used to drive the Chinese out of Vietnam, and the Old Quarter of Hanoi with its famous streets teeming with life.

The day ends with a Water Puppet Show, where the daily life, culture, and beliefs of the Vietnamese people are told through puppets on water.

After the tour, you have a day-use room at a hostel for relaxation until 9:00 PM. Walk to the station for the train to Lao Cai.

Overnight stay on the train.

Arrival at Lao Cai station around 06:00 AM. Welcome by the English-speaking local guide. Breakfast at a local restaurant.

Departure for Bac Ha, passing through Thanh Kim and Thanh Phu; along the way, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the mountains, river, and lakes. Located at an altitude of 1000 meters, Bac Ha is home to various ethnic groups such as the colorful Flower Hmong, Phu La, and Tay. The Bac Ha region is well known for its weekly and extremely colorful markets, surrounded by a wild and beautiful landscape. These markets are not just for exchanging goods but also serve as the epicenter for cultural encounters between the different ethnicities living in harmony in this region. You will visit a colorful ethnic market that takes place once a week (Coc Ly Market – Tuesday, Sin Cheng Market – Wednesday, Lung Khau Nhin Market – Thursday, Can Cau Market – Saturday, Bac Ha Market – Sunday). You can browse through the market and see the products sold there, such as vegetables, poultry, horses, and buffaloes. Your attention will surely be captured not only by the liveliness of the market but also by the many minority groups in their most colorful traditional clothing.

After visiting the market, you will take a short walk through some small ethnic villages that make up Bac Ha, interspersed with cornfields, cassava hills, and clay houses; plum gardens adorned by Hmong women in their colorful dresses will accompany you throughout the journey.

Finally, we will head toward Sapa. Free dinner and overnight stay at a lodge in a tribal village.

Breakfast at the lodge.

Continue the visit to Sapa with a soft trek toward the Y Linh Ho village. Follow the downhill path and interact with the friendly Hmong ladies and children living in houses nestled in the valley. You will stop at the cable car bridge to refresh yourselves and enjoy the beauty offered by the surrounding nature. If you are sporty and adventurous, follow the uphill trek along the buffalo trail (dirt path) with breathtaking panoramas and fewer tourists. For those who prefer an easier trek, you can take a pleasant walk along the Muong Hoa River.

You will then go to Lao Chai Village via a small path that crosses the rice fields to the tiny settlement. It is an excellent opportunity to learn about their daily life and culture. The tour continues with the exploration of Ta Van village, the fascinating land of the Dzay people, beautifully situated on the hill with a splendid view of the river and the Hoang Lien Son mountain range. As you walk along the village streets, you will meet locals who will kindly invite you to visit their homes.

Pick-up by car and transfer back to Sapa in the afternoon. Free time until 3:00 PM, then take the shared bus (without guide) to Hanoi. Arrival in Hanoi at 9:00 PM, check-in at the hotel.

Free dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Meet the tour guide and driver and then depart for Ninh Binh (100km ~ 2.5 hours). During the journey through the Red River Delta, stop if you wish to take photos. Upon arrival at Hoa Lu, you will visit the temples dedicated to Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang of the Dinh dynasty (968-980) and Emperor Le Dai Hanh of the Le dynasty (980-1009), who played vital roles in winning the country’s independence after a thousand years of Chinese rule. Both temples were built in the 17th century to symbolize deep respect for the Kings’ contributions.

Free lunch at a local restaurant (not included).

The next stop is Tam Coc, which is known as “Halong Bay on Land” and appeared in the famous French film “Indochine.” Upon arrival at the pier, you will take a private sampan boat for a ninety-minute cruise along the Ngo Dong River. You will pass through three caves and witness a breathtaking landscape interspersed with small communities, rice fields, cemeteries, and temples.

Continue your tour to Bich Dong, a typical pagoda in the Red River Delta countryside, built in the 15th century. Upon arrival, cross a stone bridge to Chua Ha, from which over 100 steps lead to Chua Trung—the cave pagoda with unique clay statues. You then walk up to Chua Thuong. Not only will you have the chance to learn about Buddhism, but you will also enjoy an incredible view of the countryside.

After the visit, return to the hotel.

Free dinner and overnight stay in Ninh Binh.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Meet the cruise company staff between 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM at the hotel reception. Shared transfer (private upon request with a supplement) by cruise bus to Halong port (approximately 4 hours with an intermediate break).

Halong Bay—in Vietnamese, “the bay where the dragon descends into the sea”—is an enchanting bay with thousands of limestone islands, karst caves, sea stacks, and islets that make it a picturesque and charming location. Magnificent, mysterious, and majestic, Halong Bay has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1994 and is considered one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

Day 1 of the 2-Day/1-Night cruise program.

Meals and overnight stay on the cruise.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

• Lunch and dinner featuring seafood tasting on board the junk (included – drinks not included).
• Overnight stay on board in a private deluxe cabin (with AC and shower).
• The cruise program may vary without prior notice based on weather conditions or local authority decisions.
• There is only one English-speaking guide provided by the cruise company on the junk.

Breakfast on the cruise.

Day 2 of the 2-Day/1-Night cruise program:

• Return on board for check-out.
• Brunch on board.
• Return to the port. Shared transfer (private upon request with a supplement) by cruise bus back to Hanoi.

Free dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Hanoi.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free time until the transfer (without guide) to the airport for your flight back to Italy. We wish you a safe journey home!!!

NOTE: International flights require arrival at the airport 3 hours before departure, while domestic flights require arrival 2 hours before departure.