Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi

Arrive at Hanoi airport on flight xx. Welcomed by your driver and guide from Tonkin-Travel, you'll be transferred to the city and drop off your luggage at the hotel. Rooms are available from 1:30 PM.

While waiting for your room, enjoy a one-hour walking and cyclo-push tour through the old colonial quarter, exploring major sites like the Opera House, the Bank of Indochina, the medicinal herb street, Bach Ma Temple, the Cathedral, and Ngoc Son Temple.

The rest of the day is free for you to relax and recover from the long flight.

In the late afternoon, experience the traditional water puppet show.

Enjoy a welcome dinner at a good local restaurant in Hanoi (courtesy of the agency) and overnight at the hotel.

Included: Private transport, accommodation, English-speaking guide, meals included: Welcome Dinner

Day 2: Hanoi - Full Day City Tour and Food Tour

Breakfast at the hotel.

The morning is dedicated to visiting the Ethnography Museum, Hanoi’s most beautiful and interesting museum, showcasing the cultural richness of Vietnam’s diverse ethnic groups. The well-displayed artifacts and clear explanatory panels provide deep insights into these fascinating and lesser-known peoples.

Next, visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university and a significant historical and cultural monument in Hanoi.

Transfer to Phung Hung street, which features murals depicting the city's ancient and contemporary life on the stone walls of the viaduct.

Wander through Dong Xuan Market – the city's largest market, and a smaller local market behind it, offering a vivid slice of local life.

End your walk at the Long Bien Bridge, a relic from the French colonial era, spanning the Red River and offering views of the bustling traffic below.

In the evening, embark on a walking food tour in the Old Quarter, where you’ll have the chance to taste Hanoi specialties such as green papaya salad with dried beef, mixed fruit with yogurt, spring rolls, "Pho chien phong", fresh beer with "nem chua", and a mojito near the lake in a friendly atmosphere filled with the lively sounds of the surroundings.

Included: Private transport, accommodation, English-speaking guide, meals included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 3: Hanoi - Mai Chau – Homestay in Mai Hich

Breakfast at your hotel.

Depart early for Mai Chau (~150km/3h drive), with several stops planned for sightseeing and to take in the views.

Two hours into the drive, leave the modernity and noise of the city for a calmer, simpler life in the countryside.

Stop at the highest point of Thung Khe Pass to enjoy breathtaking views of the Mai Chau valley and take some time to breathe in the mountain air and capture photos of the stunning panorama.

Arrive in Mai Chau valley around noon. Lunch on your own at Van village.

In the afternoon, enjoy an easy walk to explore the countryside, traditional bamboo-stilt houses, terraced rice paddies, and more. During your walk, you'll have the chance to participate in rice cultivation with the locals, including weeding, ploughing with a buffalo, transplanting rice seedlings, harvesting cassava, and fishing in the river.

Experience these activities with the farmers according to the seasonal work.

Finally, head to the village of Mai Hich, 10km from Mai Chau town. Settle in for a homestay.

Dinner and overnight at a homestay in Mai Hich (warm and comfortable setting).

Optional for the evening: Traditional Dance Performance with the locals + $40 USD/group. After dinner, enjoy a traditional dance show around a campfire, tasting local "CAN" wine, and interacting with artists, farmers, and villagers. A lively evening full of atmosphere!

Included: Private transport, accommodation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees, meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4: Mai Hich – Buoc Village – Ninh Binh

After breakfast at the homestay, drive from Mai Hich to Buoc village along the Xia river and through primitive forests (about 15km). The route passes numerous rice paddies and bamboo groves, revealing many different villages of the Thai and Muong people, each with its own unique characteristics.

You can opt for short, easy walks (about 2-4km) instead of driving, depending on your capability and desire.

Arrive at Buoc village around noon, welcomed by a Thai family with whom you'll share a well-prepared meal.

If time permits, enjoy the cool waters of a nearby stream before heading to Ninh Binh.

Then proceed to Ninh Binh (~200km/4h drive). Arrive in Ninh Binh by the end of the day and start exploring Tam Coc, also known as "Halong Bay on Land" due to its limestone karst formations reminiscent of the famous bay. Settle in at the hotel.

Dinner on your own and overnight in Tam Coc.

Included: Private transport, accommodation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees, meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5: Tam Coc – Bich Dong

Breakfast at the hotel.

Start the morning with a rowboat ride in the spectacular setting of Tam Coc among karst islets and green landscapes with beautiful caves. Youngsters can try rowing, and a friendly competition among novice rowers can be organized.

Continue with a bike ride through fields and the Hai Nham village to reach Bich Dong Pagoda, located on Ngu Nhac Mountain. This complex of three pagodas dating back to the early Le Dynasty offers a magnificent view of the surrounding area.

Visit the nearby Dance Cave by climbing 486 stone steps to the top of the bell-shaped mountain for a fantastic panorama of the "Halong Bay on Land."

End the day with a visit to the Van Lam embroidery village. Once specialized in making ceremonial clothing for spiritual events and royal dynasties, Van Lam now focuses on producing interior decoration accessories like curtains, tablecloths, towels, bedding, and clothing.

Then head to Hiep's, a warm local family home for a special dinner featuring Vietnamese hotpot (Lau) with rice alcohol in a convivial atmosphere, especially enjoyable among friends or family in cooler weather. Enjoy the mix of ingredients (meat, fish, seafood, various vegetables) in this vibrant setting.

Return to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Included: Private transport, accommodation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees, meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6: Ninh Binh – Hai Phong – Cat Ba - Cruise & Overnight Stay

Breakfast at the hotel.

At 7:30 AM, depart for Hai Phong (160 km - 3.5 hours drive) to reach Got Port.

Upon arriving at Got Port, board a ferry to Cat Ba Island (~20 minutes cruise). Once on the island, your driver will take you to Beo Dock (~30 km/40 minutes).

12:00 PM: Welcome aboard with a refreshing welcome drink at Ben Beo Dock.

Cabin check-in and the junk boat starts sailing towards Lan Ha Bay. Enjoy the first one-hour cruise among hundreds of stunning limestone islands.

Stop for lunch and swimming time at Ba Trai Dao beaches.

As you take a nap on the upper deck admiring the bay's beauty, the junk boat continues to gently navigate towards the center of Halong Bay, taking you to Hang Ca for a wonderful kayaking excursion.

The junk returns to the center of Lan Ha Bay and anchors. Great time to admire the scenery and enjoy an aperitif on the deck. While the crew prepares your dinner, you can swim further from the boat or try your luck at fishing.

Dinner onboard.

After dinner, try squid fishing - a memorable experience. Overnight stay on the boat.

Included: Private transport, accommodation, English-speaking guide on board, entrance fees, meals: Lunch, Dinner.

Day 7: Cat Ba – Hai Phong – Hanoi - Overnight Train to Hue

Wake up early to enjoy the fresh air and sunrise if you wish.

After breakfast, the junk boat heads to Viethai village for a delightful bike ride to explore local island life, including a visit to a family-owned rice wine maker.

After returning from the ride, time for a shower and to check out of the cabins as the junk navigates through Lan Ha Bay.

At 11:00 AM, enjoy lunch onboard.

Return to Ben Beo Dock and disembark around noon, then transfer to the dock to take the ferry to Hai Phong city.

Arrive in Hai Phong around 2:00 PM and then transfer directly to Hanoi station (~3 - 3.5 hours drive) to catch the overnight train to Hue departing at 7:30 PM.

Dinner on your own before departure.

Overnight on the train in a 4-berth cabin.

Day 8: Hue - City Tour

Arrive at Hue station around 9:00 AM, welcomed by our guide and driver, then transferred to the city center.

Breakfast at a local restaurant.

Visit the imperial tomb of Tu Duc, undoubtedly the most beautiful and majestic in Hue, seeking perfect harmony with nature, surrounded by lotus-filled ponds and guarded by statues of lions, elephants, and mandarins. Next, stop to learn the secrets of making conical hats and incense.

Lunch on your own.

Then proceed to explore the Imperial City with:

The Palace of Supreme Harmony: Its dragon-topped roof is supported by 80 golden and lacquered lim wood columns, centered around the imperial throne.

The magnificent Nguyen Dynasty Temple: Featuring well-maintained altars for the 10 emperors.

The Pavilion of Splendor: Housing nine dynastic bronze urns.

The Forbidden Purple City: Once home to the emperor's family, only eunuchs were allowed entry.

Experience the everyday ambiance by visiting the Dong Ba market.

Dinner at a local restaurant featuring Hue specialties and overnight at the hotel.

Included: Private transport, accommodation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees, meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 9: Hue – Rural Villages – Cooking Class – Danang – Hoi An

Breakfast at the hotel.

Depart from the hotel in a private car to La Chu village, 9 km north of downtown Hue, known for its vegetable and herb farming (onions, chives, coriander, basil, etc.).

Meet at the village entrance for a bike ride through the picturesque countryside of Hue.

First stop at a family-run workshop making paper votive offerings, a strong and popular belief among Vietnamese.

Continue to a small daily local market, exploring stalls of meat, spices, and fresh vegetables and fruits, under the curious and friendly gaze of local women not used to seeing tourists.

Next, visit the vegetable fields, where you can meet villagers and chat with them. They will be happy to pose for a photo with you—a memorable souvenir!

Ride through typical countryside landscapes of fields, rice paddies, banana plants, rivers, lotus ponds, and mountains in the background, still bearing scars of Agent Orange dropped over forty years ago by the U.S. military.

Of course, no visit would be complete without greeting a family specialized in making “Banh Loc”—a small cake made from rice flour mixed with shrimp.

Interact with the family and try your hand at making these dishes.

Then, participate in a typical cooking class with the host family and enjoy lunch at a family restaurant amidst the rice fields, savoring a fresh and typical meal. After lunch, relax with your feet in a hot medicinal herb bath overlooking the beautiful Vietnamese rice paddies.

In the early afternoon, drive to Chuon Lagoon to watch the sunset, located 10 km from Hue city, part of the Tam Giang lagoon system where three major rivers converge before flowing into the sea at Thuan An estuary. The inhabitants live mainly according to the tides, and the pace of daily life remains very calm and peaceful. This lagoon is a favorite spot for photographers. Return to the hotel at the end of the day.

Then, depart for Hoi An via Danang (known as Tourane during French colonization) passing through the Hai Van Pass, which offers a stunning panorama of the central coast at its summit.

Dinner on your own at a restaurant and overnight at a hotel in Hoi An.

Included: Private transport, accommodation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees, meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Day 10: Hoi An – Old Town – Cam Thanh

In the morning, take a walking tour through the narrow streets of the city to discover houses over two centuries old including a visit to the Old Town where you'll see the Japanese Bridge built in 1593, the Folklore Museum, Tan Ky House, Tran Family Chapel, and beautiful homes of Chinese merchants. Visit the Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall built in 1690, which houses a pagoda dedicated to Thien Hau Thanh Mau, the sea goddess and protector of sailors.

Late in the morning, participate in a lantern-making workshop – a symbol of Hoi An, in a local studio.

In the afternoon, head towards the fishing village of Van Lang and the Bay Mau water coconut forest—about 7 hectares, surrounded by mangrove forests, channels, and homes covered in water coconut leaves. During the Vietnam War, it served as a refuge for locals and soldiers and is now famed for its seafood products. Enjoy a stroll in the village where fishermen will introduce you to their traditional fishing techniques and the coconut forests by a "Thung chai" - basket boat cruise.

Dinner on your own and overnight in Hoi An.

Included: Private transport, accommodation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees, meals: Breakfast.

Day 11: Hoi An – Danang - Saigon / City Tour

Breakfast at the hotel.

Then, transfer in the morning with a driver to Da Nang airport for the flight to Saigon.

Upon arrival, welcomed by our driver and transferred to the city center. Check-in at the hotel.

Then, take a walking tour to explore the historic sites of the city: the Old Saigon Post Office, Notre-Dame Cathedral centrally located in a square, and Dong Khoi Street with its luxury shops and bustling atmosphere. Explore Chinatown's Cholon area, particularly the Thien Hau Pagoda and the lively Binh Tay Market, where you can find almost anything imaginable.

Return to the hotel. Meals on your own and overnight at the hotel.

Included: Transport, accommodation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees, meals: Breakfast, flight from Danang to Saigon in economy class.

Day 12: Sai Gon – Ben Tre - Can Tho

Breakfast at the hotel.

At 8:00 AM, meet your guide at the hotel and depart for Ben Tre (60 km – 1.5 hours drive) to begin your exploration of the Mekong Delta, formed by the nine arms of the life-giving river. Upon arrival in Ben Tre, board a local boat. This will take you on the river to see the daily activities of its inhabitants. You can witness the making of bricks and coconut fibers and enjoy seasonal fruit tasting. Continue to Cai Son and Nhon Thanh where local families specialize in mat making. Explore the area by bike or motorized vehicle through rice paddies and vegetable gardens. Embark on a boat again to explore Cai Coi creek.

Then continue on the road to Can Tho.

Stop in Sadec, the hometown of Marguerite Duras. Visit the primary school where Marguerite Duras started her education and the house of her lover Huynh Thuan.

Arrive in Can Tho by the end of the day. Check-in at the hotel.

Meals on your own. Overnight in Can Tho.

Included: Private transport, accommodation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees, meals: Breakfast.

Day 13: Can Tho – Floating Market – Chau Doc

In the morning, take a motorboat ride on the Cai Nong canal to visit the Cai Rang floating market. Enjoy the vast variety of products sold here, from well-known fruits like mangoes and bananas to more exotic ones like mangosteens, milk apples, sweet longans, and pungent durians. After the market, take the narrow and wild road towards Chau Doc.

Located close to the Cambodian border, Chau Doc is a multi-ethnic city where Chinese, Cham, and Khmer communities live together, each with their own place of worship.

Upon arrival in Chau Doc, transfer to visit the Tra Su Nature Reserve. Enjoy a boat ride through the maze of canals and mangroves, gliding over water lily pads. The coolness provided by numerous cajeput trees is refreshing, and you will be amazed by the hundreds of birds, herons, egrets, cormorants, and other protected species.

After a lovely boat ride, tourists can climb a thirty-meter-high watchtower to enjoy the panoramic view and observe wildlife through a telescope.

Meals on your own and overnight in a hotel.

Included: Private transport, accommodation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees, meals: Breakfast.

Day 14: Chau Doc – Speedboat – Phnom Penh

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer without a guide to the Chau Doc pier to take the speedboat to Phnom Penh (5-hour cruise). Upon arrival at Phnom Penh port from Chau Doc, you are greeted by your local driver and transferred to the hotel for check-in.

Explore the Royal Palace of Phnom Penh, the residence of the royal family and a symbol of the kingdom. Then visit the Silver Pagoda, named for the 5,000 silver tiles that cover its floor. In the morning, visit the National Museum of Fine Arts of Phnom Penh, a superb example of Khmer architecture officially inaugurated in 1920, displaying mainly sculptures from various periods of Cambodia's history. Finally, visit Wat Phnom, the symbol of the city. Located on one of the capital's rare hills, the original pagoda was built in 1373 to house Buddha statues discovered in the Mekong by a woman named Penh.

Meals on your own and overnight in Phnom Penh.

Included: Private transport, accommodation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees, speedboat from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh, meals: Breakfast.

Day 15: Phnom Penh – Silk Island – Meal at a Local's Home

After breakfast, depart for an excursion to Koh Dach, Silk Island. This island, home to 20,000 people in the middle of the Mekong and close to Phnom Penh, is renowned beyond Cambodian borders for its silk weaving craft. Explore the island by bike (Tuk Tuk as an option if you cannot pedal) for a pleasant and authentic experience through nature, fruit trees, fields, and the banks of the Mekong, all accompanied by the regular sound of looms, present in all traditional stilted houses. Enjoy a lunch break that mirrors the rest of this Cambodian tour day: a locally colored meal prepared by an island family. Your return to Phnom Penh will be by boat—a 1h15 cruise on the Mekong offering beautiful scenery.

In the late afternoon, discover the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former high school transformed into a major prison under the Khmer Rouge named "S-21" where thousands of prisoners were detained, tortured, and killed.

Overnight in a hotel in Phnom Penh.

Included: Private transport, accommodation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees, meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Day 16: Phnom Penh – Transfer to Siem Reap – Roluos Group

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer without a guide from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. Arrive in Siem Reap around noon and check in at the hotel.

Then, explore one of Angkor's oldest capitals, Hariharalaya, better known as Roluos. Start your visit of the ancient city at the brick temple of Lolei, originally built on an island at the center of the Indratataka Baray (reservoir). This temple is made of exquisite sandstone carvings perfectly preserved and the huge main gate carved from a single block of stone.

Continue your tour by visiting Preah Ko or the Sacred Cow Temple, named after the animal of the God Shiva, the Cow of Nandin. This temple is largely made of pre-Angkorian bricks typical of the sanctuaries of the Chenla Empire. Finally, appreciate the very first mountain temple in the history of the Empire, Bakong, whose architectural style later became the signature of the great Khmer sovereigns.

It is a huge pyramid whose cardinal points on each level serve as bases for gigantic elephants. You will climb the edifice to its summit to enjoy the stunning view of the surrounding area.

Return to Siem Reap. Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Included: Private transport, accommodation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees, meals: Breakfast.

Day 17: Siem Reap / Angkor Temples by Tuk Tuk

Breakfast at the hotel.

Depart by tuk-tuk to discover the city of Angkor: Angkor Wat, a World Heritage site with its slender towers and extraordinary bas-reliefs. It is one of the most extraordinary monuments ever conceived by the human mind, erected in the 12th century (1112-1152) in honor of Vishnu.

In the afternoon, continue by tuk-tuk to the prodigious city of Angkor Thom (Great City), starting with the South Gate, the famous Bayon of the 12th & 13th centuries dedicated to Buddhism, featuring 54 gigantic towers with 216 faces of Avalokitesvara, Baphuon (11th century) dedicated to Brahmanism, a pyramidal temple representing Mount Meru; the Terrace of the Elephants, 350m long, was the stage for the grandeur of royal audiences and public ceremonies; the Terrace of the Leper King, a 12th-century platform featuring several admirable apsara sculptures; Phimeanakas (celestial palace), a three-tiered pyramid representing Mount Meru. Overnight in a hotel in Siem Reap.

Included: Private transport, accommodation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees, meals: Breakfast.

Day 18: Siem Reap - Prek Toal - Homestay

Breakfast at the hotel.

Depart for Mechrey village, visit the floating village of Mechrey, located about twenty kilometers from Siem Reap on Tonlé Sap Lake, taking a road through typical Cambodian landscapes. An opportunity to observe Cambodian rural life unfolding along the water flowing in the rice fields. A walk, off the beaten path, in the village of Mechrey. A true immersion in Cambodian culture with the meeting of villagers, discovering their pace of life and their traditions. Then you will continue to Prek Toal. Upon arrival, change boats to penetrate and explore the ornithological sanctuary where you can observe species that are nearly extinct such as the spot-billed pelican, marabou, tantale, ibis, Asian openbill…. After lunch in the reserve, return to the village of Prek Toal, and discover the lake life and various fishing techniques used in canoe, market, crocodile farm, Osmose environmental center. Dinner and overnight at a floating local's home.

Included: Private transport, accommodation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees, meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 19: Prek Toal-Kampong Pluk-At Mrs. Ry's

After breakfast, enjoy life on the lake, visit the pagoda, school then depart by traditional boat for Kampong Pluk, which is located on the edge of Tonle Sap, the Great Lake of Cambodia, where you observe the life of lake villages, fishing techniques, fish farms, and private crocodile farms. Every year, the water level of the lake varies by 4 to 8 m, flooding all the lands and forests in this region (from August to January). Depending on the season, we may penetrate these flooded forests by wooden pirogues. Lunch at our host's home, the owner of a traditional house, she will teach you how to cook and have lunch at her place.

It's a simple but typically Khmer meal. After lunch, enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of the village, rest in the hammock. Opt for the leisurely pace of a bike ride to admire the beauty of the Cambodian countryside and discover along the way the seasonal agricultural activities and the lifestyle of the local population. Learn to recognize the local plants and trees during your walk through the countryside. Meet villagers who will show you their homes, children coming out of school, peasants walking their cows, fishing. Return to Siem Reap and overnight at the hotel.

Included: Private transport, accommodation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees, meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Day 20: Siem Reap – Kulen Elephant – Departure

After breakfast, a day tour (English-speaking guide) will transfer you by our driver to Angkor village hotel, which is the meeting point. You will then drive for about 1h to reach the elephants located in the forest of Phnom Kulen, after 26 years of working for rides on their backs in the World Heritage site. The Kulen elephant forest is a retirement place for elephants that can live in nature. After an hour of your journey, you arrive and are introduced by the Kulen elephant team then start walking about 2km, lunch in the jungle. Return to Siem Reap and transfer by our driver to the hotel.

Check out of the room around noon

Free time before transferring to Siem Reap airport to catch the evening departure flight. Dinner on your own and overnight on board.

Included: Private transport, English-speaking guide, entrance fees, meals: Breakfast.