Vietnam in 2 Weeks: Unveiling the Wonders from North to South

Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi

Upon arrival at Hanoi airport on flight XX, you'll be welcomed by a driver from Tonkin Voyage Travel and transferred to the city. Check into your hotel (rooms available from 2 PM). Then, take some time to rest and adjust to the time difference. Meals on your own. Overnight in Hanoi.

Included: Private transportation, Accommodation.

Optional:

Option for a traditional body massage (1 hr).

Early hotel room availability upon arrival with breakfast included.

Guided tours available right after arrival.

Please contact us for more details!

Day 2: Hanoi/Exploring the Millennia-Old Capital

Start with breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, head to West Lake to visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, a spiritual highlight of Hanoi. The pagoda is surrounded by a large garden with ancient trees, valuable Buddhist statues, and notably, the impressive statue of Buddha in Nirvana.

Next, visit the Ethnography Museum, arguably Hanoi’s finest museum. This visit offers a glimpse into the cultural diversity of Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. You’ll see traditional costumes of each ethnicity and enjoy a pleasant stroll through the museum garden, which showcases a collection of traditional wooden houses from various Vietnamese minority groups.

In the afternoon, tour the Temple of Literature, another must-visit site that deepens your understanding of Vietnam’s ancient culture. This is one of the few remaining well-preserved vestiges from the royal era.

Then, our guide will take you to a special neighborhood (Train Street) where local house doorsteps are right on the railway track that cuts through the area. A unique glimpse of Hanoi!

Continue on foot with a walk to Dong Xuan Market, a hub of commerce, culture, and spirituality. Finally, head to Long Bien Bridge, a relic from the war era, formerly known as Paul Doumer Bridge, constructed during the French Indochina period by Daydé & Pillé.

Meals on your own. Overnight in Hanoi.

Included: Private transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast.

Day 3: Hanoi – White Thais Valley– Mai Hich/Home stay

After breakfast at the hotel, drive from Hanoi towards Mai Chau Valley (~160km, ~3h40min drive), the home of the White Thai ethnic group. En route, stop to visit the local market at Xuan Mai for an authentic discovery and to enjoy magnificent panoramic views of the valley.

Upon arrival in Mai Chau, enjoy lunch on your own in the village.

In the afternoon, take a walking tour followed by a bike ride through the rice paddies. Along a small path, you’ll pass through Thai villages such as Nhot, Pomcoong, and Lac. Don’t miss visiting their traditional stilt houses and exploring their crafts (embroidery, weaving). You’ll have the opportunity to meet and interact with friendly and welcoming villagers and even participate in their daily activities in the fields.

Finally, head to Mai Hich village, a charming oasis valley surrounded by lush limestone mountains.

After settling into a lovely stilted wooden house, join your hosts in cooking dinner and share enjoyable moments with your guide, driver, and the host family.

Overnight in a private room without air conditioning, with external toilets and shower.

Included: Private transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Optional: Possibility to replace the home stay with a hotel night.

Day 4: Mai Hich – Light Hiking – Tam Coc ("Inland Halong")

Breakfast at the homestay.

In the morning, explore a mosaic of rice paddies framed by jungle-capped karst peaks dotted with small villages and their traditional wooden stilt houses. Embark on a 2 to 3-hour hike through authentic surrounding villages including Mai Ha and Xam Khoe. Depending on local conditions, you may also have the opportunity to enjoy a bamboo raft ride on the river.

Return to the homestay around noon for an included lunch.

Early in the afternoon, depart for Tam Coc (~150km, ~3h30min drive), nicknamed the "Inland Halong," located in Ninh Binh province.

Check into the hotel upon arrival. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Tam Coc.

Included: Private transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Day 5: Exploring Tam Coc & Its Surroundings.

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning, start your day with a rowboat ride through the spectacular scenery of Tam Coc, navigating among stunning karst islets set in a lush aquatic landscape and through beautiful caves.

Then, visit the Bich Dong pagoda (pagoda in the Jade Cave), situated on the side of a steep mountain. Here you’ll discover three pagodas and a monastery built in the 17th century. Those who have seen the movie "Indochine" will remember this magical and surreal location.

After a lunch on your own, visit Hoa Lu, which was the capital of Vietnam’s first independent dynasties (968 to 1009) after nearly a thousand years of Chinese rule.

Then, take a bike ride through the nearby villages to Hang Mua Peak, the muse of Tam Coc. Climbing the 486 stone steps to the summit, you'll be rewarded with a fantastic panoramic view of the "Inland Halong Bay."

Enjoy a special dinner featuring a Vietnamese fondue (Lẩu) at a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

Included: Private transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Note: Tam Coc is where scenes from the film "Indochine" were shot. It is the most picturesque and thus the most touristy site in the region. On-site, you can choose with your guide to replace Tam Coc with less touristy but also less scenic sites like Van Long or Thung Nham. No change in pricing.

Day 6: Tam Coc – Cat Ba Island/Cruise & Overnight on a Junk

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning, depart from Tam Coc for Cat Ba Island via the Hai Phong region (130km, ~2h30min drive).

Upon arrival, first board a local ferry to reach Cat Ba Island (20-minute cruise). Then around 12:15 PM at Ben Beo port, board a traditional wooden junk to start your discovery and relaxation cruise with an overnight stay aboard.

During the cruise, you’ll have the opportunity to kayak and explore the largest fishing village in the bay.

The junk will first head to Lan Ha Bay before moving into Ha Long Bay, where we navigate towards secluded islands. Sailing is possible depending on the wind.

You may swim or sunbathe on the beach, weather permitting.

Lunch and dinner will be served aboard, featuring seafood (fish, shrimp, squid, shellfish, oysters) as well as meat and vegetables.

The evening is free for relaxation. Participate in communal activities like card games or night fishing if you wish.

Overnight on the boat in a comfortable cabin equipped with a bathroom and air conditioning.

Included: Private transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide aboard, Cruise & Entry fees, Local ferry, Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Note: A English-speaking guide is available on the private junk.

Day 7: Cat Ba Island – Hanoi – Flight to Hue

An early morning wake-up is recommended if you want to witness the sunrise over the bay—a truly fabulous moment!

Breakfast will be served on board in the dining room as the junk sails towards the Viet Hai fishing village. Nestled between Cat Ba National Park and limestone peaks, this village has maintained the most authentic characteristics of Red River Delta villages: small mud-wall cottages emerge from lush gardens, animals coexist with humans, and smoke from the huts rises into the sky. This serene atmosphere contrasts sharply with the touristy areas of Cat Ba, providing a mysterious and extraordinary experience for visitors and locals alike.

After disembarking, take a bicycle ride through this picturesque village. If cycling isn't to your liking, you can opt for a walk on the beach or a visit to a fish farm (please arrange with your guide or the crew on board).

Our off-the-beaten-path program does not include touristy cave visits.

Return to the junk to check out of your cabin and enjoy the last photo sessions.

Lunch included before disembarking around noon.

Meet your driver and transfer to Cai Vieng pier where you'll take the ferry to Hai Phong.

Then, travel to Hanoi airport (~150km, ~3 hours drive) to catch your flight to Hue.

Upon arrival in Hue, you will be greeted by a driver and transferred to the city (~20km, ~40 minutes drive). Dinner on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Included: Private transport, Accommodation, English-speaking guide on board, Visit fees, Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Optional: Instead of flying, you can take the overnight train from Hanoi to Hue, which takes about 12 hours for ~650km. The train offers air-conditioned cabins with 2 or 4 berths.

Day 8: Hue / City Tour

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning, meet your guide and driver and head out to explore a local market in Hue.

Then, proceed to the Hue Citadel, a vast fortified area built on the same blueprint as Beijing’s Forbidden City. It consists of three parts: the Forbidden Purple City for the imperial family, the Royal City where ceremonies were held, and the Capital City, which served as the administrative center. Majestic in its size and beauty, the Citadel is a testament to the grandeur of the period, as is Hue's culinary art.

In the afternoon, visit the tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, one of the most beautiful sites in Hue. It exudes tranquility and is a model of traditional Vietnamese art. This is also an opportunity to learn about the history of the Nguyen dynasty.

On the way, visit a conical hat-making workshop. This is a chance for us to offer you traditional hats from our country.

Finally, visit the Thien Mu Pagoda (Heavenly Lady Pagoda). With its picturesque location on the riverbank and atop a hill, the Thien Mu Pagoda and its surroundings form a complex rich in history, bearing witness to nearly four hundred tumultuous years of nation-building and religious beliefs in Vietnam.

Meals on your own. Overnight in Hue.

Included: Private transport, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: Breakfast

Day 9: Hue Countryside by Bike – Da Nang – Hoi An

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning, drive in a private vehicle to La Chu village (~9km north of Hue), known for its vegetable and herb farming (onions, chives, coriander, basil, etc.).

At the village entrance, start your bike ride through the charming countryside. First stop at a family-owned workshop that makes paper votive offerings—a deeply cherished belief among the Vietnamese.

Continue to a small daily local market. Explore the stalls selling meats, spices, and fresh vegetables and fruits, under the curious and friendly gaze of local women unaccustomed to seeing tourists.

Follow a small path through vegetable fields where, if lucky, you can meet and talk with local farmers. Experience typical countryside scenes with fields, rice paddies, banana plants, rivers, lotus ponds, and in the background, mountains still bearing the scars of Agent Orange dropped by the American military over forty years ago.

Before leaving this bucolic setting, visit a family specializing in the production of “Bánh Lọc” – a small cake made from rice flour mixed with shrimp. You'll have a chance to try making this dish yourself.

Next, enjoy a short cooking class and lunch of various local specialties in a family restaurant.

After lunch, relax your feet in a hot bath scented with medicinal herbs, courtesy of the host family.

In the early afternoon, return to Hue and depart for Hoi An, passing over the Hai Van Pass, which offers a stunning panorama of the central coastline at its summit. Take this opportunity for some beautiful photos.

Check into the hotel in Hoi An at the end of the day. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Hoi An.

Included: Private transport, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Day 10: Hoi An - Old Town - Countryside Bike Tour

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning, set out to explore the old town of Hoi An, a paradise for lovers of refined Vietnamese cuisine, history, beach life, and enthusiasts of tailor-made clothing shopping. It’s also considered the most picturesque small town in Vietnam. On foot, you will stroll through the narrow streets discovering the ancient wooden houses of traders (such as Tan Ky and Phung Hung) where several generations have lived. These houses are architectural jewels of the old town.

Next, you will visit other remarkable sites including the famous Japanese Bridge, the Chinese temples (Cantonese Congregation and Fujian Congregation), the Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall, and the town market.

There is an option to watch a Cham performance in an old house.

In the afternoon, discover the countryside of Hoi An by bike. Ride to Kim Bong village (~3m from the city), recognized as a national intangible heritage in 2016, inviting you to discover the unsuspected wood products found in many architectural and religious works of the country. Take time to stop at a Kim Bong workshop to appreciate the meticulous work the sculptor dedicates weeks or even months to.

Continue pedaling to Thanh Ha pottery village, known for its pottery since the 16th century. You will have the opportunity to try making pottery yourself. Visit the Pottery Museum of the village before returning to Hoi An to participate in a lantern-making class. Finally, take home your own lantern as a souvenir.

Meals on your own. Overnight in Hoi An.

Included: Private transport, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: Breakfast.

Day 11: Free Day in Hoi An – Da Nang - Flight to Can Tho

Breakfast at the hotel.

A free day for your personal exploration.

Check out of the room before noon.

Early on, meet the driver for a transfer to Da Nang airport for your flight to Can Tho.

Upon arrival in Can Tho, you will be greeted by a driver and transferred to the city.

Meals on your own. Overnight in Can Tho.

Included: Private transport, Accommodation, Meals: Breakfast.

Day 12: Can Tho – Floating Market – Vung Liem / Home Stay

Breakfast at the hotel.

At 6:00-6:30 AM, board a local boat for a cruise on the Cai Rang canal to discover the Cai Rang floating market, a myriad of boats loaded with watermelons, melons, carrots, sweet potatoes, fruits, and onions. Spanning over a kilometer, it’s the most important wholesale fruit and vegetable market in the Mekong Delta. Many producers and farmers come here to sell their harvest to wholesalers. This market also features a variety of small traders, floating grocers, offering coffee, breakfasts, miscellaneous trinkets, and even lottery tickets.

After visiting the market, continue cruising through the narrow canals of the Mekong to discover the daily life of the locals. Walk through the village to see its homes. Then, visit a fruit garden to taste some delicious seasonal fruits.

Return to Can Tho to visit the ancient Binh Thuy house.

Free lunch then head to Vung Liem (~70km, ~1h30 drive), a little-known gem on tourist maps. After a short boat, bike, or walking trip, you reach a local family where you will spend the night.

Next, take a bike ride to explore the authentic life on Quoi Thien island by crossing villages and lush orchards. Meet locals engaged in their daily activities in the endless fields.

Return to the homestay. You may participate in cooking with your hosts.

Dinner and overnight at the homestay in a private room without air conditioning, toilets & shower outside.

Included: Private transport, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 13: Vung Liem – Ben Tre – Saigon

Breakfast at the homestay.

In the morning, visit a local market in the village then depart for Ben Tre (~70km, ~1h30 drive). Upon arrival, embark on a local private boat for a cruise on the river. During the ride, you will see the daily activities of the locals. Visit the ancient house and a family-run candy factory with coconut and local products. You will taste these candies, honey tea, and seasonal fruits. You will also have a brief adventurous moment trying to cross a hanging bridge made of wood or bamboo called “Cầu Khỉ.”

The cruise will continue on the Cai Son river. Then disembark at Nhon Thanh village, known for its mat weaving.

Enjoy a pleasant tuk-tuk ride through the village.

Around noon, have lunch at a local restaurant with Mekong specialties.

In the afternoon, drive from Ben Tre to Saigon (~2 hours drive).

Arrive in Saigon, check into the hotel, and rest. Dinner on your own and overnight at the hotel.

Included: Private transport, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Day 14: Saigon / Day of Visits

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning, depart for a visit to the Ho Thi Ky flower market. A stroll through the small alleys of the market will allow you to enjoy the sweet fragrance of flowers.

Then, return to the city center for a walking tour through the main historical sites such as the old Saigon Post Office, City Hall, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Reunification Palace, Saigon Opera House. Continue walking along Dong Khoi Street with its luxury shops and lively atmosphere.

In the afternoon, explore the Chinese district of Cholon, particularly the Thien Hau Temple and the lively Binh Tay Market, where you can find absolutely everything you can imagine in a warm atmosphere.

Finally, head to Cafe Bờ Kè Thủ Thiêm located on Cây Bàng Street to view the Saigon city center towers from across the river while enjoying a good Vietnamese coffee.

Meals on your own. Overnight in Saigon.

Included: Private transport, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: Breakfast.