10-Day Highlight of Vietnam Tour from Ho Chi Minh City: Hoi An, Hue & Hanoi | Halong Bay, My Son Sanctuary & Cu Chi Tunnels

When you arrive at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, you will be welcomed by your tour guide and driver. We will take you to your hotel, and if time permits, we will take you on a city tour in the afternoon. In the evening, you will enjoy dinner on a cruise along the Saigon River, followed by a good night's rest in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.

Pick up at your hotel and drive to Cu Chi (60km – 1.5 hours). Upon arrival, watch a documentary film about the Vietnam War. Discover specially constructed living areas with kitchens, bedrooms, storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers inside the Cu Chi tunnels.
Discover many hidden trap doors and dangerous traps left behind within the maze-like tunnels, and learn more about the handmade weapons and traps used during the Vietnam War. See huge bomb craters and the mere 10–13 feet thick level of upper soil. Take a break at the shooting range to shoot some real guns such as the AK-47, M16, M30, and M60 (shooting fee is paid separately).
The highlight of the trip is crawling through and experiencing the underground town of Cu Chi Tunnels. This is the best part of the trip, where you actually crawl into them to feel what it was like during the war. Guests who have claustrophobia need not be afraid of crawling inside; you can still see the tunnels from above the ground. Taste the tapioca (guerrilla food during the war) before heading back to Ho Chi Minh City.
This afternoon, our guide will show you the most interesting sights that Ho Chi Minh City has to offer. We visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, built in 1880, and the Old Post Office, built between 1886 and 1891. It is one of the best examples of classical French colonial architecture. Next is the War Remnants Museum, which offers Vietnam War storytelling from a different perspective.
Our last stop will be at a local market, where you can practice your bargaining skills while shopping for souvenirs. Discover local life and culture; you'll find some of the friendliest, liveliest, and most convivial people in the city here.

You will be picked up and leave Ho Chi Minh City for My Tho and Ben Tre City. Along the freeway, you will have a chance to see the beautiful rice paddy fields.
We will take a boat ride on the Ba Lai River in Ben Tre—the homeland of coconut—to understand how the locals use coconuts not only for juice, but for other products, including coconut candy and coconut oil.
Cruise to discover the local culture of the South and see how the locals live, observing lively activities on the waterways with cargo boats, fishing boats, various fish traps, and handicraft factories. Continue the journey to visit coconut charcoal ovens, which produce active charcoal (a material used for batteries) from coconut shells.
Take a rowing boat paddled by local people through the stunningly beautiful coconut canals in Ben Tre. Hop on a tuk-tuk (cycling is optional) through the coconut groves of the village to see how the locals make sleeping mats.
We will have a set-menu lunch of delicious Southern local dishes in a riverside family restaurant. After lunch, you can relax and continue by rowing boat along a shady palm tree canal. At the end of the day, our boat will take you back to the pier before we head back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Our guide will pick you up at your hotel and depart for My Son Sanctuary—a World Cultural Heritage site.
Arrive at My Son and spend two hours discovering the site by walking through the landscape, learning about its history with our local English-speaking guide, and enjoying traditional Champa performances. Then, get back into the minivan and head to a local house to learn how to make rice paper; you will enjoy your own handmade product later on!
In the afternoon, take a walking tour of the ancient town centre to visit former merchants' houses, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese communal hall, and the colorful market. Hoi An is a destination with two faces: the charming, old-world trading port with narrow streets and traditional houses, and the beach with its new resorts and long stretch of clean white sand. In keeping with Hoi An's heritage as a trading port, the town's tiny shophouses now host a range of craft shops and artisans, including some of Asia's best bespoke tailors. Despite the passing of 200 years and the ravages of weather and war, the centre of Hoi An remains much the same as it was in its heyday.

Free time to explore Hoi An until 12:00pm. Our car will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to Hue city. On the way, you will visit the Hai Van road tunnel—the longest tunnel in Southeast Asia—and Lang Co Beach.
Overnight in Hue.

After breakfast, a dragon boat will take you along the Perfume River to enjoy the morning scenery. The boat will land for a visit to Thien Mu Pagoda. Apart from its scenic riverside and hilltop location, the pagoda and its environs are rich in history, standing witness to almost four hundred years of tumultuous nation-building in Vietnam.
Next, visitors will learn about the history of the 13 feudal dynasties at the Hue Citadel. Admire the majestic imperial architecture and visit the tombs of Minh Mang, Tu Duc, and Khai Dinh. In addition, you will participate in exciting activities at traditional craft villages, such as conical hat and incense-making villages, and enjoy authentic Hue-style cuisine.
Overnight in Hue.
 

We will proceed towards the airport to depart for Hanoi. When you arrive at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, your tour guide and driver will pick you up and bring you to your hotel in the Old Quarter.
Overnight in Hanoi.

Embark on your Hanoi City tour between 8:00 and 8:30 AM with a friendly guide. Begin at Tran Quoc Pagoda on Golden Fish Island, Hanoi's oldest pagoda, dating back to the 6th century. Discover the Ho Chi Minh Complex, including his mausoleum, residences from 1954 to 1969, and the unique One Pillar Pagoda. Dive into Vietnamese culture at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, showcasing the nation's 54 ethnic groups. Savor an authentic lunch featuring eight Vietnamese dishes at our restaurant. Visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university, founded in the 11th century. Conclude your journey at Hoa Lo Prison Museum, notable for housing political prisoners and U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. The tour wraps up as you return to your hotel.

After fresh coffee and breakfast, you will be on your way to Ha Long Bay. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the bay has everything it takes for a relaxing journey: a stunning natural landscape, onboard catering, a glimpse into the waterfront lifestyle, and exciting activities such as kayaking, swimming, and diving. Itineraries differ for each cruise, but you will likely visit Cua Van Fishing Village, Vung Vieng Fishing Village, Me Cung Cave, Virgin Cave, or Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave, while passing islets such as Fighting Cock Islet, Human Head Islet, and Toad Islet. Some cruises also include a cooking class at night and a Tai Chi lesson in the morning.

Wake up early to start your perfect day with a sunrise on the top deck, or choose the gym for an unspoiled view of the morning sun. A light breakfast is served in the restaurant.
Enjoy some leisure time kayaking around the bay before returning to the boat to check out of your cabin. Then, enjoy brunch in the restaurant while the boat sails back to the pier.
Your cruising journey comes to a perfect end. The cruise company's shuttle will take you back to Hanoi, where our driver will transfer you to the airport for your flight back home. Have a safe flight, and we hope to see you again soon!