Highlights of Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, Explore

Welcome to Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City! Once upon a time, this metropolis in southern Vietnam was known as Saigon. Despite a communist revolution and devastating war, the city has retained much of its cultural mix of Asian and Western traditions. In fact, many of its French Colonial landmarks still stand today.

The biggest change to Ho Chi Minh City is that it's only gotten bigger, busier, and more energetic. The streets swell with mopeds whizzing past markets and modern shopping districts as the sidewalks overflow with vendors selling everything from delicious street food to golden lucky cats. This city has it all: French-era Art Deco buildings, ancient Buddhist temples, hidden alleyway eateries, outdoor night markets, Chinese pagodas, 21st-century skyscrapers, and hotels and restaurants for every budget.

You'll see and feel Ho Chi Minh's surging energy firsthand during the private transfer from the airport to your hotel. After check-in, you'll have the remainder of the day free to spend as you see fit. You can relax in your hotel room and have dinner, or head out and get carried away in the energy of the city.

Day 2: Day Trip to Cu Chi Tunnel & Cao Dai Temple

After breakfast, you'll leave Ho Chi Minh by car for a guided day trip. The first stop is a short drive north to Cu Chi, home to a massive tunnel network. It became famous during the Vietnam War as the Viet Cong's base of operations, particularly during the Tet Offensive of 1968.

This 155-mile (250 km) tunnel network once sheltered over 16,000 Vietcong guerrillas. First constructed in 1948 to guard against French air and ground sweeps, the tunnels then served as supply routes, storage facilities, hospitals, and living quarters for Vietnamese fighters throughout the American War. Here you'll have the option to go into the tunnels and get a glimpse of the harsh conditions faced by Vietcong guerrillas who lived here, plus see the innovative booby traps they left for unlucky enemy soldiers.

From there, you'll drive into the countryside of Tày Ninh province on a scenic route that passes along fertile green rice paddies. After a stop at a rice paper workshop to see locals produce paper made by hand, you'll continue to the city of Tày Ninh. Here, you'll visit the Cao Dai Great Temple. The city and the temple are noteworthy as it was here that Caodaism was born in 1926. This religion is unique to southern Vietnam and combines aspects of Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam.

The ornate temple dates back to 1933, and Westerners will see echoes of Christian cathedrals in its design, particularly in its front twin steeples. Inside, visitors will find a long nave with high ceilings and a dome painted sky blue, complete with images of clouds and saints. Beyond this, the interior features patterned floor tiles and colored columns, plus various other iconography and statuary. During a visit to noon mass, you'll tour the interior and also witness the lively religious ceremony. At the end of the day, you'll return to Ho Chi Minh City by private transfer and have the evening free.

Day 3: Transfer to Can Tho, Mekong Delta Tour

After breakfast, you'll leave Ho Chi Minh City on a 2.5-hour drive to Cai Be. Upon arrival at the Mekong River, you'll board a boat and visit this area's famous floating market. At 4 am every day, dozens of wooden paddleboats laden with fruits, vegetables, and other products take to the water and sell their goods to passersby. It's a market with quite a long history, dating back to the Nguyen Dynasty of the 19th century.

You'll then cruise across the river to Dong Phu Island. Here, you'll disembark the boat and tour the rural countryside by bicycle. It's a relaxing and unforgettable excursion as you cycle under the green forest canopy, exploring fruit orchards and witnessing the daily life of local farmers.

After enjoying lunch on the island, you'll cruise by boat to Vinh Long, the capital of the province of the same name and a major transit hub on the Mekong. In the afternoon, you'll hop back on a bike, spending a couple of hours cycling around the area's vast rice fields and traditional riverside villages. This in-depth trip offers great insight into rural Vietnamese life and traditional farming methods. You'll then head to Can Tho, a riverfront city near Cai Be, which is also home to some floating markets. You'll check into your hotel and can end the evening on a relaxing walk along Can Tho's waterfront promenade.

Day 4: Can Tho Tour, Fly to Da Nang & Transfer to Hoi An

Enjoy the Mekong Delta a bit longer because, in the morning, you'll head out by boat to the Cai Rang Floating Market. Located in the middle of Can Tho, this is the largest floating market on the Mekong Delta. After some aquatic shopping, you'll leave the crowded waterways for a tranquil cruise up a quiet canal and visit a country orchard to pick some exotic fruit. You'll then transfer to the airport in Can Tho for the 1.5-hour flight to Da Nang.

Upon arrival in Da Nang, you'll transfer by car about 30 minutes to adjacent Hoi An and check into your hotel. This colorful city sits on Vietnam's central coast at the entrance to the Thu Bon River and has a long and storied history. You'll get a sense of it as you stroll its old streets along the waterfront. Feel free to spend the evening relaxing and enjoy dinner out in town.

Day 5: Visit Fishing Villages & Hoi An Tour

Early in the morning today, you'll meet your guide at the hotel and transfer to the docks in town. From here, you'll hop in a boat and travel a short distance down the river from Hoi An to a traditional fishing village to get a glimpse into the lives of the locals as they ply their trade. Each day, they head out on traditional basket boats called thung chai to cast nets for shrimp, crabs, and fish. You'll join right in, learning how to prepare the nets and tools before heading out on the water to do some fishing yourself.

After the fishing excursion, you'll take a leisurely ride in the basket boat down the river, passing along the coconut-fringed banks on your way to a small village. Here, you'll disembark and sit down to a delicious local lunch. Then, it's time to hop on a bicycle for a scenic ride down a country road alongside green rice paddies and cornfields as you make your way back to Hoi An.

After touring some of the more famous sights around Hoi An, like the Japanese-covered bridge and the historic Chinese meeting hall Phuc Kien.

Day 6: Day Trip to Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge

After a morning pickup from your hotel, you'll drive north from Hoi An up into the Truong Son Mountains and the Ba Na Hills. In the cool weather, atop these misty mountains sits a large resort built by French colonialists in 1919 as a leisure destination. You'll get a 360-degree view of the area on the Ba Na Cable Car, which, at 19,032 feet (5,801 m), is the longest non-stop cable car in the world. It's a fun ride that takes you high over the hills and offers panoramic views all the way to Da Nang and the coast.

After disembarking, you'll partake in an activity not immediately associated with Vietnam: wine tasting. As it happens, Ba Na Hills is also home to Ham Ruou Debay, a bar with an extensive wine cellar. After enjoying a glass or two, you'll visit the nearby Golden Bridge, a 490-foot (150 m) pedestrian bridge that winds its way around the green hilltops of Ba Na. Its most incredible feature is the pair of giant stone hands designed to look like they're supporting the bridge.

Afterward, you'll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant followed by a stroll through the replica French Village and its impressive castles. Then, head up to the highest point in Da Nang: King Peak. Situated at an altitude of 4,878 feet (1,487 m), it features the best views over the mountains. Also, here is the Linh Tu Pagoda, a temple dedicated to the Holy Mountain Mother, a kind of patron saint of the Ba Na Hills. Legend has it that those who pilgrimage here are rid of worldly greed and fears. Afterward, you'll head back down the mountain and Hoi An, arriving in the late afternoon.

Day 7: Free Day in Hoi An

Today, you'll have the freedom to enjoy Hoi An however you see fit. To learn more about the history of the city, you can visit the Hoi An Museum, which houses a number of fascinating artifacts dating from early dynasties to the colonial period. Or eschew the culture for pure, unabashed fun in the sun with a trip to An Bang Beach. The white sands and sky-blue waters here are the stuff of dreams.

It's when the sun sets, however, that Hoi An really comes alive. You should definitely consider an evening stroll, as the waterfront is particularly romantic after dark when the river lights up as colored lanterns and floating candles illuminate the night sky. Along these lines, you can visit Hoi An's Lantern Market to pick up a traditional lantern to take home.

Day 8: Transfer to Hue, Explore the Imperial City

After breakfast, leave Hoi An for the four-hour road trip north to Hue. It's a long drive, but the route along the coast is beautiful, and you'll be able to stop along the way for photos at highlight locales like the Hai Van mountain pass and white-sand beaches. Upon arrival in Hue in the afternoon, you'll check into your hotel and will have a bit of time to relax. Don't get too comfy, though, because you'll soon be heading out for a mini-tour of this charming, off-the-beaten-path coastal city in Vietnam.

Sitting on the banks of the Perfume River, Hue abounds with rich culture and deep history exemplified in the well-preserved landmarks spanning different eras. It was actually during the Nguyen Dynasty, beginning in 1802, that Hue was the capital of the nation. This lasted until the creation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945 when the country declared independence from French Indochina and the capital was moved to Hanoi.

Your first stop will be Hue's most famous locale: the Imperial City. One of Vietnam's seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this vast, walled citadel was constructed in 1804 and is surrounded by a moat. You'll enjoy a fascinating tour of this well-preserved historic landmark that was once the center of government.

Next, go shopping at Dong Ba Market. This is the oldest municipal market in Hue, and it sells everything from fresh produce to handicrafts to clothing. You'll also find an abundance of great street food here. If you're feeling hungry, order a bowl of bun bo, a hearty local soup made with vermicelli rice noodles and beef. For something sweet, try che. This Vietnamese dessert soup is often made with beans, jelly, and coconut milk; however, in Hue, you can get it mixed with other ingredients like taro, corn, and lotus seeds.

Day 9: Hue Mausoleum Tour, Fly to Hanoi

Today, you'll leave for Hanoi, but not before visiting two of Hue's most impressive mausoleums. These are home to the remains of emperors from the famous Nguyen Dynasty that lasted from 1802 to the fall of French colonialism in 1945. First up is the Tomb of Khai Dinh, otherwise known as the "Ung Mausoleum." Located just south of the city on Chau Chu Mountain, it was built for the 12th emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty and was completed in 1930. Its ominous yet ornate exterior of blackened stone belies an opulent interior bursting with colorful mosaics. The overall architecture here is an interesting mix of Eastern and Western styles.

Next, you'll visit Minh Mang's Tomb, the final resting place of the Confucian emperor who ruled from 1820-1840 at the height of the Nguyễn dynasty. It's a testament to Minh Mang's influence that his final resting place is a complex sitting on a 44-acre (18 ha) lot home to 40 monuments comprising the royal tomb. On a tour, you'll visit highlights like the Honor Courtyard, Stele Pavilion, and Bright Pavilion. There are also a number of attractive lakes, pavilions, and gardens leading up to the burial mound itself.

After the tour, you'll return to your hotel in Hue and transfer to the airport for the 1.5-hour flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, a driver will take you to your hotel for check-in. You'll then enjoy Vietnam's capital for the remainder of the day free.

Day 10: Rural Villages Bicycle Tour & Hanoi Cultural Tour

This morning, you'll visit several villages just outside Hanoi. This is a great opportunity to experience rural customs and traditions firsthand as you cycle from village to village and tour these little communities on foot. Beyond interacting with residents, you'll visit local markets and temples to catch a glimpse of daily life. Then, you'll attend a cooking demonstration of traditional Vietnamese cuisine before joining a local family for lunch. Afterward, in the early afternoon, you'll return to Hanoi.

Now it's time for a  city tour. You'll head to north Hanoi, to the Cầu Giấy District, and the Vietnam Museum Of Ethnology. This massive museum complex preserves cultural heritage by offering information on the 54 different ethnic groups in Vietnam. Some highlight exhibits include full-scale replicas of village homes, plus ancient artifacts like traditional jewelry and wedding/funeral clothing.

The day ends with a fun and informative bit of traditional Vietnamese entertainment: a water puppet show. It's an interesting concept, as the surface of the water acts as a stage while the puppeteers stand behind a screen and manipulate the wooden puppets using bamboo rods beneath the water. Water puppetry has been practiced in Hanoi for generations, and it's as much an art as it is a performance. After the show, you'll return to your hotel. For dinner, you can sample Hanoi's diverse collection of world-class restaurants. Then perhaps head out to the colonial Old Quarter and visit one of its many bohemian cafés and bars.

Day 11: Transfer to Ha Long Bay, Explore

Wake up early and depart your hotel in Hanoi for a transfer by shared van to Ha Long Bay. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the true natural wonders of the world. In this sweet spot where the land meets the Gulf of Tonkin, over 1,000 karst islets rise above emerald waters, and the seascape takes on an otherworldly quality. The eastward drive from Hanoi takes about four hours, and you'll arrive at the port at about noon. Here you'll board a pleasure boat for a memorable overnight cruise along the bay. After a welcome aboard the ship, you'll be led to your cabin, followed by a short trip briefing.

Once the ship gets underway, you'll enjoy a lunch of fresh, locally caught seafood. The first stop is the eastern end of Hạ Long and a place called Bai Tu Long Bay. It's a tranquil area, somewhat removed from the heavy tourist traffic, yet it still features the region's iconic karst islets plus some gorgeous beaches. Here, you'll stop for a swim around various lagoons and even a sea cave. You'll also have the option to laze on a secluded island beach or explore by kayak.

You'll return to the boat just in time to watch the incomparable sunset from the top deck ship before sitting down for a more delicious, fresh seafood dinner.

Day 12: Cruise Bai Tu Long Bay, Visit Local Fishing Villages

Wake up early to see the sunrise over Ha Long Bay. Early risers will also find that the waters are nice and calm before the boats get underway. And there's no better way to begin a day this tranquil than with a bit of Tai Chi right on the deck. You'll then enjoy a Western-style breakfast before setting off on a cruise along Bai Tu Long Bay.

Throughout the morning, the ship will pass several interesting sights, including island towns and floating fishing villages like Cap La and Cong Dam. Eventually, you'll enter the limits of Bai Tu Long National Park, a protected marine ecosystem home to rare plants and animals, as well as about 40 islands. Here, you'll visit the Vung Vieng Village and interact with locals who not only make their living fishing these waters but live on them as well.

Around midday, you'll head back to the boat and enjoy lunch on deck. For the remainder of the afternoon, you can choose to spend your time kayaking and swimming at Cong Dam or simply relax on the boat. If the weather allows, the boat might just stop at some caves and grottoes on the way back to the anchor point. Later, dinner will be served, and you'll have the remainder of the evening free.

Day 13: Return to Hanoi

Savor one last sunrise over Bai Tu Long Bay, followed by an early breakfast. Afterward, the boat will make a couple more stops at some highlight locales. These include the white-sand beach at Hon Co Island and the hidden Thien Canh Son Cave, a gaping cavern that's actually one of 59 known caves in the Ha Long area.

You'll return to the port of Ha Long Bay. After one last lunch on board the ship, you'll disembark and make the drive to Hanoi. You'll then check into your hotel and will have the evening free.

Day 14: Depart Hanoi

After breakfast at the hotel, you'll transfer to the airport in Hanoi to catch your flight home. This concludes your Vietnam adventure. See you soon!

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