Charming Vietnam - 14 days

Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, your Tropicana Travel personal host warmly welcomes you. A private transfer takes you to your hotel in the charming capital of Vietnam. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Breakfast. At 8:15 a.m., you will be welcomed by your French-speaking guide and driver. This day is dedicated to an in-depth discovery of Vietnam’s capital, a city with timeless charm. You will begin with a visit to Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Hanoi, and Van Mieu (Temple of Literature), the first university of Vietnam. Continue to the captivating Ethnology Museum, which showcases traditional costumes, tools, musical instruments, and even typical houses representing the country’s 54 ethnic groups (closed on Mondays). Then, visit Van Mieu (Temple of Literature), the first university of Vietnam. A walking tour through the narrow streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, also known as the Quarter of 36 Guilds, will give you a good understanding of the daily life of local residents. It is a real maze of alleys, each one specialized in a particular craft or trade. The best way to explore this vibrant and energetic labyrinth is on foot. Famous egg coffee: not too sweet, not too bitter, perfectly hot, golden and fragrant. This iconic drink was invented by Mr. Giang, a former bartender at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi.

In the morning, after a light breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up for the journey to Mai Chau, a peaceful green valley surrounded by the mountains of Northwest Vietnam. After approximately three hours of driving, you will arrive and check in at your homestay or resort nestled in nature. For lunch, you may enjoy delicious local specialties such as grilled chicken, bamboo sticky rice, mountain pork, and fresh forest vegetables. In the afternoon, begin exploring the charming ethnic Thai villages. By bicycle or on foot, you will pass through Lac Village and Poom Coong Village, where you will see traditional stilt houses, vast rice fields, murmuring streams, and the warm smiles of the local people. As the sun begins to set, the entire valley becomes even more picturesque, bathed in a gentle golden glow. In the evening, you can take part in a traditional Thai dance performance or enjoy local rice wine in a cozy cultural atmosphere.
Overnight in Mai Chau.

After breakfast amid the fresh morning mist, depart from Mai Chau and continue your journey to Ninh Binh, often referred to as “Ha Long Bay on land.” Upon arrival, you will visit Trang An or Tam Coc (depending on your preference). Here, a small rowing boat will take you along emerald-green rivers winding through majestic limestone mountains, natural caves, and endless rice fields. The peaceful scenery creates a perfect harmony between nature and tranquility. Continue to Mua Cave Viewpoint, where you can climb to the top for a breathtaking panoramic view of Tam Coc and the surrounding valley. The scenery becomes even more spectacular during the late afternoon when the soft sunlight casts warm colors over the landscape. In the late afternoon, your driver will take you to your hotel in Ninh Binh to rest. Overnight in Ninh Binh.

In the morning, you will head towards the famous Halong Bay. There, embark on a cruise through the must-see Halong Bay. This world-famous bay is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Vietnam, with its giant rock islets covered in luxuriant vegetation overlooking the waters. Halong Bay includes some 1,900 islands and islets of rocky peaks, often uninhabited and untouched by human hands. These scenes create a spectacular marine landscape, which earned it UNESCO World Heritage status in 1994.
 You will be served lunch and dinner aboard the cruise. Be sure not to miss the sunset on the top deck for beautiful pictures (depending on the weather conditions).

Begin the morning with Tai Chi on deck, then visiting the majestic Titop Island.
Enjoy brunch as the boat sails back to the port. Transfer from Ha Long to the airport and flight to Danang. Transfer to Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An.

Begin your journey by visiting a vibrant local market, where you can engage with friendly vendors, learn to select fresh ingredients, and immerse yourself in the bustling atmosphere. 
Continue with an adventure through the serene waterways of the Cam Thanh Coconut Jungle in a traditional Vietnamese bamboo basket boat, discovering the unique ecosystem and trying traditional net fishing, including catching “Purple Crabs” in the canals. 
In the afternoon, tour guide will pick you from Hotel and transfer to Hoi An Town.
Chua Ong Pagoda, historic Chinese Assembly Halls, the elegant Tan Ky House, and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge.
Overnight in Hoi An.

Morning free. In the afternoon, transfer to Hue.
Overnight in Hue

This full day is dedicated entirely to exploring Hué, the “city of poetry.” You will begin by visiting the Imperial City, the only example of an ancient imperial city in Vietnam that still exists today: the Ngo Mon Gate, the Palace of Supreme Harmony, the Royal Theatre, the Khon Thai Palace, the The Mieu Temple…
Enjoy a boat trip on the Perfume River to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda. Lunch is at your own expense along the way. Continue to the Mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc, built between 1864 and 1867 by no fewer than three thousand soldiers and workers. This funerary complex once contained around fifty structures, enclosed by a stone and brick wall 1,500 meters long, covering an area of 12 hectares.
Your day will end with the exploration of the Tu Hieu Pagoda - one of the oldest pagodas in the former capital, featuring an architectural layout in the shape of the Chinese character “khau.” This peaceful site is the birthplace of many great monks of the region and was also the refuge of elderly eunuchs, who spent their final days here. In the late afternoon, you will return to the city of Hue, where you will spend the night.

Today you will depart from Hoi An and transfer to Danang International Airport for your domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh City. After arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, you will meet and greet your driver and tour guide. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels (70 km from Saigon), an extensive underground network built from 1948 and expanded during the war. The tunnels served as an underground city with living quarters, kitchens, storage, workshops, and field hospitals, sheltering up to 10,000 people for years.
In the afternoon, visit the War Remnants Museum, offering powerful exhibits on the impacts of war. Continue to Thien Hau Pagoda in Chinatown (Cho Lon), known for its intricate carvings and impressive incense coils. Explore Binh Tay Market, a bustling maze of stalls selling everything from sunglasses to dried seafood. End the day with a visit to a local lacquerware workshop.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Having the bustling city of Saigon behind, you depart to the Mekong Delta considered Vietnam’s biggest rice basket. Arrive at Hung Vuong pier in Ben Tre and embark your boat to cruise along Ben Tre River. Stop at the brickfield belonging to Mr. Tu Lo to see how bricks are made by hand in Vietnam and a coconut candy home factory. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon you will take a trip on small rowing boats through a maze of waterways lined by two rows of a palm tree. Cruise back to the pier and disembark. Drive to Can Tho for the night.
Overnight in Can Tho.

We will rise in the early morning to take a boat trip through the winding waterways of Cai Rang floating market, the biggest and busiest floating market in the Mekong Delta. Then we visit the Binh Thuy Ancient House, a well-preserved 149-year-old house in Can Tho.
Then we drive back to Saigon.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh hotel

Transfer to the airport for the flight back to your country.