Custom Vietnam 14 Days Itinerary From North To South

Upon arriving at Noi Bai International Airport, our guide and driver will pick you up and drive you to your hotel.

There’s nothing better than taking a short break after your flight and discovering great local cuisine for dinner in Hanoi.

(First day’s schedule can be flexible to meet your arrival time)

Make our way to Ho Chi Minh Complex to check out Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, where Ho Chi Minh’s corpse is preserved, and Ba Dinh Square, where President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945.

Another signature place in the complex is One Pillar Pagoda - a unique architectural pagoda built-in 1049. After that, we will visit the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh’s Residence, which were used as his workplace and home, respectively, and the Ho Chi Minh Museum.

After that, visit the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam, which is one of the most iconic places in Hanoi.

Drive out of the Centre, we arrive at Duong Lam ancient village. After having a homemade meal with a local family, we will get to know more about Vietnamese culture and history by visiting heritage sites. Walking around the village to chat with locals and learn more about their lifestyle before going back to your hotel in Hanoi.

Our driver and guide will pick you up from your hotel to visit Pu Luong. You enter Pu Luong Nature Reserve by road via a breathtaking mountain pass, giving you a panoramic view of the whole valley. You arrive at your accommodation in time for a delicious lunch, followed by free time to explore the beautiful retreat, with its captivating panoramic views and tranquil setting.

In the afternoon, you will be transferred to a suspension bridge over the river, where you begin your walk in search of stunning water wheels. Get up close to each wheel and discover how water is moved from the river to handmade bamboo aqueducts via simple constructions of all sizes. Arriving at a local fisherman’s house, you have a short rest to gear up for bamboo river rafting with the team. Float along the calm river and enjoy the views while learning how to paddle and steer your handcrafted rafts.

Arriving at the scenic Tan Lap Bridge, you disembark to be transferred back to Pu Luong for dinner.

Start early to descend into the beautiful valley facing the Natura, where you walk around mesmerizing rice terraces. Trek through small paths shrouded in vegetation to slowly reveal a picturesque village sitting at the base of a towering mountain. Your camera will not be able to sit still!

Continuing to the base of the valley, you weave between roads and farmland, villages and wild fields, ponds and rivers, mountains and open land. Savour the ever-changing scenery as you trek to a beautiful spot to enjoy a simple picnic lunch.

After enjoying delicious food, you have free time to explore the refreshing water in the nearby river before moving to our pick-up point to be transferred to the homestay.

You will be woken up by roosters near & far and enjoy the peaceful scenery & fresh air in this remote village. After breakfast, you will say goodbye to the poetic Pu Luong, and our driver will be waiting for you for a 3.5-hour transfer to Ninh Binh.

Upon arrival in Ninh Binh, have an interesting visit to Hoa Lu ancient capital - the heart of Vietnam in the 10th & 11th centuries, paying a visit to two remaining temples: King & Le Temples. The visit offers you a deep understanding of Vietnam's history under the Dinh, Le & Ly dynasties and good insight into the 17th century's architectural values reflected in those temples.

Then, take a short transfer to Van Lam village, where you get on a bamboo boat rowed by the local villagers to explore the stunning scenery of Tam Coc. UNESCO recognized Tam Coc as a World Natural Heritage Site in 2014, which made this a must-visit destination in the Ha Noi - Ho Chi Minh Tour. Boating along the Ngo Dong River, you will be able to explore the “Indochine” film setting.

After breakfast, you’ll take a 3-hour drive to Halong Bay, one of the world's greatest landscapes and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Upon arrival, let's enjoy a cruise around Halong Bay with a delicious local seafood lunch served on board. At the same time, you can behold thousands of limestone islands and grottoes rising from the clear, emerald water.

After lunch, you’ll join activities on the boat to discover the beauty of the bay, such as visiting a cave, kayaking, or enjoying swimming in the sea before returning to the cruise for relaxing and dining. In the evening, you can join the locals for night fishing. Overnight on board.

In the morning, your breakfast will be served while floating on the sea to explore the beauty of Halong Bay before disembarking. Join some more activities on the boat and then check out of the cabin.

The early lunch will be served before getting back to the main dock and transferring you back to Hanoi. Then you will get on an overnight train to Hue (by SE3 Hanoi-Hue from 19:20 to 08:40).

NOTE: Overnight on a 4-berth cabin train

Our driver and tour guide will welcome you at the station, then take you to a restaurant for breakfast. After breakfast, we will start our city tour with a visit to the ancient tomb of Vietnam's kings.

One of those belonged to Khai Dinh, who built his final resting place to be monumental in style and bombastic in execution. Reflecting a mix of Western and Asian architecture, Khai Dinh's Royal Tomb offers a unique look at the history and culture of Vietnam before colonization period by the French. The tomb clearly reflects the past period and the characteristics of the Khai Dinh king, and the story behind it has always been an attractive point for tourists.

Then, visit Tu Duc Tomb, which is a complex system of pavilions, temples, chambers, courtyards, and a personal palace. Tu Duc’s Tomb portrays the Nguyen Dynasty’s power: Majestic but no less elegant and graceful. The beautiful scenery from the tomb looks like various colored classic paintings, with small bridges crossing the flowered lake.

Depart for the Citadel, which has a variety of structures in the royal style. You will be taught the history of the 13 reigns of the Nguyen Emperors and visit the palace where the king and queen live.

At the end of the day, you will have a cruise on the beautiful Perfume River by dragon boat with a view of Thien Mu Pagoda, the daily activities of other people, and the sampan village along the Perfume River. 

Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel, then we will drive to Hoi An. On the way, we will stop at Lang Co beach to have a break and take some photos. Lang Co is an 8km beach with a white sandbank. The peaceful and charming fishing village and the beaches will win the hearts of every tourist.

After that, we take you over the beautiful Hai Van Pass - Vietnam's geographical and psychological boundary between the North and the South. Hai Van attracts the tourist by the scenery of curvy roads and mountains hidden in the clouds; it's a great place for adventurers to conquer and test their limits.

Arriving in Hoi An, we will walk through the old town, seeing remarkably well-preserved traditional houses that have withstood 200 years of weather and war. Learn about the prosperous merchants who used to live in these homes, trading with buyers from all over the world.

The next destination is the Japanese Covered Bridge, one of two such bridges in Vietnam. This beautiful bridge was first constructed in the 1590s, linking it with the Chinese quarters. Following Tran Phu Street, we will reach the Assembly Halls. There are 4 Assembly Halls in Hoi An, which you can find when walking along Tran Phu Street. Each of those Halls belongs to a Chinese community who have their own beliefs.

Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel, then we will go to An My Paddy Field to see the buffalo – the symbol of countryside life in Vietnam. Continue to the local house in Tra Que Village to participate in a cooking class and learn how to make traditional rice milk. You will also enjoy a hearty meal with local food at the local residence. (NOTE: Minimum 2 pax for cooking class)

After lunch, you'll meet local farmers, talk with them, and learn about their local farming. Listen to the tour guide introduce and explain the process of growing wet rice, while having a chance to work as a real farmer.

After that, we go to the boat station and begin our tour of traditional villages, which include the Kim Bong carpentry village and Thanh Ha Pottery village, both established in the 15th century. You will have a chance to hear the story of the craftsman, watch the process of making a handmade product, and even try to make a souvenir of your own.

Get on the special bamboo basket boat on the Cua Dai River, explore the Seven-hectare water palm forest, learn how to catch purple crabs, then return to the hotel.

Start your day on the right foot with a delicious breakfast to get you going. Then, your driver will take you to Danang Airport, where you will take a flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

Upon arrival, our driver and tour guide will transfer you to your hotel in the city center. Check in and get some rest.

We begin the food tour around 6 p.m. to discover the amazing cuisine of Southern Vietnam, including Ho Thi Ky Flower market and Chinatown. We will stop at a Vietnamese Chinese Herbal tea shop and visit Cha Tam Church, where you can explore the daily life of locals while trying delicious dishes.

Then we will be back on Nguyen Hue walking street. You might get tired already, so we will have a beer/juice or smoothies in Bui Vien walking street, or you can join a sky bar in De Tham. Back to your hotel and finish your day.

OPTIONAL: STREET FOOD TOUR BY VESPA - $80/PAX

After having breakfast, our driver and tour guide will pick you up at your hotel, then take you to the War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace, where you can learn about the Vietnam - American War.

After that, we will visit the famous French architecture, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the General Post Office.

Visiting Cu Chi Tunnels is one of the best things to do while we are in the South. Allow half an hour for the introduction to the history of Cu Chi and its purposes. Enjoy a guided walk in the jungle, crawl into the tunnels, and visit some permitted areas of the system, including living areas and military facilities, before heading back to Ho Chi Minh.

After having breakfast, we travel to Hung Vuong Pier in Ben Tre. Take a boat at Ben Tre River for sightseeing and lively activities along the river, such as fishing and water transfer. We will stop at handicraft workshops, including a craft brickyard where the locals still use centuries-old traditional methods to create handmade bricks and processed coconut products.

A local Xe Loi (motorized rickshaw) will take us to a tropical garden where we can taste the exotic tropical fruit and enjoy a homemade lunch. Spend the rest of the afternoon lounging on a sampan boat rowing through Ben Tre’s iconic backwaters full of water palms and coconut trees. We go back to Ho Chi Minh at the end of the day.

In the evening, you will have a farewell dinner on our last day in Vietnam.

We enjoy one last hearty breakfast with our travel companions before getting transferred to Tan Son Nhat International Airport, where your journey with us ends.

This itinerary is designed as a private, fully customizable trip for your group, not a fixed group departure.

Yes. Every destination, hotel category, pace and activity can be adjusted to match your travel style and schedule.

Because the route spans the whole country, some regions are pleasant almost year-round; the shoulder seasons (Feb–Apr and Aug–Oct) generally offer the most balanced weather across all stops.

Yes, the pace and activities can be adjusted, and let your consultant know your group's needs when requesting a quote.