Known around the world as a city of lakes, shady boulevards and lush public parks, Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is different for everyone. The city is a perfect blend of the chicness of old Asia, the dynamism of new Asia, of Parisian grace and Asian rhythm.

Seen from above, Ha Long Bay looks like a light blue handkerchief dotted with emerald stones, sometimes clustered, sometimes isolated. The Ha Long Sea is deep blue throughout the four seasons. The beauty of Ha Long Bay lies not only in the shapes of its mountains, islands and the colour of its waters, but also in its infinitely rich system of caves and caverns.

Hoi An retains a charm and history that has largely escaped the destruction of successive wars. There is nothing like walking around the city on a full moon night each month when motorbikes are banned in the old town, which transforms into a magical land of silk lanterns, traditional food, song and dance, and street games.

Situated on the Saigon River, Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as everyone calls it, is Vietnam's main port and largest city, and still survives in the wide avenues of the city centre flanked by immaculate colonials. As one of the most vibrant and eclectic cities in Southeast Asia, Ho Chi Minh City is called the "Pearl of the Far East".

We offer you an 8-night tour to discover them all. So, ready to fly away with us?

Your itinerary:

Day 1: Hanoi - Arrival

Day 2: Hanoi - City Tour

Day 3: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay

Day 4: Ha Long Bay - Hanoi - Da Nang - Hoian

Day 5: Hoi An - Discover the city (1/2 day)

Day 6: Hoi An - Free time

Day 7: Hoi An - Da Nang - Ho Chi Minh City

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels - Saigon Street Food

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City - Departure

Please note that the order of the activities may be modified without changing the interest of the programme.

Arrival at Noi Bai airport, Hanoi, where you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel (without guide).

Rest of the day at your leisure.

Accommodation: Hotel de L'Opera Hanoi-MGallery (5*) - Deluxe Room

DAY 2: HANOI - CITY TOUR (Breakfast/Lunch)

Breakfast at the hotel.

The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is a perfect blend of old and new, Asian and European, a dynamic unification of tradition and progressive 21st century thinking. Despite its rapid development, the city has retained much of its traditional identity.

At 8:00 am, meet your guide at your hotel. Visit the complex dedicated to Ho Chi Minh, the founder of the nation, and affectionately known to Vietnamese as "Uncle Ho". Make the first stop at the historic Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, an imposing monument built for Uncle Ho's final resting place. Continue walking through the beautiful botanical garden of the Presidential Palace to visit Uncle Ho's humble home, built on the basis of a Vietnamese rural house on stilts with a simple design in a tranquil setting, reflecting his simple, pure and noble lifestyle. Visit the One Pillar Pagoda, built in 1049 of wood on a single stone pillar, designed to resemble a lotus flower, a symbol of purity.

Continue to Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Hanoi, located on a small island in the Western Lake.

In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university. Built in the 11th century, this amazing temple is a rare example of well-preserved traditional Vietnamese architecture and is featured on the back of the Vietnamese 100,000 dong banknote.

Lunch of Cha Ca La Vong in a restaurant.

Hanoi's old quarter still retains its unique architecture, as well as the huge amount and diversity of products and daily life of its residents. Messy and crazy, this walk gives you an exciting chance to have a deeper encounter with local life, outside a normal designed tourist programme.

Follow the most famous streets in the heart of the old quarter, then walk through dark, narrow alleys. Continue to Dong Xuan Market, the largest wholesale market in the old quarter where you can find all the amazing and cheap purchases, from exotic herbs, fresh fruits and vegetables, sweet-scented flowers to wooden handicrafts and decoration.

The walk ends at the O Quan Chuong Gate, the only gate of the 5 gates that once surrounded the Thang Long citadel, which remains a true "square gate". Transfer to your hotel.

End your trip with a walk around the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake, the "Lake of the Returned Sword", named after a magical sword once used by the most revered heroes to defeat the Chinese Ming Dynasty, then returned to the golden turtle God of the lake.

Accommodation: Hotel de L'Opera Hanoi-MGallery (5*) - Deluxe Room

Note: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is CLOSED on Mondays, Fridays and every afternoon.

After breakfast at the hotel, go on a 2.5 hour transfer to Ha Long Bay, a world wonder of nature (driver only, no tour guide).

On arrival, welcome aboard a comfortable overnight cruise. Enjoy a welcome drink and the crew will give you brief information about the itinerary and the boat.

Have lunch in the dining room and enjoy the view and the formation of the rocks coming through the window. After lunch, participate in the side activities: bamboo boat ride and swimming. Return to the boat to relax, enjoy the view and watch a cooking demonstration on the upper deck. Dinner will be served on the boat.

Accommodation: Paradise Grand Boat (5*) - Grand Balcony Cabin

DAY 4: HA LONG BAY - HANOI - FLIGHT - DA NANG - HOIAN (Brunch)

Wake up early to watch the sunrise over the sea (weather permitting) and join the Tai Chi session on the terrace and enjoy the breathtaking view over the bay while the boat sails quietly in Ha Long Bay.

After breakfast, enjoy a cave tour. Then return to your cabin to freshen up and check out. Enjoy brunch on board during the cruise to the pier for disembarkation around noon.

Drive back to Noi Bai Airport, Hanoi, for a flight to Danang.

Upon arrival at Danang airport, our driver will pick you up and transfer you to Hoi An (approximately 45 minutes drive).

Accommodation: Little Riverside Hotel (5* local) - Little Suite Town Room

Breakfast at the hotel.

Known as a thriving trading port between the 15th and 19th centuries, the riverside town of Hoi An retains many vestiges of this glorious era, such as the bustling market and the abundance of souvenir and dress shops. What makes Hoi An remarkable is that its old quarter has been beautifully preserved. The streets are still lined with old tile-roofed houses, shady pagodas and colourful communal halls that contribute to its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Today, at 8:30am, meet your guide at your hotel. Enjoy a walking tour of Hoi An Old Town, known for its well-preserved architecture, pedestrian-only streets and typical local cuisine. During this walking exploration, see some historic merchant and community houses, ancient pagodas and traditional places of worship with Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese architectural influences. Stop at the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, built by the Japanese community in the 1590s to reach Chinatown across the water.

Visit the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation, see its beautiful wood carvings on the beams, walls and altar, while learning with your guide untold stories about the Chinese community during their stay in Hoi An. Continue to wander through the backstreets of Hoi An and feel the gentle hum that is the sound of sewing machines. This charming little town is also home to hundreds of sewing shops and no one can explain exactly when, how and why it became the centre of sewing. Visit a sewing shop where you can get express made-to-measure clothes.

Known as a key part of Hoi An's culture, the silk lantern is a simple but colourful craft. Follow the narrow street to reach a local craftsman's house, tucked away in a small corner of the neighbourhood. After a brief introduction to the history, shape and colour of the lanterns and the stages of production, try your hand at creating or decorating a lantern and take it home as a souvenir.

Accommodation: Little Riverside Hotel (5* local) - Little Suite Town Room

DAY 6: HOI AN - FREE TIME (Breakfast)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free day at the hotel or explore the city on your own.

Accommodation : Little Riverside Hotel (5* local) - Little Suite Town Room

Optional suggestion and with extra charge: Hoi An countryside and Tra Que market gardening village, lunch (excluding drinks) included.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free time until the agreed time, transfer to Da Nang airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

On arrival, transfer to your hotel in the heart of this bustling city. Check-in with the rest of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Hotel des Arts MGallery (5*) - Deluxe Room

DAY 8: HO CHI MINH CITY - CU CHI TUNNELS - SAIGON STREET FOOD (Breakfast/Lunch)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Originally dug as a base for guerrilla actions against the French, the Cu Chi tunnels were expanded during the Indochina War to become an ingenious and incredible underground network designed to protect Viet Cong guerrillas from French air and ground raids. There are over 200 kilometres of underground complexes containing warehouses, kitchens, hospitals, dormitories and even schools, once occupied by over 10,000 people.

Today, at 8:00am, leave Ho Chi Minh City for a one and a half hour drive northwest to the famous Cu Chi tunnels, passing through urbanised areas and lush countryside typical of southern Vietnam. Visit the vast network of underground passages to get an insight into the history of the tunnels, life in the tunnels and the tenacity and ingenuity of the Vietnamese during the fighting.

Lunch in a restaurant.

This afternoon, you will go to the lively Chinatown, known locally as Cho Lon, with its colourful atmosphere and mysterious temples. Return to the city and visit one of Saigon's most historic sites, including Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office.

Ho Chi Minh City is renowned for its fast-paced atmosphere throughout the day, and the city comes alive with hundreds of food and drink stalls... Two of the greatest pleasures of exploring this vibrant city are immersing yourself in its nightlife and sampling its legendary street food.

Get ready for a memorable tour covering the best street food spots in Saigon. Queue up at a local 'banh mi shop' to sample some of Saigon's best bread before heading to a street café for a tour briefing. Choose to drive or walk through the alleyways to try the "banh trang nuong", a Dalat pizza-like snack filled with interesting toppings.

Continue walking down a busy street. Enjoy a cold beer while chatting with your guide to understand the eating habits of a real Saigonese before returning to your hotel.

Note: Cu Chi tunnels have been widened in places, but they can still be dark, hot and claustrophobic inside, please take this into account if you don't like enclosed spaces. For those who choose to stay above ground, there are many easily accessible rooms and excavated areas to visit.
Duration: Full day (08.00-17.00).

Accommodation: Hotel des Arts MGallery (5*) - Deluxe Room

DAY 9: HO CHI MINH CITY - DEPARTURE (Breakfast)

Breakfast at the hotel. Free time until transfer to the airport for your flight to your next destination.

For optimal comfort, you will stay in Superior category hotels selected by us.

Your accommodation:

In Hanoi: Opera McGallery Hanoi 5* in a Deluxe Room

In Ha Long Bay: Paradise Grand Cruise 5* in a Grand Balcony Cabin

In Hoi An: Little Riverside Hotel 5* local in a Little Suite Town Room

In Ho Chi Minh City: Hotel des Arts MGallery 5* in a Deluxe Room

In case of unavailability, you will be accommodated in similar category hotels.

Hoi An is surrounded by a relaxing countryside where life is simple and slow, with people living close to nature. This morning is full of interesting activities, offering you a glimpse of the traditional agricultural way of life on the outskirts of the ancient city of Hoi An.

Duration: 8am-1pm or 1pm-6pm