Selected: fully customisable Highlights of VietnamDesigned for those who don’t have time to waste, this is your pocket-sized introduction to the sheer variety of Vietnam.Contrasting the wildly different cultures and geographies of north and south, you’ll visit Vietnam’s two most important cities, one of its richest historical towns, and take an overnight cruise through one of its most dramatic landscapes. Just the highlights, done right. When time is short, why bother with anything less than the best?Read more LocationVietnam Suggested Length10 days /9 nights Activity Level Fully customisable Every trip is unique Ratings LightLight mobility requirements as sightseeing activities are done predominantly by vehicle, with light walking SteadyIdeal for most fitness levels. Sightseeing involves walking and being on your feet for a couple of hours at a time, with down-time included too ActiveRequires a moderate level of fitness. Activities and sightseeing will generally involve walking and being on your foot for much of the day. Often includes light activities such as cycling, kayaking, or hands-on experiences AdventureDemands higher fitness. Most days will include a substantial amount of walking and/or activity throughout the day. EnergeticFor people who love being active. We reserve this rating for active itineraries with substantial movement and adventure activities almost every day. Trip highlights Itinerary Is this trip for you? Reviews What's included Compare and contrast Vietnam’s two great cities with guided tours of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City Dig into culinary culture with a cookery class in Hoi An Spend two days cruising amongst the dramatic limestone towers of Lan Ha Bay, Halong’s quieter sibling ItineraryAll itineraries are fully customisable. Our destination experts created this trip as an example of a cultural adventure: combining remarkable sights, guided experiences and a slice of everyday local life. Choose us, and we’ll create you a custom holiday where every detail reflects your pace, passions and preferences. Take as much or as little from this trip idea as you want, talk to us when you’re ready. Plan my trip Image Image Day 1-2Hanoi Highlights: Stay in the heart of the Old Quarter, where narrow alleys are lined with bars, shops and food carts Learn about Vietnamese history at one of Hanoi’s superb museums Visit the thousand-year-old Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first universityIf you want the fast track to everyday Vietnamese life, there’s no better place to begin your Vietnamese holiday than Hanoi’s Old Quarter. A maze of old-fashioned guild streets festooned with telegraph wires, infused with delicious smells and crammed with cafés serving egg coffee and pho: this is a taste of an early-twentieth-century Vietnam that’s all but disappeared. A morning tour of the city will help you get your bearings, including a visit to either the excellent Women’s Museum or Hoa Lo Prison (the infamous “Hanoi Hilton”) to give you a fresh perspective on Vietnamese history. After that, it’s up to you. Accommodation Hanoi • Vietnam Moderate La Siesta Classic Hang ThungSituated on the edge of Hanoi's Old Quarter, the La Siesta Hang Thung is well located for morning strolls around Hoan Kiem Lake and shopping and dining in the heart of Hanoi. Hanoi • Vietnam Superior La Siesta Premium Hang BeLa Siesta Premium Hang Be overlooks the Old Quarter’s vibrant streets and at just 200m from Hoan Kiem Lake, this boutique hotel is ideally located for you to get out and explore Vietnam’s bustling capital. Hanoi • Vietnam Deluxe Capella HanoiFrom the famed Asian design studios of Bill Bensley, the Capella Hanoi offers 47 individually designed rooms and suites, redolent of 1920s opera in New York. Hanoi • Vietnam Deluxe Sofitel Legend MetropoleThe iconic Metropole, located in the centre of Hanoi close to the Opera House and Hoan Kiem Lake, ranks amongst Vietnam’s finest and most distinguished colonial hotels. Not quite what you had in mind?We’ve plenty more to choose from, these are just a few of our favourite options. Chat with an expert to find stays that suit your style and budget. Make an enquiry TransportDay 1Car transfer Hanoi Airport to hotel (30 minutes) Day 3Lan Ha Bay Highlights: Lose yourself in a land before time as you explore the otherworldly crags of Lan Ha Bay Watch the sunset from the top deck of your overnight cruiseWith its calm, still waters, early-morning mists and seemingly endless jungle-covered islands, Lan Ha Bay is indisputably one of the great landscapes of the world. The best way to get a sense of the scope of the region is on an overnight cruise on a Chinese-style junk: an experience that can feel like journeying into a Vietnamese fairy tale. This is your chance to decompress after the hectic buzz of Hanoi, watching from the deck as karst cliffs loom out of the mist and secret coves wait to be discovered. Depending on your boat’s itinerary, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to see traditional floating villages and oyster farms, or perhaps stop to swim or kayak. Accommodation Lan Ha Bay • Vietnam Moderate Peony CruiseBuilt in traditional wooden style, the Peony cruises the beautiful waters of Lan Ha Bay, with 24 spacious and comfortable cabins with large windows, giving you spectacular views across the water Lan Ha Bay • Vietnam Superior Orchid Classic CruiseBuilt in traditional wooden style, the Orchid Cruise offers 14 spacious and comfortable en-suite cabins with large windows, giving you spectacular views across the water. Lan Ha Bay • Vietnam Superior Orchid Trendy CruiseThe Orchid Trendy Cruise offers 20 spacious and comfortable en-suite cabins with balconies and large windows, and is built in the traditional junk style. Lan Ha Bay • Vietnam Deluxe Ginger CruiseOne of the best ways to explore Lan Ha Bay is on the Ginger; part of Heritage Line’s luxurious fleet. Not quite what you had in mind?We’ve plenty more to choose from, these are just a few of our favourite options. Chat with an expert to find stays that suit your style and budget. Make an enquiry TransportDay 3Car transfer from Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay (2 hours) Day 4-7Hoi An Highlights: Wander among the Chinese-style pagodas and canary-yellow shophouses of Hoi An’s World Heritage riverfront Check out the town’s thriving trade in bespoke tailoring and perhaps even get measured up for your own custom-made outfit Get a hands-on introduction to the local food culture with a cookery class in a traditional market settingBuilt on trade in exotic goods between Europe and Southeast Asia through the 15th to the 19th century, Hoi An soaked up Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese and Dutch influences to create a totally unique and beautiful character that persists to this day. We’ve included a half-day cooking experience to get you under the skin of the town’s vibrant street-food scene, but the rest of your time here is free to wander the lantern-strung streets, sip cocktails by the riverfront, and perhaps head out to the beach just ten minutes outside of town. If you’d like to add more structure to your visit or see some of the local countryside, there are plenty more guided experiences we can include — just ask. Accommodation Hoi An • Vietnam Moderate Cozy Savvy Boutique Hoi AnThe Cozy Savvy Boutique hotel is excellently located just outside of the main pedestrianised section of Hoi An Ancient Town and features gorgeous décor, a wonderful restaurant and rooftop pool. Hoi An • Vietnam Moderate Legacy Hoi An ResortSituated a five minute drive from the beach and from the centre of town, the Legacy Hoi An Resort offers a warm welcome in amongst the tropical gardens. Hoi An • Vietnam Superior Allegro Hoi AnLocated in the heart of Hoi An's Old Town, the Allegro Hoi An puts the highlights of this ancient port town within walking distance of your room. Hoi An • Vietnam Superior Boutique Hoi AnLocated on a quiet stretch of Cua Dai Beach, ten minutes by car from the historical UNESCO World Heritage Old Town, the Boutique Hoi An Resort is a fusion of French style and modern, Vietnamese elegance. Hoi An • Vietnam Deluxe Namia River RetreatOn the quiet Cồn Ba Xã Islet in Hoi An overlooking the Thu Bon River, the Namia River Retreat is waiting to welcome you for a wellness-inclusive stay in central Vietnam. Not quite what you had in mind?We’ve plenty more to choose from, these are just a few of our favourite options. Chat with an expert to find stays that suit your style and budget. Make an enquiry TransportDay 4Car transfer from Lan Ha Bay to Hanoi Airport (2 hours)Flight from Hanoi to Danang (1.5 hours)Car transfer from Danang to Hoi An (45 minutes) Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City Highlights: Contrast Hanoi’s maze of alleyways with Ho Chi Minh’s shiny skyscrapers and imposing colonial-era landmarks Learn about Saigon’s role in the Vietnam War and the lasting rivalry between North and South Vietnam Sample southern Vietnamese street food and pick up souvenirs from over 1,500 stalls at the Ben Thanh MarketIf Hanoi clings to history and tradition, Ho Chi Minh City presents its face to the world with towering skyscrapers, wide boulevards and an international outlook. Just as in Hanoi, you’ll get the lie of the land with a morning tour of the city, including magnificent French colonial buildings with surprising Vietnam War-era histories, now repurposed as museums, contemporary arts spaces, craft coffee shops and more. Conclude the tour at sprawling Ben Thanh Market, where you can decide for yourself if southern street food measures up to its northern cousin. Be sure to set aside time for a drink at one of Saigon’s sky bars for spectacular views of the twinkling skyline. Accommodation Ho Chi Minh City • Vietnam Moderate Silverland Ben ThanhUpon checking into the Silverland Ben Thanh, you'd be forgiven for thinking you've maybe arrived in Morocco, or a futuristic space ship when you enter the iron-clad restaurant. Vietnamese, it is not, but well-located and welcoming it is. Ho Chi Minh City • Vietnam Deluxe Hotel des Arts Saigon, MGallery CollectionThe chic Hotel des Arts is reminiscent of French Indochina in the 1930s, modernised with all the comforts of the 21st century. Ho Chi Minh City • Vietnam Superior La Siesta Premium SaigonThis is the La Siesta brand's fourth hotel in Vietnam, and the first in Ho Chi Minh City. Not quite what you had in mind?We’ve plenty more to choose from, these are just a few of our favourite options. Chat with an expert to find stays that suit your style and budget. Make an enquiry TransportDay 8Car transfer from Hoi An to Danang Airport (45 minutes)Flight from Danang to Ho Chi Minh City (1.5 hours)Car transfer from airport to hotel (30 minutes)Day 10Car transfer from hotel to airport (30 minutes) Is this trip for you? What's greatGet a taste of Vietnam’s top historical, cultural and scenic highlightsShort but sweet, this trip is designed for those with limited timeIt’s also great paired with a highlights tour of Cambodia, Laos or Thailand, or extended with a few days on the beachThings to considerThis trip focusses on classic destinations, so don’t expect to stray far from the tourist trailIt covers a wide array of latitudes and geographies, so you’ll need to pack for a range of different weather conditionsWe’ve left plenty of space for you to do your own thing, but if you’d like more included guiding just let us know ReviewsThese reviews come straight from our customers, sharing how their journeys played out. In some cases, we’re already helping them plan the next oneRead more reviews I have now used Inside Asia for Vietnam and Inside Japan, and in both trips, the level of service, attentiveness, and capacity to customize the itinerary to my liking has been super. From my very first call to the office, we were already drafting out a skeleton of my itinerary [...] We had an idea of some of the places we wanted to visit, but had no idea of distances, weather, specific things to see and do etc... This is where we needed someone with a knowledge and experience of the countries we were hoping to visit. We feel very lucky [...] Overall it was a great trip and we were very happy.We felt that sometimes the guides were unnecessary for some transfers, and that there were some days with too much down time, and some repetition of activities, What's included? What's includedBreakfast every dayTwo lunches: one onboard the cruise; one at the cookery class in Hoi AnOne dinner: onboard the cruiseThree half-day experiences: half-day tour of Hanoi; cookery class in Hoi An; half-day tour of Ho Chi Minh CityOvernight cruise on Lan Ha BayAll entrance fees to sites included in guided experiencesAll internal transport & accommodationNot includedInternational flightsMeals not mentionedEntrance fees to any sites not included in guided experiencesTips for guides & porters
I have now used Inside Asia for Vietnam and Inside Japan, and in both trips, the level of service, attentiveness, and capacity to customize the itinerary to my liking has been super. From my very first call to the office, we were already drafting out a skeleton of my itinerary [...]
We had an idea of some of the places we wanted to visit, but had no idea of distances, weather, specific things to see and do etc... This is where we needed someone with a knowledge and experience of the countries we were hoping to visit. We feel very lucky [...]
Overall it was a great trip and we were very happy.We felt that sometimes the guides were unnecessary for some transfers, and that there were some days with too much down time, and some repetition of activities,