Vietnam Luxury Highlights: Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City - 10 Days

Highlights

• Tour Hanoi's highlights by motorbike and see a water puppet show
• Board a luxury ship for an overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay
• See the wartime landmarks of Ho Chi Minh City with a private guide
• Spend a couple of days exploring the Mekong Delta by boat and bike

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi, Dinner at Ly Club

Welcome to Vietnam! This Southeast Asian gem is the ideal getaway for anyone who loves nature, culture, history, and great food. The country has deep roots, boasting thousands of years of history, and many of its most famous ancient landmarks remain today. This is undoubtedly the case in the capital of Hanoi, which was founded in 267 BCE and is the perfect example of a modern metropolis that has retained its ancient heritage.

At the airport in Hanoi, a personal driver will pick you up at the terminal for the ride into the city and the Sofitel Legend Metropole. Located in the heart of Vietnam's Old Quarter near historic Hoan Kiem Lake, the Metropole is set in a luxurious French colonial estate dating to 1901. It's the perfect place to relax and unwind after a long flight. Soothe your muscles with a relaxing massage at Le Spa, or perhaps enjoy a cocktail on the patio next to the heated pool.

When the sun goes down, head over to Ly Club Restaurant for an unforgettable culinary experience. Located in an ornate French villa built in the early 20th century, Ly Club offers opulent dining rooms to enjoy a fusion menu of Vietnam-meets-Western cuisine against a backdrop of Indochinese decor. Here, you can savor everything from traditional pho (noodle soup) to Hanoi spring rolls and tiger prawn salad. Afterward, transfer back to your hotel.

Day 2: Hanoi Motorbike Tour & Water Puppetry Show

Leave in the morning on an exciting tour around Hanoi to discover its history and culture. After enjoying the Metropole's buffet breakfast, you'll meet your private guide/driver and hop on a Soviet-era Minsk motorbike to zip around Hanoi's wonderfully chaotic streets and explore its hidden corners.

The first stop is in central Hanoi at the French colonial Opera House, which dates to 1901. After snapping some pics, head down backstreets to the largest secondhand electronics market in Vietnam. Here, you can buy everything from 1970s radios to the latest mobile phones. Then stop at a Soviet-era apartment complex to meet a veteran of the American War. After enjoying tea and a chat with his family, jump back on the bike and explore Hanoi's French boulevards, stopping for street food faves like banh cuon (pork mince rice rolls), pho cuon (beef rice rolls), and egg coffee.

Later, you'll visit the home of Mr. Phan Liem, a seventh-generation practitioner of the Vietnamese art of water puppetry. This theatrical expression has been part of the nation's culture for over 1,000 years, and your host has devoted his life to mastering it. The stage for these performances is a small pool (mimicking rice paddies), and the puppeteer stands behind a screen while manipulating the wooden puppets. Over a cup of tea, your host will explain the history of this art and then treat you to a show. Afterward, you'll tour his workshop to see how he crafts these intricate puppets.  

Day 3: Day Trip to Ninh Binh, Visit Hoa Lu & Tam Coc

Get an early start and meet your driver in the lobby of the Metropole. Then embark on the two-hour ride south to Ninh Binh. This beautiful area is renowned for its gorgeous scenery, with limestone peaks, lush green rice fields, pagodas, and snaking rivers. Once there, you'll begin a private, full-day tour of the region that starts with a visit to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam from 968 to 1009 CE, just after the country gained independence from China. Though the old citadel is mostly in ruins, the temples of the Dinh and Le dynasties remain.

After lunch at a local restaurant (try the goat meat and fried rice), board a sampan (flat-bottomed boat) for a 1.5-hour ride on the river to the village of Tam Coc. This serene trip will leave you spellbound by the beauty of the surrounding paddy fields and karst rock formations. On the way, you'll stop at Thai Vi, a 13th-century temple dedicated to Tran Thai Tong (the first emperor of the Tran Dynasty).

Upon arrival in Tam Coc, stretch your legs with a 45-minute bike ride around the village to enjoy the scenery and learn a bit about local life. Afterward, you'll head back up the river and return to Hanoi.

Day 4: Transfer to Ha Long Bay, Luxury Cruise

In the morning, you'll check out of the Metropole and hop in a comfortable car for the three-hour ride north to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a natural wonder of the world. In this sweet spot on the Gulf of Tonkin, over 1,000 karst islets rise above emerald waters, resembling the spine of a giant reptile (Ha Long translates to "Descending Dragon"). Here you'll board one of Heritage Cruises' fleet of luxury ships for an overnight adventure on the bay.

The attentive staff will welcome you with a complimentary drink when you board the ship. After checking into your suite, you'll receive an introductory briefing followed by a gourmet lunch in the restaurant as the ship gets underway. You'll pass several islets before arriving at a secluded lagoon in Lan Ha Bay, part of the Cat Ba World Biosphere Reserve archipelago. Then the boat will drop anchor, and you can enjoy kayaking and/or swimming right off the boat. 

Later, return to the vessel and relax in your suite or on deck. After enjoying afternoon tea, savor a cocktail while watching the sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin. Then take part in a cooking class on board the ship, during which the expert chef will teach your group how to prepare traditional Vietnamese dishes. Later, you can opt for activities like games and movies or go squid fishing. Also, there's no need to hit the sack early, as the bars remain open until late.

Day 5: Morning Cruise, Transfer to Hanoi & Fly to Ho Chi Minh City

Wake up early and head up to the sundeck and join a Vovinam class, which is a Vietnamese martial art dating to the early 20th century. After a light breakfast, the ship will cruise to the Dark and Light Cave. You'll then board a traditional bamboo boat and enter this system of two sea caverns. The "dark" cave stretches over 328 feet (100 m), and you'll explore the interior with a flashlight. The "light" cave is shorter and is filled with natural light, illuminating the white limestone karst walls and emerald waters of the grotto. Its cathedral-like interior is a great place to snap photos.

Afterward, you'll return to the ship and cruise back to the pier in Ha Long Bay. Then hop in a private vehicle for the 3.5-hour ride back to Hanoi and the airport. There, you'll catch a two-hour flight south to Ho Chi Minh City. Formerly known as Saigon, Vietnam's largest metropolis is fascinating in that it has managed to preserve its cultural roots and traditions in the face of a communist revolution, a devastating war, and ever-encroaching modernity.

Upon arrival, a driver will transfer you to the Park Hyatt. This gleaming white five-star hotel occupies an elegant French colonial building in the city center, and its spacious rooms meld traditional Vietnamese decor and modern luxury. There's no shortage of amenities here, and after checking in, you may want to hit the Xuan Spa to take the edge off the flight with a massage. If you like, order a smart cocktail from the hotel bar, Park Lounge, and enjoy it at the outdoor pool surrounded by tropical gardens.

Day 6: Cu Chi Tunnels & Ho Chi Minh City Tour

After indulging in the Park Hyatt's abundant breakfast buffet, your private guide/driver will pick you up at the hotel for a half-day tour to learn about Vietnam's wartime history. This immersive (literally) experience takes place about an hour north of Ho Chi Minh City at the Cu Chi Tunnels.

Dating to 1948, this immense 155-mile (250 km) underground tunnel network was built to defend against the French, then used during the Vietnam War (known locally as the American War) as a base of operations for the Viet Cong guerrillas, complete with supply routes, hospitals, and living spaces. Inside the tunnels, you'll get an idea of the harsh conditions faced by over 16,000 Viet Cong who lived here and see innovative booby traps that they left for unlucky enemy soldiers. You can also crawl through a section to experience the tunnels' narrow dimensions. Afterward, you'll transfer back to your hotel.

Later, head out on a half-day private highlights tour of Ho Chi Minh City. Led by an expert guide, you'll visit many historic buildings representing the broad mix of Vietnamese, Chinese, and French influences defining Ho Chi Minh City. These include City Hall, Reunification Palace (once the headquarters of the Saigon government), the People's Committee Building, the 19th-century Notre Dame Cathedral, with its sharp twin spires constructed from materials imported from France, and the Central Post Office, completed in 1891. You'll also visit Ben Thanh, one of the biggest markets in the city.

Day 7: Transfer to the Mekong Delta & Can Tho

Get ready for a true Vietnam adventure as you travel into the heart of the famous Mekong Delta region! Known as Vietnam's rice bowl, this region is full of winding rivers, coconut groves, sugar cane plantations, and green rice paddies. Your driver will pick you up in the morning for the four-hour ride south from Ho Chi Minh City to the river city of Can Tho.

Upon arrival, you'll check into the five-star Azerai Can Tho Resort, which occupies its own river island. You can spend the rest of the day relaxing on the terrace of your riverfront bungalow, dining at one of the hotel's fine restaurants, and/or relaxing by the infinity pool, which overlooks the river. Perhaps treat yourself to a hot-stone massage at the resort's on-site spa.

If you like, you can also head venture around Can Tho, traveling by boat as you explore the maze of waterways in the Mekong. Or check out a free bicycle from the hotel and explore the riverine countryside with its coconut groves and fertile rice paddies. In the city, you can visit the Can Tho Museum, which showcases the history and culture of the Mekong Delta region. And, of course, try the local street food such as banh xeo (Vietnamese crepes), hu tieu (noodle soup), and ca loc nuong trui (grilled snakehead fish).

Day 8: Mekong Day Tour, Garden Dinner

After breakfast at the hotel (you can opt for a Vietnamese option like pho or Western dishes), head out for a leisurely private half-day tour of the Mekong. It's a great opportunity to go exploring deep into the rural province of Vinh Long, where you can immerse yourself in local culture. It's a slower pace of life, where people live traditionally off the land and water.

The journey starts with a serene 30-minute cruise along the Hau River. After docking at the pier, hike to a nearby plantation to see some of the exotic tropical produce grown in the region, including grapefruit, jackfruit, papaya, and more. Next, visit a historic house and join the friendly owner for tea and a viewing of their fascinating antique collection. Return to the dock and head back toward Can Tho by boat, enjoying a picnic lunch onboard amid the stunning delta scenery.

Later, you'll enjoy an al fresco dinner unlike anywhere else in the world. Head to a secluded corner of the resort, which is surrounded by lush manicured gardens. There, you'll enjoy a gourmet five-course menu under the verdant canopy of a massive banyan tree. Needless to say, this experience is ideal for couples.

Day 9: Cycle to an Organic Farm, Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City

This morning, you'll embark on an unforgettable half-day ecotour by bicycle. Leave the hotel and follow your expert private guide around Can Tho's serene countryside and watery landscapes. You'll ride through peaceful villages along tranquil canals and stop at traditional noodle houses for a snack.

The tour's highlight is a visit to an organic cacao (cocoa) farm owned by Mr. Muoi Cuong. Here, you'll see firsthand the multistep process of turning fruit from a cacao tree into common and popular products like butter, powder, and decadent chocolate. After the ride, you'll return to Azerai Can Tho. Later, your driver will pick you up for the ride back to Ho Chi Minh City and the Park Hyatt.

Day 10: Depart Ho Chi Minh City

Unfortunately, today you must bid farewell to Vietnam. Enjoy one last morning of pampering at the Park Hyatt before meeting your driver for the ride to the airport, where you'll catch your flight home. Safe travels!

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