Why travel this route
Some travellers want a guide every day. Others want the hard parts solved and the afternoons open. This trip is for the second group: we book the internal flights, meet every arrival, hold a guide on standby and otherwise leave you alone.
Four stops in ten days is a comfortable rhythm — long enough in each to find a favourite coffee shop, short enough that the country still feels covered. Guided days can be added anywhere, including the morning before.
- Three days in Hanoi with the Old Quarter, the lakes and the coffee culture on your own schedule
- An overnight cruise on Bai Tu Long Bay, the quiet side of the world heritage area
- Two days in Hoi An for the ancient town, the tailors and the beach
- Three days in Ho Chi Minh City, with the delta or Cu Chi as an easy day trip
- Airport meetings, transfers and internal flights all handled
- A local guide on call in each city, bookable the day before
Where you sleep, night by night
Nine nights in four places. Add nights anywhere, or add Sapa and Pu Luong if you want mountains.
| Stop | Nights | Why we stop here |
|---|---|---|
| Hanoi | 3D | A thousand-year-old capital where lake-side boulevards, shophouse alleys and street-food corners sit side by side. |
| Ha Long Bay | 2D | Thousands of limestone towers rising out of jade water, best seen from a small boat on the quieter Bai Tu Long side. |
| Hoian | 2D | A lantern-lit trading port turned UNESCO town, ringed by rice fields, herb gardens and fishing hamlets. |
| HCMC | 3D | Vietnam's loudest, fastest city — colonial facades, war-history museums and an endless appetite for coffee. |
What you actually do
As much or as little as you like. The only fixed element is the cruise.
- Independent exploring in Hanoi, Hoi An and Saigon
- Overnight cruise with kayaking and a cave visit
- Optional guided half-days in every city
- Optional Cu Chi or Mekong day trip
- Optional cooking class or cycling in Hoi An
- Beach time near Hoi An
Good to know before you book
Hotels are central and walkable rather than resort-style, because on this trip the location matters more than the pool.
Plan this trip with us
Tell us your dates, how many of you are travelling and what you would like to change. A trip planner in our Hanoi office replies within one working day with a day-by-day plan and a price.