Northern Vietnam & Ho Chi Minh City

Today, you’ll depart from your selected airport, flying towards Vietnam’s charming capital, Hanoi, with connecting flight(s) along the way.

You’ll arrive at Hanoi’s international airport, pass through immigration, and collect your luggage. Your guide will be waiting for you outside the arrivals hall, just beyond the exit doors. The guide will be wearing a TourCompass uniform and holding a TourCompass sign, making them easy to spot.

You will then be driven to your hotel, and the rest of the day is free for you to begin exploring the fascinating first impressions of Vietnam’s capital.

We highly recommend venturing into the narrow, bustling alleyways of the Old Quarter, where each lane reveals the sights, sounds, and scents of everyday Vietnamese life. You could also enjoy a peaceful stroll around the tranquil Hoan Kiem Lake, where shady trees and local city life come together to create a popular oasis in the heart of the city.

Today, you’ll head off on an exciting city tour to some of Hanoi’s most iconic attractions.

Your guide will collect you from your hotel, and the day will begin with a Vietnamese coffee at a local café overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake – the city’s green heart and a lively meeting place for Hanoians of all ages.

From here, you’ll cross the iconic Huc Bridge to Ngoc Son Temple, located in the middle of the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake. The bridge’s name means “the place touched by morning sunlight”. Here, you’ll hear the legend of the emperor, the magic sword, and the giant turtle, and discover how the lake got its name and its special meaning for the city.

Next, you’ll be driven to the Temple of Literature – a peaceful complex built in the 11th century by the students of the Chinese philosopher Confucius. With almost a thousand years of history, the temple is a rare and well-preserved example of traditional Vietnamese architecture, complete with colonnades, ponds, and green courtyards where young students still come to pray for good fortune in their exams.

Lunch will be served at the KOTO restaurant, which stands for “Know One, Teach One”. KOTO is more than just a place to eat – it’s a restaurant that educates and supports young Vietnamese people from disadvantaged backgrounds, providing them with professional training and a new start in life, along with the skills they need for lasting employment. Meanwhile, you can enjoy flavourful Vietnamese dishes in peaceful surroundings. You can read more about the restaurant here.

The tour continues by cyclo – a traditional bicycle taxi – through the Old Quarter’s maze of narrow streets and bustling trade. The Old Quarter is famous for its 36 streets, which were originally named after the goods once sold there, such as bamboo, silk, paper, and tin. Even today, many of these street names live on, and the area oozes local charm as Hanoians go about their daily lives, chatting, and serving steaming bowls of pho from their street kitchens. 

After an engaging cyclo ride, you’ll visit the historic Long Bien Bridge, an iconic landmark from the French colonial era built in the early 1900s. The distinctive iron bridge stretches across the Red River and was heavily damaged during the Vietnam War, yet today stands as a powerful symbol of Hanoi’s resilience and history. From the bridge, you’ll gain a lively glimpse of daily life in Hanoi, with locals commuting on scooters alongside cyclists and pedestrians. Looking down, you’ll see the busy Long Bien Market, buzzing from early morning, while the view over the river provides a calm contrast to the city’s energy. The bridge is a favourite subject for photographers and travellers looking to capture the true spirit of Hanoi.

The day ends with a performance of traditional water puppetry – a centuries-old Vietnamese art form where wooden puppets dance on the water’s surface to live music and storytelling.

After an exciting day of sightseeing, you’ll be driven back to your hotel, where you can enjoy the evening at your leisure.

Today, you’ll have plenty of time to explore Vietnam’s vibrant capital city – at your own pace. You might like to join one of our optional tours, or perhaps you’d rather set off and discover the city independently.

Begin your morning early with a visit to the famous Train Street, when there are fewer people around and the atmosphere is calm. Here, the train passes right next to the street’s small cafés, offering a unique glimpse of daily life before the city properly stirs to life.

Afterwards, make your way to the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake. The narrow streets and French colonial buildings here conceal charming shops, colourful art galleries, and cosy cafés. Settle down with a Vietnamese coffee and watch everyday life unfold, as locals and visitors cross paths. Not far away stands the iconic St. Joseph’s Cathedral – with its Gothic façade and lively square, it’s a popular meeting place for both locals and travellers.

For lunch, head out in search of Hanoi’s famous street food. Try a steaming bowl of pho, enjoy the aroma of grilled bun cha, or grab a crispy banh mi to eat on the go.

From here, you can continue towards the area around the Long Bien Bridge and the nearby Long Bien Market, where the trade in fruit, vegetables, and flowers spills out into the streets, offering a vibrant glimpse into daily life in the city. The pace is lively and the atmosphere authentic, no matter the time of day.

If you’re curious about Hanoi’s history, you can also visit the ancient Imperial Citadel, which stands as a fascinating reminder of the city’s past. In the same area, you’ll also find the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum – one of Hanoi’s most iconic landmarks and a key site in Vietnam’s modern history.

When night falls, Hanoi truly comes alive. The streets glow with the flames of street kitchens, and the air fills with the aromas of grilled meat, fresh coriander, and fragrant broth wafting through the narrow lanes. Take a leisurely stroll through the Old Quarter and soak up the atmosphere, or settle at a rooftop bar to enjoy a view of the city’s vibrant nightlife.

Today, you’ll leave Hanoi and head towards the village life of Mai Chau, one of Vietnam’s most picturesque valleys. You’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven through the scenic northern Vietnamese countryside. The journey takes around 3½ hours along well-maintained roads, with a short stop en route to stretch your legs and enjoy the view.

As you arrive, the valley unfolds before you with its lush green rice fields, dramatic limestone mountains, and small villages where ethnic minorities still live according to age-old traditions.

After checking in at your hotel, a traditional and delicious lunch awaits.

In the afternoon, you’ll borrow a bicycle from the hotel and set off with your guide along small paths through the peaceful landscape of the valley. The route is flat and covers 10–12 km. The roads wind their way between small village communities and verdant rice paddies where water buffalo graze. The air is filled with the sounds of children playing and chickens clucking as everyday life carries on around you. Along the way, you’ll visit the villages of Pom Coong and Na Phon, gaining an insight into the daily life of the Thai people, one of the largest ethnic groups in the area. The tour also passes by a local market, where the stalls are brimming with every imaginable item. Here, you can soak up the local atmosphere and take some time to wander around at your own pace. Afterwards, you’ll cycle back to the hotel, passing fields and watching local farmers at work as the sun gently sets.

Back at the hotel, you can unwind on your veranda with a good book and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

After breakfast, you’ll leave Mai Chau and drive to our social sustainability project in Quyet Thang, which was initiated by our local partner. The journey takes about 1½ hours and passes through a beautiful, hilly landscape with rice paddies, small villages, and green mountain slopes.

Quyet Thang is located in the southern part of Hoa Binh province and is made up of 23 small villages inhabited, among others, by the Muong people. Here, families mainly make a living growing cassava and maize on exhausted soil, and the poor road conditions make it difficult to transport and sell their crops. At the same time, the ancient Muong traditions are under pressure as many of the younger generation leave the area to find work in larger towns and cities.

Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by a local representative from the village. Together, you’ll take a walk through the village, witnessing everyday life up close. You’ll pass fields and traditional stilt houses, greet the families, and meet the village children, who’ll shyly wave to you as you wander past. You’ll also visit the village’s community house, where residents hold meetings and the children come to do their homework. 

You’ll then reach a tranquil river, where a peaceful boat trip on a traditional bamboo raft awaits. You’ll be given a life jacket, and as the raft drifts upstream, you can lend a hand with the paddling if you fancy it.

After the boat trip, you’ll visit a local village home where, together with your hosts, you’ll help prepare traditional dishes. Lunch is served at a beautifully laid table featuring local specialities, enjoyed in good company and offering an authentic insight into the region’s culinary culture. There’s also time to chat with your hosts and learn more about the Muong people’s daily life, culture, and traditions.

Next, you’ll visit an elderly couple and gain an insight into the Muong people’s traditional crafts of weaving and bamboo plaiting, which have been passed down through generations. The luong bamboo species is used, among other things, to make baskets, fish traps, and mats. Each pattern and technique reflects part of the Muong people’s cultural heritage, and the products serve as both sustainable alternatives to modern materials and unique souvenirs. You’ll have the chance to try your hand at the craft yourself and weave your own small basket to take home as a keepsake.

By joining this excursion, you’ll actively contribute to improving life for the families in Quyet Thang. A percentage of the tour price goes directly to the project, helping to fund education and improve infrastructure, such as building roads and installing solar-powered streetlights. You can read more about the project here.

After a day filled with meaningful encounters, cultural insights, and local experiences, your journey continues to your hotel in Ninh Binh. Along the way, the scenery changes—green mountains gradually give way to a flat delta of mirror-like rivers and dramatic limestone cliffs rising steeply from the rice fields. Upon arrival at the hotel, you’ll check in, and the rest of the day is yours to relax and explore as you wish.

If you fancy it, you can head into the centre of Tam Coc, where life unfolds along the main street with cosy cafés, local restaurants, and a few small shops. 

After breakfast, you’ll head towards the Gia Vien district, where today’s cycling tour of around 14 km begins. Here, you’ll hop on your bike and cycle at a leisurely pace along narrow roads past lush green rice fields and local villages on your way to the Van Long Nature Reserve. Along the route, there will be time for photo stops, including one at a local Catholic church, before continuing through the open landscape. The area surrounding Van Long is known for its peaceful wetlands, striking limestone cliffs, and a rich birdlife, creating a beautiful backdrop for your ride.

Your bike tour continues to a local family home in the village of Mai Trung, where you’ll receive a warm welcome. Here, you’ll gain an insight into rural life as you take part in seasonal activities such as working in the rice fields, gardening, or feeding fish and poultry.

Afterwards, the family will invite you into their kitchen for an informal cooking class, where you’ll be introduced to Vietnamese cuisine and help prepare the meal yourself. The experience concludes with a homemade lunch enjoyed in relaxed surroundings.

You’ll then cycle back to the starting point, a short ride away. After returning your bicycle, you’ll be driven to the Trang An caves, a spectacular natural area of dramatic rock formations and hidden caverns. You’ll board a traditional sampan and glide quietly along the calm river through a network of caves, including the Lam Cave, Vang Cave, Dai Cave, and Thanh Truot Cave. Along the way, you’ll also pass the Cao Son, Suoi Tien, and Vu Lam temples, as well as Skull Island — the filming location for the 2017 film “Kong: Skull Island”.

After a two-hour boat trip, you’ll return to your hotel, where the rest of the day is at your leisure.

Today, you’ll leave Ninh Binh and head towards the north-eastern coast, where Bai Tu Long Bay awaits.

You’ll be picked up at your hotel, and from here, you’ll travel through the northern Vietnamese countryside, passing rice fields, small towns, and local villages along the way. The journey takes approximately 3½–4 hours, with a short stop where you can stretch your legs and buy some refreshments. You’ll then continue to Ha Long International Cruise Port, where you’ll board your ship and begin your unforgettable mini cruise in Bai Tu Long Bay.

Bai Tu Long Bay lies directly adjacent to the famous Ha Long Bay, just to the north-east and closer to the border with China. Both bays form part of the same geological area and feature the characteristic landscape of thousands of limestone cliffs, lush islets and emerald-green waters. However, Bai Tu Long Bay is far less visited, giving you a more peaceful, authentic, and tranquil experience. 

After check-in, you’ll be taken out to the ship by tender boat. On board, you’ll be welcomed with a refreshing drink and a short safety briefing. Once you’ve settled into your cabin, a delicious Vietnamese lunch will be served as the ship gently sails further into the bay.

In the afternoon, you can go kayaking near the beautiful island of Cap La, a picturesque area known for its majestic limestone formations and crystal-clear coves, perfect for swimming. The water is often calm and shallow, so beginners and experienced kayakers alike can paddle safely between the cliffs and small lagoons.

Back on board, an exciting Vietnamese cooking demonstration awaits. You’ll learn how to prepare classic specialities such as freshly made spring rolls or freshly caught fish.

In the evening, a delicious dinner will be served in the ship’s restaurant. Afterwards, you can play games, try your hand at squid fishing, or simply enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the bay beneath the starry sky.

Please note! In the event of bad weather, the Vietnamese authorities reserve the right to suspend all sailing in the bay for safety reasons. This only happens a few times a year, but in such cases, the mini-cruise will be replaced with a hotel stay and an alternative excursion.

Today includes an exciting half-day city tour of Ho Chi Minh City.

Your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel, and you’ll head to the elegant Dong Khoi Street, one of Saigon’s most iconic boulevards. This street cuts through the heart of the old colonial quarter, where French architecture stands side by side with fashionable boutiques, art galleries and cosy cafés. It’s full of atmosphere and history, having played a central role in the city’s story – from colonial grandeur to wartime unrest and the vibrant metropolis of today. It was also here that Graham Greene set key scenes in his classic novel, The Quiet American.

You’ll pass the Saigon Opera House, an architectural masterpiece from 1901 and a living symbol of the city’s cultural heritage. Having served as an air-raid shelter before later housing the Lower House of the South Vietnamese parliament, the Opera House has quite a remarkable history.

Next, you’ll visit the Old Post Office, designed by the world-renowned French engineer Gustave Eiffel. With its graceful arches, elegant ironwork, and nostalgic atmosphere, the building stands as a striking reminder of the French influence on Ho Chi Minh City.

Just across from the Old Post Office is the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral, built between 1863 and 1880. This impressive relic from the French colonial period is noted for its characteristic red bricks and soaring spires.

When you’re facing the cathedral, you’ll notice a grey building behind you. Some may recognise it as the “Pittman Apartments” at 22 Gia Long Street, immortalised in a famous photograph taken on April 29^th, 1975 by the Dutch photographer Hubert van Es during the Fall of Saigon. It was here that a helicopter landed on the roof – a scene that many mistakenly believed took place at the American Embassy. Your guide will recount the dramatic story of the evacuation and the hidden role this building played in the war’s final hours.

The tour continues to the historic Reunification Palace, where the Vietnam War – or the American War, as the Vietnamese call it – officially came to an end. On April 30^th, 1975, a North Vietnamese tank broke through the palace gates, marking the end of a bloody conflict that claimed the lives of 58,000 Americans and some 3 million Vietnamese. Here you can see the war rooms, grand reception halls, and the president’s office.

You’ll then head to the War Remnants Museum for a moving insight into the horrors of war. The exhibitions depict the harsh realities of conflict and the devastating human cost it left behind.

Next is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s lesser-known sights – the Saigon Commandos Museum – a place few travellers discover on their own. Here, you’ll get a rare glimpse into daily life during the war, told by a local resident. The museum is housed in a modest home dating back to 1963, which at first glance appears to be nothing more than an ordinary dwelling. Behind its façade, however, lies a former operations base led by Tran Van Lai, a Vietnamese resistance fighter who lived undercover as a furniture maker during the war. He helped Ho Chi Minh City’s commando units hide weapons and plan missions. The artefacts on display tell the story of these courageous commandos – their strategies, secret operations, and incredible resilience under extreme conditions.

Finally, you can enjoy a drink in the museum café, where you’ll have the chance to try their special “butter beer”.

You’ll then be driven back to your hotel, where the rest of the day is free for you to spend as you wish.

After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the lush Mekong Delta – one of Vietnam’s most fertile and life-giving regions. The Mekong River originates in the Himalayas and runs for approximately 4,500 km through six countries before branching into the vast delta area south of Ho Chi Minh City. The delta covers around 40,000 square kilometres, and how much of it is submerged depends on the intensity of the rainy season and the time of year.

It doesn’t take long after leaving Ho Chi Minh City for the landscape to change. Along the way, you’ll see green fields, small rivers, and winding canals cutting through the flat countryside. It’s not unusual to spot local farmers working in their fields while water buffalo graze by the roadside and small stalls tempt you with fresh fruit.

After around 2½ hours of driving, you arrive in the town of Cai Be. Here, you board a boat and set off into the lush Mekong Delta. Your first stop is a local workshop, where skilled artisans craft beautiful products from coconut. You’ll also see how puffed rice is made. From here, you continue your journey in a small sampan – a traditional wooden rowboat – gliding through the Mekong Delta’s narrow, winding waterways.

Next, you switch to a larger, motorised boat that takes you to a peaceful little island in the heart of the delta. Here, you’ll enjoy a delicious traditional lunch, freshly prepared with local ingredients from the Mekong Delta, surrounded by verdant greenery and the gentle rhythms of river life.

After lunch, you cruise back to the mainland and stop at a pottery workshop. Here, you can watch local artisans keep age-old traditions alive and learn more about their passion for craftsmanship.

You then continue on to our social sustainability project in Vinh Long, founded by our local partner. A tranquil walk through the village awaits, while your guide shares insights into the project along the way. You’ll be treated to fresh fruit and a refreshing drink before having the chance to take part in traditional rural life. Together with local farmers, you can try your hand at rice cultivation – either planting young seedlings or helping with the harvest, depending on the season. It’s an educational, down-to-earth experience offering a unique glimpse into everyday life in Vietnam’s countryside and the hard work behind sustainable farming. By joining this excursion, you’re also helping to make a difference for the families in Vinh Long, as a percentage of the tour price goes directly to the project, which you can learn more about here.

Afterwards, you return to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, where you have the evening at leisure.

Today, you can experience Ho Chi Minh City entirely at your own pace.

The city has many different sides, and with a full day ahead of you, you are free to explore whatever interests you most – whether that’s history, creative city life, or local flavours.

If you want to get a feel for the city’s modern pulse, head to The Café Apartment on Nguyen Hue Promenade, the city’s wide pedestrian street. Once an old residential block, The Café Apartment is now home to small independent coffee bars, design shops, and creative studios. Each floor has its own character, offering a taste of the youthful, modern Ho Chi Minh City.

You could also cross the river to District 2, a rapidly growing area defined by contemporary architecture, green spaces, and creative cafés. Here, you’ll find a calm atmosphere with a mix of international restaurants, independent boutiques, and small art galleries. The trendy Thao Dien area is especially popular, known for its relaxed vibe that attracts both locals and travellers.

As dusk falls, take a leisurely stroll along Nguyen Hue Promenade, surrounded by flowers, fountains, and elegant architecture. This is where city life comes alive as locals gather among street performers, dancers, and young families in a charming, lively mix. The atmosphere is vibrant yet laid-back, culminating around the beautifully illuminated city hall.

After sunset, it’s the perfect time to end your day with sweeping views of the city’s glittering lights from the top of one of its skyscrapers, such as Bitexco Financial Tower or Landmark 81.

Today, it’s time to bid farewell to Vietnam after an incredible adventure. You’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven to Ho Chi Minh City International Airport for your flight to your selected airport, with connecting flight(s) along the way.

You’ll land at your selected airport with your luggage full of wonderful memories from your unforgettable tour through northern and southern Vietnam.