The Grand Tour of Vietnam

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

You’ll arrive at Hanoi’s international airport, Noi Bai, where you’ll pass through immigration and collect your luggage. Your guide will be waiting outside the arrivals hall after the exit doors, dressed in a TourCompass uniform and holding a TourCompass sign so you can easily spot them.

You will then be driven to your hotel in the heart of Hanoi. After check-in, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy your first impressions of the Vietnamese capital at your own pace.

We highly recommend exploring the charming and lively streets of the Old Quarter, where every alley reveals the sights, sounds, and aromas of everyday Vietnamese life. You might also enjoy a relaxing stroll around the city’s famous Hoan Kiem Lake, whose shady trees and local buzz create a peaceful oasis in the middle of the bustling city. 

In the evening, treat yourself to Vietnam’s delicious cuisine, whether you prefer dining in welcoming restaurants or sampling the atmosphere of the vibrant street food stalls.

Today, an exciting city tour awaits, taking you to some of Hanoi’s most iconic attractions.

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

From here, you’ll cross the iconic Huc Bridge to Ngoc Son Temple, set in the middle of the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake. The bridge’s name means “the place touched by the morning sun”. Here, you’ll hear the legend of the emperor, the magical sword, and the giant turtle, and gain insight into how the lake earned its name and its special significance to the city.

You’ll then be driven to the Temple of Literature, a peaceful complex built in the 11th century by followers of the Chinese philosopher Confucius. With almost 1,000 years of history, the temple is a rare and beautifully preserved example of traditional Vietnamese architecture, complete with colonnades, ponds, and leafy courtyards, where young students still come to pray for good luck in their exams.

Lunch is served at the restaurant KOTO, which is far more than just a place to eat. KOTO stands for “Know One, Teach One” and is a social enterprise restaurant that trains and supports disadvantaged young Vietnamese people, providing them with a professional education and a fresh start in life. Here, they gain both practical and personal skills for long-term employment, while guests enjoy delicious Vietnamese dishes in calm surroundings. You can read more about the restaurant here.

The tour then continues by traditional cycle taxi, known locally as a cyclo, through the Old Quarter’s maze of narrow streets and lively trading scene. The Old Quarter is famous for its 36 streets, originally named after the goods once sold here: bamboo, silk, paper, and tin. Many of the street names remain today, and the atmosphere is full of local charm, with Hanoians shopping, chatting, and serving steaming bowls of pho from the street kitchens.

After your cyclo ride, you’ll visit the historic Long Bien Bridge, an iconic landmark from the French colonial era, built in the early 20th century. This distinctive iron bridge stretches across the Red River and was heavily damaged during the Vietnam War, yet today it stands as a powerful symbol of Hanoi’s resilience and history. From the bridge, you’ll gain a vivid impression of everyday life in Hanoi, as locals ride their scooters to and from work alongside cyclists and pedestrians. Looking down, you’ll spot the bustling Long Bien Market, busy from the early hours of the morning, while views over the river offer a calm contrast to the city’s constant energy. The bridge is a favourite subject for photographers and travellers eager to capture the soul of Hanoi.

The day’s sightseeing concludes with a performance at a traditional water puppet theatre – a centuries-old Vietnamese art form, where wooden puppets dance across the water’s surface to classical storytelling and live music.

After an enriching day, you’ll be driven back to your hotel, with the evening at your leisure.

Today, no excursions are planned. You may wish to join one of our optional tours, or perhaps you would prefer to explore the city at your own pace.

You could start the day with a visit to the famous Train Street in the early morning, when there are fewer people around and the atmosphere is calmer. Here, the train passes incredibly close to the street’s cafés, offering a unique glimpse into everyday life before the city fully awakens.

Afterwards, make your way towards the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake, where narrow streets and French colonial buildings hide small boutiques, colourful art galleries, and cosy cafés. Settle down with a Vietnamese coffee and watch daily life unfold as locals and visitors cross paths. Not far from here stands the iconic St Joseph’s Cathedral, whose Gothic façade and lively square make it a popular meeting place.

For lunch, seek out Hanoi’s renowned street food. Try a steaming bowl of pho, savour the aroma of grilled bun cha, or grab a crispy banh mi to enjoy on the go.

You might then continue to Long Bien Market, where the trade in fruit, vegetables, and flowers spills into the streets, offering a vibrant insight into the city’s everyday rhythm. The pace is brisk and the atmosphere authentic, whatever time of day you visit.

If you are curious about Hanoi’s history, you can also head to the ancient Imperial Citadel, a testament to the city’s fascinating past. In the same area, you will find the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, one of Hanoi’s most recognisable landmarks and an important site in Vietnam’s more recent history.

As night falls, Hanoi truly comes alive. The streets glow from the flames of countless food stalls, and the scent of grilled meat, fresh coriander, and fragrant broth drifts through the narrow lanes. Wander through the Old Quarter and soak up the atmosphere, or take a seat at a rooftop bar and enjoy views across the city’s vibrant, buzzing life.

Early in the morning, you’ll leave Hanoi behind and head towards the north-eastern coast, where Bai Tu Long Bay awaits. The journey takes around 3.5–4 hours, passing through a varied landscape of lively towns, small farming communities, and lush green rice paddies. Along the way, there is a short stop to stretch your legs and pick up some refreshments before arriving at Ha Long International Cruise Port, where your enchanting mini cruise begins.

Bai Tu Long Bay stretches directly on from the famous Ha Long Bay, just to the north-east and closer to the Chinese border. Both bays belong to the same geological area and boast the iconic scenery of thousands of limestone karsts, verdant islets, and emerald-green waters. However, Bai Tu Long Bay sees far fewer visitors, offering a more tranquil, authentic, and peaceful experience. 

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

In the afternoon, you can head out on a kayaking excursion around the beautiful Cap La Island, a picture-perfect area known for its majestic limestone formations and crystal-clear coves. The waters are often calm and shallow, making it safe and enjoyable for both beginners and experienced kayakers to paddle between the cliffs and small lagoons.

Back on board, an engaging Vietnamese cookery demonstration awaits, where you will learn how to prepare classic specialities such as freshly made spring rolls or freshly caught fish.

In the evening, a delightful dinner is served in the ship’s restaurant. Afterwards, you may choose to play games, try your hand at squid fishing, or simply soak up 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 happens only a few times a year, but should it occur, the mini cruise will be replaced with a hotel stay and an alternative excursion.

If you’re an early riser, you can begin the day with an optional tai chi session on the sundeck. Alternatively, simply soak up the tranquillity with a cup of tea or coffee in hand, gazing out over the calm waters of Bai Tu Long Bay before a light Western breakfast is served in the ship’s restaurant.

After breakfast, you’ll visit the beautiful Thien Canh Son Cave, renowned for its impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations. Hidden behind a steep staircase carved into the mountainside, the cave reveals dramatic limestone pillars and cool chambers illuminated by natural daylight.

Back on board, there’s time to pack and prepare for check-out before enjoying a traditional Vietnamese lunch. Meanwhile, the ship gently cruises back towards the harbour, giving you a final glimpse of the bay’s enchanting landscape.

You’ll disembark at Ha Long International Port, where your guide and driver will be waiting to take you to Ninh Binh. The journey takes just under 3.5 hours.

As you approach Ninh Binh, the scenery changes noticeably. You’ll travel through a flat delta of mirror-like rivers, lush rice paddies, and small villages, while the region’s distinctive limestone mountains rise dramatically from the landscape.

Upon arrival at your hotel, you’ll check in and the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure.

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

After breakfast, you’ll be driven to the Gia Vien district, where today’s 14 km cycling tour begins. From here, you’ll hop into the saddle and set off at a gentle pace along quiet country lanes and small paths, passing lush green rice paddies and local villages on your way to Van Long Nature Reserve. There will be time for photo stops along the way, including at a local Catholic church, before continuing through the open countryside. The area around Van Long is known for its peaceful wetlands, striking limestone karsts, and a rich birdlife, creating a beautiful backdrop for your ride.

The cycling tour then continues to a local family in the village of Mai Trung, where you’ll be warmly welcomed into their home. Here, you’ll gain an insight into rural life as you take part in seasonal activities such as working in the rice fields or tending the garden, as well as feeding fish and poultry.

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

You’ll then cycle back to the starting point, just a few minutes away. After returning your bike, you’ll be driven to the Trang An caves, a spectacular natural area renowned for its dramatic rock formations and hidden caverns. Here, you’ll board a traditional sampan and glide gently along the calm river through a network of caves and grottoes, including Lam Cave, Vang Cave, Dai Cave, and Thanh Truot Cave. Along the way, you’ll also pass the temples of Cao Son, Suoi Tien, and Vu Lam, as well as Skull Island, which served as a filming location for the 2017 film "Kong: Skull Island".

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

Today you’ll set off for the Pu Luong Nature Reserve, one of the most unspoilt and beautiful natural areas in northern Vietnam. Pu Luong is located 125 km from Ninh Binh, and the journey takes just over three hours by road.

Pu Luong remains a largely undiscovered natural gem. Here, rice terraces stretch out like green carpets, drawing your gaze towards the forest-clad mountains rising dramatically into the sky, making you feel wonderfully small within the vast landscape. The views are simply breathtaking, and the area has a remarkable way of slowing your pulse and calming your thoughts. When the terraces are filled with water, they mirror the sky and mountains – a truly magical sight. Pu Luong is one of those places where all you want to do is sit back and let your eyes wander across the scenery as the changing light transforms the colours and atmosphere around you.

Upon arrival, you’ll check in, and even at this early stage you’ll sense that Pu Luong is something quite special. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure, allowing you to relax and take it all in at your own pace.

Today, you’ll set off on a half-day hike in Pu Luong, where nature and local traditions go hand in hand. 

You’ll be collected from your accommodation by your guide and a local guide who knows the trails, villages, and the stories behind them. The day begins with a visit to a local textile workshop, where you’ll meet skilled women from the Thai ethnic minority who carry on weaving traditions that date back several hundred years. You’ll gain an insight into the traditional techniques and see how patterns and colours slowly come to life on hand-operated looms using natural dyes. You’ll also have the chance to try your hand at the craft yourself and experience just how much precision and patience it requires. There is also an opportunity to purchase handmade rugs, bags, purses, lanterns, and more.

Afterwards, you’ll enjoy a delicious local lunch before heading out on an approximately 3.5 km walk through the surrounding villages. The trails wind past lush rice terraces, bamboo forests, and small waterfalls, and along the way, you’ll pass traditional stilt houses. The route is mostly flat and easy to walk, with only a few short stretches going gently uphill and downhill.

The hike offers a fascinating glimpse into everyday life in the villages, where you’ll meet members of the Thai minority who live closely connected to nature and its rhythms. With a local guide by your side, you’ll also hear personal stories and insights that add extra depth to the experience.

The tour will end back at your hotel, where you can enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Today you’ll leave Pu Luong behind and set off for the village life of Mai Chau, one of Vietnam’s most beautiful valleys. You’ll be collected from your hotel, and the journey takes approximately 1½ hours.

As you arrive, the valley unfolds before you with lush green rice paddies, striking limestone mountains, and small villages where ethnic minority communities continue to live according to age-old traditions.

After checking in at the 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 valley’s peaceful landscape. The route is flat and covers around 10–12 km. The roads wind between small village communities and vibrant rice fields, where water buffalo graze lazily. The air is filled with the sound of children playing and chickens clucking as everyday life unfolds around you. Along the way, you’ll visit the villages of Pom Coong and Na Phon, gaining insight into daily life among the Thai people, one of the largest ethnic groups in the area. You’ll also pass a local market, where stalls overflow with everything imaginable. Soak up the atmosphere and enjoy some free time to wander around and explore at your own pace. Afterwards, you’ll cycle back towards the hotel, passing fields where local farmers work as the sun slowly begins to set. 

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

After breakfast, you’ll leave Mai Chau and be driven to our social sustainability project in Quyet Thang, established by our local partner. The journey takes around 1.5 hours and passes through a beautiful, rolling landscape where rice paddies, small villages, and lush green hills unfold one after another.

Quyet Thang is located in the southern part of Hoa Binh Province and consists of 23 small villages, home to the Muong people among others. Families here mainly rely on growing cassava and maize on depleted soil, while challenging road conditions make it difficult to transport and sell their crops. At the same time, traditional Muong customs are under pressure, as many young people leave the area in search of work in larger cities.

Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by a local village representative. Together, you’ll take a walk through the village, experiencing the calm rhythm of everyday life at close quarters. You’ll pass fields and traditional stilt houses, greet local families, and meet the village children, who’ll shyly wave as you go by. You will also see the community house, where residents gather for meetings and where children come to do their homework. 

You’ll then visit a local family home, where you join your hosts in preparing traditional dishes. Lunch is served at a beautifully laid table with local specialities, enjoyed together and offering an authentic insight into the region’s food culture. There is 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 longstanding craft traditions of weaving and bamboo work, passed down through generations. The bamboo species luong is used to create baskets, fish traps, and mats, among other things. Each pattern and technique reflects an element of the Muong people’s cultural heritage, and the products serve both as sustainable alternatives to modern materials and as unique souvenirs. You will also have the chance to try your hand at the craft and weave your own small basket to take home.

Finally, you’ll head down to a tranquil river, where a peaceful boat trip on a traditional bamboo raft awaits. You will be provided with a life jacket, and as the raft moves upstream, you are welcome to help paddle if you wish.

By taking part in this excursion, you’ll help make a real difference to families in Quyet Thang. A percentage of the tour price goes directly to the project and is used for initiatives such as education and infrastructure improvements, including road construction and the installation of solar-powered street lights. You can read more about the project here.

After a day filled with meaningful encounters, cultural exchange, and insights into local life, you’ll return to Hanoi for an overnight stay before the tour continues to central Vietnam.

Today you’ll leave North Vietnam behind and head for Central Vietnam and the imperial city of Hué. 

You will be collected from your hotel by your guide and driver and taken to the airport for your 1 hour and 15 minute flight to Hué.

Upon arrival in Hué, you will meet your guide, who will be waiting outside the arrivals hall beyond the exit doors. The guide will be wearing a TourCompass uniform and holding a TourCompass sign, making it easy for you to spot him or her.

Hué offers a wealth of charming experiences. For example, take a stroll through the narrow streets and along the Perfume River, where you’ll gain a wonderful insight into the city’s calm, everyday rhythm. You might also visit Dong Ba Market, where locals shop for fresh produce, spices, and small delicacies, or treat yourself to a relaxing treatment at one of the city’s many spas.

Hué is known as Vietnam’s culinary capital, so take the opportunity to sample some of the city’s many local specialities. Try the small rice pancakes bánh bèo, the steamed rice dumplings bánh nậm, or crispy bánh khoái served with a rich peanut sauce.

In the afternoon, settle into a café and enjoy a salted coffee – Hué’s very own coffee speciality – before finding a cosy restaurant or rooftop terrace where you can round off the day with views across the city.

After breakfast, an exciting encounter with Hué’s most impressive attractions awaits. Today’s excursion will take you back to the splendour of the imperial era, offering fascinating insights into Vietnam’s royal history, art, and spiritual heritage.

You will be collected from your hotel by your guide, and the first stop will be the ancient Imperial City – an impressive fortress built in the early 19th century when the Nguyen dynasty made Hué the capital. Surrounded by moats and towering walls, the citadel once housed both the administrative quarters and the imperial family’s private residences. Inspired by the Forbidden City in Beijing, the site still reflects its former grandeur despite the destruction caused by the Indochina War and the Vietnam War. Today, UNESCO has initiated extensive restoration projects, breathing new life into this remarkable historic complex.

You will then visit a small local exhibition of traditional Vietnamese paintings. Here, you can not only admire the colourful artworks but also try your hand at painting yourself, experiencing the calm focus that characterises this beautiful art form.

The day then continues with a scenic boat trip along the Perfume River, where you’ll gently glide through the landscape towards the Thien Mu Pagoda. This is Hué’s oldest and most iconic religious landmark and has been an important centre of Buddhism in central Vietnam for more than 400 years. The pagoda’s octagonal tower rises majestically towards the sky, creating a peaceful setting for the temple and the community of monks who still live and practise here today.

Next, you will visit Emperor Khai Dinh’s tomb, which stands out markedly from the other imperial tombs in the area. Built in the early 20th century, the complex blends traditional Vietnamese design with European Baroque and Gothic influences. The result is a grand and intricately detailed architectural masterpiece, reflecting the emperor’s fascination with Western art and culture. The tomb is located at the foot of Chau Chu Mountain, approximately 9 km south of Hué.

You will then be driven back to your hotel, and the rest of the day is at your leisure to explore Hué at your own pace.

Today you’ll bid farewell to Hué. You’ll be collected from your hotel and travel along one of Vietnam’s most scenic routes towards the atmospheric town of Hoi An.

At times, the road follows the coastline before winding its way up through the Truong Son Mountains, crossing the spectacular Hai Van Pass, also known as the “Pass of the Clouds”. From here, the views are nothing short of breathtaking, with lush green mountains on one side and the blue horizon of the South China Sea on the other.

After 3–4 hours, you’ll arrive at your hotel in Hoi An. Once you’ve checked in, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure.

Hoi An is an experience in its own right – a town you’re sure to fall for in no time. The old town, which features on the UNESCO world heritage list, is particularly renowned for its beautifully preserved architecture, proud silk-making heritage, and many skilled tailors. Time seems to slow down here, and history can be felt in every street, façade, and little shop.

Running through the heart of the town is the Thu Bon River, which in the 17th and 18th centuries was a hub for thriving international trade. Today, its banks provide a peaceful and picturesque setting for daily life, with small boats still gliding gently along the water. Not far from here, you’ll find the local market, where a lively atmosphere awaits, filled with enticing aromas, vibrant colours, and stalls brimming with fresh produce.

Away from the river, a maze of charming, characterful streets unfolds. Here, you’ll encounter a colourful blend of Japanese wooden houses, Chinese assembly halls, French colonial buildings, and the town’s distinctive merchant houses. Cars are not permitted in the old town, allowing you to explore at a relaxed pace on foot. Bright lanterns hang like garlands across the streets, creating a magical atmosphere – especially after dusk. Shops and restaurants line the streets like pearls on a string, inviting you to linger and explore. Hoi An is also known for its unique coffee culture, and throughout the town you’ll find cosy cafés where you can sit back and enjoy a Vietnamese coffee – perhaps the classic version with condensed milk.

The days are yours to enjoy at your leisure, and Hoi An has an abundance to offer – whether you’re seeking relaxation, adventure, or cultural experiences.

You might be tempted by a peaceful day at the seaside. Hire a bicycle and ride out to one of the nearby beaches, Cua Dai or An Bang, where soft sand and swaying palms create the perfect setting for a dip in the warm sea. Alternatively, cycle through the lush green rice paddies just outside town, where small villages and glimpses of everyday local life offer a charming insight into the countryside.

In Hoi An, you can also immerse yourself in the local cuisine with a cookery class, take a boat trip along the Thu Bon River, or see the town from a different perspective as the lanterns are lit towards evening. You may even feel inspired to visit a local tailor and have a bespoke outfit made to take home as a special memento.

If you’re curious to explore the area around Hoi An, you can choose from our exciting optional tours, which you can read more about below.

Today you will be collected from your hotel and driven to the airport in Da Nang – a journey of just under an hour. From here, you’ll fly south to Vietnam’s largest and most vibrant city, Ho Chi Minh City.

You will arrive at Ho Chi Minh City’s international airport, Tan Son Nhat. Your guide will be waiting outside the arrivals hall by the exit doors, wearing a TourCompass uniform and holding a TourCompass sign, making them easy to spot. From here, you’ll be transferred to your hotel, centrally located in District 1 – the very heart of the city. The area is still commonly referred to as Saigon and is considered the city’s historical and cultural centre, while the surrounding districts together make up Ho Chi Minh City.

After checking in at the hotel, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure.

After your days in peaceful Hoi An, arriving in Ho Chi Minh City may feel a little overwhelming. The city is home to around ten million people – and almost as many scooters and motorbikes. Yet amidst the apparent chaos, a fascinating and fast-developing modern metropolis reveals itself. This is clearly reflected in the cityscape, where glass-clad skyscrapers stand side by side with elegant colonial buildings from the French era.

Perhaps you’d like to unwind by the pool with a refreshing drink? Or enjoy a cup of Vietnamese iced coffee at one of the city’s countless cafés? Ho Chi Minh City boasts a strong coffee culture, with everything from trendy coffee bars to small local spots furnished with plastic stools and serving coffee brewed using the traditional drip method. 

If you’re curious about the city’s food scene, take a stroll through the streets around Districts 1 and 3. Here you’ll find everything from steaming bowls of pho to crispy banh xeo pancakes.

Today, an exciting half-day city tour in Ho Chi Minh City awaits.

Your guide and driver will collect you from your hotel and take you to the elegant Dong Khoi Street, one of Saigon’s most iconic boulevards. The street runs through the heart of the old colonial quarter, where French architecture, fashion boutiques, art galleries, and charming cafés sit side by side. It is rich in atmosphere and history, having played a central role in the city’s story – from the grandeur of the colonial era and the turmoil of wartime to today’s vibrant metropolis.

You’ll pass the Saigon Opera House, an architectural masterpiece dating back to 1901 and a proud symbol of the city’s cultural heritage. Having served as a shelter before later housing the lower house of the South Vietnamese parliament, the opera house has a truly 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 historic ambience, the building stands as a testament to the French influence on Ho Chi Minh City.

Directly opposite the Old Post Office stands the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral, built between 1863 and 1880. With its distinctive red bricks and soaring spires, the cathedral is an impressive legacy of the French colonial period.

As you stand facing the cathedral, you’ll have a grey building behind you. Some may recognise it as the “Pittman Apartments” at 22 Gia Long Street from the famous photograph taken on 29 April 1975 by Dutch photographer Hubert van Es during the fall of Saigon. It was here that a helicopter landed on the rooftop – a scene many mistakenly believed took place at the US 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 then 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 30 April 1975, a North Vietnamese tank crashed through the palace gates, bringing a bloody conflict to a close – one that claimed the lives of around 58,000 Americans and approximately 3 million Vietnamese. Here, you’ll see the war command rooms, grand reception halls, and the president’s office.

The tour then moves on to the War Remnants Museum, where you’ll gain a moving insight into Vietnam’s more recent history. The exhibitions portray the harsh realities of war and the profound human consequences it left behind.

Your next stop will be one of Ho Chi Minh City’s lesser-known attractions, rarely discovered by travellers on their own: the Saigon Commandos Museum. Here, you’ll enjoy a rare glimpse into daily life during the war, told through the eyes of a local citizen. The museum is housed in a modest 1963 building that, at first glance, appears to be an ordinary home. Behind its façade, however, lies a former operations base led by Tran Van Lai, a Vietnamese resistance fighter who operated undercover as a furniture manufacturer during the war, helping Ho Chi Minh City’s commando units conceal weapons and plan missions. The artefacts on display tell the story of the brave commandos’ lives, shaped by strategy, secret operations, and survival under extreme conditions.

To round off your visit, you can enjoy a drink in the museum café, where you’ll have the chance to sample the special “butter beer”.

Afterwards, you’ll be driven back to your hotel, where the rest of the day is at leisure. Perhaps you’d like to unwind by the pool with a drink? Or how about a cup of Vietnamese iced coffee at one of the city’s countless cafés? Ho Chi Minh City boasts a strong coffee culture, with everything from trendy minimalist coffee bars to small local spots with plastic stools and coffee brewed using the traditional drip method. 

After breakfast, you’ll be collected from your hotel by your guide and driver and travel towards the lush Mekong Delta – one of Vietnam’s most fertile and life-giving regions. The Mekong River rises in the Himalayas and flows approximately 4,500 km through six countries before fanning out into the vast delta area south of Ho Chi Minh City. The delta covers around 40,000 square kilometres, and how much of it lies underwater depends on the intensity of the rainy season and the time of year.

You won’t have left Ho Chi Minh City for long before the landscape begins to change. Along the way, you’ll pass emerald-green fields, small rivers, and winding canals weaving through the flat countryside. It’s common to see local farmers working in the fields, water buffalo grazing by the roadside, and small roadside stalls tempting you with freshly picked fruit.

After around 2½ hours on the road, you’ll arrive in the town of Cai Be. Here, you’ll board a boat and head out onto the lush Mekong Delta. Your first stop will be a local workshop, where skilled artisans craft products from coconut. You’ll also see how puffed rice is made. From here, you’ll continue in a small sampan – a traditional hand-rowed wooden boat – gliding through the Mekong Delta’s narrow, winding canals.

You’ll then transfer to a larger motorised boat, which will take you to a small, peaceful island in the heart of the delta. Here, you’ll enjoy a delicious traditional lunch prepared with fresh, local ingredients from the Mekong Delta, surrounded by verdant nature and the gentle rhythm of river life.

After lunch, you’ll sail back to the mainland and stop at a ceramics workshop. Here, you can see how local artisans keep age-old traditions alive and hear about their passion for their craft.

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

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

Today, you’ll have the opportunity to experience Ho Chi Minh City at your own pace.

The city has many sides, and you have the entire day to explore the ones that interest you most – whether that’s history, a creative urban scene, or local flavours.

If you’d like to experience the city’s modern buzz, visit Café Apartment, located right on the Nguyen Hue promenade, the city’s wide pedestrian boulevard. Once a residential apartment block, it is now home to independent coffee shops, design boutiques, and creative studios. Each floor has its own distinct charm, offering a local introduction to young Ho Chi Minh City.

You could also cross the river to District 2, a rapidly growing neighbourhood characterised by contemporary architecture, green spaces, and stylish cafés. Here, you’ll find peaceful surroundings combined with international restaurants, specialist shops, and small galleries. The trendy Thao Dien area is particularly popular, with its laid-back atmosphere attracting both locals and travellers alike.

Around dusk, take a stroll along the Nguyen Hue promenade, framed by flowers, fountains and elegant architecture. This is where you can truly soak up the city’s unique atmosphere as locals gather alongside street performers, dancers, and young families in a charming whirl of activity. The mood is relaxed yet lively, culminating around the beautifully illuminated City Hall.

A wonderful way to round off the day is by admiring Ho Chi Minh City’s impressive skyline from the top of one of its skyscrapers, such as the Bitexco Financial Tower or Landmark 81. From here, you can watch the sea of city lights spread out beneath you as the sun sets and the city truly comes to life.

Today your grand Vietnam adventure is coming to an end. You will be collected from your hotel and driven to Ho Chi Minh City’s international airport, Tan Son Nhat, for your flight to your selected airport with connecting flight(s) along the way.

You’ll arrive at your selected airport with a suitcase full of memories after a journey through Vietnam’s many contrasts.