Itinerary

Treasures of Vietnam is a 12-day, 11-night tailor-made journey that runs from the north of the country down to the centre, from the old quarter of Hanoi to the streets of Hoi An. The route links five stages: Hanoi and its cyclo tour, an overnight cruise among the limestone peaks of Lan Ha Bay, the rice paddies and pagodas of Tam Coc and Ninh Binh, the imperial city of Hué reached by night train, and finally Hoi An with the Cham sanctuary of My Son. Guided cultural visits alternate with slower moments: bike rides along the dikes, kayaking, cooking demonstrations and time spent with families still practicing local crafts. The circuit starts from $1,350 per person with bus transfers, land services only. Every stage can be reshaped around your pace, your dates and your interests.

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Details

Day 1:

Our driver will meet you at the airport on arrival and transfer you to your hotel. You will then receive your Route Book with useful information and restaurant recommendations for your trip and your eSim.

Night in Hanoi.

Day 2:

Our local guide will meet you at your hotel around 9am. Soak up the atmosphere of Hanoi’s 36-corporation district on a cyclo tour. Visit the Tran Quoc pagoda on the shores of the great Ho Tay lake. After lunch, discover the Temple of Literature, before finishing the day with a visit to the Women’s Museum, where traditional women’s costumes are showcased to remarkable effect.

Night in Hanoi, lunch included.

Day 3:

Departure by minibus around 7:15am for the port of Hai Phong. On the boat, start your cruise with lunch, amidst the impressive rocky peaks of Lan Ha Bay.

In the afternoon, take a kayak trip to Bai Tra Dao, then relax and enjoy a swim. At the end of the day, admire the magnificent sunset that sets the bay ablaze and take part in a cooking demonstration before dinner. After dinner, try your hand at squid fishing.

Night in Lan Ha Bay, lunch and dinner included.

Day 4:

After breakfast, visit the village of Viet Ha on a bike ride through houses made of straw, clay and bamboo, and discover the life of the locals. Return to the boat for check-out and lunch, then return to the port to take the minibus to Tam Coc.

Night in Tam Coc Bay, breakfast and lunch included.

Day 5:

Departure from the hotel around 9am, with our English-speaking guide to the village of Tay Phu and a visit to the local market. Then discover how to make Bánh Chưng, the traditional dish of Vietnam’s Tết holiday. After a home-cooked lunch, meet families still practicing local crafts: making rice noodles, water hyacinth baskets, rush mats, tofu… You’ll have the opportunity to discover and participate in their activities, while providing them with support and additional income. At the end of the day, take a bike ride along the dike, in a peaceful setting far from cars and surrounded by flowers, before returning to the hotel.

Night in Tam Coc Bay, lunch included.

Day 6:

Morning departure from the hotel around 9am, with our English-speaking guide. Enjoy a 2-hour walk along the river through the sugar loaves. Let yourself be carried away by the magic of the area, admiring the lush green rice paddies and cave-covered mountains. Admire the Bich Dong Pagoda on the water’s edge, a Buddhist sanctuary in the middle of nowhere, built against the rock in a splendid green setting. After lunch, discover another architectural marvel, the Bai Dinh Pagoda. Our driver will then take you to the station for the night train to Hué.

Night in a night train, lunch included.

Day 7:

Our English-speaking driver will meet you at the station and transfer you to your hotel. Around 10am, our English-speaking guide will take you to the Dong Ba market, where a small boat awaits you on the lagoon for a boat trip. You’ll discover the local fishing industry, before enjoying a seafood-based lunch. Finish your day with a visit to the charming village of Thanh Thuy, with its rural museum and picturesque wooden bridge covered in oil.

Night in Hué, lunch included.

Day 8:

Our English-speaking guide will meet you at the hotel in the city center at around 9am, to take you to the port and board a traditional dragon boat. Sail along the Perfume River to the marvelous Thien Mu pagoda. Afterwards, take the road to visit the Imperial City. After lunch, set off into the Hué countryside to discover the history of Tu Duc’s tomb and to wander the paths of its gardens amidst water features. After a photo break in the incense village, return to the hotel.

Night in Hué, lunch included.

Day 9:

Departure from your hotel around 8am with our English-speaking guide. Take the road to Hoi An and enjoy a photo break by the Lang Co lagoon. Then, from the Col des Nuages, contemplate the region’s sumptuous landscapes, with their lush forests and panoramic sea views. Then visit the Cham Sculpture Museum, with its magnificent works of art, before lunch. Then discover the incredible architecture of Hoi An’s old town.

Night in Hoi An, lunch included.

Day 10:

After breakfast, at around 9am, our driver and English-speaking guide meet you at your hotel for a visit to the ancient sanctuary of My Son. After an hour’s drive through the countryside and rice paddies, the “little Angkor of Vietnam”, built by the Cham people in the 4th century and lasting until the 13th century, is revealed to you in its natural setting. It showcases the vestiges of this civilization in a very natural setting. Return to Hoi An after lunch.

Night in Hoi An, lunch included.

Day 11:

Join our English-speaking guide at 8am for a 9km bike and boat tour of the countryside. Throughout the day, you’ll meet local people and learn about their trades, including boat building, mat making, rice alcohol preparation and more. Discover how the region’s famous basket boats are made and learn how to handle them, which requires agility and dexterity. For lunch, take a break in a traditional local house.

In the late afternoon, around 6:30pm, join this theme park that recreates the atmosphere of Hoi An’s old town center. Stroll the park’s lively streets and enjoy traditional performances until 7:30pm. You can dine in one of the many restaurants offering a diverse gastronomy. At 7:45pm, take your seat for the Hoi An Memories Show, a 1-hour live cultural performance on the history of Hoi An. This performance focuses on 5 themes: Life in Hoi An, Marriage, Lanterns, the Trading Port and finally the Ao Dai.

Night in Hoi An, lunch included.

Day 12:

Transfer to Danang airport during the day for your return flight.

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Frequently asked questions

How long is the Treasures of Vietnam trip?

The circuit lasts 12 days and 11 nights. It starts with your arrival transfer to a hotel in Hanoi on day 1 and ends on day 12 with a transfer to Danang airport for your return flight.

Which regions of Vietnam does the itinerary cover?

Five stages, from north to centre: Hanoi, Lan Ha Bay, Tam Coc and Ninh Binh, Hué, then Hoi An. The route does not go down to Ho Chi Minh City or the Mekong Delta.

How much does Treasures of Vietnam cost per person?

From $1,350 per person with bus transfers. The price may evolve depending on the number of people, the season, the availabilities and the duration of the stay.

What is included in the price?

Accommodations, transfers and excursions, the cruise on Lan Ha Bay with an English-speaking guide, entrances to sites, the meals mentioned in the programme, an English-speaking guide where specified, the night train between Ninh Binh and Hué, the road book, an eSim if your phone is compatible, taxes and administrative fees, and follow-up and assistance.

Are flights included in the Treasures of Vietnam package?

No. International and domestic flights are excluded, as are beverages and meals not mentioned, tips and personal expenses. You can compare flight options through our airline comparator, and we can assist you with the booking.

Where does the overnight cruise take place?

On Lan Ha Bay, boarding at the port of Hai Phong on day 3. The afternoon includes a kayak trip to Bai Tra Dao, a cooking demonstration before dinner and squid fishing afterwards, with the night spent on board.

Is there an English-speaking guide for the whole trip?

An English-speaking guide is included on the days where the programme specifies one, not continuously across the 12 days. English-speaking drivers handle the transfers, including the pick-up at the station on arrival in Hué.

How do you travel between Ninh Binh and Hué?

By night train on the evening of day 6, after visiting the Bich Dong and Bai Dinh pagodas. The night train is included in the price and you arrive in Hué the following morning.

What do you see around Hoi An?

The old town and its architecture on day 9, the Cham sanctuary of My Son on day 10, then a 9km bike and boat tour of the countryside on day 11, followed in the evening by the Hoi An Memories Show, a one-hour live performance built around five themes.

Can the Treasures of Vietnam itinerary be customized?

Yes. The circuit is a tailor-made base: durations, stages, pace and accommodation standard can be adjusted to your wishes. Tell us what you have in mind through our quotation request and we build the trip around it.