Experience the heart of Vietnam, from vibrant Hanoi to bustling Ho Chi Minh City

Spend eight days in Vietnam discovering the highlights and traditions of this eternally beautiful and country on a Premium adventure. Take part in enriching local encounters as your leader shows you the soul of this diverse pocket of Asia. Get lost in the districts of colorful Hanoi, cruise past the limestone karsts of World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay.

Also, discover the old-world charm of Hoi An’s ancient city and navigate the winding streets and chaotic traffic of Ho Chi Minh City. You will obviously be in constant service by our local leader. With an unbeatable mix of culture, cuisine and history, your journey through Vietnam is sure to surprise, delight and excite you.

Why you should book your trip to Vietnam with us

You will be able to explore the cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with a local leader who will help to uncover the vibrant mix of influences. Starting from French to Asian traders, settlers and indigenous peoples.
Feast on an included lunch at KOTO café in Hanoi, a social enterprise organization. These organization will provide you with vocational and hospitality skills to young workers.
Fall asleep to the gentle rocking of your Premium Feature Stay – an overnight cruise in UNESCO World Heritage-listed. Stay in Ha Long Bay on a boat as beautiful as its surroundings. Take in spectacular views while enjoying a candle-lit dinner on deck.

Explore the charming Old Town of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its quaint canals and historic architecture. Sit down to enjoy a famed egg coffee at a local café and relax from the hustle and bustle.
Sit down to a soul-stirring Hat Xam performance on a Premium Exclusive Experience – an art form that dates back over 700 years to the Tran Dynasty.
Visit Vietnam, you’ll learn about our Intrepid Foundation partner, Save Vietnam’s Wildlife. Donations help them provide support for endangered wildlife and protect critical animal habitats in Vietnam. Hotwire will double your impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Important notes before visiting vietnam

1. Firstly, a complimentary airport arrival transfer is included. Its valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 7 days prior to travel.
2. Next, single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 2 (boat) where you will be in shared accommodation, and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3.

This trip includes domestic flights. The luggage allowance is 20kg for check in luggage and 7kg for carry on.
Also, full names will have to be exactly as per passport required at the time of booking. This includes any middle names listed on the passport, for internal flights. Ticketing fees may apply for amendments to details within 25 days of departure. In some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing a new ticket.
Local authorities only permit a limited number of boats to stay overnight in Halong Bay. To ensure all travellers can be accommodated on board available boats, on rare occasions you may stay on a larger boat. We believe its really fun to share your boat with another group. Otherwise, we may swap the activities and destinations of Days 3 and 4 to provide you the best possible experience. The route taken and inclusions on board will remain the same.

Tour Plan

1 Hanoi

Xin chao! Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam’s vibrant capital city. When you arrive, you’ll be met at the airport by a representative and transferred to your hotel. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight, where you’ll meet your trip leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, Hanoi is the perfect place to explore on foot. Maybe head to the city’s colourful Old Quarter or check out the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum, showcasing ancient and contemporary Vietnamese art. This evening, join your leader for a welcome dinner at a beautifully decorated restaurant resembling an old-fashioned Vietnamese house. Dive into the world of Vietnamese cuisine as your leader introduces you to a range of classic dishes made with the freshest local ingredients. Thinking of arriving a few days early to explore the majestic Northern Vietnam? Then check out our Ninh Binh Mini Adventure (TVAN) -for an off-the-beaten path discovery of Pu Long and Ninh Binh. Or you can try our Hiking In Sapa (TVAG) - for a big doze of dramatic mountain landscapes, crisp fresh air and colorful hilltribes.

Accommodation

Le Jardin Hotel Haute Couture Hanoi or similar (1 night)

Meals

Dinner

Included activities

Complimentary Arrival Transfer
Hanoi - Welcome Dinner
Fast Track Airport Service on Arrival

Optional activities

Hanoi - Ninh Binh Mini Adventure (TVAN) - USD355
Hiking in Sapa (TVAG) - USD432

Special information

It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

2 Halong Bay

Depart Hanoi and travel to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay. Board your Feature Stay accommodation for the evening – a beautiful and traditionally decorated junk-style boat featuring modern conveniences. Set sail in total comfort as views of scattered islands and towering limestone karsts slowly unfold in front of you. Explore the bay and sit down for a seafood lunch onboard. Learn about the geography of the region, visit a cave where your leader will point out interesting rock formations or a fishing village to learn about local life. In the afternoon you will have opportunities to swim, kayak, or simply relax on the beach. Soak in the stunning surroundings with a candlelit seafood dinner on deck before settling in for a night of stargazing and swapping stories.

Accommodation

Secret Halong Cruise (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)

Meals

Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Included activities

Halong Bay - Overnight Boat Cruise

Optional activities

Halong Bay - Kayaking Tour - VND250000

Special information

Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours.

Your main luggage can be left in the hotel in Hanoi.

The itinerary is subject to slight variations based on weather conditions and local regulations.

Some sights are accessed via staircases and pathways can be a little uneven and slippery, so good walking shoes or sandals will be useful.

Your junk-style boat has twin-share cabins with en suite facilities and air-conditioning. Due to the limited cabins on board, the single supplement is excluded, and accommodation will be on a twin-share basis.

Local authorities permit a limited number of boats to stay overnight in Ha Long Bay. To ensure all travellers can be accommodated on board available boats, on rare occasions you’ll stay on a larger boat (with up to 12 cabins) and share your boat with another group. Or your group may be split across different vessels, in which case a group leader will be present on each boat. The route taken and inclusions on board will be the same.

3 Ha noi

Start your day with a peaceful breakfast and maybe take part in some Tai Chi on board the boat before returning to Hanoi. This afternoon, you’ll take part in a once-in-a-lifetime experience and sit down to a soul-stirring traditional Hat Xam performance. Hat Xam is an art form of Northern Vietnam dating back to the Tran Dynasty. Originally, this was performed by blind performers and was enjoyed by local working-class audiences right up until the late 1950s, when a wave of communism deemed all art forms to be corrupting influences. Today, these performances are rare, but you and your group will be taken to a private club house and treated to an exclusive show in one of the few places where artists still sing acoustically. The performance takes around 60 minutes and includes possible interaction with guests, so be ready to get involved!

Accommodation

Le Jardin Hotel Haute Couture Hanoi or similar (1 night)

Meals

Breakfast

Included activities

Hanoi - Hat Xam performance
Halong Bay - Tai Chi

Optional activities

Hanoi - Street Food Experience Urban Adventure - USD29

Special information

Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours.

4 Hoi An

Set off on a walking tour of Hoi An’s Old Town and discover a blend of traditional treasures and cultural influences from historical traders. Your leader will discuss the city’s history as you walk the pagoda lined streets, visit a Chinese assembly hall, cross the Japanese Covered Bridge, enter the ornately decorated historic house of a former trader and check out a local museum. Hoi An was once a great trading port for pottery, and centuries-old pottery villages still exist to this day. No trip to Vietnam is complete without trying its famed coffee – your leader will take you to a local coffee shop, where you can savour a delicious brew as you watch the hustle and bustle of Hoi An. Maybe try a traditional egg coffee or a refreshing iced coconut coffee. Your afternoon is free for your own explorations.

Accommodation

Hoian Rosemary Hotel or similar (1 night)

Meals

Breakfast

Included activities

Hoi An - Old Town walking tour

Optional activities

Hoi An - Farm to Table dining experience at Tra Que Village and Mua restaurant - USD84
Hoi An - Private Bike, Boat and Dinner Experience - USD69

7 Ho chi minh city

Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you wish to spend some more time in Ho Chi Minh city, we would be happy to organise additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).

Meals