Holiday Sale: Vietnam Private Journey

Arrive in Hanoi, where you are met and transferred to your hotel.

After breakfast, set out for a day of exploring in Hanoi, beginning at Ho Chi Minh’s stilted house, where the legendary leader once lived. Visit One Pillar Pagoda and Quoc Tu Giam, a Confucian temple otherwise known as the Temple of Literature. Recognized as Hanoi’s first university, the temple was built in the 11th century and is featured on the back of the 100,000 dong banknote. This afternoon, stop at the Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts, Vietnam’s foremost art museum, showcasing artwork from every historical period of the country. Continue to Hanoi’s Old Quarter, where you are welcomed into a traditional, private home for tea and local snacks. Interact with family members, while listening to their intriguing stories of life in Vietnam past and present.

After breakfast at your hotel, transfer with your guide to Ha Long Bay, a serene vision of majestic limestone karsts rising from still waters, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take in the splendor aboard ‘Orchid,’ a boutique junk vessel that combines classic beauty with modern comfort. This afternoon, disembark on Cat Ba Island and discover the intricate features of Trung Trang Cave, formed over millennia. Back aboard your vessel, view the sunset framed against the Gulf of Tonkin shoreline. Later, join a cooking demonstration of traditional Vietnamese cuisine, followed by dinner on board.

Rise early for an optional tai chi lesson on deck as the sun rises. Set out for an early morning kayak excursion to explore the bay surrounding Toi Sang Cave. Cruise back to port for your transfer to Hanoi and flight onward to Danang. On arrival, transfer to your central accommodations in charming Hoi An.

Enjoy a relaxed start to the day with a morning at leisure. Following lunch at a local restaurant, embark on a walking tour of Hoi An, a picturesque former seaport that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Hoi An Market, a hive of activity with colorful stalls full of produce that overflows out into the street. Next, view the Old House of Tan Ky, Fukien Assembly Hall and the 400-year-old Japanese covered bridge. Later, take a boat trip on the Thu Bon River, which connects Hoi An with Cua Dai Beach, and catch a glimpse of life along the river.

After breakfast, fly to Ho Chi Minh City. Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam and the former seat of the French colonial government. Explore the many fascinating sites of the city, including Reunification Palace, once the Presidential Palace and the setting for the official transfer of power at the end of the Vietnam War. Also visit the War Remnants Museum, which illuminates the period with exhibits ranging from photographs to a U.S. Army helicopter. Explore a rarely visited seminary, a unique oasis of calm in the busy city. One of Ho Chi Minh City’s first Roman Catholic institutions, this peaceful garden sanctuary was founded by a French bishop and contains a beautiful chapel and a 19th-century Gothic structure.

This morning, visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, learning how the Vietcong used this vast network to conceal and support a stealthy underground fighting force and taking the opportunity to explore short sections of the tunnels firsthand. Return to Ho Chi Minh City for an afternoon at leisure before your extraordinary evening experience. Part evening excursion, part street-food adventure, this shared nighttime exploration of the city provides you with a unique perspective of one of the most vibrant communities in Southeast Asia just as the locals experience it. Stop for a cocktail at a buzzing café, followed by traditional Vietnamese snacks. Then, ride on the back of a Vespa scooter with an experienced local driver to zip through side streets and off-the-beat-path locales, stopping to enjoy local food and drink. Your immersive experience culminates with a stop at a downtown bar for cocktails and live music.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board your departing flight.