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If you only have a short time to spend in Vietnam but want to get the widest possible overview, this 12-day North-to-South tour is perfect for you.
To shorten travel distances and save time, the remote mountains of Northern Vietnam are not included in this program. However, in Northern Vietnam, you will visit the Mai Chau Valley, located about 200 km from the capital Hanoi, enjoy a cruise on our Four Seasons junk in Halong Bay, and explore Ninh Binh, also known as the “terrestrial Halong Bay.”
Further south, you will experience the gentle way of life in Central Vietnam by visiting Hue, Danang, and Hoi An. Finally, you will discover what has long been called the “rice bowl” of Vietnam, the Mekong Delta.
This itinerary is ideal for those who want to focus on the essentials and/or those combining multiple countries (Vietnam-Cambodia, for example). From here, you can easily take a flight to Phnom Penh or Siem Reap.
Arrival at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi. Welcome by our driver and guide, then transfer to the hotel. You will drop off your luggage at the hotel (room available from 1:00 PM). Lunch in a local restaurant. The afternoon will be dedicated to discovering Hanoi’s Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake. You will learn about the history of the Old Quarter, its traditional guilds, and our guide will take you through its small alleys full of surprises. A perfect way to feel Hanoi’s atmosphere from the very first day! Among other visits, you will explore the surroundings of Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple located on a small island in the lake, and the Dong Xuan Market. The afternoon will end with a traditional water puppet show. Accompanied by our guide, you will discover Vietnamese legends!
Dinner on your own and overnight at the hotel at Maison d’Hôtes de Parfum d’Automne or a charming 3-star hotel.
Included for the day: airport transfer, lunch, entrance tickets, transportation by private car with driver, services of a English -speaking Vietnamese guide, accommodation.
You will have breakfast at your hotel or at Parfum d’Automne Guest House. Our guide and driver will pick you up to continue discovering the highlights of Hanoi.
The morning will be dedicated to Vietnamese history, with visits to the Temple of Literature (a symbol of Confucianism) and Tran Quoc Pagoda (the oldest Buddhist pagoda in Hanoi). After lunch at a local restaurant, you will visit the Museum of Ethnology, which houses an impressive collection of information on the 54 ethnic groups that inhabit Vietnam.
In the early evening, we recommend attending My Village (optional), a spectacular show combining dance and circus performances—children will love it!
Dinner on your own and overnight at the Parfum d’Automne Guest House or at a charming 3-star hotel.
Included in the day: Breakfast, lunch, entrance tickets, transportation by private car with driver, services of a English-speaking Vietnamese guide, and accommodation.
After breakfast at your hotel, depart with your guide and driver for Hoa Binh, with stops along the way to admire beautiful landscapes. Lunch and visit to a Muong ethnic village located at the foot of Thung Khe Pass. Continue the drive to Mai Chau. Arrival at the Thai village of Pom Coong. Visit the village, enjoy dinner with a local family, and attend a traditional dance performance of the White Thai people. Overnight stay in a stilt house with a local family.
Included for the day: breakfast, lunch, dinner, private car transportation with driver, services of a English-speaking Vietnamese guide, traditional dance show, homestay accommodation.
After breakfast with your hosts, you will take the road to Tam Coc (about 3 hours’ drive). Your first stop will be at Trang An, where you will enjoy a boat trip on the river. Then, you will head to the Tam Coc district for lunch. After dropping off your belongings at the hotel, you will take bicycles to visit the Jade Pagoda, the Thai Vi Temple, and the rice fields in Tam Coc. At the end of the day, you will have the opportunity to climb to the top of Mua Mountain to enjoy a breathtaking view of the entire Tam Coc area. Please note that the ascent requires some effort (450 steps to climb). Dinner on your own and overnight in Tam Coc.
Included for the day: breakfast, lunch, private car transportation with driver, services of a English-speaking Vietnamese guide, bicycle rental, entrance tickets (Trang An), overnight at the hotel.
After breakfast at your hotel, you will leave with your guide and driver for Cat Ba Island (approximately 4 hours’ drive). You will first take a ferry to reach the island. After the ferry, to reach the town of Cat Ba (about 30 km away), where our junk is located, we offer you a one-hour motorbike ride with a driver, off the beaten track. Of course, you can stay in the car if you prefer not to try this experience.
Around 12:30 PM, you will board one of our traditional boats: La Majonq (private) or Quatre Saisons (shared). The junk first sails through the fishing village of Hang Vem in Lan Ha Bay. Sailing with the wind is possible depending on weather conditions.
Enjoy this cruise to relax, swim, and soak up the sun on deserted beaches (weather permitting). You will also have the opportunity to go kayaking and discover a fishing village. Lunch and dinner are served on board and consist of fresh seafood (fish, shrimp, squid, shellfish) purchased the same day from local fishermen. You will spend the night on board in a quiet cove in the middle of Lan Ha Bay.
Included for the day: private car transfer from Ninh Binh, English-speaking Vietnamese guide, cruise on La Majonq / Quatre Saisons, lunch and dinner, kayaking, overnight on the boat.
Breakfast on board the junk before starting the morning program: a 2-hour bike ride to reach Viet Hai village. After the ride, a brunch will be served on the boat. Return to Cat Ba Island around 12:30 PM to get back to the car. Departure for Hanoi (about 3 hours’ drive after the ferry crossing). Arrival in Hanoi at the end of the day. Dinner on your own and overnight at the hotel.
Included for the day: breakfast, brunch, bike rental, boat rental, crew services, private car transfer with driver from Cat Ba Island to Hanoi, English-speaking Vietnamese guide, overnight stay at a hotel in Hanoi.
After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Hanoi airport for your flight to Hue. Arrival in Hue late in the morning. Meet your guide and driver. You will have lunch before checking in at your hotel. In the afternoon, visit the Imperial City. Dinner on your own and overnight at the hotel.
Included for the day: breakfast, lunch, transfer to Hanoi airport, Hanoi – Hue flight (optional), pick-up and transfer from Hue airport to the hotel, services of a English-speaking Vietnamese guide, entrance tickets to the Imperial City, overnight at the hotel.
After breakfast, you will enjoy a boat trip on the Perfume River to reach the Thien Mu Pagoda. You will then return to the car and head towards Hoi An. On the way, visit the mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc. After lunch, continue the drive to Hoi An, with stops at the Lang Co Lagoon and the Hai Van Pass (Cloud Pass). In Danang, you will visit either the Cham Museum or the Linh Ung Pagoda (as you prefer). Arrival in Hoi An at the end of the day and transfer to your hotel. Dinner on your own and overnight in Hoi An.
Included for the day: breakfast, lunch, entrance tickets (Perfume River boat trip, mausoleum, Cham Museum), private car with driver, English-speaking Vietnamese guide, overnight at the hotel.
After breakfast, you will head to My Son, known as the “Valley of the Kings,” the former capital of the Cham Kingdom, which flourished until the 10th century. Visit the archaeological site before returning to Hoi An for lunch. Early in the afternoon, explore the ancient town of Hoi An: the old fishing port of Faifo, the traditional market, the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Chinese temple, and the old Tan Ky house, among others. Then, transfer to Da Nang airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, meet your driver (no guide) and transfer to your hotel. Dinner on your own and overnight at the hotel.
Included for the day: breakfast, lunch, entrance tickets (My Son), private car with driver, English-speaking Vietnamese guide, transfer to Da Nang airport, transfer from Ho Chi Minh airport to the hotel, overnight at the hotel.
Departure from your hotel after breakfast for a 1 hour 15-minute drive to My Tho, the first gateway to the Mekong, located 70 km south of Saigon. During the journey, your French-speaking guide will share information about Saigon, daily life in Vietnam, the Mekong, the Indochina and Vietnam wars, and the historical and cultural ties between France and Vietnam, while answering your questions.
Upon arrival in My Tho, visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, the oldest and most sacred in the region. You will learn about Vietnamese Buddhism, as well as Taoism and Confucianism, the three philosophies that have deeply influenced Vietnamese culture, along with the cult of ancestors.
Next, head to the port and board a private junk to cross the upper Mekong, passing around the Dragon and Unicorn islands in Ben Tre province. Then, continue in small sampans through narrow canals where you’ll be enchanted by the lush local vegetation of coconut and water palm trees.
Disembark at Tan Thach hamlet and enjoy a short walk to a local restaurant, where you’ll have a Mekong specialty lunch in the middle of fruit orchards. After lunch, take the sampans again for a 20-minute ride to the neighboring village. There, you’ll taste fresh tropical fruits and honey tea.
You will then hop on a bicycle for a 2-hour ride along scenic paths through rice fields, orchards, and coconut forests. At the end, take a rowboat ride in the arroyos before returning by boat to the My Tho port. Your car will then take you to the Binh Duc pier, 3 km away, where a sampan will ferry you to Thoi Son Island. Overnight stay with a local family (homestay) or at a hotel, depending on your choice.
Note: If you stay with a local family, dinner is included. If you stay at a hotel, dinner is not included.
Included for the day: breakfast, lunch, dinner (only for homestay), entrance fees, English-speaking Vietnamese guide, private car with driver.
After breakfast, you will cross the river by boat and then take the road for 1 hour to reach Cai Bè, a river port where you will board a private junk. You will visit the floating market and the craft village, discovering local life and traditional production methods such as rice paper making, handicrafts, and enjoy tastings of local specialties like coconut candy, puffed rice cakes, and longan honey tea.
Lunch will be served at Kiet family’s house, a beautiful traditional wooden home. After lunch, you will continue on the main boat toward Vinh Long, about 170 km south of Saigon. Enjoy a 1-hour cruise through the arroyos, where you can relax in hammocks and admire the scenery.
Upon arrival, disembark on An Binh Island for a stop at a local homestay in the middle of lush orchards. There, you will taste seasonal fruits while enjoying a performance of Đờn ca tài tử, a traditional musical art of the Mekong recently listed as UNESCO intangible heritage.
Around 4:00 PM, cross the Mekong again by boat to visit a brick factory, then disembark at Vinh Long port for a visit to the vibrant local market. After that, return by car to Ho Chi Minh City, where you will arrive at your hotel in the evening. Dinner at your own expense and overnight at the hotel.
Included for the day: breakfast, lunch, entrance fees, English-speaking Vietnamese guide, private car with driver.
After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy some free time for your own discoveries before being transferred to Ho Chi Minh City airport for your departure flight.
Included in the day: Breakfast, private car transfer to Ho Chi Minh City airport.
All our tours are private. You will travel with your own vehicle, driver, and guide, ensuring maximum comfort and flexibility throughout your journey.
Private tours for solo travelers are significantly more expensive, and most guides are unwilling to lead one-person tours. Therefore, this itinerary is available starting from 2 travelers.
If you’re traveling alone, we can offer day trips or short excursions instead.
No, our tours begin upon your arrival in Vietnam.
However, we’re happy to assist you in booking your international flights if needed.
You’ll find the ideal travel period in the “Practical Info” section, based on the climate in the regions visited.
That said, this tour is available year-round, with a few adjustments depending on the season.
This itinerary is perfect for travelers seeking cultural discovery and immersion in nature.
It can be adapted for couples, families, or groups of friends of all ages.
Absolutely! All our tours are fully customizable.
You can modify the duration, change accommodations, add activities, or adjust the pace according to your preferences.
Simply send us a request using the contact form on this page.
One of our travel advisors will get back to you quickly to finalize your itinerary and provide a personalized quote.
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Let’s talk and tailor it to your wishes.
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