Itinerary Hanoi – Sapa – Halong – Da Nang – Hue – Ho Chi Minh city

Day 4: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay – Sightseeing Cruise – Return to Hanoi (Overnight in Hanoi)

Morning: Travel by Highway & Board the Cruise Ship (07:30 – 12:00)

• 07:30 – 08:00 : The cruise company’s limousine will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. The vehicle will depart for Ha Long via Highway 5B (travel time approximately 2-2.5 hours).
• 10:00 – 10:15 : The bus will stop for about 15 minutes at a rest stop on the highway so you can use the restroom or buy a light snack.
• 11:30 – 11:45 : Arrive at Tuan Chau International Cruise Port or Ha Long International Cruise Port . The tour guide will assist with check-in procedures for the group to board the cruise ship (usually choosing new generation 4-5 star cruise ships running 6-7 hour routes for the most spacious and comfortable itinerary).
• 12:00 PM : The cruise ship departs. You will enjoy a welcome drink and listen to the ship’s manager explain the safety regulations.

Lunch & Dinner: Enjoy a Buffet & Explore the Wonders (12:15 – 16:30)

• 12:15 PM : The cruise ship serves a delicious seafood buffet lunch or a set menu featuring authentic ocean flavors. The ship glides slowly through majestic limestone formations such as Dinh Huong Island (pictured on the 200,000 VND banknote) and Trong Mai Island (Fighting Cock Island) – symbols of Ha Long tourism.
• 13:40 : Visit Sung Sot Cave – the largest and most beautiful cave in Ha Long Bay. You will take a 45-minute walk under the towering cave ceiling, admiring countless sparkling stalactites and stalagmites in unique shapes.
• 14:45 : The ship moves towards the Luon Cave area .
  • Here, you can experience kayaking ( two people per kayak) or riding in a small boat paddled by locals through the flooded cave arch, watching wild monkeys swinging from branch to branch on the cliff face.
• 15:30 : Conquer Titop Island .
  • You can challenge yourself to climb about 400 stone steps to the top of the observation tower to enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of Ha Long Bay from above (the most iconic photo spot in Ha Long).
  • Or you can freely swim and relax on the crescent-shaped white sand beach at the foot of the island.
• 16:30 : Return to the cruise ship for a Sunset Party with tea, fresh fruit, light pastries, and relaxing music as the ship sails back to the dock.

Evening: Journey back to the capital & rest in Hanoi (17:30 – 21:00)

• 17:30 : The cruise ship docks. You say goodbye to the crew and board the limousine to depart for Hanoi.
• 20:00 – 20:30 : The bus arrives back in downtown Hanoi and drops you off directly at your hotel in the Old Quarter.
• 20:45 : Enjoy a light dinner in Hanoi with snacks like Pho Cuon Ngu Xa , Ho Tay Shrimp Cakes , or hot Cha Ca La Vong to conclude a long and memorable day. Overnight stay in Hanoi.

Day 5: Hanoi – Fly to Da Nang – Check-in at Son Tra Peninsula – Hoi An Ancient Town (Overnight stay in Hoi An or Da Nang)

Morning: Fly to Da Nang & Check-in at Son Tra Peninsula (06:00 – 12:00)

• 06:00 : You have a light breakfast, check out of your Hanoi hotel, and take a taxi to Noi Bai Airport (HAN).
• 07:30 – 08:00 : Depart on a flight from Hanoi to Da Nang (Flight time approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes).
• 09:30 : Landing at Da Nang International Airport . A car will pick you up and take you directly to Son Tra Peninsula .
• 10:15 AM : Visit Linh Ung Pagoda – Bai But Beach .
  • Visit and admire the 67-meter-tall statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (the tallest in Vietnam), standing with its back against the mountain and its face turned towards the open sea.
  • Enjoy a panoramic view of Da Nang city’s turquoise coastline and My Khe beach from above.
• 11:45 : Descend the mountain and have lunch at a seaside seafood restaurant in Da Nang, or try Central Vietnamese specialties such as pork spring rolls with double layers of skin (Restaurants suggested: Tran Specialty Restaurant, Dai Loc Restaurant…).

Afternoon: Exploring the Moss-covered Charm of Hoi An Ancient Town (13:30 – 18:00)

• 13:30 : The vehicle travels along the Truong Sa coastal road to Hoi An Ancient Town (approximately 30km from Da Nang, a 45-minute drive).
• 14:15 : Arrive in Hoi An, check into your hotel/homestay (It’s recommended to stay overnight in Hoi An to fully appreciate its peaceful beauty in the late night and early morning, instead of rushing back to Da Nang). Shower and change into light, comfortable clothes.
• 15:30 : Begin a leisurely stroll or borrow a bicycle from the hotel to explore the historic surroundings.
  • Check in at the Japanese Bridge (Chua Cau) – a symbol of Hoi An’s cultural heritage.
  • Visit Phung Hung Ancient House or Tan Ky Ancient House to admire the unique blend of Vietnamese, Japanese, and Chinese architecture.
  • Visit the vibrant and colorful Fujian Assembly Hall .
• 17:00 : Enjoy a refreshing glass of herbal juice at 150 Tran Phu Street and have a light snack of banh vac, cao lau, or corn sweet soup at a roadside stall.

Evening: Release floating lanterns on the Hoai River & experience the lantern-lit street (6:30 PM – 9:30 PM)

• 6:30 PM : Dinner with the famous Hoi An Chicken Rice (Restaurant suggestions: Ba Buoi Chicken Rice, Nga Chicken Rice…).
• 7:30 PM : As the old town lights up brilliantly, head to the Hoai River boat dock.
  • Buy a ticket to ride in a small wooden boat drifting leisurely down the river, and personally release small, sparkling lanterns onto the water to pray for peace.
  • Take a stroll through Nguyen Hoang Night Market, admire thousands of brightly colored lanterns, and buy some simple souvenirs.
• 9:30 PM : Visit a riverside cafe to enjoy the view or return to the hotel to relax, concluding a peaceful and romantic day of experiences. Overnight stay in Hoi An.

Day 6: Explore Ba Na Hills (Golden Bridge) – Travel to Hue (Overnight stay in Hue)

Morning: Early Check-In and Explore the “Road to Paradise” (07:00 – 12:00)

• 07:00 : Have breakfast in Hoi An. Check out of the hotel, take all your luggage to the car (private car or tour shuttle) and travel directly to the foot of Ba Na Hills (approximately 1 hour).
• 08:15 : Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, you can leave your large luggage at the tourist area’s luggage storage counter (located next to the cable car station) and enjoy your leisure time.
• 08:30 : Take the three-wire cable car, which holds many world records . Admire the Toc Tien stream and the vast primeval forests from the glass cabin.
• 08:50 : Arrive at the cable car station, then head straight to the Golden Bridge .
  • Golden tip : 9:00 AM is when the fog has just cleared, the sun is gentle, and the crowds from downtown Da Nang haven’t yet gathered. You’ll be able to take “clean” photos with fewer people in the background next to the two giant moss-covered hands.
• 10:00 AM : Continue exploring the attractions on this level: the vibrant Le Jardin D’Amour flower garden with its 9 themed gardens and the ancient Debay Wine Cellar, built by the French through the mountain in 1923.
• 11:00 AM : Take the cable car for the second leg to the French Village . Stroll through the square and admire the miniature Gothic-style castles of ancient Europe.

Lunch & Dinner: Enjoy a Buffet & Travel to Hue Ancient City (12:00 – 18:00)

• 12:00 PM : Enjoy a full buffet lunch at the largest Arapang or Taiga restaurant on the mountaintop, featuring a diverse menu of hundreds of European and Asian dishes.
• 13:00 : Have fun at Fantasy Park indoor amusement park (freefall tower challenge, dinosaur park) or try your hand at riding the Alpine Coaster, winding around the mountain slopes for an exhilarating experience.
• 14:30 : Take the cable car back down to the foot of the mountain. Retrieve your checked luggage at the counter.
• 15:15 : The car will pick you up and depart through the Hai Van Tunnel to travel directly to Hue City (approximately 100km, taking 2-2.5 hours).
  • Note : On the way to Hue, the bus will pass through the beautiful Lang Co Bay . You can ask the driver to stop for 10 minutes to take photos of the stunning cliffs overlooking the sea.
• 17:45 : Arrive in Hue, check into a hotel in the city center (Western Quarter or along the Perfume River). Shower and change into formal attire for an evening out.

Evening: Enjoy Salted Coffee & Listen to Hue Folk Songs on the Perfume River (7:00 PM – 9:30 PM)

• 7:00 PM : Enjoy a dinner of Hue’s traditional local specialties: Banh beo, nam, loc, and ram it at Hanh restaurant (Pho Duc Chinh street) or savor a bowl of authentic Hue beef noodle soup .
• 8:00 PM : Head to the Imperial Wharf , purchase tickets and board a wooden dragon boat. The boat will gently glide along the romantic Perfume River, where you can enjoy Hue folk singing , listen to the melodious sounds of the zither and lute, and the sweet chants of the artists from this heritage region. Release your own floating lanterns onto the river.
• 21:30 : The boat docks. Take a stroll and enjoy a rich, creamy cup of Hue-style salted coffee on Nguyen Hue Street before returning to the hotel for the night.

Day 7: Explore the ancient capital of Hue (Imperial Citadel, Royal Tombs) – Fly back to Ho Chi Minh City in the evening (Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City)

Morning: Explore the Imperial Palace & Ancient Pagodas on the Perfume Riverbank (07:30 – 11:30)

• 07:30 : Have breakfast at the hotel with either Hue-style beef noodle soup or fried egg sandwiches. Check out early and leave all your luggage at the hotel reception desk.
• 08:15 : The vehicle will pick you up to visit the Hue Imperial Citadel – the royal palace of 13 Nguyen Dynasty kings.
  • Take a leisurely stroll through the Ngo Mon Gate, check in at the Thai Hoa Palace (where the throne is located), and visit the Forbidden City, the The Mieu Temple, and the Dien Tho Palace .
  • Tip : The Imperial Citadel complex is very large, so you should hire a guided tour on-site (around 300,000 VND) or use an auto-narration headset to gain a deeper understanding of its solemn historical anecdotes.
• 10:15 AM : Travel along the romantic Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda  . Check in at the majestic 7-story Phuoc Duyen Tower – a long-standing spiritual symbol of Hue.
• 11:00 AM : Check in at Thuy Xuan Incense Village right on the way. You’ll be overwhelmed by the bundles of incense sticks in vibrant colors, spreading out like flowers. Here, you can borrow traditional Vietnamese clothing (áo tấc/áo dài) from the shop owners to take beautiful souvenir photos.

Lunch & Afternoon: Visit the Royal Tombs – Depart for the Airport (11:45 – 17:30)

• 11:45 : Lunch at a Hue garden restaurant with a menu of royal cuisine or rustic clam rice (Restaurant suggestions: Khong Gian Xua Restaurant, Dap Da Clam Rice Restaurant…).
• 13:15 : Explore Khai Dinh Mausoleum (Ung Lang).
  • This is one of the most unique architectural works of the Nguyen Dynasty, showcasing a harmonious blend of Eastern culture and Western Gothic architecture .
  • You will be amazed by the exquisite mosaics of ceramics and glass inside the Heavenly Palace.
• 14:45 : Travel to Tu Duc Mausoleum (Khiem Lang). In complete contrast to the majestic appearance of Khai Dinh Mausoleum, Tu Duc Mausoleum possesses a dreamy, romantic beauty like a miniature park with a lake, stone bridge, and stele house hidden amidst a lush green pine forest.
• 16:15 : Return to the hotel to collect your checked luggage. A car will pick you up and take you directly to Phu Bai International Airport (HUI) (approximately 15km from the city center, a 30-minute drive).
• 17:00 : Arrive at the airport, check in for the late afternoon flight from Hue to Saigon.

Evening: Landing in Dynamic Saigon (7:30 PM – 10:30 PM)

• 18:30 – 19:00 : Departure flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Flight time approximately 1 hour 30 minutes).
• 20:30 : The plane lands at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) . Collect your luggage, take a ride-hailing taxi (Grab/Be) or airport shuttle to District 1 city center to check into your hotel.
• 9:30 PM : Take a leisurely stroll and enjoy Phnom Penh-style noodle soup, or visit the breezy Nguyen Hue Walking Street to admire the City People’s Committee building sparkling with lights at night. Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels – Explore the City Center (Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City)

Morning: Explore the ” Underground Labyrinth” of Cu Chi Tunnels (07:30 – 13:00)

• 07:30 : The vehicle will pick you up at your hotel in District 1 and depart for the Cu Chi Tunnels ( Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc section , about 60km from the city center, travel time is approximately 1.5 – 2 hours).
• 09:30 : Arrive at the Cu Chi Tunnels historical site.
  • Watch this short documentary film that recreates the life and indomitable fighting spirit of the soldiers and people of Cu Chi.
  • Follow the tour guide to explore the sturdy underground tunnel system deep beneath the earth, check in at the meeting room, the Hoang Cam kitchen, and the medical bunker.
  • Experience firsthand the hardships faced by soldiers in the past, crawling through narrow tunnels.
  • Additional experience (at your own expense) : Try your hand at sports shooting at the shooting range with real guns (AK47 or M16).
• 11:30 AM : Enjoy a local specialty meal at the tunnels: Boiled cassava with sesame salt dip, along with a cup of hot tea.
• 12:00 PM : Board the vehicle and depart for the city center.

Afternoon: Check-in at Saigon’s iconic landmarks (13:30 – 17:30)

• 13:30 : Arrive in District 1, have lunch with Saigon’s signature broken rice with pork ribs, pork skin and pork patties (Restaurant suggestions: Thuan Kieu Broken Rice, Phuc Loc Tho Broken Rice, or Nguyen Van Cu Broken Rice).
• 14:30 : Explore the Independence Palace (Reunification Palace) . Visit the reception hall, the general’s meeting room, the fortified basement area, and admire the legendary tank numbered 843 on the lawn.
• 16:00 : Take a short stroll to the cluster of classic French architectural heritage sites:
  • Check in at the magnificent facade of Notre Dame Cathedral (currently undergoing restoration but still very ancient).
  • Visit the Central Post Office and admire its grand iron arched domes and the exquisitely hand-painted antique maps on its walls.
• 5:00 PM : Stop by Nguyen Van Binh Book Street nearby to take a stroll under the cool green trees, and enjoy a glass of coconut water or iced milk coffee at a roadside stall.

Evening: Dinner on a Saigon River cruise & City Lights View (6:30 PM – 9:30 PM)

• 18:30 : Transfer to the high-speed ferry terminal or passenger port (such as Bach Dang Wharf).
• 7:00 PM : Enjoy a dinner cruise on the Saigon River (Suggested cruises: Saigon Princess or Indochina Junk).
  • Enjoy a dinner featuring European and Asian cuisine, or signature Southern Vietnamese dishes.
  • The boat glides smoothly along the river, allowing you to fully admire the shimmering lights of the Bitexco Tower and the towering Landmark 81 landmark at night.
• 21:30 : The boat docks. You are free to stroll along Bach Dang riverside park or return to your hotel to rest, concluding your fulfilling 8-day journey across Vietnam. Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh City.

Days 9-12: Allow for extra time or flexible extension options.