Vietnam Cultural Highlights

Hanoi

Arrive in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city. Start with a city tour to the peaceful Temple of Literature, a site of great significance in Vietnamese history and an important center for the development of the Vietnamese language, as well as the One Pillar Pagoda and Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and stilt house. These will give you a taste of the country’s ancient traditions and political history. Walk past colonial buildings and enjoy the serene atmosphere in well kept gardens and lakes. A great way to ease into northern Vietnam. In the evening, take time to relax or try a local restaurant for some of Hanoi’s classic dishes and warm vibes.

Hanoi

Explore the Old Quarter where narrow streets are lined with family run shops, each named after an old trade. Visit Hoan Kiem Lake, the heart of the city and admire French colonial buildings nearby, noting the influence of Chinese culture on Hanoi's architecture and traditions. Stop for coffee or snacks at street side cafes. Later visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and Fine Arts Museum to learn about the many ethnic groups and artistic traditions of Vietnam, and the influence of different cultures on Vietnamese art and daily life. These will help you understand how Vietnam’s cultural diversity has shaped its art, fashion and daily life. Dinner at a restaurant famous for creative Vietnamese cuisine.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Hanoi

Hanoi

Join a local food expert to discover Hanoi’s famous dishes. Try bun cha, pho cuon and fresh tropical fruits as you walk through a lively local market. After lunch travel to a quiet rural village outside Hanoi to see life beyond the city. Green rice fields, village temples and peaceful country roads. You may also attend a traditional water puppet show, which has its origins in the ancient rice-farming culture of northern Vietnam, or Hanoi Opera House depending on your interests. These cultural activities will give you insight into Vietnam’s unique storytelling and performance traditions. Back to your hotel and relax for the evening.

Meals Included: Breakfast

On the Train

Spend the day at leisure until it’s time to board your luxury overnight train to Sapa. Get settled into your private cabin and enjoy the journey through northern Vietnam’s countryside. This slow pace of travel will give you time to unwind and prepare for your mountain adventure. Watch the scenery change outside your window from bustling cities to open farmlands. Overnight the train will take you to the highlands of Sapa, famous for fresh air, rice terraces and ethnic communities. Sleep peacefully knowing a new chapter of your journey begins tomorrow.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Sapa

Arrive in Sapa early morning and check in to your hotel. Start the day with a private guide and take in the misty hills and green rice terraces, which showcase the importance of wet rice cultivation in the region. Visit nearby villages where Black Hmong, Red Dao and other groups live. At local markets admire handmade fabrics and colourful traditional dress. Learn about daily life, from farming practices to ancient customs, and experience authentic Vietnamese life in the villages. Your guide will help translate and explain each community’s story. Sapa has cool air and stunning scenery, a peaceful break from city life. End the day with dinner and mountain views.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Sapa

Sapa

Choose how you’d like to spend the day. Hike through the valley to quiet villages, waterfalls and remote rice fields, where you can meet locals and learn about their daily routines. Or take a gentle river cruise and enjoy a local lunch in a family home. You may also join a cooking class to learn traditional Hmong recipes using fresh herbs and vegetables. Each option will give you a deeper connection to Sapa’s people and their way of life. Whether you’re active or prefer to relax today brings you closer to Vietnam’s highland culture and nature. Back to your lodge and relax.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Hanoi

Say goodbye to Sapa and head back to Hanoi. Whether by train or private transfer it’s a chance to rest and unwind. Once you get back check in to your hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure. You might want to stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake again or have a quiet meal in a cozy café. After the mountain air Hanoi’s pace feels familiar. Tonight is the end of your northern Vietnam adventure, preparing you for the next exciting chapter in central Vietnam.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Hoi An & Danang

Fly to Danang and drive to Hoi An, a beautiful riverside town famous for its lanterns, heritage buildings and peaceful atmosphere. Check in to your luxury beachfront resort. In town walk through the morning market with stalls full of seafood, herbs and fruits. Spend time visiting the Japanese Covered Bridge, ancient Chinese assembly halls, and Chinese temples, experiencing these historic sites firsthand. See traditional homes and temples, each with stories of past merchants and seafarers. End the day exploring lantern-lit streets or dining by the river. Hoi An’s charm lies in its quiet beauty, artistic flair and warm local hospitality.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Hoi An & Danang

Hoi An & Danang

Spend the day in Hoi An. Visit a local tailor for custom made clothes in 24 hours—perfect for souvenirs. Take a peaceful boat ride along the river or head to Danang to visit the Cham Sculpture Museum. Discover the Marble Mountains with Buddhist cave temples, highlighting the significance of Buddhism in the region, and enjoy panoramic views. If you prefer a relaxing afternoon head back to the beach or try a massage at the resort spa. Hoi An has it all—relaxation, culture and shopping.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Hoi An & Danang

Choose from several hands-on experiences today. Learn how to cook Vietnamese dishes in a local kitchen, bike through rice paddies or visit a Confucian temple to make paper lanterns. You may also visit My Son, a UNESCO site with ancient Cham temples hidden in the jungle. Each activity will give you a deeper connection to Vietnamese traditions and Hoi An’s spirit. Participating in local festivals and communal gatherings not only immerses you in the culture but also reflects how, historically, such events played a significant role in dating and social interactions within Vietnamese society. Later back to your beachfront hotel for some downtime. Watch the sunset, enjoy a seafood dinner or simply relax by the pool before tomorrow.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Hue

Travel to Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. Start at the Imperial Citadel and explore its vast courtyards and the Forbidden Purple City. Walk along the Perfume River and visit the royal tombs of past emperors—peaceful garden sites with ornate stonework—and explore historic pagodas, important symbols of Vietnamese spirituality and cultural heritage. Visit Dong Ba Market, a bustling place full of spices, fabrics and local crafts. If you’d like, join a vegetarian cooking class or meet local monks for a cultural exchange to learn more about Vietnamese tradition. Hue has a regal history and calm atmosphere, a reflective and inspiring part of your journey.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Hue

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Fly to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), the bustling heart of modern Vietnam. Visit French colonial landmarks, Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. Learn about the country’s modern history and the influence of the Vietnam War at the Reunification Palace and War Remnants Museum, both significant for understanding the conflict's impact. Wander through Cholon, the city’s Chinese district, full of temples and markets. Enjoy a drink at a rooftop bar or walk along Nguyen Hue Boulevard. Saigon is full of contrasts—old and new, calm and chaotic—shaped by the influence of historical events on its development—a city you experience as much as you see.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Today is flexible. Visit museums, markets or modern art galleries. Join a community project or meet a local historian for a talk. For dinner hop on a vintage Vespa for a street food tour, stopping at local eateries across different districts. This experience is perfect for sharing with friends, as you try banh xeo, grilled seafood and tropical desserts while enjoying live music along the way. The evening is full of flavour and colour—a fun way to end your time in Saigon.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Mekong Cruise

Leave the city and drive to the Mekong Delta. Travel by private sampan boat through quiet canals and visit floating markets where traders sell from boats. Stop at island villages to meet local families and learn how family members work together in daily life, including traditional fishing practices, as well as making sweets, tea and honey. Bike along peaceful trails and taste fresh fruits picked straight from the orchards. The Mekong Delta is a different Vietnam, where river life and fishing shape everything. Back to Saigon in the evening and rest at your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Saigon - Departure

Breakfast and some last moments in Saigon before heading to the airport. You’ve been from Hanoi’s old streets and Sapa’s mountain villages to Hoi An’s lanterns and the river life of the Mekong Delta. You’ve seen cities, tried new foods and met people from many backgrounds. As you leave, take with you the flavours, stories and memories of Vietnam. Whether it’s your first time here or one of many, Vietnam has left its mark as a vibrant and resilient nation.

Meals Included: Breakfast