Explore the Waterways of Vietnam in 10 Days

Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival

Upon your arrival at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel. After settling in and relaxing from your journey, enjoy a welcome dinner at a charming restaurant housed in a colonial-era building. In the evening, you will attend a traditional Water Puppetry performance—a unique art form originating from northern Vietnam, offering a delightful and light-hearted glimpse into the region’s rural culture.

✓ Dinner

Day 2: Discover Hanoi

You’ll have a full day to explore the vibrant capital of Vietnam. Your guide will take you to the Temple of Literature – Vietnam’s first university established in the 11th century and a must-see attraction. You will then visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, where you can see his modest stilt house where he lived and worked, as well as the museum dedicated to his legacy.

After lunch, you’ll visit the tranquil Tran Quoc Pagoda. This is Hanoi’s oldest pagoda, beautifully located on the banks of Ho Tay (West Lake). The bustling Old Quarter, with its maze of shopping streets and diverse architecture—from traditional tube houses and religious buildings to colonial homes and modern structures—is also a lively and essential stop.

✓ Breakfast, Lunch.

Day 3: Sail Through Ha Long Bay

After breakfast, you will depart for Ha Long Bay with your private driver, heading to one of the most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the world’s largest marine limestone karst landscape. Upon arrival, you’ll board a private wooden junk boat to explore the Bai Tu Long Bay area. Your cruise will take you to some of the bay’s most secluded spots, offering opportunities to swim at peaceful sandy beaches (weather permitting), or to explore one of the lesser-visited caves. The route is thoughtfully planned to avoid crowded areas and includes a tranquil location for your overnight stay on the bay.

For your excursion, you’ll board one of the L’Amour Junks, renowned as some of the finest wooden boats on the Bay. These are modelled after traditional Chinese court vessels, with each boat featuring three barge sails, a wide transom, and a rectangular superstructure. With only one cabin on board, you’ll enjoy an exclusive and intimate experience.

The air-conditioned cabin, approximately 10 m², offers large windows with views of the bay and is furnished with either two twin beds or a double queen-size bed. The interior is elegantly panelled in hardwood, and the cabin includes a wardrobe, pillows, white cotton sheets, and an en-suite bathroom with a shower and high-quality toiletries. All meals are included and typically feature fresh seafood. Kayaking is also available and included in the price, allowing you to explore the bay up close.

✓ Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Day 4: Savour a BBQ Lunch

After breakfast, your cruise will continue with a visit to a fishing village, where you’ll have the chance to explore the village and discover hidden lagoons by kayak. Following a BBQ lunch on a secluded sandy beach, you’ll have the rest of the afternoon to relax or further explore the bay at your leisure by kayak. Your overnight stay will be in a peaceful and quiet spot within the bay, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the serene surroundings.

✓ Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Day 5: Visit a Pearl Farm

Wake up to the fresh air of the bay, with the option to take a morning swim or relax on the sundeck. After breakfast, your cruise will continue with a visit to a fishing village, where you can explore the village and hidden lagoon by rustic rowing boat. The journey will then take you to a Pearl Farm, where you’ll learn about the entire process of cultivating high-quality pearls.

Around noon, you’ll cruise back to the dock, where you’ll be met for your return trip to Hanoi. Upon arrival at your hotel in the mid-afternoon, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure.

✓ Breakfast and Lunch.

Day 6: Transfer to Can Tho

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Noi Bai Airport for your morning flight to Can Tho, the vibrant ‘capital’ of the Mekong Delta. Upon arrival, you will be met and taken to Ninh Kieu Pier to board the Mango Cruise, setting sail downriver towards Tra On. As you enjoy a welcome drink, soak in the tranquil scenery while the crew takes care of your luggage. Relax on the comfortable sofa in the sitting room and take in the river views and refreshing breeze.

Lunch will be served on board as you cruise along the Mang Thit River, a smaller branch of the Mekong where you can observe the rich riverine culture and local activities along the way. You’ll stop to stroll through a small village, exploring the local lifestyle, lush gardens, and interacting with the friendly locals. You’ll also visit a brick factory, where you can see the traditional, centuries-old methods of brickmaking in action.

In the late afternoon, your boat will enter Vung Liem, where you can unwind while watching the sunset. After freshening up, enjoy an onboard cooking demonstration followed by dinner. Your boat will anchor overnight in Vung Liem.

✓ Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Day 7: Explore Vung Liem by Bicycle

After waking to the refreshing river breeze, enjoy breakfast aboard the boat before setting out to explore the town of Vung Liem by bicycle. Here, you’ll visit a Cao Dai Temple, a fascinating blend of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Continue your exploration with a trip to the local wet market before returning to the boat for lunch as you cruise towards Mo Cay.

Post-lunch, relax and prepare for a stroll through Mo Cay, a district in Ben Tre Province known for its coconut products. You’ll visit a coconut processing factory that has provided local employment for decades. After the walk, return to the boat and continue your journey to the Giong Trom River, passing by Ben Tre City, the provincial capital.

In My Long village, visit Mr. Sau Tuong – a former Vietcong soldier who survived two years fighting the Khmer Rouge in Phnom Penh. Now, he and his wife make rice paper – a renowned local specialty. Engage in conversation and enjoy the crispy rice paper made by his wife and observe the traditional production process.

Return to the boat to freshen up before savouring dinner onboard. The boat will anchor overnight on the An Hoa River near Chet Say Bridge.

✓ Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Day 8: Explore Phong Nam Village

Breakfast will be served aboard in the early morning as you cruise along the An Hoa River towards My Tho. During the journey, you’ll stop at Phong Nam Village for a xe loi (motorised rickshaw) ride, visiting local businesses. You will also visit a rice noodle factory known for producing hu tieu noodles, a popular regional breakfast dish.

Next, you’ll embark on a rowing sampan for a leisurely tour through the Ba Sau Canals, hidden among lush green water coconut plants, offering picturesque tropical scenery.

Returning to the boat, you’ll continue your cruise to My Tho, where your local guide and driver will meet you to transfer you to Ho Chi Minh City. After checking in at your hotel, you’ll have free time to explore District 1.

✓ Breakfast and Lunch

Day 9: Explore Ho Chi Minh City

After breakfast, your guide will take you on a tour of Ho Chi Minh City. You’ll start with a visit to the History Museum, which features a special exhibition on the 5th-century Oc Eo civilisation. Alternatively, you may visit the Fito Museum, Vietnam’s first museum dedicated to traditional medicine, showcasing an extensive collection of medicinal relics and the history of Vietnamese medical practices dating back to 2000 BC.

Next, explore the Museum of War Remnants, which offers a powerful perspective on the ‘American War’. In Chinatown, you’ll visit Binh Tay Market, the largest in Ho Chi Minh City. After, head to the Jade Emperor Temple, one of the finest Taoist temples in Vietnam, known for its impressive effigies, intricately carved panels depicting the descent to Hell, and its somewhat unusual terrapin and tortoise sanctuaries.

Afterward, return to your hotel to freshen up or take a stroll through the bustling Ben Thanh Market, one of the city’s most vibrant areas, packed with a wide variety of goods

✓ Breakfast and Lunch

Day 10: Depart Ho Chi Minh City

Enjoy free time before your departure flight.

✓ Breakfast