14-Day Vietnam Tour with Sapa & Mekong Delta: Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City

Begin the day at Ba Dinh Square, an important setting in Vietnam’s modern history. View the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum from the outside before continuing to Tran Quoc Pagoda, set beside the waters of West Lake.

Next, visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, where traditional houses, clothing, tools and everyday objects offer insight into the cultural diversity of Vietnam’s ethnic communities.

After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to Hoa Lo Prison, whose exhibits reveal more complex chapters of Hanoi’s past.

Later, enjoy a Vietnamese coffee experience at a local boutique café before spending time around Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi’s historic center. Once the experience concludes, return to your hotel.

Overnight in Hanoi

Depart Hanoi in the morning and travel to Ha Long Bay, where limestone islands and towers rise dramatically from the water.

Upon arrival at Tuan Chau Marina, board your overnight cruise, settle into your cabin and enjoy lunch as the vessel begins sailing deeper into the bay.

In the afternoon, visit Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave), known for its spacious chambers and impressive natural formations. Continue to Titov Island, where you may climb the stone steps toward the upper viewpoint for panoramic views over Ha Long Bay or remain near the beach for a more relaxed break and a swim when conditions permit.

Back on board, enjoy the changing scenery during Happy Hour, followed by a Vietnamese cooking demonstration and dinner.

The remainder of the evening is free to relax on the cruise or join the crew for squid fishing.

Overnight in Ha Long Bay

Early risers may begin the morning with an optional Tai Chi session on the sundeck before enjoying a light breakfast surrounded by the limestone scenery of Ha Long Bay.

Later, visit Luon Cave, a quieter corner of the bay reached across calm water. Choose between a kayak or bamboo boat and pass beneath the limestone opening into the enclosed lagoon, where steep cliffs and vegetation frame the water.

Return to the cruise and prepare for check-out as the vessel makes its way back toward Tuan Chau. Brunch or an early lunch is served on board before disembarkation.

Travel back to Hanoi and enjoy some time at leisure before the evening transfer to the railway station. Board the overnight train to Lao Cai in an air-conditioned soft-sleeper cabin shared by four passengers.

The cruise schedule may be adjusted according to weather, tides and operational

Overnight: Overnight train to Lao Cai – A/C soft sleeper, 4 passengers per cabin

Arrive at Lao Cai Railway Station in the early morning and continue by road into the mountains to Sapa. Leave your luggage at the hotel and enjoy breakfast before beginning the day’s activities. As arrival is early, your room may not yet be available for check-in.

With your local guide, travel to the starting point of a Muong Hoa Valley trek and begin walking through Y Linh Ho toward Lao Chai.

The route leads through terraced fields, mountain slopes and rural communities, allowing you to experience the landscape gradually on foot rather than simply seeing it from the road.

Continue to Ta Van Village, where lunch is served at a local restaurant. Afterwards, meet your vehicle for the return drive to Sapa Town.

Check in at the hotel and keep the remainder of the afternoon and evening free for rest or independent exploration.

Several hours of walking are involved today, including slopes and uneven village paths. Comfortable walking shoes and suitable protection from sun or rain are recommended.

Overnight in Sapa

This morning, leave the valley landscapes behind and head toward Fansipan Mountain, the highest peak in Vietnam and the Indochinese Peninsula.

Travel by Fansipan cable car above the Hoang Lien Son range, with views across mountain ridges and deep valleys whenever weather conditions are clear.

From the upper cable-car station, spend time in the high-mountain area at your own pace. Reaching the Fansipan summit still involves additional walking and a series of steps, so take your time and choose the level of activity that best suits you.

Descend by cable car and return toward Sapa for a buffet lunch.

Following lunch, join a shared tourist bus departing Sapa for Hanoi. The road journey brings you back to the capital later in the day, where you will check in at your hotel and have the evening free.

Overnight in Hanoi

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight from Hanoi to Da Nang.

Meet your driver on arrival and continue by road to Hoi An, once an important international trading port and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After checking in at your hotel, the remainder of the day is deliberately left free. Take time to rest after the journey or wander independently through Hoi An Ancient Town at your own pace.

Overnight in Hoi An

Begin the day at My Son Sanctuary, where the surviving temple towers preserve the religious and architectural legacy of the ancient Champa Kingdom.

Walk through the archaeological site with your guide while learning about Cham culture, Hindu influences and traditional brick architecture that shaped this former spiritual center.

After returning toward Hoi An for lunch, exchange ancient temples for the waterways of Cam Thanh Coconut Village. Board a traditional basket boat and travel through narrow channels lined with nipa palms, experiencing a quieter countryside closely associated with local fishing communities.

By late afternoon, return to Hoi An Ancient Town for a guided walking tour. Visit the Fujian Assembly Hall, Japanese Covered Bridge and Tan Ky Ancient House, each reflecting part of the town’s Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese heritage and its centuries of maritime trade.

Return to your hotel after the tour, with the evening free at leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An

Leave Hoi An after breakfast and travel toward Da Nang for a visit to the Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son).

These five limestone and marble hills are traditionally linked to the five elements, with today’s visit focusing on Thuy Son (Water Mountain).

An elevator is available for the initial ascent, or you may take the stone steps. Exploration then continues on foot through parts of the mountain complex, including Linh Ung Pagoda, Xa Loi Tower, Huyen Khong Cave and Tam Thai Pagoda, together with elevated views across Da Nang and the coastline.

Some walking and stair climbing are still required even when using the elevator, so comfortable footwear is recommended.

Continue north toward Hue via the scenic Hai Van Pass, stopping at suitable viewpoints along the way before descending toward the coastal landscapes around Lang Co.

Proceed to Hue and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant on arrival.

The afternoon takes on a gentler pace with a dragon boat journey on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, offering a relaxed introduction to Vietnam’s former imperial capital.

The final royal site of the day is the Tomb of Emperor Minh Mang, where lakes, courtyards, gardens and carefully balanced architecture create a notably calmer and more classical atmosphere.

Transfer to your hotel afterwards and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Overnight in Hue

Spend today exploring different layers of Hue’s royal heritage, from the ceremonial heart of the former imperial capital to royal architecture and a traditional local craft.

Begin at the Imperial Citadel, where Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace and surviving areas of the former Forbidden Purple City offer insight into the political, ceremonial and court life of the Nguyen emperors.

Continue to the Tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh, set into a hillside and distinguished by its elaborate decoration and distinctive combination of Vietnamese and European architectural influences.

Following lunch, visit Thuy Xuan Incense Village, where colorful bundles of incense and the traditional craft offer a glimpse into one of Hue’s long-established local traditions.

Complete the day at An Dinh Palace, an elegant royal residence closely associated with Emperor Khai Dinh and Bao Dai. Its distinctive blend of Vietnamese and European architectural influences reflects a fascinating period of transition during the later years of the Nguyen Dynasty.

Return to your hotel afterwards and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Overnight in Hue

After an early breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight from Hue to Ho Chi Minh City.

Upon arrival in Saigon, meet your local English-speaking guide and private vehicle at the airport. From here, transfer to a local restaurant for lunch before beginning your afternoon sightseeing program.

Start the Saigon city tour at the Independence Palace, a landmark closely associated with the closing chapter of the Vietnam War. Continue to the Central Post Office and view Notre-Dame Cathedral from the outside, two prominent reminders of the city’s French colonial architectural heritage.

The final visit is the War Remnants Museum, where photographs, documents and historical exhibits provide a more sobering perspective on Vietnam’s wartime history.

After completing the city tour, transfer by private vehicle to your hotel, check in and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

The order and timing of visits may be adjusted according to the actual Hue–Ho Chi Minh City flight schedule, local traffic and opening conditions.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Leave the energy of Ho Chi Minh City behind and travel south to Ben Tre, where rivers, canals and coconut-growing countryside shape much of everyday life.

At Ham Luong Pier, board a local motorboat and begin travelling through the waterways of the Mekong Delta.

Stops along the river introduce several small-scale local industries, including traditional brick making, coconut processing and mat weaving.

Continue deeper into the countryside by motor cart or bicycle, passing village homes, gardens and coconut palms before sitting down for lunch with a local family.

After lunch, slow the pace further with a hand-rowed sampan ride through one of the narrower canals.

Continue to your countryside homestay, settle in and enjoy some free time to walk nearby or simply appreciate the quieter rural surroundings.

Dinner is prepared in a home-style setting using local ingredients. End the evening with a traditional herbal foot bath before your overnight stay in Ben Tre.

Overnight: Local homestay in Ben Tre

After experiencing Ben Tre largely from its waterways, today offers a closer look at the countryside on land.

Following breakfast, set out on a village cycling experience, following small lanes surrounded by coconut gardens, orchards, canals and agricultural scenery.

Visit a traditional southern Vietnamese house with its characteristic three-compartment, two-wing layout. Enjoy fresh coconut while learning how this style of home reflects everyday family life in the region.

Continue cycling to discover locally grown cocoa and learn about the basic stages involved in harvesting and processing the fruit.

The route carries on through gardens and quiet rural landscapes before returning for lunch.

Afterwards, collect your luggage and begin the journey back to Ho Chi Minh City, arriving at approximately 5:00 PM.

Check in at your hotel and enjoy your final evening in Vietnam entirely at leisure.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Enjoy breakfast and some free time in Ho Chi Minh City before departure.

With no scheduled sightseeing today, your final hours remain flexible around your flight time and the hotel’s standard check-out arrangements.

At the agreed time, meet your driver for the private airport transfer and continue with your onward journey.

End of Tour