Vietnam Explorer

Arrival Flight: Guest’s own tickets

Xin Chao! Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, your private guide and driver are waiting to meet you, holding up a welcome signboard with your names on it and take you directly to your hotel located in the city centre.

While every effort is made to have your room available upon arrival, check in time is at 02:00pm; your room may or may not be ready before this time. Your tour guide will provide additional details regarding your stay, and you will be able to ask any questions you may have. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Please note: Your travel documents contain an E-visa. Your E-visa must be presented to Customs upon entry into the country.

Morning

After breakfast, you will be met by your private guide and driven to Cu Chi, a small community located northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, known for its network of deep tunnels that provided shelter and an effective source of infiltration for the Viet Cong during the later years of the Vietnam War.

Upon arrival, you will watch a short introductory video from the period before exploring the tunnels, the most famous battlegrounds in the world. The hidden network of Viet Cong tunnels is believed to stretch to “hundreds of miles,”  in total length, and to include living quarters, storage rooms, makeshift hospitals, and kitchens, etc. Although originally very narrow, some parts have been widened for the tourists and you have the opportunity to explore parts of the system.

Please note that these tunnels will be hot and can get claustrophobic, so there is an option if you’d like to view from above ground. 

Try some of the main food of the Viet Cong Soldiers with a cassava tasting served with tangy tea. After experiencing the Cu Chi Tunnels, transfer back to the city with lunch en route at Ben Nay restaurant.

Afternoon

Spend the rest of the day visiting some of Ho Chi Minh City’s key highlights. We’ll tailor your tour to suit you, but we particularly recommend visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral, the ornate City Hall (Hotel De Ville), the old Opera House, the historic Rex Hotel, the Central Post Office, renowned for its architecture, and Ben Thanh Market, where vendors display a vast array of goods and handicrafts, appealing to every taste.

Later stop at the Reunification Palace and the moving War Remnants Museum to for an insightful, yet sombre, look into Vietnam’s military history and turbulent past.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Morning

After breakfast, your private guide and driver will take you out of Ho Chi Minh City in a private vehicle and onto some beautiful country roads to Coco Riverside Lodge in Trung Nghia – Vung Liem within three hours via Ben Tre or within three and a half hours via Vinh Long City. Upon arrival, meet a representative who will guide you to the lodge located by the river, where you’ll be greeted with a welcome drink.

Check in and enjoy lunch at the lodge, then take some time to relax before choosing bicycles for a village tour. Visit Mr. Cong’s home to observe the traditional process of pop rice production and gain insights into this age-old technique. Experience his daily life firsthand and learn about his craft.

Next, stop by another local home to harvest and weave water coconut leaves, used in Mekong Delta construction. Mrs. Chien will also demonstrate making ‘poon’ sticks. Further, your guide will explain animal raising and biogas collection.

Cycle along serene village paths, explore rice paddies, and visit a dragon fruit plantation (you can discuss with your guide if you’d like to extend the ride). Enjoy the sunset before returning to the lodge to freshen up. Later, visit home of Mr. Hai Luong, a war veteran, who will share his memories of the Vietnam War in this village. Enjoy traditional military music, illuminated by the soft glow of poon candles. At the end of the show, walk back holding torches made from dried coconut leaves, a traditional local custom for nighttime.

Conclude the evening with a cooking class where you’ll learn to make Vietnamese pancakes, followed by dinner at the lodge’s restaurant.

Overnight in Vinh Long.

After breakfast, board a motorboat and head to the local market to immerse yourself in the region’s vibrant culture and daily life.Next, visit a Cao Dai temple and a nearby coconut factory along the river, where you’ll observe the handcrafting of coconuts into ropes and rugs. This artisanal process caters primarily to international buyers, particularly from Korea.

Afterward, return to the lodge to unwind or take a swim before checking out.

Finally, transfer back to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City with your guide and vehicle.

Note: The program may be adjusted due to tides or weather conditions.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast at the hotel, your private guide and driver will pick up at your hotel lobby and transfer to the airport for your flight to Da Nang.

Upon arrival at Da Nang Airport, welcomed by your new local guide and driver then transfer to your hotel in Hoi An.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Morning

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel to visit a local fishing village by cycling on level ground to the Thu Bon River. For safety purposes, you will be given a short bicycle competency test. For those uncomfortable with riding a bicycle, a private car can be arranged (additional cost will be added).

Ride along country lanes at a peaceful pace viewing local life and pause to see farmers toiling in their rice fields using centuries of farming practices. Peddle your way through palm forests, across bridges, fields of water buffalo…

Take a short break in a local family at Cam Thanh Village before enjoying a 1.5 hours ride on Traditional Basket Boat (round boat) in the Water Coconut Palm Forest. Learn how to sail the basket boat and spend your time to catch fishes and “purple crabs” in the Canal.

Continue to ride your bike to Tra Que Organic Vegetable Village where a large variety of vegetables is produced for the local community. At the village, you will be shown the environmentally sustainable practices which the local villagers have used for centuries and is still being used extensively today.

After some farming practices, head a local family to enjoy a foot massage and the traditional herbal foot dip. You will then ride back to the hotel to rest during the day. Get ready for the afternoon walking and food tour.

Afternoon

Your tour guide will pick you up and take you to the Ancient Quarter of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you will embark on a walking tour visiting the major attractions such as Chua Ong Pagoda, Tan Ky Ancient House, Fujian Assembly Hall, and the Japanese Covered Bridge.

Continue to visit the Precious Heritage Museum, home to the permanent exhibition of Réhahn’s Precious Heritage Collection. While transporting you to the furthest reaches of Vietnam, the collection will unveil the rich cultural tapestry of the ethnic tribes

Move on to the house of a lantern craftsman. There, you can observe the lantern craftsman’s technique before hands-on work through each stage of lantern-making under the guidance of the enthusiastic craftsmen: from bending it into the frame, cutting cloth, gluing, to completing lanterns. Before this trip concludes, you will have your own lantern created by your own hands.

Now, it’s time for your Hoi An street food discovery tour. With your guide, you will weave in and out of the tiny alleyways, get to chow down with the locals at stalls you’d never discover on your own. Every day at 4 pm, Hoi An’s streets are filled with a myriad of street food carts, stalls, and vendors. The street food tour is an excellent introduction for you to enjoy a few of the Hoi An specialties cooked up by the locals, to introduce you to the faces behind the stock pots and to teach you how the Hoi An locals deal with those condiment trays!

Overnight in Hoi An.

Morning

After breakfast and check out you will be picked up by your private and driver and depart Hoi An for an adventurous trip into the Bach Ma National Park, old French Hill station stretching out over some 40,000 unspoiled hectares and offering great hiking trails and waterfalls.

Note: Make sure you have sunscreen and a hat, good hiking shoes, swimming suits, and comfortable long pants.

En route, you will pause at Cau Hai Lagoon to take some stunning pictures of the lagoon and learn about the life of the local fishing village.

Upon arrival at Bach Ma, you will visit the Information Center, which is located near the park gate. Here, you will be introduced to Bach Ma National Park’s biodiversity potential, learn more about its significance and conservation of the fauna and flora. On display are many samples and pictures of animals of the Park.

After visiting the information center, you will be picked up again and driven up to near 1400m top where Bach Ma Sea Observatory Post is. Here you will be rewarded with a stunning panoramic view of the mountain ranges, lagoons, beaches, and villages.

Drive downhill for about 15 mins, you will alight to your trekking point. The adventure begins here. You will trek along the Five Lakes Trail, which is named after the cascade of five small lakes along the route.  You will a chance to swim in the crystal clear emerald pool of the cascades in the middle of the jungle.

Afternoon

After enjoying a picnic lunch near the Five Lakes you will continue trekking to majestic Waterfall of Do Quyen about 300m in height. Enjoy the beautiful view of water falling to the rocks and the lush forest below. Descend to the foot of the waterfall by negotiating more than 600 steps. It’s a real challenge but rewarding with the chance to have a great view and beautiful pictures.

Trek back to the car park where your driver is waiting for you and transfer to your hotel in Hue where the remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Overnight in Hue.

Today you will explore the royal city of Hue once served as an imperial capital to the Nguyen Lords, a feudal dynasty which reigned from 1802 to 1945. With splendid emperors’ tombs, ancient pagodas, and the remains of the citadel, the city retains its royal charm.

Morning

After breakfast, you are picked up by your private guide and driver and begin your day with a visit to the atmospheric Imperial Citadel, a large complex that contains the remains of the former Imperial Palace and Forbidden Purple City, where the emperors and his family once lived. The two-hour walking tour allows you to see the magnificent architecture and gardens as your guide explains the events and the intrigue of the former royal court.

From the Imperial City, your guide will take you to visit the iconic Thien Mu Pagoda – Hue’s most famous religious site with its origins dating back to 1601. Here you will explore the pagoda’s landscaped gardens, the seven-tiered octagonal tower, and watch the monks chanting.

For lunch, enjoy a delightful lunch at a serene garden house, surrounded by lush greenery and tranquility.

Afternoon

After lunch, you will explore the tomb of the longest-reigned Emperor Tu Duc, located in a tranquil setting of gardens and ponds, inspired by the Chinese Confucianism, harmonious design of balance and symmetry for the emperor’s resting place. You will also visit the tomb of King Khai Dinh, designed in the traditional Vietnamese style with a European touch making it unique from the other tombs in Hue.

End your day at Dong Ba Market which runs along the north bank of Huong (Perfume) River. You will have a chance to discover a favorite Noddle shop by Anthony Bourdain – the World Famous Chef and TV Producer. Sample the best Bun Bo Hue “Hue Noddle soup”(at your own account).

Overnight in Hue.

Morning

You will have the whole morning free at your leisure. Breakfast will be served at the hotel and check out of the room at midday.

Afternoon

Your guide and driver will collect you from the hotel at 12p.m and transfer you to Hue Train station to catch the day train (soft seats with air conditioning) to Dong Hoi. (Expected train SE10 13:04 16:10)

The three-hour train journey will be an interesting experience because it allows you to see the stunning scenery along the way and especially crossing Vietnam’s former DMZ (Demilitarized Zone). The DMZ was the former border between North and South Vietnam before the reunification. Historically it was a narrow band of terrain extending from the Laos border to the coast, five kilometers on either side of the Ben Hai River, roughly on the 17th parallel north of latitude.

Evening

Your private guide and driver will meet you at Dong Hoi Train Station and transfer you to the Chay Lap Farmstay in Phong Nha for check-in. The rest of the evening will be yours at leisure.

Overnight in Phong Nha.

Morning

After breakfast, you will be picked up and transferred to the Oxalis Adventure office in Tan Hoa, located 70km from Phong Nha where you will meet your expert guide and the porter team. At the office, the guide will give you a short briefing about the trekking itinerary and safety regulations. You will sign the RELEASE FORM, and receive the necessary safety equipment. (The transportation cost to Tan Hoa is included in the price of the Tu Lan one day tour). Here you will get prepared for the adventure of a lifetime; the amazing trek through the Tu Lan Cave System, one of Vietnam’s greatest outdoor wonders.

Grade: Easy to moderate trekking
Distance: 9km of trekking including up to 800m of caving
Elevation: 120m in total
Swim: 150m swimming in the caves

Tan Hoa – Explore Rat Cave

After the briefing, the group will start walking through the flat corn and peanut fields toward the Rao Nan River. You will cross the river and go up a small slope to get to the entrance of Rat Cave. Here, you will be provided with helmets, headlamps, and safety equipment to explore Rat Cave for about 300m long. This cave has many beautiful stalactites and a soaring dome with a unique heart-shaped structure. After the exploration, the group returns to Rao Nan river to climb up the 60m high Baby hill. Crossing the Hung Ton valley to reach the dry passage of Hung Ton Cave.

Afternoon

River Passage of Hung Ton Cave – To Mo Valley – Tan Hoa

Guests will descend a 15-meter ladder with safety harnesses in Hung Ton cave to continue exploring the remaining dry passage of the cave. Here, visitors will have the opportunity to see a fossil of a million-year-old marine species. The group will then move to the water passage of the cave. Customers will be provided with life jackets and start swimming in the underground river of the cave, swimming across a small reef, and at the end of the cave the picturesque To Mo Valley, is awaiting. Here, you have time to enjoy lunch and swim on the emerald-green stream before climbing the mountain to return.

The 1-day Tu Lan experience tour by Oxalis ends with crossing the lush green valley and fields. You will return to the Rao Nan River and walk back through the farmland to the office. At the Oxalis Tan Hoa office, the group can relax and have some cool drinks.

The car will pick up the group and you will be back in Phong Nha at about 18:30 – 19:30, ending the trekking adventure to the Tu Lan caves – one of the most unique adventure tours in Quang Binh.

Overnight in Phong Nha.

Have breakfast at the hotel then your private driver without guide will pick up at 8a.m for your transfer to Dong Hoi Airport to take the flight to Hanoi.

Expected flight Vietnam Airlines VN1590 10:25 11:30

Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, welcomed by a new local guide and transfer to your hotel.

Standard check-in time is at 2p.m , early check-in upon availability at surcharge.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Morning

After breakfast, you will be picked up by your guide and driver for the five-hour journey to Ba Be Lake in Bac Can province, northeast of Vietnam, approximately 150 miles (230 kilometers) from Hanoi.

En route, you will stop at Thai Nguyen Province to visit the Museum of the Cultures of Vietnam’s Ethnic Groups where you can browse the objects, photographs, and exhibits that give a better understanding of the various ethnic groups and their agricultural tools, handicrafts and traditional costumes worn for worship. Some of the ethnic people you will get to meet on your trip.

Continue on to Ba Be National Park. Along the way, you will enjoy the marvelous views of rice paddies, tea plantations and bamboo paddlewheels on the banks of the river. Arrive at Cho Ra town around midday and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon

Arrive at Boc Lom Quay and transfer to your kayaks. Then paddle down the Nang River towards Ba Be Lake. You will enjoy the dramatic landscapes of chalky cliffs, not bare, but with small wild gardens clinging to the flanks and lianas with their long roots seeking the earth.

Finish the boat trip and transfer to Pac Ngoi, a scenic village of the Tay ethnic people where you will stay overnight at a local thatched house. After check-in and a short rest, you will take a walk around the village, meet and interact with the local people.

Evening

Tonight you will enjoy a delicious dinner cooked and served by the family. You may want to join them in the cooking activity. This is great fun.

Overnight in Ba Be Lake

Morning

Get up early to watch the sunrise over the lake followed by breakfast at the homestay.

Bid a fond farewell to your family hosts and depart for a scenic drive to Cao Bang close to Vietnam’s northern border with China. Stop en route to explore the Hua Ma Cave, one of the least touristy caves not only in the north but in the whole of Vietnam, which locals still regard as a religious site.

On the way, you will pay a visit to the village of Phuoc Sen, home to Nung minority people. This is a small village famous for the production of farming tools. Like the Tays, the Nungs largely live by farming the terraced rice paddies that you will see all around.

Afternoon

At midday, you will arrive in Cao Bang and check into your hotel room. It’s then followed by lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, transfer to Ban Gioc waterfall where you will board the bamboo raft for the most up-close discovery of the most beautiful Waterfall in Vietnam. The trip will continue with a visit to Nguom Ngao limestone Cave which is 2 km away from Ban Gioc waterfall.

Return to the hotel in the late afternoon where the balance of the day is at your leisure.

Overnight in Cao Bang.

Morning

After breakfast, you will depart Cao Bang and wind our way back to Hanoi. It is a journey of approximately 185 miles (310 kilometers) through vertiginous rice paddies and remote villages. You will get the chance to stop at an ethnic village known for its tobacco production.

Afternoon

Arrive in Hanoi in the late afternoon and check into your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Stroll around the old town and do some shopping. Get yourself ready for the amazing boat trip in Lan Ha Bay tomorrow.

Overnight in Hanoi

07:45 – 08:30 | Pick-up (estimated time)

For those who book transfer service, our bus will collect guests from hotels around Hanoi Old Quarter. The exact pick-up time will be informed in the afternoon before the departure date.

11:30 – 12:00 | Arrive Tuan Chau Harbor

12:00 – 12:30 | Transfer to the main boat by tender. Embark on Sena Cruise

Warmly welcome to Sena Cruise! While enjoying a welcome drink, our cruise manager will deliver a cruise briefing and safety introduction. After that you will check in your cabin.

13:00 – 13:30 | Enjoy fabulous lunch

Fabulous lunch is served while Sena Cruise – Luxury Boutique Cruise starts her sail into magnificent Lan Ha Bay – an extension of Ha Long Wonder which is much quieter and has fewer tourists. She will pass a thousands of uniquely shaped limestone towers and islands.

15:00 | Explore Lan Ha Bay

We will visit the Dark and Bright Cave – famous for the pristine natural beauty and poetic, attractive seascape of Lan Ha Bay. Here you will take some photos of the romantic, lyrical local see-sights. This is also the best time for tourists to enjoy bamboo boats or swimming – which is an interesting activity to discover the truest beauty of the Limestone Mountains and the blue sky of Lan Ha Bay. Afterwards, visitors immerse in the emerald green water of Lan Ha Bay with exciting swimming activities.

17:00 | Return to Sena Cruise. 

Enjoy a sunset party on LanHa Bay. It is an ideal time for photography enthusiasts to capture the stunning moment of sunset at Lan Ha Bay.

You will also have a chance to join our Cooking class to challenge your skills in preparing very famous Vietnamese spring rolls.

Before dinner, our experienced captain will choose the most tranquil area to anchor for overnight.

19:00 | Savor deluxe dinner

Reward yourself with a large selection of cocktails at a panoramic bar or take one of our onboard activities: squid fishing, karaoke. (We open the light and prepare the squid fishing rods)

Overnight on board

06:00 | Sunrise Tai-chi section on sundeck

Be an early bird for a photo hunt and join our Tai-chi session on the sundeck to refresh your body and mind.

07:00 | Having light breakfast

Sena Cruises – Luxury Boutique Cruises continues her sail, passing amazing karst towers. Tea, coffee and light breakfast is served with fresh air and peaceful surroundings.

08:15 | Explore Tra Bau Area

Join kayaking & swimming to explore the Tra Bau area – the famous filming location for Kong Skull Island (King Kong) in Quang Ninh in 2018.

09:30 | Return to the boat for check-out

10:00 | Lunch time

During the time well prepared lunch is served, Sena Cruise – Luxury Boutique Cruise slowly navigates emerald water and thousands of Karst Mountains towards the Harbor.

(If you want to go to Cat Ba Island, you must let us know, we will transfer you by Sena Cruise small transfer boat to Gia Luan Port – please inform in advance).

11:30 – 12:00 | Disembark Sena Cruise and farewell the crew and back to Hanoi by bus

15:00 – 16:00 | Arrive at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter, end of unforgettable trip.

Overnight in Hanoi

Notes: Itineraries may be subject to change without prior notice due to weather, pandemic conditions, or regulation of Port authorities. Wi-Fi is available in the restaurant/bar area, but internet connectivity is limited due to the geography of the bay. Thank you for your understanding.

Today, with the help of your private guide and driver, you’ll uncover Hanoi’s top attractions and savor authentic local dishes, dining street-side alongside the locals.

Morning

9:00 Begin at the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex, where Vietnam honors its ‘Great Father.’ Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed afternoons, Fridays, and Mondays) to see his embalmed body, his House on Stilts, and the One Pillar Pagoda, a historic 11th-century Buddhist temple.

Next, explore the millennia-old Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university and a tribute to Confucian values.

Enjoy lunch at Lan Ong Restaurant, where history, culture, and modern Vietnamese dining come together in an intimate and immersive experience.

Afternoon

After lunch, visit the historic Hoa Lo Prison (nicknamed the Hanoi Hilton), once used by French colonists and later for U.S. prisoners of war.

Take a fun cyclo ride through the French Quarter, admiring its colonial architecture, including the Vietnam History Museum, Metropole Legend Hotel, and Opera House.

Enjoy a cup of Hanoi’s famous Egg Coffee at Pho Co Café, offering stunning views of Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple.

Wrap up the day with a walking tour through the vibrant Old Quarter, discovering Hanoi’s dynamic street food scene. Sample dishes like Nom Du Du (green papaya salad), Banh Mi Pa Te (Vietnamese sandwich), and Bun Cha (grilled pork with noodles) while seated on tiny plastic stools in a lively back alley. It’s then time for dessert as we venture down a small alley to join in the local tradition of feasting on fresh fruit served in a cup and smothered with crushed iced – this specialty is one not to be missed!

It’s then time for dessert as we venture down a small alley to join in the local tradition of feasting on fresh fruit served in a cup and smothered with crushed iced – this specialty is one not to be missed!

Overnight in Hanoi.

Departure flight: Guest’s own tickets

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be free at leisure till check out.

We wil pick up 4 hours before your departure flight time for your transfer without guide to Noi Bai International Airport for your flight home.