From the Dong Van Karst Plateau to the Mekong Delta — 21 Days

Your morning begins with a guided visit to the prestigious Temple of Literature (Van Mieu), a Confucian sanctuary founded in 1070 that housed Vietnam's first imperial university. Admire its five tranquil courtyards and ancient doctoral stone steles resting on turtle pedestals. Next, visit the nearby Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake, Hanoi's oldest Buddhist shrine.

In the afternoon, explore the renowned Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, celebrated for its insightful exhibition of the country's 54 recognized ethnic groups and authentic traditional dwellings in its outdoor gardens. Conclude the day with an iconic performance of traditional water puppetry, a northern folklore art born in flooded rice paddies.

Overnight at hotel in Hanoi. Breakfast included. Lunch and dinner at leisure.

Leave the capital in the morning aboard your private vehicle heading toward the northern frontier. The route traverses the fertile tea-growing valleys of Phu Tho and Tuyen Quang, offering rolling panoramas of lush green plantations and traditional rural hamlets.

Arrive in Ha Giang province in the afternoon. Take a gentle walk through the stilt-house villages of the Tay ethnic community, nestled at the foot of forested hills, before settling into your charming local mountain hotel.

Travel distance: approx. 300 km (6-hour drive with scenic stops). Overnight in Ha Giang. Breakfast included.

The road climbs dramatically into the Dong Van Karst Plateau, recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark. Your first stop at Quan Ba Heaven's Gate reveals sweeping views over the iconic Twin Fairy Hills rising from emerald valley floors.

Continue through striking mineral canyons toward Sa Phin to explore the historic Palace of the Hmong Kings (Vuong Chinh Duc), a fortress blending Chinese Qing architecture and traditional Hmong stonework. Reach the highland town of Dong Van in the late afternoon.

Travel distance: approx. 140 km (5-hour drive). Overnight at hotel in Dong Van. Breakfast included.

Travel along the legendary Happiness Road to cross the vertigo-inducing Ma Pi Leng Pass, one of Vietnam's four most legendary mountain passes. Carved into sheer cliffs, the road gazes down upon the turquoise ribbons of the Nho Que River rushing through deep gorges below.

Descend toward Meo Vac and follow mountain roads leading into the secluded mountain valley of Bao Lac, celebrated for its rich ethnic mosaic of Black Lolo, San Chi, and Hmong communities.

Travel distance: approx. 100 km (4-hour drive). Overnight in Bao Lac. Breakfast included.

Spend the morning on a gentle walk around Bao Lac toward the hamlet of Khuoi Khon, home to the rare Black Lolo minority. Learn about their intricate textile traditions, unique architecture, and ancient customs in a spirit of respectful cultural exchange.

In the afternoon, travel across verdant valleys, dense bamboo forests, and mountain passes to reach Cao Bang, a charming provincial capital bordered by limestone karsts and the Bang Giang River.

Travel distance: approx. 130 km (4-hour drive). Overnight at hotel in Cao Bang. Breakfast included.

A memorable full-day excursion leads to the thunderous Ban Gioc Waterfalls, the largest natural cascades in Vietnam, straddling the border with China. Board a local bamboo raft to glide close to the cascading curtains of roaring turquoise water.

Later, explore the underground wonders of Nguom Ngao Cave, a subterranean masterpiece filled with stalactites, stone pillars, and calcified lotus formations. On the return drive, stop at the traditional blacksmithing village of Phuc Sen, where Nung artisans forge knives using ancestral methods.

Full-day excursion: approx. 180 km round-trip. Overnight in Cao Bang. Breakfast included.

Begin your journey south toward the Red River Delta along the historic RC4 route passing through Dong Khe and That Khe toward the border city of Lang Son.

Visit the remarkable Tam Thanh Cave Pagoda, an ancient Buddhist shrine set within a limestone cavern, before continuing along the modern expressway back to Hanoi, arriving in the late afternoon.

Travel distance: approx. 280 km (6-hour drive). Overnight at hotel in Hanoi. Breakfast included.

Depart Hanoi in the morning through the delta plains toward the Gulf of Tonkin coast. Arrive at the harbor around noon and board your traditional wooden junk, greeted warmly with a welcome drink by the crew.

Savor an exquisite seafood lunch as the vessel navigates deep among thousands of sculpted limestone karsts and islets. In the afternoon, explore a dramatic sea cave, paddle a kayak through quiet lagoons, or relax on the sundeck. Anchor for a peaceful evening and a refined dinner under the stars.

Travel distance: approx. 160 km (2.5-hour drive). Overnight aboard the junk in Halong Bay. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Greet the sunrise with a gentle Tai Chi session on the upper deck as mist hovers over the karst towers. Enjoy a morning excursion by rowing boat or visit a tranquil fishing hamlet before returning to the junk for a hearty brunch while sailing back to port.

Disembark around midday and transfer directly to Hanoi Noi Bai Airport for your short domestic flight to Hue, the former imperial capital. Upon arrival, transfer to your boutique hotel along the Perfume River.

Domestic flight: approx. 1h15. Overnight at hotel in Hue. Breakfast and brunch included.

Spend the day exploring the historical treasures of Hue, capital of unified Vietnam from 1802 to 1945. In the morning, enter the moated Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City, admiring palaces, pavilions, and courtyards that sheltered thirteen Nguyen emperors.

In the afternoon, visit the magnificent forest-fringed Mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang, celebrated for its exquisite balance between classical architecture and natural surroundings. Conclude with a visit to the iconic octagonal Thien Mu Pagoda overlooking the Perfume River.

Full day in Hue. Overnight at hotel in Hue. Breakfast included.

Depart Hue in the morning heading south along the central coastline. Stop at the tranquil fishing village of Lang Co Lagoon, framed by sandy beaches and turquoise waters.

Cross the celebrated Hai Van Pass (Pass of the Ocean Clouds), offering breathtaking coastal vistas over Da Nang Bay. Continue to the UNESCO-listed ancient town of Hoi An, settling into your hotel in the early afternoon.

Travel distance: approx. 130 km (3.5-hour drive). Overnight at hotel in Hoi An. Breakfast included.

Begin your morning with a delightful excursion to the rural village of Cam Thanh. Glide through waterways lined with nipa palm groves aboard round bamboo basket boats (thung chai), discovering traditional net fishing techniques.

In the afternoon, enjoy a walking tour of the Hoi An Old Town, admiring the 17th-century Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese assembly halls, and ancestral merchant residences. At dusk, the streets glow with hundreds of silk lanterns reflected in the Thu Bon River.

Walking tour and basket boat excursion. Overnight in Hoi An. Breakfast included.

Enjoy an entire day at your own pace without any guided schedule. Take bicycles across peaceful countryside trails to An Bang Beach, relax by the pool, sample local street food specialties like Cao Lau noodles, or explore custom tailoring ateliers and art galleries.

Free day in Hoi An. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An. Breakfast included.

After breakfast, transfer to Da Nang Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City (historic Saigon). Upon arrival, your southern private French-speaking guide welcomes you and escorts you to your downtown hotel.

In the afternoon, discover Saigon's grand colonial landmarks: the Central Post Office designed with Eiffel-style ironwork, the exterior of Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the bustling stalls of Ben Thanh Market. Stroll down Dong Khoi Boulevard to soak in the vibrant energy of the southern economic hub.

Domestic flight: approx. 1h20. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. Breakfast included.

Travel south into the fertile waterways of the Mekong Delta. Arrive in Ben Tre, the capital of coconut palms, and board a motorized riverboat navigating winding channels shaded by lush foliage.

Visit family cottage industries crafting coconut candy, take a scenic ride by bicycle or motorized cart along village pathways, and glide silently through secret arroyos aboard small hand-rowed sampans. Continue in the late afternoon to Can Tho, the bustling hub of the delta.

Travel distance: approx. 180 km (4-hour drive with visits). Overnight in Can Tho. Breakfast and lunch included.

Early morning boat ride on the Hau River to witness the spectacle of the Cai Rang Floating Market, where hundreds of sampans gather laden with watermelons, mangoes, and pineapples displayed atop bamboo poles.

Continue toward Sa Dec to visit the historic French colonial residence of Huynh Thuy Le, made famous by Marguerite Duras's novel The Lover. Travel onward to Chau Doc near the Cambodian border, settling into your hotel by the river.

Boat excursion and travel: approx. 160 km. Overnight in Chau Doc. Breakfast included.

Dedicate your morning to exploring the peaceful Tra Su Cajuput Forest, an ecological sanctuary blanketed with brilliant green duckweed. Glide in small wooden sampans beneath canopy trees listening to thousands of nesting waterbirds.

In the afternoon, visit the temples at the foot of Sam Mountain and ascend to its viewpoint for a sweeping panorama across endless rice paddies stretching toward Cambodia. In the evening, check into a tranquil waterside lodge to savor the stillness of the delta.

Excursions in Chau Doc area. Overnight at lodge in the delta. Breakfast and dinner included.

Awaken to birdsong and enjoy breakfast overlooking the peaceful waterways. Take a final morning stroll along village paths observing daily delta life, artisans, and family gardens.

Depart by private vehicle back to Ho Chi Minh City, traveling through the vast rice-growing flatlands of the southern provinces. Arrive in Saigon in the afternoon and check into your hotel.

Travel distance: approx. 220 km (5-hour drive). Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. Breakfast included.

A full day at leisure to explore Saigon according to your personal desires. Visit the Museum of Fine Arts, explore the atmospheric Chinese quarter of Cho Lon with its incense-filled Thien Hau Pagoda, or shop for high-quality Vietnamese coffee, chocolate, and handicrafts.

Free day in Saigon. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. Breakfast included.

Spend your final hours enjoying a leisurely Vietnamese drip coffee on a shaded terrace or taking a last walk through nearby shopping boulevards.

At the appointed hour, your private driver transfers you punctually to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your return flight home, bringing an unforgettable 3-week journey through Vietnam to a serene close.

Breakfast included. Private airport transfer.