Grand Traverse of Vietnam — 21 Days

A full day dedicated to Hanoi's millennial heritage. Visit the prestigious Temple of Literature (Van Mieu), founded in 1070 as Vietnam's first university, with doctoral stone steles carried on tortoises.

Continue to the Ba Dinh historical complex, including Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, Presidential Palace gardens, and wooden House on Stilts, plus the iconic One Pillar Pagoda. In the afternoon, explore the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, followed in the evening by a traditional water puppet performance.

Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Leave the capital by private vehicle along the Red River toward the northwestern mountains. Stop at Thanh Son to admire rolling green tea plantations.

Enter Yen Bai province and descend into the vast, fertile valley of Muong Lo, the second largest mountain basin in northern Vietnam and homeland of the White Thai. Enjoy a bicycle ride through rice paddies and hamlets, followed by a warm home-cooked dinner in a traditional wooden stilt house.

Drive: approx. 4h30 (190 km). Dinner and overnight homestay in Nghia Lo.

Ascend the spectacular Khau Pha Pass, one of northern Vietnam's four great passes rising above 1,500 meters, with breathtaking panoramic views over the terraced Tu Le valley.

Arrive in Mu Cang Chai, recognized as a national heritage landscape. Take a guided hike among the world-famous rice terraces of La Pan Tan and Mam Xoi hill, sculpted into mountain amphitheaters over centuries by Hmong farmers. Settle into a panoramic mountain ecolodge.

Drive: approx. 3 hours (100 km). Overnight at ecolodge in Mu Cang Chai.

Drive through scenic mountain roads skirting the majestic Hoang Lien Son range. Stop at Tan Uyen tea plantations before climbing through the dramatic O Quy Ho Pass (Indochina's highest mountain pass at 2,047 m) overlooking Mount Fansipan.

Arrive in Sapa in the early afternoon. Enjoy a scenic hike to the mountain hamlets of Ma Tra and Ta Phin, meeting Black Hmong and Red Dao villagers and discovering traditional hemp weaving and herbal medicine baths.

Drive: approx. 3h30 (130 km). Overnight at hotel in Sapa.

A full day of trekking along the stunning Muong Hoa Valley. The trail follows cascading mountain streams through dramatic terraced rice paddies, linking the ethnic hamlets of Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, and Ta Van.

Encounter Black Hmong, Giay, and Red Dao villagers, learning about ancient irrigation canals and traditional indigo batik fabric dyeing. Settle into a welcoming Dzay family guesthouse in Ta Van for dinner and an authentic overnight stay.

Hiking: approx. 4 to 5 hours. Dinner and overnight homestay in Ta Van.

Morning hike off the beaten track along the high ridges of Hang Da and Sa Seng, offering breathtaking plunging views over the entire Sapa valley and terraced hillsides.

Depart Sapa by vehicle toward the karst plateaus of Bac Ha. En route, stop at a traditional Hmong workshop to observe natural beeswax batik drawing and indigo vat dyeing. Arrive in Bac Ha and settle into a welcoming Tay family home in an unspoiled rural hamlet.

Drive: approx. 3 hours (100 km). Dinner and overnight homestay in Bac Ha.

Morning immersion in one of the vibrant weekly ethnic markets of the Bac Ha highlands (Can Cau on Saturday, Bac Ha on Sunday, or Coc Ly on Tuesday). Hundreds of Flower Hmong, Tay, and Nung villagers in shimmering hand-embroidered tunics gather to trade horses, buffalo, textiles, and local specialties.

Visit the historic colonial mansion of Hoang A Tuong before driving back to Hanoi along the modern expressway, arriving in late afternoon with free time for dinner.

Drive: approx. 5 hours (300 km). Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Morning private excursion south to Ninh Binh province, celebrated as the terrestrial Halong Bay. First, climb the steps of Hang Mua Peak for a breathtaking 360-degree panorama over limestone towers and winding waterways.

Enjoy a countryside bicycle ride through peaceful villages and rice paddies to Bich Dong cave pagoda. In the afternoon, board a traditional hand-rowed sampan in Tam Coc, gliding beneath three spectacular limestone river grottos, before returning to Hanoi.

Drive: approx. 2 hours each way (95 km). Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Morning departure to the Gulf of Tonkin. Around midday, board a traditional wooden junk in pristine Bai Tu Long Bay, the wilder, peaceful northern sector of Halong Bay.

While a gourmet fresh seafood lunch is served on deck, the junk glides between thousands of sculpted limestone pinnacles. Visit the floating fishing village of Vung Vieng by kayak or local bamboo rowboat. Watch sunset over the karst horizon followed by dinner and squid fishing.

Drive: approx. 3h30 (160 km). Overnight on board the junk in private air-conditioned cabin.

Wake at sunrise for an invigorating Tai Chi session on the upper deck facing the misty limestone islands. After breakfast, explore Thien Canh Son cave with its illuminated stalactites.

Enjoy a hearty brunch on board while the junk cruises leisurely back to port. Disembark and transfer directly to Hanoi airport for your scheduled domestic flight to Hue. Welcomed upon arrival and check into your boutique hotel.

Transfer: 2h30; flight: 1h15. Overnight at hotel in Hue.

A full day dedicated to Hue's UNESCO-listed imperial splendors. Explore the vast Imperial Citadel (Dai Noi), its monumental gates, Supreme Harmony Palace, and evocative ruins of the Purple Forbidden City.

In the afternoon, board a dragon boat on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda. Continue by vehicle to the majestic imperial mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang or Gia Long, set in harmonic balance with lakes and forest, followed by Dong Ba market.

Overnight at hotel in Hue.

Board a traditional boat to cruise up the Perfume River to the market-gardening eco-village of Thuy Bieu, nestled in a river bend and famed for sweet Thanh Tra pomelos. Enjoy a bicycle ride through orchard trails, visit heritage wooden garden houses, and take part in a cooking class preparing local dishes.

In the afternoon, explore Sinh folk-painting village and Thanh Tien paper-flower village, preserving centuries-old artisan traditions, before a relaxing herbal foot bath.

Overnight at hotel in Hue.

Drive south along the coastal road across the natural boundary separating northern and southern Vietnam. Stop at peaceful Lang Co Lagoon before winding up the spectacular Hai Van Pass (Pass of the Ocean Clouds).

Enjoy plunging views over Da Nang Bay and the Son Tra Peninsula. Arrive in the UNESCO-listed ancient port town of Hoi An. Check into your boutique hotel and take an evening stroll beneath thousands of glowing silk lanterns.

Drive: approx. 3h30 (140 km). Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

Morning walking tour of pedestrian Hoi An: the 16th-century Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese assembly halls, and old merchant timber homes like Tan Ky.

In the afternoon, enjoy a bicycle ride through rural paths to an artisanal lantern-making workshop where you craft your own silk lantern, or pedal out to Tra Que organic vegetable village.

Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

A completely free day to enjoy Hoi An at your own pace. Relax on the golden sands of An Bang Beach, book an optional excursion to the Cham ruins of My Son, or explore the town's renowned custom silk tailors and courtyard cafes.

At nightfall, dine by candlelight beside the Thu Bon River as illuminated paper lanterns float past on the dark waters.

Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

Morning transfer to Da Nang airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Welcomed upon arrival by your southern French-speaking guide and driver.

In the afternoon, enjoy an orientation tour of colonial Saigon: Notre-Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, and Opera House. Then drive northwest to explore the historic Cu Chi underground tunnel network, gaining insight into wartime subterranean strategies.

Flight: 1h20. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Depart early morning for the Mekong Delta, arriving in Ben Tre, the kingdom of coconuts. Board a boat to cruise along broad river arms, visiting family workshops that make coconut candies and woven mats.

Transfer to small hand-rowed sampans to glide beneath water coconut palms along quiet canal arroyos. Then enjoy a bicycle ride along shaded trails to an eco-responsible riverside lodge in Giong Trom.

Drive: approx. 2h30 (90 km). Dinner and overnight at riverside ecolodge in Giong Trom.

Morning bicycle ride along shaded trails on Oc Island, amidst orchards of longans, mangoes, and pomelos. Cross the Co Chien River by ferry to Tra Vinh, home to a large ethnic Khmer community.

Visit ancient Ang Pagoda, an exquisite Khmer Buddhist monastery set amidst centenary trees, and the Khmer Cultural Museum. Continue in the late afternoon to Can Tho, the vibrant regional capital of the delta.

Drive: approx. 3 hours (110 km). Overnight at hotel in Can Tho.

Early morning boat cruise to Cai Rang floating market, the most spectacular wholesale river market in the delta. Witness hundreds of boats piled high with seasonal fruits and vegetables trading on the water.

After tasting fresh tropical fruits at an orchard, drive back to Ho Chi Minh City, arriving in the afternoon for a final celebratory evening in the bustling southern metropolis.

Drive: approx. 3h30 (170 km). Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Free time in Saigon according to your international flight schedule. Stroll along historic Dong Khoi Street, browse Ben Thanh Market for final souvenirs, or relax at a rooftop cafe.

Private transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your departure flight, concluding an unforgettable 3-week grand crossing through Vietnam from North to South.

Airport transfer and end of our services.