Heritage Route from North to South — 15 Days

Dedicate this day to discovering Hanoi's cultural jewels. Begin at the prestigious Temple of Literature (Van Mieu), a peaceful Confucian sanctuary founded in 1070 that housed Vietnam's first imperial university.

In the afternoon, tour the renowned Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, showcasing the rich arts and traditional dwellings of the country's 54 ethnic groups. In the evening, attend a traditional water puppet performance accompanied by live Vietnamese court music.

Overnight at hotel in Hanoi. Breakfast included.

Travel south in your private vehicle into Ninh Binh province, the Inland Halong Bay. Board a small wooden rowing boat at the UNESCO-listed Trang An landscape complex, gliding through a peaceful labyrinth of karst gorges and flooded cave tunnels.

After an easy bicycle ride through the countryside, visit the 10th-century royal temples of Hoa Lu, Vietnam's ancient feudal capital during the Dinh and Early Le dynasties.

Travel distance: approx. 100 km (2 hours). Overnight at hotel in Ninh Binh. Breakfast and lunch included.

Depart in the morning toward the Gulf of Tonkin coast. At the pier, embark aboard an elegant traditional wooden junk in Bai Tu Long Bay, greeted warmly with a welcome drink by the crew.

Sail among dramatic limestone karsts while savoring a gourmet seafood lunch. In the afternoon, explore Thien Canh Son Cave, swim in sheltered coves, and dine under the stars while anchored in quiet waters.

Overnight aboard the junk in Bai Tu Long Bay. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Begin your day with a calming Tai Chi session on the open deck as the sun rises over the limestone pinnacles. Enjoy brunch while cruising back to port.

Disembark around midday and drive toward Hanoi, stopping to visit the historic 17th-century But Thap Pagoda, home to the thousand-armed Buddhist statue of Quan Am. In the evening, board the comfortable sleeper train from Hanoi to Dong Hoi in your private 4-berth air-conditioned cabin.

Overnight aboard sleeper train in private 4-berth compartment. Breakfast and brunch included.

Arrive in Dong Hoi at dawn and take a short transfer to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage geological treasure containing some of the oldest karst formations in Asia.

Board a wooden riverboat along the Son River into the mouth of Phong Nha Cave, gliding through flooded chambers lined with shimmering stalactites. Next, ascend stone steps to explore Tien Son Cave (Fairy Cave), known for its resonant rock walls.

Cave boat exploration. Overnight at boutique lodge in Phong Nha. Breakfast included.

Travel south along the historic Demilitarized Zone toward the imperial city of Hue. Visit the moving underground site of the Vinh Moc tunnels, where an entire village lived underground during the war.

Stop at the peaceful beach of Cua Tung before visiting the preserved ancient village of Phuoc Tich, celebrated for its 500-year-old timber nha ruong residences. Arrive in Hue in the late afternoon.

Travel distance: approx. 210 km (4.5 hours). Overnight at hotel in Hue. Breakfast included.

Dedicate this day to exploring Hue, capital of the Nguyen emperors from 1802 to 1945. Enter the monumental gates of the Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City, admiring palaces and courtyards.

In the afternoon, visit the forested Mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang and the iconic Thien Mu Pagoda. Conclude the day with a memorable royal imperial court dinner in a traditional garden residence, dressed in regal silk costumes with traditional court music.

Full-day heritage tour and royal costume banquet. Overnight in Hue. Breakfast and dinner included.

Depart Hue in the morning heading south along the East Sea coast. Stop along the quiet turquoise waters of Lang Co Lagoon before winding up the celebrated Hai Van Pass (Pass of the Ocean Clouds) for sweeping views.

Near Da Nang, visit the Buddhist grottos in the Marble Mountains before arriving in the UNESCO ancient port of Hoi An, enjoying your first evening beneath hundreds of colorful silk lanterns.

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

Morning excursion to the mystical jungle ruins of My Son Sanctuary, the spiritual and religious capital of the Champa Kingdom from the 4th to 13th centuries, set in a forested valley beneath Cat's Tooth Mountain.

In the afternoon, enjoy a private walking tour of the Hoi An Old Town: the 17th-century Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese assembly halls, and old merchant houses. Spend the evening wandering lantern-lit canals.

Sanctuary excursion and heritage walking tour. Overnight in Hoi An. Breakfast included.

Transfer to Da Nang Airport for your scheduled flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Upon arrival, meet your private guide and check into your hotel in the city center.

In the afternoon, tour the city's grand colonial landmarks: the Central Post Office designed with Eiffel ironwork, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Reunification Palace. Visit the FITO Museum of Traditional Medicine and the incense-scented Thien Hau Pagoda in Cho Lon.

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

Depart Saigon for the lush waterways of the Mekong Delta. Arrive in Ben Tre and board a private wooden boat navigating wide tributaries shaded by coconut groves.

Visit cottage workshops making coconut treats, glide silently along narrow arroyos in a hand-rowed sampan, and cross the river to An Binh Island in Vinh Long. Settle into a charming boutique guesthouse for a convivial home-cooked dinner with your local hosts.

Travel distance: approx. 130 km (3 hours). Overnight at homestay lodge on An Binh Island. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Early morning boat ride to Can Tho to witness the vibrant spectacle of the Cai Rang Floating Market, where hundreds of boats gather laden with watermelons, mangoes, and vegetables.

Taste fresh tropical fruits in a local orchard before traveling back in your private vehicle to Ho Chi Minh City for a relaxed final evening in the southern metropolis.

Travel distance: approx. 170 km (3.5 hours). Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. Breakfast and lunch included.

Enjoy your final free morning according to your departure flight schedule. Stroll along the pedestrian promenade of Nguyen Hue, savor an authentic Vietnamese iced coffee on a shaded terrace, or shop for fine silks and souvenirs at Ben Thanh Market.

At the appointed hour, your private driver transfers you comfortably to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your flight home, concluding an extraordinary 15-day heritage odyssey through Vietnam.

Breakfast included. Private airport transfer.