Discovery Vietnam North & Central Itinerary 8 Days

Arrive in Ha Noi and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure.
Overnight in Ha Noi.

Take a full day tour to explore Ha Noi’s illustrious history. In the morning, visit the imposing marble edifice housing the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum (CLOSED ON MONDAYS & FRIDAYS) before moving onto his wooden stilt house and the One Pillar Pagoda. You will then explore the first university of Vietnam, the Temple of Literature, which is imbued with the profound philosophies of Confucianism. In the afternoon, visit the Hoan Kiem Lake, the Ngoc Son Temple and an ancient Vietnamese “long house”. A one-hour cyclo tour of Ha Noi’s Old Quarter allows you to catch a glimpse of ancient Ha Noi and learn about traditional Vietnamese architecture.

Overnight in Ha Noi.

Drive through rice paddy fields to Ha Long Bay. Board a junk for a cruise among the hundreds of islets of Ha Long Bay while enjoing lunch. Drop anchor in the late evening for an overnight stay among the dramatic limestone peaks rising out of the sea.

Overnight on a junk.

Spend the morning cruising through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay before returning to the wharf. Transfer to Noi Bai Airport for your flight to Hue City. Upon arrival, transfer to a hotel.
Overnight in Hue City.

Begin your day with a scenic dragon boat cruise along the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, the oldest and most iconic pagoda in Hue. Continue to the Imperial Citadel, the former political and cultural center of the Nguyen Dynasty, Vietnam’s last royal dynasty. Explore the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum, home to a remarkable collection of royal artifacts and ornaments from the Nguyen era. Later, visit Dong Ba Market to experience the vibrant daily life of local residents.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant featuring traditional Hue cuisine. In the afternoon, visit Khai Dinh King’s Tomb, famous for its distinctive blend of Eastern traditions and Western architectural influences. Continue to Tu Duc King’s Tomb, admired for its harmonious layout, elegant symmetry, and tranquil natural setting. Conclude the tour with a visit to a traditional conical hat and incense-making village, where you can learn about Hue’s long-standing handicraft heritage. Return to your hotel.

Overnight in Hue.

Morning drive to Da Nang via Lang Co Beach and Hai Van Pass. Stop at the Cham Museum for a visit. Arrive in Hoi An. The rest of the day is free.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Start your day with a countryside adventure as our guide picks you up by US Military Jeep and takes you beyond the city to experience authentic rural life. Visit a traditional house displaying old farming tools, learn how rice flour and rice paper are made, and explore a village communal house surrounded by a banyan tree and ancient well. Meet friendly water buffaloes and try hands-on rice farming activities such as plowing, transplanting rice, and scooping water with a local farmer. The experience ends with a relaxing herbal foot soak followed by a rustic Vietnamese family-style meal “Cơm Gia Đình” at Bếp Quê, where you can also try making the traditional dish Tam Hữu.

Afternoon, you will be led on a walking tour to explore this World Heritage Site. Highlights include an ancient merchant house, the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the vibrant riverside market.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Free until transfer from Hoi An to Da Nang for your flight departure.