Vietnam's Essence: Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh Highlights
Explore Vietnam in 9 days, from Hanoi's culture to Ho Chi Minh's energy. Discover stunning landscapes and historic sites on this unforgettable 9-day tour.
From $1144 / person (private tour, price per person drops as your group grows)
Explore Vietnam in 9 days, from Hanoi's culture to Ho Chi Minh's energy. Discover stunning landscapes and historic sites on this unforgettable 9-day tour. Fully private and customizable, with your own guide and driver, honest online pricing, and cabin & pickup confirmed within 1 hour.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Click any day to expand. “Stay” shows the accommodation on this route. Prefer to upgrade a hotel or cruise cabin? We’ll tailor it — and the price — in your free quote.
Day 1 — Hanoi
Arrival in Hanoi, airport pickup, discover Hanoi's travel highlights, and watch a water puppet show.. Upon your arrival at Noi Bai Airport , you'll be greeted by our guide and driver at the pickup lobby. You'll then enjoy a 45-minute drive to the heart of Hanoi , passing over the Red River, where you can catch a glimpse of the city's unique architecture and its famously bustling traffic.
Stay: Palago Boutique Hotel ★★★★ (Executive Room) *or similar hotel
Day 2 — Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Hanoi
Visiting Hoa Lu ancient capital, hiking to Bich Dong pagoda & boat trip in Tam Coc. 8:00 AM: Meet your tour guide and driver at hotel then transfer to Ninh Binh, the awesome site is enriched with historical, cultural, religion and geographic wonders. On the journey passing the Red River delta, stop as you wish for pictures.
Stay: Palago Boutique Hotel ★★★★ (Executive Room) *or similar hotel
100km – 2h
Day 3 — Hanoi – Lan Ha Bay
Transfer to Halong, cruise to Lan Ha Bay, explore the Tra Bau area, go kayaking, enjoy a cooking demonstration, and try squid fishing.. The driver will pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi, and from there, we'll begin our journey to Halong City with a scenic drive through the Red River Delta. The trip takes around 2.5 to 3 hours, with an optional stop along the way for a short break.
Cruise: Peony Cruise – 2D1N
150km – 2.5h
Day 4 — Lan Ha Bay – Hanoi
Explore Trung Trang Cave, disembark at Tuan Chau, and journey back to Hanoi.. 6:00 AM : Begin the day full of energy with a Tai Chi session and enjoy the sun as it rises beyond the horizon. 6:45 AM – 7:15 AM : Breakfast is served while cruising back to Gia Luan jetty. (Breakfast time may be adjusted to follow the real itinerary). 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM : Join the tour of Cat Ba World Biosphere. It takes 30 minutes to transfer from Gia Luan to Trung Trang cave – one of the most impressive caves in Cat Ba Island, Vietnam. The limestone cave has thousands of stalactites in various shapes, offering geological values with a typical cave ecosystem. 9:30 AM : Return to the main boat from the cave, and you will check out of your cabin. Luggage is to be placed outside of the cabin. Early Lunch is served at the restaurant. Settle any bar bills at the restaurant's desk (if any). 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM : Disembark from the Peony Cruises and transfer back to Tuan Chau port. 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM : You should be ready at Tuan Chau port.
Stay: Palago Boutique Hotel ★★★★ (Executive Room) *or similar hotel
150km – 2.5h
Day 5 — Hanoi – Hoi An – Da Nang
Take a flight to Da Nang, explore Hoi An ancient town.. Our driver will pick you up from the lobby of your hotel in Hanoi and take you to Noi Bai Airport . The drive takes approximately 45 minutes.
Stay: Parosand Da Nang Hotel ★★★★ (Deluxe Room) *or similar hotel
Day 6 — Da Nang
The world's impressive cable car, French colonist style complex, Golden Bridge, Fantasy Park. 8:00 AM: Start from your hotel to have a full day visit to Ba Na hill complex. Located at 1478m high above the sea level and 25 km to the west of Da Nang, Ba Na Hill has a year round cool climate which makes it an ideal resort since French colonist time. On arrival, take 20 minutes of the world's impressive cable car in order to reach the peak of Ba Na hill and observe the beautiful scenery. Arrive at the station, take a visit to pagoda with giant Buddha statue , green gardens of multiple kinds of flora and flower interleaved by French architecture buildings and wine storages. Leisurely walk on the World's top ten impressive architecture bridges – Golden Bridge . Immerse into the stunning views of national park, waterfall, ocean and city in remote distance which can hardly found in other regions. Enjoy the entertainments in Fantasy Park – the third biggest indoor games zone in Vietnam with series of interesting games before getting transfer back to city.
Stay: Parosand Da Nang Hotel ★★★★ (Deluxe Room) *or similar hotel
25km – 1h
Day 7 — Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Take a morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City and explore its highlights.. Our driver will pick you up from the lobby of your hotel in Da Nang City and take you to Da Nang Airport.
Stay: Sanouva Hotel ★★★ (Premium Deluxe Double Room) *or similar hotel
Day 8 — Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – Ben Tre – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Boat trip & biking in Ben Tre, interacting with local people, garden tour, Mekong Delta lifestyle experience. 8:00 AM: Tour guide and driver welcome you at your hotel for your transfer to Ben Tre , a beautiful region in the Mekong Delta River , famous for making coconut candy. Arrive at Hung Vuong pier, take a boat trip on Ben Tre River to discover the daily local life. Continue your boat trip on a canal to Nhon Thanh Village . This will be an opportunity to taste the fresh fruits. Take a bike ride (or Tuk tuk) on a small path through the villages and enjoy views of the coconut ranges, rice fields and vegetable gardens. A lunch of elephant ear fish is served in the village. A short walk will help you to discover the local life in depth. This is followed by a boat ride on the small canal shaded by the wild palm trees. Transfer back to Saigon in the late afternoon.
Stay: Sanouva Hotel ★★★ (Premium Deluxe Double Room) *or similar hotel
110km – 2.5h
Day 9 — Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Discover the Cu Chi Tunnels and take a flight home.. We'll discover the most striking place in the history of the Vietnam War, the Cu Chi Tunnels. Cu Chi is a real underground city made up of a large network of tunnels covering an area of over 250km long where the Viet Cong conducted the war of resistance against American troops. All of the tunnels were dug over a period of twenty years using only pickaxes and shovels. The tour includes special entering some part of tunnels. Option: At the Cu Chi shooting range, guests can enhance their experience by trying real gun firing. This service allows visitors to test their aim with a variety of firearms under supervision. It's a thrilling option for those seeking a bit of adventure. This is an optional service not included in the tour price, and guests will need to pay on the spot.
What’s Included
Included
- Accommodation as listed, with daily breakfast
- Halong Bay cruise: Peony Cruise – 2D1N
- Private English-speaking guide throughout
- Private air-conditioned car & driver
- Entrance fees & permits in the itinerary
- Meals: Breakfast: 08, Lunch: 09, Dinner: 01
- 02 bottles of water per person per day on tour
- 24/7 WhatsApp · cabin & pickup confirmed within 1 hour
Not Included
- International flights
- Vietnam e-visa (~$25)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Drinks, tips & personal expenses
- Optional activities not listed
- Meals not specified
Pricing
Private tour, price per person — it drops as your group grows (your own guide & car are shared). Pick your group and room type for an indicative from-price; your exact price for specific dates (seasonal, only ~7% either way) is confirmed within 1 hour on WhatsApp.
| Group size | Sharing twin/double | Private single |
|---|---|---|
| 1 traveller (solo) | — | $2,444 |
| 2 travellers | $1,511 | $1,873 |
| 3 travellers | $1,368 | $1,730 |
| 4 travellers | $1,267 | $1,628 |
| 5 travellers | $1,211 | $1,572 |
| 6 travellers | $1,169 | $1,530 |
| 7 travellers | $1,144 | $1,505 |
| 8 travellers | $1,180 | $1,541 |
Indicative from-prices (season varies ~7%). Single traveller = private single room. Child (2–11, sharing): reduced rate · Infant (<2): free — confirmed in your quote.
Good to Know
Is 9 days enough to enjoy this route?
Yes — this 9-day private itinerary is paced so you see Hanoi and more without rushing. We can shorten or extend any part to fit your dates.
Best time to travel?
March–April and October–November are the most reliable nationwide. Northern Vietnam is cool and dry December–February. We’ll advise the best dates for your route.
Can I customize it?
Fully — change hotels, upgrade your cruise cabin, add or remove stops. It’s a private tour built around you.
How do I pay?
After we agree your itinerary we send a secure online payment link. Cabin & pickup confirmed within 1 hour, honest local pricing.
Get your free, no-obligation quote
Tell us your dates and what you’d like — Ava replies within 1 hour with a tailored itinerary and honest pricing. No payment now; you only pay online once you’re happy.
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