Real Vietnam: Authentic Journey from North to South
Vietnam Highlights in the North and South brings to you 9 day trip to cover Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Lan Ha Bay, Saigon and Mekong. Unique and less touristic routes
From $904 / person (private tour, price per person drops as your group grows)
Vietnam Highlights in the North and South brings to you 9 day trip to cover Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Lan Ha Bay, Saigon and Mekong. Unique and less touristic routes 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
Welcome to Hanoi, enjoy a walking tour in the old quarter. 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: Conifer Grand Hotel ★★★ (Deluxe Room) *or similar hotel
35km – 0.75h
Day 2 — Hanoi
Exploring the center of culture & education Van Mieu, outstanding museum of ethnology, visiting French Quarter and discovering Old town. 9:00 AM: Get Pick up by tour guide to Temple of Literature which was built under the Ly dynasty in 11th century for worshipping Confucius and teaching Royal children. Enjoy a walk in the garden to the city's symbol Khue Van Cac. You will then visit the World Heritage "s tone steles " which shows the name of outstanding students. Continue to explore the Quoc Tu Giam which is considered as the first national university of Vietnam.
Stay: Conifer Grand Hotel ★★★ (Deluxe Room) *or similar hotel
Day 3 — Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Hanoi
Biking to Thung La temple and then a boat trip in Van Long Nature Reserve, embroidering experience. 8:00 AM: Transfer from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, driving through the picturesque countryside of the Red River Delta, painted by rice and vegetable fields. Take a 15km bike ride (optional) or walk through the villages. A journey along the dyke will offer you gorgeous landscapes of rice fields, a river and limestone mountains. There are several stops for you to take beautiful photos or encounter the locals then walk to discover Thung La temple , dating back to the 11th century. Meet Mr Tuong, the temple guardian, and enjoy an authentic conversation as well as a 20 minute drum show. Later, take a sampan boat trip along the stream and among the limestone mountains to discover the beauty of Van Long nature reserve. If lucky, you might get to see white monkeys and egrets on the cliffs. After the boat trip, visit an embroidery village and take part in an embroidery course under the instruction of local craftswoman, Mrs Lam. She will proudly explain the techniques of her traditional craft. This will be a good opportunity for you to practice on fabric like a real craftsman.
Stay: Conifer Grand Hotel ★★★ (Deluxe Room) *or similar hotel
100km – 2h
Day 4 — Hanoi – Hai Phong – Lan Ha bay
Cruising from Halong to Lan Ha bay, swimming & kayaking, cooking class. 9:00 AM: Pick up at your hotel (in the Hanoi Old Quarter) . Enjoy two and a half hour drive from Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay on the national highway No5B. Your journey will pass the series of villages and rice fields in the Red River Delta . Have a stop for drink and restroom. Continue driving to the harbor around noon, get warmly welcome at cruise reception.
Cruise: Peony Cruise – 2D1N
140km – 2.5h
Day 5 — Hai Phong – Lan Ha bay – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Exploring Trung Trang Cave, visiting Cat Ba National park, Transferring back to Hanoi for a flight to Ho Chi Minh city. 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: Sanouva Hotel ★★★ (Premium Deluxe Double Room) *or similar hotel
Day 6 — Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Discovering Saigon city with the best highlights: Independence palace, Binh Tay market, China town, Quan Am pagoda and Fito Museum of traditional medicine. 9:00 AM: Pick up from your hotel to Independence Palace , once used as the home – office of the Presidents of South Vietnam. Our visit includes the North Vietnamese tank which effectively attacked the palace in 1975 to bring the controversial Vietnam War to an end and the five-story palace with its rooms have been preserved in their late 1960s, 1970s style and a bunker basement.
Stay: Sanouva Hotel ★★★ (Premium Deluxe Double Room) *or similar hotel
Day 7 — Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – Tay Ninh – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Special excursion to Cu Chi tunnels and then visiting Cao Dai temple.. 7:00 AM: Leave from your hotel to visit 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.
Stay: Sanouva Hotel ★★★ (Premium Deluxe Double Room) *or similar hotel
100km – 2.5h
Day 8 — Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – Ben Tre – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Travelling to Mekong, enjoy boat trip, biking, interacting with local people in Ben Tre. 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)
Transferring to airport for flights to next destinations. Our driver will pick you up from your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City and take you to Tan Son Nhat Airport.
10km – 0.5h
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: 05, 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) | — | $2,088 |
| 2 travellers | $1,226 | $1,593 |
| 3 travellers | $1,099 | $1,466 |
| 4 travellers | $1,012 | $1,379 |
| 5 travellers | $962 | $1,329 |
| 6 travellers | $926 | $1,293 |
| 7 travellers | $904 | $1,271 |
| 8 travellers | $936 | $1,303 |
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.
— or get an instant reply on WhatsApp —
