From Tribes to Delta: A Vietnam Adventure Unfolds
Explore Vietnam in 19 days: From Hill tribes to Mekong Delta River. An Essential itinerary for an authentic journey. Adventurous, active & leisure all in one.
From $1620 / person (private tour, price per person drops as your group grows)
Explore Vietnam in 19 days: From Hill tribes to Mekong Delta River. An Essential itinerary for an authentic journey. Adventurous, active & leisure all in one. 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: Hong Ngoc Dynastie Hotel ★★★ (Deluxe City View 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: Hong Ngoc Dynastie Hotel ★★★ (Deluxe City View Room) *or similar hotel
Day 3 — Hanoi – Nghia Lo
Enjoying a day to tea plantation, Muong & Thai culture regions. 8:00 AM: Meet tour guide and driver at your hotel in Hanoi and transfer to Muong Lo via Thanh Son. Muong Lo is known as one of the four most important fertile valleys of the Northwest (Muong Thanh in Dien Bien Phu, Muong Tac in Phu Yen and Muong Than in Than Uyen) in which the Thai ethnic group predominates. The village consists of hundreds of houses on wooden stilts and Thai people cultivate the water rice. Drive to the national road number 32 along the black river (Da River) one of the most important rivers in the Northwest. In Thanh Son, we will make a stop to visit the green tea plantation hill then walk through the stilt-house villages. It belongs to the Muong ethnic group , considered as Authentic Viet. The Muong ethnic group is one of few northern communities that is immune to Chinese influence. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant on the way. Arrive in Nghia Lo , walk or bike around the Thai village to discover the beautiful rice field valleys and hamlets that still preserve the authentic houses on stilts and meet the friendly locals.
200km – 5h
Day 4 — Nghia Lo – Mu Cang Chai
Exploring the best of terrace in Mu Cang Chai, La Pan Tan, Tu Le, immersing into Thai, Dao, Dzay culture. Enjoy breakfast then visit a local market in Nghia Lo then transfer to Mu Cang Chai via Tu Le. Mu Cang Chai is well known for its marvelous rice terrace widely considered as the most beautiful in the world. In 2007, Che Cu Nha, De Su Phinh and La Pan Tan were recognized as outdoor masterpieces on the list of national heritage. At the exit of Nghia Lo, you will cross the hilly region populated by the Dao ethnic group on the hills. Stop for a chance to take photos and meet the local people on the way. Arrive in Tu Le . It is possible to trek to the valley where Thai people live in houses on stilts and have some unusual encounters that allow you to immerse yourself into the authentic local life. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, continue to Khau Pha pass which offers you a splendid panoramic view of the valley of rice terraces. Then the car will take you to La Pan Tan which is a legendary route for photographers. You will admire the gorgeous rice terrace masterpieces created by the Hmong peasant artists from generation to generation. Enjoy the majestic landscape and follow the route from La Pan Tan to Mam Xoi . End of the day, check in your accommodation.
100km – 2.5h
Day 5 — Mu Cang Chai – Lai Chau – Sapa
Easy trekking in Na Tam, visiting Laotian & Lu people. Travel towards Than Uyen , one of the most beautiful rice-growing valleys in the Thai ethnic region. The stunning terraced rice fields of Mu Cang Chai accompany you throughout the journey to Than Uyen. Leaving Than Uyen, you will make a detour to reach Na Tam Commune, home to the Lao and Lu ethnic groups. Traditionally, local women are distinguished by their blackened teeth and indigo-colored costumes decorated with silver coins. A walking tour allows you to explore the village and meet its residents. Meet your driver and continue to Sapa via Hoang Lien Son Pass . Stretching 54 km and reaching an altitude of 2,047 m, it is the highest and longest mountain pass in Vietnam. Along the way, enjoy spectacular scenery combining mountains, valleys, terraced rice fields, and villages inhabited by the Hmong and Dao ethnic groups. Several stops will be made for memorable photo opportunities. At the top of the pass, take a short break to enjoy the fresh mountain air and browse stalls selling traditional medicinal plants. Arrive in Sapa and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. The afternoon is free to explore the town at your own pace, including the church and its square, the local market, and the shopping streets. Located at an altitude of 1,600 m, Sapa was discovered by the French in 1903. Renowned for its magnificent terraced rice fields , Sapa also captivates visitors with the rich cultural diversity of its ethnic communities, including the Black Hmong, Red Dao, and Giay people.
Stay: Sapa Elegance Hotel ★★★ (Deluxe Room) *or similar hotel
160km – 5h
Day 6 — Sapa – Bac Ha
Trekking through rice terrace in Muong Hoa valley, visiting H'mong, Dzay people, transfer to Bac Ha. 8:00 AM: Meet tour guide and enjoy 5km scenic transfer to the west of town. We will start a full day of trekking from Y Linh Ho village . Follow the path downhill, interact with the friendly H ' mong ladies and children who live in houses nestled in the valley. Enjoy a bit of relaxation at the cable-bridge with the harmony and beauty of the surrounding nature. If you are sportive and adventurous, follow the uphill trek along the buffalo path with breathtaking views and less tourists. For those looking for an easy trek, embark on a leisurely stroll along the Muong Hoa River .
Stay: Thanh Mung Homestay (Double Room) *or similar hotel
100km – 2.5h
Day 7 — Bac Ha – Hanoi
Exploring a typical mountain Bac Ha Maket, back to Hanoi. 7:00 AM: Start exploring Bac Ha by visiting a vibrant ethnic market (Bac Ha Market on Sundays, Coc Ly Market on Tuesdays, Sin Cheng Market on Wednesdays, Lung Phinh Market on Fridays, or Can Cau Market on Saturdays). Immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere, with a variety of goods such as vegetables, clothing, and poultry, while admiring the colorful attire of the local ethnic groups. Please note that the market is liveliest early in the morning and begins to wind down by 10:00 am . To fully experience it, it's best to arrive early. After visiting the market, take a walk through some idyllic ethnic villages, typical of the Bac Ha landscape, interspersed with cornfields, cassava hills, and clay houses. Plum gardens, decorated by H'Mong women in their colorful dresses, will accompany you throughout your journey.
Stay: Hong Ngoc Dynastie Hotel ★★★ (Deluxe City View Room) *or similar hotel
320km – 6h
Day 8 — 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 9 — Hai Phong – Lan Ha bay – Hue
Exploring Trung Trang Cave, visiting Cat Ba National park, Transferring back to Hanoi for a night train to Hue. 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.
Cruise: Peony Cruise – 2D1N
Day 10 — Hue
Full day for Hue city discovery, Perfume River boat trip, excursion to Tien Non, Thanh Tien, Sinh village, the most well-known Thien Mu pagoda and Hue Citadel. Arrive at Hue railway station in the morning, where our tour guide and driver will warmly welcome you. Then, set off to explore the mystical city of Hue.
Stay: Rosaleen Boutique Hotel ★★★ (Deluxe Double Room) *or similar hotel
25km – 1h
Day 11 — Hue – Hoi An
A short trip to Khai Dinh Tomb before travelling to Hoian, passing by Hai Van pass, Cham sculpture museum. Hoi An half day city. 7:30 AM: Pick up at hotel to visit Khai Dinh King's tomb , built in 11 years (1920 – 1931) on Chau Tru hill. Khai Dinh King's tomb is distinguished from other emperor's tombs by the mixture of oriental and western styles . A hundred-step climb will take you to the worship palace at the top. You will discover the amazing decoration with delightful porcelain fragments, a giant painting on the ceiling and a small royal objects museum next door. Finally, the descent offers a panoramic view to the tomb and surrounding area.
Stay: Delicacy Hotel & Spa ★★★ (Deluxe City View Room) *or similar hotel
125km – 3h
Day 12 — Hoi An
A great day to Kim Bong, Tra Nhieu, Cam Thanh village, boat trip & biking in country side, interact with local people.. Meet at your hotel. Begin cycling to Hoi An pier and embark on the ferry crossing the Thu Bon river to Kim Bong village . On the boat, you will immerse yourselves into the comfortable fresh air and enjoy the idyllic landscapes on both sides of the river. This village has long been known for its wood carving . At first, the artisans inherited the techniques from the northern Vietnamese. Later, from business exchange, they could successfully adopt the know-how of Chinese and Japanese sculptures and cultivate their own style. Bike around the village to understand their daily life and visit a carpenter's workshop to admire their talent. It is possible to buy some wood products as souvenirs.
Stay: Delicacy Hotel & Spa ★★★ (Deluxe City View Room) *or similar hotel
Day 13 — Hoi An – My Son – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Exploring My Son Sanctuary, Champa culture, unique architecture. Then fly to Ho Chi Minh City. 8:00 AM: Pick up by tour guide and driver from your hotel. Spend a half-day exploring the sacred valley of the Champa Kingdom. Located 40km from Hoi An Town, My Son Sanctuary was once the most important intellectual and religious center of the ancient kingdom, and a revered burial place for Cham monarchs. Recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, this sanctuary preserves around 70 ruined brick and stone architectural works built between the 7th and 13th centuries. During the visit, the rich cultural, historical, and architectural values of each relic will be fully unveiled as you leisurely wander through the ancient complex . The experience is further enriched by attending a traditional Champa dance performance before leaving the sanctuary.
Stay: Sanouva Hotel ★★★ (Premium Deluxe Double Room) *or similar hotel
Day 14 — 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 15 — 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 16 — Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – Ben Tre
From Saigon to Mekong discovery: Boat trip & biking in Ben Tre, visiting typical craft village, interact local people, garden tour, overnight in a homestay. 8:00 AM: Pick up 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 the 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 with 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. Disembark Ben Tre for a 1-hour transfer to Cai Lay . Upon your arrival, get warmly welcomed by the host of homestay. Take part in making Banh Xeo Nam Bo (a traditional dish in the region) with your host. Have dinner and stay overnight in Cai Lay.
Stay: Hai My's Homestay (Standard Room) *or similar hotel
150km – 3h
Day 17 — Ben Tre – Long Xuyen
Mekong discovery: Enjoying fruit garden tour, Kien An Cung pagoda, Huynh Thuy Le's house. Have breakfast at the homestay and enjoy a bike ride (1-1.5 hours) on the path from Dong Hoa to Tam Binh, passing the durian gardens, sapota gardens, and longan gardens . Encounter with the local people then visit the local village market. Return to the homestay for refreshments. (Extension: Go for a 1 hour walk along the trail with a local and cycle to Ngu Hiep Island where the alluvium of the Mekong River has formed a fertile garden. These are unusual excursions in a luxuriant and authentic place.) For those who do not wish to ride a bike, it is possible to ask our tour guide for a motorbike and ride pillion. Transfer to Long Xuyen via Sa Dec where we can visit Kien An Cung pagoda and Huynh Thuy Le's house from the novel by Marguerite Duras 'L'Amant – the Lover'. Discover the local market in Sa Dec which is rich in fruits, vegetables, and fish. Continue to Long Xuyen and visit Cao Dai temple and a crocodile farm on route. Stay overnight at a hotel in Long Xuyen.
Stay: Hoa Binh 1 Hotel ★★★ (Standard Room) *or similar hotel
90km – 2h
Day 18 — Long Xuyen – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Mekong discovery: Long Xuyen floating village, Cu Lao Ong Ho island. Back to Ho Chi Minh City. In the morning, transfer to the floating market and floating village in Long Xuyen which are animated and authentic on a small tributary of the Mekong River. Discover the daily activities of people living by the river. Enjoy a boat trip to Cu Lao Ong Ho where there is a small museum about our famous president Ton Duc Thang. Take a bike ride on the island and enjoy the beauty of the peaceful landscapes. Take the road back to Saigon and check in your hotel in late afternoon.
Stay: Sanouva Hotel ★★★ (Premium Deluxe Double Room) *or similar hotel
190km – 4h
Day 19 — 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.
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: 18, Lunch: 14, Dinner: 05
- 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) | — | $4,374 |
| 2 travellers | $2,480 | $3,032 |
| 3 travellers | $2,128 | $2,680 |
| 4 travellers | $1,909 | $2,461 |
| 5 travellers | $1,772 | $2,324 |
| 6 travellers | $1,685 | $2,237 |
| 7 travellers | $1,620 | $2,172 |
| 8 travellers | $1,694 | $2,246 |
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 19 days enough to enjoy this route?
Yes — this 19-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
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