14 Days · In-Depth · 5 Regional Bases

14 Days in Vietnam: The Grand Panorama (Hanoi & Ninh Binh to Da Nang & Hue Imperial City & Phu Quoc Island)

A two-week grand tour spanning Hanoi & Ninh Binh, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay & Cat Ba, Phu Quoc Island, Hoi An Ancient Town, and Da Nang & Hue Imperial City.

Route Overview: Hanoi & Ninh Binh (3N) → Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) (1N) → Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay & Cat Ba (3N) → Phu Quoc Island (2N) → Hoi An Ancient Town (2N) → Da Nang & Hue Imperial City (2N)
Budget Estimate: ₫57500000–₫97500000 ($2,300–$3,900 USD per person)

Day 1 (Hanoi & Ninh Binh) — Arrival in Hanoi & Ninh Binh:

Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport (HAN — Bus 86 Express 45,000 ₫) & Hanoi Railway Station and explore Hanoi & Ninh Binh Historic Center & Old Quarter.

Day 2 (Hanoi & Ninh Binh) — Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple & The Old Quarter (36 Streets) — Walk the car-free weekend promenade around Turtle Tower and explore Hang Gai (silk), Hang Bac (silver), and Ma May Heritage House. & Temple of Literature (Văn Miếu, 1070 CE) & Imperial Citadel of Thang Long — Vietnam's first national university with 82 stone turtle stelae (70,000 ₫ admission).:

Full day in historic Hanoi & Ninh Binh.

Day 3 (Hanoi & Ninh Binh) — Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex, One Pillar Pagoda & Tran Quoc Pagoda — Morning visit to Ba Dinh Square followed by sunset over West Lake (Hồ Tây). & Local Markets:

Market tasting tour featuring Phở Bò Gia Truyền and Chả Cá Lã Vọng.

Day 4 (Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)) — Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon):

Short hop to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to experience Independence Palace (Reunification Palace) & War Remnants Museum — Step inside the preserved 1960s modernist presidential bunkers and cabinet rooms (65,000 ₫) and visit the War Remnants Museum two blocks away (40,000 ₫). after day-trippers leave.

Day 5 (Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay & Cat Ba) — Rail to Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay & Cat Ba:

Ride Vietnam Railways (Đường sắt Việt Nam) Reunification Express (SE1/SE2, SE3/SE4, SE19/SE20) & Chapa/Lotus VIP Sleepers to Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay & Cat Ba Central Station and settle into Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay & Cat Ba Historic Center & Old Quarter.

Day 6 (Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay & Cat Ba) — Overnight Cruise Through Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay or Bai Tu Long Bay — Wake up to mist drifting between karst pinnacles, kayak through Dark & Bright Cave (Hang Sáng Tối), and practice sunrise Tai Chi on the sundeck (2.5 hours from Hanoi via the new Haiphong–Ha Long Expressway). & Cat Ba Island & Cat Ba National Park (Ngu Lam Peak Hike) — Stay on the largest island in the archipelago to hike through subtropical forest to 360° karst viewpoints.:

Explore Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay & Cat Ba's signature monuments and museums.

Day 7 (Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay & Cat Ba) — Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave) & Titop Island Viewpoint (45–75 mins by regional transit):

Scenic day excursion from Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay & Cat Ba.

Day 8 (Phu Quoc Island) — Transfer to Phu Quoc Island:

Head to Phu Quoc Island (3–5 days · 1,600,000–4,200,000 ₫ ($64–$168) / day) and explore Hon Thom 3-Wire Over-Sea Cable Car (7,899.9m) & An Thoi Archipelago — Soar 20 minutes high above fishing fleets and coral reefs to Hon Thom Island (650,000 ₫ round-trip), followed by snorkeling around May Rut and Gam Ghi islets..

Day 9 (Phu Quoc Island) — Bai Sao (Star Beach) & Bai Kem (Cream Beach) — Crescent bays of powder-white sand and gentle shallow turquoise water on the southeastern tip. & Phu Quoc National Park & Pepper / Fish Sauce Estates —Over 50% of the island is protected UNESCO Kien Giang Biosphere forest; tour organic Phu Quoc black pepper farms and 40°N barrel-aged Nuoc Mam houses.:

Full day in Phu Quoc Island with regional dining (Cà Phê Trứng (Egg Coffee)).

Day 10 (Hoi An Ancient Town) — Onward to Hoi An Ancient Town:

Arrive in Hoi An Ancient Town and check into Hoi An Ancient Town Historic Center & Old Quarter.

Day 11 (Hoi An Ancient Town) — Hoi An UNESCO Ancient Town, Japanese Covered Bridge & Assembly Halls — Purchase the 120,000 ₫ ($4.80) Old Town Heritage Ticket covering 5 historic merchant houses (Tan Ky, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, and the newly restored 1593 Japanese Covered Bridge). & Full-Moon Lantern Festival & Thu Bon River Sampan Ride — Every evening at dusk, the Ancient Town closes to motorbikes as candlelit paper lotus lanterns float down the river (150,000 ₫ for a 20-minute sampan boat).:

Signature day in Hoi An Ancient Town.

Day 12 (Da Nang & Hue Imperial City) — Continue to Da Nang & Hue Imperial City:

Travel to Da Nang & Hue Imperial City (3–4 days · 1,300,000–3,100,000 ₫ ($52–$124) / day) via Da Nang International Airport (DAD, 40 min from Hoi An) & Hue / Dong Hoi Stations or Da Nang & Hue Imperial City Central Station.

Day 13 (Da Nang & Hue Imperial City) — Hai Van Pass Scenic Heritage Train (Da Nang ↔ Hue) — Ride the Vietnam Railways 'Connecting Central Heritage' tourist train (HD1/HD2/HD3/HD4, ~150,000–180,000 ₫ / $6.50) hugging vertical jungle cliffs directly above the turquoise East Sea. & Hue UNESCO Imperial Citadel (Đại Nội), Thai Hoa Palace & Royal Tombs — Explore the moated Purple Forbidden City and the pine-shaded tombs of Emperors Minh Mang, Tu Duc, and Khai Dinh along the Perfume River.:

Explore Hai Van Pass Scenic Heritage Train (Da Nang ↔ Hue) — Ride the Vietnam Railways 'Connecting Central Heritage' tourist train (HD1/HD2/HD3/HD4, ~150,000–180,000 ₫ / $6.50) hugging vertical jungle cliffs directly above the turquoise East Sea. and celebrate your final night with Chả Mực Hạ Long (Hand-Pounded Squid Cake).

Day 14 (Da Nang & Hue Imperial City) — Departure:

Fly home from Da Nang International Airport (DAD, 40 min from Hoi An) & Hue / Dong Hoi Stations or connect back to Noi Bai International Airport (HAN — Bus 86 Express 45,000 ₫) & Hanoi Railway Station.