Vietnam Ultimate Adventure Tour Itinerary

Day 1 Hanoi

Arrive in Hanoi and transfer to your hotel. Hanoi is a city where ancient temples, pagodas, and grand colonial buildings contrast with the hotels, bars, and restaurants of modern Vietnam. Today is free for you to spend as you wish, whether you need a rest after your flight or are raring to explore this exciting multicultural city!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Hanoi
Distance: None
Meals: None

Day 2 Explore a Tribal Village

This morning leave Hanoi and head into the mountains of Northern Vietnam. The road winds its way through a landscape of spectacular limestone peaks. You’ll stop in Moc Chau for lunch and you’re sure to feel as though you have stepped back in time as you meet people from ethnic tribes going about their daily lives. In the afternoon, explore a tribal village, and experience the culture and hospitality of the locals. Dinner and your bed for the night are provided by a local family in their traditional stilt house.
Overnight Location: Homestay in Moc Chau
Distance: None
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 Mountains and Valleys of Northern Vietnam

After breakfast at the homestay, you’ll hit the road again and make your way to Nghia Lo. The drive takes you through the Moc Chau Plateau where some of Vietnam’s best black and green tea is grown. Time permitting, you’ll stop at a local tea plantation. Continue through the tribal lands of the Thai, Hmong, and Dao people, among spectacular rice terraces, mountains, and valleys. You arrive at Nghia Lo, a typical Vietnamese mountain town, before dark. Dine at a local restaurant and bed down for the night in a local guesthouse.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Nghia Lo
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 Rice Terraces of Mu Cang Chai

Today you are lucky enough to see the most beautiful parts of northwest Vietnam. The road winds through the ingenious rice terraces, past grazing buffalo, and local tribal people in elaborate traditional outfits. You’ll stop in this terraced landscape for a short hike to a Hmong village for lunch. In the afternoon, the scenic journey continues with a stop for another short hike to visit a Thai village. Hit the road one last time to reach Mu Cang Chai. Here, the rice terraces are such an important part of the landscape, they have been designated a national heritage site.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Mu Cang Chai
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 Sapa

This morning set off for the mountain town of Sapa, the trekking and tourism hub of northern Vietnam. On the way, cross Vietnam’s highest mountain pass where, at 1900 meters above sea level, you’ll get wonderful views of valleys and mountains shrouded in clouds. In the afternoon there will be a short stop for a hike through the countryside to another local village. Arrive in Sapa in the afternoon with free time to explore and choose a nice spot for dinner from the town’s many good restaurants.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Sapa
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6 Sapa Market

After breakfast, you have free time to discover the bustling town of Sapa on your own. Visit the market, where you can find tempting street food, jewelry, brocade, and other handicrafts. Mingle with the colorful locals or have a wander to a local village. In the afternoon, you will journey back to Hanoi.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Hanoi
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 Sailing Ha Long Bay

This morning you will be driven to Ha Long Bay for a completely different experience; a day-long cruise through the world-famous bay of floating limestone islands. In the morning, have your camera ready as you cruise through among the rocky islands which are covered in lush greenery. A lunch of Vietnamese fusion cuisine is served on board with the spectacular seascape in view through the windows. After lunch, the boat moors, so you can take a kayak or bamboo boat to explore the bay’s stalagmite caves leading to hidden lagoons. In the late afternoon, sail into the quieter Lan Ha Bay where you can relax, kayak or simply just enjoy a swim in the crystal-clear water. Back on board, there will be a cooking demonstration. Watch the sun go down with a drink and mingle with your companions. In the evening, you’ll disembark and head back to Hanoi.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Hanoi
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8 Exploring Hanoi

Today, you will leave the city to spend the day with a local host who will give you an insight into life in a typical Hanoi farming suburb. Visit a bustling local market and vegetable farms where you can see Vietnamese produce being grown such as bitter melon, corn, papaya, and guava. The host will invite you to her home where you will learn to cook some traditional Vietnamese dishes and get an introduction to Vietnamese culture and customs. After some delicious food, bid your host goodbye and make your way to the train station for the night train to Hue.
Overnight Location: Sleeper train to Hue
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9 Cycling in Hue

Get ready for another iconic Vietnam experience as you wake up in the ancient imperial city of Hue. After stopping for a rest and shower at the hotel, you will spend the rest of the morning exploring this enigmatic city, learning about its history as a former royal kingdom and its place at the heart of Vietnamese Buddhist culture. After lunch, relax onboard a boat and sail down the serene Perfume River. Next, you’ll cycle to some of the local villages, each of which specialises in a particular kind of produce or handicraft. Bike to Tien Non, a flower-growing village, Thanh Tien, where beautiful paper flowers are made to decorate homes and temples, and Sinh, to see traditional folk paintings. End the day with a relaxing ride through the countryside before heading back to Hue.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Hue
Distance: 14 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 10 Journey to A Luoi

After breakfast depart Hue for the mountainous district of A Luoi. This area is recovering after almost being destroyed by Agent Orange during the Vietnam war. Along the way, observe the life and daily activities of the Ko Tu and Ta Oi hill tribes. You will visit Aka Chi; a village known for its textile weaving and take a dip in a picturesque local hot spring. Have dinner and spend the night in a traditional stilt house.
Overnight Location: Stilt-house homestay in A Luoi
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 Ho Chi Minh Trail to Hoi An

Wake up early this morning to make the most of the fresh air and your location high in the mountains. Today you will enjoy a trek through the A Roang forest which is home to abundant wildlife and many rare species. Before leaving A Luoi, there is also time to fit in a relaxing cycle around the local villages. Then it is onwards to the atmospheric city of Hoi An, following the famous Ho Chi Minh Trail, the historic military supply route used during the Vietnam war.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Hoi An
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 12 Explore Imperial Hoi An

This morning, explore the former imperial city of Hoi An. There are many beautiful experiences you can have here. Stroll along the riverbank, try the distinctive cuisine, explore the old merchant houses and temples, or even cycle to the nearby beach. In the afternoon, prepare for another complete change of scene as you hop on a flight to Nha Trang, a lively and popular coastal resort with pristine beaches, boutiques, bars, and restaurants.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Nha Trang
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast

Day 13 Snorkeling in Nha Trang

This morning you will pay a visit to the National Oceanographic Museum of Vietnam for an introduction to the sea life of Nha Trang before embarking on a cruise to Hon Mun Island which is a fantastic place for snorkelling and swimming. Expect to see lots of colorful coral and fish. The rest of the day is dedicated to relaxation – soak up the sun on the paradisal white sand or swim in the turquoise waters of Tranh Beach and Hon Mot Island. Those who prefer exploring can have a look around a local fishing village.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Nha Trang
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 14 Monkey Island – Doc Let beach

Today will take you to the beautiful island of Hon Lao where you will meet plenty of curious monkeys and other wild animals. You will be able to see some funny animal shows here. Next, onto the Nha Phu Bay, where you will be able to relax at Doc Lech Beach. Spend your last full day in Vietnam enjoying the sun, sand lots of free time!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Nha Trang
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 15 Departure

Depending on the time of your flight you may have some free time today, before transferring to the airport.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast