Highlights of Vietnam
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Experience Overview
Cruise through the emerald waters of Halong Bay, taking in its limestone karsts. Stroll through the lantern-lit streets of Hoi An, where old-world charm meets vibrant life. Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels, a testament to Vietnam's wartime resilience. Along the way, dive into bustling local markets, taste local dishes, and uncover the rich traditions of this captivating country.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 5 Dinner (D)
- 11 Breakfast (B)
- 3 Lunch (L)
Must-see Highlights
- Explore Hanoi, Hoi An, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature in Hanoi, Viet Hai Village in Halong Bay, the Imperial Citadel in Hue, the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City and the Cu Chi Tunnels
- View Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh's House in Hanoi and the Opera House, Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office in Ho Chi Minh City
- Ha Long Bay: Paddle through the Ho Ba Ham area by kayak, getting closer to Ha Long Bay’s limestone scenery and quiet waters. Take in the views at your own pace and enjoy an active way to experience this memorable corner of the bay.
How You'll Travel
- Selected hotel dinners plus a locally hosted meal
- 4-star hotel and overnight cruise stays
Iconic Experience
- Hanoi: Visit Ho Chi Minh's house in Hanoi.
- Hanoi: Travel past the colorful shopfronts and street food vendors of Hanoi's Old Quarter on a cyclo tour.
- Hanoi: On a sightseeing tour of the city of Hanoi, see the imposing Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Temple of Literature.
- Hanoi: Enjoy a traditional evening Water Puppet performance in a local theater. This northern Vietnamese art form beautifully illustrates scenes of rural life and natural history and began approximately a thousand years ago, possibly in the flooded rice fields of Vietnam. Puppeteers stand in waist-high water and manipulate their charges in such a way that you can’t help but be swept up in the legend being told. Each short sketch in the performance relates to the daily life of the people.
- Ha Long Bay: Start your day on beautiful Ha Long Bay with a T'ai Chi class led by a Local Specialist.
- Hoi An: Hoi An is famous for its bespoke tailoring, where skilled tailors create custom suits, dresses and more—often in just a day or two. Whether you're after the perfect fit or a stylish design tailored to your preferences, your Travel Director will be on hand to ensure you’re well taken care of throughout your visit.
- Hoi An: Red Bridge Cooking School is a culinary gem in Hoi An. Begin your learning with a welcome drink at Hai Cafe before you explore the bustling central market with your chef, where you’ll select fresh ingredients. Take a boat to the school to enjoy a private cooking class and dine on your creations overlooking the river.
- Hoi An: Cruise down the scenic Cua Dai River on a local boat and experience the art of casting traditional Vietnamese fishing nets. Guided by friendly fishermen, you'll learn this centuries-old technique, adding an authentic and unforgettable adventure to your journey.
- Hue: See Hue by land and water today. Enjoy a cyclo tour past the Imperial Citadel and Thien Mu Pagoda before boarding a local dragon boat.
- Ho Chi Minh City: Enjoy the sights of the French colonial-era buildings and even a former CIA residential block as you partake in a walking tour of Ho Chi Minh City.
- My Tho: Cruise along the canals of Cai Be in a small sampan boat during your visit to this market town.
- After a stroll through the streets of Cai Be, meet a local family in their home. Hear stories from your Local Specialist about surviving the Khmer Rouge and learn about the family's handicraft, making paper.
- Ho Chi Minh City: Visit the home of the former American Ambassador to South Vietnam in the 1960s.
- Ho Chi Minh City: Gain insight into a challenging period of Vietnam's history as you join a Viet Cong veteran on a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels, built to protect Viet Cong guerrillas.
Be My Guest
- Hue: Enjoy lunch at one of the great remaining garden houses of Hue where you will gain insight into the lives of the Phan family and admire their fascinating collection of artifacts and mementos from the days of the former Royal Empire.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
- Ho Chi Minh City: Have dinner at KOTO restaurant, which supports those affected by poverty to provide opportunities and a vocational education in the hospitality sector. This experience supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities.
Trafalgar Difference
- Ho Chi Minh City: Originally opened in 1930 as a charming beverage shop owned by the Editor-in-Chief of a French newspaper, the Hotel Grand Saigon has grown into one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most iconic landmarks. Restored to its French colonial glory in 2012, this former meeting point for writers and intellectuals, now offers luxurious rooms and a prime location on Dong Khoi Street, perfect for exploring the city’s vibrant heart.
Trip Details
Product Code: 28253
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Explorer, Budget
Tour Operator:
Trafalgar (CA)
Supplier Code: 108.361B
Starts: Hanoi, Vietnam
Finishes: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Duration: 12 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Whats Included
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- Must-see sightseeing
- Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- Optional Experiences and free time
- On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.
- Flights from Hanoi to Danang and Hue to Ho Chi Minh City
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $5350 ($446 /day)
Itinerary
On arrival, we have airport transfers arranged for you. Relish the warm embrace of Vietnam and her welcoming people, who will touch you with their humility and entrepreneurial spirit throughout your journey across this intoxicating land. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Silk Path Hotel
Meals: Dinner
Ready to step into Vietnam’s past? You’ll visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national university from the 11th century. It’s a beautiful example of traditional Vietnamese architecture—and if you’ve got a 100,000 dong note, you’ll spot it right there. Next, hop on a cyclo, a three-wheeled bicycle taxi, and cruise through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, known for its 36 streets once home to artisan guilds. You’ll also view the striking Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and then go inside the One Pillar Pagoda and Ho Chi Minh’s peaceful wooden house. Then, meet Mr. Liem Phan, a skilled artisan who brings the ancient art of water puppetry to life. Hear the story behind this unique tradition, enjoy a show, and even try your hand at puppet-making. End the day at your leisure, soaking in Hanoi’s charm and culture.
Accommodation: Silk Path Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Board your cruise, check in to your cabin and meet the crew over a drink before listening to a safety briefing. Enjoy lunch as the boat cruises towards the southeast of Ha Long Bay, with its limestone scenery unfolding around you. You’ll explore the Ho Ba Ham area by kayak before freshening up and getting ready for the evening. As the sun sets, enjoy happy hour drinks, then join a cooking competition on the sundeck or in the restaurant where you’ll practise making Vietnamese dishes before dinner. The rest of the evening is yours, with the option to join a rice wine tasting, try squid fishing or enjoy a second happy hour with your fellow passengers.
Accommodation: Au Co Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ease into the day with a Tai Chi lesson as the sun rises over Ha Long Bay, followed by breakfast on board. Choose to visit Tien Ong Cave and discover its archaeological heritage, or explore the Cua Van Floating Culture Center by kayak or traditional rowing boat. After checking out of your cabin, enjoy your final views of the bay as you cruise back to the wharf. You’ll continue to Hanoi Airport for your flight to Danang, followed by a transfer to Hoi An. Your evening is free to explore the old town and discover why Hoi An is known as the tailoring capital of the world.
Meals: Breakfast
Step into Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with roots as a 15th-century trading port. Once a bustling hub for merchants from China, Japan, and Europe, this town now welcomes you to explore its rich history and blend of cultures. Stroll through narrow lanes lined with ancient merchant houses, cross the iconic 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, and admire the intricate carvings of the Chaozhou Assembly Hall. Afterward, visit the market, where you’ll be greeted by the enticing aroma of fresh spices and the shimmer of colorful silk. Browse the market stalls and you’ll certainly find a Hoi An treasure to bring home. Your afternoon is free but why not try one of our Optional Experiences.
Accommodation: Allegro Hoi An
Meals: Breakfast
Spend the morning at leisure—explore Hoi An at your own pace or relax at your hotel. Alternatively, join one of our Optional Experiences: visit the ancient My Son Sanctuary or uncover history at the Ky Anh tunnels in Tam Thanh village. In the afternoon, Dive into Culture at the Red Bridge Cooking School. Start with a welcome drink at Hai Cafe, shop for fresh ingredients at the market, then take a boat to your private cooking class, enjoying your creations with a river view.
Accommodation: Allegro Hoi An
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hoi An’s waterways, a lifeline for villagers and a window into its past. Visit a fishing village to learn the art of casting Vietnamese fishing nets and try paddling traditional round basket boats through coconut-palm groves. Hear stories of the area’s wartime history as you cruise back with a refreshing drink in hand. This afternoon, cross the spectacular Hai Van Pass, famed for its breathtaking views, and stop at Red Beach, where American marines first landed in Danang. Wrap up the day in Hue, Vietnam’s imperial capital, for an overnight stay steeped in history.
Accommodation: Huong Giang
Meals: Breakfast
You’ll navigate the busy streets of Hue on the back of a cyclo en route to the UNESCO-listed Imperial Citadel, once home to Nguyen emperors. From here, you’ll drive to Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue's best-preserved religious monument. Boarding a local dragon boat next, cruise along the Perfume River to the house of the former Princess Ngoc Son, the daughter of Emperor Dong Khanh. Although the house is no longer owned by royalty, you will meet the current Phan family for a Be My Guest lunch to gain a glimpse of their life in this historic house. The afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure or consider joining one of our Optional Experiences.
Accommodation: Huong Giang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
A short flight this morning brings you to the bustling heart of Ho Chi Minh City. Get ready to uncover its sights on a walking tour along vibrant Dong Khoi Street. Marvel at the Opera House and the former Hotel de Ville, then stroll up to the majestic Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office, crafted by none other than Gustave Eiffel. Take a poignant journey through the War Remnants Museum, offering a glimpse into the war through the eyes of locals, before walking through Ben Thanh market, a treasure trove of history and culture. Later, your Stays with Stories experience at Grand Hotel Saigon is a French colonial gem right in the city’s historic heart. End the day with dinner at KOTO restaurant, where your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supports life-changing opportunities for disadvantaged youth.
Accommodation: Grand Saigon
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
The mighty Mekong beckons today, as you take a day trip to Cai Be town, in the heart of the Mekong Delta. You’ll transfer to a charming traditional boat where you will cruise and explore the bustling riverbanks. Visit a beautifully preserved ancient house dating back to the 19th century, passed down through many generations of the family. Enjoy a leisurely sampan ride through the narrow canals, stopping for a home-hosted lunch of delicious Mekong Delta specialties, before returning to Ho Chi Minh City for an evening at leisure.
Accommodation: Grand Saigon
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Uncover Vietnam’s fascinating past with a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels, an intricate underground network used by the Viet Cong. A veteran shares how these tunnels served as homes, hospitals and hideouts. You’ll return to Ho Chi Minh City by private speedboat, with free time to unwind. Later, you’ll step into history at the former home of US Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge, followed by dinner to end the day.
Accommodation: Grand Saigon
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Our discovery of the iconic and unexpected highlights of Vietnam at its end. The offered complimentary transfers arrive at Ho Chi Minh City airport at 04:00 and 16:00 on the last day of the tour only. Please speak to your Travel Director for further information.
Meals: Breakfast
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Tour Operator
Trafalgar (CA)
Family owned and run since 1920, The Travel Corporation (TTC) is the world leader in immersive travel experiences across an extensive range of travel categories. Each year TTC's 40 award winning hospitality and travel brands connect over 1 million happy travellers to the world. We give you access to the 12 DMC’s behind these brands, so you can build your business by capitalizing on the extensive experience, local expertise, and financial assurance of TTC. LOCAL EXPERTISE The world leaders in travel for over 100 years, we offer unparalleled local expertise with a global footprint. Our 12 DMCs, led by experienced in-destination teams, deliver experience rich travel solutions in more than 80 countries. Additionally, our market based teams are on hand to support across our 40 offices worldwide
In Business Since 1931
Reviews
Jennifer Pickron - Traveled, March 2025
Highlights of Vietnam. From booking through follow up emails, always excellent service. Makes solo travel a breeze. Thank you. Everything on the itinerary was included and then some extra experiences. Our tour director was constantly looking for ways to make our trip more enjoyable. City traffic is always an issue, so he petitioned Trafalgar to allow some travel by speedboat. Excellent and enjoyable ride down the river! Several of us wanted to see the Golden Bridge, which is not on the itinerary. We had one free morning and with a couple days notice he was able to get us booked. Excellent place and I would suggest this be included, even as an optional, on further trips.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/16/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2024
Ready to do it again! This was our first time taking a group trip and we were impressed. The Trafalgar website was user-friendly and helped us feel well-prepared. Our tour director reached out days before the trip started to introduce himself and encourage us to communicate on WhatsApp. That came in handy when we missed a connecting flight! He reassured us and saw us through to our destination. What a relief! This trip surpassed our expectations. We could never have planned so many unique, culture-rich experiences on our own. We enjoyed the mix of education, adventure, relaxation, and amazing food. And we can't say enough about our tour director, *Personal information removed by Feefo*. He bent over backwards to ensure we had the best time possible even planning a spontaneous off-itinerary trip to the Golden Bridge!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/20/2024
Mario Rodriguez - Traveled, February 2025
Highlights of Vietnam. We "experienced" a problem that turned out to be my misunderstanding but the representative went out of her way to help resolve the issue that turned out that I was confused about the days. It was well set up with ample time to spend at each stop, maximizing benefits of getting to experience the history and culture.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/15/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, November 2024
Excellent! Yes. We have been tell people to go to Vietnam with Trafalgar.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/20/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, July 2024
The itinerary was well-organized and gave us an opportunity to experience several different parts of Vietnam. Planned activities and "free-time" to explore were well integrated. Our guide, *Personal information removed by Feefo*, was an excellent ambassador to the country of Vietnam, he was knowledgeable, considerate and very welcoming. The experience of our trip left us wanting to return again since we had such a good time.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/20/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, October 2023
Happy Honeymooners! Everything was truly outstanding. I had never traveled with a tour group before and I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed the experience. I'm grateful for the strategic planning and we were lucky to have a small group. Our tour guide *Personal information removed by Feefo* was exceptional. As a local, he was incredibly knowledgeable about the country, the history, the food, the culture. He had a fun personality too. Everyone we encountered was friendly and thoughtful. We thoroughly enjoyed traveling with Trafalgar. We were so impressed by the hotels, and especially the breakfast buffets at the hotels - I've never seen a spread like that!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/20/2023
Trusted Customer - Traveled, June 2024
Loved the Highlights of Vietnam tour. Great attention to detail. The guide kept us well informed and went the extra mile to ensure we were having a great experience. It was a great overview of the country. I liked being able to stay more than one night in most locations, the small group size, excellent drivers and guide, and the "be my guest" experience were all awesome. It was a great mix of experiences and a good pace. I would definitely recommend it.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/24/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, June 2024
Vietnam! Nothing is too much trouble. Good coverage of Vietnam from top to bottom with a commentary to match. An amazing experience all round. I learnt so much about its history, culture and future. A country of contrasts, beautiful and courageous people who never give up or stop working for their families. Halong Bay was unbelievable as we slept overnight on the Luxury Orchid Cruise boat.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/21/2024
Marilyn Hosang - Traveled, April 2024
Hotels were in good location. Guide was well informed, a sense of humor and caring. A well paced itinerary that provides great experiences, sightseeing, history, food and leisure time.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/21/2024
Justin Clare - Traveled, May 2024
Best ever tour. Excellent! Our tour leader was excellent. His love of his country was absorbed by all on the tour. He went out of his way to. He went out of his way to ensure all our needs were meet. The accommodation was excellent. Highest accolades for the tour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/25/2024
