Day 1
Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City
Meet your private driver and settle into Hotel des Arts Saigon MGallery. The rest of the day is free to recover and begin exploring at your own pace.
Privately guided cities, countryside & Lan Ha Bay
Vietnam from South to North
A richly varied journey through Vietnam with private touring in the south, a longer riverside stay in Hoi An, local discoveries in Hanoi and two nights cruising Lan Ha Bay.
14 nightsLuxury escorted discoveryGuided touring throughout
Jump to itinerary Our specialist view
Why this journey works
“Seven nights in Hoi An make this route feel very different from a conventional tour. There is plenty to discover with a guide, but enough time remains to enjoy the retreat, revisit the old town and allow the middle of the holiday to slow down.”
Ho Chi Minh City→Hoi An→Hanoi→Lan Ha Bay
Your journey, day by day
Every tour and experience, in order
Day 2
The hidden secrets of Saigon
Walk through narrow lanes, the old market and adapted apartment buildings before meeting a traditional artisan and exploring the history beneath Gia Long Palace.
Day 3
Inside the Mekong Delta
Travel to Ben Tre for village workshops, orchards and a local lunch. Explore by motorboat, bicycle, rickshaw and sampan before returning to the city.
Day 4
Fly to central Vietnam
Transfer to the airport for the short flight to Da Nang, then continue privately to Namia River Retreat in Hoi An for a seven-night stay.
Day 5
Hoi An on foot and by boat
Discover merchant houses, assembly halls, the Japanese Covered Bridge and the colourful market with a guide, followed by a boat journey on the Thu Bon River.
Day 6
Hoi An countryside by jeep
Leave the old town in a vintage jeep to meet craftspeople, cross rice fields and village lanes, try a basket boat and finish with a local lunch.
Day 7
My Son with a local expert
Explore the surviving Cham temples of My Son with an expert who can bring their architecture, restoration and religious history into focus.
Days 8 to 10
Time to enjoy the retreat
Keep three days free for the pool villa, wellness experiences and riverside setting, or return independently to Hoi An when the mood takes you.
Day 11
Fly to Hanoi and explore after dark
Continue to Hanoi and check into La Siesta Premium Hang Be. In the evening, discover local dishes and neighbourhoods before finishing with live music.
Day 12
Hidden Hanoi
Walk through local lanes with a guide, stopping for Vietnamese coffee, St Joseph’s Cathedral, a busy breakfast alley and conversation in an old French house.
Day 13
Begin the Lan Ha Bay cruise
Travel to the coast and board Heritage Line Ylang. Cruise into Lan Ha Bay, cycle towards Viet Hai village on Cat Ba Island and dine aboard in a peaceful overnight anchorage.
Day 14
A full day on Lan Ha Bay
Visit a floating fishing community and walk in Cat Ba National Park. Later, choose between a quiet beach, swimming, kayaking or time enjoying the ship.
Day 15
Final morning on the bay
Begin with Tai Chi, then swim or kayak at Frog Lake before breakfast and the return to shore for your onward journey.
Tailor the balance
Keep the guiding, change the pace.
The excursions can be adjusted to create more free time, while the hotels, room styles and number of nights can all be tailored around the way you like to travel.