Ho Chi Minh City Trip Overview
Experience all of the highlights of Vietnam on one trip with this extensive itinerary. Make your emotions change surprisingly when traveling from the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh city to the spectacular and tranquil of Halong Bay. From the heroic Cu Chi Tunnels, a peaceful Mekong Delta in the South of Vietnam, a World Cultural Heritage of Hoi An Ancient Town and Sapa, Ninh Binh to the capital city of charming Hanoi…Moreover, enjoy yourself in a rich mix of various activities such as walking, boating, and kayaking.
Additional Info
Duration: 11 days
Starts: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Ho Chi Minh City Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Vietnam
Experience all of the highlights of Vietnam on one trip with this extensive itinerary. Make your emotions change surprisingly when traveling from the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh city to the spectacular and tranquil of Halong Bay. From the heroic Cu Chi Tunnels, a peaceful Mekong Delta in the South of Vietnam, a World Cultural Heritage of Hoi An Ancient Town and Sapa, Ninh Binh to the capital city of charming Hanoi…Moreover, enjoy yourself in a rich mix of various activities such as walking, boating, and kayaking.
Itinerary
Day 1: HO CHI MINH ARRIVAL – WATER PUPPET SHOW (-/-/D)
Pass By: Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City
You will be met by Luco Travel’s tour guide and driver at Tan Son Nhat International airport and transfer to your hotel for check-in hotel. Free and relax.
Stop At: Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater, 55B Nguyen Thi Minh Khai District 1, Ho Chi Minh City 700000 Vietnam
18:00 We will watch the Water Puppet Show. Traditional content of water puppet performance like daily life of Vietnamese farmers (cultivating, tending buffalo, catching fishes…), communal entertainment (swimming contest, dragon dancing…), or historical legends (Le Loi returns precious sword…), with modest performance way have appealed audiences for centuries.
19:30. Have a dinner on Sai Gon Cruise. Enjoy your meal when Cruise along Sai Gon river and sightseeing a part of Sai Gon by night.
10:00 Back to the hotel
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 2: HO CHI MINH CITY TOUR (B/L/-)
Stop At: War Remnants Museum, 28 Vo Van Tan Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City 700000 Vietnam
After breakfast at hotel. We will visit the War Remnants Museum: Formerly known as the Museum of Vietnam War, this is a poignant display of the futility of war. Some of the black and white photography in the ‘Requiem’ exhibit is particularly touching, dedicated to both foreign and Vietnamese journalists and photographers who perished during the conflict. The courtyard outside contains the spoils of war, namely rusting jets, tanks and cannons captured from the American military regime.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: The Independence Palace, 106 Nguyen Du District 1, Ho Chi Minh City 700000 Vietnam
After that visitors can visit The Reunification Palace: This is one of the most important buildings in the city. Here on April 30th 1975 the ‘American War’ officially ended when tank number 843 of the North Vietnamese Army crashed through the gates of what was, at the time, the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, 01 Cong xa Paris Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City 700000 Vietnam
Then you can go sight-seeing at the Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office: built between 1877 and 1883. This is one of the best examples of classical French colonial architecture.Remarkably every stone used in its creation was shipped from France to Vietnam. Her two 40m towers, topped with iron spires dominate the city’s skyline.
The Old Post Office is another example of French colonial architecture and is also the country’s largest post office. Visit last helicopter out of Saigon building.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Ben Thanh Market, Le Loi, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City 700000 Vietnam
Have lunch at the restaurant.
Continue to visit The Opera House, City Hall, Jade Emperor Pagoda. Stop at Saigon Square or Ben Thanh Market: This bustling market is very popular with tourists, primarily due to its central location. It has a wide selection of goods ranging from fake Nike shoes to beautiful silk Ao Dais.
Back to the hotel. Free & Easy
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 3: CU CHI TUNNEL TOUR – STREET FOOD TOUR ON SCOOTER (B/L/D)
Stop At: Cu Chi Tunnels, Phu Hiep TL15 Phu Hiep, Ho Chi Minh City 700000 Vietnam
The morning, Luco Travel’s tour guide will pick you up at the hotel, proceed to Cu Chi tunnel to explore the amazing site where Viet Cong hid during the War. It is now a popular spot for both Vietnamese & foreign tourists – the network of over 250km of tunnels became legendary when they played a vital role in the War. In their heyday, the tunnels were functioning underground cities that included numerous trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers & kitchens.
There is plenty of evidence of the fierce battles that took place here during the 1960s when Cu Chi was a “Free Target Zone”. Visitors can watch a short introductory video showing how the tunnels were constructed before entering the tunnels. You will spend the next hour exploring the tunnels. Afterwards, enjoy tea with cassava ( the guerrillas’ food in war time).
14:30 Back to HCM city after lunch, relax.
Duration: 6 hours
Stop At: Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City
At 18:00, our tour guide will meet and greet you at the hotel. You then receive safety instructions on how to ride on the back of a bike properly in order to ensure the safest experience.
You will participate in the rush hour of Saigon the way we, the locals do: all from the back of the bike. We ride through the beautiful lit boulevards, the back alleys and the busy streets, which is undoubtedly more awesome of an experience than looking through pictures in your handbook!
First, let’s enjoy Vietnamese pancakes (Bánh xèo), spring rolls,… and you will learn about the customs and background knowledge of the food you eat from our guide and you also will try how to make it. We also would sit on small plastic chairs in the alleys, enjoy our food and drink like Vietnamese.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Nguyen Thien Thuat Apartment Buildings, Ward 1, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City 700000 Vietnam
Later on, our guide takes you around Saigon and explore “Chung cư” – a Vietnamese residential building which was built a very long time ago. We will sit down to taste coffee in the hidden coffee shop and learn how to make a glass of coffee without a machine. It is so good and that is why it has its place in everyone’s bucket list when coming to Vietnam.
On our way, you will see local activities and discover small alleys where Vietnamese always enjoy their spare time in the evening and of course, getting some snacks (Vietnamese pizza) with which almost every Vietnamese falls in love, is a must.
Your last stop is the famous Vietnamese dessert, the sweet soup. You will have a chance to let us rock your senses until your jaw drops with 3 – 5 kinds of sweet soup desserts.
At around 10:00 pm, we will take you back to your hotel.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 4: MEKONG DELTA – FLOATING MARKET DAY TOUR (B/L/-)
Stop At: Mekong Delta, Mekong Delta
The morning. Let’s join Mekong Delta Floating Market Trip. Our tour guide and van will pick you up at your hotel. Depart for Cai Be and stop to take photos in Tan An town overlooking the picturesque flat rice fields. On the way to Cai Be, the van stops at Rest top for your break time or to take some pictures at Long Dinh Restop.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Cai Be Floating Market, Cai Be Vietnam
On arrival in Cai Be Town, set off by motor boat to visit the Cai Be Floating Market and watch the locals trading fruit and many other commodities on board their vessels.
Visit a small family business to see how coconut candy and crispy rice popcorn are made. Then wander into the small villages and visit the orchard and fruit plantation, accompanied by traditional southern Vietnamese folk music.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Tan Phong, Tan Phong, Tien Giang Province, Mekong Delta
Afternoon: Keep cruising to Vinh Long through a series of small canals to experience the charms of the Upper Mekong Delta. Arrive in Tan Phong Island, the green pearl where you can immerse yourself in nature.
Enjoy lunch with a local meal. Relax in the hammocks to get back your energy.
After that you can cycle about 1 hour around the village path with fruit orchards and bonsai gardens. Meet the local islanders to learn more about the local daily life in the Mekong Delta and see how they make the net rice paper, typical roof house, how to make souvenirs from water hyacinth ….
When we done cycle, our boat will take you back to Cai Be Town and meet your van for the trip back to Ho Chi Minh City.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 5: HO CHI MINH – NOI BAI AIRPORT – HA NOI CITY TOUR (B/L/D)
Pass By: Hanoi, Hanoi
After breakfast our guide will take you to Tan Son Nhat Airport, Take flight VN 226 at 09:00 am to Ha Noi, You will be met by Luco Travel’s tour guide and driver at Noi Bai International Airport and transfer to Hanoi’s Old Quarter.
Stop At: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, 2 Hung Vuong Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
On the way, You will visit the memorial complex for the historic figure and father of modern Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh, You will visit the Presidential palace, Uncle Ho’s house on stilts, One Pillar Pagoda, and the Temple of Literature – Vietnam’s first university that built in 1076.
Later, you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant with special Vietnamese food.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Nguyen Van Huyen Street Cau Giay, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
Afternoon: You will visit the fascinating Vietnam Museum of Ethnology – which is both a research centre and a public museum exhibiting the ethnic groups of Vietnam. The mission of the museum is scientific research, collection, documentation, conservation, exhibition and preservation of the cultural and historic patrimony of the nation’s different ethnic groups. The museum also serves to guide research, conservation, and technology that are specific to the work of an ethnographic museum.
You will also visit Hoan Kiem Lake with Ngoc Son Temple where a legendary turtle is reserved, and Hanoi’s Old Quarter, also known as the ‘36 streets’ with plenty of photo opportunities all around you.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Hoan Kiem Lake Walking Street, Around Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
18:00 Pick up at the hotel by “ Xich Lo ”, drive you around Ha Noi’s Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngọc Sơn Temple an hour at night.
Have dinner. Back to the hotel.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi
Day 6: HA NOI – HA LONG BAY – BAI TU LONG BAY – OVERNIGHT ON CRUISE (B/L/D)
Stop At: Halong Bay, Halong Bay, Quang Ninh Province
07:30. Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
08:00. After that our bus will pick you up at your hotel and depart to Ha Long Bay. Ha Long Bay is located in Northern Vietnam and is one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions. Aside from being popular with tourists, it is also a culturally recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site. The bay is well known for its scenic karst topography, which is a subject of many popular photos of Vietnam.
On the way to Ha Long Bay, we will have a short break of about 20 minutes. The car will arrive at Bai Chay, Hon Gai Harbor.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Bai Tu Long Bay, Halong Bay 008433 Vietnam
12:00. Pick-up at Hon Gai harbor. Transfer to Tonkin Cruise Boat by tender (5 -10 minutes)
12:45 Enjoy welcome drink then check in your cabin
13:30 Cruising through Bai Tu Long Bay & having lunch with Set Menu
15:30 Explore VungVieng Fishing Village: Guests may choose to discover the daily life of the fisherman communities by bamboo boat or kayak around the Vung Vieng area.
17:30 Relax and enjoy the sunset while the boat is cruising to the Cong Dong-Cong Do area to anchor overnight.
18:00 Free time or take part in the cooking class: learn how to cook traditional Vietnamese cuisines. (Cooking class can be arranged upon request )
19:30. Enjoy delicious dinner on a cruise
21:00 Free evening to join some activities like board games, squid fishing, or karaoke (upon request)
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight on Cruise in Halong Bay
Day 7: HA LONG BAY – THIEN CANH SON CAVE – HA NOI – TRAIN TO SAPA (B/L/-)
Stop At: Thien Canh Son Cave, Halong Bay Vietnam
07:00. Wake up early in the morning for Tai Chi exercise.
07:10. Have breakfast on a cruise.
07:30 Visit Thien Canh Son Cave (the only cave in Bai Tu Long)
08:30 Return to the boat, relax on the sundeck or watch fruit carving demonstration
09.30: Check out the cabin while our boat heads back toward the harbor.
10:00 Transfer by tender to the pier and relax inside the pier building while waiting for return transportation.
10:30 Enjoy the last scenery of the Ha Long Bay over lunch when the boat cruises back to shore.
12:30: After lunch, you will board our tender and head back to the wharf where you will be met by your return trip vehicle to transfer you to Hanoi.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Sapa, Sapa, Lao Cai Province
17:30 Arrive Ha Noi, Leave the luggage at the lobby at the hotel. Free time until our driver picks you up and takes you to the train station. Dinner by yourself.
20:30. Our driver will take you to the train station.
22:00 Take the train to Sapa.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight on Train
Day 8: SSAPA – CAT CAT VILLAGE – LAO CHAI – TA VAN, OVERNIGHT AT HOMESTAY (B/L/D)
Stop At: Sapa, Sapa, Lao Cai Province
06:00 Early morning, you will arrive Lao Cai, our guide and driver will pick you up and take your family to the local restaurant for breakfast.
After that we drive around 45minutes to Sapa.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Cat Cat village, Sapa 330000 Vietnam
You start trekking to Cat Cat village which is occupied by the Black H’mong tribe. Here, you can see the hydroelectric power station which was built by the French in the twentieth century.
You will experience the tribal way of life of ethnic minorities while enjoying wonderful views of the terraced rice paddy fields and the waterfall in Cat Cat village.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Ta Van, Ta Van, Lao Cai Province
Enjoy your lunch at the local restaurant.
After lunch, Check in at Homestay in Lao Chai Village.
15:00 Trekking around Lao Chai – Ta Van Village. In this village you will have a welcome feeling at any house of the hospitable people there. You can interact with them, learn about their culture and customs.
Dinner at the homestay
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at the Homestay in Sapa
Day 9: LAO CHAI – TA VAN VILLAGE – VISIT FANSIPAN MOUNTAIN (B/L/-)
Stop At: Lao Chai, Lao Chai, Lao Cai Province
Wake up by a chicken or bird sound, you will have breakfast at the homestay.
Here you will enjoy the fresh air, see terrace fields, stream, visit and discover some of the H’mong’s families, three large villages with over 100 families of the Black H’mong ethnic, and people here are quite hospitable.
12:00 Check out and have lunch at the restaurant.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Fansipan Mountain, Sapa 330000 Vietnam
13:00 Our guide will transfer you to Fansipan Mountain, is the highest mountain of Vietnam is also the highest peak in the three Indochina should be dubbed as “Indochinese crown” Take cable car for an amazing trip to reach the Indochina Roof, 3143m above the sea level: Starting by cable car and step up to the Peak, enjoy the fresh air and the beautiful landscapes from the high.
16:00. Take the Limousine van back to Ha Noi.
21:00 Arrival Ha Noi, check in at the hotel. Free & Easy
Duration: 4 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi
Day 10: HOA LU – TAM COC CAVE – NINH BINH TRIP (B/L/-)
Stop At: Ninh Binh, Ninh Binh, Ninh Binh Province
08:00 After breakfast at the hotel, you will departure for Hoa Lu – Tam Coc, enjoying the beautiful sceneries of the rural areas on the way
10.00: After arriving in Ninh Binh province, the guide takes you to visit Hoa Lu – the Ancient Royal capital of Viet Nam. We will visit Dinh king temple and Le king temple in the 10th century, finding out the heroic histories of these two Kings in Chinese Wars. After that, we will go to Tam Coc (10 km far from Hoa Lu).
We have lunch at a local restaurant.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Tam Coc, Ninh Binh 430000 Vietnam
After lunch you will get on a bamboo boat – rowed by the local people – in Hoang Long river to visit Tam Coc (three caves) on the way. You pass through three enormous caves that provide a brief respite from the intense summer sun. It takes approximately two hours to go up and down the river and along the way, you witness local fisher folk, village life along the river and, of course, the striking limestone karst formations that Tam Coc is famous for.
If you like to go biking, it is a good idea. You will have a chance to visit real villages and amazing landscapes by bicycle about one hour (from Restaurant). After that you will take the van back to Ha Noi. Dinner by yourself.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi
Day 11: THE COFFEE SHOP – ” PHỞ ” – HA NOI DEPARTURE (B/L/-)
Stop At: Hanoi, Hanoi
Today is departure day. Enjoy some free time for last minute purchases or simply relax at the hotel.
After that, our guide will take you to the Coffee Shop – Trung Nguyen Legend Coffee G7, one of the best Vietnamese coffee and very famous coffee in the world. Enjoy a cup of coffee and get some coffee as a souvenir for your friend and your family.
Back to hotel, check out and have lunch with Vietnamese Noodle Soup – “Phở” at the local restaurant.
After lunch, take a rest or go shopping at Dong Xuan Market before your transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Then, home sweet home.
Duration: 6 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.
