Ho Chi Minh City Trip Overview
Explore the beauties of Vietnam through her three distinct parts. This 11 days trip designed with comfort style takes you through the most highlighted places of the country in as much detail as possible.
Starts with alluring scenes of Hanoi capital then natural splendor of Halong Bay, continues to the historic charm Hue and Hoi An in the Centre before traveling further to discover beauty and the vibrancy of the south – Ho Chi Minh & Mekong Delta, this tour introduces you to the country’s three main regions and their some best highlights.
Highlights
Hanoi cyclo tour thru mesmerizing Old Quarter
Hanoi Temple of Literature
Deluxe cruise Halong Bay.
Shopping in Hoi An.
Golden Bridge in Da Nang
Hue Royal Citadel
Dragon boat cruise on Perfume River.
Floating market of Mekong.
Saigon street food tour
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
Explore the beauties of Vietnam through her three distinct parts. This 11 days trip designed with comfort style takes you through the most highlighted places of the country in as much detail as possible.
Starts with alluring scenes of Hanoi capital then natural splendor of Halong Bay, continues to the historic charm Hue and Hoi An in the Centre before traveling further to discover beauty and the vibrancy of the south – Ho Chi Minh & Mekong Delta, this tour introduces you to the country’s three main regions and their some best highlights.
Highlights
Hanoi cyclo tour thru mesmerizing Old Quarter
Hanoi Temple of Literature
Deluxe cruise Halong Bay.
Shopping in Hoi An.
Golden Bridge in Da Nang
Hue Royal Citadel
Dragon boat cruise on Perfume River.
Floating market of Mekong.
Saigon street food tour
Itinerary
Day 1: HA NOI ARRIVAL – CYCLE TOUR – WATER PUPPET SHOW (-/-/D)
Stop At: Hanoi, Hanoi
You will be met by Luco Travel’s driver at Noi Bai International Airport and transfer to Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Check in at the hotel. Free & Easy.
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 and drop off at the Ha Noi Water Puppet Show.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Thang Long Water Puppet, 57B Dinh Tien Hoang – Hoan Kiem – Ha Noi, Hanoi 10000 Vietnam
We will watch the Water Puppet Show. Traditional content of water puppet performance contains daily life of Vietnamese farmers (cultivating, tending buffalo, catching fishes…), communal entertainment (swimming contest, dragon dancing…), and/or historical legends (Le Loi returns precious sword…), with a performance that has appealed to audiences for centuries.
Have dinner. Back to the hotel.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi
Day 2: HA NOI CITY TOUR (B/L/-)
Stop At: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, 2 Hung Vuong Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
You will be met by Luco Travel’s tour guide and driver at the hotel.
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, You will also – the picturesque West Lake and the sixth century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Nguyen Van Huyen Street Cau Giay, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
Later, you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant with special Vietnamese food.
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.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Hoa Lo Prison, 1 Hoa Lo St Hoan Kiem, Hanoi 10000 Vietnam
And then, your guide will take you to Hoa Lo Prison. Most exhibits relate to the prison’s use up to the mid-1950s, focusing on the Vietnamese struggle for independence from France. A gruesome relic is the ominous French guillotine, used to behead Vietnamese revolutionaries. There are also displays focusing on the American pilots who were incarcerated at Hoa Lo during the American War.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Hoan Kiem Lake Walking Street, Around Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
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.
Back to the hotel. Free & Easy
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi
Day 3: 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 driver and tour guide 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.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Bai Tu Long Bay, Halong Bay 008433 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.
12:00. Pick-up at Hon Gai harbor. Transfer to Cruise by tender (5 -10 minutes)
12:45 Enjoy a welcome drink, then check in to your cabin
13:30 Cruise through Bai Tu Long Bay & enjoy lunch aboard with a 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. ( both options lasting about one hour )
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: 6 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight on Cruise in Halong Bay
Day 4: BAI TU LONG – THIEN CANH SON CAVE – HA NOI – HUE (B/L/-)
Stop At: Thien Canh Son Cave, Halong Bay Vietnam
07:00. Wake up early in the morning for Tai Chi exercise.
07:30. Have breakfast on a cruise.
07:45 – 09:00 Catch morning view of seascapes with a cup of tea or coffee, have breakfast while cruising toward Thien Canh Son Cave. Visit Thien Canh Son Cave – the medium size and less visited cave in Bai Tu Long Bay
09:00 Return to the boat, relax on the sundeck or watch fruit carving demonstration
09.30: Check out of 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.
12:00: 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: 10 hours
Stop At: Hue, Hue, Thua Thien – Hue Province
15:30 Arrive in Ha Noi. Leave the luggage at the lobby. Free time until our driver picks you up and takes you to the airport and take flight to Hue.
A Luco Travel tour guide and driver will meet you at the Phu Bai Airport and take you to the hotel in Hue City.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at the hotel in Hue City
Day 5: HUE IMPERIAL CITY – HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN (B/L/-)
Stop At: Hue Imperial City (The Citadel), Hue Vietnam
In the morning, at 8:00am our driver and tour guide will pick you up at the hotel lobby. depart to visit Imperial Citadel – where 13 emperors of Nguyen Dynasty used to work and live. We will visit in turn of: Nine Holy Canons, Ngo Mon Gate, Court Yard, Thai Hoa Palace, The Temple, the Forbidden Purple City, …
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Thien Mu Pagoda, Kim Long Road Huong Long Village, Hue 532761 Vietnam
Leaving the Imperial Citadel, we will drive along the romantic Perfume River to visit the last tourist attraction in the itinerary – Thien Mu Pagoda. Thien Mu Pagoda is the oldest pagoda in Hue with more than 400 years old.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Tomb of Tu Duc, Tay Nhat Hamlet, An Cuu Village, Hue 530000 Vietnam
Continue to visit Tu Duc Tomb – the palace in the life after life of 4th emperor of Nguyen Dynasty. This tomb is a superb example of Nguyen Dynasty’s Architecture. Our tour guide will help you to get the deep knowledge about the architecture, history, culture of Viet Nam under the reign of Nguyen Dynasty. Especially, the philosophy of the emperor.
Have lunch at a local restaurant.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Hoi An Ancient Town, Hoi An 560000 Vietnam
Travel to Hoi An Ancient Town, on the way you can stop at Lang Co Beach – one of the most beautiful beaches in Viet Nam. Lang Co Beach has the white sand with more than 10km.
Afterwards, check in hotel and we will take a walk of Hoi An Ancient Town for featured sights of the town such as the central market, former merchants’ houses, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese communal hall and Hoi An Museum.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight in Hoi An Ancient Town
Day 6: HOI AN – DA NANG – GOLDEN BRIDGE – MARBLE MOUNTAIN (B/L/-)
Stop At: Ba Na Hills, TL 602 Hoa Ninh Hoa Vang, Da Nang Vietnam
07:30 After breakfast at the hotel, our guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel to visit Ba Na Hills – King Mountain, also known as the second DaLat/ Sapa in Central Vietnam. The beautiful weather here is always cool.
08:30 You will admire the heights by riding the most modern cable car system in Southeast Asia. You will visit Dream Stream Cable Car Station. Afterward, you will visit and play games at the Fantasy Park.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Golden Bridge, Ba Na Hills, Da Nang 550000 Vietnam
We will then explore King Peak, which sits at an altitude 1.487m. You can see panoramic views of the Bana Hills and Quang Nam – Da Nang on high. On the top of the mountain, you will see Linh Tu Pagoda, which has a special temple construction.
You will then visit Golden Bridge one of the famous bridges in Vietnam and Asia, before heading back to the hotel to relax.
Enjoy buffet lunch at Bana Hill restaurant.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: The Marble Mountains, Hoa Hai, Ngu Hanh Son, Da Nang 550000 Vietnam
Continue to visit the Marble Mountains, one the most famous points in Da Nang. This is a cluster of five limestone mountains with sacred pagodas and beautiful caves inside. Let’s conquer 151 steps of Thuy Mountains – the highest mountain here. Visiting in turn: Linh Ung Pagoda, Xa Loi Tower, Van Thong Cave, Hoa Nghiem Cave, Huyen Khong Cave, Tam Thai Pagoda, …
You can spend your time visiting Stone Carving Village under the mountains. Back to the hotel & Relax.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight in Hoi An Ancient Town
Day 7: MY SON SANCTUARY – HOI AN BEACH (B/L/-)
Stop At: My Son Sanctuary, Duy Phu Vietnam
In the morning, 08:00am, our driver and tour guide will pick you up at the hotel lobby. depart to visit My Son Sanctuary – a sacred sanctuary of Cham People from 4th century. Our tour guide will help you to get the deep knowledge about the culture, architecture, religion, … of Cham People.
Let’s try to find out the best answer about the way to stick a brick with each other and how to keep the external surface of the tower-temple always clean.
Have lunch at a local restaurant. Transfer back to the hotel in Hoi An.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Hoi An, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province
15:30 Go to Hoi An Beach to relax, swim, sunbathe and enjoy your time.
18:00: Transfer back to your hotel. Free & Easy
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight in Hoian Ancient Town
Day 8: HOI AN – DA NANG – HO CHI MINH CITY TOUR (B/L/D)
Stop At: Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast our guide will take you to Da Nang Airport, You will take a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. (Timing is dependent on flight schedule), You will be met by Luco Travel’s tour guide and driver at Ho Chi Minh Airport and transfer to the hotel.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: War Remnants Museum, 28 Vo Van Tan Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City 700000 Vietnam
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.
Enjoy your lunch at the restaurant.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, 01 Cong xa Paris Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City 700000 Vietnam
Visit the former US Embassy where the last helicopter flew out of Saigon in 1975. 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.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: The Independence Palace, 106 Nguyen Du District 1, Ho Chi Minh City 700000 Vietnam
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.
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 9: CU CHI TUNNELS & STREET FOOD TOUR (B/L/D)
Stop At: Cu Chi Tunnels, Phu Hiep TL15 Phu Hiep, Ho Chi Minh City 700000 Vietnam
The morning.Our van will pick you up at your hotel and depart to Cu Chi Tunnels, we take about 1,5 hours to Cu chi, arrive 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 including numerous trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers & kitchens. There is plenty of evidence of the fierce battle 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. Spend the next hour exploring the tunnels.
After that travelers can try delicious manioc which was the main food for guerilla-warriors in Cu Chi during the war.
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: Ho Chi Minh City, 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 21:30 pm, we will take you back to your hotel.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
Day 10: MEKONG DELTA – CAI BE FLOATING MARKET (B/L/-)
Stop At: Mekong Delta, Mekong Delta
07:00 – 7:30 Breakfast at the hotel.
07:30 Depart on a 2 hour drive to Cai Be town in Mekong Delta that is home to a colorful floating market, vast emerald rice fields, luxuriant orchards and lush back waterways.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Cai Be Floating Market, Cai Be Vietnam
Upon arrival, board a long tail boat for a cruise to explore the Cai Be floating market where hundreds of boats gather for selling and buying, making a stunning scene on the water of Mekong River.
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 …
Afternoon: Enjoy lunch at the Ba Kiet Ancient House with a local meal. Relax in the hammocks to get back your energy.
When we are done, The boat will take you back to Cai Be wet market to see how the local people are buying and selling food products, fruits, fish….. and meet your driver for the trip back to Ho Chi Minh City.
Duration: 6 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at the hotel in Ho Chi Minh city
Day 11: THE COFFEE SHOP – “PHỞ” – HO CHI MINH DEPARTURE (B/L/-)
Stop At: Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1 Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City 70000 Vietnam
Time dependent on flight schedule. 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 more than 50 years old.
Your tour guide and driver will transport you to Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Thank you for spending time in our beloved Vietnam.
Duration: 6 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.
