Ultimate Vietnam: A Cultural Adventure Tour
16 Days | Cultural Adventure Tour from Saigon to Hanoi
From the bustling streets of Saigon to the mist-shrouded mountains of Sapa and the tranquil waters of Ha Long Bay, this 16-day tailormade journey reveals Vietnam’s soul through its history, culture, and landscapes. Along the way, you’ll wander through incense-filled temples, explore UNESCO World Heritage towns, and immerse yourself in the rhythm of local life at floating markets, tribal villages, and artisan workshops.
This isn’t just a sightseeing trip — it’s a chance to connect with Vietnam’s past and present. You’ll stand inside Hue’s Imperial Citadel, photograph fishermen casting their nets on Hoi An’s Thu Bon River, and walk in the footsteps of emperors, monks, traders, and revolutionaries. With your guiding team at your side, you’ll gain insight into the stories behind the monuments, the resilience of Vietnam’s people, and the living traditions that continue to shape the country today.
Our Cultural Adventures are led by a diverse team of local experts who bring Vietnam’s stories vividly to life. From Vietnamese journalists who uncover hidden histories, to creative artists who share unique perspectives on the country’s culture, to hill tribe guides who open doors to their communities in the mountains — each guide brings both expertise and passion to your journey.
Ultimate Vietnam: A Cultural Adventure Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Saigon Arrival
We’ll meet you at Tan Son Nhat Airport and transfer to your hotel in the heart of Saigon, giving you a chance to settle in and refresh after your journey. From your riverside base, the energy of the city is right at your doorstep — motorbikes weaving along the boulevard, the Saigon River flowing past with its mix of barges and neon-lit cruise boats.
In the evening, we’ll gather for a warm welcome dinner aboard a river cruise. As the city lights reflect off the water, you’ll be introduced to your guiding team and enjoy your first tastes of southern Vietnamese cuisine. It’s a relaxed beginning to your adventure, offering the perfect vantage point to see the city at night before resting up for the days ahead.
Day 2: Saigon – History in the City
We start our exploration in Cholon, Saigon’s Chinatown, where incense smoke curls around altars and shopfronts overflow with herbs, dried seafood, and lacquered wood. We’ll step inside ornate temples, such as the 18th-century Thien Hau Pagoda, where worshippers still come to honor the sea goddess. The vibrant street life here offers a glimpse into a community that has shaped the city for centuries.
From there, we’ll visit key landmarks of the modern city. At the Reunification Palace, you’ll walk through the corridors where history turned on April 30, 1975, when tanks rolled through its gates. Across town, we’ll admire the French-colonial elegance of Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. Along the way, we’ll also pause at sites made famous through three iconic war photographs — standing where history was captured in a single frame, and where those images continue to shape global memory.
Day 3: Saigon – Ben Tre – Sa Dec – Long Xuyen
This morning, we leave the buzz of Saigon behind and head into the Mekong Delta, where life moves to the rhythm of the waterways. In Ben Tre, we board a traditional wooden boat to cruise among coconut palms and riverside hamlets. We’ll step ashore to visit local workshops, before enjoying a freshly prepared lunch onboard as the river breeze keeps us cool.
In the afternoon, we stop in Sa Dec, a flower-filled town with French villas and a timeless riverfront, immortalized in Marguerite Duras’ The Lover. The sense of faded romance lingers here, as we wander its lanes and temples. By evening, we reach Long Xuyen and settle into our riverside hotel, ready for tomorrow’s early start.
Day 4: Long Xuyen – An Giang – Chau Doc
We rise before dawn to experience Long Xuyen’s floating market, one of the most authentic in the Mekong Delta. Hundreds of boats crowd together, their bows hung with fruit and vegetables as floating signboards. You’ll witness vendors tossing melons and cabbages from boat to boat, the smell of coffee drifting over the water, and families making breakfast in their floating kitchens. With guidance, you’ll have the chance to create a visual story of this remarkable market, its color, chaos, and humanity.
After breakfast, we continue deeper into An Giang province, where the Khmer minority maintain their own distinctive traditions. We’ll visit a village of skilled weavers, still producing textiles on handlooms, and a ceramics workshop shaped by generations of artisans. The day also takes us to Khmer Buddhist temples, richly decorated with mythological scenes and gilded stupas. As evening falls, we reach Chau Doc, a riverside town near the Cambodian border, steeped in a blend of cultures and faiths.
Day 5: Chau Doc – Tra Su Forest – Nui Sam – Chau Doc
Today we venture into Tra Su Cajuput Forest, a watery wonderland of flooded mangroves and shimmering duckweed. We’ll travel by small boat, drifting quietly beneath tall trees alive with bird calls. The forest’s green palette and reflected light make it a truly photogenic setting, but it’s also a rare chance to experience one of the Delta’s most biodiverse ecosystems.
In the afternoon, we head to Nui Sam, a sacred mountain rising above the plains. From its summit, sweeping views stretch over endless rice fields, dotted with pagodas and monasteries. We’ll explore mountaintop temples, where pilgrims climb to leave offerings and monks chant in incense-filled halls. The mixture of stunning scenery and deep spiritual atmosphere makes this one of the highlights of the Mekong.
Day 6: Chau Doc – Can Tho – Flight to Hoi An
After breakfast, we travel across the Delta to Can Tho, where we catch our flight north to Danang. From the airport it’s a short drive to our resort near Hoi An, a town whose preserved architecture and street plan have earned it UNESCO World Heritage status. Once a vital trading hub between East and West, Hoi An still glows with the layered influences of Chinese, Japanese, and European merchants who settled here centuries ago.
After settling in and enjoying lunch, we’ll spend the afternoon unwinding on the beach or by the pool. As the heat of the day softens, we’ll venture into the old town at golden hour, when lanterns begin to glow and the Thu Bon River reflects the sunset. This is a magical introduction to Hoi An, where history, culture, and beauty converge.
Day 7: Hoi An – Life on the Thu Bon River
This morning we board a private boat and set out into the Thu Bon Delta, where water and land intertwine in a network of estuaries. Here, fishing remains a way of life as it has for centuries. We’ll watch and photograph fishermen casting circular nets, women unloading their catch at the riverside, and families tending fish traps. With the help of our local experts, you’ll not only learn about this age-old livelihood but also capture it through your lens, away from the tourist crowds.
The afternoon is free for you to enjoy at your own pace. You may choose to relax at the beach, explore the old town’s tailors and galleries, or join an optional cookery or lantern-making class. In the evening, we’ll reconvene to soak up Hoi An’s unique atmosphere as night falls — the narrow streets glowing with lanterns, the river alive with floating candles, and the aromas of sizzling street food filling the air.
Day 8: Danang – Hai Van Pass – Hue by Train
Today we board the Reunification Express train in Danang and cross the legendary Hai Van Pass. The railway hugs the mountainside, curving above beaches and forests, with breathtaking views of the East Sea. It’s considered one of the world’s most beautiful train journeys, and the perfect way to arrive in Hue.
In the afternoon, we’ll take a gentle stroll through the old city, where French villas stand alongside ancient pagodas and bustling markets. Hue is known as the culinary capital of Vietnam, and tonight we’ll experience its unique cuisine — refined, delicate, and full of royal influence — at a beautiful courtyard restaurant hidden in the old quarter.
Day 9: Hue – Imperial City & Flight to Hanoi
We dedicate our morning to the Imperial Citadel, the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Passing through the majestic Ngo Mon Gate, we step into a world of palaces, temples, and ceremonial halls. Your guide will bring to life the rituals of the imperial court, as well as the destruction the Citadel suffered during the Tet Offensive in 1968. Walking through its gardens and ruins, you’ll sense the grandeur of Vietnam’s imperial past and the scars of its modern history.
After lunch, we transfer to the airport for our short flight to Hanoi. The capital greets us with tree-lined boulevards, buzzing scooters, and lakes reflecting the French-colonial facades. In the evening, we’ll dive into the Old Quarter on a street food tour, sampling local delicacies while hearing stories of Hanoi’s layered history.
Day 10: Hanoi – City of Contrasts
This morning we take it easy, enjoying a leisurely breakfast overlooking St Joseph’s Cathedral, a striking neo-Gothic landmark from the 19th century. We’ll then wander around Hoan Kiem Lake, where locals practice tai chi and young couples pose for wedding photographs.
In the afternoon, we explore some of Hanoi’s most significant historic sites. At Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, you’ll witness the enduring reverence for the revolutionary leader. At the nearby Presidential Palace and House on Stilts, you’ll step into his simple yet symbolic living quarters. Finally, we visit Hoa Lo Prison — or ‘Maison Centrale’ — infamous for its use under both French colonial rule and the Vietnam War. We’ll finish the day with cocktails at the legendary Metropole Hotel, a gathering place for diplomats, journalists, and writers since the colonial era..
Day 11: Hanoi – Incense Village – Overnight Train to Sapa
Today we rise early to visit Train Street, where homes and cafés crowd against the railway line. At dawn, locals sip their morning coffee just inches from the tracks, a uniquely Hanoi experience. We’ll also stop at Reunification Park, where Hanoians gather for morning aerobics, tai chi, and ballroom dancing beneath the trees.
In the afternoon, we journey to Quang Phu Cau incense village, one of Vietnam’s most visually striking craft communities. Here, bundles of red incense sticks are laid out to dry in vast geometric patterns — an unforgettable sight, and an authentic glimpse of traditional life continuing in the modern era. After dinner, we board the Chapa Express overnight train north toward Lao Cai, bound for the highlands.
Day 12: Sapa – Tribal Villages
We awake in the mountains and transfer to Sapa, where the air is cool and the views dramatic. Terraced rice fields tumble down the hillsides, and mist drifts across deep valleys. After checking in at our lodge, we set out with a local Hmong guide to visit nearby villages. Along the way, we’ll meet families working in the fields, children walking home from school, and artisans practicing traditional crafts.
As the sun lowers, the shifting light transforms the landscape into a palette of golds and blues, perfect for atmospheric photography. The fast-descending mountain mists add a touch of mystery, wrapping the terraced hillsides in a dreamlike veil.
Day 13: Sapa – Tribal Market – Overnight Train to Hanoi
In the morning, we head to one of the region’s weekly tribal markets, where Hmong and Dao villagers gather from miles around. Dressed in vivid traditional attire, they trade livestock, fabrics, spices, and tools. The atmosphere is vibrant and full of color — a chance to experience living culture at its most vivid.
Afterward, we return to our ecolodge for some downtime, enjoying the panoramic views and fresh mountain air. In the evening, we board the overnight train back to Hanoi, lulled to sleep by the rhythm of the rails.
Day 14: Hanoi – Temple of Literature
Today is a slower day, designed for reflection and enjoyment of the capital. After a relaxed lunch in the Old Quarter, we visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university. Dedicated to Confucius, this walled compound of courtyards, lotus ponds, and pavilions is an oasis of calm in the busy city. Stone steles carved with the names of graduates line the walkways, echoing centuries of scholarship and tradition.
In the evening, you can enjoy a cultural performance — either the artistry of the Water Puppets, a unique northern Vietnamese form of theatre, or the acrobatic flair of the Hanoi Circus.
Day 15: Ha Long Bay – Private Cruise
We depart Hanoi in the morning and drive east to the coast, where the emerald waters and limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay await. Boarding our elegant Bhaya Legend private junk, we set off into the quieter waters of Bai Tu Long Bay, away from the busiest routes.
As we sail between towering cliffs and hidden lagoons, you’ll have time to relax on deck, kayak into secluded coves, or simply watch the ever-changing play of light on the water. Meals are a highlight here, with gourmet Vietnamese cuisine served onboard. At night, we anchor in a peaceful bay, dining under the stars in one of the world’s most spectacular natural settings.
Day 16: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi
We greet the morning with the stillness of the bay around us, enjoying breakfast on deck as fishing boats pass by. After disembarking, we return to Hanoi by road.
By late afternoon, we arrive back in Hanoi, where you’ll have time to relax at your hotel and perhaps enjoy a final evening in the Old Quarter.
Day 17: Hanoi Departure
Depending on your flight schedule, you may have time for a last stroll around the lake or a coffee in a sidewalk café before we transfer you to the airport. It’s the perfect farewell to Vietnam — unhurried, welcoming, and full of life.