OVERVIEW

This 8-day Vietnam itinerary takes you through the country’s most iconic destinations—from the dynamic streets of Ho Chi Minh City to the ancient charm of Hoi An, the imperial grandeur of Hue, the cultural heart of Hanoi, and the stunning natural beauty of Halong Bay. Perfect for first-time visitors seeking a balance of culture, history, and natural wonders.

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Trip Length: 8 days | Trip Style: Comfort travel| Trip Theme: Explore | Physical Rating: physical level | Start/End city: Ho Chi Minh City / Hanoi
Places visited: Ho Chi Minh City - Hoi An - Hue - Hanoi - Ha Long Bay

Brief Itinerary

  • Sagion nightlife & street shoppings
  • Cu Chi Tunnels discovery
  • Hoi an ancient town walking tour and street food tasting
  • Dragon boat cruise on Perfume River
  • Hanoi Old Quarter and shopping fun
  • Halong bay overnight cruise

Brief Itinerary

Day 01: Ho Chi Minh City sightseeing (Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City)
Day 02: Cu Chi Tunnels discovery (Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City)
Day 03: Fly to Da Nang - Hoi An ancient town sightseeing (Hotel in Hoi An)
Day 04: Hoi An - Hue Imperial City (Hotel in Hue)
Day 05: Morning flight to Hanoi - City sightseeing (Hotel in Hanoi)
Day 06: Hanoi - Halong Bay cruise (O/N on board cruiser)
Day 07: Halong Bay cruise - Hanoi (Hotel in Hanoi)
Day 06: Hanoi Departure - See you again!

TRIP MAP

Vietnam highlights tour 8 days
 

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Itinerary Details

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Welcome to Vietnam! Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s bustling southern hub.

In the afternoon, enjoy a guided city tour to explore historical landmarks such as:

  • Reunification Palace – the former Presidential Palace of South Vietnam
  • Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office – iconic colonial-era buildings
  • History Museum – showcasing Vietnam’s ancient and modern heritage
  • Take a leisurely stroll down Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), once featured in Graham Greene’s novel The Quiet American.

Enjoy a welcome dinner at a top-rated local restaurant.

Summary of inclusions

transportation
Private airport transfer
sightseeing icon
Saigon center cyclo tour
accommodation icon
Hotel in Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

After breakfast, travel to the legendary Cu Chi Tunnels, a vast underground network used by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the French and American wars. Explore the maze-like system of over 200 km of tunnels that include living quarters, command centers, and hidden traps.

Return to the city for an afternoon of shopping and exploring at the vibrant Ben Thanh Market and Saigon Square.

Summary of inclusions

transportation
Private vehicle
tunnel icon
Cu Chi Tunnels explore
meal icon
Breakfast & lunch
accommodation icon
Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
Hoi An, Vietnam
Hoi An, Vietnam

Take a morning flight to Da Nang and transfer to the ancient town of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its well-preserved architecture and rich cultural blend.

In the afternoon, enjoy a walking tour through the lantern-lit streets of Hoi An, visiting:

  • Hoi An Market
  • Japanese Covered Bridge
  • Tan Ky Ancient House
  • Chinese Assembly Halls

Enjoy the rest of your day discovering local handicrafts, tailoring shops, and charming cafes.

Summary of inclusions

transportation
Private transfers
accommodation icon
Domestic flight
meal icon
Breakfast
sightseeing icon
Hoi An sightseeing
accommodation icon
Hotel in Hoi an
Hue, Vietnam
Hue, Vietnam

After breakfast, take a beautiful coastal drive to Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. Along the way, stop at:

  • Marble Mountains – a cluster of limestone hills with pagodas and caves
  • Hai Van Pass – known for its panoramic ocean and mountain views

In the afternoon, explore:

  • Imperial Citadel & Forbidden Purple City – the royal residence of Nguyen emperors
  • Take a peaceful boat cruise on the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue’s oldest and most iconic pagoda.

Summary of inclusions

transportation
Private vehicle
Citadel
Hue Citadel explore
meal icon
Breakfast
accommodation in hue
Hotel in Hue
Hanoi, Vietnam
Hanoi, Vietnam

After a relaxed morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Hanoi, the vibrant capital of Vietnam.

On arrival, begin your city discovery tour, visiting:

  • Temple of Literature – Vietnam’s first university, founded in 1070
  • Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex – including his stilt house and the famous One Pillar Pagoda

End the day with a walk through Dong Xuan Market and the lively Old Quarter.

Summary of inclusions

transportation
Private transfers
sightseeing icon
Domestic flight
sightseeing icon
Hanoi sightseeing
meal icon
Breakfast 
accommodation icon
Hotel in Hanoi
Bamboo boat rowing, Halong Bay, Vietnam
Halong Bay, Vietnam

Leave Hanoi for a 3.5-hour drive through the Red River Delta to Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its emerald waters and towering limestone islands.

Board a traditional wooden cruise boat and enjoy:

  • Seafood lunch on board
  • Visit to a majestic cave
  • Time to swim, kayak, or relax on the sundeck

Witness a stunning sunset over the bay, followed by a delicious dinner and an overnight stay onboard.

Summary of inclusions

car icon
Bus transfers
halong bay cruise icon
Halong Bay cruise
cave icon
Cave explore
meal icon
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
meal icon
O/N on board
Ha Long, Vietnam
Ha Noi, Vietnam

Wake up to the peaceful beauty of Halong Bay. Enjoy a light breakfast and continue cruising to discover more of the bay’s magical corners.

After an early lunch, disembark by midday and transfer back to Hanoi. Arrive by late afternoon and enjoy your free evening to explore the city or shop in the Old Quarter.

Summary of inclusions

Halong Bay cruise
Halong Bay cruise
rowing icon
Boat rowing & floating village
meal icon
Breakfast & lunch
bus transfer
Bus transfer
accommodation icon
Hotel in Hanoi

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Depending on your flight time, enjoy some final shopping or relaxing before your airport transfer.

Safe travels and we hope to welcome you back to Vietnam soon!

Summary of inclusions

Airport transfer
Private airport transfer
meal icon
Breakfast
 

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IMPORTANT NOTES

Tour itinerary:This tour itinerary is designed based on local travel conditions, logistics and availabilitis of transportation between visited destinations. It is for you to see how the trip should go, what you can do, see and enjoy during the trip. The itinerary can be tailored by adding more of desired visitng destinations, activities or removing any you do not like to meet your travel time frame, style, budget and expectation the best.

Tour price:Travel Authentic Asia focus on quality and affordable package prices with the best value. The price is based on number of traveler taking the trip, the accommodation category you wish to stay, the mode of transportation, meals provided….

To book for this pre-arranged tour:If you wish to take this pre-arranged itinerary with all the terms of services that clearly stated in the program, you just need click the booking button to send us an enquiry form with some necessary information. Our travel consultant will get back to you within a working day for confirmation.

Tailor your itinerary base on this trip:If you wish to tailor your own itinerary with your favorite destinations, activities, accommodations and so on, you can do it right away by clicking the button "Tailor this trip" and send us an enquiry with as much as detail possible. Our travel consultants with their extensive knowledge and experience will answer all of your questions, offer suggestions and give knowledgeable advice, helping you to make a pleasant-enjoyable-worry free trip of best possible value that perfectly suits your travel needs. Please keep in mind this is your private tour so feel free to ask your travel consultant to make any changes you wish to make, at any time!

Requirement for information and help:Either before or during the trip, if you wish to contact us for any query or info, you can use one of the following methods:
- Call or chat Whatsapp our 24/24 hotline: +84 912 221 442, +84 903 432 999 - Or email us at: [email protected] - Contact us via our live chat window that available on our website

Payment:A deposit of 30% of total price is needed to initiate the tour booking after the itinerary is finalized. The balance for the trip is due 15 days prior to your arrival.

Arrival and departure flights:You are advised to make your own booking for international flights from/back your home country. This allows you to determine better the travel time frame, budget and to deal with insurance claim when needed. Travel Authentic Asia team will base on your flight schedule to work out the best itinerary for you or/and to modify the itinerary to get it matches.

Travel documents:You must carry a valid passport and have obtained all of the appropriate visas, permits and certificates for the countries in which you will visit during your trip. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the duration of the trip. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of the correct visas, permits and certificates for your trip. Travel Authentic Asia accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever for the failure of clients to obtain appropriate documentation.

Travel insurance:It is your responsibility to get your own international travel insurance and read the insurance policy before you travel and ensure that the insurance scheme provides with the requisite level of cover. Insurance should cover personal accident and medical expenses, evacuation and repatriation, baggage loss, and cancellation or curtailment of vacation. In some cases, travelers may have pre-existing medical conditions which their travel insurance company will not cover.
Other than local travel insurance(s) included in sightseeing tickets at sites, Travel Authentic Asia does not provide any kind of travel insurance on the trip except required and paid separately from the tour price.

Weather: The weather in this part of Southeast Asia is varied depening on the region and season. In the winter time from Nov to Feb, the temperature in some area such as North Vietnam, especially mountainous areas can be as low as 2-4 Degree Celsius (35 Degree Fahrenheit) and pretty cold. Other parts can be warm with temperature up to 36 Degree Celsius or more (96 Degree Fahrenheit). So, to know the weather condition of destination you visit, please consult our travel consultant or you can check it here on our website

What to take: What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the countries you are visiting and when you are travelling. Generally speaking you should pack as lightly as possible. It is advisable to have your backpack or suitcase with wheels. An overnight bag with a shoulder strap or little backpacks is convenient to carry water and a camera etc for day trips. Warm clothes and light jacket are needed for the North Vietnam and northern Lao during the winter time from November to March. Sunblock, swimsuits and a light raincoat is advised all year round.

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