Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi & Mai Chau - 12 days

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12 daysDuration

Small Group TourUsually 8-12 participants, maximum 18 travelers

16 peopleMaximum group size

18 - 80 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Starts

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Ends

Hanoi, Vietnam

Highlights

Ho Chi Minh City – Explore the Saigon River on a cruise, visit colonial landmarks like the Central Post Office, and discover the Mekong Delta with boat rides and local farm visits

Mekong Delta – Experience boat rides through the delta, visit local farms, and explore the mangroves

Hue – Tour the Purple Forbidden City, take a rickshaw ride through the Imperial City, and visit Kim Long Village

Hoi An – Stroll through the ancient town’s historic streets, and visit a peaceful seaside village

Hanoi – Visit the Temple of Literature, the Ho Chi Minh Complex, and enjoy a traditional bia hoi experience

Halong Bay – Cruise through Halong Bay, join a Tai Chi session, explore caves, and take part in a cooking demonstration

Mai Chau – Cruise across Song Da reservoir, cycle through a secluded sub-valley past rice fields and stilt houses, and connect with local farmers in a community-based tourism project

Halong Bay – Cruise through Halong Bay, join a Tai Chi session, explore caves, and take part in a cooking demonstration

Mai Chau – Cruise across Song Da reservoir, cycle through a secluded sub-valley past rice fields and stilt houses, and connect with local farmers in a community-based tourism project

Itinerary

PARTIALLY GUIDED TOUR: Embark on a 12-day tour from south to north Vietnam, starting with a Saigon River cruise and Mekong Delta exploration in Ho Chi Minh City. Discover Hue’s imperial history, then explore Hoi An’s ancient town and coastal village. In Hanoi, visit cultural sites, cruise Halong Bay, and explore Mai Chau valley and Hang Kia, home to the H’mong people. Experience traditional activities like batik dyeing before concluding in Hanoi.

day 1 - Saigon River Cruise

Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, your driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in District 1 in the city centre. Check-in is available from 2 PM; once you have checked in, you will have the afternoon at leisure. The hotel is within walking distance of numerous restaurants, cafés, and cultural attractions.

At 7 PM, make your way to the hotel lobby to meet your guide, who will take you to the banks of the Saigon River for a 1-hour cruise. As you sail, you can enjoy a local beer while getting to know your fellow travellers, with views of the city's skyline in the background. Once we disembark, our guide will take us back to the hotel.

Approx driving time & distance: 45 minutes & 10km.

Tour Style: On this tour you will enjoy sightseeing at all included sights with expert local guides, and all of your travel arrangements are included. You will travel without a tour guide between destinations.

OverNight:Ho Chi Minh City

day 2 - Mekong Delta Exploration

Ho Chi Minh City - The Mekong Delta - Ben Tre - Ho Chi Minh City. After breakfast, we will leave the hotel at 8 AM for a two-and-a-half-hour drive through the lesser-travelled parts of the region, stopping about 30 km from the mouth of the Mekong river.

From here, we will embark on a private boat tour to explore the lush delta. As we travel, you will have the opportunity to interact with the locals and learn about their way of life while navigating the Mekong. We will stop at a local factory before the boat travels to small island where we will stop for lunch at a local guesthouse.

In the afternoon, we will visit a local honeybee farm before cycling around the island to explore. Next, we will visit a local farm where you can sample authentic sam jelly, a traditional Vietnamese dessert made from sam fruit, typically mixed with coconut milk, sugar, and sometimes jelly or agar-agar. We will then continue through the orchards and board a small sampan to explore the mangroves. We will then meet with the driver, who will take us back to our accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City.

Approx driving time & distance: 4 hours & 190km.

Meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

OverNight:Ho Chi Minh City

day 3 - Ho Chi Minh City Tour & Flight to Hue

Ho Chi Minh City - Hue. Today, we will meet in the lobby before we depart by 9 AM for a journey through Ho Chi Minh City in an open-top electric buggy. We’ll journey through the heart of the city, driving in style through District 1. Along the way, we’ll pass iconic colonial landmarks like the Central Post Office, City Hall, Opera House, and Ben Thanh Market, with stops for brief historical insights.

Our ride ends at Pont des Messageries Maritimes, the city's oldest walking bridge, built in 1882 by Gustave Eiffel, linking District 1 to the once-notorious District 4. Once a mafia stronghold, it is now a vibrant working-class district with a riverside charm reminiscent of the Mekong Delta. We’ll cross the bridge, and stop at a local café where you can enjoy a refreshment. We will then explore a bustling covered market and navigate its maze-like alleys before enjoying a street-food lunch beneath the city’s iconic chung cu residential blocks.

After lunch, we will transfer to the airport for your included flight to the imperial city of Hue. Upon arrival, you will be met and taken to your hotel, which is conveniently located near Hue’s bustling streets.

Approx driving time & distance: 1.25 hours & 30km.

Meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

OverNight:Hue

day 4 - Hue City Tour & Drive to Hoi An

Hue - Hoi An. Our morning begins with a stroll through the Purple Forbidden City, the former imperial residence, uncovering Vietnam’s feudal history. Walking from the Southern Gate to the Northern Gate, we gain insight into royal life before a stop at a cozy café where you can enjoy a refreshment.

Next, we ride a traditional rickshaw through the Imperial City, passing lakes, monuments, and bustling streets before heading to Kim Long Village, once home to the Emperor’s Mandarins.

At around midday, we’ll savour Hue’s famous banh, traditional dumplings, at a family-run garden eatery where recipes have been passed down for generations.

After our light meal, we embark on a 3-hour drive to Hoi An, including a drive along the breathtaking Hai Van Pass, one of the world's most scenic coastal roads en route to our accommodation.

Approx driving time & distance: 3.5 hours & 140km.

Meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

OverNight:Hoi An

day 5 - Ancient town of Hoi An Exploration

This morning at 9 AM, we’ll stroll through the ancient town of Hoi An as our guide leads us through its charming streets and narrow alleys lined with historic, yellow-walled houses. Along the way, the guide will point out points of interest and make a stop for you to try the local coconut coffee.

Mid-morning, we will travel by electric buggy from the ancient town to a nearby seaside village. We’ll stroll through the village’s narrow alleys, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere, before having lunch at a beachside restaurant. Afterward, we’ll take a buggy transfer back to the hotel. If you prefer to stay and unwind on the beach for a few hours, you can make your own way back to the hotel - we recommend Grab, which is Southeast Asia's take on Uber!

Meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

OverNight:Hoi An

day 6 - Hoi An to Hanoi

Hoi An - Da Nang - Hanoi. You will be transferred to the airport in Da Nang this morning for your included flight north to Hanoi. Once you have arrived, you will be met and transferred to a restaurant specialising in food from northern Vietnam situated in the city centre.

At 2:30 PM, we’ll hop on an electric buggy for a tour of Hanoi’s heart, including Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter, and colonial landmarks. After a 1-hour ride, we’ll walk through Dong Xuan Market and along Phan Dinh Phung Avenue, passing the Northern Gate, Cua Bac Church, and colonial villas. The less than 2 km walk ends at our hotel, with views of Truc Bach Lake. The rest of your day is at leisure.

Approx driving time & distance: 1.5 hours & 60km.

Meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

OverNight:Hanoi

day 7 - Discover Hanoi

Today begins at Hanoi’s Temple of Literature, where we explore its peaceful courtyards as our guide shares insights on Confucianism. We then walk to a nearby tea house to enjoy the iconic lotus tea. Continuing through narrow alleys, a vibrant market, and along the iconic Hanoi railway, we end at a popular open-air restaurant, where you can try some delicious street food.

After a short drive, we explore the Ho Chi Minh Complex, including the museum, One-Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house, and the Presidential Palace gardens. We then unwind at a traditional bia hoi, a relaxed outdoor spot serving fresh local beer, before returning to our hotel.

You will then have the rest of the day at your leisure, you can choose to enjoy the sunset from the rooftop, explore the nightlife in Hanoi, or relax.

Meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

OverNight:Hanoi

day 8 - Cruising Halong Bay

Hanoi - Halong Bay. After breakfast at the hotel, we will be picked up between 8 - 9 AM for a bus journey through the Red River Delta to the coast, with an approximate 2.5-hour drive to the marina.

On arrival, we'll check in onboard our cruiser for the night, and enjoy a welcome drink. As we cruise, we will be able to enjoy lunch with the limestone backdrop surrounding us.

In the afternoon, we’ll reach a less-travelled area where you can relax, sunbathe, and explore at your own pace. You can enjoy the rest of your day on the sundeck, and don't forget to catch the sunset, it's a good one! There's also time to enjoy an aperitif or join a cooking demonstration before dinner.

Approx driving time & distance: 2.5 hours & 150km.

Please note: Transfers between Hanoi and Halong Bay are by shuttle bus. Activity details may vary based on the boat, the weather, and local decisions. The cruise includes an English-speaking cruise manager.

Meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

OverNight:Halong Bay

day 9 - Cruising back to Hanoi

Halong Bay - Hanoi. This morning, you will have the chance to join a Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck while enjoying the sunrise over the emerald waters of Halong Bay. As we sail, we will stop to explore one of the bay's hidden caves before making our way back to shore. We then retrace our steps back to Hanoi. You’ll have the rest of the day to tick off any final sights, do some souvenir shopping or relax in the hotel.

Approx driving time & distance: 2.5 hours & 150km.

Meals:1 Lunch

OverNight:Hanoi

day 10 - Hanoi to Mai Chau

Hanoi - Mai Chau. After breakfast, we will meet with our guide at the hotel before departing west to the Hoa Binh Region en route to the shores of the Song Da reservoir, encircled by forested mountain slopes. Here, we will clamber aboard a motorboat, which will take us over the water to the mountainous area of Mai Chau. On arrival, we will enjoy a late lunch with views of the lake and the surrounding area.

After lunch, we’ll transfer to Mai Chau Valley, known for its rice fields and wooden stilt houses. We will continue to a secluded sub-valley in the heart of the community, to explore a community-based tourism project. We’ll cycle along quiet back roads with our guide, meeting local farmers and children herding buffalo. Later, we’ll head to our accommodation, where you can swim in the pool before dinner.

Approx driving time & distance: 3.5 hours & 120km.

Please note: Some members of the tour will be leaving in Hanoi, and not continuing with us to Mai Chau.

Meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

OverNight:Mai Chau

day 11 - Exploring Hmong Culture in Hang Kia

Mai Chau - Hang Kia - Hanoi. Today, we take a scenic drive through the mountains. As we travel, we'll notice the environment change, with rice paddies fading and being replaced by plum trees and corn fields. We are making our way to Hoa Binh province and ascending to the rocky plateau, home to the villages of Hang Kia and Pa Co. As we enter the H’mong ethnic region, we’ll encounter locals in vibrant attire residing in traditional wooden houses with ground-floor living spaces.

We will be dropped off and will embark on a relaxed 3-km walk to the village of Hang Kia. We visit a cultural house showcasing H’mong artefacts and enjoy a hands on traditional batik dyeing workshop to explore the art of H’mong fabric. We will then make our way to a local guesthouse for lunch.

It's then time to return to Hanoi, arriving in the late afternoon. The rest of your final day in Vietnam is at leisure.

Approx driving time & distance: 4 hours & 160km.

Meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

OverNight:Hanoi

day 12 - Goodbye Hanoi

Today marks the end of our tour through Vietnam. After breakfast and hotel check out, an included transfer will take you to the airport. Safe travels!

Approx driving time & distance: 45 minutes & 30km.

Meals:1 Breakfast

Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi & Mai Chau - 12 days

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What's Included

Accommodation

10 nights in 3-4 star hotels & 1 overnight cruise on Halong Bay

Meals

10 breakfasts, 10 lunches & 2 dinners

Transport

Services of a professional local driver & all relevant transfers and transportation2 internal flights from Ho Chi Minh City - Hue & Da Nang - Hanoi

Others

All guided sightseeing as per the itinerary with local, English-speaking guidesGuided sightseeing in Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Hoi An & HanoiMekong Delta day tripDrive along the spectacular Hai Van Pass2-day Mai Chau tripBoat fees for included boat excursionsLocal taxes & service chargesNote: This tour is operated in conjunction with our trusted partner and you will join travellers from different operators, not solely On The Go Tours

Entrance

Entrance fees for included sightseeing

What's Excluded

Customer Reviews

This tour has not received any customer reviews yet. However, you can expect a good tour as it is run by a trusted travel specialist who has received 26 reviews for other tours with an average 4.6rating.

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