12 Day Vietnam Itinerary for First Timers

Your guide and tour manager will be welcoming you upon arrival. Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s most evocative city. Transfer to your hotel for check in.

• Meal: None
• Accommodation 4 star at Saigon Northern Charm / Premier city view

Spend the morning discovering the warfare tactics of the Viet Cong at the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. Stop for lunch at an organic farm before returning to Saigon for an afternoon private city tour. This fascinating city is a blend of colonial architecture and modern innovation, wearing its history on its sleeve.

Follow the 12 days tour of Vietnam for first timers – Visit the poignant War Remnants Museum, along with the Reunification Palace, the French Colonial Central Post Office, and the 19th-century Notre-Dame Cathedral, decorated with festive lights.

• Meal: B
• Accommodation 4 star at Saigon Northern Charm / Premier city view

Head southwest to Ben Tre for a boat trip on the Mekong Delta. Paddle through the palm-lined canals, stopping to visit a bee farm for a cup of honey tea. After lunch, visit the beautiful gardens of the Vinh Trang Pagoda en route back to Saigon.

• Meal: B – L
• Accommodation 4 star at Saigon Northern Charm / Premier city view

Take a short flight to Danang and transfer to Hoi An. This UNESCO-listed town is a delight to explore, with traditional silk lanterns lining the streets and gondolas bobbing on the river. Visit an old merchant family’s house, Quan Cong Temple, the elaborate Japanese Bridge and the bustling market before dinner. Afterwards, why not visit one of the town’s legendary late-night tailors? The clothes-makers here are famous for their ability to deliver high-quality, custom-fit clothing in just 24 hours.

• Meal: B-L
• Accommodation 4 star at Little Gem / Deluxe

Head out into the countryside to Tra Que, a cooperative farming community that supplies many local restaurants in the area with vegetables and herbs. Their secret: instead of traditional fertiliser or chemicals, they use an all-natural seaweed found in the village lagoon. Enjoy the lush green countryside, stroll through the gardens to see the farmers at work and try your hand at their traditional techniques. This afternoon is at leisure.

• Meal: B – L
• Accommodation 4 star at Little Gem / Deluxe

Drive across the famously scenic Hai Van Pass to reach Hue. This atmospheric city was once the seat of the Nguyen emperors, who ruled Central Vietnam in the 19th century. Visit the UNESCO-listed Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City. Later, visit the Thien Mu Pagoda and take a cruise on the Perfume River.

• Meal: B
• Accommodation 4 star at Eldora / Deluxe

Spend a morning at the Royal Tomb of Minh Mang, exploring its peaceful gardens and scenic pools. After lunch, fly to Hanoi, Vietnam’s leafy, laid-back capital. Arrival, private transfer to your accommodation.

• Meal: B
• Accommodation 4 star at Q hotel / Deluxe

Take a private tour of the Ho Chi Minh Quarter, learning the story of its namesake – the former kitchen boy who rose to the status of revolutionary leader and eventually president.

See his Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, and the humble Stilt House he called home. Also, visit the One Pillar Pagoda and the Confucian Temple of Literature. End the day’s explorations with a rickshaw tour through the Old Quarter and enjoy a flavourful Vietnamese egg coffee.

• Meal: B
• Accommodation 4 star at Q hotel / Deluxe

Board a traditional sailing ship on Halong Bay and cruise out into its tranquil waters. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and a vision of awe-inspiring beauty, it’s easy to see why it is one of Vietnam’s most beloved destinations. Enjoy excursions such as kayaking or exploring island caves this afternoon.

• Meal: B – L – D
• Accommodation 4 star at Victoria Cruise / Deluxe Ocean View

Start the day by watching the sun rise over Halong Bay. Sail into Lan Ha Bay – Halong’s equally beautiful but lesser-known twin. Today, choose from included activities such as kayaking at Ho Ba Ham (Three Tunnel Lake) or let a local fisherman row you around a floating fishing village, home to multiple generations of fishermen and their families. Spend the second night on board.

• Meal: B – L – D
• Accommodation 4 star at Victoria Cruise / Deluxe Ocean View

Rise early for a beautiful sunrise over the bay. Return to Hanoi after brunch on deck and enjoy an afternoon at leisure. This evening, experience the Quintessence of Tonkin show, a spectacular open-air performance celebrating the rich history of northern Vietnam.

• Meal: Brunch
• Accommodation 4 star at Q hotel / Deluxe

Enjoy the leisurely breakfast at the hotel, later, private transfer to the airport, departure. End of the 12 days Vietnam tour for first timers

• Meal: B