10-Day Best of Vietnam: Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An & Saigon

Tour Overview

Duration	10 Days / 9 Nights
Country	Vietnam — Complete North to South
Cities	Hanoi → Halong Bay → Hue → Hoi An → Saigon → Mekong Delta
Tour Type	Private Tour — Vietnam’s Most Comprehensive Itinerary
Best Season	October–April (dry season, ideal temperatures)
Price	From US$1,699 per person (4-star hotels, private guide)

Data source: indochinatour.com — the definitive 10-day Vietnam experience

Day 1: Arrive Hanoi

Airport Welcome — Private guide meets you at Noi Bai Airport, transfer to your hotel in the heart of the Old Quarter
Evening at Hoan Kiem Lake — Watch Hanoi’s chaotic streets give way to the serene lake in the evening. The Turtle Tower in the middle of the lake glows golden at sunset. Your guide will introduce you to bia hoi (fresh draft beer) at a street corner — a quintessential Hanoi experience at just 25 cents a glass

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi’s Cultural Heart

Morning: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature — Vietnam’s 1,000-year journey from Confucian scholarship to modern independence in three iconic sites
Afternoon: Cyclo ride through the Old Quarter’s 36 guild streets, followed by a visit to the Vietnamese Women’s Museum — a fascinating tribute to women’s contributions throughout Vietnamese history
Evening: Water Puppet Show at Thang Long Theatre — puppeteers stand waist-deep in water behind a bamboo screen, manipulating lacquered wooden puppets to tell ancient folk tales accompanied by a traditional orchestra

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: Halong Bay — A Natural Wonder

Sail into the Bay — Board your luxury junk for an overnight cruise among 1,600+ limestone islands and islets that rise dramatically from emerald-green waters
Kayaking & Swimming — Paddle through hidden lagoons into secret coves. Swim in the warm, jade-colored water near secluded beaches
Squid Fishing at Night — Try your luck at catching squid under the stars with the crew’s traditional methods
Sunset & Stargazing — The sundeck offers 360° views as the sun paints the karsts in shades of gold and crimson

Overnight on Halong Bay cruise.

Day 4: Halong Bay → Fly to Hue — The Imperial City

Morning Exploration — Tai Chi at dawn, visit Sung Sot Cave (the largest and most impressive in the bay), farewell brunch, then disembark
Fly to Hue — Transfer to Hanoi airport, 1-hour flight to Hue — Vietnam’s imperial capital during the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945)
Hue Evening — Cruise the Perfume River (Song Huong) on a dragon boat as traditional folk songs echo across the water. Pass by the illuminated Truong Tien Bridge — Hue’s iconic symbol

Overnight in Hue.

Day 5: Hue Imperial Heritage

The Citadel & Forbidden Purple City — Explore the vast Imperial Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage site modeled after Beijing’s Forbidden City. Walk through the towering Ngo Mon Gate into the Thai Hoa Palace (Hall of Supreme Harmony), where emperors held court. The Forbidden Purple City, once accessible only to the emperor and his concubines, reveals the opulence and intrigue of Vietnam’s last dynasty
Thien Mu Pagoda — Hue’s most beautiful pagoda, a 7-tiered octagonal tower perched on a hill overlooking the Perfume River. Built in 1601, it houses the car that monk Thich Quang Duc drove to his self-immolation protest in 1963 — a pivotal moment in Vietnamese history
Royal Tombs — Visit the tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, a romantic lakeside retreat designed by the emperor himself as a place of contemplation, poetry, and hunting. The complex blends architecture and nature in perfect harmony
Hue Cuisine — Hue is Vietnam’s culinary capital. Try bun bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup) and banh beo (steamed rice cakes topped with dried shrimp) at a local eatery

Overnight in Hue.

Day 6: Hai Van Pass → Hoi An Ancient Town

Scenic Coastal Drive — Journey over the Hai Van Pass, one of the world’s most spectacular coastal roads, featured on Top Gear’s Vietnam Special. At 496m above sea level, the panoramic views stretch from the Truong Son Mountains to the East Sea
Marble Mountains — Stop at these five marble and limestone hills, each named after an element (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth). Climb through cave temples, past Buddhist shrines, to viewpoints overlooking the coastline and Danang city
Arrive Hoi An — Check into your hotel in this UNESCO World Heritage town. In the evening, the ancient town transforms as thousands of silk lanterns light up — a photographer’s dream

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 7: Hoi An’s Timeless Charm

Walking Tour — Japanese Covered Bridge (1593), Tan Ky House (200 years old, 7 generations), and the Museum of Trade Ceramics with artifacts from across Asia
Ao Dai & Tailor Experience — Hoi An is the tailoring capital of Vietnam. Visit a reputable tailor shop, choose from thousands of fabrics, and have a custom ao dai or suit made — often ready the next day
Tra Que Vegetable Village — Cycle through rice paddies to this organic vegetable village. Don a conical hat and learn to farm like a local — watering, planting, and harvesting with traditional methods. Enjoy a foot massage in a herb-infused bath
Cooking Class — Learn to prepare classic Hoi An dishes: cao lau (noodles with pork and local greens), white rose dumplings, and crispy pancakes, followed by a dinner feast of your own creations

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 8: Fly to Saigon — Vietnam’s Dynamic South

Morning Flight — Fly from Danang to Ho Chi Minh City (1.5 hours)
Saigon City Tour:
— Reunification Palace — The former Presidential Palace where a North Vietnamese tank crashed through the gates on April 30, 1975, ending the Vietnam War. The building remains frozen in time, with 1960s-era furnishings, command bunkers, and a rooftop helicopter
— Notre-Dame Cathedral & Central Post Office — Two French colonial masterpieces side by side in the heart of District 1
— Cholon (Chinatown) — Visit Binh Tay Market in Saigon’s sprawling Chinatown, and the ornate Thien Hau Temple dedicated to the goddess of the sea

Overnight in Saigon.

Day 9: Mekong Delta Discovery

Ben Tre Province — Known as the “coconut kingdom,” board a boat along the Ham Luong River, a tributary of the mighty Mekong. Cruise through narrow canals shaded by water coconut palms
Coconut Candy Workshop — See how every part of the coconut is used — husk, shell, flesh, and water — to create candies, handicrafts, and oil
Brick Kilns & Mat Weaving — Visit traditional brick-making kilns and watch artisans weave sedge mats by hand
Xe Loi Ride — Ride a motorized rickshaw through peaceful villages, fruit orchards, and past sleepy riverside communities
Farewell Dinner — Enjoy a special farewell dinner at one of Saigon’s finest restaurants, reflecting on 10 days of extraordinary Vietnamese experiences