Vietnam: Flavors, History & Culture

April 16 to 29, 2027 | 12 nights | Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An & Ho Chi Minh City

 

Vietnam is a country best understood at the table. Over twelve nights we travel from the misty limestone landscapes of the north to the imperial heart of Hue, the lantern-lit lanes of Hoi An and the energy of Saigon, eating our way through four distinct regional cuisines with local guides who live and cook here. Every day pairs a signature experience with time to wander, rest and discover on your own, and every night is spent at a boutique 5-star hotel chosen for its location and character.

 

Your Journey at a Glance

April 17 to 21 - Hanoi - 4 nights - La Siesta Classic Hang Thung

April 21 to 23 - Hue - 2 nights - Pilgrimage Village Resort & Spa

April 23 to 26 - Hoi An - 3 nights - La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa

April 26 to 29 - Ho Chi Minh City - 3 nights - Hotel des Arts Saigon, MGallery

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Choosing the optional Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay cruise? Your Hanoi stay becomes 3 nights plus 1 night aboard Orchid Cruises.

 

Three Threads Run Through Every Day

A Taste of Each Region. Four guided food tours, a hands-on cooking class and countless chances to sample Hanoi pho and bun cha, Hue's spicy bun bo, Hoi An's cao lau and Saigon's sizzling banh xeo.

Living History. Walk through 2,000 years of Vietnamese story, from the ancient capital of Hoa Lu and the Champa temples of My Son to Hue's Imperial Citadel and the Cu Chi Tunnels.

Everyday Culture. Ride a vintage jeep down Hanoi backstreets, glide through Trang An by sampan, spin in a bamboo basket boat and stroll Hoi An's night market beneath glowing lanterns.

 

Northern Vietnam | Hanoi & the North

A thousand years old and still endlessly lively, Hanoi is where Vietnamese food culture begins. Our days here move from sidewalk kitchens in the Old Quarter to the karst river valleys of Ninh Binh.

 

April 16 | Day 1: Depart the United States

Travel: Board your international flight to Hanoi. Routing and connections depend on your departure city, and we are happy to help you find the best option.

 

April 17 | Day 2: Welcome to Hanoi

Arrival: Your private driver meets you at Noi Bai International Airport for the transfer to La Siesta Classic Hang Thung, in the heart of the Old Quarter.

At leisure: Most flights arrive late in the evening, so tonight is simply about checking in and resting up for the days ahead.

Hotel: La Siesta Classic Hang Thung

 

April 18 | Day 3: Hanoi by Vintage Jeep: Food, Culture & Backstreets

12:30 PM: See Hanoi from a whole new angle aboard a vintage Soviet-era military jeep. Rumble through bustling streets, historic neighborhoods and quiet backroads as your guide shares the stories behind Vietnam's history, culture and everyday life. Highlights include the historic Ba Dinh Square area, local markets and neighborhoods most visitors never see, with stops along the way to taste authentic Vietnamese food. Approximately 4 to 5 hours.

Free time: Morning and evening at leisure.

 

April 19 | Day 4: Private Hanoi Street Food Walk

11:30 AM: Follow a local food expert through the narrow lanes and busy markets of the Old Quarter, stopping at family-run eateries and neighborhood stalls to sample about 10 traditional dishes. Along the way, learn about the ingredients, cooking traditions and cultural influences that make Hanoi one of Southeast Asia's great food cities. Come hungry: the tastings add up to a full lunch. Approximately 3 hours.

Free time: Late afternoon and evening free for museums, cafés, shopping or independent sightseeing.

 

April 20 | Day 5: Private Ninh Binh Excursion: Hoa Lu, Trang An & Mua Cave

7:30 AM: Journey south into the countryside of Ninh Binh, famous for its towering limestone peaks and winding rivers. Begin at Hoa Lu, Vietnam's ancient capital, where temples tell the story of the country's earliest dynasties. Continue to Trang An for a sampan ride through quiet waterways, limestone caves and dramatic karst formations. After a traditional Vietnamese lunch together, visit Mua Cave, where adventurous travelers can climb about 500 steps to a panoramic view over rice fields and mountains. Full day, approximately 9 hours, returning to Hanoi around 5:00 PM.

Dining: We will enjoy a traditional Vietnamese lunch together during the excursion. Lunch is paid individually and is not included in the tour cost.

Free Time: Evening is free for one last meal in Hanoi

 

Option B | Ha Long & Lan Ha Bay Overnight Cruise ($475 total supplement, double or single)

Trade two days in Hanoi for a night among the limestone islands of one of Vietnam's most iconic landscapes. Sailing with Orchid Cruises in a Premium Balcony Cabin, this option takes the place of the April 19 street food walk and the April 20 Ninh Binh excursion, with your Hanoi hotel stay becoming 3 nights.

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April 19, Into the Bay, 8:00 AM: Leave Hanoi for a scenic drive through the Red River Delta to Tuan Chau Marina, where a speedboat carries us to our cruise ship. Settle into your Premium Balcony Cabin as towering limestone islands rise from the emerald waters of Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay.

Enjoy a buffet lunch while cruising through the karst landscape, then set out by kayak to explore the secluded waters of Ao Ech. The ship continues to the peaceful Tra Bau area to anchor for the night.

As the sun sets, join a Vietnamese cooking demonstration or relax with a drink at happy hour. An elegant fusion dinner follows, then time on the sundeck, a try at traditional squid fishing or simply a quiet evening on the bay beneath the stars.

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April 20, Sunrise on the Bay & Return to Hanoi: Wake to first light on the limestone formations. Join an optional sunrise Tai Chi session on deck before breakfast, then visit Thien Cung Cave, the "Heavenly Palace," known for its vast chambers and intricate stalactites. Return aboard for a leisurely brunch and final views before disembarking at Tuan Chau Marina, then continue by private transfer back to Hanoi.

Disembarkation is approximately 11:00 to 11:30 AM, followed by about a 3-hour transfer to Hanoi. Orchid Cruises' full published schedule appears at the end of this itinerary.

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Central Vietnam | Hue, the Imperial City

For more than a century Hue was the seat of Vietnam's last dynasty, and its royal kitchens gave the country some of its most refined and fiery dishes. Here we slow down among palaces, pagodas and riverside gardens.

 

April 21 | Day 6: Fly from Hanoi to Hue

7:30 AM: Check out and transfer to Hanoi's airport for our 10:20 AM domestic flight to Hue. The flight is included in your package.

Afternoon: Transfer to Pilgrimage Village Resort & Spa and settle in. Enjoy the pool, spa and gardens, or arrange optional sightseeing. Hue's Old Town is a short taxi ride away.

Hotel: Pilgrimage Village Resort & Spa

 

April 22 | Day 7: Private Hue Imperial History Tour

9:00 AM to 1:00 PM: Explore Vietnam's former imperial capital with a private guide. Discover the Imperial Citadel, once home to the Nguyen emperors, and learn about the traditions and events that shaped the country's last ruling dynasty. Depending on the route, highlights may include the historic Thien Mu Pagoda, royal tombs and a traditional dragon boat journey along the Perfume River. Approximately 4 hours.

Afternoon: At leisure. This is the perfect time to taste Hue's regional specialties, including bun bo Hue, banh beo and banh khoai.

 

Central Vietnam | Hoi An, the Lantern Town

Once a thriving international trading port, Hoi An blends Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese influences in its architecture and its cooking. Three nights here bring markets, a cooking class, ancient temples and lantern-lit evenings.

 

April 23 | Day 8: Over the Hai Van Pass & a Lantern-Lit Food Walk

8:30 AM: Travel south from Hue to Hoi An by private vehicle on one of Vietnam's most scenic coastal routes. Rather than the direct highway, we cross the spectacular Hai Van Pass, where winding mountain roads reveal sweeping views of the coastline and the East Sea. Depending on the stops chosen, the journey may also include Lang Co Bay and other scenic or cultural sights near Da Nang. The drive takes up to 5 hours with stops (about 3 hours of actual driving).

Afternoon: Check in at La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa.

5:30 PM: Discover Hoi An after dark on a private walking food tour through the Ancient Town and nearby neighborhoods. Follow your guide along lantern-lit streets, quiet alleys and lively stalls, sampling eight or more regional dishes and learning how centuries of trade shaped the local cuisine. Finish with a stroll through the colorful Hoi An Night Market. Approximately 3 to 4 hours, dinner included.

Hotel: La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa

 

April 24 | Day 9: Hands-On Cooking Class in Hoi An

8:00 AM: Begin at a local market, learning about the fresh herbs, vegetables and essential ingredients of Vietnamese cooking. Continue to the coconut palm waterways for a ride in a traditional round bamboo basket boat and an introduction to local net-fishing techniques. Finish with an interactive cooking class, preparing four Vietnamese dishes with a local chef before sitting down to enjoy what you have made. Approximately 4 hours.

Afternoon and evening: Free for An Bang Beach, the resort pool and spa, cafés, tailoring, shopping or exploring the Ancient Town on your own.

 

April 25 | Day 10: Private Excursion to My Son Sanctuary

8:00 AM: Travel into Vietnam's ancient past at My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site set in a lush mountain valley. Once the religious and ceremonial center of the Champa Kingdom, the complex holds remarkable Hindu temples and intricately carved brick structures dating from the 4th to 13th centuries. Your guide shares the history, religious traditions and architectural achievements of the Cham civilization. Approximately 4 hours.

Afternoon and evening: Free for leisure or a final dinner in Hoi An.

 

Southern Vietnam | Ho Chi Minh City & the Mekong

Saigon is Vietnam at full speed: French colonial boulevards, glittering rooftops and some of the country's best street food. We close the journey with the city's landmarks and a day in the green waterways of the Mekong Delta.

 

April 26 | Day 11: Fly to Ho Chi Minh City & Saigon After Dark

8:30 AM: Private transfer to Da Nang airport for our 11:55 AM flight, arriving at Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN) at 1:30 PM. Transfer to Hotel des Arts Saigon, MGallery.

6:30 PM: Experience Saigon's energy on a private street food walking tour with a local guide. Venture beyond the main tourist areas to neighborhood eateries, lively streets and family-run stalls serving southern specialties, including traditional savory pancakes and local drinks, while learning about the city's food culture and daily life.

Hotel: Hotel des Arts Saigon, MGallery

 

April 27 | Day 12: Private Ho Chi Minh City Highlights Tour

9:00 AM: Discover the history, architecture and cultural landmarks of Ho Chi Minh City by private vehicle. Visit the historic Central Post Office, the Notre-Dame Cathedral area, bustling Ben Thanh Market and the colorful Jade Emperor Pagoda while learning about the city's French colonial heritage, religious traditions and growth into Vietnam's largest metropolis. Approximately 4 hours.

Afternoon: Free for shopping, museums, rooftop drinks or relaxing at the hotel.

 

April 28 | Day 13: Cu Chi Tunnels & the Mekong Delta

7:30 AM: Begin at the Cu Chi Tunnels, the vast underground network used during the war, and learn how the tunnels were built and what life underground was like. Continue to the Mekong Delta near My Tho, where riverboats reveal the region's waterways, tropical scenery and village life. Enjoy a Vietnamese lunch and sample local fruits before returning to the city in the evening. Full day, approximately 8 to 9 hours.

Evening: Dinner at leisure, depending on return time.

 

April 29 | Day 14: Farewell, Vietnam

Departure: Breakfast, check-out and private transfer to the airport for your international flight home. The trip ends before the busy April 30 to May 1 national holiday period.

 

Optional Extension: Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Extend your journey with a flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap Angkor International Airport to visit the temples of Angkor Wat, one of the world's great archaeological wonders. Details are available upon request.

 

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Photo credits: Trang An by Jakub Hałun (CC BY 4.0); Hanoi Old Quarter by Richard Mortel (CC BY 2.0); Meridian Gate, Hue by Vyacheslav Argenberg (CC BY 4.0); Lanterns of Hoi An by Deba Prasad Roy (CC0); Saigon Central Post Office by Yesvn123 (CC BY-SA 4.0); Lan Ha Bay by Velvet (CC BY-SA 4.0). All via Wikimedia Commons.