Vietnam: Hanoi to Saigon

North to south: Hanoi, Ninh Binh, a night on Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Ba Na Hills and the Mekong Delta.

Your route

1. 1 Hanoi 2 nights
2. 2 Ha Long cruise 1 night
3. 3 Da Nang 2 nights
4. 4 Ho Chi Minh City 2 nights

1. Day 1 Hanoi

   Arrive, Old Quarter.

   Welcome to Vietnam. Indian travellers need an e-visa, approved before flying. Our guide meets you at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi and takes you to your hotel. In the afternoon, enjoy a half-day city tour, seeing the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum from outside, the One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university. In the evening, walk through the Old Quarter around Hoan Kiem Lake and try Vietnamese egg coffee. Carry some Vietnamese dong in small notes for cafes. Overnight in Hanoi.

2. Day 2 Hanoi

   Ninh Binh, Hoa Lu and Tam Coc.

   A day trip to Ninh Binh, about two hours south, often called Ha Long Bay on land. Visit Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam in the tenth century, with temples to its early kings. Then take a sampan boat ride at Tam Coc, where local rowers often use their feet to paddle you along a river through rice fields and limestone caves. Cycling through the villages is possible on request. Return to Hanoi in the evening. Overnight in Hanoi.

3. Day 3 Ha Long Bay

   Overnight cruise.

   Drive about two and a half hours to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO site with nearly two thousand limestone islands rising from emerald water. Board your cruise ship and settle into your cabin. Sail among the islands, visit a cave, and go kayaking or swimming when the weather allows. Watch the sunset from the deck, and enjoy dinner on board. Vegetarian meals can be arranged in advance. Carry a light jacket for the evening breeze on deck. Overnight on the Ha Long Bay cruise.

4. Day 4 Da Nang

   Fly to Da Nang.

   Wake up early for a tai chi session on the sun deck as mist lifts over the islands. After brunch, the ship returns to the harbour, and you drive back towards Hanoi airport for your flight to Da Nang in central Vietnam, about one and a half hours. Our guide meets you and takes you to your hotel near the beach. Spend the evening on My Khe Beach or see the Dragon Bridge, which breathes fire on weekend nights. Overnight in Da Nang.

5. Day 5 Da Nang

   Ba Na Hills, coconut village, Hoi An.

   Ride one of the world's longest cable cars up to Ba Na Hills and walk across the Golden Bridge, held up by two giant stone hands, with views over the forest. Explore the French Village on the hilltop. In the afternoon, visit Cam Thanh Coconut Village and ride a round bamboo basket boat through the water palms. In the evening, explore Hoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO site lit by hundreds of silk lanterns. Carry a jacket for the hilltop. Overnight in Da Nang.

6. Day 6 Ho Chi Minh City

   Marble Mountains, fly south.

   Visit the Marble Mountains, five limestone hills just outside Da Nang with caves and Buddhist shrines inside, and climb up for views over the coast. Drive past the city's beaches and the Dragon Bridge. Then transfer to the airport for your flight south to Ho Chi Minh City, about one and a half hours. Check in to your hotel and spend the evening exploring the busy streets and rooftop bars of District 1. Wear comfortable shoes. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

7. Day 7 Ho Chi Minh City

   Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta.

   Drive about 70 km to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a network of underground passages used during the Vietnam War, and crawl through a short section to see how people lived and fought underground. In the afternoon, continue to the Mekong Delta. Take a boat along the wide river and its narrow canals lined with coconut palms, visit a coconut candy workshop and taste tropical fruits to the sound of folk music. Return to the city. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

8. Day 8 Ho Chi Minh City

   City tour, departure.

   After breakfast, enjoy a city tour of Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by locals. See the Notre-Dame Cathedral from outside, the Central Post Office designed in French colonial style, the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum. Shop at Ben Thanh Market for coffee, lacquerware and silk. Our guide then transfers you to Tan Son Nhat airport for your flight home. Pack Vietnamese coffee and cashews in your checked luggage, as they make lovely gifts. Your journey from Hanoi to Saigon ends here.

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