12 Days Best of Vietnam Tour & Halong Bay Cruise

12 days11 nights
Tour Type
Private
This tour can be taken as a private tour following our set tour itinerary. Select your own travel dates to suit your personal group of family or friends.
Custom
You can customize any of our small group or private tour itineraries. You can do that by completing a booking for a specific tour and letting us know what else you want included in your China tour to custom design it.
Destinations
Ho Chi Minh City
Can Tho
Hoi An
Da Nang
Hue
Hanoi
Halong Bay
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12 Days Best of Vietnam Tour & Halong Bay Cruise

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  • Tour Name
    12 Days Best of Vietnam Tour & Halong Bay Cruise
  • Tour Type
    Small Group
  • Travel Date
    2025-08-08
  • Accommodation
    Luxury
  • Adults
    5
  • Children aged 2 to 11 years
    5
  • Infants aged 0 to 23 months
    5
  • Rooms
    5
  • Extra beds
    5

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  • Highlights
  • Itinerary
  • Accommodation
  • Inclusions/Exclusions
  • Important Info

Highlights

Ho Chi Minh City
Can Tho
Hoi An
Da Nang
Hue
Hanoi
Halong Bay

Be prepared for surprise and delight experiencing the best of historical and cultural wonders of Vietnam, savoring extraordinary natural scenery contrasting with dynamic modernizing cities, and relishing the distinctive flavors of local cuisine.

Experience many dimensions of diverse Vietnam with this 12-day guided journey taking in the scenic beauty, the most significant ancient religious sites, cultural traditions, crafts and markets. Feel the resolution of conflict in modern monuments and museums recognizing recent historical past, and the contrast, yet integration, of the ancient and the modern in vibrant cities of high rise alongside remnants of colonial architecture. Above all, savor the taste of Vietnam, from street hawkers, markets, ethnic villages, cafes and restaurants, to take home lasting memories.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City

On arrival into Ho Chi Minh City airport you will be met by your dedicated tour guide outside the baggage claim area. On the way to your pre-booked four or five star inner city hotel, your guide will point out the highlights and history of Ho Chi Minh City, such as Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Central Post Office. Spend the rest of the day exploring this incredible city.

Meals included: None

Day 2 - Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels-Ho Chi Minh City

After breakfast and a one and half hour drive, you will be presented with the challenging opportunity to explore the incredible underground Cu Chi Tunnel network, which was constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. The below-ground network providing living and restorative capability formed an essential part of their strategy for success. Some tunnels have been enlarged to accommodate visitors.

Back to Ho Chi Minh City to gain an insight to the spirit of the people and what they have overcome from turbulent history of Vietnam on display at the War Remnants Museum, featuring artefacts and records of hostilities against French, Japanese and American incursions. Also of significance to the country’s history is the Independence Palace commemorating the declaration of independence and rejoining of the south with the north. Visit to Ben Thanh Market where you can mix with the locals going about their daily lives while you check out the variety of goods on offer and sample some of the wares. Enjoying your free time at night by strolling along Dong Khoi Street, now mixed with high rise and populated with designer shops, restaurants and entertainment.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day3 - Ho Chi Minh City - Cai Be - Vinh Long - Can Tho

Leave Ho Chi Minh City to visit Cai Thia, passing through Cai Be, in the Mekong Delta. From here, witness local life from a different perspective as you ride a bicycle along paths that wind through plantations, vegetable gardens and tropical vegetation. You will pass peaceful villages and cycle along narrow canals, before stopping at a local family to sip tea and enjoy local fruits. After lunch at a guesthouse, jump aboard a rowing boat for further exploration on the river after which a local boat will return you to dock. From here, continue your journey to Can Tho where you’ll spend the night.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 4 - Can Tho – Da Nang – Hoi An

Start today’s trip with a boat cruise on sparking streams of the mighty Mekong River to Cai Rang Floating Market, where hundreds of boats loaded with fruits, vegetables and fish jostle for trade and sellers shout loudly to advertise their wares. You will then be transferred to Can Tho Airport for your flight to Da Nang, on your arrival you’ll be picked up and transferred to the hotel in Hoi An.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 5 - Hoi An

Today, on a light excursion around the tiny town of Hoi An, you will be able to explore picturesque cultural sites such as the ancient Japanese Covered Bridge, Fukian Assembly Hall (Phuc Kien) and Cantonese Assembly Hall (Quan Cong Temple), and the Old House of Tan Ky, home of a former Vietnamese merchant. A boat ride on the Hoai River in the afternoon leads to Thanh Ha Pottery Village, where making pottery is still practised in the traditional way and you can watch the locals at work. Pay a visit to the Precious Heritage Museum and see photographic work by Réhahn, a French photographer who shares his adventures in Vietnam. Tra Que Vegetable Village is a charming vegetable village which produces fresh leaves, vegetables and fruits for the local community. You will enjoy a cooking demonstration of Hoi An culinary specialties there. The evening is yours to explore charming Hoi An, taking in a highly recommended visit to the Hoi An night market.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6 - Hoi An - Da Nang - Hue

Enjoy a relaxing morning in Hoi An, before being driven to Hue. Along the way, you’ll have a chance to tour Da Nang, visiting Non Nuoc Beach, the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture and the famous Marble Mountains. On route take in the spectacular view to the ocean from Hai Van Pass. When you arrive in Hue in the afternoon, you are free to explore the city.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 7 - Hue

Enjoy an authentic experience of Hue today with a visit to the Imperial City of Hue, where you can stroll around this Forbidden Purple City site to see the Halls of Mandarins. At every turn there are things to broaden your knowledge, experience and understanding of Vietnamese history. Continue the tour to the majestic Minh Mang Tomb and a sail along the Perfume River in a royal dragon boat to the serene Thien Mu Pagoda. Later, you will be transferred to the End today’s sightseeing at the bustling Dong Ba Market where you can get up close to local life and sample some of the exotic wares.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 8 - Hue - Hanoi

Enjoy the free time in the early morning until it is time to leave to catch your flight to Hanoi.

Upon arrival, check into the hotel, then take a walk through Hanoi’s Old Quarter street markets with a local guide who’s passionate about food to discover the exotic flavors of Vietnam with fellow food-lovers. You can sample fruit, hawker street food and local specialties like pork crepes. Visit Hanoi’s largest covered market, Dong Xuan for a personalized taste encounter with Hanoi’s best street food on this walking tour.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 9 - Hanoi

In the morning, spend some leisure time on Ba Dinh Square, site of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Later, visit Ho Chi Minh’s House on Stilts, the nearby One Pillar Pagoda and Vietnam’s Confucius Center and first university, the Temple of Literature.

In the afternoon, proceed to Hoa Lo Prison (called the Hanoi Hilton by American POW soldiers), followed by the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, the best place to learn about Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups from the rich collections of objects, photos, video tapes and cassettes.

Pay a visit to a local craftsman’s house to learn how the water puppets are made and enjoy a unique water puppet show, a favorite experience for all visitors to Vietnam and the highlight of any Vietnam tour.

Meals included: Breakfast

Note: The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed on Fridays and Mondays and most museums are closed on Mondays. Your guide may adjust the itinerary accordingly.

Day 10 - Hanoi - Halong Bay

The next day and a half promises the enriching experience of a Halong Bay cruise, beginning with a 2.5-hour drive from Hanoi to the World Heritage site. Over 1,600 limestone karst islands dot the bay, traditional sampans and junks sail the glittering waters, grottos, thick forests, and hidden coves complete a movie-magical picture. Check in for the cruise at midday, in time to be served the lunch, before embarking on a memorable adventure. Along the way a variety of optional activities like kayaking, swimming, diving can add to the fun of this trip.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 11- Halong Bay - Hanoi

Get an early start today if you want to join a Tai Chi lesson with other passengers on the deck, or just soak up the beautiful view of limestone islands, charming beaches and amazing grottos. The cruise will pass by the Bai Tu Long Bay later and continue until disembarking after brunch at around 11:00am. Our guide and driver will meet you at the pier then drive back to Hanoi, arriving at the hotel around 3:00pm. You are then free to enjoy the rest of the day.

Meals included: Brunch

Day 12 - Depart from Hanoi

You will be at leisure till our driver transfers you to the airport for your return flight. Your tour concludes today.

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation

Ho Chi Minh City
Can Tho
Hoi An
Hue
Hanoi
Halong Bay

Inclusions / Exclusions

Inclusions:

  • Admission fees: to sightseeing spots and activities specified
  • Accommodation: hotels based on double/twin occupancy as specified
  • Meals: as specified in the itinerary
  • Tour guide: excellent private English-speaking guide
  • Transportation: Economy class domestic flights between Can Tho/Da Nang and Hue/Hanoi, cruise on Halong Bay
  • Transfers: land transfer with drivers as specified
  • Travel Agency Liability Insurance during the tour
  • Government taxes and fees.

Exclusions:

  • International/domestic flights to Ho Chi Minh City/from Hanoi
  • Vietnam visas
  • Gratuities to guides and drivers and any expense of personal nature
  • Meals: Lunches and dinners are excluded allowing you flexibility around meal choices. Your guide will make recommendations and order for you, if required.
  • Our tour package does not include travel insurance. Please purchase travel insurance before your trip to provide for any unforeseen circumstances.

Important Information

  • This is a private tour for your group of family or friends. No other travelers will join you. It's always available for your schedule!
  • Smart casual dress and comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
  • Prices Based on Twin Occupancy
  • The prices shown above are not valid during Official Holidays (such as Christmas Holiday, New Year's Holiday, National Holiday or other festival occasions in each country etc.)
  • The tour guide may adjust the itinerary due to closure of the museums each Monday.
  • Any city not included in the existing tour package can be blended into as Private tour.
  • Entering and exiting Vietnam from Siem Reap and Bangkok are also available.
  • Optional tours to Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and other destinations are also available.
  • Stays at entering and exiting cities (Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi) can be extended.

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Testimonials


Debbie W
Debbie W
Reviewed on July 4, 2025
Tripadvisor score Beautiful China!

June 2025 • Family

We absolutely had a wonderful time and would highly recommend Chinatours.com to assist travelers to build their itinerary. Our itinerary was well outlined to include many wonderful historical sites, fun outdoor markets and beautiful gardens. We were guided by very knowledgeable and friendly tour guides. We especially liked Lee. She was accommodating, knowledgeable about the history of China, introduced us to the many wonderful things about the culture, recommended very good local restaurants, and assured confirmation and safety of our transportation. Chinatours booked us very nice hotels and the transport between cities was seamless. We really enjoyed our time in China and wished we could have stayed longer.
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Daniel R
Daniel R
Reviewed on July 3, 2025
Tripadvisor score Great Time In Beijing!

July 2025 • Solo

Really enjoyed by first trip to Beijing! Our tour guide, Nancy, was terrific. She was very informative and kept things very well organized and on schedule. I would definitely recommend China Tours to anyone who wants to visit China.
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Sherin E
Sherin E
Reviewed on July 3, 2025
Tripadvisor score Fantastic tour guide in Beijing!

July 2025 • Family

Our trip in Beijing was absolutely amazing. We had an excellent tour guide, Nancy. She was very knowledgeable, supportive and always ready to help us to make our stay enjoyable. We highly recommend her.
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Ivan J
Ivan J
Reviewed on July 3, 2025
Tripadvisor score Beijing tour group

July 2025 • Couples

Great Beijing tour, the small group works great. Excellent tour guide Nancy - good English, fun and loads of knowledge. Accommodation was great!
Read more Read less
Genoveva G
Genoveva G
Reviewed on June 24, 2025
Tripadvisor score Great tour with Linda in Beijing

June 2025 • Friends

This is our second tour with China tours, and it was fantastic. Linda was our guide in Beijing. She was great! She was very knowledgeable about history and culture and a very kind person. Our group was a mix of young and old, and she made our days in Beijing interesting for everyone. We highly recommend Linda and China tours!
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Tofta2010
Tofta2010
Reviewed on June 23, 2025
Tripadvisor score Very interesting and inspiring days!

June 2025 • Friends

Linda did an excellent job to explain and teaching us all about Chinese history and give us a good insight to all the places she showed us. We were a diverse group and even got our three children interred along the way. Thanks Linda!
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Gavin M
Gavin M
Reviewed on June 19, 2025
Tripadvisor score 100% fabulous experience

June 2025 • Family

The trip with China Tours was 100% fabulous. Everything about it was exactly as described. The tour guides were all wonderful, the hotels, and transfers (two bullet trains, two domestic flights) were amazing, everything went exactly as planned, and we had a great first trip to China. We did the 13 Days China Wonders & Pandas tour in June 2025. The balance was perfect between sightseeing with the guides and having free time to explore this amazing country at each destination. The high quality of the five guides along the way really made the trip. They were wonderful people without exception: professional, courteous, very knowledgeable, and friendly. The team at China Tours did truly great work in arranging everything, down to the last detail. Thank you very much for making this trip a really great experience!
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Susan B
Susan B
Reviewed on June 19, 2025
Tripadvisor score The only way to visit China!

June 2025 • Couples

This is a fantastic tour. The tour guides are amazing- so knowledgeable and extremely helpful. The experience of visiting the historic sites has been made far richer than it would’ve been on our own. We have left China with a greater understanding of Chinese history, culture and its people.
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