Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam

Experience the quintessential trip to discover the history and culture of Vietnam! This package includes all the must-see attractions when visiting Vietnam. Explore the bustling city of Ho Chi Minh City, and take a day trip to the Mekong Delta to experience the unique floating market. Visit the ancient and charming old towns of Hoi An and Hue, and explore the capital city of Hanoi. To make your trip even more unforgettable, we've added a trip to Halong Bay on an overnight cruise stay.

Day 1

Upon your arrival at Ho Chi Minh City Airport, your local guide and driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you. Read moreMore about Ho Chi Minh City

Day 2

After breakfast, you will be driven around 45 kilometers (28 miles) to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a huge subterranean village dug by Viet Cong soldiers during Vietnam War as protections against air raids. You will have a chance to walk through the tunnels to experience a short time of underground life.Read moreMore about Cu Chi Tunnels

Cu Chi Tunnels

After having lunch at Ben Nay restaurant on the way back to Ho Chi Minh City, you will continue your tour to War Remnants Museum collecting lots of weapons and vehicles left by the war. It is a great place for history buffs to explore.

Your guide will then accompany you to a more than 50-year-old historical café, Phuc Long Coffee & Tea, tasting Vietnam's most famous Saigon Coffee. Read moreMore about War Remnants Museum

War Remnants Museum

After lunch, you will visit the Presidential Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the old Post Office to learn about the history of Vietnam. After the visits, you will be escorted back to your hotel.Read moreMore about Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral

Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral

Day 3

In the morning, a 2-hour drive will take you to Ben Tre, where you will enjoy a boat cruise along the Ham Luong River to experience the unique lifestyle of the Mekong Delta. The boat will stop at a quiet village, you can have a short walk to visit a local family house, take “Xe Loi”, a kind of motorized rickshaw or you can hop onto your bicycle and peddle through villages. A delicious lunch is served at a riverside restaurant. 

After the lunch break, you will reach the dock by sampan and get on the boat back to Ben Tre. Finally, you will be driven back to the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.Read moreMore about Mekong Delta

Mekong Delta

Day 4

In the morning, you will be escorted to the Ho Chi Minh City airport for the flight to Da Nang. On arrival, your local guide will transfer you to Hoi An Ancient Town, which has been listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site since 1999.Read moreMore about Hoi An

Hoi An

After lunch, you will take a walking tour in Hoi An Ancient Town. You will be impressed by the colorful lanterns and ancient buildings. You will walk through the winding streets with some stopovers at the iconic architecture of Quan Cong Temple, the Assembly Hall of Fujian Chinese Congregation, the Japanese Covered Bridge and Precious Heritage by Rehahn. At night, Hoi An becomes more charming and dazzling, as colorful lanterns illuminate the entire ancient town.Read moreMore about Hoi An Ancient Town

Hoi An Ancient Town

Day 5

After breakfast, you will be escorted to Hue by a private vehicle. The ride will take you through the beautiful Hai Van pass. After around 3.5 hours, you will arrive in Hue and check into the hotel.Read moreMore about Hai Van Pass

Hai Van Pass

In the afternoon, you will enjoy a guided walking tour in this quaint city. The first stop is the central located Imperial City, which is also called the Forbidden City of Hue, the capital city of the last dynasty.Read moreMore about Hue Imperial City (The Citadel)

Hue Imperial City (The Citadel)

Visit the Tomb of Tu Duc where you will enjoy the harmonious relationship between humans and nature from the buildings inside. After the visits, you will be escorted back to your hotel.Read moreMore about Tomb of Tu Duc

Tomb of Tu Duc

Day 6

Take a private boat cruise down the river to visit Thien Mu Pagoda. Around the pagoda, there are also Fuyuan Tower, Thien Mu ancient courier route, as well as several splendid palaces waiting for you to explore.Read moreMore about Thien Mu Pagoda

Thien Mu Pagoda

Afterward, you will head to Dong Ba Market, which is the largest traditional trading market in Hue. Here, you will have a chance to know more about local trading, and the way the local people doing business.Read moreMore about Dong Ba Market

Dong Ba Market

Then you will be guided to visit the Tomb of Minh Mang, which was built in the 19th century. You will find that the mausoleum complex subtly combined majesty and elegance. The beautiful garden, along with the ancient buildings, is a nice place to stroll leisurely in the peaceful ambiance.Read moreMore about Mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang

Mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang

After the visits, you will be taken to the airport for the flight to Hanoi. On arrival, your Hanoi guide will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel.Read moreMore about Hanoi

Noi Bai International Airport

Day 7

You will begin your Hanoi Cooking Class Tour (Join in) around 09:00. Your foodie guide will pick you up from your hotel lobby and take you to the local market to learn about some ingredients and get a fascinating glimpse of people’s life there. Then, you will learn how to cook Vietnamese traditional food and enjoy your own creations and other foods with unique local beer or herb drinks.

After lunch, your private guide will pick you up and transfer you to visit the Ba Dinh Square, which is the center of the city. The square can accommodate one or two hundred thousand people and it is the main site for celebrating festivals. Read moreMore about Ba Dinh Square

Ba Dinh Square

From the square, you will visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, consisting of Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and stilt houses. Chairman Ho Chi Minh led Vietnam to its independence from French colonial rule and devoted all his life to the liberation. You will know more about this Vietnam hero after visiting. Read moreMore about Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Next, you will be guided to visit the nearby One Pillar Pagoda, a historic Buddhist temple built in the 12th century. Its artful structures comprising a small temple situated at a stone pillar in the lake is definitely a wonder to the tourists.Read moreMore about One Pillar Pagoda

One Pillar Pagoda

Later, your guide will show you the 11th-century Temple of Literature which is Vietnam's first national university. You will enjoy its exquisite Chinese-style structures and learn about the history of Confucianism in this country. Later, you will be escorted back to hotel. Read moreMore about Temple of Literature & National University

Temple of Literature & National University

Day 8

After breakfast, a 3.5-hour drive will take you to the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Halong Bay, where you will board the cruise at around noon and have lunch onboard while sailing out into the mysterious bay. You can also take part in some activities arranged by the cruise.Read moreMore about Hạ Long Bay

Halong Bay

Day 9

Today, you can get up early to join in Tai Chi class on board or admire sunrise and take beautiful pictures on deck. After that, enjoy morning tea or coffee. You will then take a boat to explore some of the nearby islands. And return to the cruise ship for brunch. 

The cruise will sail back to the wharf at around 12:30. Your guide and driver will meet you there and transfer you to Noi Bai International Airport for your departure flight home. 

If you have a morning flight and need to stay one more night in Hanoi, you travel consultant will tailor this trip for you. Have a nice journey home!Read moreMore about Hanoi

9-Day Vietnam Private Tour to Ho Chi Minh, Hoi An, Hue, Hanoi and Ha Long Bay

Overview

What you'll do

Tour Highlight

What is included?

What is not included?

Additional Information

Meet your host

Itinerary

Ho Chi Minh City Half-day Tours Itinerary (2026 Guide) – What You'll See & Do

Here is the starting point

Ho Chi Minh City

Experiences in Ho Chi Minh City

Half-day Tours

Street Food Tours

Full-day Tours

Cultural Neighborhood Tours

Hidden Gems / Off-the-Beaten-Path Tours

Culinary Tours

Short Tours/Experiences

Street Food Experiences

Overnight Tours

River Cruises

City Walking Tours