You will be greeted at the airport and transferred to your Hanoi hotel. Depending on when you arrive, activities may be arranged for your afternoon or evening.

Your Vietnam Beach Break begins with trip to Halong Bay, a collection of almost 2000 islands and jungle-clad limestone pillars in the Tonkin Gulf. Called “Bay of Descending Dragons” in Vietnamese, the archipelago is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a world-famous travel destination.

After arriving in coastal Halong City, transfer to a traditional wooden boat, called a “junk,” for an overnight cruise. Stop at caves and secluded lagoons, and explore the bay’s nooks and crannies via kayak. Or just sunbathe on the boat deck! In the evening feast on a seafood dinner as stars emerge from behind those jungle-clad limestone pillars.

Cruise back to the mainland, arriving around midday. You will then be transferred to the airport for a connecting flight to Danang and a short ride down the central coastline to Hoi An, a restored 15th century fishing village.  Spend your evening strolling past the romantically lit waterfront and dining in a riverside restaurant.

Your itinerary for the next two days is completely open. The options include a fun and informal cooking class or an excursion to the ruins of My Son, a former center of the ancient Champa civilization. You might also choose to lounge at a nearby beach and have some clothing made at one of Hoi An’s many tailoring shops.

The tour continues southwards to the beach destination Nha Trang, aside from a lovely beach, Nha Trang has islands where you can snorkel and scuba dive in search of tropical fish and coral. And the city’s hotels and resorts have mud baths and a remarkably robust nightlife scene.

Nha Trang’s postcard-perfect beaches offer good reasons to do very little aside from swim and sunbathe! But for those who can be tempted away, some nearby islands are worthy sites to explore. Highlights include Hon Mun Island, where you can snorkel and see tropical fish and coral, and Hon Tam Island, where you can relax on the beach.

Next up it is Ho Chi Minh City, a dynamic city of 6.5 million that boasts Vietnam’s most impressive downtown skyline. In the afternoon you have the option of a private city tour of famous landmarks like the Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral and Reunification Palace, or traveling out of town to see the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, where thousands of Viet Cong soldiers lived during the Vietnam War. In the evening, head to a trendy restaurant or cocktail bar, or else try street food near central Ben Thanh Market.

Take a unique journey through the Mekong Delta, the swampy network of rivers and canals that stretches across southern Vietnam to the Cambodia border. This full-day tour includes a cruise and three-course lunch aboard a converted rice barge, Le Jarai, and visits to a local temple and the home of a farmer who practices the traditional Vietnamese craft of mat weaving. You’ll discover why the Mekong is known as a hub for rice and seafood processing, and why it’s tropical landscapes are said to be so beautiful. 

Spend the next three days on the beach in Mui Ne, about 220 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City. This is a wildly popular place for watersports like windsurfing and kitesurfing, and its giant sand dunes are ideal for jeep safaris. The area is also famous for its cheap, fresh seafood. Your days will whizz by as you savor your last beach adventures and sunsets. Don’t forget to snap a few photos!

Spend the morning however you like before transferring to the airport for your onward flight.