Focus: Arts, Cuisine and Culture of Vietnam
From the authentic charm of the capital Hanoi, the quiet beauty of Halong’s Bai Tu Long Bay to exclusive experiences in Hoi An to the buzzing streets of Ho Chi Minh City, this 11 day itinerary offers immersive experiences to truly connect with the remarkable wonders of Vietnam through arts, cuisine and culture.
Journey highlights
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An end-to-end exploration of Vietnam’s diverse landscapes, offering exclusive access to its intriguing history and vibrant heritage.
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Discover the authentic charm of Hanoi, to the serenity of secluded Bai Tu Long Bay before travelling to the charming and evocative town of Hoi An before finishing with the eclectic energy of Ho Chi Minh City.
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Deepen your connection to the destination through exclusive tours that highlight authentic local arts, private culinary experiences, and rare cultural encounters.
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The finest hotels in Vietnam have been chosen for this journey. From flamboyant design to intimate, wellness to elegance, the accommodation is sure to delight.
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Itinerary
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At a Glance
Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi
An assistant meets you at the immigration barrier before you've had time to feel the length of the flight fast-track lanes, bags collected, customs handled. From there, a fifty-minute drive into the city. Hanoi announces itself through the windows: the density, the noise, the particular quality of light in the late afternoon.
Check in and rest. Tomorrow begins early and in earnest.
Day 2: The City in Full
The morning starts at the Temple of Literature, Van Mieu, which served as Vietnam's first university for eight hundred years and still carries that sense of accumulated purpose. Stone courtyards, turtle steles bearing the names of doctoral graduates, the quiet that comes with a place people have been visiting with intention for centuries. From here the choice is yours: the Women's Museum, which reframes Vietnamese history through the stories of those who are often written out of it; the Hoa Lo Museum, where the exhibits of the former prisoner-of-war camp are sober and unsparing; or the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, where the queues are long but the circuit, the stilted house and the One Pillar Pagoda rewards the patience.
The evening is a different register entirely. A stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake as the city winds down, then a century-old French villa and strong green tea in the company of a family who have lived in the Old Quarter across several generations. Dinner at Madame Hien follows, a restored colonial villa, Vietnamese and French influences in the cooking, unhurried and very good. The night ends with a handcrafted cocktail at a hidden bar looking out over the floodlit façade of St Joseph's Cathedral. A full day, but one that earns its length.
Day 3 : Hanoi Art, Architecture and Street Food
The morning belongs to Hanoi's contemporary art scene not the museum version, but the working one. A local curator leads the way through independent galleries and exhibition spaces where young Vietnamese artists are producing work that has found its way onto the international stage. The Art Vietnam Gallery was founded by a woman who arrived in 1994 and spent the next three decades building relationships with artists who were figuring out what Vietnamese art could be after decades of upheaval. The conversation around the work is as interesting as the work itself.
The afternoon shifts to the French Quarter, and to food. This is not a restaurant tour — it's a walk through the neighbourhood's backstreets and hidden courtyards, stopping where the locals actually eat. Noodles under a native tree. Bánh mì from a stall that knows what it's doing. The Bun Cha restaurant where Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain ate grilled pork and rice noodles in 2016, which hasn't changed much since. Pho Thin, dating to 1979, which hasn't changed at all. The trail ends with Trang Tien ice cream, a Hanoi institution since 1958, eaten outside in the warm evening air near the Opera House.Where to stay
Capella Hanoi (3 nights)
Alternative Places to Stay Nearby
More Experiences in This Area
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At a Glance
Days 4–5: Bai Tu Long Bay
An early departure from Hanoi and two and a half hours east, the city gives way to coast and then to water. Bai Tu Long Bay shares Halong's dramatic limestone karsts thousands of them, rising from an emerald sea but without the volume of cruise traffic that has made Halong itself difficult to experience quietly. A large portion of the bay is protected as a national park and ASEAN Heritage Site, and the floating fishing villages here operate on rhythms that have little to do with tourism.
The boat navigates through the formations as lunch is served. Afternoons are for kayaking through channels where the cliff walls rise on both sides and the water is almost still. The boat anchors in a sheltered bay as evening comes in, dinner is served on deck, and the optional squid fishing lines dropped into the dark water, the occasional pull of something below is more absorbing than it sounds.
The second morning opens with Tai Chi on deck, or meditation on a nearby islet if you prefer stillness. Thien Canh Son Cave involves a hundred steps and rewards them with sweeping views and a prehistoric cavern of stalactites. Vung Vieng is a floating village where the community's livelihood comes from fish and pearl farming, the guide makes the introductions and the conversations are genuine. The afternoon ends at a secluded beach: swimming, sundowners, and the particular contentment of having nowhere else to be.Where to stay
Heritage Line - Violet (2 nights)
Alternative Places to Stay Nearby
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At a Glance
Day 6: From the Bay to Hoi An
A gentle final morning on the water, Tai Chi, pastries, the last views of the bay before the ship turns back toward the marina. Disembark at mid-morning and transfer to Hanoi airport for the afternoon flight south to Da Nang.
From Da Nang it's fifty minutes to Hoi An. The town announces itself through the taxi window in the early evening: lanterns strung between buildings, the smell of wood smoke, the hum of a place that has been receiving visitors for four hundred years and has developed a considered relationship with that fact. The historic core is quiet after dark in a way that few Vietnamese cities manage. Check in and settle in.
Day 7: Hoi An Old Town and an Evening Among Bars
The old town rewards a guided morning more than almost anywhere in Vietnam, the layers of history here require someone who knows where to look. The Japanese Bridge, built four hundred years ago to connect two communities separated by a narrow waterway, is the obvious landmark, but the Chinese assembly hall beside it, bright gates, dragon statues, incense spirals, carries more atmosphere. The traditional merchant houses have survived hundreds of years of weather and war with their timber interiors intact, and the calligraphy master at the local pagoda provides a ninety-minute workshop in an art form that requires patience to attempt and considerable skill to do well. You'll leave with something made by your own hand.
The afternoon is yours. The evening begins at five with a cocktail trail that covers four very different bars, a hidden room down a narrow alley, a rooftop with views over the Thu Bon River, stops in between that each have their own logic and their own drinks. The last bar involves a hands-on demonstration of a Vietnamese-inspired cocktail. It's a good way to understand a town through what it chooses to put in a glass.
Day 8: The River, the Islands and a Quiet Ending
A morning at the Namia's Lumina Spa, where the wellness programme is grounded in Vietnamese herbology rather than generic retreat rituals — herbal hammam steam, facial reflexology, traditional therapies that make reference to actual local practice. Take as much of the morning as you want.
The afternoon puts you on a bicycle on the far side of the Thu Bon River, reached by a short boat crossing. The route goes to a pearl wood carving workshop, then to a family that produces basket boats, thúng chài, woven from reeds into a bowl shape that is unique to central Vietnam — then to a mat-making workshop where sedge grass is worked into the kind of floor coverings you see in every traditional house in the region. The craft at each stop is specific and the families are doing this work whether visitors come or not.
The day ends at a secluded venue outside the town, reached by open-air buggy through riverbank paths. As the afternoon heat fades, a sunset cocktail over rice paddies that stretch to the horizon. Return to the hotel when the light is gone.Where to stay
Namia River Retreat (3 nights)
Alternative Places to Stay Nearby
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At a Glance
Day 9: Fly South to Saigon
An early transfer to Da Nang for the ten o'clock flight to Ho Chi Minh City. An hour and a half in the air, and the change is immediate, Ho Chi Minh City has a different energy to every city you've visited in the north and centre. Louder, faster, less interested in the past even as it's surrounded by it.
The afternoon goes to history, but approached from an unusual angle. A vintage US army jeep picks you up and the tour moves through the city's wartime geography: the shophouse restaurant that served as a revolutionary base; the former CIA building where one of the last helicopter evacuations took place in 1975; the Independence Palace, where tanks crashed through the gates and ended a war, now preserved as it was left. The guide explains the story behind the photographs that defined that period, the images by Hubert van Es and Malcolm Browne that shaped the world's understanding of what happened here. It's a lot to process, and it's meant to be.
Day 10: The Tunnels and the Opera House
A speedboat from the banks of the Saigon River, the city skyline receding behind you as the waterway opens out and the urban edges give way to countryside. Ninety minutes to Cu Chi, where two hundred kilometres of underground tunnels were dug by hand and sustained an entire community through years of war. Crawling through a section of them optional, but worthwhile, gives a physical understanding of what the exhibits can only suggest. The weapons on display, the accounts of daily life underground, the sheer scale of what was accomplished: all of it is easier to absorb after you've been inside it.
Lunch is served at a riverside retreat on the way back, three courses under tropical greenery, before the speedboat returns you to the city in the mid-afternoon.
The evening is at the Saigon Opera House, built by the French in 1897 and now home to the AO Show Vietnamese dancers and acrobats telling the story of the country's heritage through contemporary choreography. An hour of performance, then a walk through the illuminated streets with your guide, then dinner on Dong Khoi Street at the restaurant of chef Luke Nguyen, whose cooking takes Vietnamese tradition seriously without treating it as a museum piece.
Day 11: Departure
A thirty-minute transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport, where an airport representative takes over, check-in handled, priority lane through immigration, escorted to the gate. Vietnam ends as it began: with someone there to make the transition seamless. Tam bi?t.Where to stay
Park Hyatt Saigon (2 nights)
Alternative Places to Stay Nearby
More Experiences in This Area
Our tailor made journeys include:
- Your dedicated Travel Consultant who will take care of arrangements
- Private international airport transfers in destination and your own private, English-speaking local guides
- Unique experiences, hand-picked by our Journeys team
- Entrance to must-see local sites
- Dedicated 24/7 team providing in-country support and guidance
When to visit
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- F
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- J
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- S
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- N
- D
Given that Vietnam is a long country, the weather patterns can vary greatly. In general, the best months to go if you are visiting north, central and south Vietnam are from January/February to March/April. In winter, northern Vietnam can get quite cold, and mountainous areas such as Sapa can experience regular mists, although it is usually fairly dry. In June and July this region can get very hot. Central Vietnam is at its best from January to April, and although there is a higher chance of rain from April to September, this is still a good time to travel. The central coast experiences heavy rain from September to November/December. Southern Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, is always hot and humid, with the best weather between November to March. This area can get very wet in summer months, with regular flooding.
Price Guide: ( based on double occupancy and includes international flights)
| Departing |
Price from*
|
Deposit from * | Enquire |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | HKD $61,200 | HKD $9,200 | plan your trip |
| May 2026 | HKD $54,100 | HKD $8,100 | plan your trip |
| June 2026 | HKD $54,100 | HKD $8,100 | plan your trip |
| July 2026 | HKD $61,200 | HKD $9,200 | plan your trip |
| August 2026 | HKD $61,200 | HKD $9,200 | plan your trip |
| September 2026 | HKD $54,100 | HKD $8,100 | plan your trip |
| October 2026 | HKD $54,100 | HKD $8,100 | plan your trip |
| November 2026 | HKD $61,200 | HKD $9,200 | plan your trip |
| December 2026 | HKD $61,200 | HKD $9,200 | plan your trip |
| January 2027 | HKD $61,200 | HKD $9,200 | plan your trip |
| February 2027 | HKD $61,200 | HKD $9,200 | plan your trip |
| March 2027 | HKD $61,200 | HKD $9,200 | plan your trip |
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April 2026
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
HKD $61,200
Deposit from*HKD $9,200
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May 2026
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
HKD $54,100
Deposit from*HKD $8,100
-
June 2026
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
HKD $54,100
Deposit from*HKD $8,100
-
July 2026
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
HKD $61,200
Deposit from*HKD $9,200
-
August 2026
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
HKD $61,200
Deposit from*HKD $9,200
-
September 2026
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
HKD $54,100
Deposit from*HKD $8,100
-
October 2026
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
HKD $54,100
Deposit from*HKD $8,100
-
November 2026
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
HKD $61,200
Deposit from*HKD $9,200
-
December 2026
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
HKD $61,200
Deposit from*HKD $9,200
-
January 2027
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
HKD $61,200
Deposit from*HKD $9,200
-
February 2027
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
HKD $61,200
Deposit from*HKD $9,200
-
March 2027
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
HKD $61,200
Deposit from*HKD $9,200
We design each itinerary around you, so this suggested itineraryis a starting point that we can tweak or transform into something completely bespoke to you. Call us on +852 3579 2478 to start planning your holiday.
