Beyond the Ordinary: Northern and Central Vietnam
Dive into this epic private tour of Vietnam’s stunning central coast. Relax on the shores of Ninh Van Bay and take a guided Vespa trip to the banks of the Perfume River, where you can explore the city of Hue – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The charming historic town of Hoi An is another UNESCO site that you'll explore on this 15-night stay.
14 nights private tour from $9,100 per person
Journey highlights
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Lap up the buzzing charm of Hue, explore the city by vespa and watch the city come alive while devouring the best street food around
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Travel through the world-famous Hai Van pass, taking in the epic vistas and stunning sites
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Hoi An is a gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage town with atmospheric streets, inviting restaurants and plenty of buzzy bars
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Submerge in the utter luxury of the highly exclusive Six Senses resort of Ninh Van Bay
- Extraordinary itinerary:Our Extraordinary Journeys offer unforgettable cutting-edge hotels, experiences and restaurants with a focus on design, fashion and innovation
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Itinerary
Fly to Hanoi
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At a Glance
Day 1: Arrival in Vietnam
Vietnam announces itself through the windows before the doors even open, the density of it, the heat, the way the city never quite quiets down. An assistant meets you at the immigration barrier and takes the logistical weight off immediately: fast-track lanes, bags retrieved, customs handled before you've had time to feel the fatigue.The drive into the city takes around fifty minutes. By the time you reach the Sofitel Legend Metropole, its white colonial façade set quietly on the edge of the Old Quarter the mood shifts. This is somewhere to exhale. Arrival days aren't for schedules. Check in, find your bearings, and let the sounds of Hanoi do the orienting for you.Day 2: The Authentic Life of HanoiThe morning starts before the city fully wakes. A stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake at eight o'clock catches it in a particular light, older men doing tai chi by the water, vendors setting up their stalls, the French Gothic spire of St Joseph's Cathedral appearing between the trees. It's a Hanoi that exists before the traffic makes itself known. From here the route moves into the Old Quarter, along Phung Hung Street where the railway track runs through a corridor of houses so narrow that trains pass within arm's reach of people's front doors. Originally laid in the 1880s under French rule, the line has become a kind of lived-in landmark cafés have grown up around it, and depending on regulations you'll watch a train come through from an upstairs window or from street level. Either way, it tells you something about how Hanoi absorbs its own history. The morning ends in a local home, drinking green tea the way residents prefer it strong, with no ceremony about it. The conversation meanders through generations of life in this neighborhood: how families have changed, what has remained the same. By half eleven you're back at the Metropole, with a morning that already feels substantial.Day 3: Ninh Binh Hoa Lu and Tam CocAfter breakfast the city falls away. Two hours south of Hanoi, the landscape changes entirely, limestone karsts rise from flooded plains, the paddies are the color of jade, and the only sounds are water and birdsong. The locals call this region 'Halong Bay on land,' and standing at the edge of the Ngo Dong River, you understand why. The boat trip through Tam Coc takes two hours at a pace that feels like drifting. Your rowers use their feet, a technique that protects their backs and arms over years of work, and the three limestone water caves you pass through each have their own character: the light changes, the carvings are different, and the stillness inside each one is absolute. Keep an eye on the hillsides for goats, and the water for what the itinerary diplomatically calls 'swimming pigs.' After a Vietnamese lunch, the afternoon goes to Hoa Lu, Vietnam's first imperial capital, a site that predates Hanoi's own prominence. The ruins of the Dinh and Le dynasties are fragmentary but evocative, and climbing into the karst hills above brings the scale of the landscape into full view. If you'd prefer to stay lower, a bike ride through the rice fields to Bich Dong Pagoda offers 200 steps up to Ngu Nhac Mountain and three cave temples dating to 1428. You're back in Hanoi by early evening, with the overnight train to Sapa departing at ten.Where to stay
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi (2 nights)
Alternative Places to Stay Nearby
More Experiences in This Area
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At a Glance
Day 4: Overnight Train and Arrival at Topas EcolodgeThe Chapa Express is one of Vietnam's newest trains wood-panelled private cabins, good mattresses, air-conditioning. Your guide sees you to your berth at Hanoi Station, tickets in hand, and from ten o'clock you're moving north through darkness, the lights of smaller towns passing at intervals. Eight hours later, Lao Cai. A driver meets you on the platform and the final hour is a winding road into the mountains. Topas Ecolodge sits high above the Muong Hoa Valley bungalows of granite and glass looking out over ridgelines that extend as far as you can see. After the overnight journey, the stillness is a welcome counterweight. Early check-in and breakfast are arranged. That afternoon, the pace stays gentle. A walk descends from the lodge through rice terraces into a valley and up to Lech Dao village, where the Red Dao community will meet you. Their embroidery work is intricate in a way that takes a moment to fully register — the symbolic patterns worked by hand, the natural dyes giving each piece a depth that printed fabric can't replicate. The return trail crosses a suspension bridge above the terraces. Around seven kilometers, easy grade, back in time for sunset.Day 5: Sapa's Hidden TrailsToday is the full version of Sapa — not the town, but the landscape behind it. A vehicle takes you deep into Hoang Lien National Park to the trail head near Sin Chai, and from there the path is yours. High mountains, deep valleys, and very few other people. The trail reaches Nam Nhiu, a Red Dao farming village where daily life runs on rhythms that have nothing to do with the tourism infrastructure a few valleys over. You'll visit homes, talk to farmers, and eat lunch in Nam Cang — the far end of the Sapa Valley, where the women are known for the most varied and vivid traditional dress in northern Vietnam, and also for their knowledge of herbal medicine and silverwork. There's time to watch paper being made and jewelry being shaped before the vehicle comes to collect you. A full day, moderate in grade, with two hours of driving factored in each way.Day 6: H'Mong Batik and the Textile WorkshopVietnam's 54 ethnic minority communities each have a textile tradition, and the Black H'Mong's is among the most demanding to understand. A half-day workshop in Lao Chai Village opens a window into it — not the polished version sold in markets, but the actual process: hemp cultivation, the application of hot beeswax to create batik patterns, indigo dyeing, and the folk symbolism embedded in every motif. There are 41 steps in a complete design. You won't cover all of them, but you'll come away with a clear sense of what craftsmanship at this level actually involves. A short morning hike brings you down to the village, a traditional H'Mong lunch is included, and an easy walk through to Ta Van rounds out the afternoon before the car returns you to Topas. A day that rewards curiosity.Day 7: Return to HanoiA morning departure from Topas, back down through the mountains and south to Hanoi. The drive takes five and a half hours, the landscape gradually flattening as the capital reasserts itself.Where to stay
Topas Ecolodge (3 nights)
Alternative Places to Stay Nearby
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At a Glance
Day 7: One final night at the Metropole, a familiar address now, before the journey continues south tomorrow.
Where to stay
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi (1 night)
Alternative Places to Stay Nearby
More Experiences in This Area
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At a Glance
Day 11: Fly South to HueA morning transfer to Hanoi Airport, a 16:30 Vietnam Airlines flight south, and seventy minutes later the landscape is entirely different flatter, the coast visible, the light heavier and more golden. Hue has its own character, and it announces it quickly. La Résidence is on the banks of the Perfume River, with the former Imperial Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, visible from your room. The hotel's art deco bones feel right for a city that layers its French and Vietnamese histories without fully reconciling them. Settle in. Tomorrow is demanding in the best sense.Day 12: A Day in HueThe Imperial Citadel was the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945, the last emperors of Vietnam, and though the American War left sections of it badly damaged, what remains is still architecturally overwhelming. The sheer scale of the gates, the precision of the ceremonial spaces, the way the compound turns inward on itself. A cyclo ride from here to the Tran Dinh Son museum, home to rare imperial antiques, offers a different kind of scale intimate, domestic, the collected objects of a dynasty's private life. Thien Mu Pagoda is one of those landmarks that justifies its reputation: seven tiers dating to 1601, rising above a bend in the Perfume River. The views from the top are good, but the mythology is better ask your guide about the prophecy that led to its construction. The afternoon goes to the tomb of Emperor Tu Duc in the countryside outside the city. The emperor designed it himself over three years, and the result is both a monument and a place of contemplation pavilions reflected in lotus ponds, corridors leading to funerary chambers. The day ends with a visit to a private ancestral temple not open to general visitors, where younger generations still maintain the rituals of imperial ancestor worship. Whether access is possible depends on the family's availability on that particular day but if it is, it's unlike anything else on the itinerary.Where to stay
AZERAI - La Residence Hue (2 nights)
Alternative Places to Stay Nearby
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At a Glance
Day 8 : Mai Chau and the Villages of Sam KhoeThe road southwest from Hanoi takes three and a half hours and arrives somewhere that feels genuinely removed from city life. Avana Retreat sits among terraced rice paddies and forest in the Mai Chau Valley — an eco-resort that takes its setting seriously, with suites that open directly onto mountain views and a design that doesn't compete with the landscape around it. The afternoon begins with a fifteen-minute transfer to Sam Khoe, followed by a seven-kilometer walk through countryside that has remained much the same for generations. Wooden stilt houses, broad rice fields, and the quiet rhythms of Thai ethnic village life. You'll stop into a local home along the way — a conversation about daily routines, the kind of exchange that a guided tour can facilitate and a solo visit rarely does. Back in time for dinner as the valley light fades.Day 9: Into the MountainsAn early start from Avana, moving upward through forest until the path levels at a summit with views over a scattering of Thai villages far below. The kind of view that earns itself. The route back down passes cornfields, cassava, bamboo groves, and paddy terraces, stopping at a village to hear stories about customs and seasonal life before a shuttle brings you home by mid-morning. Three hours, unhurried, the rest of the day yours.Day 10: Pu Luong Nature ReservePu Luong is one of those places that rewards the decision to come. Two hours from Mai Chau through a mountain pass with long views over the valley below, the reserve remains largely off the tourist circuit its villages are working agricultural communities, not set pieces. The day involves a light trek to Don Village at the base of a limestone mountain, with the option to extend depending on how you feel. After lunch at Pu Luong Retreat, the afternoon follows the Cham River suspension bridge in search of the water wheels that have irrigated these fields for centuries bamboo constructions that feel almost botanical, turning slowly in the current. The final stop is Chieng Lau village before the drive back. A full day that leaves you tired in the right way.Where to stay
Avana Retreat (3 nights)
Alternative Places to Stay Nearby
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At a Glance
Day 13: Over the Pass to Hoi AnThe road south from Hue to Hoi An passes through Lang Co, a fishing village on a narrow peninsula between a lagoon and the sea, almost too photogenic to be believed, before climbing the Hai Van Pass, the Pass of Ocean Clouds, where the road crests a ridge that divides two distinct weather systems. Worth stopping for. The drive takes around two hours and forty-five minutes. A hidden walking tour of Hoi An's old town begins at half eight and runs until noon. The Japanese Bridge, former merchants' houses, colorful communal halls, and then something the guidebooks don't cover: a family home where martial arts healing has been practised for generations. The master's method combines Qigong, Tai Chi and traditional Vietnamese Vo you'll learn a few basic steps, then finish with a local dessert in a nearby home. A full arrival day, but a rich one.Day 14: By Bicycle Through the CountrysideA ferry across the Thu Bon River, then bicycles. The route covers nine kilometers of flat roads through rural villages, past rice paddies and fruit orchards, stopping at wood carving workshops and boat building yards where the local basket boats reeds woven into a bowl shape, watertight and surprisingly sturdy are made by hand. Lunch is served in a restaurant near a local family home, then a forty-five-minute boat trip returns you to Hoi An by mid-afternoon. The cycling is gentle enough to be genuinely enjoyable rather than effortful. Wear something you don't mind getting muddy if rain has been through recently.Day 15: The Market and Vy's Cooking SchoolThis is the food day. The morning starts at the local market with a chef, moving through the stalls: watching vendors negotiate, learning to identify the ingredients that define central Vietnamese cooking, understanding why a particular herb or fermented paste turns up in so many dishes. It's the context that most cooking classes skip. At Vy's Market, the layout mimics a traditional market, and the session moves station to station — watching a dish being made, then making it yourself. Street food takes skill to execute well, and the morning makes that obvious in the best way. By midday you'll eat what you've made for lunch. Worth every bite.Day 16: Departure from Da NangA final morning at Namia, then a forty-five-minute transfer to Da Nang Airport. An airport representative meets you at the terminal, handles priority check-in, and sees you through to the departure gate. Vietnam ends at the same pace it began with someone there to make the transition seamless.Where to stay
Namia River Retreat (3 nights)
Alternative Places to Stay Nearby
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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The best time to visit the central coast of Vietnam is between February and September with sunny and dry weather that is ideal for a relaxing beach vacation. October to December is the rainy season and we would not recommend traveling at that time and January can be slightly cooler in Hoi An.
Price Guide: (per person based on double occupancy and excludes international flights)
| Departing |
Price from*
|
Deposit from * | Enquire |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | $10,500 | $2,600 | plan your trip |
| May 2026 | $10,500 | $2,600 | plan your trip |
| June 2026 | $10,500 | $2,600 | plan your trip |
| July 2026 | $11,900 | $3,000 | plan your trip |
| August 2026 | $9,100 | $2,300 | plan your trip |
| September 2026 | $9,100 | $2,300 | plan your trip |
| October 2026 | $11,900 | $3,000 | plan your trip |
| November 2026 | $11,900 | $3,000 | plan your trip |
| December 2026 | $11,900 | $3,000 | plan your trip |
| January 2027 | $11,900 | $3,000 | plan your trip |
| February 2027 | $11,900 | $3,000 | plan your trip |
| March 2027 | $11,900 | $3,000 | 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 vacations) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveler pricing is available upon request.
$10,500
Deposit from*$2,600
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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 vacations) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveler pricing is available upon request.
$10,500
Deposit from*$2,600
-
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 vacations) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveler pricing is available upon request.
$10,500
Deposit from*$2,600
-
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 vacations) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveler pricing is available upon request.
$11,900
Deposit from*$3,000
-
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 vacations) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveler pricing is available upon request.
$9,100
Deposit from*$2,300
-
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 vacations) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveler pricing is available upon request.
$9,100
Deposit from*$2,300
-
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 vacations) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveler pricing is available upon request.
$11,900
Deposit from*$3,000
-
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 vacations) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveler pricing is available upon request.
$11,900
Deposit from*$3,000
-
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 vacations) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveler pricing is available upon request.
$11,900
Deposit from*$3,000
-
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 vacations) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveler pricing is available upon request.
$11,900
Deposit from*$3,000
-
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 vacations) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveler pricing is available upon request.
$11,900
Deposit from*$3,000
-
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 vacations) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveler pricing is available upon request.
$11,900
Deposit from*$3,000
Beyond the Ordinary: Northern and Central Vietnam
Plan your trip
We design each itinerary around you, so this suggested itineraryis a starting point that we can tweak or transform into something completely personalized to you. Call us on 858 345 1762 to start planning your vacation.
