Hanoi & Saigon

(7 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Hanoi & Halong Bay, Saigon & Cu Chi

This tour combines Vietnam’s two great cities—Saigon and Hanoi—with excursions to the most interesting attractions near them.

Begin in Hanoi, Vietnam’s fascinating capital and intellectual center. During private touring with your expert local guide and private driver, visit the city’s most important historical attractions, such as the Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda, House on Stilts and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Take an in-depth tour of Hanoi’s incredible Old Quarter, where each street was historically dedicated to a specific trade or material, such as bamboo, silk and lacquer. While touring the narrow streets, learn about the history of the Old Quarter and its traditional architecture, and see how it has transformed into a fashionable district with cafes, art galleries and boutiques featuring the finest Vietnamese design and style. Also take a cyclo ride around Hoan Kiem Lake and explore leafy backstreets lined with beautiful French colonial-era buildings, many of which are now upscale restaurants. Other options include visiting museums such as the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology or the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum. One night, see Hanoi’s renowned water puppet show, or attend a performance at the landmark Hanoi Opera House. If desired, spend a day cruising among the beautiful limestone islands in Halong Bay. Additional special interest touring can be arranged upon request, such as meetings with prominent artists and art gallery owners, biking through the nearby countryside, cooking classes, in-depth street food tours and other culinary tours, a visit to a local village filled with beautiful historic architecture, meetings with prominent historians, private meditation sessions in an ancient temple, and more.

Next, fly to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam’s most dynamic city. With an expert private guide and driver, learn about the city’s history while touring French colonial-era landmarks, as well as the Reunification Palace and War Remnants Museum. Experience the best of Cholon, Saigon’s Chinatown, including a local market and busy temples. Sample local culinary specialties and see daily life in vibrant markets overflowing with spices, flowers, clothing, housewares and more. Perhaps stop for a refreshing Vietnamese iced coffee, or dine on a typical Vietnamese banh mi (baguette sandwich). Another option is browsing the boutiques of Vietnamese designers and renowned art galleries and museums. One day, take an excursion into the countryside to tour the Cu Chi Tunnels and observe a colorful religious ceremony at the Cao Dai Temple. Also tour the Ben Thanh market and participate in a cooking lesson with a chef in a historic home.

*This tour can also be taken in reverse, visiting Saigon first, concluding in Hanoi.