Best first trip ever
Aisha Khan - Malaysia
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Is 5 days enough to explore Vietnam? Yes! With this journey, you won’t just see one region - you’ll experience both Central and Northern Vietnam.
Hoi An welcomes visitors with charming lantern-lit streets, riverside cafés, and bustling markets. At My Son Sanctuary, guides explain the fascinating Cham history. Guests can also make their own rice paper at a local home and cruise along the scenic Thu Bon River.
In Hanoi, the city’s cultural treasures await. Visitors can admire Ba Dinh Square, photograph the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and explore the Temple of Literature. Strolling around Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter reveals the vibrant atmosphere of the 36 streets.
Then, we end the trip at Halong Bay, which offers breathtaking scenery with majestic limestone cliffs and stunning caves.
This 5-day Central and North Vietnam Itinerary tour is one of the top Vietnam Tour Packages, carefully designed for those seeking the ultimate highlights. Book with Asia Tour Deals and embark on an adventure that captures the heart of Vietnam!
After landing at Danang International Airport, our driver will warmly welcome you and escort you on a scenic 45-minute drive along the coast to Hoi An, a charming UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Once you check in at your hotel, you can spend the rest of the day at your leisure. Travelers may choose to relax after the flight, take a gentle stroll along the lantern-lit streets of Hoi An, or explore the local riverside cafés, tailor shops, and vibrant markets.
Meals: N/A
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian
07:30-08:00: Our guide meets you at your hotel in Hoi An and drives the group to My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.
09:30: The group arrives at My Son Sanctuary. You walk through the ancient temples while the guide explains Champa's history. Performers present traditional Champa shows. Then, the guide takes you to a local house where you learn how to make rice paper and take home your handmade product.
12:30: The group returns to the minivan. The guide drives to a local house for lunch. Guests relax with cold herbal tea and enjoy the fresh air. Afterwards, the driver takes you on a short boat trip along the Thu Bon River, Central Vietnam’s largest river, to admire the riverside scenery.
13:30: Guests arrive back in Hoi An. Travelers may rest at the hotel or enjoy a coffee at a nearby café before the afternoon tour of Hoi An Ancient Town.
14:30: Explore Hoi An Ancient Town with visits to:
18:00: Guests enjoy a traditional Hoi An dinner. The group takes a scenic boat ride on the Hoai River to release flower lanterns for good luck. Travelers explore the night market and the lantern-lit streets.
18:30: The guide escorts the group back to the hotel in Hoi An. Guests have free time in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast , Lunch , Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian
After breakfast, the driver transfers the group to Danang Airport for a short flight to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.
Upon arrival, the local guide welcomes guests and starts the city tour. The group first visits Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi’s largest square, where major cultural and political events take place. Travelers take photos outside the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
Next, the guide leads the group to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, built in 1070. Guests explore the temple gardens and admire the well-preserved architecture that reflects Vietnam’s scholarly history.
After the temple, visitors walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, a scenic lake in central Hanoi, home to several temples and pagodas. The group then strolls through the Old Quarter, also known as “The 36 Streets,” where each street historically specialized in specific goods.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight in Hanoi
08:00 - 08:30: The driver picks up the group from their hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter and transfers them to International Tuan Chau Harbour.
12:30: Receptionists welcome guests at the harbour.
12:45: The captain of the Cruise greets passengers as they board via tender. Guests check in, enjoy a welcome drink, and attend a safety briefing before settling into their cabins.
13:00: The cruise departs from Tuan Chau Harbour, heading into Halong Bay, a natural wonder of the world. Guests enjoy a buffet lunch featuring local specialties while cruising past Ba Hang Fishing Village, Dinh Huong Island, Cho Da Islet, and Ga Choi Islet.
15:00: The cruise stops at Bo Nau Cave, located in the core area of this UNESCO World Heritage site. Guests transfer by tender to Surprising Cave (Sung Sot Cave), renowned for its stunning formations.
15:45: After visiting the cave, passengers take a tender to Titov Island, named by Uncle Ho after Soviet astronaut Gherman Stepanovich Titov. Guests can swim, relax on the beach, or climb the steps to the top of the island for panoramic views of Halong Bay.
17:00: Return to the cruise to relax and enjoy the sunset on the sun deck.
18:00-19:00: Happy Hour offers “Buy 1, Get 1 Free” drinks (wine excluded).
18:30: Guests join a Vietnamese cooking demonstration on board.
19:00: Buffet dinner is served.
20:30: Evening activities include film entertainment in the dining room and squid fishing.
Please note: The schedule may vary slightly depending on the cruise selected. A stationed English-speaking guide is available on board.
Meals: Breakfast , Lunch , Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight on the Cruise
06:00: A morning call is available upon request.
06:30: Guests can join a traditional Tai Chi class on the sundeck while admiring the sunrise over Halong Bay.
07:00: A light breakfast is served in the dining room with coffee, tea, milk, pastries, bread, eggs, noodles, fresh fruit, and cereals.
07:30: The cruise heads to Luon Cave, a picturesque site surrounded by limestone cliffs and lush vegetation. Guests explore the cave on a woven bamboo boat rowed by a local boatman.
09:00: Passengers return to the Cruise to relax and prepare for check-out. Luggage should be placed outside the cabin door for porters to collect. The cruise then disembarks at Tuan Chau Harbour.
09:30: Guests enjoy a buffet brunch in the dining room before settling any bills.
10:45: Transfer by tender back to the harbour for disembarkation.
12:00-12:30: The bus departs for Hanoi, arriving around 2:00-3:00 PM. A private driver then transfers guests to Noi Bai International Airport for their departure flight (which should be scheduled after 18:30).
Safe travels, and we hope to see you again soon!
Note: The itinerary may vary depending on weather conditions and the chosen cruise. An English-speaking guide will be available on board.
Meals: Breakfast
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The tour had history, city, and nature all in one. I enjoyed My Son for the old temples, Hanoi for the lively streets, and Halong for the cruise. Food everywhere was tasty and not expensive.
I liked how this trip had both central and north. It started soft with Hoi An and My Son, then got busier in Hanoi, and ended calm again in Halong Bay. The guides managed the group well.
Putting flower lanterns on the river in Hoi An was fun and cheap. The streets nearby had many shops and food stalls. I bought a small lantern as a souvenir. It was a simple but special evening.
The cave visit in Halong Bay was better than I thought. Big, with nice lights showing the rock shapes. Later we swam at the island and it was refreshing. Evening on the boat was calm, I slept well.
Only had one day in Hanoi but we covered the main things. Saw the Mausoleum from outside, walked in Temple of Literature, and then Old Quarter. Streets were crazy busy but fun to explore.
Hoi An was super photogenic at night. We took many pictures on the streets with lanterns. The dinner included was tasty too. After the boat ride I felt the day was complete.
It was a busy trip but we saw a lot. My Son history, Hoi An lanterns, Hanoi city, and Halong Bay all included. Transfers were on time so no stress. I liked that meals were already arranged.
I traveled with my parents, both in their 60s. The tour was not too hard for them, with breaks and easy walks. They liked Hoi An a lot, especially the lanterns and calm streets. The cruise was comfortable for them too.
I only had one week off and this trip fit well. The flights between Danang and Hanoi were smooth. Guides in both places were clear and friendly. I came home with lots of photos from lanterns to limestone cliffs.
Halong Bay was the best part. Sunset on the deck was quiet and relaxing. Next morning the Tai Chi was a bit funny to try but good for photos. The food on the boat was plenty, no one went hungry.
I liked seeing the old temples at My Son in the morning and then the busy shops in Hoi An later. It showed two different sides of life. The rice paper making at the local house was fun too, I didn’t know it was that easy.
Dropping lanterns on the Hoai River was simple but I really liked it. The streets around Hoi An were safe to walk at night. We tried some local snacks too, cheap and tasty. Good evening out.
In 5 days I saw Hoi An, My Son, Hanoi, and Halong Bay. Each place had something different to enjoy. My Son had history, Hanoi had street life, Halong had nature. It was busy but not too much, just right for a short holiday.
I joined alone but it was easy to meet people on the trip. We walked together in Hanoi Old Quarter and later sat on deck in Halong Bay. The guide was friendly and gave simple info. Made the trip feel more relaxed.
Hoi An at night was like a festival. Food stalls, shops, and lanterns on the water made the place special. We had dinner with local dishes and it was tasty. The boat ride with lanterns was a nice way to end the evening.
Hanoi city tour was good, I liked Temple of Literature the most. Streets near Hoan Kiem Lake were busy but interesting. After that the overnight cruise in Halong Bay gave me quiet time. Two very different sides of Vietnam in one trip.
5 days felt short but the plan was smart. Hoi An was colorful, Hanoi was noisy but fun, Halong Bay was peaceful. The transfers and flights were all on time, so I didn’t need to stress. Worth it if you want to see a lot quickly.
Halong Bay cruise was awesome. We had big lunch on the boat and later climbed Titov Island for the view. At night they had a cooking demo and it was easy to join. The cabin was clean and I slept well with the waves.
First night in Hoi An was cozy, lanterns everywhere and the boat ride was fun. Next days were more busy, especially Hanoi Old Quarter with all the scooters. The cruise in Halong Bay was the highlight, calm water and beautiful cliffs. Good mix for 5 days.
I went with my sister and cousin, we had fun. Hoi An lanterns at night were pretty, we took many photos. In Hanoi we liked walking around Hoan Kiem Lake. Cruise in Halong was perfect way to end the trip.
Nice to see both parts of Vietnam in one trip. Hoi An was small and cozy, Hanoi much busier. Ended with Halong cruise which was the best. 5 days is short but you see a lot.
Halong Bay was crazy beautiful. Sitting on the deck with a drink while the boat moved slowly, that’s the memory I keep. Cave visit was also interesting, big and colorful. Whole cruise was well organized.
Walked around the ruins in My Son, guide explained about the old temples. There was a short dance show too, cool to see. After that we had lunch in a local house and rested a bit. Good mix of history and relaxing.
Joined alone but met nice people. We hung out in Hoi An market, tried local snacks, then later sat together on the boat in Halong. The guide made sure everyone felt included. Nice way to see places and make friends.
I liked that the trip covered central and north. First part in Hoi An was calm, second part in Hanoi and Halong had more action. Cruise in Halong was my favorite, views non-stop. Whole trip was smooth, didn’t need to plan anything.
Only had 1 day in Hanoi but still saw a lot. Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake, and the Old Quarter all close by. Streets were packed with scooters, took some time to cross the road but kinda fun. Good intro to the city.
Hoi An was like a small festival at night. Street food, music, lanterns, everything busy but fun. We had dinner by the river and later joined the boat to drop flower lanterns. Simple but really nice evening.
Sleeping on the boat was awesome. Food was plenty, room was clean, and sunset was the best part. At night we tried squid fishing, didn’t catch any but fun anyway. Next morning Tai Chi on deck was a good start before breakfast.
Hoi An at night was super chill, lanterns everywhere, we even put some on the river. Next day My Son was hot but interesting, the guide only explained things. In Hanoi I liked walking in the Old Quarter, lots of food and noise. 5 days went by so fast.
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Hannah Green,
United KingdomFor a short trip, this was perfect. The lanterns in Hoi An, the culture in Hanoi, and the cruise in Halong were all different but good. Everything was arranged so I just followed and enjoyed. I’d recommend it to first-time visitors.