Time: 12 days
CODE: VND12D

WHAT MAKES THIS TOUR SPECIAL?

Unforgettable

Picturesque

Engaging

hoan kiem lake
12 Day Vietnam Tour 5
12 Day Vietnam Tour
12 Day Vietnam Tour 3
2 Week Vietnam Tour Northern Discovery

TRIP ITINERARY

This 12 day vietnam tour takes you from Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi Tunnels, Hoi An, My Son Sanctuary, Hue, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sapa, Fansipan, and your final airport transfer, combining food, history, heritage towns, bay cruising, mountain trekking, and local culture.

DAY 1: Arrival In Ho Chi Minh City – Private Food Tour

Airport pickup: Your Vietnam Highlights adventure begins with a warm welcome at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, followed by transfer to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.Private food tour: At night, experience Ho Chi Minh City cuisine on a private food tour, tasting Vietnamese street food at local eateries while enjoying the city’s nightlife.

DAY 2: Ben Thanh Market – War Remnants Museum – Cu Chi Tunnels

Ben Thanh Market: Start your day with the bustling energy of Ben Thanh Market, where local produce, spices, food stalls, and everyday city life come together.War Remnants Museum: Visit the War Remnants Museum for a deeper look at Vietnam’s modern history and the stories of resilience connected to the country’s past.Cu Chi Tunnels: In the afternoon, journey to the Cu Chi Tunnels, an intricate underground network that reflects the resourcefulness and courage of wartime Vietnam.

DAY 3: Ho Chi Minh City – Da Nang – Hoi An Ancient Town

Morning flight to Da Nang: Begin with a morning flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang. Upon arrival, you are picked up and transferred to Hoi An.Hoi An Ancient Town: Explore Hoi An Ancient Town, known for preserved architecture, cultural heritage, yellow-walled houses, lanterns, and riverside streets.Hoi An Night Market: As the sun sets, the Night Market glows with colorful lanterns, food aromas, and a lively evening atmosphere.

DAY 4: Hoi An Countryside Biking – My Son Sanctuary Option

Countryside biking: Spend the morning exploring Hoi An’s countryside by bike, with possible village stops such as Cam Thanh and opportunities to experience local crafts.Old Town free time: You can also return to the Old Town for shopping, cafes, or a tailoring experience, depending on your travel style.Optional My Son Sanctuary: For travelers interested in history, an optional trip to My Son Sanctuary reveals ancient Cham ruins set among green jungle scenery.

DAY 5: Hoi An – Hai Van Pass – Hue Imperial City

Hai Van Pass: Travel along the Hai Van Pass, a scenic mountain route known for ocean views, winding roads, and historical significance.Hue Imperial City: Arrive in Hue and visit the Imperial City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where ornate gates, temples, pavilions, and walls tell the story of the Nguyen Dynasty.

DAY 6: Hue – Hanoi – Half-Day Hanoi Tour

Morning flight to Hanoi: Fly from Hue to Hanoi and continue the Vietnam Highlights tour in the capital after arrival.Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: Begin the half-day Hanoi tour with a visit to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, a place of reverence connected to Vietnam’s modern history.Old Quarter cyclo and Ngoc Son Temple: Ride a cyclo through the Old Quarter’s lively streets, then conclude the afternoon at Ngoc Son Temple near Hoan Kiem Lake.

DAY 7: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay – Activities On Cruise

Board The Au Co: Arrive at Bhaya Cruise Center and board The Au Co. Enjoy lunch while the cruise passes beautiful islets in Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay.Viet Hai Village: Explore Viet Hai Village by bike or electric cart, learn about Bhaya’s community projects, and experience the village’s peaceful island setting.Onboard activities: Try making Banh Cuon or sipping mojitea, swim in an emerald lagoon, enjoy dinner onboard, and join a Vietnamese rice-wine tasting session.Evening on the bay: End the day with Happy Hour, squid fishing, or quiet time on deck as the bay turns peaceful at night.

DAY 8: Activities On Cruise – Return To Hanoi

Sunrise Tai Chi: Start the day with a Tai Chi session at sunrise over the UNESCO-listed bay scenery.Trinh Nu kayaking: Enjoy breakfast, then kayak through the Trinh Nu area, surrounded by emerald water and rugged limestone mountains.Disembark and return: Return to the boat, prepare for checkout, settle bills, disembark at Tuan Chau Harbor, and transfer back to Hanoi.

DAY 9: Hanoi – Sapa – Sapa Town – Cat Cat Village

Morning bus to Sapa: Start with a morning bus from Hanoi to Sapa, arriving around midday in Vietnam’s famous mountain town.Sapa town walk: Explore Sapa Town’s artificial lake, Gothic-style Notre Dame Cathedral, and vibrant night market.Cat Cat Village: Take a leisurely walk to Cat Cat Village, home to H’mong communities, terraced rice fields, Tien Sa Waterfall, and traditional textiles.

DAY 10: Sapa – Y Linh Ho – Lao Chai – Ta Van Full-Day Trek

Muong Hoa Valley trekking: Embark on a full-day trek from Sapa through Muong Hoa Valley, passing rice terraces, bamboo groves, and mountain scenery.Y Linh Ho and Lao Chai: Explore Y Linh Ho and Lao Chai villages, home to Black H’mong communities and surrounded by peaceful rural landscapes.Ta Van Village: Continue to Ta Van Village, home to Giay communities, and experience the quiet rhythm of remote village life.

DAY 11: Fansipan Cable Car – Return To Hanoioi

Fansipan Peak: Begin the day with a visit to Fansipan, the “Roof of Indochina,” reached by a scenic cable car ride above valleys and towering peaks.Return to Hanoi: Return to Sapa for lunch before heading back to Hanoi in the afternoon, carrying memories of Vietnam’s northern highlands.

DAY 12: Breakfast – Airport Transfer

Final breakfast: After breakfast, take time to reflect on your Vietnam Highlights journey, from southern city life to central heritage towns, bay scenery, and northern mountains.Noi Bai Airport transfer: Your guide sees you off at Noi Bai International Airport, ending the 12-day Vietnam Highlights tour.
The itinerary is subject to change or cancellation due to weather conditions.
  • Included: Ground transport, English-speaking guide, accommodation, activities & meals mentioned above.
  • Not included: Airfares, visa fees, travel insurance, gratuities, personal expenses & all other services not clearly mentioned above.

WHY TRAVEL WITH YESD?

Authentic

We give local people employment, income and learning opportunities so they are directly involved in your tourism experience. Our guides and hosts will give you a special insight into culture and life in Vietnam.

Responsible

We aim to minimise the negative impacts of tourism on the environment and the local community while contributing positively to local economies. We don’t just talk responsible tourism, we act!

Tours that translate

Part of all profits from our tours go towards a community fund and social projects. This money allows us to make infrastructure improvements and provide other important resources to those in need.

12 Day Vietnam Tour

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    TripAdvisor Customer Reviews

    On YESD Tours

    nikki f ha giang tours review

    Ha Chiang loop for an old boy

    Well what can I say about my Ha Chiang loop trip I did with Yesd. They were excellent from start to finish. As a 54 year old man I did the loop solo with my driver Chinh as I wanted to avoid the happy water and karaoke aspect. Chinh understood this perfectly and took me on a fabulous trip. We took local routes when he could, avoiding some of main routes. He kept ahead of the ‘Mongolian army’ as he called the throngs of other loopers and often arrived at view points before they arrived …

    >> See Nikki’s experience with YESD on TripAdvisor

    Nikki F. / Trip Advisor
    estefany reviews on ha giang tours

    An authentic and sustainable experience

    It was a unique experience that allowed me to truly experience sustainable tourism. The activities took place in breathtaking landscapes and gave us the opportunity to learn firsthand about the traditions and lifestyle of the local communities. The team was very attentive and took care of every detail to ensure we enjoyed our stay to the fullest. Realmente lo recomiendo! es una manera hermosa de descubrir Ha Giang y, al mismo tiempo, contribuir a un turismo responsable.

    >> See Estefano’s experience with YESD on TripAdvisor

    Estefano / Trip Advisor
    dan b avatar tripadvisor

    A memory for life

    An amazing experience! Incredible guides! You almost feel privileged compared to other groups. The accommodation is top-notch; the house, the welcome, the meals—everything is perfect. The mountain trek is magical, the motorbike trek is insane (beware of sore bums by the end!), incredible views the whole time, and super enriching stories. It really puts things into perspective compared to our European comforts—it feels great! To conclude this review, thank you again to the entire YESD Travel team; they are truly wonderful people.

    >> See Dan’s experience with YESD on TripAdvisor

    Dan B / Trip Advisor
    tripadvisor review

    Amazing Trek + Ha Giang Loop Tour

    We recently did a trekking + Ha Giang loop tour with YESD and were blown away by their service level and professionalism. We like YESD’s mission of responsible tourism while supporting the local community and empowering locals with employment. A portion of the profits also directly go back to supporting the communities and local infrastructure.Our stay at Mr. Thien’s homestay was amazing! The place was homey and relaxing. Mr. Thien and the people working there were so friendly, warm and hospitable …

    >> See Mario’s experience with YESD on TripAdvisor

    Mario S / Trip Advisor
    Screenshot 2025 12 09 160734

    4 Days 3 Nights Ha Giang Loop

    Our trip to Ha Giang Loop with YESD was the highlight of our trip to Vietnam. We were 3 couples and took a private tour some of us on bikes and others in car. Booking with YESD was easy and Tuyet was so attentive with our needs and always replied promptly. We stayed 3 nights in home stays all great experiences with the most generous host families. All had our own rooms / bungalows with bathrooms. YESD are socially and environmentally conscious with travel …

    >> See megdunne’s experience with YESD on TripAdvisor

    Megdunne / Trip Advisor

    View 485+ reviews of YESD on TripAdvisor >>

    Check out all of our reviews on TripAdvisor. YESD Travel is a part of YESD Social Enterprise which was established to help the disadvantaged youth and communities in Vietnam. With a background of working for non-governmental organizations, they gained many experiences in community development projects. Explore more responsible tours in Ha Giang, Sapa, Mai Chau, Ninh Binh, Ha Long, Ha Noi, Cao Bang, Bac Can, and Nam Dinh.
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    Meet Our Team

    Who will be with you on this journey?

    nhi - tour operator

    Nhi Trinh
    Travel Consultant

    Hi, my name is Nhi. Me and the YESD team are here to support you, to help you choose the most suitable tour and make sure that experience memorable. Join us on the next journey by leaving your contact. Our team will reply shortly...

    Ha Tran travel Consultant

    Ha Tran
    Travel Consultant

    Hello! I'm Ha, Travel Consultant at YESD. I am grateful for the opportunity to work here and contribute to the company's sustainable tourism development. Working here, I find joy in the little things like supporting customers to personalize their experiences, supporting new guides on board...I hope that YESD grows more and spreads our values to more people around the world.

    Chi marketing partnership YESD

    Chi Nguyen
    Marketing Partnership

    Hi, I'm Chi from the Marketing Partnership team at YESD. My work gives me many opportunities to travel here and there and meet many different people from various ethnic minority groups. More than that, through every project we have done, I hope we can somehow improve local people's daily lives and inspire more children to go to school for a better future.