Want to experience Vietnam’s biggest highlights from south to north in one well-paced journey? This 12-day, 11-night Vietnam Highlights 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.
View Itinerary Book This TourThis Vietnam Highlights tour is designed for travelers who want a curated south-to-north route through Vietnam’s most treasured destinations. Begin in Ho Chi Minh City, continue to Hoi An and Hue, fly to Hanoi, cruise Ha Long Bay, then finish with Sapa trekking, Fansipan, and a final airport transfer.
Start with airport pickup, a private food tour, Ben Thanh Market, War Remnants Museum, and Cu Chi Tunnels.
Explore Hoi An’s preserved architecture, night market, countryside biking, local crafts, and optional My Son Sanctuary visit.
Travel over Hai Van Pass and visit Hue Imperial City, a UNESCO-listed landmark tied to Vietnam’s Nguyen Dynasty.
Fly to Hanoi for a half-day city tour with Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, cyclo ride, Old Quarter streets, and Ngoc Son Temple.
Board The Au Co, visit Viet Hai Village, swim, kayak, enjoy onboard activities, and cruise through iconic bay scenery.
Explore Sapa Town, Cat Cat Village, Muong Hoa Valley, Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, Ta Van, and Fansipan by cable car.
Follow the journey from Ho Chi Minh City arrival to Cu Chi Tunnels, Hoi An, Hue, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sapa, Fansipan, and your final airport transfer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Review the main inclusions and exclusions before sending your request, so you can better understand what is covered in this 12-day Vietnam Highlights tour.
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Who will be with you on this journey?
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Hi Dears! Have a nice day! I am Ha, a Travel Consultant & Tour Operator of YESD. I am grateful for the opportunity to work at Yesd and contribute to the company’s sustainable tourism development. Working here, I find joy in the work, fron the little things like supporting customers to personalize their experiences, supporting new guides on board, training, and company trips… I also learn a lot from the tourists, tour guides, homestay or accommodation owners, and other young members in YESD’s team. I hope that our company will grow more and more and can spread the community values that the company Is aiming for to more people around the world.
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Real stories from travelers who joined YESD for authentic, responsible, and locally connected travel experiences in Vietnam.
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 …
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.
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, incredible views the whole time, and super enriching stories. Thank you again to the entire YESD Travel team; they are truly wonderful people.
Practical answers to help you understand the route, travel style, city highlights, Hoi An and Hue heritage stops, Ha Long Bay cruise, Sapa trekking, Fansipan visit, inclusions, and whether this 12-day Vietnam itinerary is the right fit for your trip.
This tour lasts 12 days and 11 nights, starting in Ho Chi Minh City and ending with airport transfer from Hanoi.
The itinerary includes Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi Tunnels, Da Nang, Hoi An, My Son Sanctuary as an optional visit, Hue, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sapa, Cat Cat Village, Muong Hoa Valley, Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, Ta Van, Fansipan, and Hanoi airport transfer.
Yes. This route is designed as a broad Vietnam Highlights itinerary, combining major cities, historical sites, heritage towns, bay cruising, mountain trekking, and local culture in one trip.
Yes. The tour starts in Ho Chi Minh City with a private food tour, then includes Ben Thanh Market, War Remnants Museum, and Cu Chi Tunnels on Day 2.
Yes. The Central Vietnam section includes Hoi An Ancient Town, Hoi An Night Market, countryside biking, optional My Son Sanctuary, Hai Van Pass, and Hue Imperial City.
Yes. The itinerary includes a Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay cruise with Viet Hai Village, onboard activities, swimming, rice-wine tasting, Tai Chi, kayaking in the Trinh Nu area, and return to Hanoi.
Yes. The Sapa section includes Cat Cat Village and a full-day trek through Muong Hoa Valley, Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, and Ta Van.
Yes. Day 11 includes a Fansipan cable car visit in the morning before returning to Hanoi in the afternoon.
Ground transport, English-speaking guide, accommodation, and activities and meals mentioned in the itinerary are included.
Yes. The itinerary may change or be cancelled due to weather conditions or operational factors such as flight, cruise, and local activity schedules.