Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Hanoi
Morning Arrivée & Vieux Quartier de Hanoi
Land at Noi Bai, head to the Old Quarter. Walk through 36 ancient streets, each named after goods once sold there.
Afternoon Lac Hoàn Kiếm & Temple Ngọc Sơn
Hoan Kiem Lake: cross the red Huc Bridge to Ngoc Son Temple. The legend of the returning sword names the lake.
Evening Phở & Bia hơi dans le Vieux Quartier
Old Quarter street food: pho, bún chả, egg coffee at Cafe Giang — world-class eating.
Day 2 Hanoi — History & Culture
Morning Flânerie dans le Vieux Quartier et le lac Hoan Kiem
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex: mausoleum, Presidential Palace, stilt house, One Pillar Pagoda.
Afternoon Mausolée de Ho Chi Minh et Temple de la Littérature
Temple of Literature (1070), Vietnam's first university. Courtyards, gardens, stone turtle stelae.
Evening Spectacle de marionnettes sur l'eau et street food nocturne
Water puppet show at Thang Long Theatre — uniquely Vietnamese art from the 11th century.
Day 3 Ha Long Bay
Morning Embarquement sur une jonque traditionnelle en baie d'Ha Long
Depart for Ha Long Bay (UNESCO). Cruise among 1,600 limestone karsts rising from emerald waters.
Afternoon Kayak entre les pitons karstiques et grotte de Sung Sot
Kayak through floating villages and into caves. Visit Sung Sot Cave with spectacular stalactites.
Evening Coucher de soleil sur le pont supérieur et cours de cuisine vietnamienne
Sunset from boat deck with Vietnamese dinner. Night squid fishing or stargazing among the karsts.
Day 4 Ninh Binh — Ha Long on Land
Morning Lever de soleil sur la baie d'Ha Long et séance de tai chi
Ninh Binh ('Ha Long on land'): sampan boat through Tam Coc's three river caves among rice paddies.
Afternoon Retour à Hanoi et dernières découvertes
Climb 500 steps to Mua Cave viewpoint: panorama of rice paddies, karsts, and river.
Evening Train de nuit Hanoi - Hue : l'aventure sur rails
Cycle through countryside at golden hour: rice fields, lotus ponds, cliffs, water buffalo.
Day 5 Flight to Hué
Morning Citadelle impériale et Cité pourpre interdite de Hue
Fly to Hué, the former imperial capital. Perfume River, royal tombs, citadel — the cultural heart of central Vietnam.
Afternoon Pagode de Thien Mu et tombeaux royaux de Khai Dinh et Tu Duc
Imperial Citadel (UNESCO): Noon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, ruins of the Forbidden Purple City.
Evening Dîner royal de Hue et balade en sampan sur la rivière des Parfums
Dragon boat sunset cruise on the Perfume River. Pass Thien Mu Pagoda, enjoy royal cuisine on board.
Day 6 Hué — Royal Tombs
Morning Traversée légendaire du col de Hai Van
Tomb of Tu Duc: pine forest, lotus lake — designed as a retreat during his lifetime.
Afternoon Premiers pas dans la vieille ville de Hoi An
Tomb of Khai Dinh (Franco-Vietnamese fusion) then Thien Mu Pagoda, tallest in Vietnam.
Evening Coucher de soleil et lanternes sur la rivière Thu Bon
Dong Ba Market for street food, then the illuminated Perfume River. Try bánh bèo, nem lụi, cơm hến.
Day 7 Hai Van Pass & Hoi An
Morning Ateliers de tailleurs et Pont japonais couvert
Ride the Hai Van Pass, one of the world's most scenic roads. 21 km of switchbacks with ocean views.
Afternoon Cours de cuisine vietnamienne avec marché local
Arrive in Hoi An (UNESCO): preserved trading port, yellow buildings, Japanese bridge, tailors.
Evening Soirée lanterne et balade nocturne sur la rivière Thu Bon
Hoi An at night: thousands of silk lanterns. Release a floating candle on the Thu Bon River.
Day 8 Hoi An — Crafts & Countryside
Morning Vol vers Ho Chi Minh-Ville et premiers pas dans Saigon
Cooking class with market tour: cao lầu, bánh mì, white rose dumplings — Hoi An's unique dishes.
Afternoon Musée des Vestiges de Guerre, cathédrale Notre-Dame et Poste centrale
Cycle to Tra Que herb village or visit My Son Hindu ruins (UNESCO), Vietnam's mini Angkor.
Evening Dîner dans le Saigon colonial et rooftop bar avec vue
An Bang Beach for sunset cocktails. Quieter beach with clubs, seafood BBQ, surfer vibe.
Day 9 Flight to Ho Chi Minh City
Morning Marché de Ben Thanh et pagode de l'Empereur de Jade
Fly to HCMC (formerly Saigon). Immediate energy shift: motorcycles everywhere, skyscrapers, dynamism.
Afternoon Quartier chinois de Cholon et palais de la Réunification
War Remnants Museum — one of the most powerful museums in Southeast Asia. Equipment, photos, testimonies.
Evening Croisière-dîner sur la rivière Saigon
Rooftop drinks, then District 1 street food: bánh mì (world's best sandwich), phở, gỏi cuốn.
Day 10 Cu Chi Tunnels & Departure
Morning Marché flottant de Cai Rang à Can Tho
Cu Chi Tunnels (70 km): 250 km underground Viet Cong network. Incredible engineering and human endurance.
Afternoon Arroyos, vergers tropicaux et atelier de bonbons à la noix de coco
Last visits: Central Post Office (colonial, Eiffel-designed), Ben Thanh Market for shopping.
Evening Retour à Saigon et dîner d'adieu au Vietnam
Final dinner, then airport. 10 days from Hanoi to Saigon through millennia of history.