ACTIVITY LEVEL: Low to Medium

Enjoy a customized small group tour of Vietnam (6 pax min. to 10 max.) with your leader, Continental DRIFTER® Founder Ralph Velasco.

This trip starts in the capital city of Ha Noi (also spelled Hanoi).  Next, you'll spend a night both in Ninh Binh and on a private boat on the otherworldly Ha Long Bay. Then you'll fly (flight included) to Da Nang to transfer to nearby Hoi An (known as the City of Lanterns, and you’ll see why). 

Finally, fly south to Can Tho to experience the Mekong Delta, then end your adventure in Saigon (aka Ho Chi Minh City or HCMC) where you'll have numerous experiences and then fly out on the last day.

We’ve got lots of great activities planned, such as a foodie tour and cyclo ride in Ha Noi, an included but optional bicycle ride into the countryside near Hoi An along with a basket boat ride, a night walk in Hoi An, boat rides on the Mekong Delta, including an early morning visit to the famous Cai Rang Floating Market, and so much more.

• Itinerary Highlights:
  
  • Start in the capital city of Ha Noi (also spelled Hanoi).
  • Spend a night in Ninh Binh and on a private boat in Ha Long Bay.
  • Travel to Da Nang, then transfer to Hoi An (City of Lanterns).
  • Continue south to Can Tho for the Mekong Delta experience.
  • Conclude the adventure in Saigon (also known as Ho Chi Minh City or HCMC).

• Transportation Included:
  
  • Flights included from Ha Noi to Da Nang and from Da Nang to Can Tho.

• Planned Activities:
  
  • Foodie tour and cyclo ride in Ha Noi.
  • Optional bicycle ride (included) in the countryside near Hoi An.
  • Basket boat ride and night walk in Hoi An.
  • Boat rides on the Mekong Delta.
  • Early morning visit to Cai Rang Floating Market.

• Cultural and Scenic Experiences:
  
  • Explore the historical and cultural facets of each destination.
  • Engage in unique local activities to enhance the travel experience.

Click here to get a feel for Hoi An, included on our upcoming Vietnam tour!

“Traveling in Vietnam [with Ralph] was the experience of a lifetime. He does a lot of preparation and research in order to provide the best experience possible. A phenomenal place to photograph! Highly, highly recommend it!! RockStar AweSome!” - Laurie K. 

“Vietnam was so interesting! I loved the people and the culture a lot. The itinerary had a lot of activities that I would not have done if I were on my own. It’s nice to go on a trip where everything is planned out and ready to go!  Thanks, Ralph, for a great time!” - Carole R. 

“As soon as I arrived in Hanoi I knew this was going to be an amazing trip! There were so many great photo opportunities at every turn. The tour was well thought out – offering examples of the food, history, and culture that is Vietnam. Our tour leader, Ralph Velasco, gave great photo/camera advice making this trip well worth the cost. I came back a better photographer, and I am looking forward to my next adventure with Ralph! Thank you again!” - Greg I.

ALL ACTIVITIES, DAYS AND TIMING ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Most meals are included and B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, and D = Dinner

Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country situated on the South China Sea (a.k.a. the Eastern Sea) known for its beaches, rivers, Buddhist pagodas, and bustling cities. 

Hanoi, the capital, pays homage to the nation’s iconic Communist-era leader, Ho Chi Minh, via a huge marble mausoleum. Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Sai Gon) has French colonial landmarks, plus the Vietnam War History Museum.

Meals: D

Whatever your point of origin, board your Ha Noi (HAN)-bound flight, ideally to arrive by 3:00 pm local time on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2024 (the first day of the tour) or earlier. If you choose to arrive early, or stay later, we can help arrange extra nights at our group hotels.

Please don’t make any non-refundable travel arrangements until given confirmation by CD administrators to do so. 

Once we've reached our minimum number of travelers and our trip is officially called a GO, we’ll ask for your flight information via a form we’ll send out in order to arrange your airport transfers.

ON ARRIVAL IN HANOI

Upon arrival at HAN airport, get in line with your passport, Visa Letter of Authorization (we'll provide the LOA), visa form, and one passport photo to secure your visa.  As of this writing, the fee is US$25 for U.S. citizens and must be paid in cash to officials (you might want to use a large bill to receive change back, which should be in US$). 

You’ll wait until your passport is processed and your name is called, at which point you’ll take your passport and continue through immigration. Then you’ll collect your luggage and meet the driver to transfer you to your hotel. A convenient Visa Fast Track service is also available at an additional fee.

NOTE: There are two arrival halls at HAN, 1 and 2. If after 5 or 10 minutes you don’t see your driver near the door you came out, make your way to the other hall (not far away) and look for him. Look for a person holding a Tropical Journeys or Continental DRIFTER® Experiences sign, with your name on it.

Depending on your arrival time, if your room is ready, you may check in and get settled.

Based on everyone’s flight arrival times, we’ll plan to have a Meet & Greet at our hotel for you to get to know your fellow tour participants and go over the details of the trip ahead. Timing and exact location to be determined.

Walk with your guide and the group to Welcome Dinner at the Red Bean restaurant or similar.

Meals: B, L

Early morning photo walk with Ralph to nearby Hoàn Kiêm Lake (“Lake of the Returned Sword”), which is located within walking distance from our hotel, in the historic center of Ha Noi. Here we’ll be able to photograph the city as it awakens and the people as they go about their early morning routines, including practicing the art of tai chi, playing badminton, and performing other exercises along the banks of the lake.

Our guide will then walk us to the nearby Hang Be market, which offers an interesting introduction to the lives of the people in the Old Quarter of Ha Noi. From here, we’ll meet a team of Cyclos for a tour of this area.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon free

Later, you can enjoy an optional photo walk with Ralph over to Hoàn Kiêm Lake where we can photograph this area and all its activity in the very different late afternoon light. You may consider bringing a tripod or other small stability device, a remote control, a headlamp, and any other low-light photo gear you think you’ll need to get dusk and night shots of this area.

Evening free to relax and explore Ha Noi with dinner on your own.

Meals: B, L

Today you'll enjoy a 2-hour LOCALLY-GUIDED TOUR of Ha Noi showcasing some of the city’s most interesting attractions, including the One Pillar Pagoda and the nearby complex of Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum & his House on Stilts (cameras are not allowed in Mausoleum; however, you may be able to check them or give them to your guide at the entrance and use later. Please understand that access to the interior may be closed at certain times of the year). 

The One Pillar Pagoda was first constructed in 1049 and was one of Ha Noi’s oldest structures. If it doesn’t look that old, it’s because the French blew it up in 1954 as a parting gesture, and the current building is a replica.

Transfer to the Temple of Literature, founded in 1070, which was Vietnam’s first institution of learning and the place where candidates for the position of Mandarin were examined.

Afternoon and evening free to explore Hanoi on your own.

Meals: B, D

The first part of the day is free to enjoy Hanoi on your own, relax at a cafe, have a massage, or do whatever it is you'd like.

But later, at a predetermined time, you'll want to bring your appetite because you’re about to enjoy a wonderful opportunity to participate in a special locally-guided Foodie Tour of Ha Noi. During this really fun tour, you’ll make stops at several hand-picked restaurants around Ha Noi’s Old Quarter, where your guide will explain all the different types of foods, and you’ll be able to taste every one. 

This tour will be more than enough to fill you up for dinner, and it's a unique way to see parts of Hanoi you might not find on your own.

Meals: B

Next, you'll leave for Ninh Binh from Hanoi in a comfy private vehicle, diving into Vietnam's hidden paradise.

Your journey starts with a scenic, approximately two-hour drive from our hotel in Hanoi, revealing rural landscapes along the way. 

In Ninh Binh, revel in a serene boat ride through Tam Coc's emerald waters, flanked by majestic limestone karsts and incredible caves. 

You can also choose to explore ancient temples steeped in history, offering perfect photo ops. Cap off with a leisurely hike for panoramic views. It's an idyllic blend of adventure, culture, and natural beauty, tailor-made for your travel spirit! 

Ninh Binh is another of Vietnam's peaceful, less-traveled gems and should not be missed!

Meals: B, L, D
 

Breakfast on your own at your hotel in Ninh Binh.

SPECIAL NOTE: You’ll want to have a small overnight bag to bring just the essentials to Halong Bay. Your other luggage will be securely stored overnight, but do lock your bags. 

Transfer to Ha Long Bay (approximately 3 - 4 hours, with one stop on the way). 

Ha Long Bay became firmly entrenched as one of the “must-see” sights of Vietnam after the filming of the 1992 French movie, Indochine (starring Catherine Deneuve) and later the 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies (starring Pierce Brosnan). 

The images of boats navigating through the 3000+ limestone karsts (islands) jutting out of the bay are nothing short of spectacular. “Ha Long” means “descending dragon.”
 

Upon arrival at Ha Long city, sip on a refreshing Welcome Drink at check-in before we begin our unforgettable 24-hour Private Cruise through Ha Long Bay.

NOTE: All of the below meals and activities on this day in Ha Long Bay are included, however, drinks are not part of your fee and should be paid at the end of the cruise when the crew will distribute invoices (if you enjoyed the staff’s service, at that time please consider offering an additional tip of US$10 or so equivalent per person).
 

ALL TIMES ARE APPROXIMATE

12:30 pm Board our private boat.

12:45 pm Check-in to your cabin and then we’ll set sail from the Bai Tu Long Bay area. 

1:00 pm Have your camera ready to photograph this otherworldly landscape and then Lunch will be served in the restaurant on the main deck as we cruise among beautiful islets with interesting names, such as: Tea Pot islet, Mat Quy, Monster Face islet, Yen Ngua islet, Man’s Head islet, Tortoise islet, etc.
 

3:30 pm Take in the charm and tranquility of the lagoon at Luon Cave onboard a traditional rowboat (you won’t believe this place!).

4:15 pm Back onboard our boat we’ll continue cruising through the limestone karsts.

4:30 pm Explore Surprise Cave (Hang Sung Sot), one of the largest and most famous grottoes in the entire Ha Long Bay. You may want to bring your tripod, remote control, and other lowlight gear to experiment with photographing the cave’s amazing interior or simply marvel at it with your mind's eye.

6:00 pm Back onboard the vessel, surrounded by a stunning setting, if offered you can attend our chef’s demonstration and try your skills in the art of preparing a traditional Vietnamese dish or two.

7:30 pm Dinner will be served onboard in a very nice setting (casual attire is always fine).

9:00 pm Evening activities to consider: relax at leisure, watch the stars, or you can simply chat with new and old friends with a drink in hand.

Meals: B, L, D

Check out of your cabin and settle bills.

Timing subject to change, Breakfast is served in the restaurant on board the boat. 

Disembark to meet our driver to transfer to HAN airport (exact timing to be determined).

1:00 pm is the approximate departure time of our included DAD-bound flight.

Upon arrival in Danang, transfer to nearby Hoi An, passing the massive former U.S. airbase that was, in 1968, the busiest airport in the world, with all manner of aircraft coming and going in support of South Vietnam’s war effort. 

We expect a late lunch in Hoi An at a wonderful local restaurant called Ms. Ly’s or similar.

After lunch, you’ll enjoy a walking tour of the Old Town with our local guide, where we’ll visit the Ancient House, the Chinese Assembly Hall, and the Japanese Covered Bridge.

Walk or transfer to our hotel, which is situated right on the waterfront in a gorgeous setting, complete with a pool and swim-up bar. Check-in and settle in, afternoon free.

Later, you’ll take a leisurely walk back through town to enjoy dinner as a group at a local restaurant called Green Mango, or similar, with the remainder of the evening free.

Meals: B, L

Breakfast is served daily at our hotel in Hoi An from 6:00 - 9:30 am.

Walk with Ralph and your guide from our hotel along the riverfront to Hoi An’s Central Market, where you’ll get to witness the hustle and bustle of this captivating location with its vendors and shoppers going about their daily routines as they have for centuries. Be sure to visit and photograph the wet market along the river.

From nearby the market, you’ll embark on a private boat ride to get another perspective of Hoi An and the surrounding area.

After, walk to a nearby restaurant for lunch to enjoy some tasty bánh mì (this really means baguette, but here it refers to a delectable meat-filled sandwich). Anthony Bourdain said a bánh mì at this restaurant was one of his favorite meals in Vietnam.

SHOPPING IN HOI AN

If you're interested in having some clothes tailor-made for you at extremely reasonable prices, consider a visit to Yaly, Hoi An's most famous shop, where you can have just about anything handmade, including dresses, skirts, blouses, suits, shirts, ties, and more.  Incredibly, your order will be ready and delivered to your hotel before you leave Hoi An!

Remainder of the afternoon is free to continue your exploration of Hoi An. Consider getting a massage at the spa near the hotel (must be paid separately), relaxing on the nearby riverside beach or at our hotel’s beautiful pool.

Throughout your stay in Hoi An, you can also enjoy the wonderful cuisine at some of the town’s numerous cafes and restaurants for lunch and dinner. Consider going to an excellent restaurant called Morning Glory for dinner.

Meals: B, L

Today we’ll ride bikes into the countryside to explore how local farmers work in the fields and to witness everyday life as it occurs in villages along the way. Then we’ll peddle on to a small town where we’ll experience an included but optional ride in something called a basket boat (locally known as a thuyên thúng, or in Britain referred to as a coracle). 

These basket boats will take us through coconut palm gardens to see how the local fishermen catch fish with a large throw net (this is a great photo op – watch the weather and be prepared for the possibility of slightly wet conditions on the water, and you may want to wear shoes or sandals that can get wet). 

NOTE: The bike ride is along mostly flat roads and pathways, but it does require that you be reasonably fit and capable of riding as much as 5 or 6 miles over a 2 - 3 hour period. Weather permitting, there’ll be time to make several stops along the way to photograph daily life (and each other). 

CAUTION: Walk your bike wherever the path narrows and along canals or other areas that may be slippery and/or dangerous. PLEASE BE CAREFUL THROUGHOUT. 

Afterwards, we’ll have a lunch at Hoi An Eco Village or similar and ride bikes back to our vehicle.

Remainder of afternoon on your own.

NOTE: Be sure to schedule any second fittings from Yaly in this window of time to ensure you’ll receive your finished clothes this evening as we leave Hoi An tomorrow.

Remainder of evening and dinner on your own.

Meals: B, L

Fly from Danang to Can Tho (included).

Today you'll visit a Khmer temple and enjoy lunch and a sunset cruise on the Lower Mekong River, including a complimentary cocktail.

Along the way, we’ll do our best to find people working in the rice fields and other subjects to photograph.

Next, you'll have lunch in the garden of a family-run restaurant, then continue to an interesting market in Vinh Long where you’ll meet the vehicle again to drive to Can Tho.

Check in to our hotel, remainder of evening free, dinner on your own (there are many choices here along the waterfront).

Meals: B, L

Just before sunrise, we’ll walk to a river boat headed for the nearby Cai Rang floating market, one of the most famous floating markets in the entire Mekong Delta. 

The vendors here specialize in selling fruits and agricultural products from the whole region. During the early morning market hours, larger boats anchor and create lanes that smaller boats weave in and out of. The waterway becomes a maze of hundreds of boats packed with mangos, bananas, papayas, pineapples, and more. 

Sellers don’t have to cry out to let passersby know about their goods because what they sell can be seen from a distance, and their cries would not be heard in the vastness of the river anyway, especially with the noise of boat engines. Instead, sellers tie samples of their goods to a tall pole so that buyers can see from a distance what they specialize in. Small boats that sell beer, wine, coffee, soups, sandwiches, and soft drinks maneuver among the other boats to serve market goers and visitors alike.

Transfer by boat back to the area of our hotel in Can Tho for breakfast (served 6:00 – 9:00 am) and check out by 10:00 am.

Next, we’ll drive approximately 3 hours to Sai Gon with a stop at a typical Mekong restaurant for an included lunch.

Upon arrival in Sai Gon, if rooms are available, we’ll check into our hotel, and you’ll have the remainder of the afternoon free to continue your exploration of Sai Gon, or consider having a spa treatment at our hotel.

Meals: B, L

Today we'll have a guided orientation tour where you'll get to admire several of Saigon's historic landmarks, including the Notre Dame Cathedral (yep, there's one here, too), a red brick edifice with twin spires based on the original construction of its Paris namesake (it’s only possible to visit the interior of the church when no services are being performed).

Then we’ll head right across the square to the impressive Central Post Office, designed by the French architect Gustav Eiffel (yes, of Eiffel Tower fame). 

Continue with a visit to the former Presidential Palace, the headquarters of the Sai Gon government during the American War (as the Vietnamese refer to it), revealing the history of Sai Gon during its turbulent recent past.  

Sai Gon is a very cosmopolitan city with many types of restaurants available to choose from, so if you have a taste for an Argentinian steak, some sushi, or just about anything in between at this point in the trip, this is the place to look for that type of restaurant. 

Also, consider going up to one of the many rooftop restaurants or bars for spectacular views of the city; just ask at the front desk for recommendations. 

Meals: B, L, D

TRANSFER to the Herbal Street area, where shops sell from huge bags of herbs and spices from around the country to be dispensed for medicinal purposes, and we’ll learn some of their uses.

Afterward, we’ll continue to Chinatown, an area of Sai Gon where we’ll visit the biggest wholesale market in the region, called Binh Tay. This is in fact where many Vietnamese who operate stalls at markets in other parts of the city come to buy their supplies in quantity and at wholesale prices. 

Next, we’ll walk to Thien Hau Temple and then TRANSFER to the oldest pagoda in Sai Gon, Giac Lam.

TRANSFER to LUNCH at Viet Village restaurant or similar.

This evening we’ll enjoy a FAREWELL DINNER at a nearby restaurant called Vietnam House or similar where we can have a final meal together and then say our goodbyes, at least for now, to new and old friends.

Meals: B

Breakfast on your own.

Unfortunately, today your trip comes to an end and a private transfer to SGN airport for your trip home will be arranged for each participant or small group once we know everyone's flight times

Again, once our trip is officially called a GO, we’ll ask for your flight information via a form we’ll send out. 

We hope you've enjoyed what will surely be the experience of a lifetime here in Vietnam!

Please don’t make any non-refundable travel arrangements until confirmed by CD administrators to do so.