Vietnam in motion: Active journey from North to South

Arrival Flight: Guest’s tickets

Xin Chao! Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam.

Arrive at Hanoi. Your tour guide meets you at the airport and transfers you directly to your hotel in the city center. Check in and take time to rest after the flight.

Later in the afternoon,  walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, a nice and green park at the heart of the city, where you listen to local legends and watch Hanoi’s daily life.

Visit Ngoc Son Temple, set on a small island in the lake.

In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

Leave Hanoi in the morning and drive out toward Ecopark by car where you will get your bike and get ready for an active exploration of Hanoi’s outskirt. Start your cycling route through flat countryside through 3 villages. You ride through quiet village roads, pass rice fields,  and small temples. The leisure ride will expose you to typical village life in  flower village of Xuan Quan, pottery village of Kim Lan and finally Bat Trang. The pace stays easy. Total riding time is about 3 hours, around 30 km.

Stop along the way whenever opportunities of photos or interact with friendly villagers arise. Your guide shares local stories link to the region. Cycling to a Bat Trang to visit a local home, listen to the host’s story of the house, followed by a delicious lunch prepared by the hostess.

Return to Hanoi in the afternoon. Take time to rest at your hotel.

In the evening, follow your leader on a guided street food tour in the Hanoi Old Quarter. Walk between small food stalls and family-run shops. Taste local favorites such as banh cuon, banh mi, and pho. Stop at a lively bia hoi for a fresh local beer.

After breakfast, depart Hanoi by road toward Cat Hai Island. The drive takes most of the morning. From Cat Hai, board a ferry across the Gulf to Cat Ba Island.

On arrival, continue directly to Cat Ba National Park. Begin a guided hike on forest trails surrounded by dense greenery. You walk under the canopy with birdsong and forest sounds around you. The trail rolls gently with steady climbs and descents. Total hiking time is about 2 hours with roughly 200 meters up and down.

Climb toward Ngu Lam Peak. From the top, pause to take in wide views over limestone hills and jungle-covered valleys. Wildlife sightings are possible along the way, including squirrels and monkeys.

In the late afternoon, transfer to your hotel in Cat Ba Town. The rest of the evening is free. You may swim at the beach or take a short walk along the waterfront. 

After an early breakfast, travel a short distance to Ben Beo Harbor. Board a private boat and cruise along the coast of Cat Ba Island. You pass floating houses and fishing boats and see local life on the water.

Sail east into Lan Ha Bay. The water stays calm and clear. Limestone towers rise close around the boat. Stop and transfer into kayaks. Paddle for about 3 hours through narrow channels, small lagoons, and quiet coves. Enter low caves and glide between scattered islets.

Land at the beaches of Van Boi for a short break and time by the water.

Lunch is served on board while cruising back toward the island. Return to Cat Ba in the afternoon. The rest of the time is free to rest before dinner at your hotel. 

Depart Cat Ba Town in the morning by road toward Ninh Binh. The drive takes around 5 hours. Along the way, pass rice fields, limestone hills, and rural villages.

Arrive in Ninh Binh and stop for a Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant.

In the early afternoon, start a relaxed cycling route through the Tam Coc area. Ride for about 1.5 hours, covering roughly 12 km. The route is flat and easy. You cycle beside canals, rice paddies, and limestone cliffs.

At the river landing, board a traditional sampan boat. Locals row you along the narrow waterways of Tam Coc. Glide through caves and open stretches of water surrounded by rock formations and green fields. The pace stays slow and calm.

After the boat trip, return to shore and transfer to your hotel in Ninh Binh. Evening at leisure.

Before dawn, leave your hotel in Ninh Binh and drive to Mua Cave. Begin the hike up 486 stone steps toward the summit. The climb takes about 1–2 hours round trip, with steady ascent and descent. Reach the top as the sun rises. Look out over rivers, rice fields, and limestone peaks within the Trang An Landscape Complex.

Return by road toward Van Long Nature Reserve. Start a cycling route across flat countryside. Ride for around 2 hours, covering about 20 km. Pass wetlands, villages, and open fields. Stop at a local home for lunch. Share a home-cooked meal and spend time with the host family.

In the afternoon, return to your hotel. Time to rest, swim, and prepare for the night journey.

In the evening, transfer to the railway station. Board the overnight train to Da Nang at 21:39. Settle into your sleeper cabin with four bunks and clean bedding. Travel through the night.

Arrive in Da Nang at 11:25 the next day. 

Your journey continues toward Hoi An.

Arrive at Da Nang railway station late morning. Your guide meets you and transfers by road to Hoi An. Check in and rest after the night train.

In the afternoon, travel to the river edge outside town. Launch your kayak and begin paddling through coconut palm waterways and small riverside villages. The route stays calm and flat. Total paddling time is about 2.5 hours.

Continue downstream toward Hoi An Old Town, known as Lantern Town. Paddle as the light softens and the sun drops toward the horizon. Watch daily river life pass by and enjoy wide views of the countryside meeting the historic town.

Reach the town area as lanterns begin to light up along the streets and on the Thu Bon River. Secure the kayaks and walk into the old town. Stop at a small local café to sit and observe evening life as lanterns glow and reflect on the water.

Evening at leisure in Hoi An. 

Start the morning in Hoi An. Set off by bicycle and cross Cam Kim Bridge, riding to the far side of the Thu Bon River. The route stays scenic and quiet.

Cycle through rural lanes lined with rice fields, bamboo, and areca nut trees. Stop at a local ancestral house. Learn about family lineage and traditional customs. Continue riding through green farmland and small hamlets.

Visit a village home to see sedge mat weaving. Take time to watch the process and speak with the family. Ride on to another local house for fresh fruit and tea.

Cycle back toward Hoi An Old Town and continue along narrow streets toward Tra Que Vegetable Village. Total cycling time is about 3 hours, around 20 km, with gentle rises and dips.

Arrive at a local host’s home in Tra Que for lunch. The meal uses herbs and vegetables picked from the garden. After lunch, enjoy a short foot massage.

Cycle back to Hoi An and return the bikes. The rest of the day is free. You may continue exploring the old town on foot or head to the beach. 

Start early at sunrise and transfer by road from Hoi An to Da Nang airport. Fly to Ho Chi Minh City. Flight time is about an hour

On arrival, meet your guide and depart directly for the Mekong Delta. Drive south through rural provinces and farmland. Total driving time is around 4 hours with comfort stops along the way.

Arrive in Cai Be by early afternoon. Board a local boat and begin a relaxed cruise along the river and smaller canals. Pass floating houses, orchards, and riverside villages. Observe daily life on the water as boats move between banks.

After about one hour by boat, reach Mekong Lodge. Check in to your riverside bungalow. The rest of the afternoon and evening is free. Walk along the riverbank, relax on your terrace, or enjoy the quiet setting by the Mekong. Overnight at Mekong Lodge.

Start the morning at Mekong Lodge. Set off by bicycle onto Tan Phong Island. Ride along narrow village paths and canals. The terrain is flat and easy. Total cycling time is about 3 hours, covering roughly 22 km.

Pass fruit gardens, small workshops, and family homes. Stop to watch rice paper being made for spring rolls. See coconut leaves stitched for roofs and dried water hyacinth woven into baskets, hats, and household items. The pace stays slow to allow time with local families.

Return to the lodge for lunch.

In the afternoon, board a boat and cruise toward Cai Be. Visit the local market area and observe river trading. Stop near small pagodas along the riverbanks. Sample local treats such as coconut candy or traditional cakes.

Return to the lodge in the late afternoon. Time to freshen up.

In the evening, join a cooking demonstration at the lodge. Learn basic techniques and flavors of Vietnamese home cooking.

Transfer by road early to Cu Chi tunnels. The drive takes around 4 hours, passing farmland and small towns.This is an amazing underground tunnel network of over 200km, equipped with bunkers, trenches, kitchens, dining rooms, water wells, hospitals and other facilities essential for the guerrillas’ survival. There are 3 levels of tunnels, with different depth: first level is 3-4m deep, second level is up to 6-7 meter deep and the last one is up to 10 meter deep. You will walk the ground to get a closer look at the amazing tunnel system and even challenge yourself with a crawl into different levels of the tunnel. Although parts of the tunnel system have been widen for tourists, it is still a challenge to get to the second and third level.

After the visit, enjoy lunch at local restaurant before proceeding to Ho Chi Minh city.

Arrive the hotel in middle afternoon. Check in and explore the surrounding area on own.

Start your morning Vespa ride through Ho Chi Minh City. Explore key districts, pass colonial landmarks, and weave through local neighborhoods. Stop at a street café for Vietnamese coffee, visit flower market, Buddhist pagoda and observe daily life up close while your guide shares local stories and history. The exciting tour ends  up at a local restaurant, a real hidden gem, for lunch before returning to your hotel.

Transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your evening flight. Your journey through Vietnam comes to an end.