Best Cultural & Heritage Vietnam 12 Days

With a long and colourful history, Hanoi is prominent for its vivid cultural and historical sites. The city’s beauty is reflected right on the locals’ simple daily life. It seems like the city will content your eyes with its every single corner.
After having a fulfilling breakfast at your hotel, it’s time to start an exploration of Hanoi city tour, with our experienced local tour guides. One unmissable part of your journey is a visit to the imposing Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where Vietnamese people preserve the body of President Ho Chi Minh. In the same area, you can visit his House On Stilts, where everything belonging to Uncle Ho has been maintained intact, gradually representing a part of his immortal life.
Next, let’s experience one of the most unique cultural symbols of Vietnam – the One Pillar Pagoda. Not only impressing tourists with its one-of-a-kind architectural structure, but this pagoda also has a mythical story behind its establishment.

Wandering through a couple of other attractions before lunch time. After that, continue with visiting a place considered as Vietnam’s 1st University – The Temple of Literature. This place preserves and reminds descendants about the elite and their contribution during Vietnam’s long history. Next is Hoa Lo, a prison built by French colonists for political prisoners, where you can really feel a severe period of Vietnam history, realistically.
To complete a day, enjoy a cyclo tour around the busy and lively Old Quarter. This is also a great time to discover Hanoi’s Street Food with a number of food vendors at the night market.

Our journey embarks from Hanoi, where we'll pick you up for a scenic drive through the verdant landscapes of the Red River Delta. Heading to  the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage site, Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay,  you'll embark on a luxurious cruise ship for an enchanting overnight tour onboard.

As you relax on the ship deck, you'll be captivated by the breathtaking beauties that majestically emerge from the azure waters, surrounded by thousands of jungle-clad islands seemingly suspended on the gentle waves. The turquoise waters of the gulf conceal many hidden ancient caves, creating a mesmerizing world.

Enjoy a delicious seafood lunch with breathtaking views and a refreshing drink. Our next destination is a charming fishing village, where locals have ingeniously turned their boats into a floating community. Meet fishermen, explore a stunning lagoon by kayak or rowboat, and unwind on deck as the sun sets. Spend a delightful overnight stay on board!

After a night staying on board, don’t miss a chance to take photos of the poetic sunrise on the beach. Joining a Tai Chi session on the ship’s deck or having a morning coffee/tea are perfect to kickstart your new day. During the return to the pier, you can take part in a cooking class, learning how to cook some delicious Vietnamese dishes. You can enjoy your self-cooked food with lunch on board when the cruise returns to Ha Long city. At the harbor, our friendly driver is already waiting to take you to Noi Bai International Airport, for your flight to Hue then.

Hue is one of the most charming towns in the Central Vietnam and has a long and illustrious history as it used to be the capital city during the Last Dynasty of Vietnam.

Today you will explore the royal city of Hue once served as an imperial capital to the Nguyen Lords, a feudal dynasty which reigned from the 17th to the 19th century. With splendid emperors’ tombs, ancient pagodas and the remains of the citadel, the city retains its royal charm.

After breakfast, you are picked up by your private guide and driver and begin your day with a visit to the atmospheric Imperial Citadel, a large complex that contains the remains of the former Imperial Palace and Forbidden Purple City, where the emperors and his family once lived. The two-hour walking tour allows you to see the magnificent architecture and gardens as your guide explains the events and the intrigue of the former royal court.

From the Imperial City, your guide will take you to visit the iconic Thien Mu Pagoda – Hue’s most famous religious site with its origins dating back to 1601. Here you will explore the pagoda’s landscaped gardens, the seven-tiered octagonal tower, and watch the monks chanting.

Hue is famous for its Royal cuisine. The Nguyen Emperors’ banquets were legendary. Some feats were said to have included 300 rare dishes served in more than a thousand bowls. Today your guide will take you to the fine-dining Ancient Hue restaurant where you will be served a royal lunch. This old fashioned style meal which brings a boutique and unique experience.

After lunch, you will explore the tomb of the longest-reigned Emperor Tu Duc, located in a tranquil setting of gardens and ponds, inspired by the Chinese Confucianism, harmonious design of balance and symmetry for the emperor’s resting place.

Continue to visit the tomb of King Khai Dinh, designed in traditional Vietnamese style with a European touch making it unique from the other tombs in Hue.

After breakfast and check out of your hotel, meet your private guide and driver for a three-hour drive to Hoi An via the stunningly Hai Van Pass. Also known as the “Cloudy Pass,” this winding mountain road overlooks the lush countryside, sandy beaches, the blue waters of the South China Sea, and the coastal city of Da Nang.

En route, you will pause in Danang to visit the Marble Mountain with its beautiful caves of worship and the Museum of Cham Sculpture’s collection of artifacts dating back to the seventh century.

Upon arriving in Hoi An, you'll check in to your hotel and have the rest of the afternoon to unwind on the sandy shores of Cua Dai Beach.

Hoi An thrived as a bustling port city from the 16th to the 19th century, conducting trade with merchants from China, Japan, India, Indonesia, and Europe. 

Today, the UNESCO World Heritage Old Quarter of Hoi An preserves the city's past with ornate pagodas, antique trading houses, and historic tile-roofed shops. These have been transformed into art galleries, boutique restaurants, bars, and cafes. 

Hoi An is renowned for its architectural fusion of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and European styles, offering a rich cultural tapestry. Surrounding the city are scenic countryside landscapes with traditional farming and fishing, as well as sandy beaches featuring modern seaside resorts.

Discover the vibrant tapestry of Vietnamese daily life and rural heritage on this distinctive Hoi An excursion. 

Begin your day with a morning market tour, sourcing fresh ingredients for your upcoming cooking class. Accompanied by your guide and driver, you'll embark on a journey to the bustling Hoi An local market, where a myriad of sights, sounds, and aromas await. Take a leisurely stroll through the market's vibrant aisles, engaging with local vendors and selecting the finest produce for your culinary adventure.

Following the market escapade, head to Cam Thanh village, making a pitstop at the enchanting Bay Mau Water Palm forest. Enjoy a brief riverside walk in this quaint fishing hamlet, then hop onto a traditional Coracle bamboo boat for a scenic cruise along a charming canal with local fishermen. 

Continue to Tra Que herbs and vegetables village, where a farmer's family awaits. Don traditional farmer attire, explore the nearby farming land with authentic tools, and engage in a cooking class at a local home. Relish the experience of preparing and enjoying your own meal, culminating in a soothing foot soak with local herbs and a foot massage.

Cap off the day with an afternoon exploration of Hoi An's ancient town. Visit iconic landmarks such as Hoian Central Market, and the Culture Museum and a night walk along Thu Bon River.

After breakfast, we'll pick you up and transfer you to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon your arrival, we'll ensure a smooth transfer to your hotel, allowing you to spend the evening immersing yourself in the bustling atmosphere of Saigon.

Ho Chi Minh City is a city that never sleeps, offering a plethora of excellent restaurants and bars catering to all tastes. From street food vendors to the rooftop bar or the enthusiastic Bui Vien walking street, where international correspondents once covered the Vietnam War, you'll find an array of dining and entertainment options. Whatever your interests, Faithful Travels is here to tailor your recommendations.

In your next adventure, you’ll get to know more about Vietnam’s history and explore Cu Chi Tunnel, which was used as a bomb shelter for Vietnamese soldiers. Learn about the story behind this tunnel’s construction and how harsh that period was.

Exploring every smallest corner inside the tunnel, it will give you a “WOW” with its complicated structure and sophisticated trap system. It will be a remarkable memory in your Vietnam tour. Here, you can also try cooking a meal in the style of Viet Cong Soldiers.

In the afternoon, back to Ho Chi Minh city center and visit Independence Palace (or Reunification Palace), which is considered as the symbol of Ho Chi Minh city. Notre Dame Cathedral, Ben Thanh Market and Big Market are also some attractions you can choose to visit, to learn about daily life of local people here. Saigon’s street food is also an uncut gem waiting for the foodies.

After breakfast, your private guide and driver will take you out of Ho Chi Minh City in a private vehicle and onto some beautiful country roads to Ben Tre Town in the Mekong Delta, famous for its vast rice fields, numerous waterways, and beautiful landscapes. Known as the ‘rice bowl’ of Vietnam, this region produces most of Vietnam’s fruit, rice, sugar cane, and coconuts.

After the two-hour drive through the lush farming land, you will arrive in Ben Tre where you will set out on a motorized boat trip on narrow channels winding through the coconut forest. During the boat ride, you will stop at the local cottage industries to see how the local people make bricks and weave sleeping mats by hand. Learn about their craft handed down through generations.

Take a leisure walk along the village lanes, visiting the local homes to try fresh fruits, taste delicious honey tea while enjoying a local Tai Tu music show. Continue to visit another workshop where the local delicacy of coconut candy is produced and a wide range of coconut husk and fiber products are skillfully handcrafted.

Next, take a small sampan through palm-fringed back canals, gliding peacefully along the hidden waterways surrounded by an immense variety of tropical plants. The quiet, rural setting is a welcome and restorative retreat to the frenetic buzz of Ho Chi Minh City which seems far, far away.

Enjoy sitting in the back of a motor cart (xe lôi) passing local hamlets, rice fields, coconut groves, and lush orchard farms while meeting with local people.

After enjoying lunch at a local restaurant you will return to Ben Tre town and continue the drive through the fields and towns of the Mekong to Can Tho city.

Spend the evening at your leisure. Explore Can Tho night market by yourself and treat your taste buds with local specialties. The market streets come alive with dozens of bustling food vendor selling grilled meat or seafood, as well as “Vietnamese pizza” (Bánh Tráng Nướng)...

This morning, partake in a leisurely boat trip to explore the picturesque tributaries of the Lower Mekong River (Bassac River). Your voyage will lead you to the vibrant Cai Rang floating market, renowned as the liveliest in the entire region. As you navigate these waters, you'll have the opportunity to sample Vietnamese vermicelli soup, providing a taste of local culinary delights.

During your time in the village, mingle with the friendly locals and even experience crossing a "Monkey bridge," constructed using a single bamboo stem. Visit an orchard garden and enjoy a sumptuous lunch. As your boat returns to Ho Chi Minh City, soak up the scenery and take in the beauty of this unique region.

Upon arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll have a night free to relax at the hotel, packing your belonging or enjoy Sai Gon more at your will.