Arrival in Hanoi

Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, meet your private driver and transfer to your hotel in Hanoi.

After check-in, the remainder of the day is free to recover from your journey and adjust to the local time.

Depending on your arrival time and energy level, you may wish to take a gentle walk through the surrounding neighbourhood, enjoy your first Vietnamese coffee or simply relax at your hotel.

Service: Private airport transfer
Meals: None
Overnight: Hanoi

Vintage Vespa, Neighbourhoods & Local Life

After breakfast, discover Hanoi from the back of a vintage Vespa, accompanied by an experienced local driver and guide.

Rather than following a conventional city-tour route, the experience connects some of Hanoi’s most recognisable landmarks with neighbourhoods and everyday spaces visitors might otherwise miss.

Ride through the atmospheric streets of the Old Quarter and past the Hanoi Opera House before continuing toward the historic Ba Dinh district.

Pass important landmarks around the Ho Chi Minh Complex and learn about the city’s modern history before travelling along quieter streets toward West Lake.

Continue across the historic Long Bien Bridge and into riverside areas where the busy city centre gives way to farming communities and local neighbourhoods.

Depending on seasonal conditions, stop at a local agricultural area or riverside community for an introduction to another side of the capital.

Finish with Hanoi’s famous egg coffee before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant.

Return to your hotel and spend the remainder of the afternoon at leisure.

Service: Guided Vespa experience
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Hanoi

Free Day & Optional Local Experiences

Today is deliberately left free.

After your introduction to the city, enjoy Hanoi according to your own interests and rhythm.

You may wish to explore the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake, visit museums or galleries, browse independent boutiques, discover the city’s café culture or simply enjoy a slower morning watching daily life unfold.

For travellers who prefer an additional organised experience, optional activities such as a street-food walk, cooking class, craft workshop or private cultural tour can be arranged.

This unstructured day provides breathing room early in the journey before travelling beyond the capital.

Service: Day at leisure
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Hanoi

Into the Limestone Countryside

After breakfast, meet your private driver and leave Hanoi for Ninh Binh.

Travel through the Red River Delta as the city gradually gives way to agricultural landscapes, villages and limestone mountains.

Upon arrival, check in to your accommodation and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Staying overnight allows you to experience Ninh Binh beyond the conventional day-trip schedule and enjoy the countryside after many visitors have returned to Hanoi.

Spend the afternoon relaxing at your accommodation, walking through the surrounding landscape or exploring independently.

Service: Private transfer
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Ninh Binh

Villages, Rice Fields & Tam Coc

After breakfast, meet your guide for a relaxed exploration of the Ninh Binh countryside.

Begin by bicycle, travelling along small rural roads through villages, rice fields and the limestone valleys surrounding Tam Coc.

Stop along the way to observe local life and learn about agriculture and the communities living among these dramatic landscapes.

After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to the Tam Coc wharf.

Board a traditional sampan and travel gently along the Ngo Dong River, passing rice fields, towering limestone formations and natural caves.

Rather than following the pace of a conventional Hanoi day excursion, today allows more time to enjoy the landscape without the pressure of a long evening transfer.

Return to your accommodation in the afternoon and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Service: Private guided experience
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Ninh Binh

Overnight Cruise Among the Limestone Islands

After breakfast, leave Ninh Binh and transfer toward Ha Long Bay.

Upon arrival at the cruise terminal, complete boarding procedures and settle into your cabin.

Enjoy lunch on board as the vessel begins sailing through the remarkable limestone scenery of the bay.

During the afternoon, participate in activities according to the selected cruise programme. Depending on the cruise, weather and local conditions, these may include kayaking, swimming, cave exploration or excursions by tender.

Return to the vessel and enjoy time on deck as the light changes across the bay.

Dinner is served on board, followed by a relaxed evening at leisure.

Service: Transfer & shared overnight cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Ha Long Bay Cruise

Morning Cruise & Flight to Central Vietnam

Wake to the peaceful scenery of Ha Long Bay.

Depending on the cruise programme, begin the morning with a light activity or final excursion before breakfast or brunch is served on board.

Enjoy the final views of the bay as the vessel gradually returns toward the harbour.

After disembarkation, transfer toward Noi Bai International Airport according to the confirmed flight schedule.

Fly to Hue in central Vietnam.

Upon arrival at Phu Bai International Airport, meet your private driver and transfer to your hotel.

The evening is free to relax after the journey.

Service: Shared cruise services, transfer, domestic flight & private arrival transfer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch or Brunch depending on cruise programme
Overnight: Hue

Market, Local Flavours & Culinary Traditions

Enjoy a leisurely morning before discovering Hue through its distinctive food culture.

Meet your local guide and travel by traditional cyclo through the city toward Dong Ba Market, Hue’s largest and best-known market.

Walk through stalls filled with herbs, produce, spices and ingredients used in central Vietnamese cooking while learning why Hue developed one of the country’s most distinctive regional cuisines.

Continue through the city with selected stops to sample local specialities.

Rather than focusing only on the number of dishes, the experience introduces the stories and traditions behind food associated with both everyday life and Hue’s imperial heritage.

Finish with a relaxed meal featuring several regional dishes and a traditional local dessert.

Return to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Service: Guided culinary experience
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Hue

Citadel, Royal Tomb & Perfume River

After breakfast, begin a guided exploration of Vietnam’s former imperial capital.

Travel along the Perfume River and visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of Hue’s most recognisable religious landmarks.

Continue to the Imperial Citadel, once the political and ceremonial centre of the Nguyen Dynasty.

Explore selected areas of the complex while learning about Vietnam’s final royal dynasty and the traditions of imperial life.

After lunch, visit one of Hue’s most significant royal tombs, selected according to the confirmed programme and local conditions.

These landscaped complexes provide a different perspective on the personalities, aesthetics and beliefs of the Nguyen emperors.

Return to your hotel in the afternoon.

The evening is free at leisure.

Service: Guided city tour
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Hue

Countryside & the Hai Van Pass

After breakfast, check out and begin your private overland journey to Hoi An.

Travel through areas of central Vietnamese countryside before continuing south toward the Hai Van Pass, where the road climbs dramatically between mountains and sea.

Weather permitting, stop at viewpoints overlooking the coastline before descending toward Da Nang and continuing to Hoi An.

Upon arrival, check in to your hotel.

The remainder of the afternoon and evening is free to enjoy Hoi An at your own pace.

Take a gentle walk through the Ancient Town, relax beside the river or wait until evening when the historic streets are illuminated by colourful lanterns.

Service: Private transfer with sightseeing stops
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Hoi An

Ancient Town, Villages & Waterways

After breakfast, meet your guide for an exploration of Hoi An and its surrounding countryside.

Begin on foot in the UNESCO-listed Ancient Town.

Visit selected merchant houses, assembly halls, temples and the Japanese Covered Bridge while learning about the Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and European communities that shaped Hoi An as an international trading port.

Continue beyond the historic centre into the countryside.

Travel through rice fields and local villages before reaching the Cam Thanh area, known for its nipa palm waterways.

Board a traditional bamboo basket boat and explore the coconut forest with local boatmen.

Enjoy lunch featuring local dishes before returning to your hotel.

The remainder of the afternoon is free, giving you time to return to the Ancient Town independently, visit a tailor, relax at your hotel or simply enjoy Hoi An’s slower rhythm.

Service: Guided experience
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Hoi An

Leisure Morning & Flight South

Enjoy a relaxed morning in Hoi An.

Take a final walk through the Ancient Town, enjoy breakfast at your own pace or spend time relaxing at your hotel.

At the scheduled time, meet your private driver and transfer to Da Nang International Airport.

Fly to Ho Chi Minh City.

Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, meet your private driver and transfer to your hotel.

The evening is free to experience the energy of Vietnam’s largest city independently.

Service: Private airport transfers + domestic flight
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City

Riverside Life in the Mekong Delta

After breakfast, meet your private driver and leave Ho Chi Minh City for Vung Liem, travelling deeper into the rural landscapes of the Mekong Delta.

The journey takes approximately three to four hours depending on traffic and road conditions.

Along the way, stop for lunch at a selected local restaurant at your own expense before continuing to Coco Riverside Lodge.

Arrive in the early afternoon, enjoy a welcome drink and take some time to settle into the peaceful riverside surroundings.

Later, meet your local guide and choose a bicycle for an afternoon journey through the surrounding villages.

Ride along quiet country lanes and stop at a local family home to see how popped rice is traditionally prepared. Learn about this long-established local craft and gain an insight into everyday family life in the region.

Continue to another household where palm leaves are woven by hand into materials traditionally used for roofing and other practical purposes throughout the Mekong Delta.

Your guide will also introduce aspects of rural farming and the resourceful ways local families use the materials available around them.

Continue cycling through rice fields and village landscapes. A shorter route of approximately 5–7 kilometres is available for those who prefer a gentle ride, while more active travellers may choose a longer route of approximately 13 kilometres, with a possible visit to a fruit plantation depending on seasonal conditions.

As the afternoon comes to an end, enjoy the changing light over the countryside before returning to the lodge.

In the early evening, experience another aspect of local culture with an introduction to traditional rice wine and regional customs.

Take a short walk through the village carrying torches made from dried coconut leaves, recalling a traditional way of moving through rural communities after dark.

Return to the lodge for a hands-on cooking experience. Learn how to prepare Vietnamese bánh xèo before enjoying dinner together.

Service: Private transfer + locally guided cycling and cultural experience
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Coco Riverside Lodge, Vung Liem

Local Market, River Communities & Return to Ho Chi Minh City

After breakfast, board a local motorboat and travel along the waterways surrounding Vung Liem.

Visit a local market, where residents gather for their daily shopping and trade. Walk through the market with your guide and learn about the produce, ingredients and routines that shape everyday life in the community.

Continue to a Cao Dai temple for an introduction to one of Vietnam’s distinctive indigenous religions.

Travel further along the river to visit a local coconut-processing workshop.

Observe how coconut fibre and other parts of the fruit are transformed by hand into practical products such as rope, mats and other household materials.

The visit offers a closer look at the small-scale industries that continue to support many communities throughout the Mekong Delta.

Return to the lodge and enjoy some free time to relax before checking out.

Meet your private driver and begin the journey back to Ho Chi Minh City. Lunch can be enjoyed independently along the way or before departure from the Mekong Delta.

Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, check in to your hotel and enjoy your final evening in Vietnam at leisure.

Service: Guided Mekong experience + private transfer
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and free time until your scheduled departure.

Depending on your flight time, enjoy a final Vietnamese coffee, take a short walk through the city or pick up some last-minute souvenirs.

At the appropriate time, meet your private driver and transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your onward flight.

Your journey with Oriva comes to an end.

Service: Private airport transfer
Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

• 14 nights’ accommodation based on twin/double sharing
• Daily breakfast and meals indicated in the itinerary
• Domestic economy-class flights:
  • Hanoi → Hue
  • Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City
• Private airport transfers as specified
• Guided Hanoi Vespa experience
• Private transfer from Hanoi to Ninh Binh
• Private guided Ninh Binh cycling and sampan experience
• Transfer from Ninh Binh to Ha Long Bay
• 2-day/1-night shared Ha Long Bay cruise with scheduled meals and activities
• Guided Hue culinary experience
• Guided Hue imperial sightseeing
• Private transfer from Hue to Hoi An via the Hai Van Pass
• Guided Hoi An heritage and countryside experience
• Private transfer from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Liem and return
• 1-night stay at Coco Riverside Lodge in Vung Liem
• Guided village cycling experience in Vung Liem
• Local family and traditional craft visits
• Traditional rice wine introduction and evening village experience
• Vietnamese cooking experience at Coco Riverside Lodge
• Guided Mekong motorboat experience
• Local market visit
• Cao Dai temple visit
• Coconut-processing workshop visit
• Entrance fees for sightseeing included in the programme
• Tam Coc sampan boat trip
• Bicycle use during included cycling activities
• Basket boat experience in Cam Thanh
• Local English-speaking guides during guided experiences
• Drinking water where provided by the operating supplier
• Applicable local taxes and service charges
• 24/7 local assistance from Oriva Journeys during the trip

What’s Not Included

• International flights to and from Vietnam
• Vietnam visa or e-visa fees, where applicable
• Travel insurance
• Meals and beverages not specified in the itinerary
• Lunch on Day 13 and Day 14
• Drinks during included meals unless stated otherwise
• Personal expenses such as laundry, minibar, spa treatments, shopping and telephone charges
• Optional activities, excursions or upgrades
• Early check-in and late check-out unless confirmed
• Excess baggage charges, seat selection and other optional airline services
• Tips and gratuities
• Expenses arising from flight disruptions, adverse weather, natural disasters or other circumstances beyond the operator’s reasonable control
• Any services not specifically mentioned under What’s Included

Travelling solo usually costs more per person because many parts of the journey are normally shared between two or more travellers.

When travelling alone, costs such as accommodation, private transfers, vehicle, driver and private guide services are carried by one person rather than divided across a couple or small group.

Oriva does not normally pair solo travellers with other guests simply to reduce the price. Matching independent travellers would require the same departure date, itinerary, service level and travel preferences, which is difficult to guarantee consistently.

For travellers who want to keep the independence of travelling alone while managing the overall cost, Oriva also offers selected solo-friendly journeys. These itineraries use shared or small-group services where appropriate while still allowing you to keep your own accommodation and travel independently.

The journey can be personalised with a range of optional upgrades, subject to availability and additional charges.

Available options include:

• Private Hanoi sightseeing instead of the Vespa experience
• An additional guided Hanoi experience on Day 3
• Premium accommodation in Ninh Binh
• A private Ha Long Bay transfer
• A higher-category cabin on the Ha Long Bay cruise
• Private Hue culinary or sightseeing experiences
• A premium private vehicle for the Hue–Hoi An journey
• A private Hoi An experience
• An additional night in the Mekong Delta
• Hotel category upgrades
• Additional nights in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An or Ho Chi Minh City
• More flexible domestic airfare options

Speak with our team if you would like to make the journey more private, upgrade your accommodation or add extra time before or after the itinerary.

Yes. Selected parts of the journey can be adjusted depending on availability.

The standard itinerary is designed around a slower rhythm, with private services used for many key transfers and experiences and selected shared services such as the Ha Long Bay cruise.

Alternative Hanoi sightseeing, additional guided experiences, private transfers, hotel upgrades, an extra night in the Mekong Delta and more flexible domestic airfare can all be considered.

If you have specific preferences, Oriva can review which parts of the journey can be adapted while keeping the relaxed pace and overall balance of the itinerary.

Yes. A 20% deposit is normally required to confirm your booking.

The remaining balance is generally due 45–60 days before departure. Bookings made closer to departure may require full payment at the time of confirmation.

Some services, such as flights, cruises or hotels, may require earlier or full payment depending on supplier conditions.

Cancellation charges depend on how close to departure the booking is cancelled:

Domestic air tickets are non-refundable once issued.

Other prepaid services, such as cruises, hotel deposits or attraction tickets, may also have supplier-specific cancellation conditions.

No refund is normally provided for no-shows or voluntarily unused services after the trip has started.

Yes. Families with children are welcome, and special child rates are available when sharing a room or cabin with two adults:

• Infants aged 0–2: 10% of the adult rate
• Children aged 3–11: 85% of the adult rate
• Children aged 12 and above: Adult rate

Child fares for flights and other ticketed transport are subject to the relevant airline or operator’s policy and will be confirmed at the time of booking.

Yes. A few practical points are worth keeping in mind before confirming your journey.

• Accommodation: Prices are based on twin/double sharing. A single supplement applies for solo occupancy.
• Vung Liem Stay: Coco Riverside Lodge offers a simpler, locally operated standard of accommodation than the premium hotels used elsewhere in the journey. It is intentionally selected for its authentic riverside setting and community-based experiences.
• Vespa Experience: Travellers ride as passengers with experienced drivers. Alternative sightseeing can be arranged for guests who prefer not to travel by scooter.
• Cycling: Cycling activities are optional and can be adjusted according to fitness, weather and local conditions.
• Domestic Flights: Flight schedules, airlines, fares and baggage allowances are subject to availability until ticketing.
• Ha Long Bay Cruise: Cruise routes and activities may change due to weather, tidal conditions, safety requirements or local authority instructions.
• Mekong Delta: Activities and village visits may be adjusted according to tides, weather, seasonal conditions and local operations.
• Meals: Dietary requirements can usually be accommodated when advised in advance.
• Itinerary: Minor adjustments may be required due to weather, flight schedules or operational conditions while maintaining the overall experience.
• Travel Documents: Travellers are responsible for valid passports, visas and applicable entry requirements.
• Travel Insurance: Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended.