Northern Vietnam highlights 2027

Xin Chào Các Bạn! Welcome to Vietnam!

After you've landed in Hanoi, we will arrange for your airport transfer direct to our boutique hotel in beautiful, downtown Hanoi.

Settle into your hotel room, then get ready to rendezvous with your local guide.

Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, the charm of the capital always feels fresh. Once settled in, enjoy a slow afternoon stroll around your hotel area. Maybe sip a cà phê sữa đá at a sidewalk café, or meander past leafy boulevards and lakeside pagodas. This is your first taste of Hanoi’s rhythm—unhurried yet full of life. Tomorrow promises temples, street food, and hidden alleyways, but for now, just breathe it in. You’ve arrived in a city that doesn’t rush to impress—but always leaves a mark.

About Hanoi; The millennium city of Hanoi is made up of 36 market streets that were once the ancient trading centre of Thang Long, Vietnam's ancient capital. Not much
remains of old Thang Long, but you can wander down alleys where old temples and ancient trees still stand amidst the modern chaos. Each street is named after
the businesses that once filled them. "Hàng Bạc," for example, is where silversmiths once traded their wares and, to some extent, still do today. The Old Quarter
wasn't always so stylish, but today, it houses the most expensive real estate in Vietnam. It's a gorgeous place to explore.

The street food tradition of Hanoi is steeped in history and the origins of many dishes are sometimes only half remembered. There are little nooks and crannies and stories to discover as you peel back the layers of history, one tasty treat at a time.

This evening, you'll head-out to have a traditional dinner at the home of 3 generations of Hanoi family. Chả cá is a quintessential Hanoi dish that was created by the Đòan family at their famous restaurant on Hàng Cá street more than a century ago. The dish has been enjoyed by emperors, revolutionaries, and everyday people, and it's
become so famous that there are lots of copycat restaurants but only one original. You'll be served the fish the way it was meant to be enjoyed the way it
was prepared for Emperor Bao Dai, the last Emperor. Settle in for a culinary experience complemented by conversation with three generations of a Hanoi family that has mastered the dish. 

Enjoy this special dinner together on your first night.

Meals: Welcome dinner

Accommodation: Le Jardin Hotel or similar

After breakfast, step into the rhythm of Hanoi and experience the city as it truly lives and breathes. Founded in the 11th century, Hanoi is one of Vietnam’s most captivating cities—where every winding street tells a story. Begin in the Old Quarter, a vibrant maze of narrow lanes packed with scooters, shopfronts, and street food vendors. Watch locals go about their daily routines, try a crispy bánh mì or a warm bowl of phở, and soak in the buzz of market life.

You will explore the ancient city on foot today. Don't miss a visit to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university, built to train the scions of great houses for court positions. The stone stele on the backs of stone tortoises still bear the names of the highest ranking graduates of each Imperial Exam, who have gone on to important posts and left their mark on the history of this country. Each year, students still come here to light incense and touch the tortoises for luck in their exams.

After your wander at the Temple of Literature, consider enjoying some refreshments nearby at a quaint tea house run by a master tea maker who has spent years rediscovering the secrets of tea that were largely forgotten during the years of the cultural revolution.

Other sights you'll explore in Hanoi today are:

-Hoa Lo or Hanoi Hilton where American GIs were "feted"

-Bach Ma Temple

-Train street

Take a break with a cup of cà phê trứng—Hanoi’s signature egg coffee, whipped creamy and sweet—best enjoyed in a quiet café tucked inside a faded colonial building. It’s more than a drink; it’s a taste of Hanoi’s quirky, resilient soul. Today’s about slowing down and tuning in to the heartbeat of the capital.

Finish day two on a high note, with a Hanoi street food tour.

Accommodation Le Jardin Hotel or similar

Meals included: Breakfast, Street food Dinner

Get ready to witness some of the most breathtaking views in all of Vietnam—and Southeast Asia. After breakfast at your Hanoi hotel, you’ll hit the road toward the legendary seascapes of Ha Long Bay. But you’re not heading where everyone else is. Instead, you’ll venture further, to the quieter, more secluded waters of Lan Ha Bay—a hidden gem that promises all the beauty with fewer crowds. It is still busy though, so be prepared for lots of boats and people.

Once aboard your comfortable cruise, the day is yours to simply take it all in. Towering limestone karsts rise dramatically from emerald waters, and as the boat glides between them, every turn reveals a new jaw-dropping vista. When sunset arrives, it’ll stop you in your tracks—golden light washing over ancient rock formations in a way no photo could ever quite do justice.

You won’t just be floating and watching—you’ll also hop off the boat and into a traditional row boat to explore a secret sea cave, being paddled through still waters surrounded by nature at its most epic. You have the chance to dive off the boat into the waters for a swim, or just relax in the hot tub on the deck.

Tonight, you’ll dine and sleep on board, gently rocked by the calm bay, completely immersed in one of the world’s most iconic landscapes. It’s not just a cruise—it’s a front-row seat to nature’s masterpiece.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Sena Cruises or similar

You’ll want to rise early today—trust us. There’s something magical about watching the morning mist lift over the limestone peaks of Lan Ha Bay from the deck of your floating home. For a peaceful start, join a tai chi session on the sundeck as the boat gently sways and the bay slowly comes to life. It’s a moment of calm you’ll carry with you.

Around midday, you’ll disembark from the cruise and begin your journey back to Hanoi, arriving by early afternoon. From there, it’s time to take to the skies with a short flight south to Huế.

Welcome to Huế, Vietnam’s former Imperial Capital and a city steeped in poetic beauty and dynastic history. Once the seat of the Nguyễn Emperors, Huế invites you into a world of royal palaces, peaceful pagodas, and tombs fit for kings. Walk the grounds of the Forbidden Purple City, once reserved for emperors and their retinues, and explore the stunning mausoleums scattered along the Perfume River—each one a tribute to power, legacy, and architectural grace. Here, Vietnam’s imperial past feels wonderfully close, wrapped in the stillness of old stone and the fragrance of frangipani trees.

 Meals: Breakfast, Light Lunch 

Transportation:

Air condition limousine shuttle bus from Ha Long to Noi Bai Airport, 

Fly from Hanoi to Hue, 

Private car from HUI Airport to Hue Hotel

Accommodation: Spatel d'Annam Hotel (or similar) - https://spatel-annam.com/ 

Feature stay:

Spatel d’Annam isn’t just a charming boutique hotel—it’s a place steeped in history. Once serving as the royal dispensary for the Nguyễn Dynasty, this elegant colonial building was where emperors, mandarins, and nobles sought traditional treatments and healing. Tucked within the old imperial walls of Huế, the property has been lovingly restored to preserve its original character, from the cool tiled floors to the high ceilings and French-influenced architecture.

Today, Spatel d’Annam blends that rich heritage with modern comfort. Staying here means more than a good night’s sleep—it’s a quiet immersion into a lesser-known part of royal history, right in the heart of the former capital.

After breakfast at your hotel, hop on the back of a motorbike and let our guide lead you through the soul of Huế. There's something about exploring this former imperial capital on two wheels—the breeze, the rhythm, the way the city slowly opens up to you.

First stop: the sprawling grounds of the Forbidden City, where emperors once ruled behind high stone walls and regal red gates. Built in the early 19th century by the Nguyễn Dynasty, this massive walled citadel stretches nearly 2.5 kms around and holds over 150 structures—palaces, temples, pavilions, and tranquil gardens, all laid out with the precision of a royal hierarchy. At the heart lies the Forbidden Purple City, once the most private of places, where only the emperor and his closest kin could step foot.

Then it’s on to Tu Duc’s Tomb—a lavish, almost melancholic monument. Beautiful, yes, but also a symbol of misplaced priorities. Tu Duc poured fortunes into this serene retreat while his empire crumbled, paving the way for colonial rule.

For lunch, we’ll trade history for stillness. At a peaceful Buddhist pagoda, you’ll share a simple, wholesome vegetarian meal with the monastics—a quiet moment of reflection amid centuries of stories.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Included activities: Tour Huế on the back of motorbike

Accommodation: Spatel d'Annam Hotel (or similar) - https://spatel-annam.com/ 

It's all aboard a local train today as you ride the rails on one of the most beautiful train routes in Southeast Asia. The destination? Hoi An. It’s a slow, scenic three-hour journey where the magic lies not just outside the window, but often right beside you. Be open, be curious—you might end up sharing snacks with a fellow passenger or swapping stories with someone eager to chat about life in Central Vietnam.

Once you arrive in Da Nang, a short drive brings you to the charm of Hoi An. Settle into your boutique hotel, a cozy haven tucked into this enchanting town. Maybe treat yourself to a relaxing spa session—a perfect way to unwind after your journey—before heading out to explore Hoi An’s lantern-lit Old Quarter. With its winding alleys, tailor shops, temples, and riverside cafes, Hoi A feels like stepping into another world entirely. A city with its own pace, its own poetry, waiting just outside your door.

Included activities:

Explore Hoi An Old Quarter on foot {Guided}

Meals: Breakfast 

Transportation:

Driving from Hue hotel to Hue Railway station

Train from Hue to Danang

Driving from Danang Railway station to Hoi An hotel

Accommodation:

Lantana Riverside Hoi An Hotel (or similar)

After breakfast, transfer inland to Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary - approx. 40 kilometres southwest of Hội An, set in a sheltered valley encircled by jungle-covered hills that served both as natural protection and deliberate seclusion for its builders.

Mỹ Sơn was the spiritual and ceremonial centre of the Champa Kingdom - a Hinduised civilisation that dominated central Vietnam from the 2nd to the 15th centuries and maintained sophisticated maritime trading networks across the South China Sea. Construction began in the 4th century and continued for nearly a thousand years across different dynasties of Cham rulers, each adding towers and sanctuaries dedicated to Śiva and associated Hindu deities. The red brick construction technique - the bricks appear bonded without mortar, using a method never fully decoded by modern researchers - produced structures of remarkable durability. Much of the complex was destroyed in 1969 by US bombing during the Vietnam War, but what remains retains considerable power, particularly in its jungle setting. UNESCO World Heritage listed since 1999. Your guide will contextualise the Cham civilisation - its art, its trade links, and its gradual decline - as you move through the ruins.

Return to Hội An late morning with the afternoon free: a tailor visit, a spa session, a slow café afternoon, or a final wander through the Old Town.

At approximately 18:30, the group will gather for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant - a meal to close the journey.

Accommodation: Lantana Riverside Hoi An Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Farewell dinner

Your unforgettable adventure through Vietnam comes to an end today as you head to Da Nang airport to travel onward. You’ve ventured to sample street food at some of the country’s most hideaway spots, travelled by train along one of the most spectacular coastal routes in all of Southeast Asia, and plied the iconic limestone landscapes of Halong Bay aboard a luxury boat. And you’ve done, seen and learned so much more, too. We hope your visit to Vietnam has been memorable–and just a taste of all that this incredible and hospitable country has to offer, and we look forward to seeing you on another Pip & Co Travel adventure soon!

If you’d like to extend your stay in Hoi An, please feel free to book an additional night or two. 

Transportation: Airport transfer for departure (from Hoi An hotel to Da Nang Airport)

Meals: Breakfast