DESTINATION

ITINERARY:

February 26, 2026 – U.S.A.: Depart from U.S.A. for Vietnam.

February 27, 2026 – Hanoi: Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, meet your local guide and driver, then transfer to your hotel for check-in. After check-in. you will visit U.S. Embassy today. Welcome dinner is at the hotel. (Dinner)

February 28, 2026 – Hanoi: After breakfast; you will begin your full day discovery of the capital with Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - a tribute to the architecture of Lenin Mausoleum in Moscow, his traditional stilt house and the One-Pillar Pagoda - built in the 11th century. Later on, you will visit the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu in Vietnamese), situated in the place once known as the first university of Vietnam. Built in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong, the university was first opened for princes and mandarins exclusively. With its ancient courtyards, altars and roofs, Van Mieu is a very fine example of Vietnamese architecture. In the afternoon, pay a visit to Hoa Lo Prison, which was well-known to American soldiers (like former prisoner, late US Senator John McCain) as the “Hanoi Hilton”. The prison closed during the 1990s, but the gatehouse and a small part of the prison still remain as a museum, a somber historical reminder. You will have the chance to visit two separate parts of the prison, each of which shows how the prison was used during two specific time periods: the French colonial Era and the Vietnam War. The exhibitions mainly show the prison as it was used during the French colonial period, including the guillotine room, complete with all of the old prison equipment. You might notice that the rooms for Vietnamese political prisoners, also preserved, were separated by gender. Across the other side of the museum, you will find exhibits related to American prisoners, including their personal belongings, old photos of captured American pilots and short documentary films. Then, continue your way to the Old Quarter and the surroundings of the Sword Lake. You will set off from Sword Lake, passing by Hang Hanh - the famous coffee street and heading towards the Catholic Church. Wandering in these peaceful alleys, your eyes will catch the daily scenes of street vendors quietly napping in the shade or a motorbike taxi-driver (or xe om in Vietnamese) sleeping precariously on his bike. Then, suddenly you will again find yourself in a noisy and busy street. Throughout the tour, your senses will be bombarded with a cascade of different sights, sounds, smells and characters that harmonize to the music of life in Hanoi. At the end of the walk, you will have time to enjoy a cup of coffee from one of the many small shops in the area. (Breakfast, Lunch)

March 1, 2026 – Hanoi / Hue: After breakfast, free morning at leisure. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Hue. Upon arrival, welcomed by your local guide then transfer for dinner at a local restaurant. You will then travel to your hotel for check in in late evening. (Breakfast, Dinner)

March 2, 2026 –Hue: After breakfast, you will leave Hue in the morning and head to the DMZ to explore the area’s most famous sights like the Vinh Moc tunnel, a strategic site that was the target of endless bombing during the Vietnam War. You will descend into this underground village, which was dug by the population who occupied it for two years, to explore a system of three-floor tunnels consisting of small cells, kitchens, toilets, wells, and a hospital where seventeen children were born. You will then visit the famous Hien Luong Bridge, as well as the Doc Mieu Base, the closest American base from the DMZ. You will then head to the border with Laos to visit the Khe Sanh air base, a famous outpost of the American army and the site of one of the most famous battles of the Vietnam War. The last stop of the day will be the Quang Tri Citadel before returning to Hue. Dinner at the hotel. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

March 3, 2026 –Hue / Danang / Hoi An: After breakfast, you will pay a visit to the majestic Imperial Citadel of Hue, built in 1804 and located along the Perfume River. Remarkable for its fortress-like look and entrenched in the heart of the city, the Citadel occupies a perimeter of more than 10 kilometers. Inspired by the fortifications of Vauban, it is composed of three parts: the capital city (Kinh Thanh), the Imperial City (Hoang Thanh) and the Forbidden City (Cam Thanh). Although it was largely destroyed in 1968 during the Vietnam War, many endowments are used to restore and revive this invaluable heritage site nowadays. Next, you will visit the tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, one of the most beautiful sites of Hue. Built during the emperor's lifetime, in a narrow valley about 8 kilometers from the center of Hue, the tomb is a model of traditional Vietnamese art and architecture. In a calm and peaceful atmosphere, about 50 buildings are spread over the entire area of the tomb site. Altars, pavilions, theaters and temples are united, in what is called the area of worship. Then you will be guided along the paved paths along the lake to the Emperor's grave, its enclosure, the main courtyard and the stele pavilion of the tomb. You will probably be surprised by the size of the imperial tombs reflecting the dream of greatness, power and beauty of their founders. In the afternoon, depart Hue for Hoi An via the scenic Hai Van Pass to view one of the most beautiful panoramas in Vietnam as you look out over the central coastline. Arrive in Hoi An and check in hotel. Dinner at a local restaurant in town. (Breakfast, Dinner)

March 4, 2026 –Hoi An: After breakfast, take a day trip from Hoi An to travel back in time and learn first-hand about the tragedies of the My Lai Massacre that occurred during the Vietnam War. You will spend time at the complex of the massacre, observing the monuments and the House of Evidence where you can find all documents, photos, and objects which testify to the massacre. After lunch, you will explore the village of My Lai to interact with the locals and learn more about the history of the massacre. In the afternoon, return to your hotel in Hoi An. (Breakfast, Lunch)

March 5, 2026 –Hoi An / Danang / Ho Chi Minh City: After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Arrival and head towards the Cu Chi Tunnels. Originally dug by hand by the Viet Minh (Resistance force) during the French Indochina War, this network of underground tunnels was expanded during the Vietnam War. At its peak, it was 200-kilometers long, 3-to-4-meters deep and was very well equipped, including meeting rooms and medical and sanitary posts. Today it is one of the largest historical sites of the Vietnam War. You will begin the visit by watching a documentary on the tunnels and the war in the 60s-70s, then you can pass through various narrow underground ducts in order to discover the rooms: offices, kitchens, meeting rooms, weapons stores and even hospitals. At the end of the tour you will have the chance to taste the specialty of Cu Chi, the khoai my luoc (boiled cassava), a Vietnamese dish eaten daily during the war. After your visit, you will return to Ho Chi Minh City and visit the War Remnants Museum. The first exhibits US weapons and vehicles used during the Vietnam War, along with photos showing the consequences of this war and details of the chemical weapons that were used (caution: some images can cause discomfort). (Breakfast, Lunch) Notes: Not recommended for people with claustrophobia

March 6, 2026 –Ho Chi Minh City / Mekong Delta / Ho Chi Minh City: After breakfast, In the morning you will depart from Ho Chi Minh City to explore Ben Tre in the Mekong delta, also known as the “Green Venice” of Vietnam. After visiting a brick factory in Phong Nam where bricks are still hand-made, step onto a boat for a cruise along the Chet Say river (one of the Mekong’s arms). You will make several stops along the way to discover different local workshops, allowing you to understand better the specialities of the local economy. The boat will then cross a small canal and stop at a small village, where you will continue your discovery of the delta by visiting a workshop specializing in carpet-weaving. You will even be able to try this activity yourself, before hopping in a xe loi (a kind of motorized rickshaw) or on a bicycle to wander around the village. You will see traditional farms and vegetable plants, before stopping at a small local restaurant to taste a delicious (and generous) lunch made of regional specialties, such as “elephant-ear fish” and freshwater shrimps.In the afternoon
you will get back on the sampan for some leisure time along the narrow canals. You will travel back to Ho Chi Minh City by car. (Breakfast, Lunch)

March 7, 2026 –Ho Chi Minh City: After breakfast transfer to the airport for the departure flight. (Breakfast)