Itinerary
Arrive in Vietnam’s capital, a city shaped by centuries of history and daily ritual. Tree-lined boulevards give way to narrow lanes where commerce, conversation, and tradition unfold in the open air. After settling into your hotel, enjoy time to rest or step out for a short, guided walk to take in life around the Old Quarter. As evening approaches, the flow of street life becomes easier to take in, a gradual introduction to the city’s daily rhythms. This evening, gather for a welcome dinner, an opportunity to sample Vietnamese cuisine as your Expedition Leader shares an overview of the days to come.
Cross the Red River this morning to Bat Trang, a village long shaped by ceramics and family-based tradition. Walk through narrow lanes lined with ceramic walls, workshops, and heritage homes. Bat Trang continues to balance centuries-old practices with contemporary village life. Visit Van Chi Temple, dedicated to learning and wisdom, reflecting the long connection between education and craftsmanship in the village. Later, meet a local artisan for a hands-on ceramic experience, working directly with clay under expert guidance. A home-hosted lunch follows, a chance to share a meal with locals in their beautifully restored family villa. Return to Hanoi in the afternoon for a relaxed city walk alongside your Expedition Leader, with time to pause at key landmarks or wander quieter neighborhoods. Pause for a traditional coffee at a local cafe before dinner at a city restaurant.
Depart Hanoi and travel south into the limestone countryside of Ninh Binh, where waterways and karst formations have guided both settlement and spiritual life across generations. Explore Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve by traditional sampan, drifting quietly through calm channels while observing life along the water’s edge. The oars slip soundlessly through the water, towering limestone cliffs reflected in the still surface. Continue on foot through a nearby village, passing homes, fields, and small lanes that reveal the rhythms of rural life. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit Bich Dong Pagoda, a series of cave temples set into the hillside, before walking through rice paddies to Thai Vi Temple, an ancient sanctuary nestled among the fields. Across Vietnam, landscapes where water, stone, and cultivated land converge are often understood as naturally sacred. Arrive in the late afternoon at Jiva Hoa Lu Retreat, where low-slung villas, gardens, and water features are woven into the limestone landscape. With views across rice fields and karst formations, the retreat offers a peaceful setting to relax and reflect on the day’s experiences before dinner onsite.
Leave Ninh Binh this morning and travel west through rural landscapes of villages, rivers, terraced hills, and farmland. Arrive in the Mai Chau Valley around midday and enjoy a traditional lunch prepared by local hosts, an introduction to the region’s hospitality. Relative isolation has allowed ethnic communities here to retain distinct identities, expressed most clearly through their unique architecture, traditional cuisine, and community life. In the afternoon, set out on an easy walk through nearby villages, passing stilt houses, rice paddies, and everyday scenes of valley life. There may be an opportunity to experience traditional music and dance shared by members of the local ethnic community. Later, arrive at Avana Retreat, set into the hills above the Mai Chau Valley, where terraces, waterfalls, and forested slopes shape a secluded setting. Thoughtfully designed to blend with the surrounding landscape, the retreat offers time to unwind and take in views across the valley before dinner.
Begin the day with a gently paced walk through the Mai Chau countryside, following village paths through rice fields and bamboo-covered hills. Part of the route includes a short scenic transfer, allowing access to more remote areas at an easy pace. Explore the hill village of Hich with local White Thai villagers, meeting families and learning about lives shaped by agriculture and close-knit community ties. A visit with a Vietnam War veteran offers a personal perspective on the conflict and its lasting imprint on the region. Return to Avana Retreat for lunch, followed by time spent learning about traditional Thai crafts practiced by the local community. The remainder of the day is at leisure before dinner and an overnight stay in Mai Chau.
Depart Mai Chau and travel east toward Hanoi, watching the landscape transition from mountain valleys to lowland plains. Witness how practices continue to shape everyday life in northern Vietnam, even after decades of political and social change. Arrive at Phu Tien Huong Temple for a privately arranged visit with Nguyen Duc Hien, a respected cultural practitioner and keeper of Dao Mau traditions. Over conversation, he introduces the history and social significance of Vietnam’s Mother Goddess worship, a practice recognized by UNESCO for its role in preserving community identity and continuity. In a setting closed to the public, observe a Len Dong ceremony, a ritual expression of Dao Mau beliefs. Share lunch at the temple with your host, allowing time for informal conversation and reflection. Later, transfer to the airport and fly south to Hue. Upon arrival, settle into your hotel and enjoy dinner, marking the transition from northern village life to Vietnam’s former imperial capital.
Explore Hue this morning, beginning with a guided tour of the Imperial Citadel, once the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty. Walk through palaces and courtyards that reflect the city’s royal past and enduring legacy. Continue to a Luc Bo cultural space for a hands-on workshop, learning age-old techniques and the symbolism behind traditional handicrafts. After visiting Dong Ba Market and enjoying a private lunch in an ancient garden, spend time with a monk who studied under Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Over tea, discuss Buddhist philosophy and contemporary spiritual life in Hue. In the evening, visit Ben Xuan Garden House along the Perfume River for a privately hosted dinner inspired by imperial cuisine, accompanied by live music.
Depart Hue and travel south to An Bang, a seaside village known for its elaborate ancestral tombs. Walk through the cemetery alongside your EL, learning about Vietnamese beliefs surrounding ancestry, remembrance, and lineage. These tombs express a worldview in which the dead remain an active presence in family life. Continue to Lang Co for a short coastal pause before crossing the scenic Hai Van Pass, a dramatic coastal corridor where mountains meet the sea. After lunch in Da Nang, continue to Hoi An and check into your riverside hotel near the Old Town. As evening falls, take a gentle walk through lantern-lit streets and along the river, followed by dinner at a riverside restaurant.
Early risers may choose to visit a local market as Hoi An begins its day, watching vendors set out fresh produce and townspeople gather for morning errands. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Later, travel into the countryside to Thanh Dong Organic Farming Village, where local farmers introduce sustainable practices and rural life in central Vietnam. Visit a local market to select fresh ingredients, then take a ride in a traditional basket boat along the river’s palm-lined waterways. Join a local chef for a cooking class focused on regional specialties, followed by lunch featuring your own creations. Return to Hoi An for a relaxed afternoon, with time to rest and wander the Old Town at your own pace before gathering for dinner at a local restaurant.
Travel to the forested hills outside Hoi An to explore My Son, the ancient sanctuary of the Cham civilization. With a local expert, walk among brick temple towers and learn about Cham architecture, symbolism, and spiritual traditions rooted in the surrounding sacred landscape. Though the Cham civilization declined centuries ago, its spiritual and architectural legacy continues to inform Vietnam’s cultural identity. In the late afternoon, return toward Hoi An for a gentle boat ride on the river at sunset. As the light begins to fade, drift past calm riverbanks toward the lantern-lit streets of the Old Town. Reflections of lanterns begin to ripple across the water, offering a quiet moment of pause as our journey approaches its end. At dusk, take part in a traditional lantern ceremony on the river, a simple ritual rooted in local custom. This evening marks the culmination of the journey, with a privately hosted farewell dinner in a traditional ancient house. Once home to merchant families, these well-preserved residences reflect centuries of global trade through their layered architecture and design. Over dinner, experience the intimate atmosphere of one such home, a fitting setting for our final evening in Hoi An.
Check out of your hotel this morning and transfer to Da Nang International Airport. Your Expedition Leader assists with departure formalities as you bid farewell to Vietnam, carrying with you a deeper understanding of its living culture, traditions, and communities.
