Amazing Vietnam Vacation: Karst Islands to Imperial Citadels

What to expect on this itinerary
Escape to Vietnam on a spellbinding tailor-made tour that allows you to visit much of this breathtaking destination in 8 days. From the bustling cityscape of Hanoi to the emerald water of Ha Long Bay and its picturesque islands, this journey through Vietnam brings you closer than ever to its captivating culture and spectacular scenes.
Customizable Itinerary
Ha Long Bay - A Garden of Karst Islands
The oriental charm of Vietnam will dazzle you as you touch down in Hanoi, the country’s bustling capital. Scenes of roadside stalls riddled with sizzling woks and decorated pagodas dressed in gold will dominate the views from your transfer. Your transfer will take the form of a private driver, who will convey you to the pier for an overnight cruise across Ha Long Bay. Dramatic karst islands pepper the emerald bay, and you will swoon over sea spectacles during your voyage to modest fishing villages, such as Cua Van Floating Village and Tien Ong Cave. Colorful marine creatures reside inside the cave.
What's Included:
Hue - Cruising to a Surprise Cave
Hue - Imperial Citadels and Humble Villages
Hoi An - Along the Hai Van Pass
Ho Chi Minh City - Swept Up in the City
Ho Chi Minh City - Along the Mekong
Hanoi - Explore to Your Heart's Content
Hanoi - Final Flavors in Vietnam
Trip Highlights
- Glide across the emerald water of Ha Long Bay on a captivating cruise that will share surreal scenes of the seascape and its charming floating villages
- Compare the royal allure that is retained in the remnants of the Nguyen Dynasty’s Dai Noi Citadel to the humble nature of the little villages that surround Hue
- Delight in an authentic Vietnamese dinner with the family of Mrs. Nhu Huy, a local chef who will share her secrets with you
- Zigzag along the meandering roads of Hai Van Pass, capturing the scenic spectacles of the golden rice paddies and rolling karst mountains
- Learn more about Ho Chi Minh City’s dramatic history as you tour the city’s staggering heritage sites, including the Reunification Palace and Notre Dame Cathedral
- From Cao Dai Temple to Binh Hoa Phuoc, visit points of cultural significance across the glorious Mekong Delta as you travel by traditional wooden sampan boat
- Bask in the atmosphere of Hanoi as you sit quietly alongside the stunning flower-flanked Hoan Kiem Lake and watch a traditional water puppet performance
Starting Price
$2,100 per person (excluding international flights)
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 55 reviews
We had an amazing two-week trip to Vietnam and an exceptional experience with Zicasso's travel company.
The agency answered our questions and made changes ahead of the trip at our request, and, right before departure, we were paired with a travel consultant who checked in with us regularly while we were traveling to ensure that everything was going smoothly. We were thrilled to meet him in person on the last day of our trip, as he felt like a trusted friend.
The travel agency provided us with experienced guides and drivers throughout our trip, so we always felt safe, educated, and ready for every adventure. Our scheduled activities included many boat rides, a seaplane tour, and visiting artisan villages. We were impressed with the varied nature of these activities and enjoyed them all. Overall, we absolutely recommend this agency!
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We really enjoyed working with Zicasso’s tour company to plan the trip. Our agent took into account our research and made suggestions/recommendations that enhanced the itinerary. We spent 11 days visiting Vietnam (HCMC, Hi An, Hanoi, Pù Luông, Ninh Bình, and Lan Ha Bay). It was an ambitious agenda that was executed without a hitch.
The internal flights were arranged so we did not feel rushed (our guides walked us into the airport, helped us check in our bags, and stayed until we made it to security). Our driver during the latter half of the trip was extremely professional and kept an immaculate car, making sure we had water and whatever we needed during the multi-hour drives.
Some of our guides could have been more knowledgeable, but my husband is a history buff and we tend to like a lot of in-depth information. The exception was our guide in Hanoi (and for the rest of the trip). He was fantastic and we were delighted that we had such a high-quality guide during the parts of our trip we had to rely on a guide the most. We were a bit taken aback that we had two guides for certain activities, but at the end of the day, we did not feel it was extraneous.
The hotel selection was up to our standards. It was a mix of standard rooms in five-star luxury hotels and spectacular rooms in Pù Luông and on our Ha Long Bay cruise.
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It was an amazing vacation experience. We would highly recommend a Vietnam and Cambodia vacation to anyone wanting to explore beautiful countries with lots of great food and cultural experiences.
The only hiccup was the visa to enter Vietnam. I wish we had verified our documents before we left to save the headache and additional expenses we incurred. Other than that, it was one of the best vacations ever!
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Great trip and customized to suit our needs. In 8 days we visited Hanoi and toured around, then went on a cruise for 2 nights to beautiful Halong Bay. Then off to bustling Saigon for 2 nights then to the beautiful resort island of Phu Quoc and went to Wonder World and saw the lovely Vietnamese Culture show with vast of 200 and went snorkeling over a reef and watched marine life in warm waters. A beautiful trip indeed with the valuable assistance of Leo at our travel agency.
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Our experience with this travel company was exceptional. We couldn't be happier. The process of setting an itinerary was enjoyable as our travel agency provided personal attention to ensure we planned the trip we wanted and responded quickly to several requests for changes in both location and activities. We definitely felt a connection with our representative.
Once we started the trip, our accommodations were stellar, our guide an absolute treat, and our driver kept us safe in the chaos that is Hanoi traffic. The itinerary spanned the gamut of food, culture, history, and sublime geography. The individuals we worked with from the travel company were courteous, responsive, knowledgeable, and a joy to deal with.
We are very much looking forward to another trip with them in the future.
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The travel company was attentive to all of the needs for our parents as they celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. They planned a meticulous agenda that allowed them to see all of what Vietnam and Cambodia had to offer while also allowing them to relax.
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