📍 Vietnam

VIETNAM HERITAGE TRAIL: KARST VALLEYS TO IMPERIAL CAPITALS

From terraced rice paddies to imperial citadels to karst peaks, Vietnam offers landscapes where history reads at every stop.

≈ 17
Days
833
Km
7
Stops
📖 9 min read 🔄 Last updated: 2026-01-17

Hike through Pu Luong amid rice terraces, explore Ninh Binh the 'land Ha Long', then sail to Ha Long Bay and its dreamlike setting. Dive into Hue and its palaces, breathe Hoi An, then descend to Ho Chi Minh City: a complete itinerary unfolding Vietnam's most beautiful layers.

Your day-by-day itinerary

1
Day

Hanoi

temple literature water puppets train street

Hanoi - Photo 1Hanoi - Photo 2Hanoi - Photo 3Hanoi - Photo 4Hanoi - Photo 5Hanoi - Photo 6Hanoi - Photo 7Hanoi - Photo 8Hanoi - Photo 9Hanoi - Photo 10
10 photos
Day 1
🔍

Discover

1
Old Quarter of Hanoi (walking tour of the 36 guilds)
2
Cyclo ride around Hoan Kiem Lake
🎯

Activities

→
Panoramic orientation tour according to arrival time
2
Day

Hanoi

temple literature water puppets train street

Hanoi - Photo 1Hanoi - Photo 2Hanoi - Photo 3Hanoi - Photo 4Hanoi - Photo 5Hanoi - Photo 6Hanoi - Photo 7Hanoi - Photo 8Hanoi - Photo 9Hanoi - Photo 10
10 photos
Day 2
🔍

Discover

1
Temple of Literature (Van Mieu)
2
Buoi Market (flowers and plants)
3
Pu Luong Nature Reserve – Lan Trong and Lan Ngoai villages (hiking)
🎯

Activities

→
"To He" artisan workshop (rice paste figurines)
→
Water puppet show
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 170 km
Travel time: 4h30
3
Day

Pu Luong

rice terraces stilt houses mountain homestays

Pu Luong - Photo 1Pu Luong - Photo 2Pu Luong - Photo 3Pu Luong - Photo 4Pu Luong - Photo 5Pu Luong - Photo 6Pu Luong - Photo 7Pu Luong - Photo 8Pu Luong - Photo 9Pu Luong - Photo 10
10 photos
Day 3
🔍

Discover

1
Pu Luong – hiking loop via Ban Bang and Ban Nong Cong
🎯

Activities

→
Bamboo raft ride on the Ma River
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 120 km
Travel time: 3h30
4
Day

Ninh Binh

tam coc trang an karst rowing

Ninh Binh - Photo 1Ninh Binh - Photo 2Ninh Binh - Photo 3Ninh Binh - Photo 4Ninh Binh - Photo 5Ninh Binh - Photo 6Ninh Binh - Photo 7Ninh Binh - Photo 8
8 photos
Day 4
🔍

Discover

1
Transfer to Ninh Binh (Terrestrial Halong Bay)
2
Tam Coc – rowing boat trip
5
Day

Ninh Binh

tam coc trang an karst rowing

Ninh Binh - Photo 1Ninh Binh - Photo 2Ninh Binh - Photo 3Ninh Binh - Photo 4Ninh Binh - Photo 5Ninh Binh - Photo 6Ninh Binh - Photo 7Ninh Binh - Photo 8
8 photos
Day 5
🔍

Discover

1
Bicycle ride in the countryside (Phu Hau village, local market)
2
Route to Hạ Long and junk boat boarding
🎯

Activities

→
Cooking class (Banh Chung) at a local home
→
Discovery of artisan workshops (handmade vermicelli, basketry/water hyacinth, mat weaving)
→
Kite flying with village children
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 200 km
Travel time: 4h
6
Day

Halong Bay

limestone archipelago caves kayaking sunset cruise

Halong Bay - Photo 1Halong Bay - Photo 2Halong Bay - Photo 3Halong Bay - Photo 4Halong Bay - Photo 5Halong Bay - Photo 6Halong Bay - Photo 7Halong Bay - Photo 8Halong Bay - Photo 9Halong Bay - Photo 10
10 photos
Day 6
🔍

Discover

1
Bay navigation (Bai Tu Long/Cap La)
2
Tai Chi on deck – sunrise
🎯

Activities

→
Kayaking and swimming in Cap La area
→
Evening and night on board
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 160 km
Travel time: 3h
7
Day

Hue

forbidden citadel thien mu pagoda tombs

Hue - Photo 1Hue - Photo 2Hue - Photo 3Hue - Photo 4Hue - Photo 5Hue - Photo 6Hue - Photo 7Hue - Photo 8Hue - Photo 9Hue - Photo 10
10 photos
Day 7
🔍

Discover

1
Thien Canh Son Cave
2
Cooking demonstration on board
3
Disembarkation and airport transfer – flight to Hué
4
Imperial Citadel (Flag Tower, Meridian Gate, Pavilion of Edicts, Palace of Harmony, Forbidden Purple City)
8
Day

Hue

forbidden citadel thien mu pagoda tombs

Hue - Photo 1Hue - Photo 2Hue - Photo 3Hue - Photo 4Hue - Photo 5Hue - Photo 6Hue - Photo 7Hue - Photo 8Hue - Photo 9Hue - Photo 10
10 photos
Day 8
🔍

Discover

1
Garden-houses 'Nha Vuon'
2
Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc
3
Son Tra Peninsula (Linh Ứng Pagoda - Lady Buddha) and viewpoint
🎯

Activities

→
Conical hat workshop (nón lá)
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 145 km
Travel time: 3h30
9
Day

Hoi An

ancient port yellow walls tailor shops

Hoi An - Photo 1Hoi An - Photo 2Hoi An - Photo 3Hoi An - Photo 4Hoi An - Photo 5Hoi An - Photo 6Hoi An - Photo 7Hoi An - Photo 8Hoi An - Photo 9Hoi An - Photo 10
10 photos
Day 9
🔍

Discover

1
Hội An Old Town (Japanese Bridge, Tan Ky House, Trần Family Chapel, Phúc Kiến Assembly Hall, folk museum)
2
Free exploration of Hội An (lanterns, shops, small museums)
10
Day

Hoi An

ancient port yellow walls tailor shops

Hoi An - Photo 1Hoi An - Photo 2Hoi An - Photo 3Hoi An - Photo 4Hoi An - Photo 5Hoi An - Photo 6Hoi An - Photo 7Hoi An - Photo 8Hoi An - Photo 9Hoi An - Photo 10
10 photos
Day 10
🔍

Discover

1
Free time: craft workshops (lanterns), cooking classes, central market
🎯

Activities

→
Bicycle ride to Tra Que (vegetable gardens) or rice fields
→
Swimming/beach at An Bang or Cửa Đại
11
Day

Hoi An

ancient port yellow walls tailor shops

Hoi An - Photo 1Hoi An - Photo 2Hoi An - Photo 3Hoi An - Photo 4Hoi An - Photo 5Hoi An - Photo 6Hoi An - Photo 7Hoi An - Photo 8Hoi An - Photo 9Hoi An - Photo 10
10 photos
Day 11
🔍

Discover

1
Ben Thanh Market
🎯

Activities

→
Sunset on Thu Bồn River (boat)
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 30 km
Travel time: 1h30
12
Day

Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh - Photo 1Ho Chi Minh - Photo 2Ho Chi Minh - Photo 3Ho Chi Minh - Photo 4Ho Chi Minh - Photo 5Ho Chi Minh - Photo 6Ho Chi Minh - Photo 7Ho Chi Minh - Photo 8Ho Chi Minh - Photo 9Ho Chi Minh - Photo 10
10 photos
Day 12
🔍

Discover

1
Notre-Dame Cathedral of Saigon (exterior)
2
Central Post Office (Gustave Eiffel)
3
Mekong Delta – canal and orchard cruise
🎯

Activities

→
Urban walk through historic and modern districts
13
Day

Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh - Photo 1Ho Chi Minh - Photo 2Ho Chi Minh - Photo 3Ho Chi Minh - Photo 4Ho Chi Minh - Photo 5Ho Chi Minh - Photo 6Ho Chi Minh - Photo 7Ho Chi Minh - Photo 8Ho Chi Minh - Photo 9Ho Chi Minh - Photo 10
10 photos
Day 13
🔍

Discover

1
Cái Răng floating market (Can Tho)
2
Khmer pagoda (e.g. Munirangsyaram, Can Tho)
3
Củ Chi Tunnels (excursion)
🎯

Activities

→
Sampan/boat ride in the arroyos
14
Day

Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh - Photo 1Ho Chi Minh - Photo 2Ho Chi Minh - Photo 3Ho Chi Minh - Photo 4Ho Chi Minh - Photo 5Ho Chi Minh - Photo 6Ho Chi Minh - Photo 7Ho Chi Minh - Photo 8Ho Chi Minh - Photo 9Ho Chi Minh - Photo 10
10 photos
Day 14
🔍

Discover

1
War Remnants Museum
2
Reunification Palace (exterior/interior according to schedules)
3
Reunification Palace (exterior/interior according to schedules)
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 8 km
Travel time: 30min
15
Day

Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh - Photo 1Ho Chi Minh - Photo 2Ho Chi Minh - Photo 3Ho Chi Minh - Photo 4Ho Chi Minh - Photo 5Ho Chi Minh - Photo 6Ho Chi Minh - Photo 7Ho Chi Minh - Photo 8Ho Chi Minh - Photo 9Ho Chi Minh - Photo 10
10 photos
Day 15

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🛡️ Travel advice - Vietnam

Check official recommendations

UK Foreign Travel Advice →

❓ Frequently asked questions

What weather should you expect?

Spring (February-April): Perfect weather with comfortable temperatures (18-25°C), minimal rainfall, and ideal conditions for exploring diverse regions. Excellent balance of pleasant weather throughout country, blooming landscapes, moderate tourist numbers.

Autumn (September-November): Comfortable temperatures (20-28°C) with clear skies, perfect outdoor conditions, and harvest season beauty. Second-best season with excellent weather nationwide, reasonable prices, cultural festivals.

Winter (December-January): Cool temperatures in north (10-20°C), warm in south (25-30°C), dry season with regional variations. Northern mountains cold, central coast pleasant, southern regions ideal, diverse regional experiences.

Summer (May-August): Hot, humid weather (28-35°C) with rainy season affecting travel plans but lush landscapes. Monsoon rains, flooding possible, but fewer crowds, lower prices, and authentic local experiences.

How many days should I plan?

We believe you will enjoy this itinerary best by dedicating between 14 and 20 days. The next step will allow you to adjust the duration of your stay.

What to discover in Vietnam?

Southeast Asian authenticity with incredible history, delicious cuisine, and stunning landscapes. Experience Ho Chi Minh City energy, Halong Bay beauty, and traditional Vietnamese culture. The country offers cultural immersion with natural wonders and culinary excellence. Vietnam provides transformative Southeast Asian experiences with historical depth and natural beauty.