Travel the length of Vietnam, uncovering centuries of history and culture in Hanoi, Hue, and Hoi An; and witnessing everyday life in spectacular places from Ha Long Bay to the Mekong Delta.

Starting at: $6,097 * Price includes special offer * Includes airfare, taxes & all fees Make a Reservation Ask Us A Question or Call 855-330-1542
 Terraced rice fields in Vietnam. Credit: Hoang Long Ly
Terraced rice fields in Vietnam. Credit: Hoang Long Ly
 Throwing fishing nets along the river in Vietnam. Credit: Amanda Mack
Throwing fishing nets along the river in Vietnam. Credit: Amanda Mack
 The breathtaking Ha Long Bay
The breathtaking Ha Long Bay
 Temple of Literature, Hanoi
Temple of Literature, Hanoi
 The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hanoi
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hanoi
 Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay
 Terraced rice fields
Terraced rice fields
 Da Nang Harbor
Da Nang Harbor
 Traditional musicians
Traditional musicians
 The village of Hoi An, a World Heritage site
The village of Hoi An, a World Heritage site
 The canals of Hoi An
The canals of Hoi An
 The Perfume River near Hue
The Perfume River near Hue
 Pavilion in the Imperial City, Hue
Pavilion in the Imperial City, Hue
 Tomb area of Khai Dinh, Hue
Tomb area of Khai Dinh, Hue
 Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue
Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue
 Pavilion at the Tomb of Minh Mang in Hue
Pavilion at the Tomb of Minh Mang in Hue
 Woman working with flowers on the Mekong. Credit: Nhiem Hoang
Woman working with flowers on the Mekong. Credit: Nhiem Hoang
 Floating market on the river
Floating market on the river
 Skyline of Ho Chi Minh City at dusk
Skyline of Ho Chi Minh City at dusk
 Reunification Palace, Ho Chi Minh City
Reunification Palace, Ho Chi Minh City

Discovering Vietnam

15 days from $6,097 | includes airfare, taxes and all fees

Travel the length of Vietnam, uncovering centuries of history and culture in Hanoi, Hue, and Hoi An; and witnessing everyday life in spectacular places from Ha Long Bay to the Mekong Delta.

or Call 855-330-1542

Tour Details

TOUR BROCHURE

brochure

WHAT OUR TRAVELERS SAY

This was our first Smithsonian tour and we were impressed! It combined first class transportation and accommodations with intelligent and thought provoking seminars plus knowledgeable tour directors and study leaders. It won't be our last Smithsonian Journey. 

- Carol R.

JOURNEYS DISPATCHES

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Overview

Expectations: This Classic Land Journey will feature long touring days, many full-day excursions, and a full and active itinerary with a faster pace and longer distances. Some days may have activities with higher intensity and more active choices/options. Excursions require standing and walking for extended periods, sometimes over difficult terrain (cobblestones, city hills, stairs without handrails, ancient sites, and muddy/slippery walking/hiking trails). There may be limited or no access to elevators and required walks to city centers where coaches are prohibited. This itinerary features use of including ferries, longtail boats, and other local transportation as well as multiple internal plane rides. Some days may require early morning departures and later evening returns. There is leisure time built in to several afternoons. There are options for more active excursions (such as moderate hiking, swimming, kayaking, or bicycling), though another choice may be offered for an alternate skill level. Walking/hiking tours may feature up to six-mile walks/hikes.  

Appropriate for: Travelers who are physically fit, lead active lives, are comfortable participating in long days of activities, and expect some physical exertion. 

This was our first Smithsonian tour and we were impressed! It combined first class transportation and accommodations with intelligent and thought provoking seminars plus knowledgeable tour directors and study leaders. It won't be our last Smithsonian Journey. 

- Carol R.

Itinerary

Days 1 and 2 — Depart the U.S. for Hanoi, Vietnam

Depart the U.S. on an overnight flight to Vietnam’s capital. Settle into your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Day 3 — Hanoi

Begin the day with a walking tour of Ba Dinh Square, which is flanked by some of the city’s most important sites.  See the marble and granite mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh and the Presidential Palace, and learn the legend behind the One Pillar Pagoda, originally built nearly a thousand years ago. After lunch on your own, set out to discover more of this French-influenced city on an orientation tour. View the ethereal Hoan Kiem Lake, and visit the Temple of Literature, built in the 11th century to honor scholars. Venture into the infamous Hoa Lo Prison, also known as the “Hanoi Hilton” during the Vietnam War. Later, stroll the narrow, bustling streets of the Old Quarter, where you’ll enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Day 4 — Hanoi and Ha Long Bay

Depart on a full-day excursion to the World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay. Here, the coastal waterway is surrounded by a magical landscape of vertical karst peaks, tufted islets, and hidden caves. Glide across this mystical bay on a tour by local boat to discover some of its 3,000 islands and dramatic rock formations. Enjoy a seafood lunch along the way. (B,L)

Day 5 — Da Nang

Fly south to Da Nang, Vietnam’s third-largest city, stretched along the shores where the French navy first landed in 1858. Visit the acclaimed Cham Museum, which celebrates the Cham people’s Hindu legacy with a fine collection of sculptures and artifacts dating from the 7th to 15th centuries. Then check in to your beachfront hotel and take advantage of an afternoon at leisure. (B,D)

Day 6 — Da Nang and Hoi An

Spend the day in nearby Hoi An, a once-thriving port town that drew traders from Europe, Japan, and China during its heyday in the 15th to 19th centuries. Now a World Heritage site, the town still boasts hundreds of beautifully preserved wooden houses and intricate urban planning that reflect the global influence on local architecture. Roll up your sleeves for a cooking class and savor the feast you've prepared for lunch. Soak up the charms of the vibrant Old Town, a pedestrian zone lined with tailors, shops, and art galleries. Return to Da Nang for a dinner on your own. (B,L)

Day 7 — Da Nang

Pay a visit to a local farming settlement to get acquainted with everyday life in rural Vietnam. The community is set among dazzling rice fields, where timeless scenes play out: villagers threshing and harvesting rice, water buffaloes plowing the fields, and residents riding to the market on bicycles piled high with produce. Enjoy lunch together in a local restaurant, then have the remainder of the afternoon and evening at leisure. (B,L)

Day 8 — Hue

Travel to the imperial capital of Hue, where palaces, temples, and tombs evoke the grandeur and opulence of the Nguyen Dynasty whose emperors ruled here until the 20th century. Venture into the Imperial City, now a World Heritage site, and visit the Central Market where locals shop. Gain insights into Hue’s past during lunch at the home of a local historian. Tonight, gather for a special dinner accompanied by a traditional music performance. (B,L,D)

Day 9 — Hue

Embark on a morning cruise along Hue’s Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, a Buddhist monastery.  Admire the architectural details at the majestic Tomb of Minh Mang, and trace the evolution of the Nguyen emperors—and Vietnam—at the tombs of Tu Doc and Khai Dinh. End today’s tour with lunch at Thien and a visit to a Buddhist nunnery. Meet the head bhikkhunī (nun) along with other nuns, and learn about the simple lifestyle the nuns live there. (B,L)

Day 10 — Mekong Delta and Can Tho

Make your way to the fabled Mekong Delta in Vietnam’s southernmost reaches today. Board an early flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Continue your journey with a four and a half hour drive south to the Mekong River town of Cai Be. Travel through the lush delta by road, arriving in the provincial capital of Can Tho, set at the confluence of two Mekong tributaries. Check in to your waterfront hotel and enjoy dinner together. (B,D)

Day 11 — Can Tho and Cai Rang

Rise early for a journey by boat to the floating market at Cai Rang on the Mekong’s lower reaches. Experience the sensory feast of the bustling market, where local farmers and merchants hawks their wares from sampans filled with colorful piles of produce, fish, and other goods. Later, gather for dinner together at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Day 12 — Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City

Drive to the upper reaches of the Mekong, where you’ll climb into motorized sampans for a closer look at life on the banks of this storied river. Following lunch at a local restaurant, return by coach to Ho Chi Minh City, arriving late in the afternoon. Take advantage of a free evening to try out one of the city’s many restaurants. (B,L)

Day 13 — Ho Chi Minh City

Discover the city once known as Saigon on a morning tour. Visit Reunification Palace, the wartime headquarters of the South Vietnamese government until the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. Meander through palace rooms frozen in time, preserved almost exactly as they were on that day. At the History Museum, browse an excellent collection of art and artifacts that showcase the indigenous cultures of Vietnam. Then delve into Vietnam’s fine art traditions on a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Fine Art museum. Later, attend a traditional water puppet performance. (B,D)

Day 14 — Ho Chi Minh City

Step back in time on a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels, the infamous network of hand-dug tunnels and underground chambers from which North Vietnamese forces operated during the Vietnam War. Tonight, toast your Vietnam journey at a farewell dinner. (B,D)

Day 15 — Depart for the U.S.

Depart for the airport to catch your return flights to the U.S. (B)

Please note: Depending on flight schedules, certain U.S. cities may require an evening flight from Ho Chi Minh City on Day 15, arriving in the U.S. on Day 16. In this case, hotel rooms will be reserved for late check-out on Day 15.

Included meals are denoted as follows: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Reception (R), Dinner (D)

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