9-Day Best of Vietnam: A Taste of Authentic Life
This suggested itinerary lets you fully understand Vietnam and is good for first-time travelers there. It not only covers exploring Vietnam's natural surroundings but also includes delving into the local culture, such as discovering local snacks in Hanoi, learning how to cook Hoi An dishes, and visiting a floating market.
Day
9
Price
from US$2,109 p/p
Best For
First-Timers
Best Time
Nov. to Apr.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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Excellent Encapsulation/Set of Experiences across China
It was a whirlwind across a number of cities, but a very comprehensive experience across the many sides and cultures of China. Most days had sufficient activities, but weren’t overwhelming, which was great.Across cities, we had excellent tour guides, like Kitty (Beijing), Jenny (Xian), William (Guilin/Yangshuo), Kris (Shanghai), and Tony (Yellow Mountains.) More
Ryan Farnan, Mar 2024
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Only way to see Beijing
From the time we landed in Beijing until we left, we were well taken care of. My wife and I had Lily Liu as our guide and she was amazing. From arranging visits to all the different sights, to teaching us the history, it was fantastic. More
John S, Mar 2024
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The tour was of The Greta Wall of China
The tour was excellent. Selinda was very knowledgeable about all the aspects of our tour. Selinda was very interesting and knew so much Chinese history More
Alice W, Mar 2024
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Chengdu at it`s best
We made a private tour through South China in January 2024. Altogether Chengdu was the highlight. We had an incredible day at Emeishan. In Chengdu our guidewas Helen. She was the diamond of all. Speaking fluently English, full of interesting stories, laughing and talking all the time. We missed her the rest of our tour. We highly recommend to go to Chengdu for 3 days when visiting China, especially with Helen. More
peter, Feb 2024
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Best Tour Ever
Other highlights are too many to mention but here are a few Ken taking us to the Terracotta Warriors and our food tour in Xian was amazing, More
Liz Hickson, Feb 2024
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Chengdu and Volunteer program Panda base
Our day volunteering at the Panda Base was truly unforgettable. Helen, our guide, provided us with invaluable insights about Chengdu and the pandas, enriching our tour with her knowledge and expertise. We're grateful to Helen for accompanying us throughout the day and showcasing the highlights of China. More
Eliaquim, Feb 2024
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Chengdu at it`s best
We had a booking with China Highlights through Silvia Ye who guarenteed a perfect organisation. In Chengdu our guide was Helen. She was the diamond of all. Speaking fluently English, full of interesting stories, laughing and talking all the time. We missed her the rest of our tour. We highly recommend to go to Chengdu for 3 days when visiting China, especially with Helen. More
Peter, Feb 2024
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Shanghai tour with Kris
We traveled to China during the Chinese new year and we had Kris as our guide and he is simply knowledgeable,helpful and great. More
Maria C, Feb 2024
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Guilin 2024
We visited Guilin for 2 days and stayed in the Guilin Waterfall hotel. Guilin was absolutely beautiful! Our guide, William, was very knowledgeable and kind! He taught us so much about Guilin and the surrounding area! We really enjoyed trying the specialty rice noodles of Guilin. Our highlight was the Li river cruise. More
Explore, Feb 2024
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Excellent service
Amazing tour and the guide Mr. 贺霄 was very accommodating with our needs and request as we have bought our 2 years old with us. Well explained for all the place we visited. Any additional cost were informed well ahead and didn't felt any pressure if we opt not to go for additional detour. The trip was relaxing/ laid back/no rushing with zero shopping! More
JJC, Feb 2024
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We had an amazing to China
We had an amazing to China. Our tour guide Martin in Shanghai was super knowledgeable, caring and very flexible with our itinerary. When my wife got sick in the Shanghai, he was able to arrange an English-speaking doctor on the spot and took us to the clinic. On top of the that, Martin and the driver stayed with us at the clinic for the whole duration and drove us back to the hotel afterwards. His genuine concern for our welfare and willingness to go the extra mile did not go unnoticed, and we were deeply touched by his kindness and compassion. More
Ray Luan, Feb 2024
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Amazing trip to China
We had an amazing to China. Our tour guide Martin in Shanghai was super knowledgeable, caring and very flexible with our itinerary. When my wife got sick in the Shanghai, he was able to arrange an English-speaking doctor on the spot and took us to the clinic. On top of the that, Martin and the driver stayed with us at the clinic for the whole duration and drove us back to the hotel afterwards. His genuine concern for our welfare and willingness to go the extra mile did not go unnoticed, and we were deeply touched by his kindness and compassion. More
Ray L., Feb 2024
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Beautiful Beijing with Ethan & Mr. Chen
Ethan, our wonderful guide, whose praises we can not sing loudly enough, was compassionate, caring, and overall endearing! His sense of ease and familiarity with each sight, which were unfamiliar wonders to us, provided a sense of peacefulness that facilitated full enjoyment - helped too by his punctuality and attention to detail. More
apisn2023, Feb 2024
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The Highlights and High Life of Beijing with Ethan & Mr. Chen
Ethan, our wonderful tour guide, made our entire trip an absolute joy for us as he was extraordinarily caring, considerate, and generous. Having had the pleasure of taking in the sights of Beijing previously with another lovely guide, Angela, it was spectacular not only to show the family how fantastic the city is but also how high the quality of services provided by China Highlights are. Each day unveiled a new treasure, helpfully detailed by Ethan, and punctuated by delicious and varied local food. Our driver, Mr. Chen, was also a delight, and was equally as key to the overall experience as he was both attentive and almost mystically punctual! More
Apis, Feb 2024
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Shanghai 2024
We had an amazing to China. Our tour guide Martin in Shanghai was super knowledgeable, caring and very flexible with our itinerary. When my wife got sick in the Shanghai, he was able to arrange an English-speaking doctor on the spot and took us to the clinic. On top of the that, Martin and the driver stayed with us at the clinic for the whole duration and drove us back to the hotel afterwards. His genuine concern for our welfare and willingness to go the extra mile did not go unnoticed, and we were deeply touched by his kindness and compassion. More
Venture33530492375, Feb 2024
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Beautiful Yangshuo
Guilin, but mostly Yangshuo was at the tail end of our China adventure so there was a lot to live up to. Having a guide like Gary Wei meant that our trip ended on a high! We arrived in Guilin very late from an 11 hour train journey. Gary met us with gifts of fruit, sweet bread and cakes which was so unexpected and thoughtful.Gary's knowledge of the area was exceptional and his attention to us the same. He really took our children under his wing - even tuning in to annoying sibling rivalry and managing to keep the peace very well! Gary was our personal photographer at times and even our Taiji instructor, making a beautiful video of us all doing Taiji in a scenic setting :)The cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo is definitely worth taking and we enjoyed our few nights in the area, riding bikes along the river, doing a cooking class and enjoying the scenery More
JenB, Feb 2024
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Vincent was a fantastic guide !
Vincent was a fantastic guide !Vincent is a wonderful & warm guide. He is extremely knowledgeable and his explanations are excellent. He showed us around Guilin & Yangshuo. He attended to all of our needs and really made the tour very special More
David, Feb 2024
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Great Time in Beijing
Our 4-day experience in Beijing was unforgettable. Our guide, Selinda, opened the doors to the city's millennia-old history and culture with her knowledge, kindness, and courtesy. We discovered magnificent places, tasted delicious food, and stayed in clean hotels, all accompanied by safe and reliable transportation service. We recommend traveling with China Highlights. More
Nicola B, Feb 2024
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Alice was a fantastic tour guide
Alice was a fantastic tour guide. She took us to many places in and around Lijiang including Jade Dragon Snow mountain and the old town. She is knowledgeable and very warm & friendly and very helpful with everything More
文文, Feb 2024
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Thank you, Shannon. Thank you, Xi,an.
We met our tour guide Shannon in Xi,an and we enjoyed very much our stay. Her good English level and her knowledge of the history of the city made our jorney very memorable. Kind, flexible and patient, she attended all our wishes. We will always be grateful for her work. More
Man B, Feb 2024
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Tour Highlights
Itinerary Details
The itinerary below is flexible and just a suggested sample. Your travel advisor can help to tailor-make it based on your requirements, interests, and budget so you can discover Vietnam your own way.
Welcome to the capital of Vietnam — Hanoi! A private driver and an English-speaking guide will be waiting to collect you in the airport lobby, holding a sign with your name and the China Highlights logo on it. Your local guide will help you to check in to your hotel and confirm the next day's collection time. The rest of the day is for you to spend as you wish. You can adjust to the jet lag at your hotel or go for a walk near your hotel.
You will start your day by visiting Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. Learning about Vietnam's history there first will help you to enjoy the culture and the historic sites more. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is one of the most important landmarks and is worth visiting with your guide.
Then, head to Hoa Lo Prison, which was built in 1896 by the French in the center of Hanoi. Afterward, visit the One Pillar Pagoda, which is famous for being built on a big stone pillar in a bog.
If you want to understand the Hanoians' daily lifestyle, visit the Old Quarter. You can taste thousands of local specialties there — don't forget to sample bun cha and banh mi!
When you've finished your half-day city highlights tour, you will watch Vietnam's traditional water puppet show at night.You will explore Vietnam's natural landscape in Halong Bay, which is a natural wonder. You will be collected from your hotel and taken to board the cruise ship. Enjoy the cruise in Halong Bay — it is charming to settle down and have a drink during the cruise. You can explore Me Cung Cave, enjoy a kayaking experience, or go swimming. Then, you will return to the cruise ship. At night, you can watch the sunset, have a massage, or have a spa treatment. You will stay overnight on the cruise ship.
Note: Different cruises have different classes — for example, some offer a cooking class while others offer a tai chi lesson. Contact your travel advisor to learn more.
Your perfect cruise has come to an end so you will return to Hanoi by bus. Then, you will take a flight from Hanoi to Da Nang. A new guide will meet you and transfer you to Hoi An, which takes about 40 minutes.
Hoi An is called a "Chinese city". If you want to fully understand the Vietnamese culture, you must take a tour of it. You will visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, Fujian Assembly Hall, and Old House of Tan Ky with your guide.
The town still retains hundreds of its traditional crafts in villages. The famous one is Pottery Village and you will take a small boat to explore it, taking about 40 minutes to reach it. You can visit a villager's home and talk with him/her. You also can experience some handicrafts there if you like.
You will be transferred from Hoi An to Da Nang to catch your flight to Ho Chi Minh City (which used to be called Saigon). It is one of the famous cities in Vietnam. Nowadays, it is a modern city but you can see that it is still a nostalgic city from the buildings along the streets. As you wander through the city center, you will visit Saigon Central Post Office, Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, and Reunification Palace.
Next, go to the War Remnants Museum with your guide. You may feel heavyhearted as you walk around it as it displays innumerable black-and-white pictures of the Vietnam War. You will visit it by yourself with an audio device as your guide will not accompany you inside.
Saigon has a famous coffee street where you can dig into its coffee culture with your guide. Understand the local people's lifestyle there and you'll forget about going home.
Start your day with a trip to Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta. Head across to Vinh Long Market to explore the Mekong Delta's abundant agricultural products. Most of them have been produced by the farmers, such as river fish, rice, and handmade snacks.
Set out to a local authentic restaurant for your lunch on An Binh Island in a special boat. Afterward, you will have a look at a local pottery kiln.
When you are on the boat, explore your surroundings to discover the Mekong Delta. If you are lucky, you will be able to see local farmers plowing and fishermen catching fish.
Your day will come to an end after you've been transferred back to Can Tho.
Can Tho is famous for its floating market and one of the highlights of the day is to visit Cai Rang Floating Market. The Mekong Delta's locals sell their products on the boats and you will see how local people bargain there. Your guide will help you to recognize special local vegetables.
After a boat ride, you will go back to the city to discover Can Tho Museum, where you can learn more about the Mekong Delta's agriculture and the locals' lifestyle. The last stop is to visit Binh Thuy Ancient House, which is where the movie The Lover was shot. It has a tranquil garden with a French colonial period architectural style.
Your driver and guide will see you off at the airport, help you with the check-in procedure, and say goodbye to you.
Price Includes
Price from: $2,109 (Tour code: gh-ah-1)
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