Vibrant Vietnam (2720)

13 Day Tour from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City

2025 Tour Details View 2024 Tour Details »

With its long history, interesting culture, and sprawling landscapes, Vietnam offers something for everyone.

Sightseeing tours in the cities feature the must-see sites, including Hanoi’s One Pillar Pagoda, built in 1049; Hoi An’s Japanese Covered Bridge; and Hue’s impressive Imperial Citadel. In Ho Chi Minh City, sightseeing includes the War Remnants Museum, and the Cu Chi region, where you'll get to explore the deep, narrow tunnels constructed by the Viet Cong during the war. Vietnam isn’t just home to beautiful temples and historic sites though! You'll enjoy seeing some of Vietnam's most gorgeous sights and destinations via the water. A highlight of the trip is your cruise on Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with some of the world's most amazing limestone formations. You'll sail by islets, caves, beaches, and floating villages. In Ninh Binh, a boat ride through the Trang An Landscape Complex, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, takes you through more spectacular scenery in the Red River Delta. You'll also enjoy a cruise in Hoi An on the Thu Bon River, where you'll pass unspoiled countryside.

These are just some of the many highlights on this tour through Vietnam. From the historic sites to the stunning scenery, this Vietnam tour designed for savvy, value-minded travel lovers is a vacation of a lifetime!

Small-Group Discovery Dates Available

Cosmos offers Small-Group Discoveries on select Asia tour dates. A Small-Group Discovery is limited to an average of just 20 guests per departure. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Cosmos escorted tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery trip is the perfectly sized tour—without the crowds.

Adventure is knocking with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach. Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!

Dates & Prices Book Online
800.646.5374
Vibrant Vietnam map

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

12 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 dinners

 Itinerary

Day 1 HANOI, VIETNAM

Welcome to Vietnam’s capital city. Hotel rooms are available for a mid-afternoon check-in.

Day 2 HANOI

Today’s included sightseeing tour takes you to many of the city’s highlights, including the Temple of Literature, a peaceful series of walled courtyards and gateways, and One Pillar Pagoda, designed to resemble a lotus blossom. You will also see Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house, Hoan Kiem Lake, and the fascinating network of alleyways and shop houses that make up the Old Quarter. Enjoy lunch at Koto, a non-profit restaurant and hospitality program created to teach local children restaurant skills for stable employment opportunities. This evening, you may choose to join an optional performance of Hanoi’s famed water puppets.

Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch

Day 3 HANOI-HA LONG BAY

Drive to Ha Long Bay, one of Vietnam’s most scenic destinations, and board your afternoon cruise through the stunning bay. Enjoy lunch on board as you sail through the dramatic limestone islands, then explore the Sung Sot (Surprising Cave) and visit Titov Island.

Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch

Day 4 HA LONG BAY–NINH BINH

Drive to Ninh Binh, often referred to as Ha Long Bay on land. This afternoon, visit Trang An Landscape Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for a cruise through the stunning scenery of rugged peaks and valleys lined with rice fields. You’ll also visit Hoa Lu, the first capital of Vietnam dating back to the 10th century. Continue to your resort.

Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch
DinnerDinner

Day 5 NINH BINH

Start your day with a visit to the Bai Dinh Temple complex to see the towering 13-floor pagoda and 30-foot-high bronze Buddha statue. Then, visit Bich Dong Pagoda, a three-tiered ancient pagoda nestled into a mountainside along with a cluster of cave temples. Lastly, travel to Mua Cave viewpoint and marvel at the stunning vistas of this breathtaking area. Save your energy as there are approximately 500 steps to the top! Enjoy some time at leisure this afternoon.

Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch
DinnerDinner

Day 6 NINH BINH–HOI AN

Drive to Hanoi and board a flight to Danang on Vietnam’s central coast. On arrival, transfer to nearby Hoi An, Vietnam’s active trading center. The well-preserved architecture here reflects the influence of Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, French, and British traders.

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 7 HOI AN

Start today with a walking tour of Hoi An Ancient Town including an old merchant house, the Hoi An Museum, a Chinese assembly Hall, and the Japanese Covered Bridge. For lunch, sample Cao Lao noodles, Hoi An’s most famous dish. The smoked, chewy noodles have a distinctive taste and are unique to Hoi An. Afterwards, take a cruise on the Thu Bon River, passing unspoiled countryside before visiting with a local farmer to learn about life on the river. The remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch

Day 8 HOI AN

Enjoy a full day to explore on your own. Perhaps spend it at the beach, take an excursion to My Son, or explore pottery and wood carving villages.

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 9 HOI AN–HUE

Visit the Cham Museum, then continue through the spectacular Hai Van Pass (weather permitting) to Hue. After lunch, get a glimpse of Vietnam’s unique past when you visit the tombs of the Nguyen Emperors: the Khai Dinh Mausoleum and the Royal Tomb of Tu Duc.

Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch

Day 10 HUE–HO CHI MINH CITY

Begin today with a visit to the Imperial Citadel and Thien Mu Pagoda, the unofficial symbol of the city. The Thien Mu Pagoda has seven tiers, each dedicated to a step assumed by Buddha to reach enlightenment. Later, fly to Ho Chi Minh City.

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 11 HO CHI MINH CITY

Today explore Vietnam’s largest and most vibrant city. Your walking tour takes you along Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat) past the Rex Hotel, Ho Chi Minh Square, the Municipal Theatre, Central Post Office, and Notre Dame Cathedral. Next, visit the War Remnants Museum, followed by Ben Thanh Market, the largest and oldest in the city. The remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 12 HO CHI MINH CITY. CU CHI TUNNELS EXCURSION

Today, visit the Cu Chi tunnels, an extraordinary network of tunnels more than 120 miles long used by the Viet Cong as a hideout and secret village during the war. See secret trapdoors, underground kitchens, living areas, and meeting rooms. If you are feeling adventurous, you may enter and explore the deep, narrow tunnels. This evening, join your travel companions for a farewell dinner in a local restaurant.

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 13 HO CHI MINH CITY

Your tour ends with breakfast this morning.

Breakfast Breakfast

 Tour Director

With COSMOS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

HUNG NGUYEN

Escorting tours for more than 20 years

“Hung graduated from Hanoi National University in 1998 after studying English. He started his career in tourism shortly thereafter and has over a decade of experience leading tours through Vietnam. He possesses comprehensive knowledge of Vietnam, with interests extending to politics, history, and cultural traditions. His interest in photography and local landscapes makes him the perfect guide for snapping the ideal shot.”

Tour Director - HUNG NGUYEN

 Accommodations

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyCosmos site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 USD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 USD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 USD)
$$$$ (Over $150)


Hanoi
Hoi An
Ho Chi Minh City

Hanoi

Water Puppet Show and Dinner

Water Puppet Show and Dinner

Vietnamese water puppet show followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

Price Range: $$$

Hoi An

My Son Half Day Tour

My Son Half Day Tour

My Son Hindu Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a great sample of the ancient Champa civilization located in the southern part of Vietnam. It was an independent state from around the 2nd to the 17th century, at which time it was occupied by Vietnam. Wander around the impressive Hindu-themed ruins which feature many beautiful stone sculptures, temples and towers in tropical jungle surroundings.

Price Range: $$

Ho Chi Minh City

A O Show at Historic Opera House

A O Show at Historic Opera House

Visit the historic Saigon Opera House for an entertaining night out! Live music, acrobatics and engaging story-telling depict the beauty and culture of Vietnam.

Price Range: $$



The "Starting at" or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per passenger based on double occupancy and does not include International airfare; additional fees/charges are not included. If a price is crossed out, the new price includes a limited time promotional offer(s) – please review current promotions or deals for additional information. Some tours require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Cosmos).

eBrochure  |  Travel Deals