Vietnam Luxury Tour: North to South

Touch down in Ho Chi Minh City. Enjoy a VIP visa fast track at the airport, then meet your driver for a transfer to Park Hyatt Saigon. The balance of your day is at leisure. Recover from your international flight or head out for a downtown wander.    

Today you’ll explore unseen Saigon. You’ll have a guide, but this won’t feel like a tour. Perk up with a Vietnamese iced coffee served at a “bird café,” a unique spot where seniors (mostly) gather daily to chat, laugh, smoke, and showcase their prized songbirds. Next, wander the bustling back alleys and vibrant streets of Cho Lon, Saigon’s historic Chinatown. Later, you’ll call on The Cafe Apartment—a nine-story former apartment building that has been transformed into a collective of trendy boutiques and eateries.   

On your second full day in Saigon, dig into the complexities of Vietnam’s modern history. In 1986, Vietnam initiated an economic renovation (“Đổi Mới”), abandoning a socialist, planned economy in favor of a more market-oriented system. You’ll meet and spend time with Duong Dang, an artist, entrepreneur, and child of the Đổi Mới Generation. Come to understand how this evolution shifted the national psyche, imbuing an isolated nation with renewed optimism for the future. The afternoon is yours until nightfall, when we’ll take you on a privately guided walking tour to hidden bars and unique venues (think: a speakeasy run by a top mixologist).  

Depart Ho Chi Minh City on a 90-minute flight to Hoi An, a darling, lantern-lit UNESCO destination. Unwind in your private villa at the beachy Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi A—the region’s most luxurious lodging. We strategically situated you here, close enough to Hoi A but away from the fray of Old Town’s crowds.  

Set out to explore Hoi An this morning. Watch the morning shoppers sift through fresh produce in the Hoi An Central Market and cross the jaw-dropping Japanese Covered Bridge. After a lunch of cao lau (a signature noodle dish), spend the afternoon with Réhahn, renowned Hoi An-based photographer celebrated for his images that capture the beauty and cultural richness of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. Sit together at a café and chat with Réhahn about photography, storytelling, and his mission to preserve Vietnamese traditions through his lens. 

A second day in Hoi An brings you to the “real Vietnam” in Go Noi Village. Mr. Phap—a farmer—and his family are your gracious hosts, serving tea and homemade bánh xèo (crispy rice pancakes). From here, cycle along pastoral roads amid rice paddies, nary a Westerner in sight. Return greetings from villagers and schoolchildren with a jubilant, “Sin chao!” Visit local artists to appreciate the skill required to produce intricate wood carvings, then return to Mr. Phap’s home for an authentic lunch spread. 

Depart Hoi An for Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam during the Nguyễn dynasty. En route, you will stop at the Marble Mountains, a Buddhist pilgrimage site featuring peaks, caves, tunnels, and temples. In Danang, visit the Museum of Cham Sculpture. You’ll also travel the breathtaking Hai Van Pass, a 12-mile scenic byway that once marked the divide between northern and southern Vietnam. In the afternoon, check into Azerai La Residence; the rest of the day is at your leisure.   

History lovers will swoon for Hue’s imperial history that details the Nguyễn dynasty, the last to rule before Vietnam became a French protectorate. Alongside an expert guide, spend the morning exploring the historic citadel. Later, float the Perfume River and meet the bronze craftsmen of Phuong Duc. This evening, we arrange a very special dinner for you at the private garden home of a descendant of Vietnam’s last royal family. You’ll hear personal anecdotes and lore, and learn of her royal connection. After the meal, enjoy a private musical performance in the garden before closing out this regal evening.   

After a morning at leisure, spend your afternoon with art historian and artist Mr. Tran Hau Yen The. You’ll begin with coffee and conversation at a café before exploring the Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts, tracing the evolution of Vietnamese art from the colonial era to contemporary works. Conclude in galleries on the Indochina wars, where frontline sketches and powerful propaganda posters reveal stories of resistance, resilience, and cultural memory, guided by Mr. The’s insightful storytelling. 

Depart Hanoi for Ha Long Bay, arriving the practical and scenic way: a 45-minute seaplane flight. You’ll breeze above the postcard-pretty bay for a bird's-eye view of the limestone karsts and emerald waters that make this destination emblematic of Vietnam. Rather than joining a crowded group tour on a large boat, we’ve arranged your very own private, one-cabin traditional Chinese junk boat. As you set sail on the tranquil waters of Bai Tu Long Bay, settle in and enjoy a fresh seafood lunch on deck.  

After an onboard breakfast surrounded by the stunning seascapes of Bai Tu Long Bay, head toward Thien Canh Son Cave. Kayak and explore around Hon Co to discover hidden corners of the bay. Cruise onward to the pristine Cong Dam for lunch and a relaxed afternoon on the beach. Later, unwind aboard your private boat and join a hands-on Vietnamese cooking class at sunset. 

Visit Vung Vieng fishing village for an intimate look at traditional life. Here, local fisherman will take you on bamboo boats and share their culture with you. Soak up your last views of the bay over lunch on board your private boat, then return to Hanoi in the afternoon and check back in at the Sofitel Metropole. If you’re interested, ask for a guided tour of the hotel’s historic wartime bomb shelter before spending the night at leisure. 

On your last day, a private driver will fetch you from the hotel for your international departing flight (or the next leg of your Southeast Asia travel adventure). We’ve arranged a fast-track service for a smooth and hassle-free departure.