Vietnam

2025 Itinerary

Blessed with an open, welcoming, and engaging society, Vietnam is a nation balanced between deeply held traditions and an exploding modernity that make it a uniquely wonderful travel destination. The war is a distant memory and Americans are now appreciated as partners in economic opportunity. Vietnam is more about experiences than checklists. Being paddled on a river by a rower who uses her feet, taking a cooking class, having a dress or suit tailor-made in a day, relaxing in a hammock in the Mekong Delta, or drifting quietly along on a subterranean river – these are the activities you’ll cherish from this outing. There are, of course, great sights to be enjoyed, including the Temple of Literature, Halong Bay, the ruins of My Son, and Hue’s Citadel. Add in the best food in Southeast Asia and you have a formula for travel memories to last a lifetime.

Note:  While the Vietnam tour is not particularly physically demanding in the typical way, the country is hot and humid, which has an enervating effect. Additionally, at certain times during the tour we’ll be climbing in and out of a variety of boats, sometimes without a pier or dock, climbing up to and through caves, navigating the Cu Chi tunnels, etc. Those activities require a reasonable level of strength and dexterity - and an adventurous spirit.  

Day 1 Hanoi
Meeting; Temple of Literature; Dinner
Our tour starts mid-afternoon. We’ll have our get-acquainted meeting, meet our Vietnamese guide, visit the Temple of Literature (founded in 1076, Vietnam’s first university was established within this temple to educate Vietnam's royalty, mandarins and members of the elite), and then head out for a traditional Vietnamese dinner.
Q Hotel (2 nights) http://theqhotel.com.vn/

Day 2 Hanoi
Bai Dinh; Trang An
Today we take a 2 hour drive from urban Hanoi to the rural province of Ninh Binh. Our first destination is Trang An, often referred to as the “Halong Bay of the Mainland”. This excursion is by small boat. Sit back and enjoy the two-hour paddle through caves and past rural temples, always with the stunning backdrop of karst crags and towers. After having lunch at a local restaurant, we depart for a visit to Bai Dinh, the largest complex of Buddhist temples in Vietnam and a popular site for Buddhist pilgrimages. Bring extra storage cards for your camera! After our full day in the countryside, we return to Hanoi for a free evening.

Day 3 Halong Bay
Hanoi Hilton; Halong cruising; cave visit
Our day begins with a visit to the “Hanoi Hilton” where American POW’s were imprisoned during the Vietnam War. Then we are off to Halong Bay, Vietnam’s most impressive scenic wonder. Views of sailing junks navigating the 3000+ karst islands and rocky outcrops jutting out of the bay are nothing short of spectacular. We travel to Halong where we board our sailing junk for an exploration of the bay, enjoy a seafood lunch and dinner, visit a cave, and spend a night on board (Note: a single supplement does not provide for a single cabin on the junk). It is a wonderful experience to spend a night on the bay.

Day 4  Hue
Halong cruising; Flight
After breakfast, we continue cruising around Halong Bay, before returning to port and driving back to Hanoi. We’ll be transported directly to Hanoi’s airport for an afternoon flight to Hue. Upon arrival we’ll be transferred to our centrally located hotel. Hue, located on the Perfume River, is the former capital of the Nguyen dynasty.
Romance Hotel (3 nights) http://romancehotel.com.vn/en/

Day 5  Hue
Citadel; Thien Mu Pagoda; Royal Tomb
This morning we take a tour of the partially ruined Citadel, capital of Vietnam in the 19th century. It’s six miles of walls contain the palaces and pavilions of the ruling Nguyen emperors and the remains of the Forbidden Purple City, where only the emperor or his eunuchs and concubines were allowed entrance. Many buildings remain blackened and crumbling, creating an evocative ambiance, ideal for photographing or imagining the ghosts of the mandarins. Next we’ll visit the famous Thien Mu Pagoda, a center for anti government protests in the early 1960s. We’ll have lunch in a Buddhist monastery before heading to the surrounding countryside to visit one of the extravagant royal tombs in the area.

Day 6  Hue
An Bang
After breakfast we will visit An Bang Cemetery (AKA “The City of Ghosts”). This cemetery is unique in the world and the most luxurious and magnificent graveyard in Vietnam. It boasts brilliantly colored tomb and memorial structures built dramatically on white sand. The rest of the day will be free time for your own discovery! Imprint can arrange a cooking class for those interested.

Day 7  Hoi An
Walking Tour Hoi An
One of Vietnam’s most scenic road trips over Hai Van Pass begins our day. Our destination, Hoi An, was originally a Cham port town so has been influenced down the centuries by traders from many cultures. The town is a living museum, with Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and European architectural influences. There are pagodas, assembly halls, attractive wooden merchant’s houses, and colorful tiled houses scattered along the small streets. Once a bustling port, today Hoi An’s ambiance, tranquility, and charm make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Vietnam. This afternoon will include a guided walking tour and orientation of the town center.
Mulberry Collection Silk Eco - Atlas Hotel (3 nights) https://silkeco.mulberrycollectionvn.com/

Day 8  Hoi An
My Son
This morning, we visit My Son, the Cham civilization’s spiritual home, where Cham kings were buried as early as the fourth century. There are many carved stone towers, sanctuaries, and tombs to explore and photograph at this intriguing archaeological site. This afternoon is free to explore, shop, or relax in Hoi An.

Day 9  Hoi An
Free Day
Today we continue our vacation from our vacation. Hoi An is a marvelous place to wander and enjoy the thriving riverside market – a good place to buy silk. Local tailors can create fine garments for a bargain price, all within a day. Imprint can arrange a Vietnamese cooking class or photography class for those interested. Rent a bike for the day or just relax by the hotel pool.

Day 10  Ben Tre Homestay
Cao Dai Temple; Mekong
This morning we depart Hoi An for nearby Danang, where we board our flight to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon (flight included). Upon arrival we will depart for the Mekong Delta. Enroute we’ll stop to visit a vibrant and colorful Cao Dai temple. Indigenous to Vietnam, Caodaism is a unique fusion of Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and Confucianism. At Cai Be we begin a Mekong River boat trip, taking us to our island homestay. Dinner tonight is followed by local entertainment. (Note: our homestay accommodations are clean and comfortable with mostly private facilities*, but plain and rustic. A single supplement does not provide for a private room at the homestay.)
Bem Tre Homestay (2 nights) *we cannot guarantee private facilities for every guest room

Day 11 Ben Tre Homestay
Mekong activities
After breakfast we will embark on our morning’s activities. We’ll explore the small waterways of the delta in sampans, stop to visit businesses, and observe the locals plying their trades. After sampling various tropical fruits, local candies, and other local specialties we’ll return to our homestay for relaxation. For those interested, you will have the opportunity to participate in the preparation of our traditional dinner.

Day 12  Saigon
Cu Chi Tunnels
Today we depart the Delta and return to Saigon. Enroute we’ll visit a thriving riverside market and then one of the most important sites in southern Vietnam, the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. These complex tunnels were used by the Viet Cong in the long war against the US and were instrumental to the Vietnamese victory. Cu Chi is actually the name of the district that covers an extensive underground network (approximately 125 miles) of tunnels. They contained storage, refuge, hospitals, accommodations, and even schools. A section of the tunnels has been widened to allow tourists a feeling for what underground life must have been like.
Paragon Saigon Hotel (2 nights) https://paragonsaigon.com/

Day 13  Saigon
City Tour; War Remnants Museum
This morning we take a tour of the city, passing the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Post Office. We'll visit the War Remnants Museum for a sobering yet informative lesson on the Vietnam War. Your afternoon is free to relax or explore. We'll then gather for our final dinner together.

Day 14  Tour Over
The tour ends after breakfast. Imprint will assist with airport transfer arrangements.

[Itinerary details & hotels subject to change]

What’s Included:
9 nights hotel accommodation, 1 overnight cruise, 2 nights homestay; All breakfasts, 8 lunches, 6 dinners; All tour transportation (bus, van, boat, plane); All tips (tour director, local guides, drivers, boat captains, group meals, hotel staff); Full-time services of Vietnamese tour manager, local guides; All entrances: Temple of Literature, Thien Mu pagoda; Hue tomb; Hue Citadel & Forbidden City, War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi tunnels, Cao Dai temple; All activities: Trang An boat trip, cave excursion Halong Bay, An Bang Cemetery, Hoi An walking tour, HCMC city tour, Mekong boat trip with villages and market visits, sampans, and more.

Important Exclusions
Tour participants are responsible for the cost of drinks, free-time sightseeing & meals, expenditures of a personal nature, and flight baggage overage fees.

Post-tour Cambodia Extension

Day 1 Siem Reap 
Welcome Meeting
For those extending to Angkor, we'll take a morning flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia (flight included). In the late afternoon we’ll gather for a short briefing with our ace guide Kheang. The day concludes with a classic Cambodian dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 2 Siem Reap
Angkor Wat; Ta Prohm
Our destination this morning is Angkor Wat, the jewel in the great Angkor crown, the world’s largest religious building, and Southeast Asia’s premier sight. Our guide will interpret its long bas relief galleries, distinctive corncob prangs, and concentric walls and moats:  which together constitute a metaphor for the Buddhist cosmos. Lunch is Khmer style in a local restaurant. In the afternoon we’ll visit Ta Prohm, made famous in the movie “Tomb Raider”. This complex was left in its natural state, overwhelmed by the jungle. The roots of giant trees weave in, on, and through the temple ruins and walls of the complex. We’ll take plenty of free time here for photographers to record these iconic Angkor images.

Day 3 Siem Reap
Banteay Sri; Angkor Thom
In the morning we’ll head to Banteay Srie, a small but intricately carved temple complex considered to be the epitome of Khmer architecture. Additionally, the journey to and from Srie affords opportunities to see village life. After a midday break we’ll visit Angkor Thom, a royal city encompassing famous Bayon temple, the Elephants and Leper King Terraces, and one of the oft-photographed Angkor Thom Gates. The Bayon is a popular favorite with labyrinthine passages to explore and multiple towers – each with 4 enigmatic Khmer faces. The south gate may well be the most photographed destination at Angkor. Its massive “4-face” tower and ‘tug-of-war’ warrior balustrades adorn many books and brochures. We will finish our day with a visit to the APOPO organization training center. This fascinating charity trains Tanzanian rats to sniff out landmines, saving thousands of Cambodian lives. Tonight we’ll indulge in a traditional dinner while enjoying classical Khmer dance.

Day 4 Extension Over
The extension ends at breakfast. Imprint will assist with airport transfers.

[Extension hotel and itinerary details are subject to change.]

What’s Included:
3 nights hotel accommodation; All breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners; All tour transportation (bus, minivan, plane); All tips (tour director, drivers, group meals, hotel staff); Full-time services of Cambodian guide; All entrances: Angkor Archaeological Zone 3-day pass; All activities: APOPO visit, Khmer Dance performance

Important Exclusions
Tour participants are responsible for the cost of drinks, free-time sightseeing & meals, expenditures of a personal nature, and flight baggage overage fees.