15-day Vietnam Slow Travel Luxury

Xin Chào Việt Nam!

Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, you are warmly welcomed by your Asia Bespoke Journeys host and assisted with fast-track immigration for a smooth, unhurried arrival. A private transfer brings you into the heart of Hanoi, where timeless traditions meet elegant colonial charm. After check-in at your hotel, the rest of the day is yours to relax, recover from your journey, or simply enjoy your first quiet moments in Vietnam’s capital.

Overnight in Capella Hanoi Hotel, Hanoi.

Your day in Hanoi begins quietly inside a century-old house, where locals have gathered for generations to welcome the morning with slow cà phê phin. Over coffee and delicate pastries, your storyteller introduces Hanoi’s morning coffee culture: reflective, and deeply woven into daily life.

From here, the city’s history gently unfolds as you visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, followed by the poetic One Pillar Pagoda, rising like a lotus from the water. At the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, centuries of scholarship and quiet ambition remain etched into stone. Crossing the Red River by local train over the legendary Long Bien Bridge, you glimpse a different rhythm of the city, one shaped by time, resilience, and everyday life.

Lunch is simple yet meaningful: ngan cháy tỏi, a beloved Hanoi specialty, served in a family-run home where three generations live and work together, offering a rare invitation into Old Quarter life.

In the afternoon, a gentle cyclo ride leads you through lesser-known streets and hidden corners before arriving at the modest home of Mr. Hòa and Mrs. Lan, guardians of one of the last traditional paper-mâché mask workshops in Hanoi. Over tea and shared stories, you create your own mask under their guidance, a personal keepsake of living heritage.

You return to your hotel, the day drawing to a close while Hanoi’s stories linger, like the soft echo of cyclo wheels fading down a narrow lane.

Overnight in Capella Hanoi Hotel, Hanoi
 

This morning invites you into Hanoi’s art world through the eyes of a local insider. Guided by art specialist Ms. Vũ Kim Thu, educated at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, you explore the roots and evolution of Vietnamese fine art at the Hanoi Fine Arts University and the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, with a curated focus on highlights that reveal how tradition and modernity intertwine.

The experience continues through a selection of intimate galleries personally chosen by your host, offering a glimpse into Hanoi’s living, breathing art scene. A light cocktail reception brings the morning to a thoughtful close, leaving you with a deeper connection to the city’s creative soul.

Overnight in Capella Hanoi Hotel, Hanoi.

Your journey begins at Heritage Line’s private lounge at Tuần Châu Marina, where a discreet welcome sets the tone for the days ahead. A short speedboat transfer brings you to your elegant floating sanctuary, gently ushering you into the tranquil world of Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Island.

As the vessel glides deeper into the bay, lunch is served in the light-filled dining room, where sweeping views unfold almost entirely around you. The afternoon is time to retreat to the terrace deck or your private balcony, letting the quiet rhythm of limestone karsts and emerald waters sink in.

Later, the vessel anchors near Cat Ba Island and you step ashore to visit Viet Hai Village, tucked into a secluded valley embraced by jungle-covered mountains. Cycling along peaceful paths, you gain an intimate glimpse into a way of life shaped by isolation and self-sufficiency. Here, the local community lives in close harmony with nature, sustaining themselves through fishing, farming, and a deep connection to the surrounding forests and sea.

Back on board, the ship sails onward to its overnight anchorage in the calm waters of Lan Ha Bay. The evening is yours to enjoy at leisure, perhaps a Vietnamese tea tasting, a restorative spa treatment, or quiet moments in the sauna. As night falls, you may join a guided singing bowl meditation in the wellness studio, or simply relax beneath a canopy of stars on the terrace deck or your private balcony, embraced by the stillness of the bay.

Overnight on YLang Heritage Cruise, Lan Ha Bay

The day begins gently with a Tai Chi session on the terrace deck, as soft morning light spreads across the bay and the landscape slowly awakens. During breakfast, the ship glides toward the northern gateway of Cát Bà Island, entering the protected grounds of its national park.

A short scenic drive leads you into the heart of this designated biosphere reserve, where a leisurely walk reveals a world shaped by dense forests and remarkable biodiversity. Home to more than a thousand plant species and a wide range of wildlife, the park offers a quiet, immersive introduction to the natural richness of the island.

Returning on board, lunch is served as the ship continues its graceful journey, eventually anchoring in a secluded corner of Lan Ha Bay. The afternoon unfolds entirely at your own pace. Perhaps you choose to relax on a pristine beach, swim in calm emerald waters, or retreat to the spa, steam bath, or sauna on board. There is no agenda here. 

As daylight fades, the vessel sails to its overnight anchorage. A refined multi-course dinner marks the close of the day, followed by the option of a guided singing bowl meditation or quiet moments alone on your private balcony, where the stillness of the bay gently carries you into the night.

Overnight on YLang Heritage Cruise, Lan Ha Bay 

The final morning on the bay begins softly with a Tai Chi session on the terrace deck, as the first light stretches across the limestone silhouettes. Inside the dining room, traditional Vietnamese coffee, tea, and light breakfast pastries offer a gentle start to the day.

As the vessel sails onward, it reaches the secluded waters of Frog Lake, a hidden enclave ideal for an invigorating morning by kayak. Gliding through jade-green waters, you paddle between sheer limestone cliffs and small, tree-crowned islets, immersed in the quiet beauty of this untouched marine landscape.

Returning on board, a leisurely breakfast or brunch is served as the vessel begins its  slowly back toward the disembarkation point. Take time to relax on the terrace deck, savouring the final moments of this remarkable journey across Lan Ha Bay.

Upon arrival, a speedboat transfer brings you back to the pier, where your private driver awaits. The journey continues seamlessly as you are escorted directly to Nội Bài International Airport for a short domestic flight to Da Nang. From there, a private transfer carries you onward to Hội An, arriving after approximately 45 minutes, where a new chapter of your Vietnam journey gently unfolds.

Overnight in Four Seasons The Nam Hai, Hoi An

Hoi An reveals itself best when you slow down. Once a thriving maritime trading port, this beautifully preserved town carries layers of history shaped by Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and European influences. Today is designed as an easy, unhurried immersion into the many rhythms of Hoi An, its streets, its countryside, and its food.

The morning begins early for those who wish, with a visit to the fish and central markets, where daily life still unfolds much as it has for generations. Watch vendors prepare for the day, baskets filling with herbs, vegetables, and the catch of the morning, before setting out on a gentle walking exploration through hidden lanes, quiet courtyards, and architectural details often missed at first glance.

From the town, you hop on bicycles and ride into the surrounding countryside, where flat, peaceful paths lead through rice fields and vegetable gardens. Here, you gain insight into the lives of local farming communities known for their organic produce. A hands-on cooking demonstration introduces regional flavours and techniques, followed by a relaxed, locally inspired meal: simple, fresh, and deeply connected to the land.

The afternoon is left intentionally open. Return to your resort to rest, enjoy the beach or pool, or continue exploring Hoi An at your own pace, letting the town reveal itself naturally. An effortless blend of heritage, countryside, and cuisine - Hoi An, experienced in full but never rushed.

Overnight in Four Seasons The Nam Hai, Hoi An

Tucked away in a quiet green valley not far from Hội An, Mỹ Sơn was once the spiritual center of the Cham people, who ruled much of Central Vietnam between the 2nd and 13th centuries. For hundreds of years, this was where kings came to pray, where rituals were held, and where beliefs were shaped.

The drive from Hội An takes about an hour and a half, gradually leaving the coast behind and entering a peaceful landscape of hills and forest. When you arrive, the ruins appear gently rather than dramatically: brick towers scattered across the valley, with Cat Tooth Mountain standing watch in the distance. Around twenty structures remain today, weathered but still full of presence.

Walking through the site feels more personal with Mr. Nguyen Thuong Hy by your side. He has spent more than 35 years working here, helping to restore and protect Mỹ Sơn, and his stories come not from books alone but from a lifetime spent among these ruins. He speaks about the Cham people, their daily lives, their beliefs, and what it means to preserve a place like this in the modern world.

Before heading back to Hội An, you are invited to Mr. Hy’s nearby home for a simple, home-cooked lunch. It’s an unpretentious, warm moment, sharing a meal, exchanging thoughts, and closing the visit not as a tour, but as a human connection to a place and its guardian.

Overnight in Four Season The Nam Hai, Hoi An

Leaving Hội An in the late morning, the road gradually pulls away from the old town and heads north along Vietnam’s central coast. With your private driver, the journey itself becomes part of the experience. Rice fields give way to fishing villages, then to long stretches of sea and sky.

The highlight of the day is the drive over Hải Vân Pass, where the road winds between mountains and ocean. We pause along the way, not for landmarks, but for the view, the breeze, and the simple feeling of being between places. This is one of those stretches of road best taken slowly.

By mid-afternoon, you arrive in Hue, once the royal capital of Vietnam. The pace shifts again here: quieter, more reflective. After checking in to your hotel, the rest of the day is yours. Perhaps a walk along the Perfume River, a cup of tea, or simply time to rest after the journey.

Overnight in Azerai La Residence, Hue

Hue is not a city that shows itself all at once. It moves slowly, quietly, and asks you to do the same.

This morning, you set out with your private guide to walk through the parts of Huế that have shaped its story. You visit old citadels, Thien Mu temple, and riverside spaces where generations once lived, worked, and ruled. Along the way, the focus is less on dates and more on everyday life, how the royal family lived, how ordinary people moved around the city, and how Hue found its calm rhythm along the Perfume River.

Later in the day, you head up to Bunker Hill, a place few visitors think to stop. Tucked among the trees are old American war bunkers, still quietly standing. From here, the view stretches out over the river and the surrounding countryside. It’s a good place to slow down, take a breath, and think about how many different lives and moments this land has held.

By early afternoon, the day naturally comes to a close, leaving you with a simple, honest sense of Hue, not as a city frozen in history, but as a place where the past and present sit side by side, without needing to be explained.

Overnight in Azerai La Residence, Hue

After breakfast, there’s time to pack at an easy pace. Your driver meets you for the short transfer to the airport, where you fly on to Ho Chi Minh City. By the time you land, the atmosphere feels different. The streets are busier, the pace quicker, the city more awake. Your private guide and driver are waiting to take you to the legendary Cu Chi Tunnel. 

As the traffic thins and the scenery changes, your guide shares stories along the way, not just about the war, but about the people who lived here and how life once unfolded beneath the ground.

At Cu Chi, you begin with a short introduction video to set the context, then walk through the forested area where the tunnels lie hidden. You’ll have the chance to step inside parts of the tunnel system and see how narrow, dark, and challenging daily life was underground. Along the way, you’ll learn about the handmade traps, tools, and simple strategies people relied on to survive during those years. It’s an eye-opening visit, less about dates and battles, more about resilience, ingenuity, and the human cost of war.

After the visit, you return to Ho Chi Minh City in late afternoon free to rest or continue exploring at your own pace.

Overnight in Hotel des Arts, Ho Chi Minh City 

This morning, we slow things down and see Saigon the old way by cyclo. Sitting back as the city moves around you, we ride into Cholon, Saigon’s Chinatown, where daily life feels busy, colorful, and wonderfully local.

We wander through the old spice streets, breathe in the mix of smells from dried herbs and street food, and spend time at Binh Tay Market, where locals shop, chat, and bargain as they’ve done for generations. From there, the cyclo takes us on to Giac Lam Pagoda, one of the city’s oldest temples: quiet, shaded, and still very much part of everyday life.

By late morning, the ride through markets is sure to work up an appetite. Lunch is a simple Saigon classic: a bowl of pho. Many locals will tell you this is where pho tastes best, we’ll let you decide. After lunch, we slow down again with a coffee in the park before continuing on foot, exploring Saigon’s historic district at an easy, unhurried pace.

Overnight in Hotel des Arts, Ho Chi Minh City 

This morning, we travel from Saigon into the Mekong Delta, where the river shapes daily life. Upon arrival, we board our private boat and begin exploring quiet waterways lined with orchards and riverside homes.

Along the way, we step ashore to cycle through nearby villages, getting a closer look at life along the river. Back on the water, we continue to Cai Be, taking time to observe the floating market and the gentle rhythm of the Delta. Later, we visit a local family on a nearby island, where a simple Vietnamese lunch is prepared using fresh, regional ingredients.

Afterward, we relax on the boat as we continue on to Can Tho, the heart of the Delta.

The evening is free to explore Can Tho’s riverside bars and restaurants at your own pace.

Stay in Legacy Mekong, Can Tho

Can Tho is the natural gateway to the floating markets of the Mekong. Before the day fully wakes, we leave the hotel by boat and head out onto the river as the first light settles over the water.

Our morning begins at Phong Dien, a smaller, more local market where boats gather quietly to trade fruit and produce. It’s an easy place to slow down, watch the exchanges, and enjoy a coffee while life on the river unfolds around us.

We then continue on to Cai Rang, the largest floating market in the Delta. Here, dozens of boats fill the river, each advertising their goods on tall wooden poles rising above the decks. We drift among the vendors, taking in the colours, the movement, and the rhythm of a working market at its busiest.

Depending on the season and water levels, we may explore some of the smaller canals nearby, sharing stories of life along the Mekong before returning to the hotel. The rest of the morning is yours to enjoy breakfast, relax by the pool, or unwind at the spa.

In the afternoon, we set out on bicycles to explore the surrounding countryside, cycling past rice fields, fruit orchards, and quiet village paths at a slow pace.

Stay in Legacy Mekong, Can Tho

This morning, we leave Can Tho and travel back to Ho Chi Minh City. Along the way, the landscapes of the Mekong slowly give way to the energy of the city. Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to the airport in time for your onward flight, bringing your journey through Vietnam to a gentle close.