Private journeys built around the hotels
Tours · Vietnam
Vietnam North to South, with a beach finale
Hanoi and Hoi An first, while you still want to walk; then five nights at a resort on the south-central coast, and one night in Ho Chi Minh City before the flight home. Fourteen days, four stays, the sea saved for last.
At a glance
- Length
- 14 days, 13 nights
- Party
- Private, 1 party
- Starts
- Hanoi
- Ends
- Ho Chi Minh City
- Hotel changes
- 3
- Price
- On request
Who this route is for
This route covers Vietnam from north to south without asking you to see all of it. The cities come first, while you have energy for them. The trip then slows down twice: four nights near Hoi An, where half the time is at the resort, and five nights on a quiet stretch of the south-central coast, where all of it is.
The last night in Ho Chi Minh City is a practical choice, not a sightseeing stop. Long-haul departures from the south often leave late at night or early in the morning; a night in the city keeps the beach days whole and puts you an easy drive from the airport. If your flight home leaves from Hanoi, we end the trip at the beach and route you through instead.
Day by day
Day 1
Arrive in Hanoi
Your driver meets you at Noi Bai. Check-in at a hotel in the old centre; we suggest Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi for its location and building, and quote a well-located 4-star alternative alongside it if the cities matter less to you than the beach.
Day 2
Hanoi with a guide
A morning on foot with a private guide: the Temple of Literature, the Old Quarter, a late lunch. The afternoon is at the hotel.
Day 3
Free in Hanoi
No plans. If you would rather see Halong Bay, this day and the next can become one night on a boat; it costs one Hanoi night and adds a long road day.
Day 4
Fly to Da Nang, drive to the beach
A morning flight south and a short drive to Ha My beach. Afternoon at the resort.
The suggested stay is Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, 100 villas on Ha My beach. On this route, with five beach nights still to come, a hotel in or near the old town is a sensible alternative and usually costs less.
Day 5
Hoi An old town at 07:30
The river front at Hoi An before 08:00
A private guide and the old town before the tour groups. The foreign visitor ticket covers several houses and halls. Back by late morning.
Day 6
A free day
No plans. The old town after dark is a short drive away if you want to return.
Day 7
Optional: Hue for the day, or nothing
Hue is about three hours each way by road over the Hai Van Pass. We price it as an option and recommend it only to travellers who are sure they want the citadel; otherwise this is a second free day.
Day 8
To the south-central coast
Da Nang to Cam Ranh is a short sector. We check at quote time whether a non-stop runs on your date; if not, the trip connects through Ho Chi Minh City. The quote shows which.
Two stays suit this route. Amanoi lies inside Nui Chua National Park above Vinh Hy Bay, with a private beach, about 75 minutes by car from Cam Ranh airport. Six Senses Ninh Van Bay sits on a sheltered bay near Nha Trang and is reached only by boat.
Day 9
Beach day
No plans. The car is not needed while you are here; both resorts are self-contained.
Day 10
Beach day
Your guide is not with you on the coast. If you want a boat on the bay or a walk in the national park, the resort can arrange it directly.
Day 11
Beach day
The middle of the stay. This is usually the day people stop checking the time.
Day 12
Beach day
The last full day by the sea.
Day 13
Fly to Ho Chi Minh City
A late checkout requested to match an afternoon flight south. One night in a hotel in the city centre, near the river. Dinner is yours to choose; we send a short list if you ask.
Day 14
Departure
Transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport at the time your flight needs.
Price
| Party | Room level on the quote | Price per trip |
|---|---|---|
| Private, 2 travellers | Entry category in each stay (garden-view room or above) | On request |
| Private, 2 travellers | Pool villa at the beach, entry rooms in the cities | On request |
| Private, 2 travellers | 4-star in the cities, luxury at both beach stays | On request |
| Private, family of 4–6 | Multi-bedroom villa at the beach; connecting rooms in the cities | On request |
The third row is the version we suggest most often: luxury where you spend whole days in the hotel, and good 4-star hotels where you are out from breakfast to dinner. The pricing page explains the trade, and how to book covers the steps from enquiry to confirmed rooms.
What the price includes
- 13 nights as listed, in the room category named on the quote, with daily breakfast
- Private car and driver for every transfer and touring day
- Private English-speaking guide on days 2 and 5
- Flights Hanoi–Da Nang, Da Nang–Cam Ranh (direct or connecting) and Cam Ranh–Ho Chi Minh City, in economy
- Boat transfer where the beach stay is reached by water
- Entrance tickets on guided days
What it does not include
- International flights
- Vietnam visa
- Travel insurance
- Lunches and dinners, drinks, spa and activities booked at the resorts
- Tips
- Optional Hue day trip or Halong night
Gallery
Who this trip is NOT for
- Late September to December travel: Hoi An's rain and flood season, and the south-central coast's wettest months, fall in the same window
- Travellers who want the Mekong Delta or Cambodia — this route ends at the coast
- Anyone who finds five nights in one resort too long; three nights at the beach and two in Hanoi is the alternative
- Families who need a pool, a beach and a town within walking distance at the same stay; the coast resorts are isolated by design
Hotels on this site are named as public facts taken from each hotel's own website, with the date we read it. Naming a hotel does not mean we hold a contract, an allocation or a special rate there. Room rates are not published here; your quote carries the rate available on the day you confirm.
Common questions
Questions travellers ask most
Amanoi or Six Senses Ninh Van Bay?
Amanoi is reached by road and sits inside a national park with a private beach. Six Senses Ninh Van Bay is reached by boat, which some travellers love and others find awkward with luggage. Both are quiet; neither is close to a town.
Why not end at the beach and fly home from there?
Long-haul flights rarely leave from Cam Ranh. Ending at the beach means a connection on departure day, often with a long wait. A night in Ho Chi Minh City removes that.
Can we swap Hoi An for Hue?
Yes, but Hue has no beach, so the trip loses its middle rest. We suggest keeping Hoi An and taking Hue as a day trip if it matters.
Is the sea calm in summer?
The south-central coast is mostly dry from early in the year into late summer. Sea conditions vary day to day; the resorts post swimming advice on site.
Related
Read next
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Pricing
What a luxury quote is made of and which choices change it most.
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Tours · Booking
How to book
The steps from first enquiry to confirmed rooms, and what we need from you.
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Destinations · Vietnam
Hanoi
Hanoi: three nights in the old centre, cool-season months and the flights out.
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Destinations · Vietnam
Hoi An
Hoi An: old town or beach villa, four nights, the dry months and the flood season.
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Plan · Hotels
Where to stay
Our comparison of luxury stays by setting, size, season, minimum nights and when not to choose them.
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Example journey
Vietnam Heritage Hotels
12 days in Vietnam, three stays and two changes: Hanoi, Hue, the beach near Hoi An.
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Start planning
Tell us about the trip you have in mind
A month, how many are travelling and any hotel you already want are enough to start. We reply by email with questions or a first draft that names every hotel and room category.