Best of Vietnam

This itinerary is the starting point for your tour, but it’s not set in stone. If there are days you would like to change, or specific places you’d like to go, we can work with you to create a personalized program that fits the needs of you and your students.

Day 1: Overnight Flight

Depart from the USA.

Day 2: Hanoi

Welcome to Vietnam! Arrive in Hanoi where you will meet your ACIS Tour Manager and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is yours to begin exploring this city’s dynamic blend of ancient history and vibrant, modern energy.

Day 3: Hanoi

Discover the highlights of Hanoi’s history and culture during today’s sightseeing tour. Begin with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex, which includes: Ba Dinh Square, where silent sentries guard the marble Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum; the modest stilted wooden bungalow where "Uncle Ho" lived and worked; Ho Chi Minh Museum, which chronicles his life and the evolution of Vietnamese independence; and One Pillar Pagoda, a Buddhist pagoda with a history steeped in folklore. Then stroll through the tranquil Temple of Literature, site of Vietnam’s first national university. After lunch together, take part in a creative sustainability workshop led by a local group dedicated to keeping Vietnam’s ancient Dó paper-making tradition alive. Learn about the techniques for transforming the inner bark of the dó or poonah tree into this durable paper, then use it to design your own bracelet, earrings, or notebook. Cool off after your workshop with a treat from Hanoi’s famous Trang Tien ice cream parlor. Finally, dive into Vietnam’s unique tradition of water puppetry with a live demonstration by a local craftsman who will share the history, skills, and magic behind this centuries-old art form.

Day 4: Hoi An

This morning, board a flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival, transfer to Hoi An, whose graceful, historic Ancient Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Best explored on foot, a walking tour with your ACIS Tour Manager shows you lantern-lit streets filled with ancient merchant houses, temples, and bustling markets. See the famous 400-year-old covered Japanese Bridge and the colorful boats along the Thu Bon River. Along the way, sample some of Hoi An’s signature green leaf cakes at a local market. Conclude your walking tour at the peaceful Reaching Out Tea House run by hearing-impaired staff, where you’ll place your order using pen and paper or wooden word blocks.

Day 5: Hoi An

Today immerse yourself in Vietnamese culture with a hands-on culinary adventure among the verdant greenery of Tra Que Vegetable Village. Start your day at a lively local market, picking out fresh ingredients while learning about the classic flavors of Vietnamese cuisine. Then a short boat ride brings you to your cooking lesson location. Learn about this famed farming village’s traditional techniques for cultivating its herbs and vegetables and discuss themes of sustainability and farm-to-table dining as you are taught the techniques for preparing traditional dishes. You’ll enjoy the fruits of your labor for lunch. (Please note that for larger groups, an alternative cooking excursion may be substituted.) This afternoon is yours to explore more of Hoi An at your own pace.

Day 6: Hue

Journey by train to Hue, which flourished as the imperial capital of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty. Enjoy lunch together upon arrival, then discover the rich history of this ancient city on the Perfume (Huong) River during a guided sightseeing tour. See the beautiful seven-story Thien Mu Pagoda and the Imperial City of Hue, an ancient citadel complex of palaces, temples and gardens that was once the political and cultural heart of Vietnam. You'll also visit the unique displays of the Huong River Antique Pottery Museum, the first private museum dedicated to ancient artifacts fished out of the Perfume River and housed in the family’s ancestral temple.

Day 7: Ho Chi Minh City

This morning explore the stunning Royal Tomb of Tu Duc, the most elaborate of the Nguyen Dynasty, with elegant walkways, intricate pavilions, and beautiful traditional architecture. More than just a resting place, this grand complex was where the emperor spent his later years enjoying nature, writing poetry, and relaxing. Then visit a nearby incense-making village to learn how locals craft colorful, fragrant incense by hand. Later today you will board a flight to Ho Chi Minh City, still lovingly called Saigon by locals. It’s Vietnam’s largest city and a vibrant center of business, culture, and energy.

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City

After breakfast visit the incredible Cu Chi Tunnels, an underground network used during the Vietnam War. Originally constructed during the fight against the French, the tunnels grew into a hidden city with living spaces, storage areas, and meeting rooms. In the afternoon, explore Ho Chi Minh City during a sightseeing tour that shows you Independence Palace, home to the South Vietnam president throughout the civil war, the unique Book Street, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the colonial-era Saigon Central Post Office. The tour concludes at a local coffee studio, where a local barista shares insight into Vietnam’s coffee culture and the art of brewing.

Day 9: Departure

Depart for the USA.