What are Vietnam highlight tours?
Vietnam highlight tours take you to the country's must-see places in one well-paced trip: Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Halong Bay in the north, Hue and Hoi An in the centre, and Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta in the south. Our 21 highlight tours run from 1-day trips to 7-day itineraries, all private with your own guide and driver, and any of them can be extended or joined into a longer north-to-south journey.
- Durations: 1 to 7 days (combine two or three for 10–16 days)
- Destinations: Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Halong Bay, Sapa, Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Mui Ne, Da Lat, Nha Trang
- Best for: first-time visitors, couples and families who want the classics without the planning
- Best months: February–April for the whole country; October–November in the north, December–April in the south
Browse our Vietnam highlight tours below, or tap "Show more" for our full guide.
Good to know (2026)
- The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi is closed for maintenance from 4 September to 2 November 2026, and it normally closes on Mondays and Fridays. During the closure our Hanoi city tours swap in other sights.
- Halong Bay cruises can be suspended at short notice by the port authorities when a storm approaches, mainly between June and October. If that happens we rebook your cruise or switch the day to Ninh Binh.
- Since 1 July 2025 Vietnam has 34 provinces after a nationwide merger, so you may see new names on tickets and signs; Hoi An and My Son, for example, now belong to Da Nang city.
- Tet (Lunar New Year) 2027 falls on 6 February. Hotels, flights and trains fill up from late January, and some shops and restaurants close for several days.
What is a Vietnam highlight tour?
A Vietnam highlight tour is a ready-made itinerary built around the places most travellers come for: the Old Quarter and temples of Hanoi, the limestone karsts of Ninh Binh and Halong Bay, the imperial city of Hue, the lantern-lit streets of Hoi An, and the energy of Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta.
Instead of piecing together hotels, transfers, boats and entrance tickets yourself, you follow a tested route with a local English-speaking guide and a private driver. The pace leaves time for food, coffee and wandering, which is where many of the best memories come from.
Our highlight tours fall into three groups: multi-day tours of one region (4–7 days), day trips from Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, and longer combinations that link the north, centre and south by short domestic flights.
Why choose a Vietnam highlight tour with Vietnam Tour Expert?
- Private by default: your own guide, driver and vehicle, so you set the pace and the stops.
- Local team: we plan and run tours on the ground in Vietnam and adjust routes when sights close, weather turns or festivals change opening hours.
- Flexible: every itinerary is a starting point; we add nights, swap hotels or join regions together.
- Clear pricing: every tour shows a from price per person (day tours from US$24, multi-day tours from US$176), and we send a written quote with everything listed.
If you prefer a full private trip with no shared elements, see our Vietnam private tours; for longer, slower routes see our Vietnam classic tours.
Our Vietnam highlight tours at a glance
All 21 tours below are private and run daily or on request. Day tours start from US$24 per person (Da Nang City Tour 1 Day) and multi-day tours from US$176 (Da Nang – Hoi An Tour 4 Days).
| Tour |
Days |
Route |
| Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Sapa – Halong Bay |
7 |
Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Sapa, Halong Bay |
| Hanoi – Sapa – Halong Bay |
6 |
Hanoi, Sapa, Halong Bay cruise |
| Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Halong Bay |
5 |
Hanoi, Tam Coc, Hoa Lu, Halong Bay cruise |
| Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Halong Bay |
4 |
Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Halong Bay day cruise |
| Da Nang – Hue – Hoi An |
7 |
Hai Van Pass, Hue, Hoi An |
| Da Nang – Hoi An |
5 |
Hue, Hoi An, My Son, Marble Mountains |
| Da Nang – Hoi An |
4 |
Marble Mountains, Hoi An, Ba Na Hills |
| Ho Chi Minh – Mui Ne – Da Lat – Nha Trang |
7 |
Saigon, Mui Ne, Da Lat, Nha Trang |
| Ho Chi Minh – Mui Ne – Da Lat |
6 |
Saigon, Mui Ne, Da Lat |
| Ho Chi Minh Tour |
5 |
Saigon, Cao Dai, Cu Chi, Mekong Delta |
| Hanoi day tours (6) |
1 |
Hanoi city, Halong Bay, Hoa Lu, Trang An, Tam Coc, Mua Cave |
| Central and southern day tours (5) |
1 |
Hue, Da Nang, Saigon, Cu Chi and Cao Dai, Mekong Delta |
How to choose the right Vietnam highlight tour
1. First trip, one week: stay in the north
With 5–7 days, the north gives you the most variety for the least travel. The Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Sapa – Halong Bay tour 7 days covers the four classic landscapes, while the Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Halong Bay tour 5 days adds an overnight cruise without the long drive to Sapa.
2. Culture and food lovers: choose central Vietnam
Hue’s citadel and royal tombs and the old town of Hoi An sit about three hours apart by road via the Hai Van Pass. The Da Nang – Hue – Hoi An tour 7 days gives each town proper time.
3. Short on time: base yourself in one city
Our day tours from Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City return to your hotel each evening. Pair two or three of them for an easy long weekend.
4. City, coast and highlands: the south
The Ho Chi Minh tour 5 days keeps one hotel in Saigon, while the 6- and 7-day loops add the dunes of Mui Ne, cool Da Lat and the beaches of Nha Trang.
5. Two weeks or more: link the regions
Domestic flights between Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City take around 1.5 hours, so a north tour, a central tour and a few days in the south fit comfortably into 12–16 days. We arrange the flights and transfers between tours.
Best time for a Vietnam highlights trip
Vietnam is long and its regions have different weather, so there is no single perfect month. February to April is the best all-round window.
| Region |
Best months |
Keep in mind |
| North (Hanoi, Halong, Sapa) |
Oct–Apr |
Cool to cold Dec–Feb; storms can stop cruises Jun–Oct |
| Centre (Hue, Hoi An) |
Feb–Aug |
Heavy rain and floods mainly Oct–Nov |
| South (Saigon, Mekong) |
Dec–Apr |
Wet season May–Nov, usually short showers |
For more detail on each region, read our Halong Bay cruise guide.
What’s usually included in a Vietnam highlight tour
Each tour page lists its own inclusions, but most of our highlight tours include:
- a private English-speaking guide and an air-conditioned car or van with driver
- hotel or airport pick-up and drop-off
- entrance tickets and boat trips named in the itinerary
- meals as listed (day tours usually include lunch)
- hotels and cruise cabins on multi-day tours, in the class you choose
International flights, visas, travel insurance, drinks and tips are not included unless your quote says so.
Private or small group?
Our highlight tours are private: no strangers in your car, and you can start earlier, linger longer or skip a stop. On Halong Bay you stay in your own cabin on a cruise shared with other guests, and day cruises use shared boats unless you book a private one. Small-group join-in departures can be arranged on request for some northern itineraries.
Tips from our local team
These tips come from years of arranging Vietnam highlight tours for international travellers.
- Fly in and out of different cities. An open-jaw ticket (into Hanoi, out of Ho Chi Minh City) saves a day of backtracking.
- Give Halong Bay a night. A day trip works, but an overnight cruise lets you see the bay at sunset and early morning, when it is quietest.
- Keep a spare day after the cruise. If a storm stops boats, a buffer day keeps your flights safe.
- Dress for temples. Shoulders and knees should be covered at pagodas, the citadel in Hue and the mausoleum area in Hanoi.
- Book Tet and summer early. Late January to mid-February 2027 and June–August are the busiest times for hotels and domestic flights.
- Do not over-pack the days. Two main sights a day plus a good meal is the right rhythm in Vietnam’s heat.
Read more in our Hanoi travel guide and Hoi An guide, or see all top Vietnam highlight tours by region. Halong Bay itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Plan your Vietnam highlights trip
Tell us your dates, how many people are travelling and what you most want to see, and our team will send a tailor-made itinerary and quote. Message us on WhatsApp +84 88 626 1368 or use our contact form.
