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If you want to see Vietnam from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City in 10 days without planning a single bus, the Luxury Escapes Vietnam tour is worth it. It covers Hanoi, an overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay, Hoi An and Saigon, with the hotels, two domestic flights and a tour director handled for you, starting around US$1,345 per person.
I spent a month solo traveling Vietnam in 2022, and it’s still the first country in Southeast Asia I’d go back to. I did it the chaotic way: sleeper buses, a motorbike on a ferry and one night stranded on an island with nothing but my backpack. I loved every minute of it. But if I only had 10 days, or I was bringing my parents, this is the version I’d book.
Here’s what the tour includes, what it really costs, the best month to go and who I think should (and shouldn’t) book it.
Luxury Escapes Vietnam tour at a glance
Prices checked September 29, 2026
- Tour: Deluxe 10-Day Vietnam Highlights with Ha Long Bay & Hoi An
- Price: from US$1,345 per person for LuxPlus+ members, US$1,416 for non-members (twin share)
- Route: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City
- Group size: up to 24 travelers, fully guided
- Best months: March and April
- Best for: first-timers, couples, trips with your parents, solo women who want a group
Why I’d Book This Tour After Doing Vietnam on My Own
When people ask me my favorite country in Southeast Asia, I don’t even hesitate: Vietnam. I started in Saigon, flew up to Hanoi and fell so hard for the north that I never made it back south. Hanoi became my base for Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh and Sa Pa.
I was on what I call a bougie budget. About 90% of my flights and hotels were booked with credit card points (that’s a whole other story, and here are the cards I use), so my day-to-day spending was about $15 to $20 for three meals, coffee and random drinks.
And it was an adventure. I was the last person to make my sleeper bus from Hanoi to Sa Pa. They almost left without me, and someone from the bus company kept calling me until I found it. I ended up sharing a $14 bed with a complete stranger, and honestly, it was super chill.
On Cat Ba Island, I missed the last boat back. I had my backpack and not much else. I don’t think I even had a charger. I walked into a random hotel, asked to borrow one, stayed the night and survived with the little I had. I still remember getting the best massage there. It was an experience, but honestly, a cool one.
I wouldn’t trade any of it. But I was booking my next stop and my next bed literally day by day, and it took a month to see what I saw. If you have 10 days of vacation, you probably don’t want to spend them figuring out buses. This tour covers the highlights I’d send any first-timer to, with the logistics already done.
The 10-Day Luxury Escapes Vietnam Itinerary
The tour runs north to south: two nights in Hanoi, one night on Ha Long Bay, three nights in Hoi An and three nights in Ho Chi Minh City. You fly between the regions, so you skip the long overland rides completely.
| Days | Where | Where you sleep | Included highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Hanoi | Le Jardin Hotel Haute Couture | Ho Chi Minh Complex, Temple of Literature, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, welcome dinner |
| 3 | Ha Long Bay | Capella I cruise, Oasis Suite | Overnight cruise, lunch and dinner onboard, sunset on the bay |
| 4 to 6 | Hoi An | Shining Riverside Hoi An Boutique & Spa | Sunrise tai chi, flight to Da Nang, Ancient Town walking tour, spa treatment, a free day |
| 7 to 10 | Ho Chi Minh City | Pullman Saigon Centre | Cu Chi Tunnels, city tour, War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, a free day, farewell dinner |
Hotels are listed “or similar,” so Luxury Escapes can swap in a hotel of the same or higher standard.
Days 1 to 2: Hanoi
Hanoi was my favorite city to stay in, and it’s where I’d base myself again. It’s the perfect size: big enough that there’s always something new to eat, small enough that you can walk almost everywhere. The food is freaking amazing, and I loved the coffee culture. Some of my all-time favorite coffee shops are in Hanoi. I even got a haircut there, and to this day it’s the best haircut I’ve ever gotten.
On the tour, you can land at Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) any time on day 1, and you’re transferred to Le Jardin Hotel Haute Couture. The rest of that day is yours.
Day 2 is the big guided day. You’ll visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex (the mausoleum grounds, the Presidential Palace and his stilt house), the Temple of Literature, which was Vietnam’s first university, and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. Then you’ll walk across the red Huc Bridge on Hoan Kiem Lake to Ngoc Son Temple. That night is the welcome dinner with your group.
My tip: use your free first evening to eat. The optional Hanoi street food tour (US$53) is the easiest way to try a lot in one night. And don’t leave Hanoi without sitting at a café for a slow Vietnamese coffee.
Good to know: the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed on Mondays, Fridays and in the afternoons, so on those days you’ll see it from the outside. Most museums close on Mondays, so the tour swaps in the Vietnamese Women’s Museum that day.
Days 3 to 4: Ha Long Bay on the Capella Cruise
Ha Long Bay is so freaking beautiful. Pictures don’t do it justice. When you’re out on the water with hundreds of green limestone islands all around you, it feels like you’re actually taking in an experience, not just checking off a sight.
When I went, I took a minivan from Hanoi (that ride is where I caught up on all my sleep) and spent part of a day out on the bay. The tour gives you the part a day trip can’t: sunset and sunrise on the water.
On day 3, a coach takes you about 2.5 hours from Hanoi to Tuan Chau Marina, where you board the Capella I. It’s a newer ship, launched in 2020, with only 30 cabins, a private balcony in every cabin, a heated pool, a jacuzzi and a waterslide. You have lunch as the boat heads out, a free afternoon on the sundeck and dinner onboard. Then the boat anchors in a quiet cove for the night. The next morning there’s tai chi on the sundeck as the sun comes up, before you cruise back.
For comparison, a one-night Capella cruise booked on its own starts around US$190 to US$205 per person on booking sites, plus about US$35 for the round-trip shuttle from Hanoi. On this tour, it’s just part of the trip.
Good to know: day 4 is the longest travel day. You cruise back in the morning, drive about 3 hours to Hanoi’s airport and fly about 1.5 hours to Da Nang, then transfer to Hoi An. Bring snacks and something to do.
If you add days: Cat Ba Island isn’t on this tour, but it was my favorite island in all of Vietnam. If you extend your trip, go. Just don’t miss the last boat back like I did.
Days 4 to 6: Hoi An
Hoi An is so, so beautiful. It’s known for its lanterns, and when the streets and the river light up at night, it feels like a different town from the one you walked around that afternoon. It’s more of a relaxing stop, and after Hanoi and a long travel day, you’ll want that. Rent a bike, cruise around, spend the day chilling and stay out through the night.
Your hotel here is Shining Riverside Hoi An Boutique & Spa. On day 5, your guide walks you through the UNESCO-listed Ancient Town: the 16th-century Japanese Covered Bridge, the Museum of Sa Huynh Culture, the 200-year-old Tran Family Chapel and the Fujian Assembly Hall. The afternoon is free, and your included spa treatment at Ginger Wellness can be used that day or the next.
Day 6 is completely yours. If you’ve seen photos of the giant stone hands holding up a golden bridge, that’s Ba Na Hills, and it’s the add-on I’d pick. When I went, I got there right at opening because I knew it would be busy, and it was still packed. I took a motorbike there. The optional Ba Na Hills day (US$149 with lunch) handles the ride, so you don’t have to think about getting there or parking.
Other add-ons for that day include a cooking class and bike tour (US$64), the My Son Sanctuary temples (US$85) and a Hoi An street food tour (US$43).
Days 7 to 10: Ho Chi Minh City and the Cu Chi Tunnels
Saigon is a fun, big city. It’s great if you’re solo and just as good with a group. If you like to party, that’s where it’s at, and it’s the easiest place in Vietnam to end up chatting with locals who live and work in the city. It’s also where I started my trip, to get a feel for the country before heading north.
You fly from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City on day 7 and check into the Pullman Saigon Centre for three nights. That evening is free.
Day 8 is the heaviest day of the trip, in a good way. In the morning, you drive about 60 km (37 miles) to the Cu Chi Tunnels, the underground network the Viet Cong used during the Vietnam War. Guides walk you past hidden trapdoors and living spaces, and you can crawl through a section of tunnel yourself. It’s hot, tight and dark down there, even in the parts widened for visitors, so skip the crawl if small spaces aren’t your thing. It’s a humbling look at how people lived and fought underground.
Back in the city, the guided tour covers Notre Dame Cathedral, the Saigon Central Post Office, the Opera House, City Hall, the War Remnants Museum and the Reunification Palace, where the war ended in 1975. The War Remnants Museum is a lot to take in, especially as an American. Give yourself a slow evening after.
Day 9 is free until the farewell dinner. I’d use it for the full-day Mekong Delta trip (US$135), since I never made it down there on my own trip, or the Vietnamese coffee culture tour (US$67). On day 10, you’re transferred to Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) for your flight home.
My tip: keep your phone tucked away when you’re walking around Saigon. The city is known for phone snatching from passing motorbikes.
Got a free evening? Here are my favorite things to do in Ho Chi Minh City.
What’s Included in the Luxury Escapes Vietnam Tour (and What’s Not)
Included
- 9 nights: 2 in Hanoi, 1 on the Capella cruise, 3 in Hoi An and 3 in Ho Chi Minh City
- 2 domestic flights: Hanoi to Da Nang, and Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City
- Private air-conditioned transport, plus airport transfers on day 1 and day 10
- A tour director for the whole trip
- Breakfast every day, lunch and dinner on the cruise, a welcome dinner and a farewell dinner
- Guided sightseeing in Hanoi, Hoi An, Cu Chi and Ho Chi Minh City
- A spa treatment at Ginger Wellness in Hoi An
Not included
- International flights
- Your Vietnam e-visa
- Travel insurance, which is required to join
- Tips
- Most lunches and dinners, and drinks
- Optional add-ons
- The single supplement if you’re traveling solo
How Much the Luxury Escapes Vietnam Tour Really Costs
The tour starts at US$1,345 per person for LuxPlus+ members and US$1,416 for everyone else, based on two people sharing a room. Most departures I looked at were around US$1,416 for members and US$1,490 for non-members, and prices change by date, so check yours.
Divide that by 10 days and you’re at roughly US$135 to US$150 per person per day for 4 and 4.5-star hotels, a night on a five-star cruise, two flights, a guide and all your transfers.
Here’s the full picture for one person traveling from the US:
| Cost | About (US$) |
|---|---|
| Tour, twin share | $1,345 to $1,490 |
| International flights | Varies. Book a multi-city ticket into Hanoi (HAN) and home from Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) |
| E-visa, single entry | $25 |
| Tips for your guide and driver | $60 to $77 |
| Travel insurance | Required. Varies by age and trip cost |
| Add-ons | $39 to $149 each |
| Meals not included | Street food and cafés are cheap. My food budget was about $15 to $20 a day |
How I’d pay for it: I’d book the flights with points, like I did in 2022, and put the tour on a travel card that earns points. Here are the travel credit cards I recommend.
Is LuxPlus+ worth it for this tour? LuxPlus+ is Luxury Escapes’ membership. It costs US$175 a year plus a one-time US$300 joining fee, which is waived when you book an eligible LuxPlus+ offer. On this tour, it saves about US$71 to US$74 per person. For a couple booking only this trip, that’s less than the yearly fee, so it only pays off if you’ll book with them again that year.
Doing Vietnam Yourself vs. Booking This Tour
| Doing it yourself (how I did it) | Luxury Escapes 10-day tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Planning | Booking your next stop and bed day by day | Done before you land |
| Getting between cities | Sleeper buses, minivans, ferries, cheap flights | 2 flights and private transport |
| Where you sleep | Hostels to luxury hotels, your call | 4 and 4.5-star hotels and a five-star cruise |
| Ha Long Bay | Easy to book a day trip | An overnight on the Capella cruise |
| Daily cost | As low as $20 a day, plus hotels | Roughly $135 to $150 a day, most things included |
| Flexibility | Total. Stay longer wherever you fall in love | Set route with 3 free days |
| Best for | A month or more, and you love figuring it out | 10 days and zero planning |
If you have a month or more and you love figuring it out as you go, do it yourself. My 2-week Vietnam itinerary is a good place to start. If you have 10 days, this tour is the easier way to see the highlights.
Is Luxury Escapes Legit?
Yes. Luxury Escapes was founded in 2013 in Melbourne, Australia, and has more than 9 million members. It has a US site with prices in US dollars and a US phone line (888-337-2083) that’s open 24/7. On Trustpilot, it has a 4.7 out of 5 from more than 13,600 reviews, and past travelers rate this Vietnam tour 8.8 out of 10.
I’ve partnered with Luxury Escapes on content this year, and this post is sponsored by them. Here’s what I’d want you to know before you book anyway:
- Payments are non-refundable. Tour deposits and payments can’t be refunded, and the 7-day change-of-mind policy doesn’t cover tours. Buy travel insurance when you book.
- Wait for “guaranteed.” Some departures need a minimum number of travelers before they’re confirmed. Don’t book flights until your date is guaranteed.
- Solo? You might need to move dates. Guaranteed departures need at least two people booked.
- Hotels are “or similar.” Luxury Escapes can swap a hotel for one of the same or higher standard.
- It’s not “Vietnam Luxury Escapes.” That’s a separate tour company in Hanoi, which is why reviews online sometimes get mixed up.
The Best Time to Book the Luxury Escapes Vietnam Tour
Book a March or April departure if you can. That’s the best weather along the whole route, and it’s one of the cheapest windows on this tour.
Vietnam is long and skinny, so the north, center and south have different weather at the same time. Here’s how it lines up with the tour’s prices:
| Departure | From (member price) | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | $1,416 | Hanoi is pleasant. Hoi An is still in typhoon and flood season |
| December 2026 | $1,345 | Hanoi turns cold. Saigon’s dry season starts |
| January to February 2027 | $1,419 | Chilly nights in Hanoi. Tet (Lunar New Year) is in early February, so expect crowds and closures |
| March to April 2027 | $1,348 | The best weather on the whole route |
| May to August 2027 | $1,419 | Hot and wet in Hanoi. Hoi An is sunny but very hot. Saigon’s rainy season starts in June |
| September to December 2027 | $1,419 | Hanoi is lovely in the fall. Hoi An’s typhoon season runs through November |
I went at the start of the rainy season, and the rain was random. It would pour for an hour and then clear up. A light rain jacket and a small umbrella saved me.
Is the Superior Upgrade Worth It?
The Superior Upgrade costs about US$337 more per person. It gets you:
- A Chic Wing room at Le Jardin in Hanoi
- A Harmony Suite on the Capella cruise, plus an hour of free-flow drinks
- A Deluxe Pool View room in Hoi An
- A Deluxe Room at the Pullman Saigon Centre
- Dinner at ST25 by KOTO in Saigon, a restaurant that trains young people from disadvantaged backgrounds
My take: yes, if it fits your budget, especially for a honeymoon, an anniversary or a trip with your parents. Heads up that the ST25 dinner is on day 7, so you can’t book a paid add-on that evening.
Whether you upgrade or not, the add-ons are where I’d spend: Ba Na Hills, a street food tour and the Mekong Delta.
What to Pack for the Luxury Escapes Vietnam Tour
You get one checked bag up to 20 kg (44 lb) and a carry-on up to 7 kg (15 lb), and you’re moving through three climates, so pack light and in layers. My minimalist packing list has my whole system. For this trip specifically, bring:
- A light rain jacket and a travel-size umbrella
- Layers and a warm jacket if you’re going December to February, for Hanoi
- Breathable clothes for Hoi An and Saigon, which are hot most of the year
- Something that covers your shoulders and knees for temples and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- Comfortable walking shoes you don’t mind getting dusty at Cu Chi
- A swimsuit for the Capella’s pool and jacuzzi
- An eSIM so you have data the second you land. I use Airalo.
- A phone charger and a power bank. Learn from my night on Cat Ba.
- Travel insurance, which the tour requires. I use SafetyWing.
Who the Luxury Escapes Vietnam Tour Is For
Honestly, this tour works for almost anybody:
- Solo women who want to feel safe in a group and still see all the highlights
- Couples who don’t want to plan anything
- Anyone traveling with their parents, or retirees traveling together. No one has to think about planning or worry about missing something. It’s just peace of mind.
- First-timers. You get a taste of the north, center and south of Vietnam without stressing about booking everything.
Who should skip it:
- Backpackers who want to wing it. That was me in 2022, and here’s how I did it.
- Anyone set on Sa Pa, Ninh Binh or Phong Nha. They aren’t on this route. Luxury Escapes also has a longer 17-day Vietnam tour that adds Sa Pa and Hue.
- Travelers who hate group schedules.
- Families with kids under 10. The minimum age is 10.
Adding Cambodia? Here’s my guide to Phnom Penh.
The Honest Downsides
- One night on Ha Long Bay. It’s enough for the sunset and sunrise, but it goes fast.
- Up to 24 people. Small for a group tour, but not intimate.
- Day 4 is long. A cruise, a 3-hour drive and a flight in one day.
- No Sa Pa or Ninh Binh. Two of my must-dos in the north aren’t on this route.
- Non-refundable payments. Travel insurance really isn’t optional here.
- Winter in Hanoi is cold. December to February departures can be cheaper, but pack a real jacket.
My Biggest Tip for Your First Trip to Vietnam
The biggest mistake first-timers make is underestimating how much there is to do. I spent a month in Vietnam, almost all of it in the north, and I still didn’t have time to bike up into the mountains. Honestly, two months might not even be enough.
If you travel on your own, only book your first city. Talk to locals, and you’ll end up planning your next stop and your next stay day by day. If you only have 10 days, that’s exactly why a tour like this makes sense. It gets you the highlights, and the three free days still give you room to explore on your own.
Luxury Escapes Vietnam Tour FAQ
For a first trip with only 10 days, yes. You get Hanoi, an overnight Ha Long Bay cruise, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City, with hotels, two flights, a guide and transfers included, for roughly US$135 to US$150 per person per day.
From US$1,345 per person for LuxPlus+ members and US$1,416 for non-members, twin share. Many departures are around US$1,416 for members and US$1,490 for non-members. International flights, the visa, tips and insurance are extra.
The two domestic flights are included. International flights aren’t. Fly into Hanoi (HAN) and home from Ho Chi Minh City (SGN).
Tour deposits and payments are non-refundable, and the 7-day change-of-mind policy doesn’t apply to tours. Luxury Escapes may offer credit at its discretion, with a fee of A$300 per person.
Yes. You’ll pay a single supplement for your own room, and since guaranteed departures need at least two people booked, you might be offered a different date. As a solo woman, a group like this is a great way to feel safe and still see everything.
Up to 24 travelers, ages 10 and up, with a tour director the whole way.
The Capella cruise leaves from Tuan Chau port in Ha Long and sails the waters of Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay.
Le Jardin Hotel Haute Couture in Hanoi, the Capella I cruise, Shining Riverside Hoi An Boutique & Spa and the Pullman Saigon Centre, or similar hotels.
Yes. The e-visa covers up to 90 days and costs US$25 for a single entry or US$50 for multiple entries. Apply only on the official site, evisa.gov.vn. Your passport needs six months of validity past your return date.
Luxury Escapes suggests about VND130,000 (roughly US$5) per day for your guide and VND70,000 (roughly US$2.70) per day for your driver, plus 5 to 10% at restaurants.
It’s enough for the classic highlights from north to south. It isn’t enough for everything. I spent a month there and barely scratched the surface of the north.
The tour is rated moderate: lots of city walking, temple steps and an optional crawl through part of the Cu Chi Tunnels.
March or April, for the best weather along the whole route and some of the lowest prices.
No. Vietnam Luxury Escapes is a separate tour company based in Hanoi.
Keep Planning Your Vietnam Trip
- A Complete Vietnam Travel Guide: my 2-week itinerary
- Complete Southeast Asia Travel Guide
- 17 Best Things to Do in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- 7 Unforgettable Places to Visit in Bangkok
- The Best Travel Credit Cards for Beginners
- My Ultra Minimalist Packing Tips
- Travel Tips and Advice for Solo Travelers
Ready to see Vietnam without planning a thing?
Where in Vietnam are you most excited to go? Leave a comment, and I’d love to help you plan.
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