Bucketlist Vietnam: Hanoi to Hoi An
Float a lantern you made down the Thu Bon on the last night
Start in Hanoi with the kind of street-food-and-beer night that turns names into a group chat. The next morning moves through Trang An's waterways and Hang Mua's limestone views before the route flies south to Hue. Hue gives the tribe the Perfume River, the Imperial City and Khai Dinh's tomb before the coastal heritage train carries everyone to Da Nang. There is a My Khe sundowner, a full Ba Na Hills day and then three nights in Hoi An, where a countryside jeep ride and Tra Que cooking lunch become the final shared peak. This is Vietnam with a clear beginning, middle and end: big days together, free windows that do not need filling, and the movement between cities already designed.
About the trip
Nine days from Hanoi's beer streets to Hoi An's lantern-lit lanes, with Ninh Binh's limestone valleys, Hue's imperial history, the coastal heritage train and a full Ba Na Hills day in between. The route moves south without turning into a checklist: shared anchor days, three proper dinners and enough open time to make each city yours.
Adventure
Moderate
Trip highlights
Request your Invite, Takes 5
9 Days from
$750
≈ ₹71,908 today
per person + taxes and fees
Edition price is anchored in USD. INR amounts are current estimates until paid.
Request an InviteTalk to a CuratorEasy-Visa / Domestic edition: Lighter visa formalities, so most of the balance falls at the T-60 deadline. See the payment plan.
Visa support: Checklist, forms and appointment help.
20% hold: Confirm your invite now. Balance later.
Curated room: Max 16 travellers. Profiles before payment.
People you'll meet
The first cohort is being curated.
We show people here once enough travellers confirm. No filler faces, no weak interest counts. This edition is being shaped one invite at a time.
What's included
All 7 experiences in itinerary
2 nights at The 39 Lane Hotel Hanoi + 2 nights at Rosaleen Boutique Hotel + 1 night at Whitesand Boutique Hotel + 3 nights at The Nam An Villa
Reserved Hue to Da Nang coastal heritage train
Included Hanoi to Hue domestic flight, Private vans for Ninh Binh and scheduled intercity or experience days
14 meals · 8 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 4 hosted dinners
Your visa, handled
ExCo's concierge runs the Vietnam visa application for you.
Your Gameplan
Hanoi Starts at the Table
Land in Hanoi and the Old Quarter, then a street-food night that turns strangers into a group.
- Arrive in Hanoi and settle into the Old Quarter before meeting the tribe.
- The first shared night is a street-food and beer crawl through the Old Quarter's alleys, seven-plus tastings and a drink on Hanoi's Train Street.
- The night lands on Ta Hien beer street, where the whole group settles in for the first proper hang.
Limestone Valleys of Ninh Binh
A full day out to Trang An's waterways and the Hang Mua viewpoint, back in Hanoi by evening.
- Leave Hanoi early for Ninh Binh, about two hours south by private van.
- Drift through Trang An's limestone waterways by rowboat, then climb the Hang Mua viewpoint steps for the valley view.
- Head back to Hanoi in the evening, free to explore the Old Quarter on your own.
South to the Perfume River
Fly to Hue, check in, then a dragon boat on the Perfume River as the sun goes down.
- Group transfer from the hotel to Hanoi airport, then fly together to Hue and check into Rosaleen Boutique Hotel.
- In the afternoon, board a dragon boat on the Perfume River, with stops at a riverside pagoda and a royal tomb.
- Gather that evening for the first of three shared dinners.
Hue's Imperial Afternoon
The Imperial City and Khai Dinh's tomb, closing on the free Vong Canh sunset.
- Walk through Hue's Imperial City and its courtyards, built to be taken slowly rather than rushed.
- Continue to Khai Dinh's tomb, the most ornate of Hue's royal tombs.
- Close the day on Vong Canh hill for the sunset over the Perfume River, free and open.
The Coastal Train to Da Nang
The heritage train over the Hai Van Pass into Da Nang, then a My Khe sundowner to settle in.
- Board the heritage train from Hue to Da Nang, riding the Hai Van Pass for the coastal views.
- Check into Whitesand Boutique Hotel, a short walk from My Khe Beach.
- Settle in with a My Khe sundowner session and the second of three shared dinners.
Above the Clouds at Ba Na
Ba Na Hills by cable car with the Fantasy Park rides included, then on to Hoi An for the evening.
- Cable car up to Ba Na Hills, above the cloud line with sweeping mountain views.
- The day includes the Fantasy Park rides and the Golden Bridge, at your own pace.
- Move on to Hoi An in the evening and let the lantern-lit old town introduce itself.
Cook the Countryside
A half-day jeep into the countryside, ending in a Tra Que cooking class and shared lunch.
- Take a jeep out to the countryside around Hoi An and the Tra Que herb village.
- Cook and share a lunch built from what the village grows, included as part of the day.
- Return to Hoi An for a free afternoon and evening in the old town.
Hoi An, Yours for a Day
Hoi An is home base today; the group regathers in the evening for the final shared dinner.
- Hoi An is home base today, a short ride from the old town and An Bang beach.
- The An Hoi night market and the riverside lanes sit just across the bridge from the old town.
- Come back together for the third and final shared dinner, the last proper table of the trip.
One Last Vietnamese Coffee
Take the morning slowly in Hoi An, then make your own way to Da Nang for your flight.
- Take the morning slowly, pack and trade the last recommendations from the week.
- Make your own way to Da Nang airport (DAD) by Grab, about 30 to 45 minutes from Hoi An.
- Say the goodbyes over one last Vietnamese coffee before flying home.
Our Favourite Stays
We work with these or similar hotels to ensure a stylish and comfortable stay every time.
The 39 Lane Hotel Hanoi
Four-star, 66-room hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter with a spa, sauna and a terrace with city views.
Rosaleen Boutique Hotel
Boutique three-star hotel in central Hue with breakfast, two pool areas and a Vietnamese restaurant.
Whitesand Boutique Hotel
Boutique three-star hotel with modern rooms and an indoor pool, a few minutes from My Khe Beach.
The Nam An Villa
Small villa-style boutique stay in Hoi An with balcony rooms and a pool.
Bucketlist
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“I have never seen someone do their job with so much passion. The facilitator's energy and care were the biggest factor.”
Aadish Aggarwal
June 2026 - Bucketlist Central Europe - Amsterdam x Berlin x Prague
Have questions?
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