🇻🇳 Vietnam: Lanterns to Limestones – 2027

A curated 10-day journey through central and northern Vietnam, designed for travelers who want to feel a place, not just visit it.

The Trip at a Glance

Duration: 10 days / 9 nights
Destinations: Hoi An, Hue, Ba Na Hills, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay
Group Size: Max 8 guests
Trip Cost: $1,650 USD per person (twin share)
Single Supplement: $400 USD (private hotel rooms + cruise cabin)

2027 Departures:
• Trip One: March 1–10
• Trip Two: March 13–22

The Experience

Imagine slipping through lantern-lit alleyways as the river flickers beside you, silk lanterns glowing above old yellow walls, the smell of grilled pork, herbs, smoke, and rain-warmed stone drifting through the evening air.

Then imagine waking the next morning to Vietnam already alive around you. A bowl of steaming noodles on a quiet street. Coffee cups clinking beside the river. Bicycles rolling past rice fields. Palm boats drifting through the coconut groves. Market stalls opening, tailors measuring, scooters humming, and that strange, beautiful feeling that you have somehow stepped into somewhere both completely new and instantly familiar.

A few days later, the scene changes again. Limestone cliffs rise out of emerald water. The last light of the day turns Ha Long Bay gold. You are standing on the deck of a luxury junk boat with something cold in your hand, the air warm, the water still, and nowhere else you need to be.

This 10-day journey is not about rushing from landmark to landmark with a camera in one hand and a checklist in the other. It is about stepping into Vietnam’s rhythm. The food, the colours, the history, the chaos, the stillness, the generosity of the people, and the small moments that somehow become the ones you remember most.

We will explore ancient streets, cycle through rice fields, cook with local hands, float through coconut palms in basket boats, wander riverside markets, and watch whole towns glow after dark. We will eat well, travel comfortably, laugh often, and leave enough space in the itinerary for Vietnam to surprise us.

Because the magic of this trip is not just where we go. It is how we move through it.

There is structure, but not rigidity. Guidance, but not herding. Local knowledge, but not tourist theatre. You will have beautifully chosen hotels, carefully planned experiences, trusted local guides, and enough free time to make the journey feel like yours.

And it is small. Just 8 guests.

That means no big bus energy, no being marched around with a flag in the air, and no fighting for space, attention, or authenticity. You will have room to breathe, room to ask questions, room to slow down, and room to actually connect with the places and people around you.

You will have balcony cabins on Ha Long Bay, handpicked stays in the heart of the journey, front-row access to the good stuff, and me, Connor, as your host, translator, travel wrangler, problem-solver, restaurant-finder, occasional chopstick coach, and general keeper of the calm.

This is Vietnam with the rough edges softened but not polished away. Comfortable, personal, beautifully paced, and full of the kind of moments that do not feel manufactured.

Come for the lanterns, the limestone cliffs, the food, and the adventure.

But don’t be surprised if what stays with you is something quieter. A conversation. A street corner. A shared meal. A view from a boat at sunset. A moment when the noise drops away and you realise, properly, that you are somewhere extraordinary.

Where We Go

Hoi An
Hoi An is all soft lantern light, yellow-painted shopfronts, riverside cafés, gorgeous old streets, tailored clothes, and some of the best food in Southeast Asia. You’ll cycle through rice fields, drift through the coconut palms in a basket boat, roll up your sleeves for a hands-on cooking class, fold your own lantern, explore the Ancient Town, and still have time for a well-earned cocktail by the river.

Hue
Vietnam’s imperial heart. You’ll walk through royal citadels, cruise the Perfume River by dragon boat, and visit the surreal mosaic tombs of long-gone emperors. It’s stately, quiet, and deeply atmospheric.

Ba Na Hills & Hai Van Pass
We’ll ride the world’s longest cable car into the clouds, cross the Golden Bridge held aloft by stone hands, and drive the Hai Van Pass — one of the most scenic roads in the world.

Hanoi
Buzzing, brilliant, and layered with history. We’ll eat our way through the Old Quarter on a private food safari, take a walking tour through the French Quarter, and toast the trip with a final dinner on the edge of Train Street.

Ha Long Bay / Lan Ha Bay
You’ll cruise past karst cliffs and into hidden lagoons, sleep aboard a boutique junk boat, kayak at your own pace, and maybe even stargaze from the deck. It’s quiet, cinematic, and completely unforgettable.

What’s Included

• 8 nights in carefully selected boutique hotels
• 1 night aboard the Peony Cruise (balcony cabin, all meals)
• Daily breakfast and 4 hosted group dinners
• All private ground transport and transfers
• Domestic flight from Hue to Hanoi
• Guided cultural experiences and entry fees throughout
• Tailor introduction in Hoi An (if desired)
• Full-time Modern Explorer trip host and private local guides

What’s Not Included

• International flights
• Vietnamese e-visa (approx. $25 USD)
• Travel insurance (required)
• Meals not listed, alcohol, personal expenses, and tips
• Optional tailoring costs in Hoi An

Booking & Availability

We run two departures of this trip in April 2027:

• Trip One: March 1–10
• Trip Two: March 13–22

Trip Cost: $1,650 USD
Single Supplement: $400 USD

Deposit: $300 USD to hold your spot (50% refundable)
Balance Due: January 10, 2027
Payment Methods: Venmo, Zelle, PayPal (details provided upon booking)