Depart Friday, October 31 or Saturday November 1, 2025, for Hanoi, Vietnam with an aim to arrive on Sunday, November 2. Hotel reservations begin Nov 2, but we are happy to assist anyone who would like to fly in early (additional cost).

Most airlines you will lose a day as you cross the International Date Line so a Friday evening departure may be needed depending on where you are flying from and route you are taking.

Note: Nanda Journeys will provide support and guidance for your flights, and we ask that you do not book any flights until given the official go ahead for the group around 120-90 days prior to travel. 

After landing and customs/baggage claim you will be met in the arrival hall (small groups or individuals) near Column 8, Gate A1. Transfer to the hotel for check in and some time to relax. Lunch is by individual arrangement today depending on arrival time.

Note: Check-in at the hotel is at 2pm, but they will be happy to store a bag if you arrive early and your room is not ready yet.

This afternoon you will join your leaders and national guide at the hotel for an orientation and cultural briefing about Vietnam. You will be briefed on the political and cultural diversity of Vietnam and receive further information on the journey.

5-star De L’Opera Hotel is in the center of the city, close to the Opera House and just a 3-minute walk from Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter. They have onsite dining, a bar, swimming pool and free Wi-Fi throughout. Guest rooms are a meticulously designed sanctuary of sumptuous comfort, with every lavish amenity handpicked for its quality. This includes signature bath amenities, separate shower and toilet, safe deposit box, writing desk, hairdryer, coffee & tea making facilities, mini-bar and 24/7 room service. The hotel has a semi-outdoor heated swimming pool on the 3rd floor as well as a fitness center and spa.

Dinner will be provided at a local restaurant.

Overnight: 5* De L’Opera Hotel (or similar)

Included meals: Dinner

Today enjoy some of Hanoi’s cultural treasures. Visit Ba Dinh Square where silent sentries guard the marble mausoleum in which Ho Chi Minh lies in state. Continue to the modest stilted wooden bungalow where Uncle Ho lived and worked, before visiting Ho Chi Minh Museum. Dedicated to the ‘father of the country’, it chronicles the evolution of Vietnamese independence. Your explorations will also take to you see the One Pillar Pagoda, which dates to the 11th century and was built to resemble a lotus blossom. Continue to see a local museum like Hoa Lò Prison , which was used by the French colonists in Vietnam for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. Prisoners of War.

After lunch at a local restaurant, stroll through Temple of Literature, a serene retreat from the busy streets outside. Built in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius, it became Vietnam's first university.

Dinner is on your own this evening.

Later you will travel by cyclo (pedicab) to a theater for a Water Puppet Show, a tradition that dates back to the 11th century where this unique art form of water puppetry is re-enacted.

Overnight: De L’Opera Hotel (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Today the professional members of the group will meet with professional counterparts in Vietnam to learn about human resource management. This may include a meeting with representatives from the Vietnam Human Resource Association to receive an overview of HR practices in Vietnam while asking questions of interest to the group members.

The professional focus of this delegation will be finalized after enrollment has concluded and will be customized to fit the needs of the professionals enrolled on the journey. Every effort will be made to incorporate items of interest to all.

Lunch will be provided this afternoon.

Accompanying guests:

Accompanying guests will head to the Museum of Ethnology for an insight into the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam. Browse the traditional costumes on display which represent each of the ethnic groups. Chance to explore the outdoor display area that exhibits a variety of ethnic homes as full-scale replicas. Later stroll through the labyrinthine streets of Hanoi's Old Quarter and indulge your taste buds along the way. Sit down with locals and try the popular Nom Kho Bo, a salad made with green papaya and beef jerky. The key to this dish is the crunchy texture of the papaya and the flavor imparted by lime and fish sauce. Then visit a family-run eatery that serves Bun Cha, a one-dish meal of noodles with flame-grilled pork cooked over hot coals for extra flavor. After satisfying your appetite, it's time for dessert. Venture down a small alley in search of seasonal sweet treats before heading back to the hotel.

Dinner is on your own this evening.

Overnight: De L’Opera Hotel (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Fly to Ho Chi Minh City this morning where you will be met by your local driver. With a population of over 9 million inhabitants and an almost equal number of scooters, mopeds and motorcycles all competing for space on the ultra-busy streets, bustling and noisy Ho Chi Minh City is quite literally a metropolis on the move. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel.

Lunch is on your own today.

This afternoon you will enjoy a walking tour of Ho Chi Minh. Start out from the hotel walking past the historic former Presidential Palace and on to Bond Street, passing by the Notre Dame Cathedral and Post Office. After a selfie stop, visit the War Remnants Museum, primarily focused on the Vietnam and Indochina wars.

Check in at hotel with some free time later today.

5 Star Caravelle Hotel opened on Christmas Eve 1959 and has gained renown for being at the heart of everything important in Saigon. The hotel is a short walk to iconic landmarks and locations, such as the Opera House, Notre Dame Cathedral, historic Dong Khoi Street, and so much more. The lovely hotel has all the amenities of a five-star property including an outdoor pool, onsite dining, 24-hour fitness center, spa and business center.

Dinner will be provided this evening at Dining in the Dark. This fun sensory journey into a different world will provide exquisite tastes and textures in complete darkness.

Overnight: Caravelle Saigon Hotel (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Continue your professional meetings with local HR professionals from various local companies. The focus of the program is on how HR professionals ensure that they have the right talent when and where they need it while maintaining high standards of professionalism in HR management, talent acquisition, and talent development.

Lunch will be provided this afternoon.

Accompanying guests:

Accompanying guests will visit Ben Thanh Market, one of the most iconic landmarks in Ho Chi Minh City. It is famous for its wide variety of goods, including clothing, accessories, souvenirs, fresh produce, and local food. Next visit the History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City, the first in the city. Your guide will let you explore and point out some of the highlights in the various exhibits and artifacts on display.

Dinner is by individual arrangement.

Overnight: Caravelle Saigon Hotel (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Today spend the day meeting with local business educators and government officials. Learn from your colleagues and peers involved in the workforce in Vietnam—the employers, government, and universities—just how these elements are influencing current hiring and management practices, as well as how they are influencing future planning and guiding investment. Explore what role the government plays in workforce development as well as the role the education system plays in workforce development.

Lunch will be provided this afternoon.

Accompanying guests:

Accompanying guests will visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, one of the few remaining monuments to the war, and learn the story of life underground as told by the people who lived the experience. During the conflict in Vietnam, thousands of people in the Vietnamese province of Cu Chi lived in this elaborate 200 km long system of underground tunnels. These tunnels provide a fascinating glimpse into the prolonged resistance war that the Vietnamese people endured and will highlight the national characteristics of perseverance and ingenuity.

Stop for a drink on a Rooftop Bar with fantastic Saigon views before heading to a restaurant opened by one of Vietnam’s most celebrated Master Chefs. Delight in the chef's playful creations, which blend Vietnamese flavors, premium locally sourced ingredients, and Western cooking techniques.

Overnight: Caravelle Saigon Hotel (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today, head out early to Ben Tre to experience the lush countryside of the Mekong Delta (2.5-hour drive).

Upon arrival, hop on a local bike for a leisurely 5-7km ride (otherwise motor-tricycle) through quiet village lanes surrounded by vegetable gardens, coconut trees and rivers. Challenge yourself to cross over the monkey bridge, which is a handmade bamboo walkway built across canals and gullies. Ride further to the village communal house originally built in the 19th century where the farmers usually come to pray for their wishes. Wind your way to a brick kiln factory where the baking methods have not changed for centuries. It is the last brick kiln factory left in the area; it might get busy sometimes but if you are interested in the traditional cottage industry. Ben Tre owns the largest coconut-growing area in the country, if you're lucky, you may witness the fascinating process of coconut peeling. Alternative transport option possible if you don’t want to use the bicycles.

Then get on Lan Thanh’s motorized boat for a cruise along the main river for an insight into agriculture-river life. Enjoy a motor-tricycle ride onward to a rustic local restaurant for lunch with Mekong Delta specialties.

Lunch will feature local specialties such as elephant-ear fish and river shrimp.

After lunch, a tranquil rowing sampan will pick you up directly from the restaurant pier, taking you on a serene ride through picturesque canals that are adorned with lush, shady water coconut groves.

Enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant this evening like Home Restaurant, once owned by Mr. Tran Van Huon, VP of the Southern government in the 70s.

Overnight: Caravelle Saigon Hotel (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Head to the airport for your flight home. Arrival back home. Individual transfers can be arranged as needed, but one “group” transfer is planned for those with similar flight times.

Overnight: N/A

Included meals: Breakfast

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