Highlights of China & Vietnam
Discover the vibrant contrasts of two of Asia’s most captivating nations on the Highlights of China & Vietnam journey. In China, explore the majestic Forbidden City, trek along the awe-inspiring Great Wall, and sail the legendary Mekong River. In Vietnam, dive into the bustling streets of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, cruise the emerald waters of Halong Bay, and wander through lush countryside scenes. From imperial landmarks to serene waterways, this trip blends urban excitement with natural beauty every step of the way. You’ll also savor authentic regional cuisine, meet local artisans in traditional villages, and enjoy seamless transfers and expert guides throughout.
Highlights of China and Vietnam
- City tours in Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Saigon and Hanoi
- Walk on the iconic Great Wall of China
- Visit the Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City and Terracotta Warriors
- Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels and floating village at Thoi Son
- Discover Hanoi’s historic Old Quarter by cyclo
- Enjoy a tranquil Hạ Long Bay cruise and a Mekong River excursion
What’s included
• Customized itinerary based on your interests and schedule.
• 24/7 support from our local office.
• All accommodations, tours, and transfers included, unless stated otherwise.
• Private driver for tours and transfers (guides may also drive; your Destination Expert will inform you).
• Local guides or shared tours will highlight your itinerary; the final plan will specify tour types.
• Meet-and-greet at the airport or your accommodation from our representative.
• Daily breakfast at your hotel and any meals listed in the itinerary.
• One suitcase and one carry-on per person for transfers.
What’s not included
• International airfare
• Travel insurance (available for purchase after booking your tour).
• Visas (if needed).
• Gratuities for services and experiences.
• Lunches, dinners, and drinks (unless included in the itinerary).
• Personal expenses like laundry, phone calls, and room service.
• Early check-in or late check-out (unless noted).
• Passport fees, immunization costs, and local taxes (if applicable).
Itinerary ideas
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1
Welcome to Hanoi! Your driver and guide will meet you at Noi Bai Airport and transfer you to your hotel in the city center.
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2
Today, enjoy a full-day tour of Hanoi, Vietnam’s charming capital. Explore key sites like the Ho Chi Minh Complex, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, and Tran Quoc Pagoda. Visit either the History or Ethnology Museum, then end your day with a traditional Water Puppet Show—a unique art form from Vietnam’s rice-farming culture.
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3
Drive ~4 hrs, stopping at Bo Nau and Surprise Caves. Board your cruise, visit Titov Island for swimming or beach time, then cruise among the karsts with an onboard cooking demo.
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4
Sunrise Tai Chi or photography session; visit Luon Cave by bamboo boat; disembark and return to Hanoi.
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5
Morning at leisure, then fly to Beijing. Transfer to your hotel for free time before dinner.
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6
Your guide will meet you at your hotel and take you to Tian’anmen Square, where you can explore the historic surroundings and capture some great photos. From there, continue to the Forbidden City, one of the most iconic symbols of imperial China, where you’ll learn about the palace’s fascinating history and architecture.
Next, head to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Before your visit, enjoy a relaxing lunch at a local restaurant near the base of the wall.
After lunch, choose to take either the cable car or chair lift up to the Wall. Spend time walking along its scenic sections, exploring ancient watchtowers, and soaking in panoramic views of the mountains.
After your visit, return to your hotel in comfort.
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7
Morning at the Summer Palace; afternoon at Juyongguan on the Great Wall; evening Chinese acrobatics show.
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8
High-speed train to Xi’an; explore the Muslim Quarter and enjoy a Tang Dynasty dance performance.
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9
Visit the Terracotta Warriors; overnight sleeper train to Shanghai.
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10
Stroll the Bund boardwalk and Nanjing Road, witnessing the skyline and shopping scene.
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11
Tour Yu Garden and the French Concession, cruise the Huangpu River, then wander Tianzifang’s art alleys.
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12
Fly to Ho Chi Minh City; transfer to your hotel and unwind.
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13
Cu Chi Tunnel tour, then Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office and Ben Thanh Market.
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14
Motorboat on the Mekong to Thoi Son islet for traditional music, tropical fruit tasting, coconut-candy workshop and creek cruise.
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15
Morning transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your flight home or extend your stay as you wish.
Accommodation options
Although the itinerary includes suggested accommodations, every Absolute Asia Tour is entirely customizable. Our travel specialists will work with you to find the best options to suit your style and budget.
What our clients say about us

Peter
20 March 2025 ★★★★★We had a wonderful 12-day trip across Thailand, beautifully arranged by Mr. Stephen from Absolute Asia. Every detail was taken care of, from comfortable stays to fully organized vegetarian meals throughout the journey. Our itinerary covered Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, then we spent five blissful days in Koh Samui. There, we relaxed on palm-fringed beaches, explored Ang Thong Marine Park by boat, and savored fresh tropical fruits at sunset. A big shoutout to our lovely guide, Mr Krit who made the experience even more special with him warmth and knowledge. We’re heading home with unforgettable memories of Thailand’s hospitality and charm. Thank you, Absolute Asia Tours.

Gari
22 May 2024 ★★★★★Our recent trip to China and Mongolia was a great success. Overall we found Absolute Asia Tours services to be excellent throughout the two weeks we were in Asia. For us, Mongolia was definitely the highlight. We thoroughly enjoyed or local guides and drives and they were unfailingly knowledgeable, helpful and amusing. Their languages skills were excellent and we felt that we recieved real insight into this fascinating country. We were intinially drawn to the idea of this trip by the reports of the world class fihing and we were absolutely not disappointed. The fishing guide was first rate and we caught more fish than we could have hoped for - more than 25 each day - with the added bonus of being the only other people in sight for miles arround. AAT created a private ger camp for us on the Onon River and we enjoyed delicious food prepared by our chef in a beautiful unspoled atmosphere. They alo arranged for us to visit a nomadic family and spend time with them at home and organized a dinner with an anthropologist with expert knowledge of the region. AAT fullfilled their promise to tkae us to us to one of the world's best fishing destinations in comfort and style. We would be happy to travel with AAT again and will definitely recommend them to our friends.

Cherry
16 May 2024 ★★★★★We've had two "A+" experience with Absolute Asia Tours. It is a pleasure to work with an organization where I feel confident that what you say will happen, happens. This was true with our complicated China itinerary six years ago, and was true with our recent itinerary in Vietnam. your on the ground guides and logistics were top - notch, and I would recommend you to anyone to visit Asia.

James
17 January 2024 ★★★★★Absolute Asia tours gave us a wonderful tour of Southeast Asia (working with sister-agency My Way Travel based in Vietnam). For our Siem Reap/Angkor Wat journey, our party of two had a private driver and guide named Jak, who was a cheerful and knowledgeable companion, explaining the history, culture, architecture and religious significance of the sites while keeping it always fun. We moved efficiently from site to site, and finished with a boat tour of the fishing village on stilts at Kampong Pluk on the Tonle Sap Lake. During most of our trip we stayed at top-notch locally-owned hotels, but in Siem Reap we were at the excellent local Hyatt hotel. Absolute Asia and My Way Travel our outstanding local providers, less expensive than name-brand group tours, and customized to our interests and schedule.

Hope
2 January 2024 ★★★★★We had an awesome time on cycling tour with AAT! It was incredible, filled with good vibes, laughs & a fantastic way to explore Vietnam & Cambodia. Tony our guide made it special by introducing us to locals and showing us the real charm of these countries. The whole tour was well-organized & the way they took care of us awesome. It's an unforgettable trip and I'll definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to experience the beauty of Southeast Asia.

Nas
1 January 2024 ★★★★★My group of six completed a 30 day cycling tour in Asia with AAT. We traveled form Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket & Saigon to Siem Reap. Every day we pedaled through stunning countryside views, passing villages, fields & limestone karsts. Our guide Tony was fantastic-interesting, friendly & personable. This experience stood out as the highlight of our Asia trip.