Others

Mekong Delta - Sightseeing Tour Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum Ho Chi Minh City - City tour Dalat - Garden visit Nha Trang - Nha Trang Bay Boat trip Nha Trang Bay - Island hopping, Fishing Villages & Snorkelling Hoi An - Old Town walking tour Hue - Imperial City entrance and guided visit Hue - Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc Hue - Highlights & back streets by motorbike Hue - Thien Mu Pagoda Hue - Motorbike Tour Lunch Quang Tri - Vinh Moc Tunnels Quang Tri - Hien Luong Bridge Phong Nha Ke-Bang NP - Thien Duong (Paradise Cave) Phong Nha Ke-Bang National Park - Phong Nha Cave Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex Hanoi - One Pillar Pagoda Hanoi - Old Quarter Walking Tour Hanoi - Water puppet show Lam Thuong - Village cycling tour Hanoi - Vun Art center visit Lam Thuong - Villlage homestay & home-cooked meals Lam Thuong - Village handicraft workshop visit Lam Thuong - Hiking Halong Bay - Dinner on Boat Halong Bay - Lunch on Boat

Meals

17 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners

Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Accommodation

HOTELS: Most of the accommodation on this trip is in hotels (mostly 2 to 3-star). Facilities are often basic, with some properties not having a continuous supply of hot water on occasion. All rooms are either fan cooled or with air conditioning and twin share with private facilities unless stated otherwise in the daily itinerary. Double beds are not widely available in South East Asia. WINDOWLESS ROOMS: Some hotels in South East Asia have windowless rooms, or windows that don’t necessarily have a view. This is often due to high population density in large cities, however local building standards also do not require rooms to have windows. We do request rooms with windows, however they aren’t always available. DAY ROOMS : & EARLY CHECK IN: Please note in some destinations we will provide use of day rooms. These rooms are provided for shared group use before or after overnight train journeys. We have some days where we arrive at our destination before check in time and a day room is not included. If you have booked a Single Supplement for your trip, it will not apply to these day rooms. Your leader may be able to assist you in booking a room for your sole use (depending on availability) until our regular trip rooms become available for an additional charge. Please talk to your leader at the Welcome Meeting if this is a service you would like to request. HALONG BAY BOAT: Your boat has twin-share cabins that have air-conditioning and private facilities. The boats have 8-12 passenger cabins. There’s also a dining room and bar on board. The boat is not likely to be a traditional sailing junk, as many older or imported vessels do not comply with waterway traffic safety laws. Homestay (3 nights), Hotel (13 nights), Overnight boat (1 night), Overnight sleeper train (2 night)

Transport

OVERNIGHT SLEEPER TRAINS IN VIETNAM: Compartments will be 4 berth to 6 berth depending on seasonal variations and the group configuration. We aim to secure 4 berth compartments where possible. A sheet, pillow and blanket are provided, although some travellers prefer to bring their own sleeping sheet. Passengers of different genders may be required to share a compartment and there will be occasions where you’ll be sharing with local travellers or travellers who are not part of your group. On occasion the group may be split between several carriages, however your leader will coordinate and give further information on the trip. Boat , Overnight sleeper train , Private minibus , Taxi , Train , Bicyle

Not included:

Flights

International flights not included.

Insurance

Insurance is not included. Travel insurance is required for this tour. Please make sure you are adequately covered. If you require travel insurance, TourRadar has partnered up with World Nomads to provide a hassle-free experience. More information can be found here (https://www.tourradar.com/travel-insurance).

Others

Other activities and services not included

Optional

Other activities and services not included

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City

Xin Chao! Welcome to Vietnam. Your adventure begins in Ho Chi Minh City with a welcome meeting at 6 pm today, where you’ll get to know your fellow travellers and local leader. If you arrive early, maybe head to Pham Ngu Lao Street to see the local open-air market visit Vinh Nghiem Pagoda. After the meeting, you may like to join your group for an optional dinner at one of the city’s fantastic eating spots. Because this trip doesn’t spend much time in Ho Chi Minh City, you might even choose to spend an extra day or two here to see the sights.
Day 2 Day 2: Mekong Delta/Ho Chi Minh City
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Mekong Delta/Ho Chi Minh City

Today, you’ll travel south by private minibus to Mekong Delta. When you arrive, you’ll board a boat and explore the intricate waterways of the Mekong Delta. Often referred to as ‘the rice bowl’ of Vietnam, the fertile delta is where rice, tropical fruit and flowers are grown for the whole country. You’ll get a chance to get off the boat to visit an orchard and sample some tropical fruit. You’ll then continue the cruise and visit a selection of local cottage industries along the way where you’ll experience local life and the industries surrounding the river up close. Return to Ho Chi Minh City this afternoon and enjoy a free evening in the city.
Day 3 Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City

After breakfast today, you’ll visit one of the most important sites in Ho Chi Minh City – the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. These complex tunnels were used by the Viet Cong in the long war against the Americans and were instrumental to the Vietnamese victory. Later in the day, take a tour of the city, passing the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Opera House. Head to the War Remnants Museum for a sobering yet informative lesson on the Vietnam War. Here you’ll see things like old military equipment, an F5A fighter and a UH1-Huey helicopter. Enjoy some free time afterwards at your leisure. We recommend exploring the city’s restaurants and trying Ho Chi Minh City’s distinctive fresh and flavoursome food. In contrast to the north of Vietnam, the cuisine here is spicier, sweeter and more varied. There are also plenty of street food stalls if you’d like to take a few bites of the local fare.
Day 4 Day 4: Dalat
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Dalat

After exploring Ho Chi Minh City, take a bus to Dalat. Temperate and cool compared to the rest of the country, Dalat has gained the name ‘City of Eternal Spring’ due to the mists that cover its nearby valleys nearly all year around. The Hang Na guesthouse stands as a towering, melted stone obelisk over the lush garden below. There’s also plenty of charming Art Deco-influenced structures and gardens around the area. This afternoon, perhaps go for a wander through the streets for a better feel of the city or find a café for a cup of artichoke tea – a regional specialty.
Day 5 Day 5: Dalat
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Dalat

Dalat’s soothing climate isn’t just a great reprieve from the heat of Vietnam’s coast, it also creates the perfect environment to grow a wide selection of fruits, vegetables and herbs. Take a full day to stroll through the tranquil gardens of this city, darting past plantations full of plump vegetables, colourful flowers, medicinal herbs and juicy strawberries. You’ll have a guided garden visit to learn more about this fruitful area.
Day 6 Day 6: Nha Trang
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Nha Trang

After breakfast this morning travel by minibus to the coastal town of Nha Trang. When you arrive, stretch your legs with a leader-led orientation walk. Then, enjoy free time in the afternoon and evening to explore this coastal city. You might like to make a beeline straight to the beach or try a mud bath. Maybe find a beach side bar for a cocktail at sunset, then tuck into some of this town’s fresh seafood – your leader knows all the good spots.
Day 7 Day 7: Nha Trang/Overnight Train
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Nha Trang/Overnight Train

After breakfast this morning, out for a a leisurely boat trip in Nha Trang Bay. You’ll stop at Mieu Island to learn about local fishermen’s life here, then give it a go yourself with the rowing bamboo basket boat. Then you’ll hop to Tam Island for some swimming and snorkelling in the turquoise water among the corals. Head back to Nha Trang in the early afternoon. This evening, board an overnight train to Da Nang.
Day 8 Day 8: Hoi An
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Hoi An

You’ll arrive in Hoi An early this morning. Recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, Hoi An was a major trading port with the West from the 15th to the 19th century. Today, it’s been restored to look exactly as it did more than a century ago, giving it an old-world feel full of nooks and crannies for you to explore. You’ll have some free time to wonder the city at your own pace this afternoon. Hoi An is also very popular with shopping, with specialty shops lining the Old Town – you can even get some clothes tailor made! Why not browse the paintings, woodwork, ceramics and embroidery all made by the locals.
Day 9 Day 9: Hoi An
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Hoi An

Today is another free day in the town of Hoi An. See the Chinese shophouses, enjoy the busy market, visit Cua Dai Beach, cycle to the rice fields or browse the array of art galleries. This is also a great spot to sit by the water and people watch at happy hour, so maybe ask your leader for some restaurant recommendations and soak up the atmosphere.
Day 10 Day 10: Hue
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Hue

This morning, wave goodbye to Hoi An and make tracks to My Khe Beach. Cross the dramatic Hai Van Pass and make a quick stop at the fishing village of Lang Co before making your way to Hue. The former imperial capital of Vietnam, Hue contains the treasures of Vietnam’s royal history, and has a curious blend of bustling streets and tranquil settings. You’ll explore the Imperial Citadel this afternoon – this fortress houses the Imperial City and the citadel-within-a-citadel, the Forbidden Purple City. This icon was almost completely destroyed during the Vietnam War, and the ruins and holes left by bombs are a reminder of the destruction caused by the war. In your free time, you might like to visit to Dong Ba Market which offers locally made goods, fresh produce and street food. This is a good place to try the specialties enjoyed by Emperor Nguyen such as the banh khoai royal rice cake.
Day 11 Day 11: Hue
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Hue

’See Hue like a local – from the back of a motorbike! Straddle the saddle and whiz around town with a local guide, taking in historic and contemporary sights along the way. Stop at Thanh Toan to see the 18th-century covered bridge and villagers shopping at their local market. Visit the 17th-century active Buddhist monastery of Thien Mu Pagoda and see the car that belonged to Thich Quang Duc, the monk who self-immolated in 1963 in protest against the treatment of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese regime. For lunch, savour a vegetarian feast in a nunnery. Finish at the lakeside royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc before heading back to town.
Day 12 Day 12: Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Today, you’ll take a minibus to the Vinh Moc Tunnels. These were used during the Vietnam War as shelter for the villagers who were escaping intense bombing. Incredibly, the locals here lived in an underground system over three levels. You’ll get a chance to enter the tunnels, which remain in their original form. This afternoon, continue to your homestay tonight at the centre of Phong Nha. Your host is a family of three generations, and you’ll be able to experience how the locals go about their daily routines while staying here.
Day 13 Day 13: Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park/Overnight Train
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park/Overnight Train

After breakfast today, visit the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage site contains the oldest known karst mountains in Asia. The area is also known for its enormous cave system. You’ll visit the Thien Duong Cave (Paradise Cave), then take a cruise up the Son River towards the Phong Cave – the scale of the place is astounding. In the late afternoon, travel to Dong Hoi and catch an overnight sleeper train to Hanoi.
Day 14 Day 14: Hanoi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: Hanoi

Arrive in Hanoi early in the morning and transfer to your hotel. Vietnam’s capital is famous for its beautiful lakes, shaded boulevards, public parks and French-style Old Quarter. As an emerging city in South East Asia, Hanoi has an attractive contrast of modern office buildings, old Buddhist temples and a labyrinth of ancient streets. Later in the day, you’ll visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, including One Pillar Pagoda and the Ho Chi Minh Museum. Then, enjoy a water puppetry performance – a unique and traditional Vietnamese art form.
Day 15 Day 15: Lam Thuong
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 15: Lam Thuong

This morning, visit Vun Art Centre – a social enterprise that employs people living with disabilities to make art pieces with recycled silk. Hear from the employees about the great things they do and then make the drive to Lam Thuong Village. When you arrive, settle into your homestay for the night – sitting on stilts, these local homes belong to the Tay people and have beautiful views of the valley and offer authentic village experiences. Then, head out for a bike ride through the village and the valley, passing rice fields, homes and learning about the local’s day to day life. Enjoy a homecooked dinner tonight made by your hosts using local ingredients.
Day 16 Day 16: Lam Thuong
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 16: Lam Thuong

Spend another day in the village today, starting with a transfer to a trailhead. Head out for a morning hike past rice paddies to a viewpoint overlooking the village, the valley and the rice fields. Return to the village this afternoon and visit a local handicraft workshop to learn about bamboo weaving, natural dyeing and how the locals make Tay hats. This afternoon, you’ll have some free time to rest or explore the village at your own pace.
Day 17 Day 17: Hanoi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 17: Hanoi

Today, say goodbye to your friendly hosts and return to Hanoi. Along the way, stop at Luc Yen gemstone market. After a while to explore (and pick up any souvenirs you might want to take home), continue to Hanoi. Arrive in the late afternoon and settle into your accommodation. This evening, you’re free to rest, relax and recharge.
Day 18 Day 18: Halong Bay
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 18: Halong Bay

After breakfast today, you’ll drive to Bai Chay Harbour to the famous UNESCO World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay – a blue-green bay studded with limestone outcrops, this area is full of beaches and natural grottos. You’ll take a boat through the limestone peaks and caves filled with stalactites and stalagmites, and you might even stop at a private beach for a swim. If you like, you can take a kayak out on the bay and explore the still waters from a new perspective. Spend the night on the boat beneath the star-studded sky and fall asleep to the gentle rocking of the waves.
Day 19 Day 19: Hanoi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 19: Hanoi

After breakfast today you’ll return to Hanoi, arriving mid-afternoon. You’ll have free time this afternoon to explore at your own pace or rest and recharge. Why not head out in search of a bia hoi (freshly brewed draught beer) at one of the microbars in the Old Quarter. Or, maybe mark the end of your trip with an optional farewell dinner with your group – your leader will have some great recommendations.
Day 20 Day 20: Hanoi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 20: Hanoi

There are no activities planned for today and you can depart the accommodation at any time. There’s so much to see and do in Hanoi, so why not stay a day or two longer! If you need additional accommodation, just reach out to your booking agent ahead of time. If you have extra time, you may like to do an Urban Adventure tour – see urbanadventures.com/destination/hanoi-tours.

+17

20 days tour

Best Of Vietnam

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Best Of Vietnam

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City

Day 2: Mekong Delta/Ho Chi Minh City

Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City

Day 4: Dalat

Day 5: Dalat

Day 6: Nha Trang

Day 7: Nha Trang/Overnight Train

Day 8: Hoi An

Day 9: Hoi An

Day 10: Hue

Day 11: Hue

Day 12: Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Day 13: Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park/Overnight Train

Day 14: Hanoi

Day 15: Lam Thuong

Day 16: Lam Thuong

Day 17: Hanoi

Day 18: Halong Bay

Day 19: Hanoi

Day 20: Hanoi

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