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 , Private minibus , Overnight sleeper train

Others

Mekong Delta - Homestay and Boat Cruise Ho Chi Minh City - Orientation Walk Hoi An - Old Town walking tour Hoi An - Countryside bicycle tour Hue - Home cooked dinner Hue - Street food breakfast Hanoi - Old Quarter & French Quarter Walking Tour Hanoi - Banh Mi Lunch Pu Luong - Homestay and Village Walk Hanoi - Vun Art Visit Cat Ba Island - Kayaking Cat Ba Island - Boat trip on Lan Ha Bay

Meals

3 breakfasts, 4 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

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation. Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we’re arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn’t always possible which means we won’t be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available. 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. Guesthouse (1 nights), Homestay (2 nights), Hotel (9 nights), Overnight sleeper train (2 nights)

Not included:

Optional

Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum - VND40000 Ho Chi Minh City - Reunification Palace - VND40000 Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnel Experience Urban Adventure - USD45 Hoi An - My Son Cham tour (entrance fee, guide and transport included) - USD45 Hue - Imperial City Full Day Tour - USD69 Hue - Perfume River cruise & Thien Mu Pagoda - VND220000 Hue - Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc - VND150000 Hue - Highlights & back streets by motorbike (without lunch) - USD23 Hue - Highlights & back streets by motorbike (with lunch) - USD28 Quang Tri - Hien Luong Bridge - VND40000 Quang Tri - Vinh Moc Tunnels - VND40000 Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park - Paradise Cave - VND250000 Suoi Mooc - Kayaking and Swimming - VND180000 Phong Nha Ke-Bang National Park - Phong Nha Cave - VND150000 Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex - VND80000 Hanoi - Fine Arts Museum - VND30000 Hanoi - Army Museum - VND20000 Hanoi - Women’s Museum - VND30000 Hanoi - Temple of Literature - VND70000 Hanoi - Hoa Lo ’Hanoi Hilton’ Prison - VND50000 Hanoi - Museum of Ethnology - VND40000 Hanoi - Street Food Experience Urban Adventure - USD40

Flights

Flights are not included.

Insurance

Insurance is not included.

Others

Other activities and services are 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 with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is characterised by a vast array of sights and sounds and is a fascinating blend of old and new, East and West. The huge number of people rushing about their daily lives in Vietnam’s largest city gives it a dynamic atmosphere, and the French influence is evident in the excellent baguettes and coffee on offer. Much of city life takes place on the busy streets lined with shops, stalls and vendors, who have their wares spread out on the footpath and sell everything from soup to sophisticated electronics. After your welcome meeting, why not head into the Ben Thanh night market for a serving of pho or bun with your fellow travellers.
Day 2 Day 2: Mekong Delta
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Mekong Delta

Today, head down to the Mekong Delta and visit Ben Tre. The fertile delta is famous for its abundant harvests of tropical fruits and flowers as well as boating along the canals. When you arrive, board a private boat and cruise along the maze of waterways to visit some cottage industries, where you’ll have the chance to interact with the locals of the area. In the evening, head to a guesthouse along the water and enjoy some time to relax among the soothing sounds of the river.
Day 3 Day 3: Mekong Delta - Overnight Train
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Mekong Delta - Overnight Train

Rise early to the sounds of the delta coming alive and tuck into a simple breakfast before catching a bus back to Ho Chi Minh City. Enjoy some free time in Ho Chi Minh City to check out a few more sites or some tasty street food snacks. There will be a leader-led orientation walk around the city, where you might choose to try the iconic cafe sua da (iced coffee with condensed milk) as your leader shares stories about local life. Late this evening, board an overnight train bound for Hoi An – a historical town on the central coast. Although conditions are basic, overnight trains are all part of the experience and the best way to travel long distances with the locals.
Day 4 Day 4: Hoi An
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Hoi An

Arrive in Danang in the early afternoon and travel by minibus to Hoi An. Recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, Hoi An is beautifully restored and preserved. Today, parts of Hoi An look exactly as they did over a century ago. Among the feeling of decades past, it’s also a shopping haven! You can choose from original paintings, hand-crafted woodwork, ceramics, embroidery, lanterns and so much more if you’re after a good deal or some souvenirs. Hoi An has also become famous for its tailoring, with many tailors and fabrics to choose from. Bring your favourite piece of clothing or even just a picture, and you can have it copied. When you arrive, head out on a walking tour of the Old Town. After, you’re free to explore Hoi An at your own pace.
Day 5 Day 5: Hoi An
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Hoi An

There’s no better way to explore the peaceful countryside of Hoi An than by bike. For a true insight into country living in Vietnam, join your leader in cycling past green rice paddies, over small creeks and through rural villages. Later in the day, you may like to cycle or catch a local bus to Cua Dai Beach near Hoi An centre for an afternoon on the stunning Eastern Sea. If you would like to see more of the Vietnamese countryside and visit some temples, you could book yourself into a My Son Cham day trip. The afternoon is yours to do as you please – you might like to wander to streets with your camera and discover all the colourful buildings lit up by lanterns as the sun goes down.
Day 6 Day 6: Hue
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Hue

Departing Hoi An, you’ll cross the dramatic Hai Van Pass this morning, with a quick stop and photo opportunity before continuing to Hue. As the former imperial capital of Vietnam, Hue holds the treasures of Vietnam’s royal past and is a curious mix of bustling streets and tranquil settings. Your afternoon is free to go exploring. The Dong Ba market, which sells everything imaginable, is a great place to spend some time. See the Imperial Citadel, including a visit to the Forbidden Purple City, which was almost totally destroyed during the Vietnam War’s Tet Offensive. In the evening, sit back, relax and enjoy a traditional dinner in a local home. These experiences off the beaten track are the ones you’ll remember.
Day 7 Day 7: Hue
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Hue

You’ve got the whole day to explore Hue today. Head out with your group on a street food experience in the morning to pick up a delicious market breakfast and pass by all the local traders. Later, you may like to take a dragon boat cruise on the Perfume River and visit Thien Mu Pagoda – considered by many to be the unofficial symbol of Hue. It’s an active Buddhist monastery with its origins dating back to 1601. One of the most poignant displays is a car belonging to a former monk who in 1963 drove to Saigon and set himself alight to protest against the treatment of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese regime. Otherwise, you’ll have the opportunity to embark on an optional motorbike tour, riding with a local guide around the sights.
Day 8 Day 8: Phong Nha
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Phong Nha

Jump on the bus and make your way to Quang Tri. If you’re keen, it’s just a small fee to visit the Hien Luong Bridge and Vinh Moc tunnels. Hien Luong Bridge separated the North from the South during the war. The tunnels at Vinh Moc are an expansive network of limestone tunnels that locals used as shelters from the bombing. Travel on to Phong Nha and spend the afternoon exploring your surroundings. You’ll stay just outside Phong Nha Town, near Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park – an amazing landscape full of caves and underground rivers.
Day 9 Day 9: Phong Nha – Overnight Train
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Phong Nha – Overnight Train

Enjoy a free day to explore Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park – at 400 million years old, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is the oldest karst mountain range in Asia. You might like to take a boat through Phong Nha Cave or check out the spectacular Paradise Cave. If caves aren’t your thing, chat with your leader about a kayaking adventure in Suoi Mooc. Otherwise, chill out with a coffee and soak in the river views. Later today, you’ll head back to Dong Hoi and hop back on a sleeper train – you’ll be a pro at this by now.
Day 10 Day 10: Hanoi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Hanoi

Arrive in Hanoi very early this morning and transfer to your hotel, leaving your luggage and setting out to discover the city. Hanoi is known for its beautiful lakes, shaded boulevards, public parks and thriving Old Quarter – an architectural museum with blocks of ochre buildings retaining the air of a 1930s provincial French town. Take a walking tour of the Old Quarter and the French Quarter with your leader, visiting the Dong Xuan market (the biggest wholesale market in northern Vietnam). Stroll through the ancient ’36 streets’ where you can discover an amazing selection of shops selling everything from souvenirs to exquisite silk clothing and beautifully embroidered tablecloths. Your leader will point out some of the unique architecture around Hoan Kiem Lake and the myths and legends of the lake, and you’ll sit down for a banh mi lunch.
Day 11 Day 11: Pu Luong
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Pu Luong

Leave Hanoi this morning and travel to Pu Luong – one of the most beautiful sites in rural Vietnam with expansive rice paddy fields surrounded by the National Park. When you arrive, you’ll check in to your unique homestay accommodation, with rooms boasting views of the rice fields. Have a quick lunch then head out for a trek in the middle of this natural paradise. You’ll see the impressive water wheel in the village, locals working in the fields, and you’ll visit a few local tribes, giving you the opportunity to learn about their culture and customs firsthand.
Day 12 Day 12: Hanoi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Hanoi

This morning, enjoy a leisurely breakfast, then make your way back to Hanoi. Today, you’ll visit The Intrepid Foundation partner Vun Art – a local organisation empowering people with disabilities in Vietnam by providing job training and employment opportunities. See how they produce tote bags and art pieces from the discarded silk that comes from Van Phuc Silk Village. Vun Art also aims to reduce climate impact by reusing these scraps and in the process, keeping traditional art alive. First, the fabric is cut into mosaics, then gathered and glued individually and finally, it’s pressed in the heat press machine. Tonight, you’re free to find the perfect spot (or street food) for dinner. After, maybe head out to explore the bars and discover the streets after sundown.
Day 13 Day 13: Cat Ba Island
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: Cat Ba Island

Travel by bus and ferry to Cat Ba Island – the largest island in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay area. With thousands of limestone islands and formations scattered around, this is one of the quintessential Vietnamese scenes where bright green water is dotted with traditional junk boats. Take a boat around Lan Ha Bay, then get up close and personal with this other-worldly landscape by kayak. Stay overnight on Cat Ba Island and enjoy a dip at one of the beaches (and maybe a cold beer).
Day 14 Day 14: Hanoi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: Hanoi

Wake up to a natural paradise, and maybe start your morning with a refreshing swim. Ensure you soak up as much sun and sand as possible, as it’s back to Hanoi later in the afternoon via ferry and bus. Being such a large city, Hanoi has so much to explore. This afternoon, you could head to the French Quarter to see the European influences on parts of Hanoi’s architecture, or otherwise, get the gang together and stake out a roadside stall for some chargrilled meats or pho cuon (rice noodle rolls).
Day 15 Day 15: Hanoi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 15: Hanoi

There are no activities planned for today, and you can depart the accommodation at any time. With so much to see and do in Hanoi, why not book an Urban Adventure. Hanoi Street Food Experience is a good pick – a 3-hour tour where you’ll get to sample some amazing eats from markets, street cafes, food carts and other secret spots. If you would like to spend some more time in Hanoi, just speak to your booking agent.

+12

15 days tour

Real Vietnam

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Real Vietnam

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City

Day 2: Mekong Delta

Day 3: Mekong Delta - Overnight Train

Day 4: Hoi An

Day 5: Hoi An

Day 6: Hue

Day 7: Hue

Day 8: Phong Nha

Day 9: Phong Nha – Overnight Train

Day 10: Hanoi

Day 11: Pu Luong

Day 12: Hanoi

Day 13: Cat Ba Island

Day 14: Hanoi

Day 15: Hanoi

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