Others

Cat Ba Island - Boat trip on Lan Ha Bay Cat Ba Island - Kayaking Hoa Lu - Temple of King Dinh and King Le Ninh Binh - Bike Tour Hue - Home cooked dinner Hoi An - Old Town walking tour Hoi An - Garden-to-Table with A Local Chef Ho Chi Minh City – Local Market Visit Ho Chi Minh City - Local Coffee Experience

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

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. 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. 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. Hotel (8 nights), Lodge (1 night), Overnight sleeper train (2 nights)

Meals

2 lunches, 1 dinner

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.

Not included:

Others

Other activities and services 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).

Optional

Hanoi - Citadels, Karsts & Cycle Urban Adventure - USD88 Hanoi - Village Discovery by Bike Urban Adventure - USD33 Hue - Perfume River cruise & Thien Mu Pagoda - VND220000 Hue - Hue Royal Street Eat by Cyclo Urban Adventure - USD40 Hue - Hue Discovery Urban Adventure - USD78 Hoi An - Food Adventure Urban Adventure - USD28 Hoi An - Hoi An Walking & Cooking Class Urban Adventure - USD49 Hoi An - Hoi An Boat & Bike Urban Adventure - USD51 Hoi An - My Son Cham day trip - USD35 HCMC - Saigon Street Food by Night Urban Adventure - USD35 Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnel Experience Urban Adventure - USD43 Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Discovery Urban Adventure - VND59

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Hanoi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Hanoi

Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. Your adventure kicks off in Hanoi – Vietnam’s capital – with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, wander these gorgeous streets and see the sights. Tonight, maybe grab your new group and see who’s up for some food and a fresh bia hoi at a roadside stall or watch the motorbikes zoom by. Hanoi is also a great place for local beer and cocktail bars, so maybe hit the nightlife and discover what this city has to offer after sundown.
Day 2 Day 2: Hanoi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Hanoi

Today is a free day in Hanoi to explore however you’d like. Maybe check out your reflection in beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake, wander along shaded boulevards or relax in a public park with some delicious street food (spring rolls inside rice paper rolls, anyone?). Museum-wise, you could visit the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, drop into the serene Temple of Literature or get arty at the city’s Fine Arts Museum. Maybe head to KOTO for a delicious lunch – this organisation is dedicated to developing the hospitality careers of disadvantaged youth. Later, maybe explore the centuries-old architecture as the sun goes down.
Day 3 Day 3: Cat Ba
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Cat Ba

Travel by bus and ferry to Cat Ba Island – the largest island in Lan Ha Bay, connected to the UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay. With thousands of little limestone islands scattered around, this area is one of those quintessential Vietnamese scenes in which bright green water is dotted with traditional junk boats and limestone karsts. Take a cruise around Lan Ha Bay and enjoy a seafood lunch prepared by your onboard chef. What could be better? This afternoon, hop off the boat to get up close and personal with this other-worldly landscape by kayak. Paddle through serene waters and then watch the sunset over this awe-inspiring landscape.
Day 4 Day 4: Ninh Binh
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Ninh Binh

This morning, take a ferry back to the mainland and head to Ninh Binh province – once the site of Vietnam’s capital in the 10th and 11th centuries, which is now a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. Join a local guide on a cycling tour to visit the ancient citadel. This once covered 300 hectares of land, however the passage of time has left few remains of the once glorious capital. You’ll visit the 17th-century temples built in honour of King Dinh and King Le among other temples, pagodas, monuments and lush grounds surrounded by mountains.
Day 5 Day 5: Ninh Binh - Overnight Train
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Ninh Binh - Overnight Train

The day is yours to explore the many other wonders of Ninh Binh. You might like to lace up your hiking boots and trek to the incredible Mua Cave. While the cave sits at the base of a mountain, be sure to make the trek up the 500 steps to the mountain peak for amazing views of Hoa Lu and Ngo Dong River. Or maybe get out on the water and take a boat tour past limestone karst peaks, caves, temples and maybe even the locations of scenes from a King Kong movie. Tonight, board an overnight train to Hue.
Day 6 Day 6: Hue
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Hue

Arrive by train in Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. You have today free to do as you please. You can easily spend a couple of hours exploring Hue’s massive walled citadel and the Forbidden Purple Palace that’s enclosed within. Maybe jump on board a dragon boat and enjoy a cruise up the Perfume River to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda. You could also check out Dong Ba Market, which offers locally made goods, fresh produce and some tasty street food. This is a good place to try the dish that Emperor Nguyen used to feast on – the banh Khoai royal rice. If you like being on two wheels, maybe cycle out to one of the royal tombs like the tomb of Emperor Tu Duc (one of the most excellent remaining examples of its kind). Tonight, head into the home of a local family and enjoy a freshly prepared dinner. You’ll be chatting and laughing over your chopsticks in no time!
Day 7 Day 7: Hoi An
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Hoi An

Continue along the coast to Hoi An by private bus. When you arrive, your leader will take you on a walking tour of this unique town which has been influenced over the years by Europe, China, Vietnam and Japan. The town was a major trading port from the 17th century onwards, and its old-school flavour is written all over its architecture. For a small town, it’s pretty lively. The tour will take you down the streets that are being restored and look a lot like they did 100 years ago, then you’ll discover some of the more chilled out spots. Check out a historic house (formerly home to a prominent trader), the Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese assembly hall and a museum. Later, maybe play bingo with your leader in a town square – a popular local past time.
Day 8 Day 8: Hoi An
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Hoi An

Start the day by cycling through the beautiful surroundings of Hoi An to the organic vegetable and herb gardens of a local chef. See, smell and taste what makes Vietnamese food so delicious. After a tour of the gardens, enjoy a freshly prepared lunch using some of the ingredients you picked during your tour. Much of the food waste here is composted, recycled or reused. The rest of the afternoon is free for your own explorations. Maybe wander to the Central Market and browse the paintings, woodwork, ceramics and lanterns. Hoi An is also famous for its talented tailors, so if you’ve been wearing the same shirt every day (who hasn’t), why not hit one of the same-day tailors and get yourself something new? Tonight, maybe wander the streets, lit up by lanterns for some great photo ops.
Day 9 Day 9: Quy Nhon
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Quy Nhon

This morning, say goodbye to Hoi An and drive to Quy Nhon – a coastal city in the Bình Dinh province. When you arrive, you have a free afternoon and evening to explore at your own pace. There’s plenty of optional activities you can take on today to explore the beautiful location – maybe visit Banh It Tower, taking in stunning scenery from the top of the hill or visit the Cahn Tien Tower (Bronze Tower). Take a food tour, trying some local specialities like banh xeo tom nhay (a crunchy pancake with fresh prawn), nem nuong (grilled pork rolls) or bun ca (fish noodles). You might like to head to the Con Chim Ecological Zone, where you can go fishing or stand up paddleboarding. Maybe take a trip to Eo Gio for a hike and some gorgeous coastal views. There’s also lots of great local restaurants you can hang out at – just ask your leader!
Day 10 Day 10: Quy Nhon - Overnight Train
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Quy Nhon - Overnight Train

Today is a free day in Quy Nhon to take on any optional activities you didn’t get a chance to do yesterday. You can head to Ky Co Beach or take a day trip to Hon Kho Island for a swim in the blue-green waters. Tonight, you’ll take an overnight train, so maybe grab some snacks this afternoon for the journey. As you make your way to Ho Chi Minh City, maybe play a few (or many) rounds of cards or get stuck into a good book. As the light changes outside, you can watch the everchanging scenery pass you by, showing you a glimpse into what rural life is like in Vietnam.
Day 11 Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City

Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City early this morning and transfer to your hotel. Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is a whirl of sights and sounds. You can still see the French influence in the top-notch baguettes and coffee. Compared to the north, the food here is spicier, sweeter and more varied. Maybe take advantage of the early morning by checking out the markets and tucking into a bowl of pho with the local traders. With your group, you’ll visit a local market, where you can browse the exotic street foods and maybe take the chance to try some. Then try the iconic Saigon cafe sua da (iced coffee with condensed milk) amid the market’s everyday bustle as your leader shares stories about life in Ho Chi Minh City. Tonight, why not get your group together for a meal and some drinks on Pham Ngu Lao Street?
Day 12 Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City

With no planned activities today, your trip comes to an end. There’s lots to see and do in Vietnam – The Cu Chi Tunnels are an interesting day trip, plus the city is a great springboard to head down to the Mekong Delta or to Phu Quoc Island. Ask your group leader for more recommendations or, better yet, book an Urban Adventures tour! Find out more at urbanadventures.com. If you’d like to spend more time here and need further accommodation, just speak to your booking agent.

12 days tour

Essential Vietnam

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Essential Vietnam

Day 1: Hanoi

Day 2: Hanoi

Day 3: Cat Ba

Day 4: Ninh Binh

Day 5: Ninh Binh - Overnight Train

Day 6: Hue

Day 7: Hoi An

Day 8: Hoi An

Day 9: Quy Nhon

Day 10: Quy Nhon - Overnight Train

Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City

Experience Style

Accomodation level

Experience Type

Physical Rating

Age range

Who talk about us:

Best cities to travel to

America

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania