Tour Vietnam Express Southbound

Transport

Boat,Motorbike,Overnight sleeper train,Plane,Private Minibus,Taxi,Sampan,Tuk-tuk VIETNAM FLIGHTS: Please provide your exact name (including middle name) as per passport 45 days prior to your trip’s departure date for flight tickets to be issued. Internal flights will be on the following safety audited airlines: Pacific Airlines, Vietjet or Vietnam Airlines. UNACCOMPANIED FLIGHTS: During peak travel times your group may be required to travel on different flights at different times of the day, and you may be unaccompanied on the internal flight. In this case you will be assisted by additional tour escorts on departure and arrival. 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.

Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader 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 leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders. Your leader 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 leader can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Meals

8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners

Others

Hanoi - KOTO dinner Halong Bay - Overnight Boat Cruise Halong Bay - Cave entry Halong Bay - The Green Life Visit 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 Hoi An - Old Town walking tour Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum Ho Chi Minh City - City tour Mekong Delta - Mekong Delta Day Trip & Village Tuk-Tuk Tour Mekong Delta - Lunch

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. Hotel (7 nights),Overnight boat (1 night),Overnight sleeper train (1 night)

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).

Flights

International flights not included.

Others

Other activities and services not included

Optional

Hanoi - Women’s Museum - VND30000 Hanoi - Museum of Ethnology - VND40000 Hanoi - Hanoi Highlights Urban Adventure - USD39 Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex - VND80000 Halong Bay - Kayaking Tour - VND250000 Hoi An - Hoi An Boat & Bike with Sunset BBQ Urban Adventure - USD54 Hoi An - My Son Cham tour (entrance fee, guide and transport included) - USD35 Hoi An - Food Adventure Urban Adventure - USD37 Hoi An - Hoi An Walking & Cooking Class Urban Adventure - USD55 Ho Chi Minh City - Reunification Palace - VND40000 Ho Chi Minh City - A O show - VND1050000 Ho Chi Minh City - Saigon Street Food by Night Urban Adventure - USD32 Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnel Experience Urban Adventure - USD39

Start planning your experience

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

Day 1: Hanoi

Xin chao! Welcome to Hanoi! Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm at the hotel and is followed by a group dinner at KOTO restaurant. This organisation is dedicated to developing the hospitality careers of disadvantaged youth. If you arrive before your tour begins there’s plenty to see and do. Consider booking the Hanoi Street Food Experience at 9 am. You’ll get to sample delicious Vietnamese cuisine like a true local, stroll through the hidden alleyways and bustling markets and take in a spectacular view of Hoan Kiem lake from a secret café. Or maybe take it at your own pace and wander the Old Quarter to admire the city’s French-colonial architecture.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 2 Day 2: Halong Bay
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Halong Bay

Travel by private minibus to World Heritage-listed Halong Bay, which is dotted with sandy coves, grottoes and 1600 limestone islands formed over millennia by wind and water erosion (approximately 4 hours). Board a private boat and cruise the bay, exploring Surprise Cave and perhaps even enjoying a swim from Ti Top Island Beach during the warmer months. Access to Surprise Cave is via staircases. Once inside the cave the pathways are a little uneven and slippery. To end the day, spend an evening aboard the boat beneath the night sky. What better way to get to know your fellow travellers than an old school sleepover in an unforgettable location?
Accommodation: Overnight boat
Day 3 Day 3: Hanoi – Overnight Train
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Hanoi – Overnight Train

Wake up on the waters of Halong Bay, and before you leave the memorable scenery behind, it’s time for one last stop. The Green Life Centre is committed to turning Halong Bay’s trash into treasure by collecting discarded items and skillfully turning them into beautiful handicrafts. Meet the team behind this important cause and learn how to transform rubbish into a useful and reusable bag. After your visit, return by bus to Hanoi (approximately 3.5 hours). Arrive late this afternoon and enjoy free time until tonight’s train voyage. Be sure to grab a bowl of pho while you’re in town and slurp down this local specialty made from broth, noodles and meat. Maybe chill by Hoan Kiem Lake until you board an overnight train to Hue this evening.
Accommodation: Overnight sleeper train
Day 4 Day 4: Hue
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Hue

Arrive in Hue at approximately 11 am and transfer to the hotel. Once the imperial capital of Vietnam, Hue holds the treasures of the country’s royal past. Enjoy free time in the morning to rest or explore. If you choose the latter (and who can blame you) the bustling Dong Ba Market is a great place to sample some of the specialties that once graced the Nguyen emperors’ tables like banh khoai (royal rice cake). Reunite with the group to visit the war-damaged ruins of the Imperial Citadel, a sprawling city-within-a-city which contains the remains of temples, state houses and the emperor’s palace.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 5 Day 5: Hue
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: 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 Thích 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.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 6 Day 6: Hoi An
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Hoi An

This morning travel by bus through coastal rice paddies and the spectacular Hai Van Pass (approximately 3 hours). After a photo stop en route, arrive into Hoi An. Recently declared a World Heritage site, Hoi An was a major international trading port during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Today, parts of the beautifully-preserved town retain the feel of centuries past. It’s also a shopping mecca, famous for its plethora of tailors. On arrival your leader will take you on a sightseeing walk through the Old Town to visit a handful of the city’s major attractions. You’ll also be given a sightseeing pass so you can further explore select attractions at your leisure.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 7 Day 7: Hoi An
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Hoi An

Today is a free day to explore Hoi An. Maybe browse the cobbled streets and art galleries or hire a bike and cycle through rice paddies out to Cua Dai Beach. Maybe browse for paintings, ceramics and colourful cloth lanterns in the town’s markets and preserved Chinese shophouses. If you’re craving a new look, you could pay a visit to one of the hundreds of tailors and get something special made. Hoi An is also known for its delicious regional food, so be sure to enjoy a meal at a riverside restaurant or perhaps partake in a cooking class.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 8 Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City

Today take a short, early morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City (approximately 1.5 hours). Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City has a fascinating history and is arguably Vietnam’s capital of commerce and culture. After landing, take a sightseeing tour around the city by bus. Pass the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Opera House, then stop in at the War Remnants Museum to discover some of the sobering stories of the 20-year-long Vietnam/American War.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 9 Day 9: Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City

This morning head out on a day trip to explore the Mekong Delta. Board a private boat to Ben Tre to visit the coconut gardens and stop at a local home to sample tropical fruits and coconut jams. Afterwards, paddle in sampans (small rowing boats) past coconut trees along the Mekong Delta. Take a tuk-tuk tour around the villages and learn about rural life and the industry created around coconut products like brooms and coconut fibre mats. Eat lunch at a restaurant in the heart of the Delta, sampling regional specialties such as the famous elephant ear fish. Cruise the major waterways to Ben Tre boat pier, then return by bus to Ho Chi Minh City. This evening, perhaps head out to sample some local specialties as a final farewell with your fellow travellers and leader.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 10 Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City

There are no activities included and you’re free to depart your accommodation at any time as long as you comply with check out time. If you would like to spend some more time in Ho Chi Minh City, we’re happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability). Ask your group leader or booking agent for more recommendations or help booking an Urban Adventure if you plan to stay.

10 days tour

Vietnam Express Southbound

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Vietnam Express Southbound

Day 1: Hanoi

Day 2: Halong Bay

Day 3: Hanoi – Overnight Train

Day 4: Hue

Day 5: Hue

Day 6: Hoi An

Day 7: Hoi An

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City

Day 9: Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City

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