Tour overview

This 12-day adventure for travellers aged 18 to 35 travels from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City by bus, ferry and sleeper train. A group leader travels with you, in a group of no more than sixteen. You stay eleven nights in simple hotels, a lodge and two overnight trains, with a couple of lunches and a dinner.

After a free day in Hanoi you take a bus and ferry to Cat Ba Island for a boat trip and kayaking in Lan Ha Bay with a seafood lunch. In Ninh Binh, among limestone peaks and rice fields, you cycle to the temples of the ancient capital at Hoa Lu.

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A sleeper train takes you to Hue, then you continue to Hoi An for a walking tour and a cycle ride to Tra Que vegetable village. A drive down the coast brings you to the beaches of Quy Nhon, and a final night train takes you to Ho Chi Minh City.

The physical rating is medium. This trip suits sociable travellers aged 18 to 35 who want to see Vietnam on a budget.

Trip highlights

  • Kayaking in Lan Ha Bay (Day 3)
  • Ninh Binh by bike (Day 4)
  • The sleeper train to Hue (Day 5)
  • Hoi An old town (Day 7)
  • Tra Que village (Day 8)
  • Quy Nhon beaches (Days 9–10)

Your route

8 stops from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City

12-day route: Hanoi – Cat Ba – Ninh Binh – Hue – Hoi An – Quy Nhon – Ho Chi Minh City
  1. Hanoi Days 1–2
  2. Cat Ba Island Day 3
  3. Ninh Binh Days 4–5
  4. Trang An Day 5
  5. Hue Day 6
  6. Hoi An Days 7–8
  7. Quy Nhon Days 9–10
  8. Ho Chi Minh City Days 11–12

Why choose this tour

Vietnam with a group your own age. Bikes, kayaks and sleeper trains.

Best suited to

  • Travellers aged 18 to 35
  • Travellers on a budget
  • Active travellers
  • Solo travellers
A floating fishing village in Lan Ha Bay

Day-by-day itinerary

12 days from Hanoi, Vietnam to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

  1. Day 1 · Hanoi Hanoi

    A welcome meeting.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Hanoi Hanoi

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  3. Day 3 · Cat Ba Island, Lan Ha Bay Cat Ba

    Kayaking.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Lunch
  4. Day 4 · Ninh Binh, Hoa Lu Ninh Binh

    By bike.

    Hotel
    Lodge
  5. Day 5 · Ninh Binh Ninh Binh

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Overnight sleeper train
  6. Day 6 · Hue Hue

    An imperial city.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Dinner
  7. Day 7 · Hoi An Hoi An

    A walking tour.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  8. Day 8 · Tra Que Village Hoi An

    A cycle ride.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Lunch
  9. Day 9 · Quy Nhon Quy Nhon

    Down the coast.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  10. Day 10 · Quy Nhon Quy Nhon

    A beach day.

    Hotel
    Overnight sleeper train
  11. Day 11 · Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City

    A coffee experience.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  12. Day 12 · Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City

    The trip ends.

A railway platform in Quy Nhon

Where you stay

  • Hanoi (2 nights) Hotel
  • Cat Ba (1 night) Hotel
  • Ninh Binh (1 night) Lodge
  • Overnight train (1 night) Sleeper train
  • Hue (1 night) Hotel
  • Hoi An (2 nights) Hotel
  • Quy Nhon (1 night) Hotel
  • Overnight train (1 night) Sleeper train
  • Ho Chi Minh City (1 night) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 11 nights in hotels, a lodge and sleeper trains
  • Meals 2 lunches and 1 dinner
  • Private bus, ferry and sleeper trains
  • Lan Ha Bay boat trip and kayaking
  • Ninh Binh bike tour and Hoa Lu temples
  • Hoi An walking tour and coffee experience
  • Group leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals not included 11 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 10 dinners
  • Optional activities
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
A beach and fishing village in Quy Nhon

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You are over 35
  • You want comfortable hotels
  • You want most meals included
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: none included · Lunch: Days 3 and 8 · Dinner: Day 6
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam
Yellow shophouses in Hoi An old town

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £557 per person, twin share, tour only. 438 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

What ages is this trip for?

Travellers aged 18 to 35.

Do I need a visa for Vietnam?

UK citizens can currently visit Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days. Check the latest advice before travel.

What are the sleeper trains like?

Shared four- to six-berth compartments with bedding provided, sometimes with other travellers.

Are breakfasts included?

No, meals are mostly at your own expense, with two lunches and a dinner included.

Can I have my own room?

A single supplement is available, except on trains.

How many people travel together?

No more than sixteen travellers, with a group leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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