Tour overview

This 12-day trip travels the length of Vietnam through its food, by sleeper train and road. A local leader travels with the group, which numbers no more than twelve. You stay eleven nights in hotels, a boat, sleeper trains and a homestay, with many meals included.

You learn the secrets of pho in Hanoi, spend a night on a boat in Ha Long Bay and take the sleeper train to Hue, where you tour the back streets by motorbike and try salt coffee.

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In Hoi An you join a cooking class and a cao lau dinner, then take another overnight train to Nha Trang. In Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta you eat with locals and stay in a homestay.

The physical rating is low. This trip suits food lovers who want Vietnam's highlights with plenty to taste.

Trip highlights

  • The secret of pho in Hanoi (Day 1)
  • Ha Long Bay (Day 2)
  • Hue by motorbike (Day 4)
  • A Hoi An cooking class (Day 6)
  • Nha Trang (Day 8)
  • A Mekong homestay (Day 10)

Your route

8 stops from Hanoi to Mekong Delta

12-day route: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay – Hue – Hoi An – Nha Trang – Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta
  1. Hanoi Days 1 & 3
  2. Halong Bay Day 2
  3. Hue Day 4
  4. Hoi An Days 5–6
  5. Da Nang Day 7
  6. Nha Trang Day 8
  7. Ho Chi Minh City Days 9 & 11–12
  8. Mekong Delta Day 10

Why choose this tour

Vietnam through its food. Sleeper trains and local meals.

Best suited to

  • Food lovers
  • First-time visitors to Vietnam
  • Solo travellers
  • Travellers who like slow travel
A Vietnamese street food stall

Day-by-day itinerary

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

  1. Day 1 · Hanoi Hanoi

    The secret of pho.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Dinner
  2. Day 2 · Ha Long Bay Ha Long Bay

    A night on the bay.

    Hotel
    Boat
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  3. Day 3 · Hanoi Hue

    A sleeper train.

    Hotel
    Overnight sleeper train
    Meals
    Breakfast
  4. Day 4 · Hue Imperial City Hue

    Hue by motorbike.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  5. Day 5 · Hoi An Hoi An

    Cao lau dinner.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Hoi An Hoi An

    A cooking class.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  7. Day 7 · Hoi An, Da Nang Nha Trang

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Overnight train
    Meals
    Breakfast
  8. Day 8 · Nha Trang Nha Trang

    Seafood.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  9. Day 9 · Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City

    Street food.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Lunch
  10. Day 10 · Mekong Delta Mekong Delta

    A homestay.

    Hotel
    Homestay
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  11. Day 11 · Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City

    Back to Saigon.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  12. Day 12 · Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City

    The trip ends.

    Meals
    Breakfast
The entrance to Hue's Imperial City

Where you stay

  • Hanoi (1 night) Hotel
  • Ha Long Bay (1 night) Boat
  • Hanoi to Hue (1 night) Overnight sleeper train
  • Hue (1 night) Hotel
  • Hoi An (2 nights) Hotel
  • Da Nang to Nha Trang (1 night) Overnight train
  • Nha Trang (1 night) Hotel
  • Ho Chi Minh City (1 night) Hotel
  • Mekong Delta (1 night) Homestay
  • 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 boat, trains and a homestay
  • Meals 10 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 5 dinners
  • Sleeper trains and private transport
  • Ha Long Bay overnight cruise
  • Hue motorbike tour and Imperial City
  • Hoi An cooking class
  • Local leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals not included 1 breakfast, 4 lunches and 6 dinners
  • Optional activities
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
Boats at a Mekong Delta floating market

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want luxury hotels
  • You dislike overnight trains
  • You are a fussy eater
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–8 and 10–12 · Lunch: Days 2, 4, 6 and 9–11 · Dinner: Days 1–2, 5, 8 and 10
Lanterns in a Hoi An shop

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £1,137 per person, twin share, tour only. 88 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.

Do I need a visa for Vietnam?

No, UK citizens can visit Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days.

What are the sleeper trains like?

Shared air-conditioned berths with bedding; toilets on board.

Can dietary needs be catered for?

Most can, with notice before travel.

Which meals are included?

Many breakfasts, lunches and dinners, plus tastings.

Can I have my own room?

A single supplement may be available; otherwise solo travellers share with someone of the same gender.

How many people travel together?

No more than twelve travellers, with a local 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
From £1,137
See dates & prices