Vietnam is long and thin, which makes planning a tour beautifully simple and surprisingly hard. Simple, because almost everyone travels its length between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, with Ha Long Bay, Hue and Hoi An on the way. Hard, because that leaves the real choices: which direction, how fast, by sleeper train or short flights, and how much of the trip you would like to spend eating.
This guide is for anyone comparing escorted tours of Vietnam. We line up every tour on our Vietnam tours page, from a night on a junk in Ha Long Bay to a month across South East Asia, with who each suits and its honest drawback.
The quick answer
- If you want the whole country at a comfortable pace, pick Classic Vietnam.
- If you have ten days and a budget, pick Vietnam Express Southbound or South to North.
- If you want to eat your way down the country, pick the Real Food Adventure.
- If you want flights and all meals arranged, pick Vietnam Panorama.
- If you want the rice terraces of the north in comfort, pick Luxury Walking in Vietnam.
Every Vietnam tour compared
| Tour | Days | Price from | Physical rating | Group size | Flights included | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The length of Vietnam | ||||||
| Classic Vietnam: Saigon to Hanoi & Ha Long Bay – 15 Days | 15 | £1,737 pp | Low | Max 12 | No | The whole country, comfortably |
| Vietnam Discovery: Saigon to Hanoi by Train – 15 Days | 15 | £880 pp | Medium | Max 16 | No | By sleeper train, great value |
| Vietnam South to North: Mekong, Hoi An, Hue & Ha Long Bay – 10 Days | 10 | £872 pp | Low | Max 16 | No | Ten days, south to north |
| Vietnam Express Southbound: Hanoi to Saigon – 10 Days | 10 | £839 pp | Low | Max 16 | No | Ten days, north to south |
| Vietnam Real Food Adventure: Hanoi to Saigon – 12 Days | 12 | £1,137 pp | Low | Max 12 | No | Food lovers |
| Essential Vietnam for 18–35s: Hanoi to Saigon – 12 Days | 12 | £557 pp | Medium | Max 16 | No | 18 to 35s on a budget |
| With flights from the UK | ||||||
| Vietnam Panorama with Flights: Saigon to Halong Bay – 18 Days | 18 | £3,490 pp incl. flights | Low | Max 28 | Yes | All meals included |
| Vietnam & the Reunification Express with Flights – 14 Days | 14 | £3,990 pp incl. flights | Medium | Max 28 | Yes | The Reunification Express |
| The north and the centre | ||||||
| Luxury Vietnam: Hanoi, the Northern Highlands & Hoi An – 9 Days | 9 | £3,372 pp | Low | Max 16 | No | Crafts, highlands and Hoi An |
| Luxury Walking in Vietnam: Hoang Su Phi, Sapa & Mu Cang Chai – 9 Days | 9 | £1,695 pp | Medium | Max 12 | No | Walking the rice terraces |
| Cycle Northern Vietnam: Mai Chau, Pu Luong & Ha Long Bay – 8 Days | 8 | £896 pp | Medium | Max 16 | No | Cycling, homestays and Ha Long |
| Vietnam Family Holiday with Teenagers: Hanoi to Hoi An – 9 Days | 9 | £895 pp | Medium | Max 16 | No | Families with teenagers |
| Vietnam Short Break: Pu Luong & Ninh Binh Homestays – 4 Days | 4 | £257 pp | Low | Max 12 | No | Four days of homestays |
| Halong Bay Overnight Junk Cruise from Hanoi – 2 Days | 2 | £193 pp | Low | Max 40 | No | One night on Ha Long Bay |
| Vietnam plus Cambodia, Laos and Thailand | ||||||
| Cambodian Traveller: Saigon to Bangkok via Angkor – 9 Days | 9 | £799 pp | Low | Max 16 | No | Saigon to Bangkok via Angkor |
| Cambodia Express: Bangkok to Saigon via Angkor – 8 Days | 8 | £544 pp | Low | Max 16 | No | Bangkok to Saigon via Angkor |
| Thailand & Vietnam: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Ha Long & Saigon – 19 Days | 19 | £5,025 pp | Low | Max 12 | No | Thailand and Vietnam in comfort |
| South East Asia Uncovered: Bangkok to Saigon via Laos – 22 Days | 22 | £2,673 pp | Medium | Max 16 | No | Laos and the length of Vietnam |
| Southeast Asia Adventure: Bangkok to Angkor Wat – 29 Days | 29 | £3,416 pp | Medium | Max 16 | No | Four countries, to Angkor |
| South East Asia Loop: Thailand, Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia – 30 Days | 30 | £3,771 pp | Medium | Max 16 | No | A full loop in a month |
| Thailand to Vietnam for 18–35s: Bangkok to Saigon – 24 Days | 24 | £1,780 pp | Medium | Max 16 | No | 18 to 35s, three countries |
| Epic Southeast Asia for 18–35s: Thailand to Cambodia – 33 Days | 33 | £2,355 pp | Medium | Max 16 | No | 18 to 35s, four countries |
| Vietnam, China & Laos Adventure: Sapa to Bangkok – 20 Days | 20 | £3,400 pp | Medium | Max 12 | No | Vietnam, China and Laos |
| India by Land, Southeast Asia by Sea: Tour & Cruise – 26 Days | 26 | £7,690 pp incl. flights | Medium | Max 28 | Yes | India, then a cruise via Vietnam |
Prices are per person, twin share, live from our tour pages (updated October 2026). The lowest price can apply to a later departure, so check the dates you want on each tour page.
Ask us which Vietnam tour fits →
The length of Vietnam (pick a direction)
Comfortably, south to north
Classic Vietnam: Saigon to Hanoi & Ha Long Bay – 15 Days
- 15 days
- From £1,737 per person
- Max 12 people
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to Hanoi, Vietnam
- Physical rating: low
- Flights not included
- Year-round departures
Fifteen days with up to 12: the War Remnants Museum and the Cu Chi Tunnels, a night in a Mekong Delta guesthouse, then a flight to Hoi An for three nights in its lantern-lit old town, Hue’s Imperial City, the limestone landscapes of Ninh Binh and a night on a boat in Ha Long Bay. Short flights save time between regions.
Suits: first-time visitors who want the whole country at a gentle pace. The honest drawback: hotels are not luxurious and many meals are up to you.
By sleeper train
Vietnam Discovery: Saigon to Hanoi by Train – 15 Days
- 15 days
- From £880 per person
- Max 16 people
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to Hanoi, Vietnam
- Physical rating: medium
- Flights not included
- Departures in October, December
Fifteen days mostly by sleeper train and road, with a homestay in the Mekong Delta, three days in Hoi An with a cycle ride into the countryside, the Hai Van Pass to Hue, a homestay in Pu Luong Nature Reserve and a boat trip on Lan Ha Bay from Cat Ba Island.
Suits: adventurous travellers on a budget. The honest drawback: hotels are simple, two nights are on trains, and it has very few departures.
In ten days
Vietnam Express Southbound: Hanoi to Saigon – 10 Days
- 10 days
- From £839 per person
- Max 16 people
- Hanoi, Vietnam to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Physical rating: low
- Flights not included
- Year-round departures
Vietnam Express Southbound runs from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City with a night on a boat in Ha Long Bay, a sleeper train to Hue, Hoi An and a domestic flight south, in a group of up to 16. South to North (10 days) goes the other way, from the Mekong to Ha Long Bay, with an overnight sleeper train and an overnight boat.
Suits: travellers short on time or money. The honest drawback: the pace is brisk, hotels are simple, and the train and boat are shared; the Express page also warns you may ride pillion on a motorbike.
By fork
Vietnam Real Food Adventure: Hanoi to Saigon – 12 Days
- 12 days
- From £1,137 per person
- Max 12 people
- Hanoi, Vietnam to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Physical rating: low
- Flights not included
- Year-round departures
Twelve days north to south through Vietnam’s food: the secrets of pho in Hanoi, a night on a boat in Ha Long Bay, Hue’s back streets by motorbike with salt coffee, a cooking class and cao lau dinner in Hoi An, sleeper trains, and a Mekong homestay. Many meals are included, with up to 12 in the group. For travellers aged 18 to 35, Essential Vietnam (12 days) runs from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City by bus, ferry and sleeper train.
Suits: anyone who plans holidays around meals. The honest drawback: the page says it is not for fussy eaters or anyone who dislikes overnight trains.
With flights from the UK
Panorama, with all meals
Vietnam Panorama with Flights: Saigon to Halong Bay – 18 Days
- 18 days
- From £3,490 per person incl. flights
- Max 28 people
- Starts and ends in United Kingdom
- Physical rating: low
- Flights included
- Departures in January, February, March, July, September, October, November, December
Eighteen days the full length of Vietnam with return flights, all meals and, according to the tour page, the Vietnam visa for UK passports included, plus Dalat, Nha Trang, Quy Nhon, Hoi An and an overnight Halong Bay cruise. Vietnam & the Reunification Express (14 days) includes two journeys on the Reunification Express, a two-night cruise on Halong Bay and four-star hotels.
Suits: first-timers who want everything arranged. The honest drawback: groups of 12 to 28, so not a small group.
The north and the centre
Rice terraces in comfort
Luxury Walking in Vietnam: Hoang Su Phi, Sapa & Mu Cang Chai – 9 Days
- 9 days
- From £1,695 per person
- Max 12 people
- Starts and ends in Hanoi, Vietnam
- Physical rating: medium
- Flights not included
- Departures in January, February, March, April, May, July, September, October, November, December
Luxury Walking in Vietnam (9 days) walks the rice terraces and hill-tribe villages of Hoang Su Phi, Sapa and Mu Cang Chai, staying in premium hotels and eco-lodges such as the Panhou Retreat, or similar, with most lunches included and up to 12 in the group. Luxury Vietnam (9 days) explores the crafts and mountains of the north, with an ecolodge and a hot-spring resort, before ending in Hoi An.
Suits: walkers and travellers who value comfort. The honest drawback: there are long drives in the mountains, and neither includes the south.
Families with teenagers
Vietnam Family Holiday with Teenagers: Hanoi to Hoi An – 9 Days
- 9 days
- From £895 per person
- Max 16 people
- Hanoi, Vietnam to Hoi An, Vietnam
- Physical rating: medium
- Flights not included
- Departures in January, March, April, June, July, August, September, October, December
Nine days for families with children aged ten and over, especially teenagers: Hanoi, a night at an onsen retreat in Mai Chau, Ninh Binh, a night on a traditional junk in Ha Long Bay, an overnight train and Hoi An. For active travellers, Cycle Northern Vietnam (8 days) rides through Mai Chau and Pu Luong with stilt-house homestays and a support vehicle, ending with a night on Ha Long Bay.
Suits: active families. The honest drawback: it is a group trip, not a private tour, and not a beach holiday.
If you are already in Hanoi, two short trips add the countryside or the bay: a four-day homestay break in Pu Luong and Ninh Binh, and a two-day overnight junk cruise on Ha Long Bay, hosted by the boat crew rather than a tour leader.
Vietnam plus Cambodia, Laos and Thailand
Many tours on our Vietnam page carry on across the border. Cambodian Traveller (9 days) and Cambodia Express (8 days) link Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok via Phnom Penh and the temples of Angkor. Thailand & Vietnam (19 days) is the comfortable option, with up to 12 and three flights. The long overland trips, South East Asia Uncovered (22 days), Southeast Asia Adventure (29 days) and the South East Asia Loop (30 days), use sleeper trains, slow boats and simple hotels. For 18 to 35s there are Thailand to Vietnam (24 days) and Epic Southeast Asia (33 days). Vietnam, China & Laos (20 days) heads north through Yunnan, and India by Land, Southeast Asia by Sea (26 days) pairs India with a 12-night cruise.
How to choose
By time available. Two to four days: the junk cruise or the homestay break from Hanoi. Eight to ten days: the express trips, the northern tours or the family holiday. Two weeks: Classic Vietnam, Vietnam Discovery or a tour with flights. Three weeks or more: the South East Asia combinations.
By budget. The 18–35s trip, the express trips and Vietnam Discovery are the cheapest. Classic Vietnam sits in the middle. The tours with flights, Luxury Vietnam and Thailand & Vietnam cost the most. Live prices are in the table above.
By fitness. Most tours are rated low or medium; the cycling, walking and long overland trips are the most demanding.
By travel style. Sleeper trains and simple hotels on the value trips; short flights and better hotels on Classic Vietnam; all meals and a tour director on the flight-inclusive tours.
When to go
Most Vietnam tours depart all year. Luxury Vietnam runs in spring and autumn, the tours with flights mainly from autumn to spring, and Vietnam Discovery has only a few dates. The months for each tour are in its fact panel above.
Before you travel, check the FCDO travel advice for Vietnam, including entry requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to travel Vietnam north to south or south to north?
Both work, and the sights are much the same. Classic Vietnam and South to North start in Ho Chi Minh City; Vietnam Express and the Real Food Adventure start in Hanoi.
How long do I need for Vietnam?
Ten days covers the highlights at a brisk pace; two weeks is more comfortable.
Which Vietnam tours use the sleeper train?
Vietnam Discovery, the Real Food Adventure, the express trips, the 18–35s trip and the Reunification Express tour, among others.
Which Vietnam tours include flights?
Vietnam Panorama and Vietnam & the Reunification Express include flights from the UK. The others are land-only, and we can arrange flights.
Is there a Vietnam tour for families?
Yes, the Vietnam Family Holiday with Teenagers, for children aged ten and over.
Can I combine Vietnam with Cambodia?
Yes: Cambodian Traveller and Cambodia Express link Vietnam with Angkor and Bangkok, and several longer tours include Cambodia too.
Ready for Vietnam?
Tell us how long you have and how you like to travel, and a Travelisto specialist will compare the Vietnam tours with you.
Keep planning
- All escorted tours in Vietnam
- Escorted tours in Cambodia
- Escorted tours in Thailand
- Exotic river cruises: the Amazon, the Mekong and the Nile
- Japan tours compared
- Vietnam holidays
- Cambodia holidays
Prices are live from our tour pages (updated October 2026). Tour details and dates can change; your specialist will confirm everything before you book.
