23 Oct 2026
Twin share
£965pp
Escorted tour
Vietnam Discovery: Saigon to Hanoi by Train – 15 Days
The Mekong Delta, Hoi An, Hue, Pu Luong and Lan Ha Bay by train and road, in a group of up to sixteen.
15 days
From £880
Tour overview
This 15-day adventure travels the length of Vietnam from south to north, mostly by sleeper train and road. A local leader travels with the group, which numbers no more than sixteen. You stay fourteen nights in simple hotels, two homestays and two overnight trains, with a few meals included.
From Ho Chi Minh City you cruise into the Mekong Delta and spend a night with a local family, then take the sleeper train north. Three days in Hoi An include a walking tour of the old town and a cycle ride into the countryside, before a drive over the Hai Van Pass to Hue.
Read more
Another night train brings you to Hanoi for a walking tour of the Old Quarter. You visit an art centre empowering people with disabilities and stay in a homestay in Pu Luong Nature Reserve, then travel to Cat Ba Island for a boat trip on Lan Ha Bay among limestone islets.
The physical rating is medium. This trip suits travellers who want the whole of Vietnam at great value.
Trip highlights
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A Mekong Delta homestay (Day 2)
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Hoi An (Days 4–6)
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Hue (Days 7–8)
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The Hanoi Old Quarter (Day 9)
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Pu Luong Nature Reserve (Day 10)
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Lan Ha Bay (Day 13)
Your route
13 stops from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi
- Ho Chi Minh City Day 1
- Ben Tre Day 2
- Ho Chi Minh City Day 3
- Da Nang Day 4
- Hoi An Days 4–6
- My Son Sanctuary Day 5
- Hai Van Pass Day 7
- Hue Days 7–8
- Hanoi Day 9
- Pu Luong Nature Reserve Day 10
- Hanoi Day 11
- Cat Ba Island Days 12–13
- Hanoi Days 14–15
Why choose this tour
Vietnam from south to north on a budget. Two homestays and two sleeper trains.
Best suited to
- Travellers on a budget
- Adventurous travellers
- Solo travellers
- First-time visitors to Vietnam
Day-by-day itinerary
15 days from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to Hanoi, Vietnam
-
Day 1 · Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City
A welcome meeting.
- Hotel
- Hotel
-
Day 2 · Ben Tre, Mekong Delta Mekong Delta
A family homestay.
- Hotel
- Homestay
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 3 · Ho Chi Minh City Sleeper train
The night train north.
- Hotel
- Overnight sleeper train
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 4 · Danang, Hoi An Hoi An
An ancient town.
- Hotel
- Hotel
-
Day 5 · My Son, Hoi An Hoi An
A free morning.
- Hotel
- Hotel
-
Day 6 · Hoi An countryside Hoi An
A cycle ride.
- Hotel
- Hotel
-
Day 7 · Hai Van Pass, Hue Hue
Over the pass.
- Hotel
- Hotel
-
Day 8 · Hue Imperial Citadel Hue
A free day.
- Hotel
- Overnight sleeper train
-
Day 9 · Hanoi Old Quarter Hanoi
A walking tour.
- Hotel
- Hotel
-
Day 10 · Pu Luong Nature Reserve Pu Luong
Rice terraces.
- Hotel
- Homestay
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 11 · Hanoi Hanoi
Back to Hanoi.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 12 · Cat Ba Island Cat Ba
By bus and ferry.
- Hotel
- Hotel
-
Day 13 · Lan Ha Bay Lan Ha Bay
A boat trip.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Lunch
-
Day 14 · Hanoi Hanoi
Back to the capital.
- Hotel
- Hotel
-
Day 15 · Hanoi Hanoi
The trip ends.
Where you stay
- Ho Chi Minh City (1 night) Hotel
- Mekong Delta (1 night) Homestay
- Overnight train (1 night) Sleeper train
- Hoi An (3 nights) Hotel
- Hue (1 night) Hotel
- Overnight train (1 night) Sleeper train
- Hanoi (1 night) Hotel
- Pu Luong (1 night) Homestay
- Hanoi (1 night) Hotel
- Cat Ba (2 nights) Hotel
- Hanoi (1 night) Hotel
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 14 nights in hotels, homestays and sleeper trains
- Meals 2 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 2 dinners
- Two sleeper trains, road transfers, bus and ferry
- Mekong Delta boat cruise and homestay
- Hoi An walking tour and countryside cycle
- Lan Ha Bay boat trip
- Local leader throughout
Not included
- Flights
- Optional activities
- Meals not included 12 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 12 dinners
- Travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want comfortable hotels
- You want most meals included
- You dislike sleeper trains
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 3 and 11 · Lunch: Days 2, 10–11 and 13 · Dinner: Days 2 and 10
FCDO advice
UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £880 per person, twin share, tour only. 2 upcoming departures.
25 Dec 2026
Twin share
£880pp
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?
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.
What are the homestays like?
Simple rooms with local families, with home-cooked meals.
Is there free time?
Yes, especially in Hoi An and Hue.
Can I have my own room?
A single supplement is available, except on trains and at homestays.
How many people travel together?
No more than sixteen 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