Vietnam Real Food Adventure: Hanoi to Saigon – 12 Days
Pho, street food, cooking classes and sleeper trains from Hanoi to Saigon.
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
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The secret of pho in Hanoi (Day 1)
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Ha Long Bay (Day 2)
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Hue by motorbike (Day 4)
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A Hoi An cooking class (Day 6)
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Nha Trang (Day 8)
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A Mekong homestay (Day 10)
Your route
8 stops from Hanoi to Mekong Delta
- Hanoi Days 1 & 3
- Halong Bay Day 2
- Hue Day 4
- Hoi An Days 5–6
- Da Nang Day 7
- Nha Trang Day 8
- Ho Chi Minh City Days 9 & 11–12
- 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
Day-by-day itinerary
12 days from Hanoi, Vietnam to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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Day 1 · Hanoi Hanoi
The secret of pho.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Dinner
-
Day 2 · Ha Long Bay Ha Long Bay
A night on the bay.
- Hotel
- Boat
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 3 · Hanoi Hue
A sleeper train.
- Hotel
- Overnight sleeper train
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 4 · Hue Imperial City Hue
Hue by motorbike.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 5 · Hoi An Hoi An
Cao lau dinner.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 6 · Hoi An Hoi An
A cooking class.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 7 · Hoi An, Da Nang Nha Trang
A free day.
- Hotel
- Overnight train
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 8 · Nha Trang Nha Trang
Seafood.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 9 · Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City
Street food.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Lunch
-
Day 10 · Mekong Delta Mekong Delta
A homestay.
- Hotel
- Homestay
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 11 · Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City
Back to Saigon.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 12 · Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City
The trip ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast
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
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
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.
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