Tour overview

This 10-day small-group trip runs the length of Vietnam, from Ho Chi Minh City in the south to Hanoi in the north, at a brisk but rewarding pace. Groups have up to 16 travellers aged 15 and over, with a local leader throughout. You travel by private minibus, a domestic flight, an overnight sleeper train and an overnight boat, and stay mainly in simple, well-located hotels. Breakfast is included most days, plus 3 lunches and 2 dinners, and the flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Danang is included. The trip is otherwise land-only, starting in Ho Chi Minh City and ending in Hanoi.

After meeting the group in Ho Chi Minh City, you spend a day in the Mekong Delta, the rice bowl of Vietnam. A private boat takes you through its maze of waterways to coconut gardens, a family home where you taste tropical fruit and coconut jam, and a paddle in a sampan, followed by a tuk-tuk ride through the villages and a lunch of local specialities.

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A short flight north brings you to Danang and on to Hoi An, a UNESCO-listed trading port of lantern-lit lanes. A guided walk takes in the Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese assembly hall and an old merchant's house, and the next day is free for the markets, the beach or the town's famous tailors, who can make clothes to measure within hours. You then cross the Hai Van Pass, with its views over Lang Co Beach, to Hue, the former imperial capital.

In Hue you ride pillion with your own driver on a motorbike tour of the Imperial Citadel and the Thien Mu Pagoda, still a working Buddhist monastery, with a vegetarian lunch at a monastery and a visit to the lakeside tomb of Emperor Tu Duc. An overnight sleeper train brings you to Hanoi, where you see the Old Quarter, the Temple of Literature and Ho Chi Minh's stilt house. Then comes Ha Long Bay, where you cruise among limestone islands, visit Surprise Cave and spend the night on board with a seafood dinner. The trip ends with a farewell dinner at KOTO, a restaurant that trains young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The physical rating is low, though the pace is quick and two nights are on the train and the boat. This trip suits travellers who want to see the whole of Vietnam in a short time, at a very good price.

Trip highlights

  • A boat, sampan and tuk-tuk day in the Mekong Delta (Day 2)
  • Hoi An's old town and its tailors (Days 3–4)
  • The Hai Van Pass and Hue's Imperial Citadel (Day 5)
  • A motorbike tour of Hue's pagodas and royal tombs (Day 6)
  • Hanoi's Old Quarter and the Temple of Literature (Day 7)
  • A night on a boat in Ha Long Bay (Day 8)

Your route

7 stops from Ho Chi Minh City to Halong Bay

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

Why choose this tour

Covers Vietnam from south to north in 10 days, with the internal flight included. Memorable experiences, such as the motorbike tour of Hue, the sleeper train and a night in Ha Long Bay, at a very good price.

Best suited to

  • First-time visitors to Vietnam with limited time
  • Travellers on a budget who still want a guided trip
  • Food lovers keen on markets and local dishes
  • Sociable travellers happy with a fast pace
Paper lanterns lit up at the Hoi An night market

Day-by-day itinerary

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

  1. Day 1 · Ho Chi Minh City Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City

    Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon. There is a welcome meeting at 6pm. As the trip spends little time in the city, you may like to arrive a day or two early to explore its markets, museums and cafés.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Ben Tre, Mekong Delta Mekong Delta

    Travel south by minibus to the Mekong Delta and board a private boat through its waterways. Visit coconut gardens and a family home to taste fruit and coconut jam, paddle in a sampan and tour the villages by tuk-tuk, with a lunch of local specialities.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  3. Day 3 · Danang, Hoi An Fly to Danang for Hoi An

    Fly north to Danang and drive past the Marble Mountains to Hoi An. Your leader takes you on a walking tour of the old town, visiting a historic merchant's house, the Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese assembly hall and a museum.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  4. Day 4 · Hoi An Free day in Hoi An

    A free day in UNESCO-listed Hoi An. Browse the Central Market and stalls selling lanterns, ceramics and paintings, have clothes made by one of the town's tailors, cycle to the beach, or join an optional food tour.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  5. Day 5 · Hai Van Pass, Hue, Imperial Citadel Hai Van Pass to Hue

    Drive over the Hai Van Pass, with views down to Lang Co Beach, to Hue, the former imperial capital. Tour the Imperial Citadel, including the remains of the Forbidden Purple City, largely destroyed during the war.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  6. Day 6 · Thien Mu Pagoda, Tomb of Tu Duc Hue by motorbike and the night train

    Ride pillion with your own driver to Thien Mu Pagoda, an active monastery and the symbol of Hue, enjoy a vegetarian lunch at a Buddhist monastery and visit the lakeside tomb of Emperor Tu Duc. In the evening, board the sleeper train to Hanoi.

    Hotel
    Overnight sleeper train
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  7. Day 7 · Hanoi, Temple of Literature, Old Quarter Hanoi

    Arrive in Hanoi early and transfer to the hotel. After some time to rest, visit the Temple of Literature, the One Pillar Pagoda and Ho Chi Minh's stilt house, and walk through the Old Quarter, with free time around Hoan Kiem Lake.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  8. Day 8 · Ha Long Bay, Surprise Cave Ha Long Bay

    Drive to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of emerald water and limestone islands. Cruise the bay, visit Surprise Cave and, in warmer months, kayak or swim. Seafood lunch and dinner are served on board.

    Hotel
    Overnight boat
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  9. Day 9 · Ha Long Bay, Hanoi Back to Hanoi

    Watch the sunrise from the deck, then visit The Green Life centre, which turns waste from the bay into handicrafts. Return to Hanoi for a farewell dinner at KOTO, a restaurant that trains young people for careers in hospitality.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  10. Day 10 · Hanoi Trip ends in Hanoi

    The trip ends after breakfast, and you are free to leave at any time after check-out. Extra nights in Hanoi can be arranged when you book.

    Meals
    Breakfast
A traditional boat on a palm-lined channel of the Mekong Delta

Where you stay

  • Ho Chi Minh City (2 nights) Hotel
  • Hoi An (2 nights) Hotel
  • Hue (1 night) Hotel
  • Hue to Hanoi (1 night) Overnight sleeper train
  • Hanoi (1 night) Hotel
  • Ha Long Bay (1 night) Overnight boat
  • 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 — 9 nights 7 in hotels, 1 on a sleeper train and 1 on a boat in Ha Long Bay
  • Meals 8 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners
  • Flight Ho Chi Minh City to Danang
  • Transport private minibus, the overnight train from Hue to Hanoi and a boat in Ha Long Bay
  • Guided visits the Mekong Delta, Hoi An old town, Hue's Imperial Citadel by motorbike, Thien Mu Pagoda, Tu Duc's tomb, Hanoi's Temple of Literature and Ho Chi Minh's stilt house
  • Local leader throughout

Not included

  • International flights to Ho Chi Minh City and from Hanoi
  • Airport transfers, available on request
  • Vietnam visa
  • Meals not listed and optional activities
  • Single supplement (not available on the train or boat), tips, travel insurance and personal spending
The Meridian Gate of the Imperial City in Hue

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want international flights included — they are not
  • You want upmarket hotels — most are simple two- and three-star
  • You need a private room every night — the train and boat are shared
  • You prefer a slow pace — the trip moves on most days

Good to know

FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam
A pavilion in the Imperial City of Hue, Vietnam

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £950 per person, twin share, tour only. 287 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 is the sleeper train like?

Compartments have four to six berths, with a sheet, pillow and blanket provided. They can be mixed and you may share with other travellers. Many people bring a sleeping-bag liner for comfort.

Do I have to ride the motorbike in Hue?

You ride as a passenger behind your own driver, and helmets are provided. Make sure your travel insurance covers riding pillion on a motorbike up to 125cc.

Is the internal flight included?

Yes. The flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Danang is included, with 20 kg of checked luggage and 7 kg of hand luggage.

Can I have clothes made in Hoi An?

Yes. Hoi An's tailors are famous for making clothes to measure within a few hours. Day 4 is free, so order early to allow time for fittings.

What are the hotels like?

Mostly simple two- and three-star hotels with private bathrooms. Some rooms may lack a window, and double beds are not common in Vietnam.

What meals are included?

8 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners, including lunch in the Mekong Delta, a vegetarian lunch at a monastery in Hue, a seafood dinner in Ha Long Bay and a farewell dinner at KOTO in Hanoi.

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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