Best of Vietnam

20 Days | The ultimate south to north adventure tour of Vietnam

4.9 out of 5 based on 40 reviews submitted.
Explorer
From
EUR €2,070
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Experience quintessential Vietnam on this comprehensive trip from south to north. Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi and experience dynamic cities, tranquil backwaters, imperial ruins, faded colonial elegance and picture-perfect landscapes dotted with reminders of the past. Explore the narrow cobbled streets of Hoi An’s Old Town, encounter local tribes on a hike in the mountains of Da Bac and whizz through the back streets of Hue as you uncover the very best of Vietnam.

Trip overview

Map of Best Of Vietnam including Vietnam
Start
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Finish
Hanoi, Vietnam
Theme
Explorer
Destinations
Vietnam
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Original
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
TVST
This trip generates 56.12 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Experience local life during homestays in the Mekong Delta and Da Bac. Get to know local families, participate in their activities and enjoy a homestyle meal.
  • Travel to both popular and lesser-known destinations in Vietnam, including tourist hotspots like Halong Bay and hidden gems such as Da Bac
  • See Vietnam through an exciting mix of transport, including motorbike, sampan, junk-style boat, bus and train
  • Visit the mind-boggling Phong Nha and Thien Duong Caves. These labyrinthine systems were used to shelter civilians during the Vietnam/American War
  • Spend a day in Hue, touring the city's sights on a motorbike and eating lunch at a serene nunnery
  • Relax in the turquoise waters at Nha Trang and discover local fisherman's life on a boat trip.

Is this trip right for you?
  • During this trip, there will be several long days of travelling and you'll be sitting on a bus for many hours at a time. However, road trips often have the best views, and most private buses feature wi-fi
  • We cover a lot of distance on this trip, including on overnight trains. Accommodation and amenities are shared and basic, but the experience of rubbing shoulders with the locals makes it all worthwhile. For more about what this experience is like, see our blog post here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/what-to-expect-on-an-overnight.
  • This trip involves a lot of walking - on city walking tours, the hike in Da Bac and during included activities. While being on your feet can be a bit tiring, this is the best way to truly get under the skin of a place
  • You'll be spending two nights with local families on this trip, where the accommodation is shared and basic. But this is a great opportunity to connect with the local people (and enjoy delicious home-cooked meals!). Read more about the experiences here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/community-based-tourism-vietnam/
  • Vietnam has an incredibly diverse climate influenced by both tropical monsoons and its range of altitudes and latitudes. Temperatures can vary from a brisk 4°C (39°F) in the northern mountains during winter to a sweltering and humid 36°C (97°F) in Ho Chi Minh City during the middle of the dry season. Please check the weather for the time of year you're travelling in order to pack appropriate clothing - this page may be useful: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/vietnam/weather-in-vietnam

Itinerary

Map of Best Of Vietnam including Vietnam

Inclusions

Meals

17 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners

Transport

Boat, Overnight sleeper train, Private minibus, Taxi, Train

Accommodation

Homestay (3 nights), Hotel (13 nights), Overnight boat (1 night), Overnight sleeper train (2 night)

Activities
  • Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels
  • Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum
  • Ho Chi Minh City - City tour
  • Mekong Delta - Sightseeing Tour
  • Mekong Delta - Guesthouse Dinner
  • Dalat - Garden visit
  • Nha Trang - Nha Trang Bay Boat trip
  • Nha Trang Bay - Island hopping, Fishing Villages & Snorkelling
  • Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
  • Hue - Imperial City Full Day Tour
  • Hue - Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc
  • Hue - Highlights & back streets by motorbike
  • Quang Tri - Vinh Moc Tunnels
  • Quang Tri - Hien Luong Bridge
  • Phong Nha Ke-Bang NP - Thien Duong (Paradise Cave)
  • Phong Nha Ke-Bang National Park - Phong Nha Cave
  • Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex
  • Hanoi - One Pillar Pagoda
  • Hanoi - Old Quarter Walking Tour
  • Da Bac - Sung cave and village tour
  • Da Bac - Homestay Dinner
  • Da Bac - Homestay Lunch
  • Hanoi - Vun Art center visit
  • Da Bac - Da Bia Lunch
  • Da Bac - Sung village to Da Bia hike
  • Hanoi - Water puppet show
  • Halong Bay - Dinner on Boat
  • Halong Bay - Lunch on Boat
Add on activities
  • Ho Chi Minh City - A O show - VND1050000
  • Hoi An - Private Hoi An: Boat & Bike with Local Dinner Experience Urban Adventure - USD85
  • Hoi An - Food Adventure Urban Adventure - USD44
  • Hoi An - Private Hoi An: My Son Discovery - USD77
  • Hanoi - Fine Arts Museum - VND30000
  • Hanoi - Hoa Lo 'Hanoi Hilton' Prison - VND50000
  • Hanoi - Temple of Literature - VND70000
  • Hanoi - Women's Museum - VND30000
  • Hanoi - Army Museum - VND20000
  • Hanoi - Street Food Experience Urban Adventure - USD40

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for train tickets. Fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases, you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes days 3, 16 (homestays), days 8, 14 (overnight trains), and Days 18 (overnight boat) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 based on 40 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Karin · Traveled February 2024
Die Reise war sehr interessant, gut organisiert und unser Guide war ausgezeichnet.
Review submitted 26 Feb 2024

Lynne · Traveled February 2024
Fantastic leader but the itinerary needs reviewing as it's not particularly intrepid.
Review submitted 27 Feb 2024

Ann · Traveled January 2024
I realy enjoy my Intripid tour. 21 days of visiting Vietnam. We say the city's, the country side, homestays. A very good cross section of what the country had to offer. Our leader was fantastic and helped make the holiday so enjoyable.
Review submitted 14 Feb 2024

SONYA · Traveled January 2024
We had a wonderful time in Vietnam. Our tour guide Binh was the best!! He was truly caring for the group, very knowledgeable and resourceful. This tour really deserves to be called the "Best of Vietnam". I feel that this trip allowed us to see all the beautiful colors and sceneries that this country has to offer. It not only gives us the chance to see all the beauties of the country, but it also shows its not so pretty past with its lessons and accomplishments. Vietnam is a fascinating country filled with kind and respectful people. You will love it!!
Review submitted 13 Feb 2024

Michael · Traveled January 2024
I would like to discuss this with you before writing anything.
Review submitted 13 Feb 2024
Best of Vietnam
From
EUR €2,070