Classic Vietnam

15 Days | Discover the cultural charm, fresh food and dramatic landscapes of Vietnam

5 out of 5 based on 224 reviews submitted.
Explorer
From
GBP £1,470

From south to north, Vietnam is a kaleidoscope of welcoming locals,
varied cuisine and diverse landscapes. Unlock the mysteries of the
Viet Minh in Ho Chi Minh City, explore the beautiful lakes and
boulevards of Hanoi, mingle with the locals while staying at a
Mekong Delta guesthouse, float to sleep on a traditional junk boat in
Halong Bay, and eat breakfast the local way in Hue. Experience
historical temples, laze on the spectacular coastline, gorge on
delicious banquets and explore lively cities – all with a touch of
comfort – on this 15-day Classic Vietnam adventure.

Trip overview

Map of Classic 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
Comfort
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
TVKT
This trip generates 106 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 living like a local with a night in a locally run guesthouse in the Mekong Delta, with friendly hosts and delicious homecooked meals.
  • Discover the bustling centres of Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City – these diverse cities are a fascinating mix of ancient culture and new-age cityscapes, and you’ll get the chance to visit all the most iconic spots.
  • Feast on the mouth-watering, fresh delights of Vietnam. From slurping traditional bun bo Hue and digging into a vegetarian feast at a local nunnery, to enjoying a home-cooked lunch with locals in Ninh Binh – the food of Vietnam is definitely a highlight!
  • Spend a night on a traditional junk sailing boat in UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay, surrounded by limestone karsts and turquoise waters.
  • Visit Save Vietnam Wildlife, an Intrepid Foundation supported NGO focusing on the rescue, rehabilitation and release of Vietnam's endangered wildlife.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll learn about our Intrepid Foundation partner, Save Vietnam's Wildlife. Donations help them provide support for endangered wildlife and protect critical animal habitats in Vietnam. Intrepid will double your impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Is this trip right for you?
  • While the pace is generally easy, there is some walking involved on this trip, with walking tours in the downtown areas of each city, as well as a walk in the caves at Ha Long Bay.
  • At the guesthouse in the Mekong Delta, we stay in more basic accommodation than other destinations on the trip. Amenities are shared and may have cold water only.
  • Lunar New Year is an annual festival that runs for several days. This is a fascinating and rewarding time to see the country, however you do need to be prepared for some businesses to be closed, tourist sites to be very busy and for transport to be packed as many locals are travelling around the country. Please consider this when selecting your travel dates. You’ll find dates and further information in the ‘Climate and seasonal information’ section of the Essential Trip Information.
  • Depending on where you come from, the weather in Vietnam might be hotter and more humid than what you are used to. We recommend checking online for what the typical temperatures will be at the time of the year you are looking to travel to see what to expect - this page might be useful: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/vietnam/weather-in-vietnam

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024

Itinerary

Map of Classic Vietnam including Vietnam

Inclusions

Meals

14 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 4 dinners

Transport

Boat, Plane, Private vehicle, Taxi

Accommodation

Guesthouse (1 night), Hotel (12 nights), Overnight boat (1 night)

Activities
  • Complimentary Arrival Transfer
  • Ho Chi Minh City - Welcome Dinner
  • Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels
  • Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum
  • Mekong Delta - Boat cruise with visits to local producers
  • Mekong Delta - Home-cooked lunch
  • Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
  • Hue - Imperial City entrance and guided visit
  • Hue - Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc
  • Hue - Thien Mu Pagoda
  • Hue - Vegetarian lunch at a Buddhist nunnery
  • Hanoi - KOTO lunch
  • Hanoi - One Pillar Pagoda & HCM stilt house
  • Hanoi - Temple of Literature
  • Ninh Binh - Hoa Lu
  • Ninh Binh - Home Cooked Lunch
  • Cuc Phuong National Park - Save Vietnam's Wildlife visit
  • Ninh Binh - Thung Nham Ecotourism Zone
  • Halong Bay - Overnight Boat Cruise
  • Hanoi - Old Quarter Tour
  • Hanoi - Local water puppet performance
Optional activities
  • Hoi An - Food Adventure Urban Adventure - USD44
  • Hoi An - Private Hoi An: Boat & Bike with Local Dinner Experience Urban Adventure - USD85
  • Hoi An - Private Hoi An: My Son Discovery - USD77
  • Ninh Binh - Visit to Mua Cave - VND100000
  • Halong Bay - Kayaking Tour - VND250000
  • Hanoi - Fine Arts Museum - VND30000
  • Hanoi - Hoa Lo 'Hanoi Hilton' Prison - VND50000
  • Hanoi - Museum of Ethnology - VND40000
  • Hanoi - Street Food Experience Urban Adventure - USD29

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 3 (Guesthouse) and Day 13 (Boat) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
3. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for train and flight tickets. Ticketing 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 a new ticket.
4. This trip includes domestic flights as indicated on the trip map. The luggage allowance is 20kg for check in luggage and 7kg for carry on.

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

5 out of 5 based on 224 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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Laura · Traveled September 2024
Review submitted 11 Oct 2024

John · Traveled September 2024
Review submitted 13 Oct 2024

Angela · Traveled September 2024
Review submitted 14 Oct 2024

teresa · Traveled September 2024
Review submitted 16 Oct 2024

Mary · Traveled September 2024
Review submitted 05 Oct 2024
Classic Vietnam
From
GBP £1,470