Best of Vietnam image
Operated by G Adventures

Best of Vietnam

From
Price on request
Duration
15 days
Countries
Vietnam
Activity
easy

The adventure

From the intensity of Ho Chi Minh City's streets to spectacular rice terraces, travel the length of Vietnam and savour its natural, cultural, and historical delights. Meet the Hmong people and other minority villagers on a hilltribe excursion and sail into the photographic possibilities of beautiful Halong Bay. With the services of a Chief Experience Officer (CEO) and your accommodation and transport taken care of, this trip offers great value as it introduces the region’s main sights, providing plenty of flexibility so you can experience an adventure you'll never forget.

At a glance

Duration
15 days
Route
Hanoi → Ho Chi Minh City
Countries
Vietnam
Activity level
easy
Style
Beach & Islands, Culture & History, Cycling, Food & Drink, Local Living & Homestays, Rail Journeys, Sailing & Marine, Trekking & Hiking
Group size
Ask
Flights
Not included
Solo travellers
Welcome

Where you'll go

Best of Vietnam image

Day by day

Side view of anonymous male fisher in oriental boat fishing in rippled lake against old construction and mountain
Your journey through

Vietnam

Day 1Arrival dayArrivalArrive in bustling Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. As passengers will be arriving at various times today, there are no planned activities. Take a walk through Hanoi's Old Quarter, visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu) or Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and Museum. Please note that most nationalities requires a visa to enter Vietnam, please double check this with your travel agent or local Vietnamese Embassy.
Arrive in bustling Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. As passengers will be arriving at various times today, there are no planned activities. Take a walk through Hanoi's Old Quarter, visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu) or Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and Museum. Please note that most nationalities requires a visa to enter Vietnam, please double check this with your travel agent or local Vietnamese Embassy.
Day 2Enjoy the water puppets showExplore the city during the day and in the evening attend a performance at the famous Water Puppet Theatre before boarding our overnight train to Lao Cai, en route to Sapa.
Explore the city during the day and in the evening attend a performance at the famous Water Puppet Theatre before boarding our overnight train to Lao Cai, en route to Sapa.
Day 3Arrive in SapaAfter arriving in Lao Cai in the morning, we transfer to Sapa. An afternoon excursion takes us to the village of Ta Phin, before returning to Sapa in the early evening.
After arriving in Lao Cai in the morning, we transfer to Sapa. An afternoon excursion takes us to the village of Ta Phin, before returning to Sapa in the early evening.
Day 4Hilltribe village visitTake a moderate trek through the Muong Hoa River valley. Stop at Lao Chai village for lunch and on to the Ta Vinh village for a homestay.
Take a moderate trek through the Muong Hoa River valley. Stop at Lao Chai village for lunch and on to the Ta Vinh village for a homestay.
Day 5Return to Sapa after breakfast with host familyHanoiAfter breakfast, say goodbye to the host family and walk to a nearby village where we board a bus to take us back to Sapa and then onward to Hanoi for the night.
Street vendor with a bicycle in the urban market of Hanoi, Vietnam.Hanoi
After breakfast, say goodbye to the host family and walk to a nearby village where we board a bus to take us back to Sapa and then onward to Hanoi for the night.
Map showing Hanoi
Day 6Drive to Halong Bay for an overnight cruise…Our private bus takes us to Bai Chay harbour, our entry point to Halong Bay. Our sailing junk takes you to some islands and caves. You could enjoy an evening drink on the deck beneath the stars.
Tranquil sunset over Halong Bay, Vietnam with silhouette of limestone islands.Halong Bay
Our private bus takes us to Bai Chay harbour, our entry point to Halong Bay. Our sailing junk takes you to some islands and caves. You could enjoy an evening drink on the deck beneath the stars.
Map showing Halong Bay
Day 7Breakfast aboard our junk boatHanoiAfter an early lunch on board the boat we head back to Hanoi. You have enough time for shopping or further sightseeing until our overnight train to Hue.
Street vendor with a bicycle in the urban market of Hanoi, Vietnam.Hanoi
After an early lunch on board the boat we head back to Hanoi. You have enough time for shopping or further sightseeing until our overnight train to Hue.
Map showing Hanoi
Day 8Included tour of Tien Mu Pagoda and the Royal TombsWe arrive early into Hue, once the imperial capital of Vietnam. After checking in to our hotel, we have a tour of Hue, visiting the wonderful seven storey high Tien Mu Pagoda and also an imperial tomb of one of Vietnam’s former emperors. In the evening, you have the chance to try some local Hue specialties such as banh khoai (Hue savoury pancakes), and banh bot loc boc tom thit (thin rice paper filled with meat and shrimp). You might want to wash it all down with a Hue beer. Yum! Opt to pre-book the "Hue Motorbike Tour" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.
We arrive early into Hue, once the imperial capital of Vietnam. After checking in to our hotel, we have a tour of Hue, visiting the wonderful seven storey high Tien Mu Pagoda and also an imperial tomb of one of Vietnam’s former emperors. In the evening, you have the chance to try some local Hue specialties such as banh khoai (Hue savoury pancakes), and banh bot loc boc tom thit (thin rice paper filled with meat and shrimp). You might want to wash it all down with a Hue beer. Yum! Opt to pre-book the "Hue Motorbike Tour" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.
Day 9Travel the scenic Hai Van Pass (weather permitting)…This morning we’ll start our day touring the wonderful ruins of the Imperial Citadel, from where Vietnam was once ruled. In the late morning we begin our drive to Hoi An. After crossing over the Hai Van Pass, with fantastic views in all directions, we will arrive in Hoi An in the afternoon for our three-night stay.
This morning we’ll start our day touring the wonderful ruins of the Imperial Citadel, from where Vietnam was once ruled. In the late morning we begin our drive to Hoi An. After crossing over the Hai Van Pass, with fantastic views in all directions, we will arrive in Hoi An in the afternoon for our three-night stay.
Day 10Enjoy a noodle making demonstration and lunch…
Enjoy a noodle making demonstration and lunch at Oodles of Noodles, a G Adventures-supported project. Afterwards enjoy free time, options include a cooking class, shopping at the tailors, riverboat cruise, bike riding, beach time or My Son ruins.
Day 11Use a full free day to explore more of this charming town
Use a full free day to explore more of this charming town.
Day 12Fly to Ho Chi Minh City and opt…Drive to Danang for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City, the sprawling metropolis that was once the capital of South Vietnam and remains the country’s commercial center. The afternoon is free to explore the city.
A bustling street packed with people and a photographer taking pictures.Ho Chi Minh City
Drive to Danang for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City, the sprawling metropolis that was once the capital of South Vietnam and remains the country’s commercial center. The afternoon is free to explore the city.
Map showing Ho Chi Minh City
Day 13Mekong Delta visit
Mekong Delta visit, boat ride and visit to traditional candy factories. Enjoy a local homestay and dinner with a Vietnamese family.
Day 14Option to visit War Remnants MuseumHo Chi Minh CityThis morning we enjoy an included breakfast before taking a boat and bus to return to Ho Chi Minh City. We will arrive in this sprawling city by midday for your chance to explore the many sites you did not get to see earlier. Spend our final night as a group reminiscing over our journey through Vietnam over an optional dinner at a local restaurant. After dinner you may want to enjoy a cocktail while viewing the city traffic from above at the iconic Rex Hotel.
A bustling street packed with people and a photographer taking pictures.Ho Chi Minh City
This morning we enjoy an included breakfast before taking a boat and bus to return to Ho Chi Minh City. We will arrive in this sprawling city by midday for your chance to explore the many sites you did not get to see earlier. Spend our final night as a group reminiscing over our journey through Vietnam over an optional dinner at a local restaurant. After dinner you may want to enjoy a cocktail while viewing the city traffic from above at the iconic Rex Hotel.
Map showing Ho Chi Minh City
Day 15Departure dayDepartureAfter breakfast on Day 15, the tour ends and you are free to depart at any time. Some may continue traveling west through Cambodia with G Adventures. If you are interested in ongoing travel in Cambodia and Thailand have a look at the following trip on our website: Cambodia Experience http://www.gadventures.com/trips/cambodia-experience/AVCW/2012/
After breakfast on Day 15, the tour ends and you are free to depart at any time. Some may continue traveling west through Cambodia with G Adventures. If you are interested in ongoing travel in Cambodia and Thailand have a look at the following trip on our website: Cambodia Experience http://www.gadventures.com/trips/cambodia-experience/AVCW/2012/

Traveller reviews

This trip by far exceeded anything I thought it would be. It was great to meet people from around the world and to have enough freedom in each place to do what you liked but with just enough structure to make it hassle free.
Aparna was awesome. Very professional and made everyone feel welcome and part of the group. Accomodations were great, especially in Halong Bay on the Junk.
A wide range of activities, an excellent tour guide, beautiful scenery, wonderful people, overall a fabulous trip!

Discover Vietnam

A glimpse of the destination you'll explore.

Serene landscape in Ninh Bình, Vietnam featuring grazing buffalo in lush rice fields.
Stunning aerial shot of lush green terraced rice fields with mountains in the background.
Breathtaking landscape view of a city nestled between lush mountains and the coastline, captured in daylight.
Aerial view of karst mountains with villages and river in a rural landscape.
Picturesque scenery of green hills with wooden houses placed among rice plantations located in countryside in daytime
Operated by G Adventures

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