12 Days Vietnam Experience - without Ha Giang Loop

The one that brings you the best of Vietnam, from colourful cities to epic natural wonders

Looking for the full experience tour of Vietnam? This 12-day Vietnam itinerary takes you through Ho Chi Minh, Hoi An, Hanoi & Halong Bay with plenty of action and highlights to immerse yourself into this enchanting culture. Picture yourself relishing the rice region of Mekong Delta by taking a traditional boat through floating markets & local fruit farms, stopping in exciting & iconic hot spots & popular local foodie haunts for a true Vietnam travel experience.

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DAY 1 START HO CHI MINH CITY

Ho Chi Minh City

Welcome to Ho Chi Minh city, formerly known as Saigon. This is one of Asia's most exhilarating cities, steeped in grand history and post-Vietnam war memories. You'll meet your travel comrades and have a free evening to explore. Oh yes, this is the right way to get your Vietnam trip started.

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DAY 2 HO CHI MINH CITY TO MEKONG DELTA

Ho Chi Minh City

Today we leave Ho Chi Minh City, exchanging fast paced city life for an energy that's a lile more quaint. Such is the contrasting beauty of Vietnam.

Mekong River Delta

Our journey in a traditional boat will prove just how dramatically this river's fringes can vary. We'll see floating markets, visit a rice paper factory and sip some of Vietnam's famous rice whiskey. A home-cooked meal and local musicians will round off our day as we sele in for a night at a local homestay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Included Experiences

- Catch Your Own Dinner

- See artisans at work

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DAY 3 MEKONG DELTA TO HO CHI MINH CITY

Mekong River Delta

After an early breakfast we'll make our way back to Ho Chi Minh City, detouring past Viet Cong’s Cu Chi Tunnels. See traps, hidden doors & some of the 250kms of tunnels that Vietnamese resistance fighters dug by hand, and even go down into the skinny tunnels to experience them first hand in this look into Vietnam's staggering past. 

Ho Chi Minh City

Back in the addictive mayhem of Vietnam's biggest city you will have free time to carry on your explorations. Continuing to eat your way through Vietnam's culinary highlights would be one wise way to use your time (we think).

Meals: Breakfast

Included Experiences

- Crawl through Củ Chi Tunnels

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DAY 4 HO CHI MINH CITY TO NHA TRANG

Ho Chi Minh City

With some traditional R'n'R on our aernoon agenda, the morning can be used to put on our discovering boots. We'll dabble in history and religion before taking flight to a coastal town overlooking the South China Sea.

Nha Trang

Golden sand beaches, turquoise waters and a bustling night life - this is Nha Trang. This aernoon why not book in for a mineral mud bath and hot thermal spring experience before heading out to dinner with your crew. Ah, the good life.

Meals: Breakfast

Included Experiences

- Ho Chi Minh Sightseeing Highlights

- Pay Respects at the War Remnants Museum

- Fly to Nha Trang

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Mud Bath & Hot Springs Experience - Relax with a warm mineral mud bath & hot spring experience in Vietnam's resort town of Nha Trang, which are said to have medicinal and cosmetic qualities. Aerwards, enjoy the heated mineral pools and high pressure water massages.

Adult: 680000.00 VND

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DAY 5 OVERNIGHT TRAIN TO HOI AN

Nha Trang

Good news - we have a whole full day to soak up Nha Trang before heading to Hoi An. Have a massage, sign up for the optional cruise, or just hang on the beach before returning to our hotel to freshen up for our overnight train experience.

Overnight Train to Hoi An

Tonight, we'll head north via our comfy overnight train - where you'll wake up in our next destination and ready to explore it all.

Meals: Breakfast

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Cruise & Swimming Day Trip - This cruise is the perfect way to explore some of the South China Sea & get a good look at Nha Trang & the surrounding islands from the water. Try some snorkelling, jump off the boat into the water or catch some sun on the deck, relax & hang out with your group.

Adult: 840000.00 VND

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DAY 6 HOI AN

Overnight Train to Hoi An

Time to rise and shine. Aer travelling North overnight, you'll be waking up in stunning Hoi An.

Hoi An

With Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and European influences, Hoi An has no shortage of charm and architectural interest. Bike riding through the vibrant town, visiting an ancient house & ordering custom-made clothes at an artful tailor are just some of the activities that will colour our day. Tonight you can opt into a Vietnamese cooking class, whipping up a storm of up to 4 traditional dishes. 

Meals: Breakfast

Included Experiences

- Guided Cycling: Hoi An Ancient Town

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Tasty Vietnamese Cooking Class - With the guidance of a local master chef, learn to cook delicious street food favourites (like spring rolls) & popular Vietnamese family dishes in an old French-style colonial building. Situated in the centre of Hoi An’s UNESCO World Heritage listed Ancient Town. You’ll also get a recipe list so you can keep up your new cooking skills & recipes back home.

Adult: 720000.00 VND

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DAY 7 HOI AN

Hoi An

Morning travellers! The day is all yours. Poke around in galleries & market stalls (the best shopping spots in Vietnam in our opinion) and devour all of the delectable treats on offer. And for a dose of culture, you could ride on one of Vietnam’s very own Bamboo Basket Boats (Yes, the ones that you’ve probably seen on Instagram). And to top it all off, we’ll grab some fresh coconut water straight from the tree to your tummy.

Meals: Breakfast

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Ride the Hand-Made Bamboo Basket Boats - Float (and spin) through the serene Bay Mau Coconut Forest of Vietnam in one of the traditional Bamboo Basket Boats. Sing on the boat. Catch some crabs. Nothing beats a good boating experience.

Adult: 680000.00 VND

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DAY 8 HOI AN TO HANOI VIA DA NANG

Hoi An

Leaving Hoi An will be sad. But we’re heading to Hanoi, so there’s hardly an excuse to not be excited. We’ll grab a quick breakfast and head to Da Nang…

Da Nang

Fasten your seatbelts, folks. We’ll catch our internal flight to Hanoi from this quaint coastal town.

Hanoi

Welcome to the city where all the bustling magic happens! We bet you’re starving from all that travel. That’s why we’ll head straight to the KOTO restaurant - a unique dining experience that supports disadvantaged youth in Vietnam. And with our tummies happy and full, we’ll visit the Temple of Literature (AKA Vietnam’s first-ever university.) But the sight-seeing doesn’t end there. It’s time to make our way to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, dedicated to a Vietnamese revolutionary leader. In the evening, you’re free to explore the capital however you like.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Included Experiences

- Included Flight Da Nang to Hanoi

- Get a Unique Dining Experience at KOTO Restaurant MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience

- Learn at the Temple of Literature

- See the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

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DAY 9 HANOI TO NINH BINH

Hanoi

Next up, we’re heading to the epicentre of Vietnam's show-stopping natural beauty.

Ninh Binh

Do you see them? Those lovely landscapes are all yours to admire and explore today. Get inside Vietnam’s legendary army jeep and let’s get going. Spend the day cherishing the crisp air and greenery. And if you love bird-watching, make sure to have your binoculars ready at all times.

Meals: Breakfast

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Tour Ninh Binh in the Legendary Vietnamese Army Jeep - Scrape through the landscapes of Ninh Binh on the Vietnam Army UAZ469 Jeep – a significant car used during the Vietnam war.

Adult: 700000.00 VND

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DAY 10 NINH BINH TO HALONG BAY

Ninh Binh

Up and about at the crack of dawn today! We’re climbing up 500 steps to the top of the Mua Cave to witness an incredible sunrise over the valley. (You certainly don’t wanna forget your camera for this one).

Halong Bay

A drive through stunning scenery will evoke plenty of 'oh wow's', but it only gets beer as we board our home for the night, a Chinese-style junk boat in Halong Bay. Feel the serenity kicking in immediately as we dri the limestone island seas of the Gulf of Tonkin. We’ll pass hidden lagoons, thick forests & dreamy groos and also chill atop the Ti Top Island. A fresh seafood dinner and sunset at our docking spot will polish off a wonderful day packed with unforgeable moments and experiences.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Included Experiences

- Catch a Serene Sunrise at the Mua Cave

- Chill at Ti Top Island

- Stay on a Junk Boat

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Kayaking on Halong Bay - Cruise through caves, glide along the glass-like waters & maybe even stop at a secluded beach to explore. No strenuous Olympic level activity here, just you & the serenity of the bay. Excursions last for about one hour.

Adult: 320000.00 VND

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DAY 11 HALONG BAY TO HANOI

Halong Bay

Today will be all about the leisurely vibes as we wake up to breakfast with a quick stop to explore the Sung Sot Caves. Make the most of your time on the junk boat - the views don't get much beer than this.

Hanoi

Aer heading back to Hanoi we find ourselves enjoying our final night together on tour. Save the choir of tears for tomorrow - this evening is all about making the most of your free time and staying positive so why not join us for one last family dinner and then onto Ta Hien to dance the night away.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Included Experiences

- Stroll around the Sung Sot Caves

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DAY 12 HANOI

Hanoi

Enjoy one final breakfast with the squad this morning before this epic Vietnam trip wraps up. Hug it out & make plans to reunite sometimes soon - Latin America perhaps?

Meals: Breakfast