Classic Vietnam: Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City
Experience Overview
Sail through limestone karsts aboard a traditional junk boat and walk the streets of imperial capitals. From vibrant Hanoi, the natural beauty of Halong Bay, the atmospheric imperial capital of Huế, and the charms of Hoi An to the modern day life of Saigon, experience the energy of Vietnam in 10 jam-packed days. An experienced Chief Experience Officer will lead you to must-see highlights with time in between to do your own thing.
Highlights
- Experience bustling Hanoi
- Sail on a junk boat through Halong Bay
- Shop in romantic Hoi An
- Squeeze through the Cu Chi tunnels
- Sip Vietnamese iced coffee
- People-watch in hectic Ho Chi Minh City.
Trip Details
Product Code: 1630
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Budget
Transport: Train, air-conditioned bus, boat, plane.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Budget
Tour Operator:
G Adventures
Supplier Code: AVCH
Starts: Hanoi, Vietnam
Finishes: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Duration: 10 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Light
Includes
Activities
- Your G for Good Moment: Oodles of Noodles, Hoi An Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your Discover Moment: Hoi An
- Free time in Hanoi
- Halong Bay caves entrance
- Halong Bay boat cruise with seafood lunch and dinner
- Thien Mu Pagoda Visit
- Imperial Citadel and Royal Tombs
- Free time in Hoi An
- Oodles of Noodles experience
- Cu Chi Tunnels guided tour
- Free time in Ho Chi Minh City
- Internal flight
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hotels (7 nts), sleeper train (1 nt), junk boat (1 nt).
- 8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 dinner
Transport
- Train, air-conditioned bus, boat, plane.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $1,202 ($120 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi
Arrive at any time.
There are no planned activities today until an evening welcome meeting. After the meeting, opt for dinner out with the group.
Day 2: Hanoi/Ha Long
Enjoy a Ha Long Bay cruise on a junk boat with visits to a cave and an island lookout. Savour a seafood lunch and dinner.
Drive to Bai Chay harbour, the jumping off point for Ha Long Bay. Thousands of islands with intricate cave systems rise dramatically from the waters. Sail past limestone karst mountains in the junk boat and stop to visit some of the islands and caves.
In the evening, devour a seafood dinner, then opt to enjoy a drink on deck under the stars.
Day 3: Ha Long/Huế
Enjoy breakfast and lunch on board before sailing back to the port and return to Hanoi. Enjoy some time in the city before an overnight train to Hue.
Interested in local cuisine? Opt to pre-book the "Hanoi Foodie Culture Tour" activity on the checkout page to include this optional on your tour.
Day 4: Huế
Guided tour of the Imperial Citadel, Royal Tomb and Tien Mu Pagoda.
Arrive early to Hue, once the imperial capital of Vietnam. Start the day with a visit to the Tien Mu Pagoda followed by a visit to the tomb of one of Vietnam's former emperors. After, opt for a vegetarian lunch at a local nunnery.
While in the city, 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). Wash it all down with a Hue beer.
Opt to pre-book the "Hue Motorbike Tour" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.
Day 5: Huế/Hoi An
Drive the Hai Van pass. Take advantage of Hoi An's many options over the 2.5 days in town. Opt for a cooking class, riverboat trip, bike ride, beach time, tailor visit or My Son ruins.
Cross the Hai Van Pass (weather permitting), with fantastic views in all directions, before arriving to Hoi An in the afternoon.
With three nights here, there's plenty of time to explore all this charming town has to offer.
Day 6: Hoi An
Explore all Hoi An has to offer. Dive into the culture, hang out on the beach or get clothes tailor-made in one of the many shops around town. Enjoy a noodle making demonstration and lunch at Oodles of Noodles, a G Adventures-supported project.
Day 7: Hoi An
Spend a free day exploring all Hoi An has to offer.
Day 8: Hoi An/Ho Chi Minh City
Fly from Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City with free time to explore this hectic city.
Drive to Da Nang for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City, once the capital of South Vietnam and the country's commercial centre. Start exploring the small alleys and busy streets, keeping an eye out for laquerware shops and delicious local food stalls.
Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City
Enjoy a guided tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels and learn more about the Vietnam War. Use free time in the afternoon to explore sprawling Ho Chi Minh City.
With some free time in the city, opt to visit the Thien Hau and Giac Vien pagodas and stroll through the immense Ben Thanh Market. Also well worth a visit are the Reunification Palace (the residence of South Vietnam presidents before 1975), the city's Chinese quarter of Cholon, and the War Remnants Museum.
Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City
Depart at any time.
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Sara G. - Traveled, November 2023
Variety of destinations, tour guide
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/31/2023
Lavinia B. - Traveled, November 2023
Takes the hassle out of Travel
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/31/2023
Taraneh Y. - Traveled, November 2023
I could not fault the experience at all. From my initial communications with G Adventures to the last day Dang calling a taxi for us back to Hanoi. Every bit was wonderful and thoughtful
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/31/2023
Aoibhinn F. - Traveled, November 2023
Good service and good value
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
William C. - Traveled, November 2023
Good itinerary
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Volha D. - Traveled, November 2023
The tour was great, and I really loved and enjoyed it! Nevertheless I would see some points, which could be improved by the time spent in different cities.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/29/2023
Lorena L. - Traveled, November 2023
The trip covers all the major site in Vietnam allowing freedom to explore alone or in the group. Like the different transportation method, and experience
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/29/2023
Qaisar S. - Traveled, November 2023
I didn't enjoy the experiences as much as the first G Adventures tour I did hence not sure I will do another 1
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/28/2023
Georgia C. - Traveled, November 2023
This tour was good and we loved every second but I feel there could have been more information given to us around each city
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/28/2023
Juliet G. - Traveled, November 2023
Brilliant CEO, great itinerary, well organized, high standard of accommodation.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/27/2023
Brett G. - Traveled, November 2023
Good balance of travel, experiences and free time in the itinerary.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/26/2023
James G. - Traveled, November 2023
This was so easy to book, and conveniently started everyday of the year!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/26/2023
Maria Carla B. - Traveled, November 2023
Chenda Sor was an amazing CEO and it was all perfectly organize/explain. I think the whole group had an amazing time.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/24/2023
Rajeev D. - Traveled, November 2023
I travelled with my young son and felt that G Adventures provided a structured series of events to help us maximize the time we had on our trip in seeing various attractions. You took the guesswork out of it.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/24/2023
Emily H. - Traveled, November 2023
It is such a brilliant way to travel and we loved the layout and everywhere we stayed
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/23/2023
Darren T. - Traveled, November 2023
Nothing negative to say, only praise.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/23/2023
Catherine H. - Traveled, November 2023
Well organized action packed trip with huge amounts of knowledge and consideration put into every part of the trip. Our tour guide (CEO) was beyond helpful to ensure we had the best experience.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/23/2023
Ansuya M. - Traveled, November 2023
The quality of trip was excellent Our tour guide made sure everyone was looked after and attended too The transport was not an issue Everything was planed in an orderly fashion
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/22/2023
Robert E. - Traveled, November 2023
As the result of my own experience in Vietnam
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/22/2023
Jackman C. - Traveled, November 2023
Informative local guide, see/visit a lot of places. Lots of great planned and option activities.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/22/2023
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