Vietnam Experience
Experience Overview
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.
Highlights
- Dining Summary: 11 Breakfast (B),4 Lunch (L),2 Dinner (D)
- FAQs: Bangkok: What does a modular trip mean? A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations. There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers.,Danang: Do I need a visa to enter Vietnam? Your visa requirements can change according to your citizenship (and also according to the length and purpose of your visit). Generally, most of our travellers need to apply for an e-visa prior to arrival in Vietnam. But we always recommend that you check out our visa guide for accurate information.,Danang: What is the best time to visit Vietnam? Vietnam is wonderful to visit year-round. But the best time to visit depends on what you wanna do, and where in Vietnam you wanna go.Generally, April & May are thought to be the best months to visit Vietnam because of the beautifully bright weather. Between December and March is a slightly cooler period. So if hiking, or city-dwelling is what you want, that’s the best time to visit. And if you wanna avoid the crowds, off-season tends to be between April and June or September to November.,Danang: What is the currency used in Vietnam? The currency used in Vietnam (that can buy you a wholesome, delicious bowl of Pho) is the Vietnamese dong (₫).,Danang: What is the local food like in Vietnam? Planning to visit Vietnam to taste all the wholesome flavours? Aren’t we all?You’ll find plenty of street food stop-offs, serving up freshly made gems including rice, noodle and battered pancake-based dishes, plus the world-famous Pho. Pork is a common feature of Vietnamese cuisine. Generally, Vietnamese food isn’t too spicy (except if your dish has fresh chillies in it!) Oh, and the best thing about the food here? It’s very very cheap.,Danang: How much money should I budget for on this trip? When you travel with Contiki, your accommodation, in-country transport and breakfasts are all included with the cost of your trip. So when it comes to budgeting, you only need to worry about your shopping! Luckily, Vietnam is heralded as an extremely affordable tourist destination too. As a rough guide, you should easily get by on US $50-80 a day.,Danang: What should I wear in Vietnam? We’ll be visiting some traditional tourist hotspots - so don’t forget to keep your shoulders covered (it's customary in Vietnam, and will probably be insisted). For all that beach exploration, it’s generally acceptable for tourists to dress in the swimwear of their choice.Vietnam tends to get very hot & humid, so make sure you pack lots of loose-fitting clothes made from a lightweight and breathable material. Big up the baggy shirts!,Danang: What is the etiquette for tipping in Vietnam? Tipping is pretty common in Vietnam’s tourism and hospitality sectors. Usually you’ll pay 10% of the total bill, which will amount to roughly $1-5.,Danang: Where multiple optionals are offered in one day, can I do them all or do I have to pick just one? On some days, the Free Time Add-Ons will be during different times. So you’ll be able to do them all! But on some days, you might have to pick just one. Don’t worry, your Trip Manager will do their best to manage all of this for you, and will be able to give you all the details you might need.,Danang: What are the luggage restrictions? You can bring one bag or suitcase of 73cm x 50cm x 25cm (29” x 20” x 10”), with a max weight of 20kg (44lbs) – plus one piece of hand luggage suitable as a carry-on for flights. Since our trips have included flights, your luggage needs to meet the weight & security restrictions imposed by airlines. On this trip, it’s necessary to use an overnight bag on the occasional nights when it’s not possible to access your luggage (overnight trips to Special Stays). It’s a good idea to bring an overnight bag, or hand luggage that’s big enough to double up as an overnighter when needed.,Danang: Do we visit the Golden Hands Bridge in Da Nang? Currently, the Golden Hands Bridge isn’t included on our itinerary. But that means, you get a free day to explore Hoi An - which you REALLY don’t wanna miss out on.The Bridge is part of a theme park called ‘Sun World Ba Na Hills’ and is about a 2-hour drive away from where we stay in Hoi An (and tends to be incredibly crowded!). But if you really wanna visit the bridge, you can always ask your Trip Manager who’ll sort it out for you!
- Included Experience: Mekong River Delta: Grab your buddies and take a shot at catching an elephant ear fish for dinner. FYI: it tastes better than it looks.,Mekong River Delta: Watch and learn as local craftspeople make rice wine, tea, sweets and more local delicacies.,Ho Chi Minh City: Brave this subterranean world. The hand-dug tunnels were built by the Viet Cong to hide out during the war.,Ho Chi Minh City: Tick off all of the landmarks on your bucket list – Notre Dame Cathedral, General Post Office and the Presidential Palace.,Ho Chi Minh City: A meaningful reminder of the atrocities of the Vietnam War and its impact on local people and wildlife.,Ho Chi Minh City: Passports at the ready folks.,Hoi An: This 15th century port and UNESCO site is best explored on two wheels with a local expert. Don’t forget your Go-Pro!,Da Nang: Next stop, Hanoi. But before we hit the streets, it’s time to hit the sky one more time.,Hanoi: Gorge on a delicious, high-quality meal crafted by trainees looking to fine-tune their hospitality skills. The KOTO Community provides guidance, training and career prospects to the underprivileged young people of Vietnam.,Hanoi: Listen up culture-lovers. This shrine – dedicated to ancient philosopher Confucius – is known as ‘Vietnam’s first university’.,Hanoi: Take a look at the resting place of Vietnamese revolutionary leader and President Ho Chi Minh. This is where he, along with his party, declared the independence of Vietnam.,Ninh Binh: Cool tropical breeze. Lush-green landscapes. And an unforgettable view of the sunrise over the shimmery silhouette.,Halong Bay: Grab your new BFFs and hang out in this mini paradise. The powdery sand and turquoise waters will bless you with #islandvibes,Halong Bay: The best way to drift off into dreamy sleep? Drifting along the Gulf of Tonkin in a traditional Chinese-style Junk Boat, of course!,Halong Bay: Yet another work of art from Mother Nature. These huge underground caves are made for exploring. But can you spot the ‘mammoth’?
Trip Details
Product Code: 17118
Tour Type:
Accommodation: Budget
Transport:
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
18 - 35 Year Olds Only
Tour Operator:
Contiki (CA)
Supplier Code: 169.372B
Starts: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Finishes: Hanoi, Vietnam
Duration: 12 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $2,424 ($202 /day)
Itinerary
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.
Today we leave Ho Chi Minh City, exchanging fast paced city life for an energy that's a little more quaint. Such is the contrasting beauty of Vietnam. 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 settle in for a night at a local homestay.
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. 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).
With some traditional R'n'R on our afternoon 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. Golden sand beaches, turquoise waters and a bustling night life - this is Nha Trang. This afternoon 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.
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. 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.
Time to rise and shine. After travelling North overnight, you'll be waking up in stunning 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.
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.
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… Fasten your seatbelts, folks. We’ll catch our internal flight to Hanoi from this quaint coastal town. 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.
Next up, we’re heading to the epicentre of Vietnam's show-stopping natural beauty. 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.
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). A drive through stunning scenery will evoke plenty of 'oh wow's', but it only gets better as we board our home for the night, a Chinese-style junk boat in Halong Bay. Feel the serenity kicking in immediately as we drift the limestone island seas of the Gulf of Tonkin. We’ll pass hidden lagoons, thick forests & dreamy grottos 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 unforgettable moments and experiences.
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 better than this. After 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.
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?
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Contiki (CA)
Contiki is a New Zealand-based tour company that caters to 18 to 35-year-olds, offering over 350 different tours in over 75 countries in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, North America, South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.[1] It is a subsidiary of The Travel Corporation. Its tours historically had a reputation for partying;[2][3] however, it also operates wellness trips culturally immersive experiences that focus less on alcohol, which are more popular with Generation Z.[4] The company owns lodging facilities in Europe, including the Chateau De Cruix, a 16th century castle in the Beaujolais wine region, and the Gasthof Schoneck in the Austrian Tyrol. The name "Contiki" comes from the portmanteau 'Con' from the word 'Continent' and 'Tiki'; from the Māori referring to the first man, often symbolised as a pendant known as hei-tiki. It can also be attributed to the New Zealand slang 'Tiki-tour' describing taking a longer route to a destination in order to explore.[5]
In Business Since 1931
Reviews
Elton - Traveled, June 2024
The trip was amazing. Had the best time in Vietnam. The tour guide smithy was the best. He had a great balance of fun and also being serious when necessary. Would highly recommend smithy as the tour guide for Vietnam. The song choice where we played it everyday was a great decision as it gives lots of memories of the trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/10/2024
Lucy - Traveled, April 2024
Our contiki guide Smithy made the Vietnam Experience tour so enjoyable and relaxing for us. He was super organised and fun which allowed us to fully take in all Vietnam had to offer.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/10/2024
James - Traveled, April 2024
My overall experience was incredible, the trip was amazing and I enjoyed every minute of it! Our guide Rhi was so good and made my trip even better - she is so knowledgeable, fun and is so approachable! I would 100% recommend the Vietnam Experience and our guide Rhi :)
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/14/2024
Liam - Traveled, July 2024
The heart, the soul, the brains and the beauty of the trip was Rhi. Rhi could have taken us on a tour of the seventh circle of Hell and we - and I can confidently speak for everyone else - would have told everyone that Hell is the place to be, the place to go, provided that Rhi was there. Vietnam was beautiful and this tour was wonderful - blind Freddy could tell you that. But I cannot explain to you, kind internet reader, just how quintessential Rhi was to this trip being something that I will tell my great-grandchildren about in my Alzheimer's-induced revelries. Rhi had a rapport and a vibe with each and every one of us, a kind of older sister confidant that made you wish you had an older sister if you never had one. I never, ever ONCE saw her lose her [Removed in Moderation] or get frustrated or not know what the go was - she was the ultimate professional but you didn't even realise because she made it look that easy - like a butler with a [Removed in Moderation], she was the time, she was the place, she was the moment! It sounds like I'm a paid-up AI writing this review, but I just have to stress this: if you are on Contiki and Rhi is your trip manager, don't bother buying a lottery ticket - YOU'VE ALREADY WON. Practically speaking (which I never do)? You will never feel safer in a country where you don't speak the language. You will never feel more relaxed in a country with rather relaxed driving laws. Everyone from Contiki said it when we were on Contiki and we all say it now: it doesn't matter where we are, but we would follow Rhi all around the globe. Can't wait til our next adventure! Book the trip, take the ride - as long as it's with Rhi!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/04/2024
Kendra - Traveled, November 2020
Rhi made my trip traveling through Vietnam beyond amazing! Having a fun trip manager who is very skilled at their job but also makes you feel like a friend completely enhances the time abroad. My fondest memories of our trip usually include Rhi. Vietnam was the best trip I've ever done hands down.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/23/2024
Zahra - Traveled, July 2023
Best group tour ever!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/12/2023
Gabriela - Traveled, March 2023
If you want to have fun and also get the cultural side of each place, this is the right tour!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/11/2023
Kai - Traveled, January 2020
Great trip, we got to see a lot of Vietnam in a short space of time
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/13/2020
Adamjessup - Traveled, December 2019
Great tour guide,very helpful and a top bloke
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/05/2020
Charlottedurant - Traveled, September 2019
Fantastic, Elle brought the trip to life with great knowledge of the local areas we travelled through. I can’t wait to go on another tour with Elle
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/22/2019
ShelbyMicallef - Traveled, February 2019
Ele was an incredible tour leader. Her enthusiasm, positivity and love for Vietnam really came through. A tour leader really influences the overall experience of a group tour. Can’t say anything but great things about Ele!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/21/2019
BrockFisher - Traveled, May 2018
Vietnam was amazing! In the 2-3 weeks I was there we covered so much. I’ll never forget the street food, Halong bay, mud fishing, riding around Hoi An... the list goes on! I will be going back one day! All this wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing trip manager Elle! She puts so much passion and energy into her job, she really loves Asia and is very well educated about everything. Elle makes it her number 1 priority for everyone to have fun and make the most of their trip. You can ask her anything at anytime and she will make sure to help! She’s not just a serious trip manager though... she still loves to come out and party with everyone! If Elle wasn’t announcing her custom colourful co-ordinated day sheet everyday, you think she’d be one of the travellers with you! I will never forget this trip and I can’t wait to go back!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/21/2019
Cameron - Traveled, October 2019
Very enjoyable tour, exceptionally well led and organised, and managed to see and do a lot in the time we were there. Great food. The itinerary is quite compact, if it were up to me they’d skip Nha Trang and spend more time in Hanoi or include a day trip to Ninh Binh.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/13/2019
Rosella - Traveled, April 2019
Talia is a passionate guide, who spent the whole of our trip caring for our trip group and letting us know all the intricate details of the culture and areas we visited in Vietnam. A pleasure to be with and would recommend anyone to join her trips - I'll definitely be back!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/03/2019
Rosie - Traveled, August 2018
Talia was amazing trip manager, so fun and always know what she was talking about. She always made sure I was okay and the group. Talia was definitely a big part of my Vietnam experience!!!!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/03/2019
Hayley - Traveled, May 2019
I had an absolutely fantastic time on my Vietnam Experience tour in May. The itinerary is jam packed with a great range of activities to give you a taste of everything Vietnam. It pushed me out of my comfort zone several times which was good for me, and go me trying new foods, doing different activities, etc. The accommodation was fine and in good locations when we were staying in the bigger cities. It’s the been Contiki tour I’ve been on - I was blessed with the best group and our tour guide Talia made it even better. She was great fun, had awesome relationships with the local guides, and always made sure we’re having a great time - even when things weren’t going as expected (weather in Ha Long Bay almost changed our junk boat plans!). Highly recommend!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/02/2019
Berry - Traveled, August 2019
I couldn't have asked for a better guide - Talia was so knowledgeable and friendly. You could tell how much she enjoyed her job and her enjoyment rubbed off on everyone else.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/02/2019
Jaap - Traveled, August 2019
Fi was awesome. She was always in a good mood and knew all about the trip. I would travel with her again immediately.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/30/2019
Hannah - Traveled, August 2019
Trip was amazing and well organised. Fi really knew her stuff and I didn't doubt her at any point, I trusted her completely (a big acheivement from me). Fi kept our spirits high and our eyes open, I really hope to get Fi as a guide on another trip! Miss you Fi! ? - Hannah
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/30/2019
Ewan - Traveled, August 2019
Fiona was an exceptional tour guide. Her energy and enthusiasm for every day and activity was infectious. No problem was too large to help with. She has made this trip extremely memorable and ensured I will return on a contiki tour to another destination very soon. Thanks Fi !xx
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/29/2019
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