Premium Vietnam
Experience Overview
Spend eight days in Vietnam discovering the highlights and traditions of this eternally beautiful and historically significant country on a Premium adventure. Take part in enriching local encounters as your leader shows you the soul of this diverse pocket of Asia. Get lost in the districts of colourful Hanoi, cruise past the limestone karsts of World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay, discover the old-world charm of Hoi An’s ancient city and navigate the winding streets and chaotic traffic of Ho Chi Minh City with a local leader. With an unbeatable mix of culture, cuisine and history, your journey through Vietnam is sure to surprise, delight and excite at every turn.
Highlights
- Explore the cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with a local leader who will help to uncover the vibrant mix of influences, from French to Asian traders, settlers and indigenous peoples.
- Feast on an included lunch at KOTO café in Hanoi, a social enterprise organisation that provides vocational and hospitality skills to young workers.
- Fall asleep to the gentle rocking of your Premium Feature Stay – an overnight cruise in UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay on a boat as beautiful as its surroundings. Take in spectacular views while enjoying a candle-lit dinner on deck.
- Explore the charming Old Town of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its quaint canals and historic architecture. Sit down to enjoy a famed egg coffee at a local cafe and relax from the hustle and bustle.
- Sit down to a soul-stirring Hat Xam performance on a Premium Exclusive Experience – an art form that dates back over 700 years to the Tran Dynasty.
- 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.
Trip Details
Product Code: 2841
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Unknown
Transport: Boat,Plane,Private Minibus
Guide Language: English
Tour Operator:
Intrepid Travel
Supplier Code: TVPS
Starts: Hanoi, Vietnam
Finishes: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Light
Includes
Meals: Breakfasts (7), Lunch (2), Dinner (2)Accommodation: Hotel (6 nights),Overnight boat (1 night)
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $2,516 ($314 /day)
Itinerary
Xin chao! Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam’s vibrant capital city. When you arrive, you’ll be met at the airport by a representative and transferred to your hotel. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight, where you’ll meet your trip leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, Hanoi is the perfect place to explore on foot. Maybe head to the city’s colourful Old Quarter or check out the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum, showcasing ancient and contemporary Vietnamese art. This evening, join your leader for a welcome dinner at a beautifully decorated restaurant resembling an old-fashioned Vietnamese house. Dive into the world of Vietnamese cuisine as your leader introduces you to a range of classic dishes made with the freshest local ingredients.
Included Activities:
- Complimentary Arrival Transfer
- Hanoi - Welcome Dinner
Accommodation:
- The Ann Hotel Hanoi or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
Depart Hanoi and travel to Ha Long Bay – one of the great natural treasures of Vietnam and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Board your Feature Stay accommodation for the evening – a gloriously beautiful and traditionally decorated junk-style boat featuring modern conveniences. Set sail in total comfort as unforgettable views of scattered islands and towering limestone karsts slowly unfold in front of you. Explore the bay and sit down for a seafood lunch onboard. Learn about the geography of the region, visit Surprise Cave where your leader will point out interesting rock formations and in the warmer months, maybe swim on Ti Top Island Beach or take an optional kayaking tour. Soak in the stunning surroundings with a candlelit seafood dinner on deck before settling in for a night of stargazing and swapping stories.
Included Activities:
- Halong Bay - Overnight Boat Cruise
Optional Activities:
- Halong Bay - Kayaking Tour (250000 VND)
Accommodation:
- Secret Halong Cruise (Feature Stay) or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
Start your day with a peaceful breakfast and maybe take part in some Tai Chi on board the boat before returning to Hanoi. This afternoon, you’ll take part in a once-in-a-lifetime experience and sit down to a soul-stirring traditional Hat Xam performance. Hat Xam is an art form of Northern Vietnam dating back to the Tran Dynasty. Originally, this was performed by blind performers and was enjoyed by local working-class audiences right up until the late 1950s, when a wave of communism deemed all art forms to be corrupting influences. Today, these performances are rare, but you and your group will be taken to a private club house and treated to an exclusive show in one of the few places where artists still sing acoustically. The performance takes around 60 minutes, and includes possible interaction with guests, so be ready to get involved!
Included Activities:
- Hanoi - Hat Xam performance
- Halong Bay - Tai Chi
Optional Activities:
- Hanoi - Street Food Experience Urban Adventure (40 USD)
Accommodation:
- The Ann Hotel Hanoi or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
This morning, you’ll get to know Hanoi on a half-day tour with your leader. Discover a captivating city where traditional and modern sit side by side as your leader shares knowledge on the Temple of Literature – an oasis of calm in the heart of town. You'll also visit the infamous Hoa Lo Prison, known as the ‘Hanoi Hilton’, which held American POWs. Today’s lunch is extra special as you’ll visit the fantastic KOTO cafe – a social enterprise that provides hospitality training and experience to disadvantaged youth in Vietnam and offers a creative menu of Vietnamese dishes made with local ingredients. This afternoon you’ll say goodbye to Hanoi and fly south to Danang. Drive on to Hoi An and take in views of lush scenery along the way. The rest of the day is yours to epxlore or chill out in the hotel’s pool.
Included Activities:
- Hanoi - Temple of Literature
- Hanoi - Lunch at KOTO
- Hanoi - Hoa Lo Prison
Accommodation:
- Mulberry Collection Silk Eco or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
Set off on a walking tour of Hoi An’s Old Town and discover a blend of traditional treasures and cultural influences from historical traders. Your leader will discuss the city’s history as you wander the pagoda lined streets, visit a Chinese assembly hall, cross the Japanese Covered Bridge, enter the ornately decorated historic house of a former trader and check out a local museum. Hoi An was once a great trading port for pottery, and centuries-old pottery villages still exist to this day. No trip to Vietnam is complete without trying its famed coffee – your leader will take you to a local coffee shop, where you can savour a delicious brew as you watch the hustle and bustle of Hoi An. Maybe try a traditional egg coffee or a refreshing iced coconut coffee. Your afternoon is free for your own explorations.
Included Activities:
- Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
Optional Activities:
- Hoi An - Farm to Table dining experience at Tra Que Village and Mua restaurant (84 USD)
Accommodation:
- Mulberry Collection Silk Eco or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
The morning is free for you to enjoy more of Hoi An and the surrounding area. Maybe browse the market for silk and other materials or collect any garments that you might have had crafted by the efficient tailors or hire a bicycle and ride along the lanes and out to a nice nearby beach. Your leader will have great recommendations for places to eat and drink. In the afternoon, transfer back to Danang and fly to Ho Chi Minh City. Check into your hotel and enjoy a free evening – the bustling food stalls at Cho Ben Thanh market might beckon you over with the sweet and savoury aromas of pho and bun mam.
Accommodation:
- Paragon Saigon Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
Head out of the city to the nearby Cu Chi Tunnels – an extensive underground network dug by the Viet Minh and later expanded by the Viet Cong. Enter a widened section of the tunnels with your leader who will help you imagine what life underground must have been like and explain how the tunnels contained hospitals, accommodation and schools, and were used for refuge, storage and as a military base for the Viet Cong. Return to Ho Chi Minh City for a tour of the dynamic city where daily life plays out on the streets, including a visit to the War Remnants Museum. In the evening, maybe spend some time with your fellow travellers and enjoy a final dinner at a local restaurant. Your leader will have some great options!
Included Activities:
- Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels
- Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum
- Ho Chi Minh City - Notre Dame Cathedral
Accommodation:
- Paragon Saigon Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you wish to spend some more time in Ho Chi Minh city, we would be happy to organise additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).
Optional Activities:
- Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Discovery Urban Adventure (73 USD)
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Tour Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.
In Business Since 1989
Reviews
Rhonda - Traveled, April 2024
Intrepid travel is an amazing tour company, I highly recommend them!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/18/2024
Lucy - Traveled, March 2024
This was our 3rd tour with Intrepid and they continue to be fantastic. Great itinerary and hassle free travel, while allowing you to feel really engaged with the culture and the people of Vietnam.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/08/2024
Chris - Traveled, March 2024
This Vietnam trip was worth every penny with Intrepid. Our tour guide made it even more special by making us feel welcomed, safe and fully engaged throughout the journey! I would highly recommend this trip!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/16/2024
Tina - Traveled, March 2024
The perfect Spring Break trip combining history, culture, amazing food and beautiful sites traveling with a nice group of people and led by a knowledgeable guide with a great sense of humor. No stress of driving in traffic, getting lost or having issues due to language barrier. I highly recommend Intrepid tour of Vietnam.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/31/2024
Donna - Traveled, March 2024
Excellent trip to Vietnam with top tour leader, Anh Nguyen safe for singles great schedule and lots of fun
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/02/2024
Rose - Traveled, March 2024
I had a really lovely time on this holiday. The locations, people, places, restauraunts and organising of it were all great. I could find nothing at all wrong with it.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/27/2024
Deirdre - Traveled, March 2024
A great small group tour. Our group really clicked from the start. Our leader Thuong really looked after us and she showcased the best of her country. Would highly recommend.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/01/2024
Nicolas - Traveled, March 2024
Intrepid provided us a well organised trip to Vietnam far better than other travel agencies we went to
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/27/2024
Nicolas - Traveled, March 2024
A very eye opening trip to expand knowledge to compare and appreciate own lifestyles to others in the world.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/25/2024
Jilda - Traveled, March 2023
A taste of Vietnam was amazing. Our leader Anh was wonderful and condiderate of all persons on the trip. We saw so many interesting sights and would now consider another holiday here to explore some cities in a deeper and longer stay.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/24/2024
Ian - Traveled, March 2024
Vietnam was very well presented in this compact tour. Everyone we encountered was friendly and helpful. One more day in HCMC would have been nice but not by shortening other locations.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/24/2024
Michael - Traveled, March 2024
My trip to Vietnam in March 15 to 23, 2024 was exceedingly well done. The tour guide Anh was just fantastic P
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/23/2024
Graham - Traveled, March 2024
We had not done a guided Tour before and were referred to Intrepid by our Travel Agent. We were not disappointed, and the premium package was the way to go for those little bit extra luxuries, and ability to travel between cities faster. Our guide Binh "B" , was a real asset to the tour, sharing his knowledge both personal and as a guide. He is a real asset to Intrepid. I would have no hesitation to do another tour with Intrepid, and look forward to our next one.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/03/2024
Anna - Traveled, March 2024
Excellent trip good tour guide Hieu enjoying learning about Vietnam and the culture here
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/14/2024
Elizabeth - Traveled, March 2024
Our first experience of Vietnam was overwhelming - a truly fascinating, beautiful, friendly country with layers of history that were wonderful to learn about from our superb, experienced, amusing tour guide Hieu. I urge you to come to Vietnam, it will astound you.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/14/2024
Fraser - Traveled, March 2024
Highly recommend a tour of Vietnam. The culture food and long history are fascinating.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/14/2024
Siobhán - Traveled, March 2024
A superbly organised and guided tour . Would totally recommend to friends
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/11/2024
Chris - Traveled, March 2024
We found Intrepid’s Vietnam trip to be very enriching and through a thoughtful itinerary and an excellent guide we had a wonderful experience that I would recommend to friends.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/11/2024
Steven - Traveled, March 2024
Just finished an amazing trip in Vietnam with Intrepid! Fantastic guide Oscar and a wonderful experience- would recommend Intrepid to anyone!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/09/2024
Vicki - Traveled, March 2024
We went on the Premier 8 day tour of Vietnam from North to South .. very interesting, well organised and educational trip. We will definitely travel with Intrepid again in the future.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/09/2024
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