Vietnam Highlights
Experience Overview
Vietnam, a land of countless adventures. If you’ve only got a week, this highlights-packed trip gets to the heart and soul of the country with authentic experiences chosen by our local experts. Under the guidance of our local tour leader, you’ll explore Hanoi, Hue and Hoi An, cruise among the incredible limestone peaks of Ha Long Bay, and, of course, tuck into the world-famous street food. Better yet, the itinerary normally connects with other Southeast Asia trips we run, allowing you to continue your adventure across the borders.
Profile
— Accommodation: 7 Classic nights (6 hotel, 1 boat)
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 7 Classic nights (6 hotel, 1 boat)
Trip For You
This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.
Travel: We travel by private minibus and take one internal flight. There are some long travelling days, which can be tiring.
Climate: The weather can be hot and humid and cold in winter in the north around Hanoi and Ha Long Bay.
Eating Drinking
Thanks to the tropical climate, the long coast and mountain ranges, Vietnam is blessed with a variety of culinary offerings and maintains a reputation as one of the healthiest cuisines in the world that still packs a punch.
Vietnamese food relies on fresh fish, vegetables, rice and a myriad of verdant herbs and spices. Also seek out the national drinks: Vietnamese coffee is served iced and sweet with condensed milk, and beer hoi (local beer, brewed daily) is served on most street corners in the north out of large plastic jugs that are perfect for sharing.
Food is cheap in Vietnam, and you can generally avoid the spicier food if you wish. Western food is readily available almost everywhere.
Vegetarian food is widely available; however, the offering is fairly similar in most places. Please advise at time of booking if you have any dietary requirements.
Transportation
We travel by private minibus, usually with air-conditioning. Road conditions are generally good and improving all the time in Vietnam. However, progress can be slow in the main cities due to traffic. There is also one flight from Hanoi to Hue.
Tet (Vietnamese New Year)
During the Tet holiday period, 16-21 February 2026, and two weeks either side, our itinerary is subject to minor change as, despite booking hotels and trains in advance, rooms and seats are difficult to obtain during this busy festive period when people are travelling home to celebrate with their families. It is unlikely that changes will occur; if they do, it is likely we just need to use alternative accommodation.
Joining Instructions
Key information
Start hotel: Minasi Premium Hotel, 61 Ngo Hue, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi
Phone: +84 24 3205 7227
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There is a welcome briefing around 6pm
Airport: Hanoi Airport (HAN)
Getting to the start hotel
We provide free transfers to the start hotel from the airport for everyone. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
Catching your return flight
We provide free departure transfers for everyone to Da Nang International Airport (DAD) from the end hotel.
Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.
Weather Information
The weather is mostly hot and humid with daytime temperatures of 28C-34C (82F-93F). It is only a little cooler at nights. Hanoi is cool from August to October and even gets chilly between November and February (with drizzly rain).
Please note, the Ha Long Bay boat trip can be subject to short-notice change if certain adverse weather conditions develop. These could occur year-round, but especially in monsoon season (October-April). Ha Long Bay boat trips are governed by local authorities. If your Ha Long Bay trip is affected by adverse weather, this could either result in a reduced excursion on Ha Long Bay or, less likely, the need to re-arrange the itinerary. While this is not a frequent occurrence, our local team are well equipped to handle such situations and have long offered appropriate options to groups in the instances where this may occur.
Spending Money
You need about 3.1m-3.85m dong (US$120‐US$150) for all other meals, which allows you to eat well. Also allow money to cover drinks (more if you like a beer/alcohol) and souvenirs.
Tipping
Tipping is at your discretion but is customary in Vietnam. To take the hassle out of tipping, the tour leader will suggest you contribute to a tipping kitty of approximately 975,000 dong (US$38) per person. This is used by the leader to tip drivers, hotel staff, boat staff etc but not restaurant staff. In addition (entirely at your discretion), a tip for the tour leader at the end of the trip is greatly appreciated. As a guideline, we recommend a contribution of 100,000-180,000 dong (US$4-US$7) per day for your tour leader.
Highlights
— Capture the essence of Vietnam, visiting must-see sites and meeting the people — Tour the highlights of Hanoi with your expert tour leader — Stay on a traditional junk boat among the otherworldly peaks of Ha Long Bay — Uncover the life of a Nguyễn ruler in Hue’s Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Purple City — Explore Hoi An, a living museum and the original European trading port in Vietnam — Discover the secrets of Vietnamese cuisine in a locally led cooking class
Trip Details
Product Code: 35380
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: modation.
Guide Language: English
Tour Operator:
Exodus Travel
Supplier Code: AOY
Starts: Hanoi, Halong Bay
Finishes: Hanoi, Halong Bay
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Unknown
Includes
— All breakfasts, three lunches and two dinners — All accommodation — All transport and listed activities — Tour leader throughout — Free arrival and departure transfers for everyoneAccommodation
Hotels and Ha Long Bay boat cruiseWe aim to secure locally owned accommodation that is well located, offers good value for money, and plenty of comfort. To help you find your ideal adventure, each trip is given a Comfort Level rating, which indicates the overall standard of accommodation. For more on our ratings, see our Comfort Level guidelines. Ha Long Bay: Overnight junk boat (night 3) Board an authentic junk boat to cruise among the magnificent limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay. Each of the twin-share cabins has air conditioning and a window out to sea, while the boat has a rooftop deck with chairs – this is where our groups tend to gather for views over the bay. There’s also a dining room with glass windows so we can continue to admire this extraordinary landscape during lunch and dinner. Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book. Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we room solo passengers together. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $2,090 ($261 /day)
Itinerary
Begin your adventure in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, where street food reigns supreme and the history of the city can be read in the architecture. You’re met at the airport and transferred to the hotel. Around 6pm, say xin chào to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big Vietnamese welcome by arranging dinner at a great local restaurant. Want to explore Hanoi further? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative. Accommodation: Minasi Premium Hotel (or similar)
Explore the best of Hanoi after breakfast, travelling by minibus with some walking involved. Guided by our tour leader, we visit the Temple of Literature (built in 1070, it’s home to the first university in Vietnam) and walk around the atmospheric Old Quarter. We also visit the historic Long Bien Bridge and Station, where we enjoy a drink in a repurposed railway building as the trains roll just past us. The rest of the day is free to enjoy at leisure. Accommodation: Minasi Premium Hotel (or similar)
Visit an icon of Vietnam today: Ha Long Bay, a World Heritage site where some 3,000 limestone peaks break through emerald waters to create a mystical landscape. To get there, we rise early for the approximately four-hour drive; upon arrival, board a traditional junk sailing boat, which is also our home for tonight. After launching, we enjoy a seafood lunch on deck and drift among the forested pinnacles. We also stop at a beach where we can hike up to a viewpoint (it’s quite steep but the views are worth it), plus there’s time for a swim in a small sectioned-off area. Additionally, an optional kayaking trip (extra cost) may be available depending on weather conditions. Back on board, pull up a chair on the top deck and watch the sunset together, perhaps with a cold drink from the bar. When it’s time for bed, we have the comforts of twin-share cabins with private bathrooms. Accommodation: Overnight boat
Continue to cruise around Ha Long Bay, admiring those limestone pinnacles, before returning to port mid-morning. We then have a three to four-hour drive to Hanoi Airport, where we check in for our afternoon flight (approximately 1hr 15min) to Hue. Upon arrival, we check into our centrally located hotel and have the evening free to relax or wander around Hue. Accommodation: Cherish Hotel (or similar)
Visit the Imperial Citadel this morning, home to the palaces and halls of the Mandarins, plus the remains of the Forbidden Purple City. Then visit the tomb of Tu Duc, one of the most extravagant mausoleums of the great Nguyen emperors. After the tour, we head to the historic An Nhien Garden, which has been owned by the same family for 22 generations, to enjoy a delicious plant-based lunch. The restaurant has a well-deserved reputation for creativity and excellent service, making it a highlight for many. After, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. You may want to join an optional afternoon cruise along the Perfume River, admiring the historic sites of the city, as you listen to traditional Hue music. Accommodation: Cherish Hotel (or similar)
Leaving Hue, our 81mi (130km) drive passes through the beautiful Lang Co peninsula, between a crystalline lagoon and the Eastern Sea, and then passes over the Hai Van pass (Pass of the Ocean Clouds) where the views are stunning. We stop for a short climb at Marble Mountain to explore large caves used by the Viet Cong as a hospital base during the war. From the mountain peak, there are fantastic views over My Khe beach and the countryside leading to Hoi An, where we spend the final two nights of the tour. Arriving in Hoi An, we enjoy a walking tour of the Old Town, the original European trading port in Vietnam. It’s now a living museum with wooden merchants’ houses and pagoda-style temples. It is also a marvellous place to wander and enjoy the thriving riverside market and great silk clothes shopping. After, explore Hoi An at leisure or join an optional tour to the 10th-century Ba Le Well for lunch. Accommodation: My Son Boutique Hotel & Spa (or similar)
Head to Tra Que after breakfast, an agricultural village on the outskirts of Hoi An. Here, the villagers adopted a community-based approach to tourism, in which visitors are invited to engage in hands-on activities. We enjoy one of those today, taking part in a cooking class led by a local chef in the village’s extensive herb gardens. After, we eat our creations for lunch! The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure, before you tour leader organises our final meal of the trip, a chance to relive our favourite moments together. Accommodation: My Son Boutique Hotel & Spa (or similar)
The trip ends today after breakfast and there’s a free transfer for you to the airport. If you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative about booking additional hotel nights in Hoi An or joining one of our other adventures in Southeast Asia, perhaps Discover Laos in Comfort or Treasures of Northern Thailand.
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Tour Operator
Exodus Travel
It’s all about adventure That is what Exodus was founded upon 50 years ago, and what the company is still all about. Discovering countries, cultures, environments, cities, mountain ranges, deserts, coasts and jungles; exploring this amazing planet we all live on. At Exodus, we know what makes you tick when it comes to holidays. It’s a desire shared by so many others. A yearning to visit new places and come home with a real sense of what they’re all about. This means delving into local traditions, cultures, cuisine, lifestyles – anything that contributes to its unique identity. At the same time, we always remember that we are only guests. So we travel courteously and respectfully, in smaller groups to minimise our impact, to ensure that every Exodus holiday is a beneficial experience for everyone involved. This is a philosophy we take with us around the world, helping you reach some incredible destinations on 500 itineraries across over 90 separate countries. We also strive to provide as much flexibility and choice as we possibly can, making it simple for you to experience a very different holiday. Exodus started life on 4 February 1974 when two friends got together to provide an overland truck to travel to the Minaret of Jam, deep in the heart of the Hindu Kush, the most inaccessible of the world’s great monuments. See our history page for more details about how we began and how we have grown over the past 50 years. Never travelled with Exodus before? Visit our New to Exodus page for some useful, first-timer information.
In Business Since 1974
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