11 Days | A crash course in banh mi, karst-studded bays and bustling markets
Get a taste of adventure over 11 days in Vietnam. This escapade from north to south takes you from French-influenced Hanoi to heaving Ho Chi Minh City on a journey that balances local guidance with freedom to explore independently. Discover the countryside around Hue by bicycle, kayak between limestone karsts off the coast of Cat Ba Island and chill out in Ninh Binh. Let an expert local leader show you around this vivacious nation so you can see the real Vietnam.
Trip overview
- Start
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- Finish
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Theme
- Explorer, Rail
- Destinations
- Vietnam
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Basix
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 16
- Trip code
- TVRR
- Lan Ha Bay is a beautiful enclave of green waters and strange rock formations. Explore them by boat and kayak, then spend the night on nearby Cat Ba Island.
- Take a walking tour through the Old Town of Hoi An, where the city looks exactly like it did over a century ago.
- Travel to the UNESCO protected Ninh Binh, often referred to as ‘Ha Long Bay on land’, with its winding river etched between towering limestone mountains. Plus, get a chance to explore 10th century Hoa Lu – the temple of King Dinh and King Le.
- Enjoy a cycling tour where you’ll discover Ninh Binh in a fresh way that gets your blood pumping and takes you off the beaten track – explore Hoa Lu – the temple of King Dinh and King Le along the way.
- Some travellers find the pace of this trip quite fast as we are covering a lot of destinations in a short amount of time. If you would like a more relaxed pace with more time to explore, you might like to consider a longer trip (see trip code TVRN on our website) or adding additional days in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City before or after your trip.
- Don’t let the heat keep you from exploring the world! Depending on where you come from, the weather in Vietnam might be hotter and more humid than what you are used to. We recommend checking our guide so you know what temperatures to expect: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/vietnam/weather-in-vietnam
Itinerary
Inclusions
1 lunch
Boat, Overnight sleeper train, Private minibus
Hotel (8 nights), Overnight sleeper train (2 nights)
- Hanoi - Vun Art center visit
- Hanoi - Flower and flea market visit
- Cat Ba Island - Boat trip on Lan Ha Bay
- Cat Ba Island - Lan Ha Bay Lunch
- Cat Ba Island - Kayaking
- Hoa Lu - Temple of King Dinh and King Le
- Ninh Binh - Bike Tour
- Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
- Ho Chi Minh City - Orientation Walk
- Hanoi - Fine Arts Museum - VND30000
- Hanoi - Museum of Ethnology - VND40000
- Hanoi - Street Food Experience Urban Adventure - USD29
- Hanoi - Temple of Literature - VND70000
- Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex - VND80000
- Ninh Binh - Trang An Boat Trip (entrance fee, boat, taxi) - USD21
- Ninh Binh - Mua Cave Hike (entrance fee and taxi) - USD12
- Hue - Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc - VND150000
- Hue - Imperial City Full Day Tour - USD69
- Hue - Highlights & back streets by motorbike (with lunch) - USD28
- Hue - Highlights & back streets by motorbike (without lunch) - USD23
- Hue - Perfume River cruise & Thien Mu Pagoda - VND220000
- Hoi An - Cooking class - USD33
- Danang - Marble Mountain - VND40000
- Hoi An - Food Adventure Urban Adventure - USD44
- Hoi An - Private Hoi An: My Son Discovery - USD77
- Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum - VND40000
- Ho Chi Minh City - Reunification Palace - VND40000
- Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnel Experience Urban Adventure - USD45
- Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Discovery Urban Adventure - USD59
- Ho Chi Minh City - Saigon Street Food by Night Urban Adventure - USD36
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for train tickets. Fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Days 5 & 9 (overnight train) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
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