20 Days | The ultimate south to north adventure tour of Vietnam
![A small fishing boat crosses the waters of Ha Long Bay at sunset](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/blta3b898dc8b15a615/65988435fde9b2428167366e/Intrepid_Travel-Intrepid_Vietnam23_halong-bay_agp_7049.jpg?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
![Travellers descending into a cave in Phong Nha, Vietnam on an Intrepid Travel tour.](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/blt8ae928dde6839862/63c9b53e990d2b5f4cb3f557/TVST_vietnam_phong-nha_cave-opening.jpg?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
![Intrepid leader and travellers walking the streets of Hanoi](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/bltcc4edc451010ac55/65988439ff35b1a8f3d1954f/Intrepid_Travel-Intrepid_Vietnam23_hanoi-street-art-walking-group-leader_agp_2570.jpg?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
![Take a cruise around Halong Bay, Vietnam](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/blt23243d98872e2c28/63c9b5433d27341374aa7cfd/TVSF-Vietnam_Halong-Bay_5317.jpg?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
![Vibrant green tiered fields with a backdrop of misty mountains in Da Bac, Vietnam as seen on an Intrepid Travel tour.](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/bltf7efb355052ff539/63c9b548acb29e11df7ff7a2/TVST_vietnam_da-bac_landscape-fields.jpg?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Experience quintessential Vietnam on this comprehensive trip from south to north. Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi and experience dynamic cities, tranquil backwaters, imperial ruins, faded colonial elegance and picture-perfect landscapes dotted with reminders of the past. Explore the narrow cobbled streets of Hoi An’s Old Town, encounter local tribes on a hike in the mountains of Da Bac and whizz through the back streets of Hue as you uncover the very best of Vietnam.
Trip overview
![Map of Best Of Vietnam including Vietnam](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/blt1e6dfe92ebb4a7e7/64f7672a9d39575bc7a35434/TVST_2023.gif?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
- Start
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Finish
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- Theme
- Explorer
- 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
- Original
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 12
- Trip code
- TVST
- Experience local life during homestays in the Mekong Delta and Da Bac. Get to know local families, participate in their activities and enjoy a homestyle meal.
- Travel to both popular and lesser-known destinations in Vietnam, including tourist hotspots like Halong Bay and hidden gems such as Da Bac
- See Vietnam through an exciting mix of transport, including motorbike, sampan, junk-style boat, bus and train
- Visit the mind-boggling Phong Nha and Thien Duong Caves. These labyrinthine systems were used to shelter civilians during the Vietnam/American War
- Spend a day in Hue, touring the city's sights on a motorbike and eating lunch at a serene nunnery
- Relax in the turquoise waters at Nha Trang and discover local fisherman's life on a boat trip.
- During this trip, there will be several long days of travelling and you'll be sitting on a bus for many hours at a time. However, road trips often have the best views, and most private buses feature wi-fi
- We cover a lot of distance on this trip, including on overnight trains. Accommodation and amenities are shared and basic, but the experience of rubbing shoulders with the locals makes it all worthwhile. For more about what this experience is like, see our blog post here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/what-to-expect-on-an-overnight.
- This trip involves a lot of walking - on city walking tours, the hike in Da Bac and during included activities. While being on your feet can be a bit tiring, this is the best way to truly get under the skin of a place
- You'll be spending two nights with local families on this trip, where the accommodation is shared and basic. But this is a great opportunity to connect with the local people (and enjoy delicious home-cooked meals!). Read more about the experiences here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/community-based-tourism-vietnam/
- Vietnam has an incredibly diverse climate influenced by both tropical monsoons and its range of altitudes and latitudes. Temperatures can vary from a brisk 4°C (39°F) in the northern mountains during winter to a sweltering and humid 36°C (97°F) in Ho Chi Minh City during the middle of the dry season. Please check the weather for the time of year you're travelling in order to pack appropriate clothing - this page may be useful: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/vietnam/weather-in-vietnam
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025
Inclusions
17 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners
Boat, Overnight sleeper train, Private minibus, Taxi, Train
Homestay (3 nights), Hotel (13 nights), Overnight boat (1 night), Overnight sleeper train (2 night)
- Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels
- Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum
- Ho Chi Minh City - City tour
- Mekong Delta - Sightseeing Tour
- Mekong Delta - Guesthouse Dinner
- Dalat - Garden visit
- Nha Trang - Nha Trang Bay Boat trip
- Nha Trang Bay - Island hopping, Fishing Villages & Snorkelling
- Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
- Hue - Imperial City entrance and guided visit
- Hue - Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc
- Hue - Highlights & back streets by motorbike
- Quang Tri - Vinh Moc Tunnels
- Quang Tri - Hien Luong Bridge
- Phong Nha Ke-Bang NP - Thien Duong (Paradise Cave)
- Phong Nha Ke-Bang National Park - Phong Nha Cave
- Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex
- Hanoi - One Pillar Pagoda
- Hanoi - Old Quarter Walking Tour
- Da Bac - Sung cave and village tour
- Da Bac - Homestay Dinner
- Da Bac - Homestay Lunch
- Hanoi - Vun Art center visit
- Da Bac - Da Bia Lunch
- Da Bac - Sung village to Da Bia hike
- Hanoi - Water puppet show
- Halong Bay - Dinner on Boat
- Halong Bay - Lunch on Boat
- Ho Chi Minh City - A O show - VND1050000
- Hoi An - Private Hoi An: Boat & Bike with Local Dinner Experience Urban Adventure - USD85
- Hoi An - Food Adventure Urban Adventure - USD44
- Hoi An - Private Hoi An: My Son Discovery - USD77
- Hanoi - Fine Arts Museum - VND30000
- Hanoi - Hoa Lo 'Hanoi Hilton' Prison - VND50000
- Hanoi - Temple of Literature - VND70000
- Hanoi - Women's Museum - VND30000
- Hanoi - Army Museum - VND20000
- Hanoi - Street Food Experience Urban Adventure - USD40
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 3, 16 (homestays), days 8, 14 (overnight trains), and Days 18 (overnight boat) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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