11 Days | From World-Heritage islands to hole-in-the-wall bars, you’ll see all the essentials in Vietnam
![Hoi An Lanterns, Vietnam](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/blt8e2233c71cf958c0/6411361fabcbc770cb8732a8/Intrepid_Travel-Vietnam-hoi-an-lanterns-95.jpg?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
![Intrepid traveller and leader stop for a photo of green hilled landscape](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/blt5eb9f3d8f79b6dcd/65b4341bbb0caa3853e7f289/Intrepid_Travel-Intrepid_Vietnam23_Ninh-BInh-cycling-group_agp_0152.jpg?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
![Vietnam_Cat-Ba_Scenery](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/blt527fe936d72abb44/63c8fbbb15403837ae5aae35/TVRR_Vietnam_Cat-Ba_Scenery.jpg?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
![Streets of Hanoi in the evening](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/blt8b4de17708bc276a/659dcbba6b0a0f81bb543383/Intrepid_Travel-Intrepid_Vietnam23_hanoi_agp_5613.jpg?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
![Ho Chi Minh City 18 to 29s style with Intrepid Travel](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/blte8ba2d58be3feb7a/63c8fba73d27341374aa7915/TVYB-vietnam_ho-chi-minh-city_night-group-drinks-4.jpg?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
As you slink from old-world Hanoi through ancient Hue, past historic Hoi An and to bustling Ho Chi Minh City, you'll quickly realise that the Vietnamese know a thing or two about delicious food. Pho, banh mi, rice paper rolls – oh my! On this 11-day trip from north to south, you’ll be cruising, riding, relaxing, kayaking, drinking, exploring and enjoying all the Vietnamese hospitality. From sailing on the calm waters of Cat Ba Island to picking your own lunch ingredients from a local chef’s garden, you’ll discover that this place is even richer in culture and city hotspots than you thought.
Trip overview
![Map of Essential Vietnam including Vietnam](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/blt24b7199ad092f8d3/64f75201c7782a4b331682f9/TVYE_2023_Map.gif?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
- Start
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- Finish
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Theme
- 18 to 35s
- 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 18 - Max 35
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 16
- Trip code
- TVYE
Tick off all the popular spots and enjoy unique local experiences
Affordable trips with the freedom to choose how you spend your time
You book, we donate to help support local communities
- Chill out in Hoi An where you can get some sweet threads tailor-made before you head out to pick your own ingredients for lunch during a garden-to-table experience with a local chef.
- Sit down for a cup of strong Vietnamese coffee after touring a busy Ho Chi Minh City market and listen to stories from your trip leader about the city’s vibrant culture and history as you tuck into some delicious street eats.
- Balance on a tiny streetside stool in Hanoi's Old Quarter, soaking up the bustling vibes and watching motorbikes zoom past. Then, maybe hit a local bar for a refreshing beer with the locals or explore the nightlife in search of the best cocktail.
- Take in the views of Lan Ha Bay by kayak as you explore the limestone islands during your visit to Cat Ba Island. Who'd have thought green seas and giant mossy rocks could be so pretty?
- Cycle around the ancient temples and expansive fields in Ninh Binh – a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. With loads of free time, you can hike to Mua Cave or take a boat down in Tam Coc to the nearby caves.
- 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.
- You’ll 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 is for travellers who appreciate a bit of independence. You'll get plenty of free time in each location to make your own choices, do your own activities and eat where you like. Your leader is always there to give you tips and suggestions.
- This trip is part of a longer itinerary. You might be joining travellers who have already spent some time together. If you have more time to explore, you might like to check out Epic South East Asia or Epic Vietnam to Cambodia.
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025
Inclusions
2 lunches, 1 dinner
Boat, Overnight sleeper train, Private minibus
Hotel (7 nights), Lodge (1 night), Overnight sleeper train (2 nights)
- Cat Ba Island - Boat trip on Lan Ha Bay
- Cat Ba Island - Kayaking
- Hoa Lu - Temple of King Dinh and King Le
- Ninh Binh - Bike Tour
- Hue - Home cooked dinner
- Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
- Hoi An - Garden-to-Table with A Local Chef
- Ho Chi Minh City – Local Market Visit
- Ho Chi Minh City - Local Coffee Experience
- Hanoi - Temple of Literature - VND70000
- Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex - VND80000
- Hanoi - Street Food Experience Urban Adventure - USD40
- Ninh Binh - Mua Cave Hike (entrance fee and taxi) - USD12
- Ninh Binh - Trang An Boat Trip (entrance fee, boat, taxi) - USD21
- Hue - Highlights & back streets by motorbike (without lunch) - USD23
- Hue - Highlights & back streets by motorbike (with lunch) - USD28
- Hue - Perfume River cruise & Thien Mu Pagoda - VND220000
- Hoi An - Food Adventure Urban Adventure - USD44
- Hoi An - Cooking class - USD33
- Hoi An - Private Hoi An: My Son Discovery (from) - USD77
- Danang - Marble Mountain - VND40000
- 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 - USD73
- Ho Chi Minh City - Saigon Street Food by Night Urban Adventure - USD36
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement exclude Days 5 & 9 (Sleeper Train) where you will be in shared accommodation, and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. 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.
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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