Vietnam Highlights

Vietnam Highlights Trip Notes

Ways to Travel: Classic, Guided Group
Destination: Vietnam
Programmes: Culture
Activity Level:
2 out of 7 - Easy & Moderate
Ages: 16+
Trip Code: AOY2
Carbon Footprint: 92.8kg CO2e

Trip Overview

Discover why Vietnam is so loved, exploring the very best bits with a local tour leader sharing their insider tips and stories

Embark on a highlights-packed adventure in Vietnam, getting to the soul of the country with authentic experiences chosen by our local experts. Navigate Hanoi’s Old Quarter, cruise Ha Long Bay in a junk boat, uncover imperial history in Hue and stroll through Hoi An’s historic trading streets, before finishing in electric Ho Chi Minh City. Along the way, your tour leader helps you understand what makes Vietnam so special through their personal stories, cultural insights and insider tips.

Is This 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, sleeper train and one internal flight. There are some long travelling days, which can be tiring.

Important flight information: For our local team to secure the flights included in this trip’s itinerary, please ensure you’re ready to provide the following details at time of booking: gender, first name, middle name (if applicable), last name, passport number, and passport expiry date. This will help ensure each departure’s flights can be secured with the airline without delays or issues.

Climate: The weather can be hot and humid and cold in winter in the north around Hanoi and Ha Long Bay.

E-cigarettes and vapes: These are banned in Vietnam with strict penalties, including large fines and imprisonment – we strongly recommend you do not bring these with you.

Water safety: This trip includes time by a lake, river or sea, where there may be opportunities to swim. You should always seek local advice before deciding whether to swim. Open-water or wild swim spots should be treated with extreme caution. Information on how to keep yourself safe while swimming is shown here.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Adult min age: 16

Min group size: 4

Max group size: 16

Itinerary

Land Only

Start City: Hanoi
End City: Ho Chi Minh City

Land Only 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)

Meals included: Dinner

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 housed the first university in Vietnam) and walk around the atmospheric Old Quarter. The rest of the day is free to enjoy at leisure – speak to your tour leader for expert insight on where to go.

Accommodation: Minasi Premium Hotel (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

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 junk 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

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Continue to cruise around beautiful Ha Long Bay, admiring those limestone pinnacles once more, before returning to port mid-morning.

We then have a four-hour drive back to Hanoi, where we have a little free time, before transferring to the train station. Here, we board the Reunification Express for our overnight train ride to Hue, 428mi (688km) to the south.

Accommodation: Sleeper train

Meals included: Breakfast

Arriving mid-morning in Hue, we transfer to our hotel to freshen up. In the afternoon, we visit the Imperial Citadel, the standout attraction in the city. Inside its 6mi (10km) long walls are the palaces and halls of the Mandarins, and the remains of the Forbidden Purple City, where only the emperor, his eunuchs and concubines were allowed.

The Forbidden Purple City was almost destroyed during the Tet Offensive in the Vietnam War, but the foliage-covered ruins are still atmospheric, and the bomb holes a testament to the destruction wreaked upon the country.

After, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. You may want to join an optional cruise along the Perfume River, admiring the historic sites of the city, as you listen to traditional Hue music.

Accommodation: Mondial Hotel Hue (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.

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 1,000-year-old Ba Le Well, which contains the water needed to make authentic cao lau noodles.

Accommodation: My Son Boutique Hotel & Spa (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

We have a free day to enjoy Hoi An at our own pace, with our tour leader on hand to help us choose from the optional activities.

For a closer connection to the region’s food, you can visit Tra Que, a vegetable-growing village on the outskirts of Hoi An. Here, residents welcome visitors into their herb and vegetable gardens for hands-on activities, before a local chef guides you through a cooking class using fresh village produce.

Alternatively, join a Hoi An street food adventure, combine cycling with a boat ride and dinner, or take a day trip to My Son Sanctuary. The UNESCO-listed collection of Hindu temple ruins provides an insight into the architecture and spiritual life of the Champa Kingdom.

Accommodation: My Son Boutique Hotel & Spa (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

Bid farewell to Hoi An and transfer (40-50 minutes) to Da Nang Airport, where we catch our flight to Ho Chi Minh City, an absorbing metropolis where scooters pack the streets and temples stand alongside modern developments.

This afternoon’s walking city tour includes a visit to the Ben Thanh Market, Notre Dame Cathedral and War Remnants Museum. The museum has an interesting photographic record of the Vietnam War but please be aware that some of the images are very graphic.

Accommodation: Bong Sen Saigon Hotel (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

Today is a free day to explore Ho Chi Minh City before we gather for one final evening together.

This morning, you may wish to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, a subterranean network that stretches some 155mi (250km) over three levels. Though construction started in the late 1940s, they became infamous during the Vietnam War, when Viet Cong fighters used them to hide, spring surprise attacks through trapdoors, and store food and weapons. Now, they provide an extraordinary look into the hardships faced throughout the war. Alternatively, visit the Reunification Palace or simply soak up the vibrant energy of Ho Chi Minh City.

Accommodation: Bong Sen Saigon Hotel (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

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 accommodation or joining one of our other adventures in Southeast Asia, perhaps Discover Laos in Comfort or Treasures of Northern Thailand.

Meals included: Breakfast

Extend Your Trip

Mekong Delta Add-on Tour

Venture deep into the Mekong Delta, where traditional life is still shaped by the ebb and flow of the waters. This immersive adventure takes you straight to the soul of the Delta: drift along the canals on a sampan fishing boat, meet skilled silk weavers, scale the sacred Sam Mountain for sunset views, and witness traditional life in action at Long Xuyên floating market. Along the way, and with the help of your expert tour leader, you’ll also share meaningful interactions with the local people, encounters no guidebook could arrange.

Have a look at the detailed itinerary, or speak to your sales representative for more details.

Accommodation

Hotels, sleeper train and Ha Long Bay boat cruise

We aim to secure locally owned accommodation that is well located, offers good value for money, and plenty of comfort.

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.

Hanoi to Hue: Reunification Express (night 4)

Our sleeper train takes us from Hanoi to Hue – a classic journey in this part of the world. It’s an essential part of the tour, linking two special destinations without flying or a lengthy coach trip. However, trains in Vietnam are not luxurious and it’s best to come prepared to maximise your experience – we’ve found extra warm layers to combat the air conditioning and ear plugs can provide a little more comfort! On the sleeper train, you may be sharing a compartment with members of the public depending on how the seats are allocated. The trains here are safe but, as with any trip, we recommend you keep valuables with you. Snacks are normally offered on board and most trains have Western-style facilities, but some are equipped with squat toilets.

Worth knowing

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. The single supplement is valid for seven nights of the tour (not valid for the Ha Long Bay junk boat and sleeper train). Speak to your sales representative to book.

Food & Drink

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 bia 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.

Transport

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 internal flight.

Tet (Vietnamese New Year)

During the Tet holiday period, 4-10 February 2027, 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.

Weather & Seasonality

The weather is mostly hot and humid with daytime temperatures of 28C-34C (82F-93F). It is only a little cooler at night. 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.

Joining Instructions

Key information

Start hotel: Minasi Premium Hotel, 57 P. Nguyễn Trường Tộ, Ba Đình, Hà Nội 100000
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 Hanoi Airport (HAN) 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 all group members to Ho Chi Minh City Airport (SGN) 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.

Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.

Location start: Hanoi
Location end: Ho Chi Minh City

What To Take

Essential Equipment

Casual clothes. Light cotton clothing is recommended for most of the trip, though it will be cold in Hanoi between November and early March, and you should bring a warm jacket, woolly hat and trousers (pants) if you are travelling at that time.
A first-aid kit is carried on each trip, but you should bring your own with diarrhoea treatment, painkillers, rehydration sachets, plasters (band-aids) and a blister-treatment kit.
Insect repellent. Repellent containing DEET is thought to be highly effective.

Internal flights in the destination country are subject to a 44lb (20kg) to 50lb (23kg) weight limit, plus a carry on (typically 15lb/7kg), depending on the airline used. As luggage allowances are subject to change, please speak with your tour leader on arrival if you have any concerns regarding excess baggage.

Water included: Plastic bottles are a big issue in many countries where recycling isn’t yet widely available; they often end up in landfill or get burned. Both processes are harmful to the environment and we would like to reduce our impact here. For your trip, we provide an alternative to single-use plastic bottles to reduce the plastic used. This means that safe drinking water will be available throughout; all you need to do is bring a bottle to refill along the way. Please add this to your packing list.

Practical Info & Visa

Passport

To enter Vietnam, your passport must have:

An expiry date at least six months after the day you arrive
A minimum of two blank pages
No water damage

Visa

Vietnam

UK passport holders normally do not need a visa to enter Vietnam for visits up to 45 days, while those with a US or Irish passport normally do need a visa to enter. Visa requirements for EU citizens vary by country.

Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Flying into Vietnam:

Online Arrival Declaration

All foreign nationals arriving in Vietnam by air are required to complete Vietnam’s online Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) declaration within 72 hours before arrival (only use the official government website).

The process is free and usually takes less than five minutes. You need:

Your flight information
Passport details
Visa information (if required)
Name and address of your first hotel in Vietnam

Please note: If you are travelling on a passport that does not require a visa, you must still complete the declaration. During the process, you will be asked for your ‘Visa Type / Purpose’ – in this field, please select ‘Unilateral Exemption’.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/vietnam
Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/vietnam
United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/vietnam
USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Vietnam.html

Vaccinations and Health

Vietnam

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to speak to your doctor or travel clinic about vaccinations for hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, rabies and tuberculosis. The risk of malaria is slight, but you may want to consult your doctor or travel clinic for further advice.

Similarly, dengue and zika, both viral diseases spread by mosquitoes, are known risks in Vietnam. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, so we strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Methanol: The FCDO warns travellers to be cautious of methanol poisoning when travelling in destinations visited on the trip.

Local Time

Vietnam's time zone: Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh (UTC +07:00)

Electricity

Vietnam's electricity:

Plug types A (two flat pins, US standard), C (two round pins, European standard) and F (two round pins) – 220V, 50Hz

Money

Vietnam's currency: Vietnamese dong (VND)

ATM Availability

ATMs are widespread in Vietnam and are the easiest way of obtaining money. It is generally only possible to withdraw a maximum of 2m dong (US$80) in major cities in one go, though some ATMs now allow 4m dong (US$160). Credit card acceptance is widespread at city restaurants and shops catering to tourists.

If you would like to bring cash, there is ample opportunity for you to change this. British pounds and US dollars are both easily exchanged. As you will probably be carrying much of your money in cash, we strongly recommend using a money belt.

Extra Expenses & Spending Money

You need about 3.1m-3.85m dong (US$150‐US$180) 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 622,000 dong (US$24) 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.

Sustainability and Impact

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

You’ll also find Thriving Nature, Thriving People moments across our trips. These experiences are often a highlight of your adventure, while also benefiting the natural world or local communities.

On this trip, we:

• Have the option to visit the agricultural village of Tra Que on the outskirts of Hoi An for a community-based cooking class, supporting local livelihoods through hands-on tourism in village herb gardens.

In addition, we support primate conservation in Vietnam through our Foundation’s Primate Survival Project.

Important Information

Your Safe Participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call us and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.

Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.

By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.

Seatbelts
All vehicles used by us should be equipped with working seatbelts, except where approved by us based on the vehicle type or journey. Wherever seatbelts are available, we require our customers to use them for their own safety, even where it may not be a legal requirement.

Travel Safety
For additional information please have a look at the travel safety advice page on our website.

How To Book

Speak to our friendly team of experts to plan your adventure:

Check availability: our website shows real-time availability of our guided group tours, or contact our team by phone, email or live chat.
Hold a space: You can provisionally hold a space on any guided group tour to give you time to finalise your travel plans.
Confirm your booking: Payment of a deposit will complete your booking and secure your place on the trip.

After booking
You will receive a confirmation document and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements. Our dedicated Customer Operations team will help you with any pre-travel questions or arrangements and can easily add extensions or extra accommodation to your booking. Final Joining Instructions will usually be sent out two to three weeks prior to departure.

Adding transfers to your booking
If you have arranged your own flights and would like to add transfers to your booking, please provide your arrival and departure details to our Customer Operations team around four to six weeks before departure.

Where complimentary transfers are included, they are available for any flight but can only be added to your booking once we have received your flight schedule.

Where group arrival and departure transfers are available, these operate at fixed times. You will need to arrive in time to meet the scheduled transfer. If the timings don’t align with your travel plans, our team can arrange private transfers once they receive your flight schedule.

Trip Note validity
Trip notes may be updated after booking; if any updates significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary you will be advised in writing. A link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes will be sent out with your Final Joining Instructions before departure.

The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes, and occasionally it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.

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