Vietnam Adventure

Name: Vietnam Adventure
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.7 (157 reviews)

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Award Winning Adventures

Citizen Science Departures available

Nature First Adventures

14 Days from

16 Days from

USD 2,179

incl. Taxes

4.7/5 from

Culture

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group, Private Group Adventures

Activity :

Culture

Activity Levels :

2 out of 7 - Leisurely / Moderate

Group Size :

5 - 16

Ages :

16+

Trip Code :

AOV

Discover North and South Vietnam

This trip encapsulates the magic of Vietnam: the conservative north, the rich heritage of the imperial cities, coastal scenery and the vibrant life of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, and the Mekong Delta. We come face to face with an outgoing culture, where so much goes on in the streets: eating, washing, socialising, buying and selling or impromptu games. This intoxicating parade of Vietnamese life may leave us with our strongest memories, as much as the superb landscapes and amazing cuisine.

This trip includes a few of our Citizen Science Departures. These special departures offer you the opportunity to be involved in the collection of freshwater samples during the trip. The environmental DNA information derived from this sample will contribute directly to the eBioAtlas; the world’s largest repository of flora and fauna species data, contributing to the conservation and restoration of biodiversity both locally and globally. To book onto one of these special departures, see the Dates & Prices tab. For more information on these departures and the eBioAtlas, click here.

Highlights

Take a boat trip around stunning Ha Long Bay
Embark on a Hanoi city tour including the Old Quarter
Visit the Imperial Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda and Tu Duc Mausoleum in Hue
Explore the historic trading town of Hoi An
Crawl through the Cu Chi war tunnels
Navigate the Mekong Delta by boat
Experience mouth-watering cuisine
Citizen Science departures available on this trip

Key Information

10 nights in comfortable hotels
One-night boat stay with twin share cabins
One-night standard guesthouse homestay to experience Mekong Delta hospitality
One-night sleeper train stay, soft-bed berths
Group normally 5 to 16, plus leader
Angkor Wat Extension (from Ho Chi Minh City) available to book post tour (Trip Code XOF)

Countries visited: Vietnam

What's Included

12 breakfasts, one lunch and two dinners
All accommodation
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Arrival and departure transfers

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request)
Visas or vaccinations

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips which improve life for the people and places we visit, and look after the planet we explore. Find out more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

The use of a local guide means our customers will be well informed about local traditions, and cultural and social sensitivities.
This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally-owned hotels and restaurants, the emphasis on eating locally produced food and support of other local enterprise.
In Hanoi, we encourage groups to have a communal meal at KOTO, which is an NGO that provides a two year course in hospitality, English and life skills training to groups of 16-22 year olds from disadvantaged backgrounds. Students also receive accommodation, food, medical check-ups and treatment whilst they are being trained. Many of the 400+ graduates have gone on to continue developing their careers at KOTO restaurants or have gained employment elsewhere with their training so this is a great initiative to support.
Guests will have the opportunity to stay overnight and eat a delicious home cooked meal in a local homestay guesthouse in the Mekong Delta.
In Hoi An, we also stop by a shop called ‘Reaching Out’, which sells gifts handmade by artisans with disabilities – helping them to develop their talent and independence.
We do a lot to celebrate the cottage industries on this tour, as this is not only a way to directly benefit the locals but it is also hugely fascinating and enjoyable for travellers. For example, in the Mekong Delta, we visit a lot of these small businesses and factories which sell handmade coconut sweets, rice paper, soya bean sauce and popped rice amongst other things.
There is also the option to see a traditional folk dancing or water puppet show in Ho Chi Minh City. This encourages local customs to continue and creates employment opportunities.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

By travelling in a small group, led by a local guide, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment. On this trip, part of the itinerary is located in the Mekong Delta and we stay one night in a local guesthouse homestay.
Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices with regard to working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
We work with our partners on the ground to proactively eliminate or reduce waste, for example eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles and instead providing refills for re-usable bottles.
We provide clients with a re-usable tote bag at the start of the tour (locally made in Hanoi), offering an alternative to single-use plastic bags and a souvenir to take home!

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

Read about Exodus Travels’ Planet Promise here, including our rewilding and carbon compensation commitments for every customer who travels.
We choose to travel on the overnight train from Hanoi to Hue as opposed to taking an internal flight.
Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally-sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
Vegetarian and vegan options are available at majority of accommodation and restaurants.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish behind in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, we’d ask you to consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
Plastic waste reduction: Please bring your own re-usable water bottle on this trip; filtered water will be provided where tap water is not drinkable.
Cultural respect:
- Please remember that you will be expected to cover your legs and arms (to the elbow) during visits to temples and sacred sites so packing a sarong or other suitable clothing is recommended. Also remember to remove hats when visiting a sacred site.
- Do not rest your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice as this symbolises the burning of incense (which is usually reserved for times of mourning).
- One should not show the soles of their feet or touch someone’s head, both are considered disrespectful.

Mekong Delta Homestay

Discover the slow pace of life on the Mekong Delta with one night in a very special family run homestay.

Recommended Trips

Vietnam Adventure

Trails of Vietnam

Itinerary

The day is free to recover from the flight or stroll down broad tree-lined avenues dating from the French period. There is a faded colonial charm where baguettes and good coffee are sold from doorways of grand buildings from a past era. This evening, there will be a welcome briefing followed by an optional group dinner at a local restaurant.

Accommodation: May de Ville City Centre Hotel (or similar)

We take a sightseeing tour of Hanoi that includes a visit to the Temple of Literature; the site of the oldest university in Vietnam; Hoa Lo Prison; and the Old Quarter, with its 36 Streets where each street specialising in a product eg Silk Street, Gold Street, Paper Street, and Tourist Souvenir Street. Another stop is the grounds of the Presidential Palace, where Ho Chi Minh refused to live in the grand structure for symbolic reasons. We visit his traditional Vietnamese stilt house here. In the evening, there is the option to watch a traditional water puppet show.

Accommodation: May de Ville City Centre Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

We make an early start for the approximately four-hour journey to Ha Long Bay. This is one of the most stunningly beautiful sights in Southeast Asia with roughly 3,000 limestone peaks rising from the emerald sea. We cruise among this amazing karst scenery and enjoy a seafood lunch on board. We overnight on board in twin share cabins with en suite facilities.

Accommodation: Overnight boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We continue to cruise around Ha Long Bay this morning before returning to port. We then drive back to Hanoi, and transfer to the train station and board the Reunification Express for the overnight train ride to Hue 428mi (688km) to the south.

Accommodation: Overnight train

Meals Included: Breakfast

Arriving mid-morning in Hue – a hub for culture and history in Vietnam – we transfer to our hotel. The most outstanding sight is the Imperial Citadel with 6mi (10km) long walls. Inside 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 totally destroyed during the Tet Offensive in the Vietnam War, but the foliage-covered ruins are still atmospheric and the bombs holes give an idea of the destruction wreaked upon the country.

This afternoon we visit the Imperial Citadel and the Thien Mu Pagoda. The pagoda was a centre for anti-government protest in the early 1960s and it houses the Austin car that transported a monk, Thich Quang Duc, to Saigon in 1963 where he burned himself in protest against the president. The photograph of his self-immolation was printed in newspapers all around the world.

Accommodation: Park View Hotel (or similar)

After breakfast, we visit the mausoleum of Tu Duc, one of the most extravagant mausoleums of the great Nguyen emperors who ruled Vietnam from Hue between 1802 and 1945. Heading back to Hue, the afternoon is then free to further explore and get to know this historical centre or to simply relax by the riverside and absorb the sights.

Accommodation: Park View Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Leaving Hue, our 81mi (130km) drive passes through the beautiful peninsula of Lang Co between the crystal waters of a lagoon and the Eastern Sea, and then passes over the spectacular Hai Van pass (Pass of the Ocean Clouds) where the views are stunning. In Da Nang, we stop for lunch before we climb Marble Mountain where we 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 surrounding countryside leading on to Hoi An where we spend the next three nights.

Accommodation: Hoi An Coco River Resort & Spa (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning will take a walking tour of Hoi An, the original European trading port in Vietnam dating to the mid-16th century. It is now a living museum, with attractive wooden merchants’ houses and pagoda-style temples with Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and European architectural influences. It is also a marvellous place to wander around and enjoy the thriving riverside market and great silk clothes shopping.

This afternoon is free, one popular option is to jump on a bike for a ride through the countryside past local markets, schools and villages before continuing to Cua Dai beach (3mi/5km).

Accommodation: Hoi An Coco River Resort & Spa (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning we visit My Son, the spiritual home of the Cham civilisation, where Cham kings were buried as early as the fourth century. Although bombing has destroyed much of the site, there are several interesting stone towers and sanctuaries. Upon returning to Hoi An, the rest of the afternoon is free to carry on enjoying this historic town.

Accommodation: Hoi An Coco River Resort & Spa (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

We drive to Da Nang and then fly to Ho Chi Minh City, an exciting and absorbing city where scooters pack the streets and temples stand alongside modern developments. Devastated by the Vietnam War, it is now a bustling free market city where anything goes. This afternoon's walking city tour includes a visit to the Ben Thanh Market, Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and War Remnants Museum. The museum has an interesting photographic record of the Vietnam War. Please be aware that some images at the museum are very graphic.

Accommodation: Huong Sen Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we leave the city behind and head north to the Cu Chi tunnels. Used by the Viet Cong during the war, the network covers three levels and approximately 149mi (240km) of tunnels. Traditionally these were very narrow but some areas have been widened to allow tourists to explore the system. If you don’t like tight spaces, you may prefer to stay outside in the sunshine! In the afternoon, we return to Ho Chi Minh City and the rest of the day is free for individual exploration.

Accommodation: Huong Sen Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

In the morning, we drive to Vinh Long (approximately 2hr 30min to 3hr) in the Mekong Delta, known as the rice bowl of Vietnam. This region produces most of Vietnam's fruit, sugar cane and coconuts. We take a boat trip on the mighty Mekong River to Cai Be. Recently, Cai Be floating market is becoming less crowded and smaller as fruit trading is mostly now done by trucks due to the bridge being built. However, this is still a wonderful opportunity to see a local market and traditional trade.

En route we pass many orchards and friendly locals also travelling by boat. We stop to see some small cottage industries, such as rice paper and coconut candy, getting a chance to sample the local produce. The evening is tranquil as we have dinner on an island and enjoy Delta hospitality. We spend the night sleeping at a simple homestay guesthouse built in the style of a local house. Bedding, a mosquito net and a small towel are provided.

Accommodation: Mekong Homestay Guesthouse

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we walk through orchards and navigate our way through the small canals in a traditional wooden sampan. Later we re-join our boat to rendezvous with our vehicle for the journey back to Ho Chi Minh City via a little-visited Cao Dai temple used by devotees of this indigenous religion, which fuses all the great religions of east and west.

Accommodation: Huong Sen Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Our Vietnam adventure comes to an end after breakfast. However, you can continue your journey of discovery in Southeast Asia by joining our Angkor Wat extension, where head to Cambodia to explore the key sites in Phnom Penh, including Angkor, one of the great archaeological sites.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Post-trip Extensions

Angkor Wat Extension (from Ho Chi Minh City)

Rediscovered enmeshed in the Cambodian jungle in 1860, Angkor, the ancient capital of the powerful Khmer empire, is one of the finest archaeological sites in the world. Built between the ninth and 13th centuries, the wonderfully preserved sprawling complex of temples and palaces is on a par with any world monument, with magnificent towers, sculptures and bas‐reliefs. During this four-night extension, you will also see all the key sites of Phnom Penh, a fascinating city undergoing a huge amount of change. You will travel between the sites in a private car or minibus, depending on how many people take part in the extension, accompanied by an English‐speaking local guide. In the evenings, you will be free to enjoy the town. This trip extension is offered at the end of the Trails of Vietnam trip (AOF), Vietnam Adventure trip (AOV) or Highlights of Vietnam (ALD) tour, so you will fly direct from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap to start the extension. The detailed itinerary can be found here.

Please ask your sales representative for more details. Prices listed are starting prices.

Essential Info

Visa

Vietnam

Travellers from the UK normally do not need a visa to enter Vietnam for visits up to 15 days, while US citizens 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.

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

Vaccination

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.

Eating and Drinking

12 breakfasts, one lunch and two dinners are included.

Thanks to the tropical climate, the long coast and the gigantic range of mountains, Vietnam is blessed with numerous varieties of culinary offerings and consequently maintains its reputation as one of the healthiest cuisines in the world that still packs a punch with delicious, fresh and fiery flavours.

Vietnamese food relies on fresh fish, vegetables, rice and a myriad of verdant herbs and spices; lemongrass, ginger, basil and lime all play a key role in the cuisine. The Chinese and French influence is felt throughout the country, where you are just as likely to be offered a banh mi (stuffed baguette) as you are a hot steaming bowl of pho (noodle soup).

Each dish is prepared with the Asian principle of Wu Xing in mind (the five elements); meaning the perfect combination of spicy, sour, bitter, salty and sweet is the ultimate aim. Be sure to seek out the national beverages; Vietnamese coffee is served iced and sweet with condensed milk, a real sugar and caffeine hit, 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, with the exception of the night in the Mekong Delta.

Vegetarian food is widely available, however the offering will be fairly similar in most places. Please advise at time of booking if you have any dietary requirements.

Weather

The weather will be hot and humid throughout with temperatures during the day usually 28C-34C (82F-93F). It is only a little cooler at nights.

There is quite a range of seasons between the north and the south: the south up to Hue has a distinct dry season between December to April and then a rainy season from May to November when it tends to come in short heavy bursts with bright sunshine in between. Hanoi is cool in autumn, and even gets chilly between November and February (with drizzly rain).

There is no ideal time to visit Vietnam; it is quite pleasant any time of year, though due to the shape of the country it is unlikely the weather will ever be perfect for the entire duration of any trip.

Please note, the Ha Long Bay boat trip can be subject to short notice change if certain adverse weather conditions develop during your trip. These could occur year-round, but especially in monsoon season (from October to April). Boat trips on Ha Long Bay are governed by the local authorities who are authorised to make such appropriate safety decisions. If your Ha Long Bay trip is affected by adverse weather, this could either result in a reduced excursion on Ha Long Bay for your group or, less likely, the need to re-arrange the itinerary if it is not possible at all to go out on Ha Long Bay. While this is not a frequent occurrence, our local team and leaders are well equipped to handle such situations and have long offered appropriate options to groups in the instances where this occurs.

If you go to Cambodia for the Angkor Wat extension, the weather will be hot and humid all year round. The dry season is late October to May and the monsoon is normally between May and October; though there is an obvious transitional time between those settled periods.

The dry season is as it sounds, with hot days and generally clear skies, though you can expect the odd shower. The monsoon is characterised by short, sharp bursts of rain and is generally overcast all day though this does not detract from the enjoyment of the place; you just need to take an umbrella or buy a cheap local poncho.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate).

This is a busy trip taking in the highlights of Vietnam. We travel by private minibus and take one internal flight to allow you to experience as much as possible of this beautiful and diverse country in a short space of time. The weather can be hot and humid and cold in the winter months in the north around Hanoi and Ha Long Bay. Please be advised some of the days can be fairly long and tiring, with long travel days.

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.

Roger FURZE

Reviewed January 2023

A great county to visit

The itinerary was good and varied. The sites visited are interesting and fun, my favourites was Saigon as there was so much to see and do followed very closely by Hoi An which was a really great riverside town full of many restaurants shops and market stalls. plus you could get clothes made to measure within 24 hours,,, Flights to Vietnam there and back are long haul flights involving stop overs on the flights so be prepared for sometimes long waits inbetween planes This is a great trip so much so that i have now been there with Exodus twice

Most Inspirational Moment

Marble Mountain was mentioned by many on the trip as an unforgettable place to visit with great views and caves. For the less willing there is a lift plus stairs and for the more able you can walk all the way to the top.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide, Tuyen was a really likeable guy who was always willing and helpful. He took care of all requests however trivial and tried very hard to ensure all guest were comfortable and had what they needed. If people wanted to explore sites on their own he ensured they knew when and where to meet up afterwards. He looked after the group very well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Yes, you do need a modicum of fitness to do this tour but not so much as you might fear. There were all ages in the group and everyone always found a way, even me! Clothing ? travel light and if you do find yourself needing an item of clothing, don't overpack your suitcase! prices in Vietnam are very very affordable

Suggestions

The only irritation for me and my partner was that when we were driving in the coach there was continual (too much) talk from the guide. Sadly, it was rarely about the towns and areas we were passing through and more about his family!!! this was repeated for every drive and at times you wished you could just have some silence or at least more relevant information/history about the localities that you could see out of the windows as they were what we came on the trip to learn about Some of the restaurants that the guide took us to were not very good. I would have hoped these restaurants are chosen on the basis of how good they are not on how 'cooperative' they are. Soul restaurant in HCM was a good example with many of the tour group very annoyed with the food and service. Sadly I was left wondering on what basis a restaurant becomes a favoured destination

Fiona Savage

Reviewed December 2019

Best holiday!

This was my first trip out of Europe and really glad I picked Exodus to do it with.

The trip was well organised, plenty of places to visit and things to do, a great range of included and optional activities (which are all well worth doing!).

Our group leader was Phuong Le – she was amazing, gave us a lot of information about each place we visited, plus teaching us about the history and some of the language.

100% recommend this trip if you want to visit Vietnam!

Most Inspirational Moment

Visiting the local families and restaurants for lunch/dinner, and seeing Halong Bay in real life!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Amazing! Phuong Le was great, couldn't have asked for a better group leader. She gave us so much information about each place we went, taught us some of the language and took us to some amazing local restaurants.

Martin & Margaret W

Don't need passport photos for Angkor complex pass. They take your photo when getting your pass.

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Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

Availability

This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and is now fully booked, although we may have people holding spaces without payment. Please contact our Sales team for further information.

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Availability

This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and is now fully booked, although we may have people holding spaces without payment. Please contact our Sales team for further information.

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Availability

This departure is guaranteed to go ahead but there are only 1 space left. Do not delay your booking!

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Availability

This departure is guaranteed to go ahead but there are only 1 space left. Do not delay your booking!

View Trip Notes

Availability

This departure is guaranteed to go ahead but there are only 1 space left. Do not delay your booking!

View Trip Notes

Availability

This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and is now fully booked, although we may have people holding spaces without payment. Please contact our Sales team for further information.

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Availability

This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

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