from £922
Book Now

Best of Vietnam Tour

Hanoi - Halong - Hoian - Hue - Saigon - Mekong River Cruise
Excellent

Overview

A wide-ranging journey showcasing the best of Vietnam’s wonders, fascinating cultures and history, this 12-day trip offers a combination of guided excursions and free time to explore beaches, ruins, urban culture, and awe-inspiring landscapes. Cruise the Mekong for a day or 2 and overnight on a boat cruise in Halong Bay. Enjoy the atmospheric imperial capital of Huế, and the charms of Hoi An to the modern day life of Saigon, experience the energy of Vietnam in 12 jam-packed days.

Travel map

Note*: this tour can be operated from Saigon. If you would like to start the tour from Saigon, please contact us for detailed itinerary.

Best of Vietnam Tour

Highlights

  • Explore the  Mekong Delta  culture and lifestyle by Mekong River cruise
  • Observe the unique way of trading at floating market where barges loaded with fruits and vegetables gather for the early morning trade
  • Experience a slow pace of life when you walk around the impossibly atmospheric Ancient Town of Hoi An
  • Enjoy the atmospheric imperial capital of Huế
  • Spend the night on boat that cruise between the limestone peaks of  Halong Bay   while feasting on sumptuous meals on board
  • Explore the underground system of Cu Chi Tunnels and learn about hard life in war time

Tour Itinerary

Arrive in Hanoi. Greeted by your driver at the airport. Transfer to your hotel in the city centre for check-in and at leisure in the rest of the day.

Best of Vietnam Tour
Hanoi Old Quarter

Note*:

  • The hotel room will be available at 2:00pm, and in case that you would like to secure an early-check in, an additional charge will be applied.
  • Please be advised that both international and domestic might be crowded at sometimes during the day, so in case that you arrive and cannot find our representatives, please contact us, so we could easily search for you

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Free to relax in the morning.
Pickup at 13:30. We will spend a half day to visit the city. We start with visit to President Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum (Outside). We also visit the famous One Pillar Pagoda nearby.

Best of Vietnam Tour
Hanoi City

Leaving the President’s complex, we continue to visit the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu). Although several Van Mieu can be found throughout Vietnam, the most prominent and famous is that situated in the city of Hanoi, and was functioned as Vietnam’s first university.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

08h00: Pick up from your hotel in Hanoi. Drive to Halong City through the paddy fields in the Red River Delta.
10h00: Stopover on the way for a refreshment break
12h00: Arrive at Tuan Chau wharf – Break and photography time
12h30: Board the Cruise for departure. Welcome drink will be served

Best of Vietnam Tour
Halong Bay

13h00: Lunch is served while cruising through the bay
15h30: Visit exciting Cua Van fishing village. The village is free of busy roads and streets, electric lights, houses and high rise buildings. Instead, there are only herds of little boats and rafts. You will have the chance to discover the traditional culture and customs of the fishermen.
16h30: Enjoy kayaking or swimming (if the weather permits).
17h00: Back on board and continue cruising.
19h00: Dinner is served.
21h00: Take some leisure time to enjoy chatting at the bar or enjoy some night fishing.

Note*: the itinerary and activities on board would vary depending on the boat you choose. Please see the choice of boat in Hotel Inclusions.

Meal: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Accommodation: Halong bay cruises

07.00: Coffee and tea will be served
08.00: Continue cruising
08h15: Visit splendid Sung Sot Cave

Best of Vietnam Tour
Sunset in Halong Bay

09h00: Check out and enjoy a fantastic cruise on the bay, passing Dinh Huong Island, fishing villages, Ga Choi Island, Dog Island and Sail Island.
09.30: Buffet brunch (breakfast/lunch) while cruising back through Halong Bay to the pier
11h30: Arrive at the pier. Time to say goodbye to the crew.
12.00: Return from Halong to Hanoi. Arrive Hanoi at about 17pm.

Airport transfer for late flight to Danang. Transfer to the hotel in Hoian upon arrival.

Note*: the itinerary and activities on board would vary depending on the boat you choose. Please see the choice of boat in Hotel Inclusions.

Meal: Breakfast/Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian

Free to relax in the morning.

15.30 At your hotel, you meet our drivers, guide and classic vintage Piaggio Vespa. After a quick briefing, it’s time to jump on, click on your helmet and off we go! Listen to the sounds of this famous engine as you whir away on the start of your journey. First stop is a Vietnamese traditional cake: Banh Beo – a popular snack of Hoi An people. You will have a chance to talk and take photos with the owner of the shop.

Best of Vietnam Tour
Vespa Tour

16.30 After our first taster, we head across the Cua Dai bridge with its spectacular panoramic views of Hoi An and surrounds. We take a moment to stop for photos and stretch our legs before continuing the trip along little countryside laneways and alleys to the water coconut palm fringed Cam Thanh.
17.00 Afterwards, on our drive through the countryside, you’ll experience up close the resplendent beauty of the rice paddies, grazing buffalo, all of which are guaranteed to provide plenty of perfect photo opportunities.
17.45 Next, our team will ride and take you to a very old pagoda in Hoi An. The pagoda is a place for quiet reflection, listening to your heart, forgetting your troubles and enjoying the harmonious environment of the monastery. The sun is starting to set and the sky begins to change colour. We then take a lovely trip through the countryside and see farmers working on the rice paddies under the sun to Ha My beach and get to sample some of seafood in an atmospheric Vietnamese seafood restaurant, overlooking beach as the sun sets on Hoi An & enjoy a few cold beers.
19.30 To finish the night visit a local coffee shop for live music. Sit down and enjoy the romantic melody by local people in a cosy atmosphere. All will give you an experience of lifetime.

Meal: Breakfast/Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian

Free in the morning.

In the afternoon, transfer to the station for day train to Hue. Enjoy scenic view of Hai Van Pass on the way.

Best of Vietnam Tour
Train through Hai Van Pass

Arrive Hue in late afternoon. Transfer to the hotel and enjoy free time.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

08:00: Pickup at the hotel. Today, we will spend a full day touring Hue city. In the morning: visit Old Imperial City, Flag Tower, Thien Mu Pagoda and Dong Ba bustling market. Lunch at the local restaurant.

Best of Vietnam Tour
Khai Dinh Tomb

In the afternoon: visit Royal Tombs of Minh Mang and Khai Dinh. We will also visit a Conical hat village and incense stick village. Then tranfer back to the hotel. Free to explore Hue.

Meal: Breakfast/Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Free and easy to explore Hue till airport transfer for flight to Saigon.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Pickup at the hotel at 7:40 for half day city tour. Our city tour will help you to see the best of Saigon. We visit the historic Reunification palace and War Remnants Museum, followed by the architectural treats of French colonial Notre Dame Cathedral and the post Office.

Best of Vietnam Tour
Saigon Post Office

In the afternoon afternoon, we head out of town to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, which is an extensive underground network of approximately 200 kilometers of tunnels dug initially by the Viet Minh and then expanded by the Viet Cong. Here contains hospitals, plus accommodation and schools, and were used extensively for refuge and storage and also utilized as a military base for the Viet Cong close to Saigon. Come back to Saigon in late afternoon.

Meal: Breakfast/Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Note*: depending on the cruise availability, you would do the Caibe – Can Tho or Can Tho – Caibe itinerary. We will keep you updated.
07:10 – 07:30: Pickup at the hotel for Cantho – Caibe itinerary
08:00 – 08:20: Pickup at the hotel for Caibe – Can Tho Itinerary.

You board your comfortable wooden Mekong Eyes cruise vessel around noon. After a refreshing welcome drink we show you our on-board facilities and your cosy cabin. As lunch is served, the Mekong Eyes Cruise starts cruising. Sit back and watch the fantastic scenery and the daily life of the Mekong people.

Best of Vietnam Tour
Le Cochinchine Cruise

In the afternoon you can disembark for a guided leisurely stroll through a village and the surrounding fruit orchards or rice fields. Meet the friendly locals and taste the local produce and fruits.
Get back on board and enjoy a drink at the bar or relax on deck as the sun sets over the magnificent water landscape of the Mekong river. The Mekong Eyes Cruise will anchor for the night. The day ends with a delicious on-board dinner. You stay overnight on board your floating hotel in the Mekong Delta.

Meal: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Accommodation: Mekong Eyes/Le Cochinchine Cruise

Wake up well rested to the sound of the river and get ready for another exciting day of sightseeing in the Mekong Delta. At 6.30h the Mekong Eyes cruise vessel sets off for a sunrise cruise. Watch the locals go about their daily work drying exotic fruits and building ships on the wooden yards while enjoying an early breakfast.

Best of Vietnam Tour
A Mekong floating market

After breakfast, we will board a sampan boat to Cai Be or Cai Rang floating market, the region’s busiest and most lively markets. Marvel at the sheer abundance of exotic fruits, vegetables and skilfully handcrafted regional products. We will pull up to the boats for talking and bargaining with the merchants. We will also visit some of the local candy and cake making factories or boat through the green water landscape to see local houses, verdant orchards and ship-building yards.
Note*: The floating markets in the Mekong Delta are no tourist markets but wholesale markets where produce of the Mekong Delta like fruits and vegetables are traded. For this reason the number of boats on the market fluctuates depending on harvesting seasons and market demand. Furthermore, modern wholesale markets are becoming more popular in Vietnam. This can result in decreasing numbers of boats being present on the markets.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Enjoy your free time to explore Saigon till pickup for airport transfer. Trip ends.

Note*: late checkout is not included.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: n/a

Important Note*

  • PROGRAMS & SCHEDULES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE
  • The itinerary can be customized basing on your interests (you can extend your stay at each location, add/remove activities)

Price & Inclusion

Hotel category Tour price
(US$/person)
2 – 4 pax 5-8 pax 9+ pax
3* Hotels US$ US$ US$
4* Hotels US$ US$ US$
5* Hotels US$ US$ US$
Book Now

Note*:

  • The tour price would vary much depending on your group size, tourtype (group/private), grade of accommodation, and date of departure. Please book the tour or contact us for a free quotation.
  • Small group tour – daily departure with max 12 pax (for Halong and Mekong Cruises, you will join bus by boat companies)
  • In some major cities in Vietnam, hotel rooms may not have windows.
  • Similar hotels are selected if any of above are booked
  • Surcharge will be applied for single traveler or single room request

Booking Policy

Price Includes

  • Overnights in selected hotels or similar
  • Vietnam visa approval letter
  • Halong bay 2 day Cruise package
  • Mekong 2 day cruise package for tour option 1 – by Mekong Eyes/Le Cochinchine Cruise
  • All in-tour stationed local English speaking guide.
  • Entrance fees for sightseeing mentioned in the itinerary
  • Excursions as mentioned in the itinerary
  • Transfers as mentioned by air-conditioned vehicles (including airport pick up & see off)
  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary
  • Internal flights (Hanoi – Danang, Hue – Saigon )
  • 1 day train for Danang – Hue

Price excludes

  • Meals and services other than those noted in the itinerary
  • Visa stamping fee
  • International flights pre/post tour
  • Laundry, telephone calls, and personal expenditures
  • Gratuities for guides, drivers, porters, boat crew, and personal, non-itinerary services

Cancellation Policy

  • Cancellation received 60 days or more before arrival date: 10% of total rate
  • Cancellation received from 30 days to 59 days prior arrival date: 20% of total rate
  • Cancellation received from 15 days to 29 days prior arrival date: 30% of total rate
  • Cancellation received from 7 days to 14 days prior arrival date: 50% of total rate
  • Cancellation received less than 7 days prior arrival date or No show: 100% of total rate

Note*: Once all flights have been issued, additional cancellation charge of US$180/person for the 2 included flights.

Children Policy

  • For infant (<02 years old): FOC except domestic ticket cost
  • 02 – 10 years old without bed: 50% adult rate
  • 02 – 10 years old with extra bed: 75% adult rate
  • 02 – 10 years old in twin share: 90% adult rate
  • from 11 years old: 100% adult rate

Note*: The rate for children applicable for one child sharing a twin or double cabin with two adults

Questions & Answers

Should you need to contact us during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call the travel consultant whom you deal with and then our hot line contact. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please send us a detailed message and contact information by email, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible.
Our all travel consultants use WhatApps. Please ensure that you have the contact number. It's best to buy a local sim-card. Most hotels offer free wifi. So it's very easy to contact in urgent case.

Emergency contact numbers

Mr. Kelvin Do: +84 986759655

Ms. Thuy Pham: +84 984654964

If you book private tour for your group, we will use private cars, different stationed guides at each location. For some long routes (or Halong/Mekong cruise package), private car would be not necessary, and very expensive (unless you are a big group). We would suggest join bus transfer where possible then.

Please do not buy gems unless you know what you are doing. Even if genuine you should not expect to be able to sell them at home. If you fall victim to a gem scam, we are unable to assist you.

We would use different hotel categories and you can select any basing on your budget. So your travel companions would not stay at the your hotel. A Hotel Voucher will be provided once your tour is confirmed with all hotel details. In case suggested hotels are full, we would use others of similar standard/price.

Note*: if you want other hotels instead of our suggested ones, please contact us for details.

Yes, there is. Free wifi is available at all hotels in Vietnam.
Most of the cafe, hotel, Shop, Restaurants in Vietnam also provide free wifi.
Compare to other neighboring countries, Wifi access in Vietnam is so much convenient.

All airport transfers are included in the tour price. You should provide us your arrival/departure flight details and we will arrange things basing on the information. A meeting sign with your name and all flight details will be sent to you. Please be ready at the lobby at pointed time for pickup.
Driver/guide should always be present at the airport before your arrival time. If you could not find the driver, please contact your travel consultant who you deal with. For any reason that airport transfer could not be arranged, please take the taxi to the hotel. We will refund the money then.

Travel insurance is not included in our tour price. When travelling with us, you are suggested to buy insurance that covers all medical coverage, cancellation, personal liability, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects.

We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travelers' cheques, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewelry at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of the hotels we use have safety deposit boxes which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage.
Be aware that petty theft can be an issue in some towns and cities especially late at night. A common tactic is opportunists on motorbikes that drive by and snatch bags. Please always leave valuables and passports etc in your hotel in safety boxes if available and only carry with you enough cash to spend for the day. Bags should always be carried over the neck and not left to sit on your shoulder.

Conservative Dress

  • Modest clothing that covers knees and shoulders (Long pants, long skirts, shirts that cover shoulders)
  • Shawl or scarf (for temple visits)

Note*: Please pack clothing for the season in which you will be travelling. From Dec-Feb weather can be cold, so please pack warm clothing. From May-Nov it is the wet season, so please bring waterproof clothing.

Documents

  • All tickets (required)
  • Passport (required) (With photocopies)
  • Required visas
  • Hotel & Tour Vouchers
  • Meeting sign (with your names and flight details that we will use for transfers)

It is customary in Asia to tip service providers such as waiters, at approximately 10%, depending on the service. Tipping is expected - though not compulsory - and shows an expression of satisfaction with the people who have assisted you on your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. There are several times during the trip where there is opportunity to tip the local guides or drivers we use. Recommendations for tipping drivers and local guides would range from $3-$5 USD per person per day depending on the quality and length of the service.

Indochina Countries use 220V, and a mixture of flat 2-pin, round 2-pin or 3 pin plugs. It is recommended to bring a universal plug adapter.

Customer Reviews

4.7
tripadvisor logologologo
5
22
4
3
3
1
2
1
1
0

Write your review
5 star ratingResponsive and knowledgeable! We originally reached out to Kelvin at Indochina Treks for help booking a cruise on the Mekong Delta. He ended booking our entire trip in Cambodia and Vietnam. He’s super responsive and very knowledgeable about options in the region. Would... read more
DeniseG01060 Avatar
DeniseG01060
16/01/23
5 star ratingOur Best Holiday Ever Our friends who traveled with Indochinatreks recommended Kelvin. Woooo, It's the best choice I have ever had. He's so professional answering my all questions - I saw over 100. I never did similar before. And yet, he did amazing job.... read more
Justin T Avatar
Justin T
14/01/23
5 star ratingOur longest and Best trip ever! We just finished our 24 days trip from Cambodia to Vietnam, all booked through Indochinatreks travel. At first, we intended to book only 8 days cruise the the Jahan cruise with Kelvin. But decided to have him done all the... read more
Kirsty K Avatar
Kirsty K
27/11/22
5 star ratingExcellent cruise on the Mekong Delta We have just returned from a fantastic cruise up the Mekong Delta on the Jahan . We travelled from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh . The boat was fantastic . The staff were friendly and helpful. The food... read more
Helen L Avatar
Helen L
06/11/22
5 star rating20 day tour Cambodia - Vietnam We had a very long holiday with Indochinatreks travel for 20 days visiting Cambdoai and Vietnam. Kelvin did arrange all for us. It's my best trip ever. I selected customized itinerary with our hotel choices and activities. All were... read more
Laurie H Avatar
Laurie H
08/10/22
5 star ratingFood Tour w Mason Mason was such a good tour guide around Hanoi. We had him for the food tour but he went along and briefed us with everything we needed to know to get around Vietnam: places to go to, what to watch... read more
benjaminjlramos Avatar
benjaminjlramos
26/08/22
  • 1
  • 2
  • 25
  • >
View More

Write a review

from £922

Our selected Hotels

Cities 3* Hotels 4* hotels 5* Hotels
Hanoi Hanoian Central Hotel & Spa Golden Silk Boutique Oriental Jade
Sapa Sapa Panorama Hotel Sapa Amazing Hotel Victoria Resort
Halong Bay Cruise Swan Cruise La Regina Cruise Sealife Legend
Ninh Binh Tam Coc Friendly homestay Lalita Boutique Hotel
Hue Hue Orchid hotel Hue Eldora Imperial Hotel
Hoian Kim Ann Hoi An Vinh Hung Riverside Victoria Hoian Resort
Saigon Queen Ann Hotel Alagon D'Antique hotel & Spa Renaissance Riverside
Phnom Penh Saravoan Royal Palace Harmony Phnom Penh Hotel Shokha Phnom Penh
Siem Reap Angkor Holiday Hotel Somadevi Angkor Shokha Angkor

Note*:

  • Depending on your budget, you can choose a suitable hotel category

  • Early checking/late checkout are not included and you can change the to any other hotels  and room type if required. Additional charge/discount will be made accordingly

  • The list of hotels are used for our all tour itineraries which may includes Cambodia

  • We would use similar hotels in case any of above are fully booked.

Required field