Original
Explorer
Vietnam Express Northbound
4.9
Excellent
681 reviews
10 days
Start
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Finish
Hanoi, Vietnam
Trip Code
TVSQ
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 16
Physical Rating
Meals
8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
Transport
Boat, Overnight sleeper train, Plane, Private minibus, Taxi, Motorbike, Sampan, Tuk-tuk
Accommodation
Hotel (7 nights), Overnight boat (1 night), Overnight sleeper train (1 night)
From £813(10 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Zoom about the city of Hue on the back of a motorbike and see all the ancient sites with a handy local guide – now this is travelling like a local.
Walk through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed town of ancient Hoi An and maybe grab a new suit from one of the world-famous tailor shops here.
Spend an unforgettable night on a traditional junk boat in Ha Long Bay – one of Vietnam’s most remarkable natural wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage site – and maybe go kayaking between the karsts for a different perspective.
Embrace a slower pace during a private boat tour of the Mekong Delta and meet local craftspeople in the villages that line the river's waterways.
Sample local food wherever you go, including a seafood dinner on Ha Long Bay, vegetarian lunch at a Buddhist nunnery, coconut candy in the Mekong Delta and a final dinner at KOTO restaurant (not to mention the street food).
Is this trip right for you?
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 tuuur.com/adventures/what-to-expect-on-an-overnight.
The sightseeing tour by motorbike in Hue is great fun with bikes driven safely by professionals (and helmets provided), but alternative transport can be arranged for those who would prefer not to travel by motorbike.
Depending on where you come from, the weather in Vietnam might be hotter and more humid than what you are used to.
This itinerary also runs in reverse direction, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, see trip code TVSF on the website.
You may also want to check out the Best of Cambodia & Vietnam (TKSKC) if you have a longer time to explore the region.
Itinerary
Discover the sights and bites of Vietnam’s backstreets from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi
Go behind the scenes of Vietnam’s hotspots with this ten-day small-group adventure. From the fast-paced hub of Ho Chi Minh City to the charming capital of Hanoi, you’ll see naturally beautiful landscapes and history-soaked monuments, tucking into all the deliciously local cuisine in between. Traverse the country from South to North like a local and paddle through the waterways of the Mekong Delta, explore villages in a tuk-tuk, cruise through the World Heritage-listed waters of Ha Long Bay, wander the car-free streets of Hoi An on foot and discover the imperial icons of Hue from the back of a motorbike. With the guidance of your expert local leader, you’ll discover secrets to this Southeast Asian gem that you simply won’t find in a guidebook.
Inclusions
Meals
8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
Transport
Boat, Overnight sleeper train, Plane, Private minibus, Taxi, Motorbike, Sampan, Tuk-tuk
Accommodation
Hotel (7 nights), Overnight boat (1 night), Overnight sleeper train (1 night)
Included activities
Mekong Delta - Mekong Delta Day Trip & Village Tuk-Tuk Tour
Mekong Delta - Lunch
Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
Hue - Imperial City entrance and guided visit
Hue - Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc
Hue - Highlights & back streets tour by motorbike
Hue - Vegetarian Lunch at Pagoda
Hue - Thien Mu Pagoda
Hanoi - Temple of Literature
Hanoi - One Pillar Pagoda & HCM stilt house
Hanoi - Old Quarter Walking Tour
Halong Bay - Overnight Boat Cruise
Halong Bay - Cave entry
Hanoi - KOTO dinner
Halong Bay - The Green Life Visit
Optional activities
Hoi An - Food Adventure Urban Adventure - USD39
Hoi An - Private Bike, Boat and Dinner Experience - USD69
Halong Bay - Kayaking Tour - VND250000
Hanoi - Street Food Experience Urban Adventure - USD29
Hanoi - Hoa Lo 'Hanoi Hilton' Prison - VND50000
Hanoi - Fine Arts Museum - VND30000
Hanoi - Ninh Binh Mini Adventure (TVAN) - USD355
Hiking in Sapa (TVAG) - USD432
Dates and availability
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Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement exclude Day 6 (Sleeper Train) and Day 8 (Overnight Boat) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
Rooms booked only for day use are also excluded.
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 and flight 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.
3. This trip includes a domestic flight. Checked luggage allowance is a maximum of 20 kilograms, plus up to 7 kilograms carry on luggage. Any excess luggage charges will need to be paid directly to the airline at check-in.
Reviews (672)
5 stars
633
4 stars
32
3 stars
6
2 stars
1
Stephen
Oct 11, 2025
Our Intrepid tour from south to north Vietnam was an outstanding experience. The itinerary beautifully combined culture, history, and landscapes. The group dynamics were excellent, and our leader, Cong, was knowledgeable, organised, and great fun. I highly recommend travelling with Intrepid — a well-run, authentic, and unforgettable way to experience Vietnam.
Kate
Oct 07, 2025
If you want to experience the best of Vietnam in just 10 days, this is the perfect trip. There’s so much to see and do, the tour leaders are incredibly knowledgeable, and the groups are fantastic — truly a must-do adventure of a lifetime!
Maura
Oct 07, 2025
I was a little unsure about booking this tour as I’m in my sixty’s and thought I might be too old. Well let me just say that age is not a barrier and we had sooo much fun!! LOVED IT!
Julie
Oct 06, 2025
September 2025 Vietnam Northbound Express Our leader, Thanh, was superb. We had to pivot due to a typhoon during our trip by canceling the motorbike tour and double the time on the train, but Thanh managed to fit in a couple of sights at a later time. Everyone was flexible and friendly and welcomed the “surprises”.
Jim
Oct 06, 2025
Intrepid once again came through with all it promised. I have a much better understanding of Vietnam, it’s culture, it’s people, and it’s history. I would recommend this trip to everyone.
Ian
Oct 06, 2025
The Intrepid Express Northbound tour is an ideal entree to Vietnam for people of all ages who are reasonably fit and have a sense of fun. A well planned itinerary combined with a great guide and a willing group was everything we hoped for and is what we had . I could not recommend it highly enough.
hannah
Oct 05, 2025
This was the best trip I have been on. We got to see so many things in such a short period, everything was so well organised and our trip leader (Bon) was so knowledgeable, helpful and kind. I would recommend this trip to everyone and would definitely do it again!
Ross
Oct 05, 2025
Our guide, Bon, was absolutely fantastic. Nothing was too much to make sure everyone on the trip had the best possible time.
catriona
Sep 30, 2025
Very impressed with my first trip with Intrepid and our great tour leader Sanh. So many highlights, the homestay dinner, lanterns, boats and cycling in Hoi An, visits to local crafts and all with an erical and environmental focus. As a group we had great fun lots of laughs and have made enduring friendships. Top notch food and a great variety of transport. Overnight train was a hoot!
Sarah
Sep 27, 2025
Intrepid made exploring a country easy and accessible. Trip is organised for you, lots of activities yet down time as well to rest. Took the stress out of organising
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