Original
Explorer
Vietnam Express Northbound
4.9
Excellent
653 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 £906(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.
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 (633)
5 stars
594
4 stars
32
3 stars
6
2 stars
1
Thomas
Aug 28, 2025
An excellent trip visiting and learning about the rich history of Vietnam, covering an entire country!
Jeremy
Aug 25, 2025
Southbound or Northbound - there's a reason these tours are so highly rated - they're absolutely fantastic! A night in Ha Long Bay, tailor-made clothes in Hoi An, it's all there. And it tastes wonderful!
Anne Marie
Aug 21, 2025
A fantastic introduction to Vietnam led by a super knowledgeable guide (Binh!). Visited some amazing places and got to try lots of Vietnamese experiences and food! Looking forward to my next trip with Intrepid.
Eilin
Aug 21, 2025
Fantastic first trip to Vietnam. Excellent, enthusiastic leader in Binh Tran. Trip was well paced with tours and own time. No hesitation in recommending Intrepid Travel!
Francesco
Aug 20, 2025
Had a beautiful discovery trip of Vietnam. Did plenty of activities, seen beautiful places, learnt a lot. Wonderful food, as well. I won't forget this adventure.
James
Aug 17, 2025
Victoria
Aug 17, 2025
This is the first time I have done an organised tour of a country in over 40 years. I am, in the main have been a solo traveller. The diversity of the group, for me was great. The flexibility and relaxed nature of the itineray was pleasing. All my fears of group travel were managed immaculately by Intrepid and their wonderful guide. I had heard of their reputation and now I also will have no trouble recommending them to friends and family.
Champa Krishanthi
Aug 17, 2025
The best tour organizers with excellent tour guides from Intrepid. Well-organised tour arrangement, transportation, hotels, food, and communication. We appreciate the overall full tour experience. Thanks to the Intrepid.
Mary
Aug 12, 2025
Intrepid are a very well organised tour group. This trip in Vietnam is a wonderful example of an itinerary that shows the culture, traditions and lifestyle. We explored many cities and rural areas. Experienced lots of diverse traditions and tasted excellent food.
Eliza
Aug 05, 2025
Amazing trip, and learnt so much. Tour guides were friendly, super organised and knowledgeable. Thank you.
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