Original
Vietnam Express Southbound
10 days • 5
5
Excellent
1905 reviews
10 days
Start
Hanoi, Vietnam
Finish
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Trip Code
TVSF
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 16
Physical Rating
Meals
8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
Transport
Boat, Motorbike, Overnight sleeper train, Plane, Private Minibus, Taxi, Sampan, Tuk-tuk
Accommodation
Hotel (7 nights), Overnight boat (1 night), Overnight sleeper train (1 night)
From £792(10 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Fall in love with Vietnam one bite at a time – slurp a bowl of pho on a busy street corner, crunch into a breakfast Bahn mi and sit down to a vegetarian feast in a Buddhist nunnery.
Sail through Ha Long Bay's Heritage-listed limestone karsts and island caves, visit a centre that turns the bay's discarded trash into treasures and spend the night checking out the stars on an overnight cruise.
Travel like a local on a motorbike tour, riding pillion and taking in the historical pagodas, bridges and villages of Hue.
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 myriad waterways.
Wander through the remarkably well-preserved streets of Hoi An's Old Town on a guided tour, where elegant wooden buildings line the canals.
Is this trip right for you?
To see as much as possible, this trip involves some long journeys, including by overnight train where the amenities are shared and basic. For more about what this experience is like, see our blog post here: https://www.tuuur.com/adventures/what-to-expect-on-an-overnight-train-in-vietnam/ https://www.tuuur.com/adventures/what-to-expect-on-an-overnight-train-in-vietnam/ (https://www.tuuur.com/adventures/what-to-expect-on-an-overnight-train-in-vietnam/)
The motorbike tour of Hue has been assessed for safety and is closely monitored (helmets are provided). However, 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. Please consider your suitability for the season you wish to travel in. Check out https://www.tuuur.com/vietnam/weather-in-vietnam for more info. https://www.tuuur.com/vietnam/weather-in-vietnam (https://www.tuuur.com/vietnam/weather-in-vietnam)
Itinerary also runs in reverse, from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. Enter trip code TVSQ on our website for details.
This trip is a great way to see a lot of Vietnam in a relatively short period of time. If you would like a longer tour in Vietnam, maybe check out Best of Vietnam (TVST). You may also want to check out our South East Asia Loop (TTSVC), or our Best of Vietnam & Cambodia (TVSKC) if you have longer time to explore in the region.
Itinerary
Discover the karst-studded bays, bustling cities and bicycle-powered food carts of Vietnam
Uncover all the good bits of Vietnam on this ten-day adventure through backstreets, villages, cities and waterways, all with a local leader by your side. Trace the east coast and visit UNESCO World Heritage-listed landscapes while you fuel yourself with banh mi and condensed milk coffee. Try some authentic street food, wave to fishermen on the Mekong Delta and get the inside scoop on the best tailors of Hoi An. Take a motorbike through the ancient streets of Hue and spend a night under the moon of Ha Long Bay. This is an adventure full of life, colour and flavour that introduces you to the highlights of a fascinating nation with a small group of likeminded travellers.
Inclusions
Meals
8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
Transport
Boat, Motorbike, Overnight sleeper train, Plane, Private Minibus, Taxi, Sampan, Tuk-tuk
Accommodation
Hotel (7 nights), Overnight boat (1 night), Overnight sleeper train (1 night)
Included activities
Hanoi - KOTO dinner
Halong Bay - Overnight Boat Cruise
Halong Bay - Cave entry
Halong Bay - The Green Life Visit
Hue - Imperial City entrance and guided visit
Hue - Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc
Hue - Highlights & back streets tour by motorbike
Hue - Thien Mu Pagoda
Hue - Vegetarian Lunch at Pagoda
Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum
Ho Chi Minh City - City tour
Mekong Delta - Mekong Delta Day Trip & Village Tuk-Tuk Tour
Mekong Delta - Lunch
Optional activities
Hanoi - Women's Museum - VND30000
Hanoi - Museum of Ethnology - VND40000
Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex - VND80000
Hanoi - Hanoi Street Food Experience Urban Adventure - USD39
Hanoi - Ninh Binh Mini Adventure (TVAN) - USD355
Hiking in Sapa (TVAG) - USD432
Halong Bay - Kayaking Tour - VND250000
Hoi An - Food Adventure Urban Adventure - USD39
Hoi An - Private Hoi An: My Son Discovery - USD73
Ho Chi Minh City - Reunification Palace - VND40000
Ho Chi Minh City - A O show - VND1050000
Ho Chi Minh City - Saigon Street Food by Night Urban Adventure - USD29
Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnel Experience Urban Adventure - USD39
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 excludes Day 2 (Overnight boat) and Day 3 (Sleeper train) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. Day use rooms 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 (1920)
5 stars
1865
4 stars
49
3 stars
3
2 stars
3
Joel
Jun 14, 2025
I will without hesitation recommend this trip to everyone!!! Due to safety, chosen materials and for a new adventure!
Elaine
Jun 14, 2025
We can highly recommend the Intrepid Express Vietnam Southbound tour. Our guide, Thanh Vo, was extremely knowledgeable & fun. We packed so much in, did wonderful activities, ate spectacular food, saw incredible sights & laughed so hard. All at the same time as making new friends & priceless memories along the way. We had a truly wonderful holiday.
Tim
Jun 13, 2025
Awesome trip, see so much but doesn't feel rushed although Vietnam will inevitably make you want to come back. Bac is a legend so cross your fingers you get him as a guide.
William
Jun 13, 2025
Just completed the South bound Vietnam trip, our group became great friends and with our leader BAC, this allowed for a truly amazing experience on all levels, seeing Vietnam via trains, planes, automobiles, boats, rickshaw, tuc tuc, bicycle and the best of all motorbike! Well done BAC and Intrepid!
Nicky
Jun 11, 2025
Loved this fast paced tour of Vietnam with our brilliant guide Tam, such a variety of different experiences, stand outs for me were the overnight boat trip in Halong Bay and exploring the old city in Hue by motorbike so much fun !
Robyn
Jun 11, 2025
Intrepid in Vietnam was great. You got a taste of what this beautiful country is like along with the culture and food. Our tour guide BAC went above and beyond for everyone in our group. Would recommend this tour to anyone of all ages
Jo
Jun 10, 2025
Just finished our first Intrepid tour (Vietnam) and was very impressed! Itinerary was great, accommodation, transfers etc all seamless and we had an amazing local tour leader. Would definitely recommend!
Joanne
Jun 10, 2025
I just returned from a 10-day Intrepid Travel tour of Vietnam, heading southbound from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, and I can’t recommend it enough. The itinerary was packed with diverse experiences, delicious food, stunning scenery — and it was all tied together by our phenomenal tour leader, Tra, whose knowledge, humor, and kindness elevated the trip beyond expectations
BALKRISHNA
Jun 06, 2025
What an incredible experience! The local activities, comfortable accommodations, smooth transportation, knowledgeable guide, and well-balanced itinerary all made the trip a truly unforgettable one. You will definitely love the food and Vietnam is so beautiful.
Pauline
Jun 06, 2025
Great overview of Vietnam
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