Original
Explorer
Vietnam Express Southbound
5
Excellent
2651 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 £767(10 days)
Trip Informations
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 on Halong 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.
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
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
Starting
Ending
Remaining
Prices From
















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 (2613)
5 stars
2519
4 stars
83
3 stars
4
2 stars
5
1 star
2
Alana
Apr 25, 2026
A really fun trip that encapsulated the essence of Vietnam. I really enjoyed all of the activities and delicious food and meeting the locals. Would highly recommend.
Rosa
Apr 25, 2026
I would definitely recommend this trip for anyone wanting to experience Vietnam. We had a great guide who was very familiar with English while having a first hand knowledge of the culture. Having a small group also made it a great experience. Thanh was always approachable and able to assist with any questions or issues.
Amalia
Apr 25, 2026
I loved every second of Vietnam, its food culture and beautiful people. But my score of 10 is due to Thanh. I cannot find all the words I need to express how in awe I am of Thanh as my tour leader. Thanh was excellent, meticulos, friendly, kind, considerate, warm, understanding, the loveliest person on planet earth and the best guide I have ever had. This guy is so accommodating, considerate, observant and helpful to every single member of the group. He made sure the various age ranging members of our group were all very well looked after and relaxed, accommodated and treated for every need of every member, answered all questions be they big, small, good or very silly, and did ALL of this with a big smile on his face, calmness, politeness and respect throughout. His energy was always high, his delivery of every single answer, story, explanation was always top quality, most excelent and this guy never missed. Thanh was always happy, enthusiastic, paid a great deal of attention to the needs of every member of the group, he remembered a huge amount of detail about each of us which he gracefully referenced throughout the trip, he made the delivery of each piece of information thoroughly relatable and easy to digest, and everything made sense. I am in awe of Thanh as a tour guide, a tour leader, a Vietnamese citizen, most importantly as a person, and I can now confidently say that as a friend also. He has made me love every single second of my trip and I will remember if forever. I will always think of my time in Vietnam very fondly and I will be back for sure, all thanks to Thanh. Thank you very, very, very much Thanh and Intrepid team. I am forever grateful for this experience. This guy is the best tour guide I have ever had and he deserves all the great successes that lie ahead for him.
Sarah
Apr 25, 2026
INCREDIBLE!! Perfectly organised trip with the perfect group and perfect tour leader!!! Our tour leader, Bon, was just the most amazing person ever. His English was perfect, he was full of knowledge, had a great personality and a positive attitude the whole tour. He was extremely helpful and supportive the whole tour, and showed us the beauty of Vietnam and all of its amazing history. It didn’t feel like we were on a tour but rather travelling as little family. Highly recommend!!! 🇻🇳
Debra
Apr 25, 2026
This was our first time on tour. If you have never been on one you would question it, but my husband and I would highly recommend the Intrepid travel group. Our guide Bon was amazing, we learnt so much about Vietnam, and everything flowed seamlessly from start to finish. We are already considering our next trip! Thank you Bon 😀
Charlene
Apr 25, 2026
Absolutely amazing experiences.
Evana
Apr 24, 2026
Intrepid was a life changing experience. Our Vietnamese tour leader Bon added a great local touch to the region, offering an immense amount of first hand experiences and knowledge. Highly recommend!
Wendy
Apr 24, 2026
I would not ever hesitate to do another intrepid tour was brilliant abd so well organised
Lynnette
Apr 24, 2026
I can’t speak more highly of this trip & would recommend this to everyone. It exceeded all my expectations & I felt totally safe and enjoyed every minute
Eva
Apr 24, 2026
This trip in Vietnam was incredible! Our guide, Bon, demonstrated his love and enthusiasm for Vietnam, its people and the culture from the welcome meeting in Hanoi until the last day of the trip in Saigon. All of the included activities were well planned and the logistics were very smooth. If you haven’t been to Vietnam- this trip is for you!
Friends and Family Travel is an agent of Intrepid Travel. All Trip content and associated images are copyright of Intrepid Travel.
You are protected
Contact Information
Call us at
0208 058 4003
Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM GMT.
Contact our customer support
contact@friendsandfamily.travel
We’ll get back to you within 24 hours.

© 2024 Friends and Family Travel | All rights reserved.