Vietnam North to South
The whole country end to end, with the Halong cruise and the imperial city of Hue both included. For families with a fortnight who would rather see Vietnam properly once than come back for the half they missed.
Highlights
- Arrive in Hanoi
- The capital on foot
- Overnight on the bay
- To the imperial city
- Citadel, tombs and the Hai Van Pass
- Golden Bridge and lanterns
- South to Saigon
- Underground
- The river
- Fly home
Good to know
Indicative cost
Per person, twin sharing
Per person, twin sharing
Per person on twin sharing, indicative, including flights from Ahmedabad and both internal sectors, for 2–4 travellers. The extra nights and the Hue sector are what separate this from the 7-night trip. A group of 6 or more brings the per-person vehicle cost down materially.
What's included
- Return flights Ahmedabad–Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City–Ahmedabad with one stop
- Internal flights Hanoi–Hue and Da Nang–Ho Chi Minh City
- 9 nights including 1 on a Halong Bay cruise
- Private car with English-speaking guide throughout, including the Hai Van Pass drive
- Breakfast daily plus the meals listed
- Halong cruise, Hue Citadel, Ba Na Hills cable car, Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong boat
- All airport transfers
Not included
- Vietnam e-visa
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed above
- Optional shows, tailoring and shopping
- GST and TCS
Day by day
Arrive in Hanoi
Fly via Delhi, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur. Private transfer to the Old Quarter, and the evening free to walk to Hoan Kiem Lake and find your bearings.
The capital on foot
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, the stilt house and the One Pillar Pagoda in the morning; the Temple of Literature and the Old Quarter in the afternoon. Train Street timed for the pass, and the water puppets in the evening.
Overnight on the bay
Drive to Halong and board before lunch. Sailing through the karsts all afternoon, with kayaking or a cave visit, then dinner on deck and a night on board. The bay empties once the day boats leave.
To the imperial city
Sunrise on the water and brunch while sailing back. Disembark, drive to Hanoi airport and fly to Hue. Evening free on the Perfume River — the riverfront and the Trang Tien bridge are both lit after dark.
Citadel, tombs and the Hai Van Pass
Morning at the Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City, then one of the royal tombs in the hills outside. After lunch, drive to Da Nang over the Hai Van Pass, stopping at the top for the view back along the coast. Evening in Da Nang.
Golden Bridge and lanterns
Early cable car to Ba Na Hills for the Golden Bridge and the French village. Afternoon in Hoi An Ancient Town, with time for the tailors. After dark, the lantern boat ride on the Hoai River.
South to Saigon
Morning free at the beach or the Marble Mountains, then the flight south. Afternoon city tour: the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office and Ben Thanh market.
Underground
Out to the Cu Chi Tunnels for the morning — the film, the widened tunnel sections, the kitchens, the field hospital and the trap doors. Back to the city for a free afternoon and evening.
The river
Boat onto the Mekong from My Tho, out to Unicorn Island for the coconut candy workshop, the canal rowing boat, seasonal fruit and traditional music. Back to Ho Chi Minh City for the last evening.
Fly home
Time for last-minute shopping depending on the flight, then the transfer to Tan Son Nhat for the connection home.