Intrepid Vietnam Express Southbound

• Meals: 8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
• Transport: Boat, Overnight sleeper train, Plane, Private Bus, Private vehicle, Taxi
• Accommodation: Hotel (7 nights), Overnight boat (1 night), Overnight sleeper train (1 night)
• Included activities

• Halong Bay – Overnight boat cruise
• Hue – Imperial Citadel
• Hue – Perfume River cruise & Thien Mu Pagoda
• Hue – Royal tomb
• Hue – Motorbike trip including lunch
• Hoi An – Old Town walking tour
• Ho Chi Minh City – War Remnants Museum
• Ho Chi Minh City – City tour
• HCMC – Mekong Delta day trip including coconut gardens visit and village tuk tuk tour
• HCMC – KOTO dinner

Day 1: Hanoi

Welcome to Vietnam. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm.

Day 2: Halong Bay

Travel by private minibus to the spectacular World Heritage site of Halong Bay in the Gulf of Tonkin (approximately four hours). The bay is dotted with sandy coves, grottos and 1,600 limestone islands, which have been formed over millennia by wind and water erosion. Board a private boat and cruise the bay, exploring island caves.

Day 3: Hanoi – Overnight Train

Return by boat to Ha Long, and at approximately midday travel by bus back to Hanoi. Arrive late this afternoon, and use free time to shop, explore the sights or just relax. Later tonight board an overnight train to Hue.

Day 4: Hue

Once the imperial capital of Vietnam, Hue holds the treasures of the country’s royal past. You’ll have free time in the morning to rest or explore. The bustling Dong Ba Market is a great place to sample some of the foods that once graced the Nguyen emperors’ tables, such as banh khoai (royal rice cake).

Day 5: Hue

Today, tour the sights of Hue on the back of a motorbike driven by a local guide. Enjoy a stop at Thanh Toan to see the 18th century covered bridge and villagers shopping at their local market. Visit the 17th-century active Buddhist monastery of Thien Mu Pagoda.

Day 6: Hoi An

This morning travel by bus through coastal rice paddies and the spectacular Hai Van Pass. After a brief visit to Lang Co Beach, arrive into Hoi An. On arrival your leader will take you on a sightseeing walk through the Old Town and visit a handful of the city’s major attractions. You’ll will also be given a sightseeing pass so you can further explore select attractions at your leisure.

Day 7: Hoi An

Today is a free day to explore Hoi An. Browse the town’s cobbled streets and art galleries, or hire a bike and cycle through rice paddies out to Cua Dai Beach. Shop for paintings, ceramics and colourful cloth lanterns in the town’s markets and preserved Chinese shop houses.

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City

Today take a short early morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City has a fascinating history and is arguably Vietnam’s capital of commerce and culture.

Day 9: Mekong Delta/Ho Chi Minh City

This morning head out on a day trip to explore the Mekong Delta. Board a boat to Ben Tre to visit the coconut gardens, stopping at a local home to sample tropical fruits & coconut jams. Afterwards, paddle in sampans (small rowing boats) past water coconut trees along the Mekong.

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City

Your trip ends after breakfast today. There are no activities included and you’re free to depart your accommodation at any time.

Please note, prices listed are guide prices only and are based on a solo traveller sharing a room and doesn’t include any additional supplements.

If you would like your own room please call us and let us know, this will incur a charge of £110. Holiday prices are fluid and dynamic and may be changed at a moment’s notice, prior to booking, at which point they are confirmed. Please call the team free on 0800 707 6229 for more departure dates available and a quote.