Classic Vietnam: Hanoi to the Mekong
12 Days Starting in Hanoi, Vietnam and ending in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Visiting: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Huế, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong River Delta, Can Tho
Tour operator:
Tour code:
26157
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 16
Age range:
12-
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable adventure through Vietnam with the "Classic Vietnam: Hanoi to the Mekong" tour. This journey takes you from the bustling streets of Hanoi to the serene waters of the Mekong River Delta. Experience the magic of Halong Bay on a traditional junk boat, explore the historic Imperial Citadel in Hue, and wander the charming streets of Hoi An. Discover the Cu Chi Tunnels and immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Ho Chi Minh City. Enjoy unique experiences like the Oodles of Noodles project and a traditional cooking demonstration in the Mekong Delta. With a mix of guided tours and free time, this adventure offers a perfect blend of cultural exploration and relaxation. Travel by train, bus, boat, and plane, and stay in a variety of accommodations, including hotels, a sleeper train, and a local guesthouse. Join us for an authentic taste of Vietnam's rich history and vibrant culture.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi
Location: Hanoi
Accommodation Name: hotel
Arrive at any time.
There are no planned activities today until an evening welcome meeting. After the meeting, opt for dinner out with the group.
Additional Information: Please note, if you would like to visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum it is only open from 7:30 - 10:30 AM and closed on Mondays and Fridays.
ACTIVITY: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Day 2: Hanoi/Ha Long
Location: Ha Long Bay
Accommodation Name: junk boat
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy a Ha Long Bay cruise on a junk boat with visits to a cave and an island lookout. Savour a seafood lunch and dinner.
Drive to Bai Chay harbour, the jumping off point for Ha Long Bay. Thousands of islands with intricate cave systems rise dramatically from the waters. Sail past limestone karst mountains in the junk boat and stop to visit some of the islands and caves.
In the evening, devour a seafood dinner, then opt to enjoy a drink on deck under the stars.
TRANSPORT: Climb aboard and make friends with your seatmate en route to the next stop.
TRANSPORT: Skim across the water aboard this iconic traditional Asian sailboat.
ACTIVITY: Board a traditional junk boat at Ha Long Bay harbour and cruise out onto serene waters. Marvel at massive limestone karst mountains jutting out of the water, creating unforgettable spectacular scenery. Swim, kayak or go cave exploring on one of the islands, if conditions are right. Indulge in fresh seafood meals with a variety of dishes to sample. Drift to sleep in a cozy cabin on board.
On rare occasion Halong Bay is closed to tourist vessels by the government authorities due to extreme weather conditions. Should this occur, an alternate activity will be provided.
Day 3: Ha Long/Huế
Location: Hanoi
Accommodation Name: sleeper train
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Enjoy breakfast and lunch on board before sailing back to the port and return to Hanoi. Enjoy some time in the city before an overnight train to Hue.
Interested in local cuisine? Opt to pre-book the "Hanoi Foodie Culture Tour" activity on the checkout page to include this optional on your tour.
TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Spend a few hours exploring this beautiful capital city. Visit some shops, have a bia hoi on a street corner or grab a coffee in a lakeside café.
TRANSPORT: Drive about 15 mins to the station and then board the southbound train for the overnight journey.
Day 4: Huế
Location: Huế
Accommodation Name: hotel
Guided tour of the Imperial Citadel, Royal Tomb and Tien Mu Pagoda.
Arrive early to Hue, once the imperial capital of Vietnam. Start the day with a visit to the Tien Mu Pagoda followed by a visit to the tomb of one of Vietnam’s former emperors. After, opt for a vegetarian lunch at a local nunnery.
While in the city, try some local Hue specialties such as banh khoai (Hue savoury pancakes), and banh bot loc boc tom thit (thin rice paper filled with meat and shrimp). Wash it all down with a Hue beer.
Opt to pre-book the "Hue Motorbike Tour" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.
ACTIVITY: Visit Tien Mu, one of the tallest and, perhaps, most elegant pagodas in Vietnam, at seven storeys high. Take a step back in time touring this historic temple - built more than 400 years ago along the north shore of the Perfume River, it has been the site of many political protests.
ACTIVITY: Tour this one-time capital city and UNESCO World Heritage site. See the walled fortress and former palace, which has many palaces, gateways, courtyards, and gardens to explore. The Forbidden Purple City (modelled on China's Forbidden City) inside the citadel was once home to the imperial family and was significantly damaged during the Vietnam War.
ACTIVITY: Visit the Royal Tombs along the Perfume River in Hue. Embracing the concept of Feng Shui, these tombs are extremely ornate and provide fantastic insight into the lives of the former rulers.
Day 5: Huế/Hoi An
Location: Hoi An
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Drive the Hai Van pass. Take advantage of Hoi An's many options over the 2.5 days in town. Opt for a cooking class, riverboat trip, bike ride, beach time, tailor visit or My Son ruins.
Cross the Hai Van Pass (weather permitting), with fantastic views in all directions, before arriving to Hoi An in the afternoon.
With three nights here, there's plenty of time to explore all this charming town has to offer.
TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Use free time in this quaint town to explore any way you like.
Day 6: Hoi An
Location: Hoi An
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Explore all Hoi An has to offer. Dive into the culture, hang out on the beach or get clothes tailor-made in one of the many shops around town. Enjoy a noodle making demonstration and lunch at Oodles of Noodles, a G Adventures-supported project.
ACTIVITY: Try some of the oodles of noodles (more than 26 types!) available in the city in this tasty cooking class. Run by our G for Good partners, STREETS International, this class was developed exclusively for G Adventures. Former street youth that are part of this hospitality training program, will help you prepare and cook a number of different types of noodles. This program helps these youth practice their English, increasing their skill-set and opportunities available to them in the tourism industry. Enjoy your yummy creations while learning more about the local cuisine and this initiative which empowers street youth through skills and employment training.
FREE TIME: HALF DAY Explore this charming city.
Day 7: Hoi An
Location: Hoi An
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Spend a free day exploring all Hoi An has to offer.
FREE TIME: FULL DAY Enjoy free time in this charming town.
Day 8: Hoi An/Ho Chi Minh City
Location: Ho Chi Minh City
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Fly from Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City with free time to explore this hectic city.
Drive to Da Nang for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City, once the capital of South Vietnam and the country’s commercial centre. Start exploring the small alleys and busy streets, keeping an eye out for laquerware shops and delicious local food stalls.
TRANSPORT: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City
Location: Ho Chi Minh City
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy a guided tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels and learn more about the Vietnam War. Use free time in the afternoon to explore sprawling Ho Chi Minh City.
With some free time in the city, opt to visit the Thien Hau and Giac Vien pagodas and stroll through the immense Ben Thanh Market. Also well worth a visit are the Reunification Palace (the residence of South Vietnam presidents before 1975), the city's Chinese quarter of Cholon, and the War Remnants Museum.
ACTIVITY: Take a guided tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels, a complex network of tunnels that the Viet Cong lived in to protect themselves from opposing forces during the Vietnam War. Try crawling through some of the tunnels (if you’re not claustrophobic). These tunnels stored ammunition, had underground hospitals, and served as a hidden base for attacking allied forces.
FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Get out and explore this frenetic city.
Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City/Mekong River
Location: Mekong River Delta
Accommodation Name: local guesthouse
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Travel to the beautiful Mekong River Delta, south of Ho Chi Minh City, and experience the local way of living. Visit two of the main regions of the Delta, Ben Tre and Cai Thia. Cruise through the river in a traditional sampan boat, bike along the waterways and spend time with the family at your local guesthouse preparing a dinner of spring rolls and Banh Xeo before a lantern lit evening performance by the local villagers.
TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
ACTIVITY: Visit the Ben Tre region of the Mekong River Delta. Visit a coconut plantation, row a sampan down the river and cycle along the waterways.
ACTIVITY: Visit the Cai Thia community of the Mekong River. Arrive by boat to a local home to observe how a traditional rice paper is made. Have a chance to try to make one for yourself. Continue by boat to your local guesthouse. Make a home cooked local dinner with our hosts. After dinner, use a lamp to walk through the dark to watch the local villagers' traditional music and performance.
Day 11: Mekong River
Location: Can Tho
Accommodation Name: local guesthouse
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Depart your homestay after breakfast and visit the community riverside market. From there, board a boat to arrive to the Pottery Brick Village, known as the Red Kingdom, and explore by bicycle. Then drive to the last region we'll visit on the Mekong Delta called Can Tho. Enjoy a free afternoon at leisure to explore the area. Opt to do some bird watching or visit the local town.
ACTIVITY: Take a boat to the Pottery Brick Village, Mang Thit, known as the the Red Kingdom. The cycle though the beautiful river side town. Ride through rice fields, plantations and local factories.
FREE TIME: Enjoy a free afternoon in the Can Tho region of the Mekong River Delta.
Day 12: Mekong River/Ho Chi Minh City
Location: Ho Chi Minh City
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Wake up to watch the sun rise over one of the most unique parts of life on the Mekong River, Cai Rang Floating Market. Explore by land and boat before driving back to Ho Chi Minh City. Your tour finishes upon arrival to the city.
ACTIVITY: Cai Rang Floating Market is one of the ten most impressive markets in the world, characterized by colorful boats selling tropical fruits and vegetables that are tossed from craft to craft and a little coffee vendor boat bounces in and out of the gaps, serving strong iced coffee to both vendors and customers. This market is considered a special gem in Vietnam, boasting the uniqueness of life on the Mekong River.
TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
What's Included
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G for Good Moment
Experience the Oodles of Noodles project in Hoi An.
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Welcome Moment
Meet your CEO and group upon arrival.
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Discover Moment
Explore Hoi An at your leisure.
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Local Living Moment
Visit Cai Thia in the Mekong Delta.
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Free time in Hanoi
Enjoy leisure time to explore Hanoi.
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Halong Bay Caves Entrance
Entrance to the caves in Halong Bay is included.
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Halong Bay Boat Cruise
Enjoy a boat cruise with seafood lunch and dinner in Halong Bay.
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Thien Mu Pagoda Visit
Visit the historic Thien Mu Pagoda.
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Imperial Citadel and Royal Tombs
Guided tour of the Imperial Citadel and Royal Tombs.
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Free time in Hoi An
Enjoy leisure time to explore Hoi An.
What's Not Included
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Meals Not Included
Meals are generally not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as drinks, shopping, and tipping are not included.
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Optional Activities
Optional activities and excursions are not included in the tour price.
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Spending Money
Spending money for personal expenses is not included.
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Solo Travellers
Solo travellers are paired in shared accommodation without a single supplement.
Mode of Transport
Travel conveniently with a mix of train, air-conditioned bus, boat, and plane, ensuring a seamless journey through Vietnam's diverse landscapes and vibrant cities.
Accommodation
Enjoy a comfortable stay with 7 nights in hotels, 1 night on a sleeper train, and 2 nights in a local guesthouse, providing a mix of modern amenities and authentic local experiences.
Meals Included
9 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners
Group Size
Max 16, Avg 12.
Minimum Age
You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.
Group Leader
All G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of our Chief Experience Officers (CEO). The aim of the CEO is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it's the best of both worlds.
Meals
Eating is a big part of traveling. Travelling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. Included breakfasts will usually be asian style consisting of noodles or congee (rice porridge) or bread and eggs. Vegetarians will be able to find a range of different foods, although in some areas the choice maybe limited. While trekking in remote regions food is included, plentiful and made of fresh local ingredients. For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.
What to Take
What you need to bring depends on the trip you have chosen and the countries or regions you are planning to visit. We suggest that you pack as lightly as possible as your are expected to carry your own luggage. As a rule we try not to have to walk more than 15-20 minutes with your bags which is why we recommend keeping the weight of your bags between 10-15kg/22-30lb. Suitcases are not recommended for G Adventures trips! Most travellers carry a backpack or rolling bag of small to medium size (no XXL ones please!) as they need to fit under the beds when travelling on sleeper trains. You will also need a day pack/bag to carry water, cameras and other electronics like ipods and mobile phones. If your trip involves overnights in homestays, villages or camping then you usually have the opportunity to rent sleeping bags if need be instead of bringing them with you.
Spending Money
Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.
Solo Travellers
We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of transportation is used during the tour?
The tour uses a variety of transportation methods including train, air-conditioned bus, boat, and plane to travel between destinations and to/from included activities.
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What types of accommodation are provided on this tour?
The tour includes stays in hotels for 7 nights, a sleeper train for 1 night, and local guesthouses for 2 nights.
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What is the Oodles of Noodles project in Hoi An?
The Oodles of Noodles project is a G for Good Moment where participants can engage in a noodle-making demonstration and lunch. It is part of a hospitality training program for former street youth, helping them practice English and gain skills for the tourism industry.
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What activities are included in the Mekong River Delta experience?
In the Mekong River Delta, you will visit the Ben Tre and Cai Thia regions, cruise through the river in a traditional sampan boat, cycle along the waterways, and participate in a cooking demonstration at a local guesthouse. You will also visit the Cai Rang Floating Market and the Pottery Brick Village.
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What can I expect during the Halong Bay cruise?
During the Halong Bay cruise, you will sail on a traditional junk boat, visit caves and island lookouts, and enjoy seafood meals. There is also an opportunity to swim, kayak, or explore caves on one of the islands, depending on conditions.
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What is the significance of the Cu Chi Tunnels tour?
The Cu Chi Tunnels tour provides a guided exploration of a complex network of tunnels used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. Visitors can learn about the historical significance of the tunnels and even try crawling through some of them.
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Are there any internal flights included in the tour?
Yes, there is an internal flight included in the itinerary from Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
G Adventures was established in 1990
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Most of our trips do not have a single supplement. This means that the accommodation is on a twin share basis and, if travelling on your own, you will be sharing a room with another G Adventures traveller of the same sex. Some tours have an optional single supplement. An optional service that may be available is called "My Own Room". This service allows solo travellers to request their own room.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
It's extremely difficult if not impossible to join a tour after it has begun. It is possible to leave a tour early however you will be responsible for your own arrangements from the moment you decide to leave the tour. You would also be responsible for all costs associated with joining a tour late or leaving one early. If you feel this may be necessary, please consult us before you book.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
https://www.gadventures.com/travel-with-confidence/
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
https://www.gadventures.com/about-us/core-values/
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Free Date Changes
G Adventures allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 0 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
G Adventures requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of g adventures charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions