Vietnam Express Southbound

Intrepid Travel · 10 days
Vietnam Express Southbound
Vietnam Express Southbound
Vietnam Express Southbound
Vietnam Express Southbound
Vietnam Express Southbound
Vietnam Express Southbound
Vietnam Express Southbound
Vietnam Express Southbound
Vietnam Express Southbound
Vietnam Express Southbound
Vietnam Express Southbound
Vietnam Express Southbound
Vietnam Express Southbound
Vietnam Express Southbound
Vietnam Express Southbound
Vietnam Express Southbound
Vietnam Express Southbound
Vietnam Express Southbound
Vietnam Express Southbound
Vietnam Express Southbound
10 Days
From AUD $1740
Trip Type
Small Group
Activity Level
Light

Rating


(20 reviews)

Vietnam Express Southbound

Vietnam Express Southbound

Intrepid Travel · 10 days
Duration

10 days

Tour Type

Small Group

Accommodations

Moderate

Physical Rating

Light

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

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.

Highlights

  • 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.

Trip Details

Duration

10 days

Transportation

Boat,Motorbike,Overnight sleeper train,Plane,Private Minibus,Taxi,Sampan,Tuk-tuk

Tour Type

Small Group

Guide Language

English

Starts

Hanoi, Vietnam

Finishes

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Accommodations

Moderate

Travel Style

Explorer

Physical Rating

Light

Itinerary

1
Day 1: Hanoi
Xin chao! Welcome to Hanoi. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm at your hotel, followed by a group dinner at KOTO restaurant – this organisation is dedicated to developing the hospitality careers of disadvantaged youth. If you arrive early, there’s plenty to see and do in this gorgeous city. You could book the Hanoi Street Food Experience with Urban Adventures and sample some delicious Vietnamese cuisine like a true local, or chill by Hoan Kiem Lake. Maybe wander the Old Quarter to admire the city’s French architecture and shopping streets, then grab a cold beer and a Bahn mi on a bustling street corner.

Included Activities:

  • Hanoi - KOTO dinner

Optional Activities:

  • Hanoi - Women's Museum (30000 VND)
  • Hanoi - Museum of Ethnology (40000 VND)
  • Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex (80000 VND)
  • Hanoi - Hanoi Street Food Experience Urban Adventure (39 USD)
  • Hanoi - Ninh Binh Mini Adventure (TVAN) (355 USD)
  • Hiking in Sapa (TVAG) (432 USD)

Accommodation:

  • Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
2
Day 2: Halong Bay
Travel by private minibus to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay, which is dotted with sandy coves, grottoes and 1600 limestone islands, formed over millennia by wind and water erosion. Board a private boat and cruise the bay, exploring Surprise Cave and Ti Top Island Beach. If you like, you can also take on an optional kayaking tour of the bay and see the gorgeous natural scenery from a different perspective. Spend your evening aboard the boat beneath the night sky, watching as the stars come out and maybe grab a drink at the restaurant bar, getting to know your fellow travellers a little better.

Included Activities:

  • Halong Bay - Overnight Boat Cruise
  • Halong Bay - Cave entry

Optional Activities:

  • Halong Bay - Kayaking Tour (250000 VND)

Accommodation:

  • Overnight boat (Number of Nights: 1)
3
Day 3: Hanoi – Overnight train
Wake up on the waters of Ha Long Bay and maybe watch the sunrise as the eagles soar overhead. Then, you’ll visit The Green Life Centre, which is committed to turning the bay’s trash into treasure by collecting discarded items and skilfully turning them into handicrafts. Meet the team behind this important cause and learn how to transform rubbish into a reusable bag, a scrunchie or a makeup case. After return to Hanoi by bus. Arrive late this afternoon and enjoy a free afternoon until tonight’s train voyage. Be sure to grab a bowl of pho while you’re in town and slurp down this local specialty made from broth, noodles and meat. Maybe chill by Hoan Kiem Lake until you board an overnight train to Hue this evening.

Included Activities:

  • Halong Bay - The Green Life Visit

Accommodation:

  • Overnight sleeper train (Number of Nights: 1)
4
Day 4: Hue
Arrive in Hue this morning and transfer to your hotel. Once the imperial capital of Vietnam, Hue holds the treasures of the country’s royal past. Enjoy free time in the morning to rest or explore – you could check out the bustling Dong Ba Market to sample some of the specialties that once graced the Nguyen emperors' tables. Reunite with the group to visit the war-damaged ruins of the Imperial Citadel – a sprawling city-within-a-city which contains the remains of temples, state houses and the emperor’s palace.

Included Activities:

  • Hue - Imperial City entrance and guided visit

Accommodation:

  • Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
5
Day 5: Hue
See Hue like a local today – from the back of a motorbike! Straddle the saddle and whiz around town with a local guide, taking in historic and contemporary sights along the way. 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 and see the car that belonged to Thich Quang Duc – the monk who self-immolated in 1963 in protest against the treatment of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese regime. For lunch, sit down to a vegetarian feast in a nunnery. Finish at the lakeside royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc before heading back to town.

Included Activities:

  • Hue - Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc
  • Hue - Highlights & back streets tour by motorbike
  • Hue - Thien Mu Pagoda
  • Hue - Vegetarian Lunch at Pagoda

Accommodation:

  • Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
6
Day 6: Hoi An
This morning, take the bus through coastal rice paddies and the spectacular Hai Van Pass. After a photo stop on the way, arrive in Hoi An – recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, Hoi An was a major international trading port during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Today, parts of the beautifully preserved town retain the feel of centuries past. This is also a very popular town for shopping, famous for its many tailors. When you arrive, your leader will take you on a sightseeing walk through the Old Town to visit a handful of the city's major attractions. You’ll also be given a sightseeing pass so you can further explore select attractions at your leisure.

Included Activities:

  • Hoi An - Old Town walking tour

Optional Activities:

  • Hoi An - Food Adventure Urban Adventure (39 USD)

Accommodation:

  • Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
7
Day 7: Hoi An
Today is a free day to explore Hoi An. Maybe browse the cobbled streets and art galleries or hire a bike and cycle through rice paddies out to Cua Dai Beach. Maybe browse for paintings, ceramics and colourful cloth lanterns in the town’s markets and preserved Chinese shophouses. If you’re craving a new look, you could visit to one of the hundreds of tailors and get an outfit custom made. Hoi An is also known for its delicious regional food, so you could have dinner a riverside restaurant or partake in a cooking class.

Optional Activities:

  • Hoi An - Private Hoi An: My Son Discovery (73 USD)

Accommodation:

  • Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
8
Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City
Today, you’ll 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. After landing, take a sightseeing tour around the city by bus. Pass the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Opera House, then stop in at the War Remnants Museum to discover some of the sobering stories of the 20-year-long Vietnam/American War.

Included Activities:

  • Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum
  • Ho Chi Minh City - City tour

Optional Activities:

  • Ho Chi Minh City - Reunification Palace (40000 VND)
  • Ho Chi Minh City - A O show (1050000 VND)
  • Ho Chi Minh City - Saigon Street Food by Night Urban Adventure (29 USD)

Accommodation:

  • Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
9
Day 9: Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City
This morning, head out on a daytrip to explore the Mekong Delta. Board a private boat to Ben Tre to visit the coconut gardens and stop at a local home to sample tropical fruits and coconut jams. After, paddle in sampans (small rowing boats) past coconut trees along the Mekong Delta. Take a tuk-tuk tour around the villages and learn about rural life and the industry created around coconut products like brooms and coconut fibre mats. Eat lunch at a restaurant in the heart of the Delta, sampling regional specialties like elephant ear fish. After, return to Ho Chi Minh City and maybe grab dinner with your fellow travellers to toast to a great adventure!

Included Activities:

  • Mekong Delta - Mekong Delta Day Trip & Village Tuk-Tuk Tour
  • Mekong Delta - Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
10
Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City
There are no activities included today and you’re free to depart your accommodation at any time, as long as you comply with check out time. If you would like to spend some more time in Ho Chi Minh City, just speak to your booking agent.

Optional Activities:

  • Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnel Experience Urban Adventure (39 USD)
Exclusions
  • Flights to and from origin and destinations
  • Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
  • Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
  • Recommended gratuities/tipping
  • Optional activities/tours
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.
Important Information
Meals

When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We willdo our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Luggage

You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.

Mobility

Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.

Fitness Level

This tour requires an Average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.

Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.

If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling. (Note: I assume each tour has a different description depending on level of fitness required).

Sightseeing

If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.

Visas

Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.

  • It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
  • Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
  • Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.
Departure Dates & Surcharges: See checkout for live dates and availability.
AUD $1,740
(Tour only)
Per Person Twin Share

Duration: 10 days

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Light

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.

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 01 May 2026

Customer Reviews

Overall Rating
Excellent
4.5
Guide
Excellent
4.5
Itinerary
Excellent
4.5
Accommodations
Excellent
4.5
Transportation
Excellent
4.5
Tour Operator
Excellent
4.5
Food
Excellent
4.5
5.0
Lorraine
Traveled, April 2024

04/18/2024

This was my second Intrepid tour of Vietnam! It did not disappoint! The variety of transport, accommodation and adventures was fantastic! Vietnam is a beautiful country to explore and Intrepid makes it easy! A must do! ??

4.5
Corey
Traveled, April 2024

04/18/2024

The Vietnam express southbound tour was absolutely amazing, the itinerary was jampacked full of adventure and great food! Definitely recommend!

Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.

In Business Since 1989