12-Day Vietnam Tour from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi: Hoi An, Hue, Pu Luong Park and Ha Long

Good Morning Vietnam! You will be picked up and transferred to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh at any time on Day 1. After you check in, you are then free to explore or chill until you meet the rest of your group for a welcome dinner feast with your new friends. Take a dip in the rooftop pool overlooking the city and get ready for the trip of a lifetime!

Activities: Welcome Dinner

Physical Rating: Low

After breakfast, get ready for a cultural experience like no other, learning the national sport called da cao! This is also called “foot badminton” and you will see it played in every park around the country. Learn the basics from one of the local teams we support as part of our community projects. After that, we will head out on a walking tour to see sights and some hidden gems of this incredible city. Refresh back at the hotel before heading to the train station for our overnight train to Da Nang.

Activities: Da Cao, HCMC Walking tour

Physical Rating: Medium

Upon arrival, you will be picked up by the team and transferred to the banks of the Thu Bon River where we will have lunch before kayaking into the majestic old town of Hoi An. After a short walk to your hotel to freshen up, you can take a dip in the pool and then head out to explore the area. Near our hotel, you will find the famous Hoi An night market, where you can get your own tailored clothes.

Activities: Kayak into Hoi An

Optional Extras: Visit a Tailor

Physical Rating: Medium/High

Rise and shine! Spend the morning cycling through the countryside by small villages and rice fields to a quiet riverbank where we will begin collecting the plastic pollution that has been discarded along the river. Enjoy a refreshing welcome drink at the Eco Brick house before heading back to a Hoi An garden house where we will classify the trash to make eco bricks for a local NGO. The afternoon is yours to explore however you want (beach time!)

Activities: Cycling tour, Eco Brick NGO Visit, local farming

Physical Rating: Medium

After having breakfast at the hotel, you’ll travel to Hue (the Imperial City) in style! We will start by making our way up the famous Hai Van Pass! On the way, we will pass a beautiful waterfall, stop for lunch and drive through magical country backroads. After, we will arrive in the historical town of Hue, the old seat of the Nguyen Dynasty, in the afternoon.

Activities: Waterfall visiting, Open-top Jeep ride

Physical Rating: Low

Prepare for an adventure to the Imperial City this morning, where you’ll gain insight into Vietnam’s imperial history and culture.

We’ll then make our way to a local garden house on the banks of the Perfume River to learn some Vietnamese classics in a cooking class. Relax until transferring to Hue Train Station for your night train to Ninh Binh.

Activities:Dragon boat, Pagoda,Cooking Class

Physical Rating: Low

Get ready for your trip to one of the most amazing landscape destinations of Vietnam! We will hop on the bus and head to Pu Luong National Park. On the way we will stop for lunch and visit the Chua Ngoc Chau Temple. We willthen arrive at our accommodation, a local homestay in Ban Hieu which is nestled between rice paddies and mountains. Visit a waterfall beforedinner with local families. Experience incredible off the beaten pathscenery all around you and bed down tonight in one of the local houses.

Activities:Unique stay, Temple visit, Waterfall visit

Optional Extras: Temple

Physical Rating: Low

After breakfast with a wonderful valley view, we will start with a trek, heading to a beautiful traditional rural bamboo lake house where you cantry bamboo rafting or swim in the crystal clear water. Lunch will be served here by the local family in an amazing setting surrounded by nature. After lunch you will have time to relax or help the local family with their daily chores before we will have an amazing family dinner.

Activities: Bamboo Rafting, Trek

Physical Rating: Medium/High

As we say goodbye to our homestay family and scenery in Pu Luong, we can look forward to the hustle and bustle of Hanoi and a stay in a beautiful, boutique hotel! Take it easy in the morning and then after a big breakfast, we head off. We arrive in Hanoi in the afternoon and you’ll have time to freshen up and join the rest of your group for a city walk before a feast of local delicacies.

Activities: Street Food Tour

Physical Rating: Low/Medium

We will make our way to the coast where we will await our traditional boatto take us out into the famous Ha Long Bay. We get away from the crowds by travelling north to Bai Tu Long and more of the untouched locations of Ha Long Bay. Kayak around the breathtaking scenery of Cap La Island. Optto visit one of the secret beaches in Cong Do Island before heading back toour boat for sunset drinks and dinner on the top deck.

Activities: Ha Long Bay Cruise, Bai Tu Long Bay, Kayaking

Physical Rating: Low/Medium

Start your day with a chilled Tai Chi routine on the sundeck, or catch a morning view of the stunning bay’s landscape. We’ll then cruise over to the most famous cave system in the whole bay, Thien Canh Son. On the wayback try your hand at the famous Vietnamese fruit & vegetable carving, as well as making spring rolls before disembarking and heading back to Hanoiw here you can do an optional walking tour before celebrating our last night together.

Activities: Tai Chi, Thien Canh Son (cave), Walking tour

Optional Extras: Walking Tour

Physical Rating: Low/Medium

Today is where we say goodbye! Your tour guide will help arrange your onward travel (at own expense).