Classic Vietnam: North to South Journey - 11 days 10 nights
The complete Vietnam journey -- north to south with depth. Hanoi, 'Ha Long Bay on Land' at Ninh Binh, a Ha Long Bay cruise, the overnight train to imperial Hue, Hoi An's lanterns, Da Nang beaches, and Saigon + Mekong Delta.
AdventureEasy
Hanoi2 Nights Stay
Day 01
morning
10:00
Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport. Transfer to Old Quarter hotel (45 min).
afternoon
14:00
Walk through the 36 Old Streets (Pho Co). Hoan Kiem Lake sunset walk.
evening
18:30
Water Puppet Theatre (350 INR). Dinner: Pho Thin (175 INR).
Day 02
morning
07:30
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex. Temple of Literature (105 INR).
afternoon
13:00
St. Joseph's Cathedral. West Lake bicycle ride (17 km perimeter, 175-350 INR bike rental). Tran Quoc Pagoda -- Hanoi's oldest temple (6th century).
evening
18:00
Train Street egg coffee. Bun Cha Huong Lien for dinner (175-245 INR).
Travel to Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh1 Nights Stay
Day 03
morning
08:00
Limousine bus from Hanoi to Ninh Binh (2 hrs, 350-525 INR). Check into homestay in Tam Coc area.
afternoon
13:00
Tam Coc Boat Ride (525 INR + 175 INR boat) -- 2-hour row through three caves, rice paddies, and limestone karsts. The rowers use their feet.
15:30
Bich Dong Pagoda -- three-level pagoda carved into a cliff. 15-min walk from boat station.
evening
17:00
Rent a bicycle and ride through rice paddies at sunset (280-525 INR). Home-cooked dinner at homestay (350-525 INR).
Travel to Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay1 Nights Stay
Day 04
morning
06:00
Mua Cave (350 INR) -- climb 500 steps for the most iconic viewpoint in Ninh Binh. Panorama of karsts and rivers.
09:00
Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex (UNESCO, 875 INR) -- 3-hour boat ride through caves and waterways.
afternoon
14:00
Transfer to Ha Long Bay (4-5 hrs). Board overnight cruise by evening.
evening
18:00
Sunset cruise. Seafood dinner on board. Kayaking and squid fishing.
Travel to On Train
On Train1 Nights Stay
Day 05
morning
06:30
Wake on the bay. Tai chi on deck. Breakfast. Disembark by 11 AM.
afternoon
12:00
Transfer back to Hanoi. Free afternoon in Hanoi -- last-minute shopping or rest.
evening
20:00
Board Reunification Express night train to Hue (13-14 hrs). Soft sleeper 4-berth cabin with AC and charging points. An experience in itself.
Travel to Hue
Hue1 Nights Stay
Day 06
morning
08:00
Arrive Hue. Grab to hotel. Freshen up. Breakfast: Bun Bo Hue at O Phuong (122 INR) -- spicy beef noodle soup with lemongrass, far more complex than pho.
afternoon
12:00
Imperial Citadel / Dai Noi (700 INR) -- the Forbidden City of Vietnam. Destroyed in 1968 Tet Offensive, partially restored. Allow 2-3 hours.
15:00
Thien Mu Pagoda (free) on the Perfume River bank. Iconic 7-story tower (1601). Dragon boat ride on the Perfume River (1,050-1,750 INR per boat).
evening
18:00
Royal Hue cuisine dinner -- com hen (clam rice), banh beo (steamed rice cakes), banh loc (clear shrimp dumplings) at Hanh Restaurant (280-420 INR).
Travel to Hoi An
Hoi An2 Nights Stay
Day 07
morning
08:00
Private car over the Hai Van Pass -- the Top Gear 'best coast road in the world'. Jaw-dropping coastal views. Hue to Hoi An via pass (4,200-5,250 INR per car).
afternoon
12:00
Arrive Hoi An. Check into boutique hotel. Lunch on your own.
15:00
Hoi An Ancient Town at leisure. Japanese Covered Bridge, assembly halls, old merchant houses.
evening
18:00
Lanterns illuminate the Ancient Town at dusk. Hoi An Night Market on Nguyen Hoang Street. Thu Bon River walk.
Day 08
morning
08:00
Heritage ticket (420 INR). Japanese Covered Bridge, Fujian Assembly Hall, Tan Ky Old House. Visit a tailor shop for custom suits or dresses.
afternoon
13:00
Cooking class (1,900-2,900 INR) with market visit. Or: My Son Sanctuary (UNESCO, 525 INR + 1,050-1,400 INR tour) -- Vietnam's Angkor Wat.
evening
17:00
Basket Boat Ride in coconut palm forest (630 INR). Dinner: Banh Mi Phuong (105 INR) -- 'a symphony in a sandwich'.
Travel to Da Nang
Da Nang1 Nights Stay
Day 09
morning
08:00
Transfer to Da Nang (35 min). Marble Mountains / Ngu Hanh Son (140 INR entry + 52 INR elevator). Five marble hills with caves, tunnels, Buddhist sanctuaries.
afternoon
13:00
My Khe Beach -- named one of the world's most luxurious beaches by Forbes. Free. Sunbed 105-175 INR.
evening
18:00
Dragon Bridge -- on weekends at 9 PM the dragon breathes fire and water. Seafood dinner at Be Man (1,400-2,100 INR for two).
Travel to Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City1 Nights Stay
Day 10
morning
07:00
Flight Da Nang to HCMC (1.5 hrs). Grab to District 1. Check into hotel.
11:00
Cu Chi Tunnels guided half-day tour. Crawl through tunnels, see booby traps, learn wartime history.
afternoon
14:30
War Remnants Museum (140 INR). Notre-Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office.
evening
17:00
Ben Thanh Market. Saigon Skydeck sunset (700 INR). Dinner: Banh Xeo 46A (210-280 INR).
Travel to Ho Chi Minh City
Flight Departure
Where You'll Stay
2N in Hanoi
Boutique Hotel, Old Quarter or similar
Old Quarter, Hanoi
ROOM DETAILS:
Old Quarter Location
Breakfast
AC
4.5/5
Guest Rating
1N in Ninh Binh
Homestay, Tam Coc or similar
Tam Coc, Ninh Binh
ROOM DETAILS:
Rice Paddy Views
Home-Cooked Meals
4.4/5
Guest Rating
1N in Ha Long Bay
Overnight Cruise or similar
Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh
ROOM DETAILS:
Bay Views
All Meals
Kayaking
4.6/5
Guest Rating
1N in Hue
Boutique Hotel, Hue or similar
Perfume River area, Hue
ROOM DETAILS:
River Views
Breakfast
AC
4.5/5
Guest Rating
2N in Hoi An
Boutique Hotel, Hoi An or similar
Ancient Town, Hoi An
ROOM DETAILS:
Ancient Town
Pool
Breakfast
4.7/5
Guest Rating
1N in Da Nang
Beachfront Hotel or similar
My Khe Beach, Da Nang
ROOM DETAILS:
Beachfront
Pool
Breakfast
4.5/5
Guest Rating
2N in Ho Chi Minh City
Hotel, District 1 or similar
District 1, HCMC
ROOM DETAILS:
Central D1
AC
Breakfast
4.5/5
Guest Rating
What's Included
Inclusions
10 nights accommodation (double occupancy)
Daily breakfast
Ha Long Bay overnight cruise with meals
Reunification Express soft sleeper (Hanoi-Hue)
1 internal flight (Da Nang-HCMC)
Private car over Hai Van Pass (Hue to Hoi An)
Mekong Delta guided day trip with lunch
Cu Chi Tunnels guided tour
All airport and station transfers
All entry tickets listed in itinerary
English-speaking guide for 4 full days
Cooking class in Hoi An
Visa assistance
24/7 WhatsApp support
Exclusions
International flights to/from Vietnam
Visa fee ($25 USD e-visa)
Travel insurance
Meals not specified (some lunches and dinners)
Tailoring in Hoi An
Ba Na Hills / Golden Bridge (optional add-on)
Personal expenses and shopping
Tips for guides and crew
Trip Overview
An 11-day north-to-south journey covering Vietnam in depth. Beyond the highlights of the Explorer route, this adds the stunning Ninh Binh karst landscape ('Ha Long Bay on Land'), the atmospheric overnight Reunification Express train to Hue, the imperial citadel and royal cuisine of Hue, the spectacular Hai Van Pass drive to Da Nang, and a Mekong Delta day trip from Saigon. This is the full picture of Vietnam -- its history, food, landscapes, and people -- at a pace that lets you absorb each city properly.
Travel Tips
BEST TIME: March-April or October-November for the whole north-to-south route.
VISA: E-visa required for Indians. $25 USD single entry. Apply at evisa.gov.vn 5-7 days before travel.
THE TRAIN: The Reunification Express night train (Hanoi to Hue) is an experience in itself -- soft sleeper cabins with charging points, and you wake up to stunning scenery. Book on dsvn.vn or 12go.asia.
THE DRIVE: The Hai Van Pass (Hue to Hoi An) was called 'the best coast road in the world' by Top Gear. We arrange a private car over the pass.
FOOD: This itinerary covers all three Vietnamese food regions. Hanoi (clean, subtle broths), Hue (spicy, complex royal cuisine), Saigon (sweeter, herb-heavy, French-influenced).
MEKONG DELTA: The day trip to the delta is a window into rural Vietnamese life -- floating markets, coconut candy workshops, elephant ear fish grilled whole.
MONEY: 1 INR ~ 285 VND. Cash for markets and street food. Grab app for all city transport.
₹ 109,999
₹ 142,999
if booked separately₹ 109,999 per room
Save up to 30% vs. booking each stay separately
Guests
2 guests (1 room)
2
You won't be charged yet
Free cancellation up to 30 days
50% refund after that
Verified homestays
Best price guarantee
24/7 support
No hidden charges
Trip Overview
An 11-day north-to-south journey covering Vietnam in depth. Beyond the highlights of the Explorer route, this adds the stunning Ninh Binh karst landscape ('Ha Long Bay on Land'), the atmospheric overnight Reunification Express train to Hue, the imperial citadel and royal cuisine of Hue, the spectacular Hai Van Pass drive to Da Nang, and a Mekong Delta day trip from Saigon. This is the full picture of Vietnam -- its history, food, landscapes, and people -- at a pace that lets you absorb each city properly.
Travel Tips
BEST TIME: March-April or October-November for the whole north-to-south route.
VISA: E-visa required for Indians. $25 USD single entry. Apply at evisa.gov.vn 5-7 days before travel.
THE TRAIN: The Reunification Express night train (Hanoi to Hue) is an experience in itself -- soft sleeper cabins with charging points, and you wake up to stunning scenery. Book on dsvn.vn or 12go.asia.
THE DRIVE: The Hai Van Pass (Hue to Hoi An) was called 'the best coast road in the world' by Top Gear. We arrange a private car over the pass.
FOOD: This itinerary covers all three Vietnamese food regions. Hanoi (clean, subtle broths), Hue (spicy, complex royal cuisine), Saigon (sweeter, herb-heavy, French-influenced).
MEKONG DELTA: The day trip to the delta is a window into rural Vietnamese life -- floating markets, coconut candy workshops, elephant ear fish grilled whole.
MONEY: 1 INR ~ 285 VND. Cash for markets and street food. Grab app for all city transport.
Stay Options in Vietnam
Prefer to plan your own trip? Browse verified stays in the cities this tour covers.