Authentic Vietnam
Deal number 21223045
Valid for selected travel dates 01 July - 30 September 2025; Departs Tuesdays
Vietnam
12-night holiday
from
$4,999*
per person
Offer expires 31st Jul 2025
What's Included
- Travel Associates Bonus Complimentary annual membership to a Natural History Museum in Australia or New Zealand of your choice when booking an Adventure World trip*.
- 10 nights accommodation in Hotels.
- 2 nights accommodation in an ensuite cabin (Halong Bay).
- 12 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners.
- Animals Asia Bear Sanctuary Tour.
- 3 day 2 night Halong Bay Cruise.
- Hue City Tour.
- Hue to Hoi An with Cham Museum Tour.
- Tra Que village tour.
- Saigon Streets and Eats evening tour.
- Ho Chi Minh City and Cu Chi Tunnels Tour.
- Ben Tre Mekong Tour.
- Transfers and tours by air-conditioned vehicle (private except for shared Halong Bay and Tam Dao return transfers).
- Some short transfers by local boats and other modes of private transport.
- 4 star cruise on Halong Bay.
- The service of a dedicated Travel Advisor managing your booking.
- Pricing includes Travel Associates non-refundable Purple Ribbon Service Booking and Management fees of $200 per adult.
Itinerary
This exciting journey through Vietnam captures many of the country’s most exciting and unique experiences. Explore Hanoi’s enthralling Old Quarter, sampling local delicacies as you go. Cruise spectacular Halong Bay with its thousands of limestone islets. Walk historic Hoi An streets and the rich farming practices of its outlying villages. And experience bustling Saigon, its vibrant markets and the verdant rice bowl of the Mekong Delta. Note: can also be done in reverse direction, south to north
Day 1 Hanoi
On arrival you will be met and transferred to downtown Hanoi and your hotel. The rest of the day or evening is at leisure.
Day 2 Animals Asia Bear Sanctuary
This morning depart Hanoi early for a special experience. Our guide and driver will take us into the countryside north of Hanoi, to Animals Asia Vietnam Bear Sanctuary. Adventure World proudly supports Animal Asia’s efforts to rescue and rehabilitate bears from the suffering of the bear bile industry. The 11-hectare sanctuary provides housing and care for dozens of Asiatic Black and Sun Bears rescued from poachers and captivity across Vietnam. After a safety briefing, one of Animals Asia’s dedicated team will escort us around the sanctuary, where we will learn about the organisation’s work, hear the life stories of some of the bears, observe them at rest and play, and assist in behind the scenes work where practical. After lunch, we will return to Hanoi by mid-afternoon. This evening you will be met by your guide for a fascinating walking tour of Hanoi’s vibrant Old Quarter. In addition to taking in the sights and sounds of this remarkable trading district, our focus will be on some of the city’s signature cuisine. Dishes you may wish to try including famous Hanoi noodle preparations like pho ga (chicken noodle soup), banh cuon (pork and mushroom filled rice noodles), nem cua (crab spring rolls) and perhaps a glass of Hanoi’s famous fresh beer.
Day 3 Hanoi to Halong Bay
This morning you will be picked up from your hotel for the 3-hour drive to Halong Bay. After check-in and a short boat transfer, you will be taken to your cabin, home for the next 2 nights as you cruise the spectacular waterways of Ha Long and Lan Ha Bays. Lunch will be served as you commence cruising, enjoying superb vistas of the thousands of limestone islands. This afternoon’s touring usually includes a visit to Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba Island, and later on there may be a chance to swim in one of the secluded coves of the Bay. Enjoy a delicious dinner on board, with views of the Bay from the deck beforehand.
Day 4 Lan Ha Bay
Start your day with sunrise views or a tai chi class on deck or rise later for breakfast on board. Transfer to your day boat for an excursion to Cat Ba Island, where we cycle (or bus) through tropical hills to Viet Hai village. Relax at the village and learn about local life here before returning to the boat. This afternoon you may wish to take a swim or kayak at Ba Trai Dao, before relaxing back on board before a cooking demonstration and dinner.
Day 5 Lan Ha Bay to Hanoi
Take tai chi on deck, or just a leisurely breakfast admiring the views. Afterwards there is another chance to kayak on the bay, before beginning the return cruise to port. Transfer back to Hanoi, arriving by mid-afternoon. The remainder of the day is free to explore or relax. In the evening, you will be picked up and transferred to KOTO. This not-for-profit social enterprise provides hospitality training to youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, with over 1200 young people graduating since founder Jimmy Pham launched the enterprise in 1999.
Day 6 Hanoi to Hue
This morning, transfer to Hanoi’s Noi Bai airport for your short flight to Hue. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Start your afternoon at the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. The ancient citadel reflects the pomp and ceremony of the dynastic rulers as well as the scars of many years of turmoil, both ancient and modern (the Royal Citadel was badly damaged in the latter stages of the war) but retains a sense of grace and majesty even today. Continue to Thien Mu (Celestial Lady) Pagoda overlooking the Perfume River, constructed in 1601. Leaving the city centre, travel through Hue’s beautiful countryside. Arrive at Tu Duc’s tomb for a stroll. Resting place of one of the Nguyen Dynasty’s emperors, the complex blends traditional and European elements. Take a short ride to Vong Canh Hill with its panoramic viewpoint over the Perfume River and the Royal Valley, home to the Nguyen Dynasty emperors’ tombs.
Day 7 Hue to Hoi An
Leave Hue by road for Hoi An, a drive of approx 3 hours. The scenic route passes through the fishing village of Lang Co before climbing over the Pass of Ocean Clouds. Drive through the modern city of Danang and visit the Cham Museum, which contains the finest collection of the former Cham kingdom’s sculptures and other arts. Travel onto Hoi An. A prosperous trading port from the 16th to 19th centuries, merchants from China, Japan, India, Indonesia and Europe who came to buy silk, spices and porcelain. There is plenty to see and do in Hoi An, with its busy markets and trading streets, galleries and cafes, and the many tailors and restaurants. Outside the town are traditional villages, quiet waterways, and a beach stretching all the way to Danang. This afternoon is free to explore this charming little town, and perhaps sample one of its many great value restaurants by the Tu Bon River in the evening.
Day 8 Hoi An
Today’s tour will begin after breakfast. Travel from Hoi An’s bustling town centre (cycling option available) to a local farm in Tra Que herb village for an insightful morning in the countryside. Learn about the local produce grown and the area’s history from the farmers themselves. Assist the farmers as they work in the garden. Depending on the time of year, this may include tilling the land, fertilising the garden with seaweed, or picking vegetables. This is a unique insight into Vietnamese rural life. Return to the village and enjoy a herbal foot massage. As midday approaches join the family to prepare lunch. Learn the secrets behind some of Hoi An’s most famous traditional dishes. Using vegetables and herbs straight from the garden, cook tam huu, prawns and pork mixed with lots of herbs, and banh xeo, a savoury pancake served inside thin sheets of rice paper. Then sit down and enjoy this delicious home-cooked meal, before returning to Hoi An.
Day 9 Hoi An
Today is free for you to explore Hoi An at your own pace. Try more of the town’s delicious cuisine, walk across the Japanese Covered Bridge, browse the many shops. You may wish to head out of town, take a boat trip on the river or head out to the beach for a swim.
Day 10 Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
This morning you will transfer to Danang Airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. You will be met and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is free until you are met for your evening street food tour. Led by a passionate food guide, you will be taken to hidden local businesses specialising in a variety of Saigon specialities – banh xeo (Vietnamese pancakes), a local soup, and rice with pork ribs may be amongst the dishes savoured. End the evening at a local café for a drink or sweets.
Day 11 Ho Chi Minh City and Cu Chi Tunnels
After breakfast depart the city centre towards Cu Chi district, eventually entering the lush countryside of southern Vietnam. Arrive at the entrance of the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters (Viet Cong) during both the French and American wars. Hear the tales of how these tunnels were built while walking through the forest. Visit two sections of the tunnel where it is possible to venture underground. There are informative displays and war relics around the area to explore. Re to the city centre in time for lunch. Then take a closer look at the city itself, starting at Reunification Hall. This fascinating building, once known as the Presidential Palace, is filled with history. Hear the story of how, on 30 April 1975, North Vietnamese tanks seized the building as Saigon fell. Continue to the Old Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral, two colonial-era monuments. The final stop of the day is Ben Thanh market. Located in the heart of the city, this market is one of the liveliest in the area. The food and dried goods sections of the market are particularly interesting, as are the adjoining streets.
Day 12 Mekong Delta
After breakfast depart Ho Chi Minh City on the 2 hour drive south of the city to the Mekong Delta. On arrival in Ben Tre Province, board a local boat for a first glimpse of life inside the Mekong Delta’s maze of waterways, fertile green terrain and its family-run cottage industries such as coconut candy making. You can see many local women spending their days boiling cauldrons of the sticky coconut goo before rolling it out and slicing sections into squares. Take a hand-rowed sampan journey under the shadow of water coconut trees. After lunch at a riverside restaurant featuring delicious Mekong Delta specialties, cruise back toward the pier then drive back to Ho Chi Minh.
Day 13 Depart Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast, your tour ends with a transfer to the airport.
Day 1 Hanoi
On arrival you will be met and transferred to downtown Hanoi and your hotel. The rest of the day or evening is at leisure.
Day 2 Animals Asia Bear Sanctuary
This morning depart Hanoi early for a special experience. Our guide and driver will take us into the countryside north of Hanoi, to Animals Asia Vietnam Bear Sanctuary. Adventure World proudly supports Animal Asia’s efforts to rescue and rehabilitate bears from the suffering of the bear bile industry. The 11-hectare sanctuary provides housing and care for dozens of Asiatic Black and Sun Bears rescued from poachers and captivity across Vietnam. After a safety briefing, one of Animals Asia’s dedicated team will escort us around the sanctuary, where we will learn about the organisation’s work, hear the life stories of some of the bears, observe them at rest and play, and assist in behind the scenes work where practical. After lunch, we will return to Hanoi by mid-afternoon. This evening you will be met by your guide for a fascinating walking tour of Hanoi’s vibrant Old Quarter. In addition to taking in the sights and sounds of this remarkable trading district, our focus will be on some of the city’s signature cuisine. Dishes you may wish to try including famous Hanoi noodle preparations like pho ga (chicken noodle soup), banh cuon (pork and mushroom filled rice noodles), nem cua (crab spring rolls) and perhaps a glass of Hanoi’s famous fresh beer.
Day 3 Hanoi to Halong Bay
This morning you will be picked up from your hotel for the 3-hour drive to Halong Bay. After check-in and a short boat transfer, you will be taken to your cabin, home for the next 2 nights as you cruise the spectacular waterways of Ha Long and Lan Ha Bays. Lunch will be served as you commence cruising, enjoying superb vistas of the thousands of limestone islands. This afternoon’s touring usually includes a visit to Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba Island, and later on there may be a chance to swim in one of the secluded coves of the Bay. Enjoy a delicious dinner on board, with views of the Bay from the deck beforehand.
Day 4 Lan Ha Bay
Start your day with sunrise views or a tai chi class on deck or rise later for breakfast on board. Transfer to your day boat for an excursion to Cat Ba Island, where we cycle (or bus) through tropical hills to Viet Hai village. Relax at the village and learn about local life here before returning to the boat. This afternoon you may wish to take a swim or kayak at Ba Trai Dao, before relaxing back on board before a cooking demonstration and dinner.
Day 5 Lan Ha Bay to Hanoi
Take tai chi on deck, or just a leisurely breakfast admiring the views. Afterwards there is another chance to kayak on the bay, before beginning the return cruise to port. Transfer back to Hanoi, arriving by mid-afternoon. The remainder of the day is free to explore or relax. In the evening, you will be picked up and transferred to KOTO. This not-for-profit social enterprise provides hospitality training to youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, with over 1200 young people graduating since founder Jimmy Pham launched the enterprise in 1999.
Day 6 Hanoi to Hue
This morning, transfer to Hanoi’s Noi Bai airport for your short flight to Hue. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Start your afternoon at the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. The ancient citadel reflects the pomp and ceremony of the dynastic rulers as well as the scars of many years of turmoil, both ancient and modern (the Royal Citadel was badly damaged in the latter stages of the war) but retains a sense of grace and majesty even today. Continue to Thien Mu (Celestial Lady) Pagoda overlooking the Perfume River, constructed in 1601. Leaving the city centre, travel through Hue’s beautiful countryside. Arrive at Tu Duc’s tomb for a stroll. Resting place of one of the Nguyen Dynasty’s emperors, the complex blends traditional and European elements. Take a short ride to Vong Canh Hill with its panoramic viewpoint over the Perfume River and the Royal Valley, home to the Nguyen Dynasty emperors’ tombs.
Day 7 Hue to Hoi An
Leave Hue by road for Hoi An, a drive of approx 3 hours. The scenic route passes through the fishing village of Lang Co before climbing over the Pass of Ocean Clouds. Drive through the modern city of Danang and visit the Cham Museum, which contains the finest collection of the former Cham kingdom’s sculptures and other arts. Travel onto Hoi An. A prosperous trading port from the 16th to 19th centuries, merchants from China, Japan, India, Indonesia and Europe who came to buy silk, spices and porcelain. There is plenty to see and do in Hoi An, with its busy markets and trading streets, galleries and cafes, and the many tailors and restaurants. Outside the town are traditional villages, quiet waterways, and a beach stretching all the way to Danang. This afternoon is free to explore this charming little town, and perhaps sample one of its many great value restaurants by the Tu Bon River in the evening.
Day 8 Hoi An
Today’s tour will begin after breakfast. Travel from Hoi An’s bustling town centre (cycling option available) to a local farm in Tra Que herb village for an insightful morning in the countryside. Learn about the local produce grown and the area’s history from the farmers themselves. Assist the farmers as they work in the garden. Depending on the time of year, this may include tilling the land, fertilising the garden with seaweed, or picking vegetables. This is a unique insight into Vietnamese rural life. Return to the village and enjoy a herbal foot massage. As midday approaches join the family to prepare lunch. Learn the secrets behind some of Hoi An’s most famous traditional dishes. Using vegetables and herbs straight from the garden, cook tam huu, prawns and pork mixed with lots of herbs, and banh xeo, a savoury pancake served inside thin sheets of rice paper. Then sit down and enjoy this delicious home-cooked meal, before returning to Hoi An.
Day 9 Hoi An
Today is free for you to explore Hoi An at your own pace. Try more of the town’s delicious cuisine, walk across the Japanese Covered Bridge, browse the many shops. You may wish to head out of town, take a boat trip on the river or head out to the beach for a swim.
Day 10 Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
This morning you will transfer to Danang Airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. You will be met and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is free until you are met for your evening street food tour. Led by a passionate food guide, you will be taken to hidden local businesses specialising in a variety of Saigon specialities – banh xeo (Vietnamese pancakes), a local soup, and rice with pork ribs may be amongst the dishes savoured. End the evening at a local café for a drink or sweets.
Day 11 Ho Chi Minh City and Cu Chi Tunnels
After breakfast depart the city centre towards Cu Chi district, eventually entering the lush countryside of southern Vietnam. Arrive at the entrance of the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters (Viet Cong) during both the French and American wars. Hear the tales of how these tunnels were built while walking through the forest. Visit two sections of the tunnel where it is possible to venture underground. There are informative displays and war relics around the area to explore. Re to the city centre in time for lunch. Then take a closer look at the city itself, starting at Reunification Hall. This fascinating building, once known as the Presidential Palace, is filled with history. Hear the story of how, on 30 April 1975, North Vietnamese tanks seized the building as Saigon fell. Continue to the Old Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral, two colonial-era monuments. The final stop of the day is Ben Thanh market. Located in the heart of the city, this market is one of the liveliest in the area. The food and dried goods sections of the market are particularly interesting, as are the adjoining streets.
Day 12 Mekong Delta
After breakfast depart Ho Chi Minh City on the 2 hour drive south of the city to the Mekong Delta. On arrival in Ben Tre Province, board a local boat for a first glimpse of life inside the Mekong Delta’s maze of waterways, fertile green terrain and its family-run cottage industries such as coconut candy making. You can see many local women spending their days boiling cauldrons of the sticky coconut goo before rolling it out and slicing sections into squares. Take a hand-rowed sampan journey under the shadow of water coconut trees. After lunch at a riverside restaurant featuring delicious Mekong Delta specialties, cruise back toward the pier then drive back to Ho Chi Minh.
Day 13 Depart Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast, your tour ends with a transfer to the airport.
Terms of service
- The following product terms and conditions apply in addition to our Booking Terms and Conditions (available on our website) and terms and conditions of the relevant travel service provider.
- Prices quoted valid for sale until 31 July 2025 for travel during the period specified (if applicable) unless otherwise stated or sold out prior.
- All prices are per person (unless otherwise stated), subject to availability and may be withdrawn or varied without notice. Accommodation (if included) is based on [twin share] unless otherwise stated.
- Pricing includes Travel Associates non-refundable Purple Ribbon Service Booking and Management fees of $250 per person* Complimentary annual membership to a Natural History Museum of your choice when booking an Adventure World trip. Museums to choose from are: Australian Museum, National Museum Australia, Museums Victoria, Queensland Museum, South Australian Museum, Western Australian Museum, Museum of Old & New Art, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Tamaki Paenga Hira Auckland Museum Advertised price includes bonus nights and/or stated saving (if applicable).
- Additional supplier conditions and travel restrictions may apply. Please enquire for further details.
- Airfare (including internal flights) is not included unless otherwise stated and, if included, is economy class unless otherwise stated.
- Components of the total price including local payments, "resort fees", "national park fees", "trip kitties" and food funds (if applicable) may be payable direct to the supplier on arrival or to your travel consultant prior to your departure. Where applicable, these payments are included in the total price quoted.
- Gratuities are not included unless otherwise stated.
- Prices shown are fully inclusive of taxes, levies and government charges current at the time of publication.
- Additional levies, government charges & other applicable fees, including additional taxes, surcharges and visa fees specific to your departure date or flight routing, may apply and are beyond our control.
- Seasonal surcharges and blackout dates may apply depending on date of travel.
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