Orivia Travel · Private tours of Vietnam

Vietnam from North to South in 12 Days

The full length of the country in one trip: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh, Hue and Hoi An in the centre, then Saigon and the Mekong Delta.

  • Duration: 12 days · 11 nights
  • Start: Hanoi · End: Ho Chi Minh City
  • Route: Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Ha Long Bay – Hue – Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta
  • Departure: Daily, private tour
  • Meals: 11 breakfasts · 8 lunches · 3 dinners
  • Accommodation: 3 nights Hanoi, 1 night Ha Long cruise, 2 nights Hue, 3 nights Hoi An, 2 nights Saigon
  • Travel style: Culture & heritage, Ha Long Bay cruise, Food & local life, Nature & landscapes
  • Price: from US$1,690 per person, based on two travellers sharing on a private tour
  • Tour code: EN-VN-001

Tour overview

If you have two weeks and want to see the whole country, this is the route. It runs from north to south with two short flights, so you never spend a full day in a car. Each region gets enough time to settle in: Hanoi and the karst landscapes of Ninh Binh and Ha Long, the royal city of Hue and the old port of Hoi An, then Saigon and a day on the rivers of the Mekong. The pace is steady but not rushed, with a free afternoon in each main stop. Tell us your interests and we will adjust: more food, more walking, more beach.

Highlights

  • Overnight cruise among the limestone islands of Ha Long Bay
  • Rowing boat through the caves of Trang An in Ninh Binh
  • Hue Imperial Citadel and a dragon boat on the Perfume River
  • Three nights in Hoi An, with a cooking class and free time by the beach
  • Cu Chi tunnels and a boat day in the Mekong Delta

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi

Getting around: private car

Airport pick-up and transfer to your Old Quarter hotel. Your guide stops by in the afternoon for a short walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and to talk through the trip.

Day 2: Hanoi city tour and street food

Meals: B, D

Getting around: private car, walking

Visit the Temple of Literature, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum area and the One Pillar Pagoda, then the Ethnology Museum, the best place to understand the country's 54 ethnic groups. In the evening, a food walk through the Old Quarter.

Day 3: Ninh Binh: Hoa Lu, Trang An and Hang Mua

Meals: B, L

Getting around: private car, boat, trekking

Day trip to Ninh Binh. See the temples of Hoa Lu, the 10th century capital, then glide by rowing boat through the caves of Trang An. Climb Hang Mua for the view at the end of the afternoon before driving back to Hanoi.

Day 4: Ha Long Bay cruise

Meals: B, L, D

Getting around: private car, boat

Drive to the cruise harbour and board around noon. Sail into the bay over lunch, kayak among the islands in the afternoon and watch the sunset from the deck.

Day 5: Ha Long Bay – fly to Hue

Meals: B, L

Getting around: boat, private car, flight

Tai chi at dawn and a visit to Sung Sot cave, then brunch as the boat returns to harbour. Transfer to Hanoi airport for the evening flight to Hue.

Day 6: Hue Imperial City and the Perfume River

Meals: B, L

Getting around: walking, boat, private car

Explore the Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City in the morning, then the tomb of Khai Dinh. Late afternoon, take a dragon boat to Thien Mu pagoda.

Day 7: Hai Van pass – Hoi An

Meals: B, L

Getting around: private car, walking

Drive south over the Hai Van pass, stopping at Lang Co lagoon and the summit gate. Check in to your hotel in Hoi An and walk the old town as the lanterns come on.

Day 8: Hoi An: old town and cooking class

Meals: B, L

Getting around: walking, boat

A morning walk through the Japanese Covered Bridge and the old merchant houses. Then shop for ingredients at the market with a local chef, take a basket boat through the coconut palms, and cook your own lunch.

Day 9: Hoi An: free day

Meals: B

A day to yourself: cycle to An Bang beach, visit a tailor or ride up to the Marble Mountains. Your guide can suggest a plan, and our car is on call for the afternoon.

Day 10: Fly to Ho Chi Minh City

Meals: B

Getting around: private car, flight, walking

Morning flight from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City. In the afternoon, see the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office and the War Remnants Museum.

Day 11: Cu Chi tunnels and the Mekong Delta

Meals: B, L, D

Getting around: private car, boat

Early drive to the Cu Chi tunnels, then on to the Mekong Delta for a boat trip along the narrow canals, fruit tasting at an orchard and a lunch of elephant ear fish. Back in Saigon for a farewell dinner.

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City – departure

Meals: B

Getting around: private car, flight

Free morning for last coffee and shopping at Ben Thanh market before your transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport.

What's included

  • Private English-speaking guide on every sightseeing day
  • Private air-conditioned car or van with driver for all transfers
  • Airport pick-up and drop-off on arrival and departure days
  • Hotels as listed, twin or double room with daily breakfast
  • Meals as listed in the itinerary (B: breakfast, L: lunch, D: dinner)
  • Entrance fees and boat tickets for every visit in the itinerary
  • Bottled water and cold towels in the car every day
  • 24/7 hotline with the Orivia operations team in Hanoi
  • Overnight Ha Long Bay cruise in a private-balcony cabin, all meals on board, kayaking and cave visit
  • Domestic economy flight Hanoi – Hue and Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh City, 20 kg checked baggage
  • Cooking class with market tour in Hoi An

Not included

  • International flights and Vietnam visa fees
  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Drinks with meals, personal expenses and laundry
  • Tips for guides and drivers (optional)
  • Single room supplement

Enquire about this tour or plan a tailor-made trip

More Vietnam North to South tours

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to visit Vietnam?

Most travellers can apply online for an e-visa, valid for up to 90 days with single or multiple entry. Citizens of several countries, including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the Nordic countries, can visit visa-free for a set number of days. Rules change from time to time, so check the official portal before you book flights. We are happy to look at your nationality and dates for you.

When is the best time to travel in Vietnam?

Vietnam is long, so the weather depends on the region. The North is cool and dry from October to April and hot from May to September. The centre around Hue and Hoi An is best from February to August, with heavy rain from October to December. The South is warm all year, with a dry season from December to April. A North to South trip works well in spring, from February to April.

Are the tours private or in a group?

Every tour on this site is private: you travel only with your own party, with your own guide and driver. That means you choose the start date, the pace and where to stop. Overnight cruises in Ha Long Bay are shared boats, but you have your own cabin.

What does the price per person include?

Prices are per person, based on two travellers sharing a twin or double room. They cover the guide, private transport, hotels with breakfast, the meals listed, entrance fees and boat tickets. Groups of three or more pay less per person; solo travellers pay a single supplement. Your quote will show the exact price for your party and travel dates.

Can you change an itinerary for us?

Yes, almost all of our travellers change something: an extra night on the beach, a cooking class, a slower day for children, or a different hotel. Tell us what you would like and we will send a revised plan and price, free of charge.

How do I book and pay?

Send an enquiry from any tour page or the tailor-made form. A travel designer replies within one working day with a plan and quote. Nothing is booked and nothing is paid until you confirm. To secure hotels and cruises we then ask for a deposit by bank transfer or card, with the balance due before arrival. The exact terms are written in your quote.