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Essential Vietnam (including Cat Ba Island)

12 days
From Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City
4.4
22 traveler reviews
Essential Vietnam (including Cat Ba Island) - Intrepid Travel
From
$870
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US $826
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Plan your adventure:
Tour Operator:
Intrepid Travel
Max group size:
16
Age range:
18 to 35
Operated in:
English
Tour id:
16391
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Highlights

  • Explore Hanoi's vibrant nightlife and cuisine
  • Kayak through the stunning Lan Ha Bay
  • Cycle around historic Ninh Binh with a guide
  • Enjoy a local family dinner in Hue
  • Tour Hoi An's ancient streets and markets

Itinerary

Expand All
  1. Introduction
  1. Day 1 Hanoi
  2. Day 2 Hanoi
  3. Day 3 Cat Ba
  4. Day 4 Ninh Binh
  5. Day 5 Ninh Binh - Overnight Train
  6. Day 6 Hue
  7. Day 7 Hoi An
  8. Day 8 Hoi An
  9. Day 9 Quy Nhon
  10. Day 10 Quy Nhon - Overnight Train
  11. Day 11 Ho Chi Minh City
  12. Day 12 Ho Chi Minh City
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What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Optional
  • Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

All accommodations are subject to change

Customer Photos

Operated by

Intrepid Travel

Number of tours

1,298

Age Range

5 to 99 years old

Response time

5 hours

Response rate

88%

Back in 1989, two guys from Melbourne, Australia by the names of Darrell and Manch set off on an adventure to the other side of the world. They travelled to Africa and without air conditioning on their modified truck, they filled it with supplies, some beer, a bunch of aviator sunglasses, and...

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Sustainability Initiatives

Reduce Carbon Emissions

Animal Welfare

Supporting Destinations

Sustainability Programs

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Customer Reviews

  • Overall Rating
    Excellent
    4.4
  • Itinerary
    Excellent
    4.4
  • Guide
    Excellent
    4.8
  • Transport
    Excellent
    4.4
  • Accommodation
    Good
    3.8
  • Food
    Excellent
    4.4
  • 4.6
  • Most Recent
  • Most Popular
  • Highest First
  • Lowest First
  • Essential Vietnam (including Cat Ba Island) reviewer 1
    · July 23rd, 2024
    Amazing experience. Great itinerary put together by our guide / Intrepid, beautiful country sights all throughout Vietnam, fun group activities and everything you could really want out of a trip. Our tour guide Tuyet was a very lovely and easy to get along with host, and i had a blast all-throughout the whole trip. Could highly recommend to another :)
    Show more
    Intrepid Travel commented on this review
    Hi Zade, thank you for sharing your trip experience with us! These pictures are a very cool cross section of what to expect while in Vietnam. We are thrilled to hear that Tuyet was a great guide and we will pass along your kind words. We hope to see... Show more
    Essential Vietnam (including Cat Ba Island) customer review photo 1Essential Vietnam (including Cat Ba Island) customer review photo 2Essential Vietnam (including Cat Ba Island) customer review photo 3Essential Vietnam (including Cat Ba Island) customer review photo 4Essential Vietnam (including Cat Ba Island) customer review photo 5
    Trip date: July 2024
  • TK
    · January 17th, 2020
    Really enjoyable and well structured tour. Tuan was a really helpful and insightful guide and was able to manage the group (and it's varying characters!) really well. Accommodation was all very good and the optional paid activities were all good value for money. Would definitely recommend.
    Show more
    Intrepid Travel commented on this review
    We're so glad you enjoyed your time in Vietnam Tarik! We will pass on your great feedback to your local leader Tuan as well.
    Trip date: January 2020
  • A
    · September 18th, 2019
    Professional Service, Excellent Guidance from tour leader - ""Lucky"" who provided us with adequate support and filled our heads with knowledge about Vietnamese culture and history. A truly memorable experience, enjoying the sights and sounds of this incredible country
    Show more
    Trip date: December 2018
  • A
    · September 18th, 2019
    Really good guide and lots of things to do.
    Trip date: December 2018
  • A
    · September 18th, 2019
    I gave this score as I believe this tour was an amazing experience and I would like others to discover Vietnam the way I did.
    Trip date: December 2018
  • A
    · September 18th, 2019
    Organises the basic of the trip and very flexible with activities. As well as the limit on the age group was good for solo travellers and meeting new people on the trip. Going to a different country with foreign language the tour leader made the whole experience safe and gave great recommendation and suggestions not to do due to the risks
    Show more
    Trip date: December 2018
  • A
    · September 18th, 2019
    Lucky was amazing and so helpful. He made us feel like a family and was sooo funny
    Trip date: December 2018
  • A
    · September 18th, 2019
    Tour guide was highly knowledgeable and very fitting for the experience. I would highly recommend intrepid to my friends and family if all the guides are the same as Uoc.
    Trip date: December 2018
  • A
    · September 18th, 2019
    This was my very first experience travelling with Intrepid and I feel it was memorable mainly because of our Team Leader - Thao. He made sure we enjoyed every second of the tour and bonded with us extremely well. I would recommend Thao to be included in all the Vietnam tours. I would recommend all my friends to choose Intrepid whenever they're travelling to Vietnam. The whole experience created was very balanced. We indulged in the local culture, explored new places, ate local food, and made friends for a lifetime.
    Show more
    Trip date: December 2018
  • A
    · September 18th, 2019
    Very well organised and plenty of free time to do activities to suit one’s interest.
    Trip date: December 2018

Dates & Availability

12 days
Essential Vietnam (including Cat Ba Island)
From Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City

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Ends on 26 Nov, 2024
  • Thursday
    2 Jan, 2025
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    13 Jan, 2025
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    20 Jan, 2025
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    23 Jan, 2025
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    Monday
    27 Jan, 2025
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    Thursday
    6 Feb, 2025
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What our customers ask about this tour

    The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.
    • Are there any activities included in the tour price, and can additional activities be purchased?

      Some activities are included, but additional services need to be paid for on the ground.

    • What are the included services for the Essential Vietnam tour?

      The tour includes 2 lunches, 1 dinner, transport by boat, overnight sleeper train, private minibus, hotel stays, and various planned activities like kayaking and local tours.

    • Can I communicate with other group members before the tour starts?

      You can meet the whole group on the first day of the tour at the welcome meeting, but prior contact is not possible due to privacy reasons.

    • Are there any specific travel documents required for the tour?

      You do not need specific travel documents; a copy of your TourRadar confirmation notification will suffice to join the tour.

    • Can I check into the hotel early in Hanoi?

      In some destinations, we provide day rooms for shared group use before check-in time; however, if you booked a Single Supplement, it won't apply to these day rooms.

    • What should I do if there's a problem like airline delays?

      Please contact the local service provider detailed in your Essential Trip Information for any issues.

    • Can I arrange a transfer from the airport to the hotel through you?

      Yes, we can arrange the arrival transfer only to the Joining point hotel for the tour.

    • Is there a way to get a deal if my friend and I both book on this tour?

      Our trip prices are subject to variable and seasonal pricing. We cannot offer a discount or a lower price than the listed price.

    • Why do some of the tours have an age range listed?

      This trip is for 18 to 29-year-olds. If you're over 29, we have other tours open to travellers aged 15 and above.

    Can’t find the answer to your question?
    Reach out to the experts at Intrepid Travel with your enquiry, they usually respond within 5 hours.

    Good to Know

    • Currency
      Dong
      Vietnam
    • Plugs & Adapters

      As a traveller from USA, Canada you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F, G. As a traveller from England you will need an adaptor for types A, B, C, E, F. As a traveller from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types A, B, C, E, F, G.

      Type A
      Vietnam
      Type B
      Vietnam
      Type C
      Vietnam
      Type E
      Vietnam
      Type F
      Vietnam
      Type G
      Vietnam
    • Vaccines
      • These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
      • Typhoid - Recommended for Vietnam. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
      • Hepatitis A - Recommended for Vietnam. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
      • Cholera - Recommended for Vietnam. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
      • Tuberculosis - Recommended for Vietnam. Ideally 3 months before travel.
      • Hepatitis B - Recommended for Vietnam. Ideally 2 months before travel.
      • Rabies - Recommended for Vietnam. Ideally 1 month before travel.
      • Yellow fever - Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an area with a risk of yellow fever transmission for Vietnam. Ideally 10 days before travel.
      • Japanese B encephalitis - Recommended for Vietnam. Ideally 1 month before travel.
    • Visa
      • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
      • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
    • Payment information
      • For any tour departing before January 20th, 2025 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after January 20th, 2025, a minimum payment of $400 is required to confirm your booking with Intrepid Travel. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 60 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
      • Some departure dates and prices may vary and Intrepid Travel will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
      • The following cards are accepted for "Intrepid Travel" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
    • Cancellation Policy
    • Accessibility
      Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveller, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.