Vietnam Immersive Adventure Tour
Tour Overview
100% Customisable Private Tour
7 Activities | 22 Meals | 14 Days
Embark on a 14-day immersive journey with this Vietnam Adventure Tour: designed for those looking to go off the beaten path while soaking up the hotspots of this fascinating country.
Begin in bustling Hanoi: delving into the city’s rich history before cruising through the mystical Ha Long Bay on an overnight boat. Journey onwards to Mai Chau: exploring rice paddies and local life followed by a scenic stay in Ninh Binh. Discover Hue’s history and culture through its temples, tombs, and the Imperial City, then wander through the charming streets of Hoi An, renowned for its beautiful ancient town and beaches. End your adventure in the country’s economic and social hub: Ho Chi Minh City, and savour its buzzing city life.
This 2-week itinerary offers a blend of natural wonders, rich heritage and cultural immersion: the perfect way to visit vibrant Vietnam.
Highlights
- Overnight Ha Long Bay cruise
- Mountain homestay
- Temples, tombs & pagodas
- Mekong Delta tour
Tour includes & excludes
What’s included…
- 3-star hotels (11 nights), homestay (1 night), boat (1 night)
- 22 meals (13 x breakfasts, 6 x lunches, 1 x dinner)
- Hanoi jeep tour
- Hanoi walking street food tour
- Mai Chau 2-day tour
- Ninh Binh tour
- Cuc Phuong tour
- Hoi An Vespa tour
- Saigon street food tour by scooter
- English-speaking local guides, entrance tickets & all transport
- 2 domestic flights
What’s not…
- Travel insurance (compulsory)
- Visa – also compulsory: contact us to arrange this at an extra cost.
- Spending money, tips & all drinks
- International departure taxes / international flights
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi
Upon arrival your private transfer will take you through the colourful and lively streets of Hanoi to your hotel.
- Hotel: 3-star – contact us to upgrade
- Transfer: Private airport transfer
After you’ve settled in, enjoy some free time to visit Hoan Kiem Lake: a picturesque spot near the Old Quarter that includes the Thap Rua Tortoise tower and the Temple of the Jade Mountain, plus locals doing their exercises/dance classes and tourists getting snap-happy. It’s a perfect chance to unwind after your travels and a wonderful introduction to this special city.
Day 2: Hanoi jeep tour
Embark on a captivating half-day jeep tour in Hanoi, immersing yourself in the daily life of the city as you witness the maze of backstreets, tiny alleyways, schools and markets – gaining insights into how Hanoians truly live, work and play. We’ll also drive past highlights like the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: a significant historical and cultural site in Vietnam.
- Meals: Breakfast & lunch
- Hotel: 3-star – contact us to upgrade
Activities: Hanoi jeep tour
Day 3: Walking food tour
Take the sweetest kind of walk with our expert local guide through the Hanoi Old Quarter. Experience local life in this fascinating area…and get your taste buds ready to experience the various dishes that await. Yum.
- Meals: Breakfast & lunch
- Hotel: 3-star – contact us to upgrade
- Activities: Walking tour with food stops
Days 4 & 5: Hanoi to Mai Chau
Drive from Hanoi through mountains, valleys and traditional villages to reach Mai Chau village. Spend the next 2 days immersing yourself in local culture, exploring the peaceful countryside on bicycles, trekking through rice terraces and getting to know more about Northern Vietnamese traditions.
- Meals: 2 x breakfasts, 2 x lunches, 1 x dinner
- Hotel: 2 x nights in local homestay
- Activities: Mai Chai 2-day tour
- Transfer: Private transfer to Mai Chau
Day 6: Mai Chau to Ninh Binh
Your day begins with our guide and driver meeting you at your homestay for your transfer to Ninh Binh. First stop: a visit to Dinh King Temple and Le King Temple, which date back to the 10th century. Afterwards, enjoy a lunch of authentic Vietnamese cuisine at a local restaurant.
Next, we’ll head to Tam Coc – for a scenic boat trip along the Ngo Dong River and into Tam Coc’s famous three caves. This sampan (traditional river boat) journey is the perfect chance to explore the natural beauty and cultural landmarks of the area. Upon returning to the pier at Tam Coc, hop on a bicycle, and pedal through traditional villages and Tam Coc town.
End your day with a visit to Mua Cave, known for its fascinating stories and panoramic views. If you have enough energy after your bike ride, climb the 500 stone steps to the top – you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking vistas of the countryside and Ngo Dong River.
Get ready for a day filled with history, natural beauty, and unforgettable experiences in Ninh Binh!
- Meals: Breakfast & lunch
- Hotel: 3-star – contact us to upgrade
- Activities: Ninh Binh & Tam Coc day tour
- Transfer: private car
Day 7: Cuc Phuong National Park
Your driver and guide will collect you in the early morning for your day trip to Cuc Phuong National Park.
Start at the Visitor Center to learn about the park's history and biodiversity. Visit the Endangered Primate Rescue Center and the Turtle Conservation Center, home to rare species of these oh-so-cute creatures before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant.
Afterwards, work off your food with a 7km hike: a loop that takes in a 1000-year-old tree and the Cave of Prehistoric Man, where you can discover human skeletons and ancient tools dating back 7,500 years. Ooh, history!
Bring: Boots/sport shoes, headlight, camera, hat, insect repellent.
- Meals: Breakfast & lunch
- Hotel: 3-star – contact us to upgrade
- Activities: Cuc Phuong National Park tour
- Transfer: Private car
Days 8 & 9: Ninh Binh – Hanoi – Da Nang – Hoi An (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Our driver will take you from your hotel to Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport (around a 2-hour drive), for your flight to Da Nang. Upon landing, you’ll be greeted and transferred to Hoi An.
Enjoy a leisurely day exploring Hoi An Old Town: renowned for its enchanting streets filled with tailors, cafes, shops, and bars. Embrace the charm of this historic town at your own pace. Don't miss a visit to An Bang beach in the afternoon: a perfect spot to relax and enjoy the surroundings with a sundowner in one of its many bars and restaurants.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Hotel: 3-star – contact us to upgrade
- Transfer: Airport transfers, domestic flight from Hanoi to Da Nang
Day 10: Hoi An countryside tour
Exploring Hoi An and the surrounding countryside by Vespa is the best way to experience this stunning area.
Start the day by driving out of Hoi An city and alongside swaying green rice paddies and vegetable plantations. The trip includes a stop to see banh dap (a local rice flour dish) being made – you can even give it a go yourself! You’ll also see local weavers making straw mats before travelling along the banks of the river to see fish farms, fish traps and locals building traditional fishing boats. You’ll then cross a bamboo bridge and see unique bamboo basket boats on the river – as your guide fills you in on the history and local traditions of the area..
This tour lasts around 5 hours: including a coffee break along the way and finishing with a delicious seafood feast by the water.
- Meals: Breakfast & lunch
- Hotel: 3-star – contact us to upgrade
- Activities: Tour by Vespa
- Transfer: Pick-up & drop-off
Days 11 & 12: Hoi An free day – Flight to Saigon
Enjoy a free day in paradise: whether you choose to lounge by your resort pool, swim at the beach or indulge in a massage, facial or pedicure. For those wanting some more action, we can arrange add-on, optional activities: like trying a riverside cooking class, exploring the ruins of My Son, scuba diving or snorkelling on the shores of Cham Island, or getting some memorable holiday snaps on a photography tour.
The next day, our driver will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to Da Nang airport for your 1.5 hour flight to Ho Chi Minh City – also known as Saigon. The capital is Vietnam’s City of Cool: from fancy sky bars to boutique barbers, fine dining restaurants to endless street eats, vibrant nightlife to eccentric inhabitants. You’ll be greeted at the airport before being transferred to your hotel, ready to explore it all..
- Meals: 2 x breakfasts
- Hotel: 3-star – contact us to upgrade
- Transfer: Airport transfers, domestic flight from Da Nang to Saigon
Day 13: Saigon evening food tour by Vepsa (as a passenger)
Your adventure begins as your guide and scooter driver greet you at the hotel, providing an introduction and safety briefing. Ride pillion on a scooter driven by a skilled local Vietnamese driver: fluent in English and trained in exceptional customer service!
Indulge in our Tasting Menu, designed to cater to all types of travellers. Even if someone in your group is hesitant to try Vietnamese cuisine, rest assured, there’s something for everyone! From crafting your own fresh rice paper rolls to savoring Vietnamese “pizza,” you’ll end the night fully satisfied. Relax and enjoy the journey as our Taste of Vietnam tour promises a truly unforgettable experience.
- Meals: Breakfast & dinner
- Hotel: 3-star – contact us to upgrade
- Activities: Evening Saigon food tour by Vespa
Transfer: Pick-up by Vespa drive
Day 14: Depart from Ho Chi Minh City
It’s time for your transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport…and to bid a reluctant sayonara to Saigon! Be sure not to pack any batteries or valuables in your check-in luggage and remove all sharp objects and liquids from your carry-on (this applies to both domestic and international flights).
- Meals: Breakfast
- Hotel: N/A: Time to go!
- Transfer: Private airport transfer
Map Journey
Book your dream holiday…
- 100% Customisable
- Extend & combine tours
- Upgrade accommodation
- Change locations
- Adjust for your budget
Travel Tips
- Add 3 days in Phu Quoc island to end on a relaxing beach break.
- Leave space in your suitcase (or buy an extra bag in Saigon) for all the souvenirs/clothes you’re bound to have snapped up along the way.
Things to do in Vietnam
Add these activities to your tour itinerary
Why choose Wide Eyed Tours & Travel?
Expert Local Knowledge
Ditch the stress, with a trip that’s been crafted by locals. Our team is built of on-the-ground travel experts who can’t wait to share their country’s spoils – from their hometowns, beyond.
Customisable Experiences
We’ve offered custom-made tours to Southeast Asia for over 20 years, with every ‘type’ of traveller. We know how their tastes and needs change – so our flexible tours can change with them.
More Freedom
We don’t believe in rigid itineraries. Our customers can set the scene to go at their own pace, and choose the activities that interest them – with the chance to mix things up as they go.
Frequently asked questions about Vietnam
What is the #1 tourist spot in Vietnam?
Halong Bay is one of the best, and most popular, tourist attractions in Vietnam. It contains more than 300 limestone karsts and other natural wonders, too: like staggering cliffs and atmospheric caves that visitors can explore by swimming or kayaking.
How many days is enough for Vietnam?
10 days allows enough time to visit various areas of Vietnam at a fairly quick pace – this includes the north, south and along its coastline. A decent 10-day itinerary will highlight the best tours on offer in Vietnam, without rushing you! So if you’re looking for a 10-day itinerary, try our Best Of Vietnam tour as a great starting point.