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10 Days Vietnam Self-Launched: Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City

10 days · Vietnam

Wonderscape Travel charges £840

£325saved per person (39%)

No-markup version: ~£515 per person

Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.

Explore Vietnam from north to south independently — from Hanoi's ancient temples and a Ha Long Bay cruise to Hoi An's lantern-lit streets, Ba Na Hills' Golden Bridge, Saigon's war history, and a Mekong Delta day trip. This self-launched version follows the same iconic route as Wonderscape Travel's group tour but replaces guided transport with trains, budget flights, and local buses, and swaps hotel packages for well-rated hostels and guesthouses. All activities are bookable directly or via GetYourGuide/Klook. Estimated costs are approximate and based on current budget traveller rates.

Day-by-day

Day 1

Arrive in Hanoi

Hanoi

Fly into Noi Bai International Airport. Take the 86 express bus (~£1) or a Grab taxi (~£5) into the Old Quarter. Check into your hostel or guesthouse, get oriented, and wander the chaotic, charming streets of the Old Quarter in the evening. Try bun cha or pho at a street stall for under £2.

🚌Airport bus 86 to Old Quarter (~£1) or Grab taxi (~£5)

🛏Hanoi Backpacker Hostel or similar rated guesthouse in the Old Quarter (~£12-15/night for dorm, ~£20-25 for private)

→Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport
→Transfer to Old Quarter by bus 86 or Grab taxi
→Evening stroll through Hanoi Old Quarter
→Street food dinner in the Old Quarter

~£35

Day 2

Hanoi City Highlights

Hanoi

Spend the day exploring Hanoi's top cultural landmarks. Most sites are within walking distance or a short Grab ride. Start early at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex (free entry for mausoleum area, ~£1 for museum). Visit One Pillar Pagoda and Tran Quoc Pagoda on the West Lake. Head to the Temple of Literature (~£1.50 entry) and the sobering Hoa Lo Prison (~£1.50). In the afternoon, visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (~£2) or Vietnamese Women's Museum (~£1.50). Optional: join a 45-minute cyclo ride through the Old Quarter (~£5) and catch a Water Puppet Show in the evening (~£5-7, book direct at Thang Long Theatre).

🚌Walking and Grab taxi for longer distances (~£3-5 total)

🛏Hanoi Backpacker Hostel or similar rated guesthouse in the Old Quarter

→Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex and residences
→Visit One Pillar Pagoda
→Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake
→Visit Temple of Literature
→Visit Hoa Lo Prison
→Visit Vietnam Museum of Ethnology or Vietnamese Women's Museum
→Optional: cyclo ride around Old Quarter (~£5)
→Optional: Water Puppet Show at Thang Long Theatre (~£6)

~£45

Day 3

Ha Long Bay Cruise — Day 1

Ha Long Bay

Book a 2-day/1-night Ha Long Bay cruise independently via GetYourGuide or directly with operators like Indochina Junk or Cat Ba Ventures — budget cruises start around £60-80pp including transport from Hanoi, all meals, kayaking, and cave visits. Shared minibus transfers from Hanoi are included in most cruise packages. Explore limestone karsts, visit Sung Sot Cave, kayak near floating villages, and enjoy a seafood dinner on board.

🚌Shared minibus from Hanoi included in cruise package

🛏Overnight cabin on budget/mid-range Ha Long Bay cruise (included in cruise price ~£70-90pp for 2D/1N)

→Shared minibus transfer from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay (~3.5 hrs)
→Board overnight cruise boat
→Sail through Ha Long Bay limestone karsts
→Visit Sung Sot (Surprising) Cave
→Kayaking near floating villages
→Swimming stop
→Seafood dinner on board

~£90

Day 4

Ha Long Bay to Hoi An via Da Nang

Ha Long Bay → Hanoi → Da Nang → Hoi An

Wake early for sunrise on the bay, enjoy breakfast on board, and visit a floating fishing village before the return cruise to Hanoi (~midday). Transfer back to Hanoi and catch an afternoon budget flight from Hanoi (Noi Bai) to Da Nang — book with VietJet or Bamboo Airways for ~£25-45 (book in advance). Take a local taxi or Grab (~£7) from Da Nang airport to Hoi An Ancient Town (30km). Check into your Hoi An guesthouse and explore the lantern-lit streets in the evening.

🚌Shared minibus (included in cruise), budget domestic flight (~£30), Grab taxi to Hoi An (~£7)

🛏Hoi An Backpacker Hostel or guesthouse near Ancient Town (~£12-18/night dorm, ~£22-30 private)

→Sunrise viewing on Ha Long Bay
→Visit floating fishing village
→Lunch on board during return cruise to Hanoi
→Shared minibus back to Hanoi
→Budget flight Hanoi → Da Nang (VietJet/Bamboo, ~£25-45)
→Grab taxi Da Nang airport → Hoi An (~£7)
→Evening walk through Hoi An Ancient Town

~£70

Day 5

Cam Thanh Coconut Forest & Lantern Workshop

Hoi An & Cam Thanh Village

Book a half-day Cam Thanh coconut forest tour via GetYourGuide or directly with local operators (~£15-20pp). Activities include a basket boat ride through the water coconut forest, traditional fishing with local fishermen, crab catching, and a basket-boat performance. In the morning before the tour, join a lantern-making workshop in the Ancient Town (~£8-12, easily bookable at any local tour desk). Afternoon cooking class with a local chef is optional (~£20-25). Explore the Ancient Town in the evening and release a lantern on the Thu Bon River (~£1-2).

🚌Bicycle hire to Cam Thanh (~£2/day) or local tour transfer included in package

🛏Hoi An guesthouse (as Day 4)

→Lantern-making workshop in Hoi An Ancient Town (~£10)
→Boat ride through Cam Thanh coconut water forest
→Traditional fishing activities with local fishermen
→Basket boat rowing and performance
→Crab catching
→Cooking demonstration and local lunch with chef
→Evening lantern release on Thu Bon River

~£50

Day 6

Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge

Ba Na Hills, Da Nang

Book a Ba Na Hills day trip from Hoi An via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£35-50pp including transport and cable car entry). Alternatively, take a Grab to Da Nang (~£10) and buy cable car tickets direct (~£25). Ride the world's longest single-cable car to the summit (1,487m), walk the iconic Golden Bridge held by giant stone hands, explore the French Village, visit Linh Ung Pagoda, stroll through Le Jardin d'Amour gardens, and enjoy the Fantasy Park rides and attractions. Buffet lunch is available on-site (~£8-12 if not included). Return to Hoi An by evening.

🚌Day trip transfer from Hoi An included in tour package (~£35-50 all-in), or Grab + direct entry (~£35)

🛏Hoi An guesthouse (as Day 4)

→Transfer from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills (~1.5 hrs)
→Ba Na Hills cable car ride
→Golden Bridge visit and photos
→French Village exploration
→Linh Ung Pagoda visit
→Le Jardin D'Amour gardens
→Fantasy Park rides and attractions (4D, 5D, Dinosaur Park etc.)
→Buffet lunch at Ba Na Hills restaurant
→Return to Hoi An

~£60

Day 7

Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Hoi An → Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City

Morning free to do last-minute shopping in Hoi An's Ancient Town markets — tailor-made clothing, silk, and lanterns are great buys. Take a Grab to Da Nang airport (~£7) and fly to Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat) with VietJet or Bamboo Airways (~£25-45, book ahead). Check into your Saigon hostel in the backpacker district (Pham Ngu Lao). Explore Bui Vien Walking Street in the evening for nightlife and street food.

🚌Grab to Da Nang airport (~£7), budget domestic flight (~£30), Grab from HCMC airport (~£5)

🛏Saigon Backpacker Hostel or budget guesthouse in Pham Ngu Lao (~£10-15 dorm, ~£22-30 private)

→Morning shopping in Hoi An Ancient Town
→Grab taxi to Da Nang airport (~£7)
→Budget flight Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City (~£30)
→Check into Pham Ngu Lao backpacker district
→Evening exploration of Bui Vien Walking Street

~£60

Day 8

Ho Chi Minh City & Cu Chi Tunnels

Ho Chi Minh City

Start the morning with Ho Chi Minh City's central landmarks — all within walking distance. Visit the Reunification Palace (~£2 entry), Notre Dame Cathedral (free, exterior), and the colonial Central Post Office (free). Head to the War Remnants Museum (~£2) for a powerful account of the Vietnam War. In the afternoon, join a Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour via GetYourGuide (~£12-18pp including transport) — crawl through the famous underground tunnel network used by Viet Cong fighters. Return to Saigon for a local dinner.

🚌Walking and Grab taxi in city (~£3), Cu Chi Tunnels shared tour transport included in booking

🛏Saigon guesthouse (as Day 7)

→Visit Reunification Palace (~£2)
→Visit Notre Dame Cathedral (free)
→Visit Central Post Office (free)
→Visit War Remnants Museum (~£2)
→Afternoon Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour (~£15 including transport)
→Crawl through tunnel sections and see war artefacts
→Sample traditional fighter cuisine at Cu Chi
→Return to Ho Chi Minh City for dinner

~£45

Day 9

Mekong Delta Day Trip

Mekong Delta (My Tho / Ben Tre)

Book a Mekong Delta day trip from Ho Chi Minh City via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£20-30pp including transport and lunch). Most tours depart at 8am and return by 6pm. Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda in My Tho, take a sampan cruise around Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Tortoise islands, walk through Unicorn Island countryside lanes, visit orchards and tropical fruit gardens, enjoy folk music performances by locals, tour a honey-bee farm and try honey tea, watch coconut candy making, and cycle through Tan Thach village. Lunch at a local riverside restaurant is typically included.

🚌Shared minibus included in day tour package (~£20-30 all-in)

🛏Saigon guesthouse (as Day 7)

→Shared minibus from HCMC to My Tho (~1.5 hrs)
→Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
→Sampan cruise around the four islands
→Walk through Unicorn Island countryside
→Tropical fruit orchard and tasting
→Folk song music performance
→Visit honey-bee farm and try honey tea
→Coconut candy workshop
→Cycling through Tan Thach village
→Lunch at local riverside restaurant
→Hammock relaxation
→Return to Ho Chi Minh City

~£40

Day 10

Depart Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City

Enjoy a final Vietnamese breakfast at a local café — try banh mi or a bowl of hu tieu for under £2. Depending on your departure time, pick up any last souvenirs at Ben Thanh Market nearby. Take a Grab taxi to Tan Son Nhat International Airport (~£5-7). Safe travels!

🚌Grab taxi to Tan Son Nhat International Airport (~£5-7)

🛏N/A — departure day

→Final Vietnamese breakfast at local café (~£2)
→Optional last-minute souvenir shopping at Ben Thanh Market
→Grab taxi to Tan Son Nhat International Airport (~£5)

~£20

Self-launched vs. Wonderscape Travel

	This itinerary (self-launched)	Wonderscape Travel
Price per person	~£515	£840
Duration	10 days	10 days
Who books it	You and your group, direct	Tour operator, guided group
Savings	£325 per person (39%)

Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.

Want to see more Wonderscape Travel-style trips? Check them out here.

~£515

estimated per person

You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does 10 Days Vietnam Self-Launched: Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City cost?+

Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £515 per person for 10 days in Vietnam. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.

Is this cheaper than booking with Wonderscape Travel?+

Yes — Wonderscape Travel charges around £840 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £515 — a saving of roughly £325 (39%) per person.

How long is the Vietnam trip?+

This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Vietnam.

How do I join this trip?+

You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.

Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+

Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.

Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+

Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.

What kind of trip is this?+

This is a culture, backpacker, foodie trip through Vietnam, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.

Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?

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