Vietnam to Bali: A Self-Launched 14-Day Journey Through History and Beauty
14 days · Vietnam & Bali
Legend Travel Group charges £1,855
No-markup version: ~£759 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched take on Legend Travel Group's fully guided 14-day Vietnam-plus-Bali trip: Hanoi's old quarter and temples, an overnight Halong Bay cruise, lantern-lit Hoi An and My Son, Hue's imperial tombs and Perfume River, Saigon and the Cu Chi tunnels, a Mekong Delta day trip, then a short flight to Bali for Barong dance, Kintamani volcano views, Ulun Danu and Tanah Lot. Everything is bookable yourself — sleeper trains, open buses, a budget Halong cruise and day tours via GetYourGuide or Klook — for roughly a third of the guided price. Costs are approximate per person and exclude international flights to Hanoi and home from Bali.
Day-by-day
Arrive Hanoi — Old Quarter at your own pace
Hanoi
Land at Noi Bai (HAN) and take the city bus 86 into the centre (~£1.30, or Grab ~£10-12). Check into a hostel or budget boutique hotel in the Old Quarter, then just wander: Hoan Kiem Lake, the night market (weekends) and a first bowl of bun cha or pho for under £2. Book tomorrow's tours and your Halong Bay cruise this evening via GetYourGuide/Klook or through your hostel.
🚌Bus 86 or Grab from airport; walking in the Old Quarter
🛏Old Quarter hostel or budget hotel (dorm £5-8 / private £15-22)
- →Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple
- →Old Quarter street-food crawl
- →Book Halong Bay overnight cruise online
Hanoi's history and temples
Hanoi
DIY the classic Hanoi circuit on foot: Tran Quoc Pagoda, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex and One Pillar Pagoda (free, mornings only, closed Mon/Fri), the Temple of Literature (~£1.30), Hoa Lo Prison (~£1.30) and either the Ethnology Museum or the Vietnamese Women's Museum (~£1.30). Entry fees total roughly £5 — a fraction of a guided day. Lunch at a local bia hoi spot (~£2.50) and evening at a rooftop cafe over the lake.
🚌Walking plus a couple of short Grab rides (£1-2 each)
🛏Old Quarter hostel or budget hotel
- →Tran Quoc Pagoda
- →Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and One Pillar Pagoda
- →Temple of Literature
- →Hoa Lo Prison
- →Vietnamese Women's Museum
Halong Bay overnight budget cruise
Halong Bay
Join a small-group overnight cruise booked independently — budget boats run £75-110 per person all-in including transfers, meals, kayaking and cave visits, or £120-150 for mid-range (the operator's 'houseboat' equivalents). Overnight 3.5-4hr drive each way is covered by the cruise's shuttle. Afternoon kayaking and swimming in the bay, visit Sung Sot (Amazing) Cave, sunset on deck and a seafood dinner. Book at least 2-3 days ahead in peak season.
🚌Cruise shuttle minibus from Hanoi Old Quarter, ~3.5-4 hrs each way
🛏Overnight on a budget/mid-range Halong Bay junk boat (twin cabin)
- →Kayaking and swimming in Halong Bay
- →Sung Sot (Amazing) Cave
- →Sunrise and sunset on deck
Halong Bay to Hoi An
Hoi An
Sunrise on the bay and brunch on board, then shuttle back to Hanoi by early afternoon. Fly Hanoi to Da Nang in the evening (VietJet/Bamboo ~£35-50 one way, 1h20) — the fastest way to replicate the operator's internal flight — then a 45-min Grab or shuttle to Hoi An (~£7-9). Alternatively take the sleeper train (Hanoi–Da Nang, ~16 hrs, soft sleeper ~£30) if you have a spare day and want the slow-travel version. Evening stroll through Hoi An's lantern-lit Ancient Town (entry ticket ~£4.50).
🚌Cruise shuttle to Hanoi; domestic flight HAN-DAD ~£35-50; Grab to Hoi An ~£7-9
🛏Hoi An guesthouse or budget hotel (£9-18)
- →Sunrise on Halong Bay
- →Hoi An Ancient Town by lantern light
- →Cao lau noodles and white rose dumplings
My Son Sanctuary and Hoi An at leisure
Hoi An
Take a shared sunrise minibus to My Son Sanctuary (~£8-12 including entry) to see the Cham temple towers before the heat and crowds — self-bookable on GetYourGuide or through any Hoi An tour desk. Afternoon back in town: browse tailor shops, the Japanese Covered Bridge and the market, or hire a bike (~£1.50/day) to An Bang Beach. Optional cooking class ~£15-20 — one of the best-value experiences in Vietnam.
🚌Shared minibus to My Son; bicycle or Grab around town
🛏Hoi An guesthouse or budget hotel
- →My Son Sanctuary at sunrise
- →Japanese Covered Bridge and Hoi An market
- →Optional Vietnamese cooking class (~£17)
- →An Bang Beach by bike
Hoi An to Hue over the Hai Van Pass
Hue
Travel by local bus or shared limousine van (Hoi An–Hue ~£7-10, 3-4 hrs) with a stop at the Marble Mountains or Lang Co Beach. For the classic Hai Van Pass, hire an Easy Rider motorbike guide for the Da Nang–Hue leg (~£25-35, includes stops). Along the way: the Cham Museum in Da Nang (~£2) or Kim Bong carpentry village on Cam Kim island by bicycle. Arrive Hue in the evening and eat bun bo Hue by the Perfume River.
🚌Shared limousine van or local bus Hoi An–Hue ~£7-10; optional Easy Rider motorbike ~£30
🛏Hue guesthouse or budget hotel (£8-16)
- →Hai Van Pass viewpoints
- →Lang Co Beach stop
- →Marble Mountains or Cham Museum (optional)
- →Kim Bong village by bike (optional)
Hue: Imperial Citadel, tombs and Perfume River
Hue
Do Hue yourself with a bike or Grab. Imperial Citadel and Purple Forbidden City (~£5.50), then a Dragon Boat on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda (~£5 shared, self-negotiated at the pier), and the tombs of Khai Dinh (~£5) and Tu Duc (~£5). Stop at Thuy Xuan incense-making village (free) and Dong Ba market for lunch. A combo ticket covering the citadel plus two tombs costs around £12 at the gate — no guide needed thanks to signage and audio guides.
🚌Grab rides (£1-2 each) and shared Dragon Boat on the Perfume River
🛏Hue guesthouse or budget hotel
- →Imperial Citadel and Purple Forbidden City
- →Thien Mu Pagoda by boat
- →Khai Dinh and Tu Duc mausoleums
- →Thuy Xuan incense village
- →Dong Ba market
Hue to Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
A free morning in Hue, then fly Hue–Saigon (~£30-45, 1h35) — or take the Reunification Express to Da Nang first if you want the scenic coastal leg. Check into a District 1 hostel or budget hotel, then explore on foot: Dong Khoi, the riverfront Nguyen Hue walking street, the Fine Arts Museum (~£1.30) and a rooftop beer for sunset. Book tomorrow's Cu Chi tour tonight.
🚌Domestic flight HUI-SGN ~£30-45; Grab from Tan Son Nhat ~£4-6
🛏District 1 hostel or budget hotel (dorm £6-9 / private £15-22)
- →Nguyen Hue walking street
- →Fine Arts Museum
- →Rooftop sunset beer
Cu Chi Tunnels and Saigon's landmarks
Ho Chi Minh City
Morning half-day Cu Chi Tunnels tour booked via GetYourGuide/Klook (~£16-22 including entry and transport, shared minibus ~1.5 hrs each way). Afternoon DIY the city centre: Notre Dame Cathedral (exterior), the Central Post Office, Reunification Palace (~£2.50) and the War Remnants Museum (~£1.70). Try a banh mi and iced coffee for under £3 total.
🚌Shared minibus to Cu Chi; walking and Grab in District 1
🛏District 1 hostel or budget hotel
- →Cu Chi Tunnels and firing range
- →Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office
- →Reunification Palace
- →War Remnants Museum
Mekong Delta day trip
Mekong Delta / Ho Chi Minh City
Join a small-group My Tho and Ben Tre day tour booked online (~£22-30 including boat rides, lunch and fruit/honey/coconut-candy stops and a visit to Vinh Trang Pagoda) — a self-bookable equivalent of the operator's guided Mekong day. Alternatives include a longer Cai Be floating market tour. Back in Saigon by early evening for dinner in District 4 or a Banh Xeo stall.
🚌Tour minibus to My Tho/Ben Tre, ~2 hrs each way; wooden rowing boats on the canals
🛏District 1 hostel or budget hotel
- →Vinh Trang Pagoda
- →Mekong canal boat trip
- →Coconut candy and honey workshop stops
- →Ben Tre orchard lunch
Fly Saigon to Bali
Seminyak / Legian, Bali
Morning flight Saigon–Denpasar (AirAsia/VietJet via Kuala Lumpur or direct ~£65-110 depending on season and booking lead time, 5-7 hrs with connection). Indonesian visa on arrival for most Western passports is ~£25 (e-VOA online beforehand). Grab from DPS to Seminyak/Legian ~£6-8. Settle in, walk the beach at sunset, and book your Ubud day tours for the next two days.
🚌Flight SGN-DPS ~£65-110; Grab from airport ~£6-8
🛏Seminyak/Legian guesthouse or budget hotel (£12-22, or hostel dorm £6-10)
- →Seminyak and Legian beach sunset
- →E-VOA and arrival admin
- →Book Ubud day tours via Klook/GetYourGuide
Barong dance, Ubud villages and Kintamani
Ubud / Kintamani, Bali
Take a shared small-group full-day Ubud and Kintamani tour (~£25-35 via Klook/GetYourGuide, or hire a private driver for the day ~£35-45 split between two or more travellers). Includes the Barong and Keris dance at Batubulan (~£6 entry), Celuk silver and Mas wood-carving villages, a Balinese compound visit, Tirta Empul's holy springs, Kintamani volcano views with a buffet lunch and a coffee plantation stop. Back in the south by evening.
🚌Shared tour van or private driver for the day
🛏Seminyak/Legian guesthouse or budget hotel
- →Barong and Keris dance
- →Celuk and Mas craft villages
- →Tirta Empul holy spring temple
- →Kintamani volcano views and buffet lunch
- →Coffee plantation tasting
Bedugul, Ulun Danu and Tanah Lot
Bedugul / Tanah Lot, Bali
Second day tour north to Bedugul (~£28-38 shared tour, or negotiate a driver for ~£40/day): pick up the cool highland air, the fruit and spice market at Candi Kuning, and the lakeside Ulun Danu Beratan temple (~£3.50 entry). Finish at Tanah Lot for sunset over the sea temple (~£3.50 entry) — book a tour that times the last stop to sunset. Or do it DIY by scooter (~£4/day rental) if you're confident riding.
🚌Shared tour van, private driver, or scooter rental
🛏Seminyak/Legian guesthouse or budget hotel
- →Candi Kuning fruit market
- →Ulun Danu Beratan temple
- →Tanah Lot sunset
- →Optional beach time at Kuta
Beach morning and departure
Bali
Slow breakfast, a last swim at Double Six or Seminyak beach, souvenir shopping on Jalan Legian or Seminyak Square, then Grab to Ngurah Rai (DPS) — allow 2-3 hrs before an international departure. Extend a couple of nights in Uluwatu, Canggu or Nusa Penida if you want the beach finale the group tour doesn't give you.
🚌Grab to DPS airport ~£6-8
🛏—
- →Sunrise beach walk
- →Souvenir shopping
- →Optional extension to Uluwatu or Nusa Penida
Self-launched vs. Legend Travel Group
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Legend Travel Group | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£759 | £1,855 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,096 per person (59%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Legend Travel Group-style trips? Check them out here.~£759
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.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Vietnam to Bali: A Self-Launched 14-Day Journey Through History and Beauty cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £759 per person for 14 days in Vietnam & Bali. 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 Legend Travel Group?+
Yes — Legend Travel Group charges around £1,855 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £759 — a saving of roughly £1,096 (59%) per person.
How long is the Vietnam & Bali trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 day-by-day stops through Vietnam & Bali.
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, adventure, beaches trip through Vietnam & Bali, 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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