Best of Vietnam: Self-Launched from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City

Fly into Noi Bai International Airport. Take the 86 airport bus (around £1) or a metered Vinasun/Mai Linh taxi (£5–8) into the Old Quarter. Check into your hostel in the heart of the action — Hanoi Backpackers Hostel or Old Quarter View Hanoi are great picks. Spend the evening wandering Hoan Kiem Lake, grab a Bia Hoi on the corner of Ta Hien Street (craft beer street), and eat a bowl of bun cha for under £2.

🚌Airport bus 86 to Old Quarter (~£1) or metered taxi (~£6)

🛏Hanoi Backpackers Hostel or similar Old Quarter hostel — dorm from £8/night

• →Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and visit Ngoc Son Temple (£0.50 entry)
• →Explore the Old Quarter on foot
• →Eat street food on Ta Hien Street (Bia Hoi corner)

Spend the day exploring Hanoi's top sights independently. Visit Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and stilt house complex (£1.50), the Temple of Literature (£1.50), and the sobering Hoa Lo Prison museum (£1.50). In the evening, catch the famous water puppet show at Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre — book tickets directly at the theatre for around £4. Then head to Hanoi Railway Station for the overnight sleeper train to Lao Cai, departing around 21:00–22:00. Book train tickets via baolau.com or 12go.asia — soft sleeper berth around £15–18.

🚌Overnight train Hanoi → Lao Cai, book via baolau.com or 12go.asia (~£16)

🛏Overnight sleeper train (soft sleeper berth)

• →Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & stilt house complex (£1.50)
• →Temple of Literature (£1.50)
• →Hoa Lo Prison Museum (£1.50)
• →Thang Long Water Puppet Show — book directly at box office (£4)

Arrive in Lao Cai around 06:00. Take a shared minibus from outside the station to Sapa town (45 mins, ~£2.50). Check into a guesthouse briefly, drop your bag, then join a locally-run hilltribe trekking day to Ta Phin village — home to the Red Dao people. Book directly with a Sapa local trekking guide or via GetYourGuide (~£12–18 including homestay dinner and breakfast). Spend the night with a local family for an authentic experience.

🚌Shared minibus Lao Cai → Sapa (~£2.50)

🛏Local family homestay in or near Ta Phin village (included in trek cost or ~£8 separately)

• →Shared minibus from Lao Cai to Sapa town (~£2.50)
• →Guided hilltribe trek to Ta Phin Red Dao village — book via GetYourGuide or local operator (~£15)
• →Traditional dinner and overnight homestay with local family

Continue trekking through Sapa's famous terraced rice fields. Self-navigate popular routes such as Sapa → Cat Cat Village → Y Linh Ho → Lao Chai → Ta Van (approx. 10km, no guide needed with offline Maps.me). Alternatively, hire a local H'mong woman guide from Sapa market (£8–10/day) for a more immersive experience — they are the best trail guides in the region. Spend a second night in a local homestay in a valley village such as Ta Van.

🚌Trekking on foot between villages

🛏Local homestay in Ta Van or Lao Chai village (~£8–10 including dinner and breakfast)

• →Trek through rice terraces: Cat Cat → Lao Chai → Ta Van route (~10km)
• →Visit local H'mong and Giay minority villages
• →Optional: hire a local H'mong guide from Sapa market (£8–10)

After breakfast with your host family, make your way back to Sapa town. You have the morning free to visit Sapa market, pick up local handicrafts, or simply relax. In the afternoon, take a shared minibus back to Lao Cai (£2.50), then board an overnight sleeper bus directly from Sapa or Lao Cai back to Hanoi (~£10–14). Alternatively, take the return train from Lao Cai. Arrive in Hanoi early morning on Day 6.

🚌Minibus Sapa → Lao Cai (~£2.50), then overnight sleeper bus/train to Hanoi (~£12)

🛏Overnight sleeper bus or train Sapa/Lao Cai → Hanoi

• →Morning free in Sapa — visit the local market
• →Shop for locally made H'mong textiles and crafts

Arrive back in Hanoi in the morning, drop bags at your hostel, freshen up, then join a Halong Bay overnight cruise departing around midday. Book a 2D/1N budget cruise directly online via Halong Bay operators such as Bhaya Classic, Dragon Legend, or through GetYourGuide — prices start from £55–75/person and include transport from Hanoi, all meals on board, kayaking, and cave visits. The cruise includes sailing through the iconic karst limestone pillars, visiting Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave, kayaking, and a seafood dinner on deck.

🚌Cruise includes return bus transfer from Hanoi Old Quarter

🛏Overnight on junk boat/cruise vessel (included in cruise price)

• →Halong Bay 2D/1N overnight junk boat cruise — book via GetYourGuide or direct (~£60–75)
• →Kayaking through karst caves and lagoons
• →Visit Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave
• →Fresh seafood dinner on deck under the stars

Enjoy breakfast on board the cruise ship and morning activities before returning to Hanoi by early afternoon. Drop bags at your hostel, grab lunch in the Old Quarter, and enjoy a few hours of free time. In the evening, head to Hanoi Railway Station for the overnight Reunification Express train to Hue. Book a soft sleeper berth via baolau.com (~£18–22). Trains typically depart around 19:00–22:00 and arrive in Hue the following morning.

🚌Cruise bus back to Hanoi included; overnight train Hanoi → Hue (~£20)

🛏Overnight Reunification Express sleeper train to Hue

• →Morning tai chi on deck and final cruise activities
• →Free afternoon in Hanoi Old Quarter
• →Optional: visit Dong Xuan Market for souvenirs

Arrive in Hue in the morning. Check into a budget guesthouse near the Perfume River — Hue Backpackers or similar from £9/night. Rent a bicycle (£2/day) or hire a xe om (motorbike taxi) to explore independently. Visit Thien Mu Pagoda (free) and the Royal Tombs of Minh Mang or Tu Duc (£3–4 each). For the most authentic experience, hire a local 'Hue by Night' motorbike tour through your hostel or via GetYourGuide (~£12) — local guides show you hidden spots, street food stalls, and local life away from tourist areas.

🚌Arrive by overnight train; local bicycle hire (£2/day) or xe om

🛏Hue Backpackers Hostel or similar guesthouse — dorm from £9/night

• →Thien Mu Pagoda — free entry, hire a bicycle to reach it (bike hire £2/day)
• →Royal Tombs of Minh Mang or Tu Duc (£3–4 entry each)
• →Optional: Hue by Night motorbike street food tour via GetYourGuide (~£12)
• →Eat bun bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup) at a local stall (under £1.50)

Start the morning with a self-guided tour of the Imperial Citadel (UNESCO World Heritage Site) — entry is £8 and covers the walled fortress, throne room, royal gardens, and gateways. Spend 2–3 hours exploring at your own pace with a downloaded audio guide. After lunch, book a shared tourist minibus or open bus ticket to Hoi An via the spectacular Hai Van Pass (weather permitting) — the pass offers sweeping views over the South China Sea and is one of Vietnam's most scenic drives. Book via Sinh Tourist or The Hanh bus (~£6–9). Arrive in Hoi An late afternoon.

🚌Shared tourist minibus Hue → Hoi An via Hai Van Pass (~£7, book via Sinh Tourist)

🛏Hoi An Backpacker's Villa or similar hostel in or near the Ancient Town — dorm from £9/night

• →Self-guided tour of Hue Imperial Citadel — UNESCO World Heritage Site (£8 entry)
• →Scenic drive over Hai Van Pass with coastal views
• →Check into Hoi An Ancient Town hostel on arrival

Book the Oodles of Noodles cooking class at STREETS International directly — this is a social enterprise training disadvantaged youth in hospitality, and you can book independently via their website (streetsinternational.org). The class costs around £25–30 and includes a noodle-making demonstration and lunch. Spend the afternoon exploring Hoi An Ancient Town (entry £5 for 5 heritage sites), browsing the famous tailor shops, or renting a bicycle to cycle 5km to An Bang beach (free). In the evening, watch the town glow with lanterns along the Thu Bon River.

🚌Bicycle hire for local transport (£2/day)

🛏Hoi An Backpacker's Villa or similar hostel — dorm from £9/night

• →STREETS International Oodles of Noodles cooking class — book directly at streetsinternational.org (~£27 including lunch)
• →Self-guided walk through Hoi An Ancient Town heritage sites (£5 entry, 5 sites)
• →Bicycle ride to An Bang Beach (bike hire £2, beach free)
• →Evening lantern-lit Ancient Town stroll along the Thu Bon River

A free day to enjoy Hoi An at your own pace. Options include visiting Cua Dai or An Bang beach by bicycle, getting custom clothing made at one of the famous tailor shops (allow 24–48hrs for garments), joining a half-day boat trip on the Thu Bon River to the coconut palm Cam Thanh village (~£8 via GetYourGuide), or simply wandering the colourful streets. In the evening, take a cooking class at the Hoi An market (various operators, ~£20–25 including market tour).

🚌Bicycle hire (£2/day)

🛏Hoi An Backpacker's Villa or similar hostel — dorm from £9/night

• →Beach day at An Bang or Cua Dai Beach (free, bike hire £2)
• →Visit tailors in Ancient Town for custom-made clothing
• →Optional: Thu Bon River boat trip to Cam Thanh coconut village via GetYourGuide (~£8)
• →Optional: Evening market cooking class (~£22)

Take a taxi or grab car from Hoi An to Da Nang Airport (30 mins, ~£6–8 via Grab app). Fly from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat) — domestic flights with VietJet Air, Bamboo Airways, or Vietnam Airlines cost £20–45 booked in advance. Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and take a Grab car or the 109 airport bus into the city centre (~£1.50 bus / £5–7 Grab). Check into a hostel in the Pham Ngu Lao backpacker district. Spend the evening exploring Ben Thanh Market and the surrounding streets.

🚌Grab car to Da Nang Airport (~£7); domestic flight (~£30); airport bus to city centre (~£1.50)

🛏The Common Room Project or similar HCMC hostel — dorm from £9/night

• →Grab car Hoi An → Da Nang Airport (~£7)
• →Domestic flight Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City — book in advance via VietJet or Bamboo (~£30)
• →Explore Ben Thanh Market area on arrival
• →Evening banh mi and street food around Pham Ngu Lao

Spend the day exploring Ho Chi Minh City's rich and complex history. Visit the War Remnants Museum (£2 — one of the most impactful museums in Southeast Asia), the Reunification Palace (£2), and the striking Notre-Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office (free exterior). Navigate the city chaos on foot or by Grab bike (the cheapest way to get around). In the evening, join a street food walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£15–20) through Districts 1 and 3 for banh xeo, goi cuon, and ca phe trung.

🚌Grab bike/car for city transport (~£3–5/day)

🛏The Common Room Project or similar HCMC hostel — dorm from £9/night

• →War Remnants Museum (£2)
• →Reunification Palace self-guided tour (£2)
• →Notre-Dame Cathedral and historic Central Post Office (free)
• →Evening street food walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£18)

Take a half-day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels — the extraordinary 250km underground network used by Viet Cong forces during the Vietnam War. Book a half-day tour via GetYourGuide (~£12–15 including transport and guide) or take a local bus (Route 13) to Cu Chi town and a xe om to the tunnels (total ~£4 each way, entry £4). The Ben Dinh section is less touristy than Ben Duoc. Return to HCMC for your last afternoon — explore the vibrant Binh Tay Market in Chinatown (Cholon district) or relax with a Vietnamese iced coffee.

🚌Included in GetYourGuide Cu Chi tour; Grab for city transport

🛏The Common Room Project or similar HCMC hostel — dorm from £9/night

• →Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour — book via GetYourGuide (~£13 including transport)
• →Crawl through the original tunnel sections (70cm wide!)
• →Afternoon: Binh Tay Market in Cholon Chinatown district
• →Final evening rooftop drinks at Chill Skybar or Bui Vien Walking Street

Final morning in Vietnam. Depending on your flight time, grab a last bowl of pho or banh mi from a street stall, pick up any final souvenirs from Ben Thanh Market, and make your way to Tan Son Nhat Airport. Take the 109 airport bus (~£1.50) or a Grab car (~£6–8) to the airport. Check in for your international flight home.

🚌Airport bus 109 (~£1.50) or Grab car to airport (~£7)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final Vietnamese breakfast — pho or banh mi from a street stall (£1–2)
• →Last-minute shopping at Ben Thanh Market
• →Airport bus 109 or Grab car to Tan Son Nhat Airport (~£6)