Classic Vietnam: Sapa to the Mekong — Self-Launched

Arrive at Hanoi Noi Bai Airport and make your way into the city by airport bus (Bus 86, ~£1.50) or minibus (~£4). In the evening, board an overnight sleeper train from Hanoi to Lao Cai (the gateway to Sapa). Book a soft-sleeper berth for roughly £15–20 via the Vietnam Railways website or Baolau. On arrival in Lao Cai, take a shared minibus up to Sapa (~£3). Check into your Sapa guesthouse and get a good night's rest.

🚌Airport Bus 86 into Hanoi (~£1.50); overnight train Hanoi–Lao Cai (~£15–20); shared minibus Lao Cai–Sapa (~£3)

🛏Sapa guesthouse or budget hotel — e.g. Sapa Hostel or Mountain View Homestay (~£10–15/night)

• →Airport bus or minibus transfer into Hanoi centre
• →Explore Hanoi's Old Quarter briefly if time allows
• →Overnight sleeper train Hanoi → Lao Cai (soft sleeper, ~£15–20 via baolau.com or 12go.asia)

Spend the day trekking through Sapa's legendary terraced valleys. You can book a half-day or full-day guided trek with a local H'mong guide directly in town for around £10–15, or join a small-group tour via GetYourGuide. Popular routes include Muong Hoa Valley and Cat Cat Village. Bargain for a hand-embroidered souvenir at the local market and enjoy a bowl of thang co (horse stew) for a truly local lunch.

🚌Trekking on foot; local motorbike taxi for short hops (~£1–2)

🛏Sapa guesthouse or budget hotel (~£10–15/night)

• →Full-day guided trek through Muong Hoa Valley or Cat Cat Village (~£10–15, book locally or via GetYourGuide)
• →Visit a H'mong or Dzao minority village
• →Browse Sapa market for local crafts and street food

Enjoy a morning trek or explore Sapa town at your own pace — visit Fansipan cable car base (optional, ~£20 return) if you want a bird's-eye view of the region. In the afternoon, take the shared minibus back down to Lao Cai and board the overnight sleeper train back to Hanoi, arriving early morning.

🚌Shared minibus Sapa–Lao Cai (~£3); overnight train Lao Cai–Hanoi (~£15–20)

🛏Overnight sleeper train (soft berth)

• →Optional: Fansipan cable car for panoramic views (~£20 return)
• →Final stroll through Sapa town and local market
• →Overnight sleeper train Lao Cai → Hanoi (~£15–20)

Arrive back in Hanoi in the early morning and check into your hostel. Spend the day exploring the Old Quarter on foot — visit Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple (£1 entry), and the French Quarter. In the afternoon, visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex and the fascinating One Pillar Pagoda (free). In the evening, head to the famous Bia Hoi Corner for cheap draught beer (50p a glass!) and street food. Optionally book a Hanoi street food tour for the evening via GetYourGuide (~£20).

🚌Walking and occasional Grab taxi (~£1–3)

🛏Old Quarter hostel — e.g. Hanoi Backpackers Hostel or Hanoi Central Hostel (~£8–12/night)

• →Walk Hoan Kiem Lake and cross to Ngoc Son Temple (~£1)
• →Explore the 36 streets of the Old Quarter on foot
• →Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and One Pillar Pagoda (free/minimal entry)
• →Evening at Bia Hoi Corner — street food and local beer
• →Optional: Hanoi Foodie Culture Street Food Tour (~£20 via GetYourGuide)

Join a budget overnight Halong Bay junk boat cruise — book in advance via GetYourGuide, Klook, or directly with operators like Viet Hai Cruises or HM Cruises. Shared day-and-overnight cruises start at around £60–80 per person including transport from Hanoi, all meals aboard, and one night's cabin. Depart Hanoi by bus (~3.5 hours), board your junk boat and sail past the iconic limestone karsts.

🚌Minibus transfer Hanoi–Halong Bay (included in cruise); junk boat

🛏Overnight junk boat cabin (included in cruise package, ~£65–80 total for Days 5–6)

• →Scenic bus transfer Hanoi–Halong Bay (~3.5 hrs, included in most cruise packages)
• →Board overnight junk boat cruise — kayaking, cave exploration, and swimming included
• →Cooking demonstration on board
• →Sunset cruise past limestone karsts

Wake up on the bay and enjoy a morning of kayaking or cave exploration (Sung Sot Cave is a highlight). After lunch on board, the boat returns to the harbour and a minibus brings you back to Hanoi by late afternoon. Enjoy a final evening in Hanoi — consider seeing a water puppet show at Thang Long Theatre (~£4).

🚌Return minibus Halong Bay–Hanoi (included in cruise package)

🛏Old Quarter hostel, Hanoi (~£8–12/night)

• →Morning kayaking through Halong Bay caves and grottos
• →Visit Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave
• →Return minibus to Hanoi
• →Optional: Water puppet show at Thang Long Theatre (~£4)

Spend the morning at leisure in Hanoi — grab a classic banh mi breakfast and visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (~£2) if you missed it. In the afternoon, board the Reunification Express overnight train from Hanoi to Hue. A soft-sleeper berth costs around £20–25 and is bookable via Baolau or 12go.asia. The train crosses the famous Hai Van Pass, offering spectacular coastal scenery in the morning.

🚌Overnight train Hanoi–Hue (~£20–25, ~14 hrs)

🛏Overnight sleeper train (soft berth)

• →Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (~£2, highly recommended)
• →Banh mi breakfast at local street stall (~£1)
• →Board overnight Reunification Express train Hanoi–Hue (~£20–25 soft sleeper, via baolau.com)

Arrive in Hue in the morning and check into your guesthouse. Head straight to the Imperial Citadel — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — and explore the walled fortress, royal palaces, gateways, and gardens at your own pace (entry ~£5). In the afternoon, join a Hue motorbike tour with a local 'Easy Rider' driver-guide — covering royal tombs, Thien Mu Pagoda, and local villages. Book locally on arrival or via GetYourGuide (~£15–20). In the evening, try a bowl of bun bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup) — a local speciality.

🚌Tuk-tuk or Grab from train station to hostel (~£2); motorbike tour transport included in activity

🛏Hue budget guesthouse or hostel — e.g. Hue Backpackers or Medalion Hostel (~£8–12/night)

• →Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Purple City tour (self-visit, ~£5 entry)
• →Hue Motorbike Tour with local Easy Rider guide — royal tombs, Thien Mu Pagoda (~£15–20, book locally or via GetYourGuide)
• →Try bun bo Hue at a local street restaurant (~£2)

Take a scenic minibus or join a Hue-to-Hoi An transfer that crosses the legendary Hai Van Pass — one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the world, made famous by Top Gear. Many budget travellers hire a motorbike in Hue and ride it to Hoi An (around £8 for bike rental + £5 fuel) — passing through Lang Co Beach and Danang en route. Alternatively, book a direct tourist minibus (~£6–8). Check into Hoi An in the afternoon and explore the Ancient Town at dusk.

🚌Tourist minibus Hue–Hoi An via Hai Van Pass (~£6–8); or self-hire motorbike (~£13 total)

🛏Hoi An guesthouse or hostel — e.g. Hoi An Backpackers or Sunflower Hotel (~£8–15/night)

• →Scenic drive over Hai Van Pass — by tourist minibus (~£6–8) or motorbike (~£13 total)
• →Stop at Lang Co Beach for photos
• →Evening stroll through Hoi An Ancient Town (free to enter, lanterns lit at dusk)
• →Street food dinner on the riverside

In the morning, join a cooking class in Hoi An — learn to make local noodle dishes (cao lau, white rose dumplings) at a market-to-table class. STREETS International (G Adventures' G for Good partner) runs classes you can book independently (~£20–25). Spend the afternoon exploring Hoi An's Ancient Town independently — visit the Japanese Covered Bridge (free), Chinese Assembly Halls, and ancestral homes. Book a tailored outfit from one of the renowned local tailors.

🚌Bicycle hire to get around Hoi An (~£2/day)

🛏Hoi An guesthouse or hostel (~£8–15/night)

• →Cooking class with market tour — STREETS International or similar (~£20–25, book via their website or GetYourGuide)
• →Self-guided walk through Hoi An Old Town — Japanese Covered Bridge, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall (~£3 combined ticket)
• →Visit local tailor for a custom outfit (~£20–50)
• →Evening lantern release on the Thu Bon River (~£1)

Enjoy a free day in Hoi An — cycle out to An Bang Beach (about 4km from town) for a day of sun and sea. Sunloungers and umbrellas can be rented for ~£2. Head back into town in the late afternoon and explore the local market. Consider a sunset boat trip on the Thu Bon River (~£5). Tonight, enjoy Hoi An's famous White Rose dumplings and grilled meats at the Night Market.

🚌Bicycle hire (~£2/day)

🛏Hoi An guesthouse or hostel (~£8–15/night)

• →Cycle to An Bang Beach (~£2 bike hire, sunlounger ~£2)
• →Optional: Sunset boat trip on Thu Bon River (~£5)
• →Night Market dinner — White Rose dumplings, grilled meats (~£5–8)

Take a taxi or minibus to Danang Airport (~£8–10 by Grab) and catch a budget domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). VietJet Air and Bamboo Airways fly this route for ~£25–50 if booked in advance. Arrive in HCMC (Saigon) and take the bus (Bus 109, ~£1) or a Grab taxi (~£5) to your hostel in the Pham Ngu Lao backpacker district. Spend the evening exploring District 1 — rooftop bars, street food, and the electric buzz of Southeast Asia's largest city.

🚌Grab taxi to Danang Airport (~£8–10); domestic flight (~£25–50); Grab or Bus 109 to hostel (~£1–5)

🛏HCMC hostel or budget hotel — e.g. The Common Room Project or Bui Vien Hostel (~£8–14/night)

• →Transfer to Danang Airport by Grab (~£8–10)
• →Domestic flight Danang–Ho Chi Minh City (VietJet/Bamboo, ~£25–50 if booked ahead)
• →Check into Pham Ngu Lao backpacker area
• →Evening street food and Ben Thanh Market night market (~£5–8)

Spend the day exploring HCMC's highlights. Start at the War Remnants Museum (~£2) — one of the most powerful museums in Southeast Asia. Walk to the Reunification Palace (~£2), then stroll past the Colonial Post Office and Notre-Dame Cathedral (free). In the afternoon, visit the colourful Ben Thanh Market. In the evening, join a street food tour by Vespa or walking tour (~£20–25 via GetYourGuide or Klook) to sample com tam (broken rice), banh xeo (sizzling crepes), and fresh spring rolls.

🚌Walking, Grab taxi (~£1–3 per ride)

🛏HCMC hostel (~£8–14/night)

• →War Remnants Museum (~£2)
• →Reunification Palace (~£2)
• →Notre-Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office (free)
• →Ben Thanh Market browse and bargain
• →Optional: Evening Vespa street food tour (~£20–25 via GetYourGuide)

Book a day tour to the Mekong Delta's Ben Tre region — the coconut capital of Vietnam. These tours depart from HCMC early morning and include transport, boat rides, a coconut plantation visit, sampan rowing through narrow canals, and a cycling leg along the waterways. Look for tours that include a stop at a rice paper-making community (Cai Be area). Book via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£20–30 for a full-day tour with lunch included).

🚌Tour minibus HCMC–Ben Tre–HCMC (included in day tour price)

🛏HCMC hostel (~£8–14/night)

• →Full-day Mekong Delta tour to Ben Tre (~£20–30, book via GetYourGuide or Klook)
• →Visit coconut plantation and coconut candy workshop
• →Row a sampan through narrow waterway canals
• →Cycle along Mekong riverside paths
• →Watch traditional rice paper being made at a local family home

Take a morning bus or organised day trip from HCMC to the Vinh Long / Mang Thit area of the Mekong Delta — known as the 'Red Kingdom' for its thousands of terracotta brick kilns. Take a local boat to the Pottery Brick Village of Mang Thit, then cycle through rice fields, fruit plantations, and riverside factories past photogenic red-brick towers. Return to HCMC by late afternoon. Book independently via a local guesthouse tour desk or GetYourGuide (~£20–25).

🚌Bus or tour minibus HCMC–Vinh Long (~£5 each way); local boat (included in tour or ~£3); bicycle hire (~£2–5)

🛏HCMC hostel (~£8–14/night)

• →Boat ride to Mang Thit Pottery Brick Village ('Red Kingdom')
• →Cycling tour through rice fields and riverside plantations (~included in day tour or £5 bike hire independently)
• →Visit local brick and pottery kilns
• →Return to HCMC by evening

Enjoy a final Vietnamese breakfast — pho or banh mi — at a local street café. If time allows before your flight, visit the Jade Emperor Pagoda (free) or pick up last-minute souvenirs at the Russian Market (Cho Cu Antique Market). Take a Grab taxi or Bus 109 to Tan Son Nhat Airport. Your flight should depart no earlier than 17:00. Safe travels!

🚌Grab taxi or Bus 109 to airport (~£5–8)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final pho or banh mi breakfast at a local street café (~£2)
• →Optional: Jade Emperor Pagoda (free)
• →Last-minute shopping at Cho Cu Antique Market
• →Grab taxi or Bus 109 to Tan Son Nhat Airport (~£5–8)