Self-Launched: Top Notch North to South Vietnam (22 Days)

Land at Noi Bai (Terminal 2) and take bus #86 from outside arrivals to Hoan Kiem for around 45,000 VND (~£1.50); a Grab car is around 350,000 VND (~£11). Check into a hostel or budget hotel in the Old Quarter. Spend the evening orienting yourself around Hoan Kiem Lake and eating bun cha or pho bo for £2-3. Arrange your Ha Giang loop booking tonight for a day-after-tomorrow departure.

🚌Bus #86 Noi Bai to Hoan Kiem ~£1.50

🛏Old Quarter hostel or budget hotel (dorm £6-9, private double £14-20)

• →Bus #86 or Grab transfer from Noi Bai airport
• →Evening walk around Hoan Kiem Lake
• →Old Quarter street food dinner

Do the classic Hanoi circuit yourself: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex and One Pillar Pagoda (free, closed Mondays/Fridays, arrive before 10:30am), then walk to the Temple of Literature (30,000 VND / ~£1). After lunch visit the Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake and, if it's a weekday, cycle or Grab out to Bat Trang ceramics village. Finish with Ngoc Son Temple and a lap of Hoan Kiem. Entry fees total under £5. Book an evening water puppet show at Thang Long theatre (~£4) if you fancy it.

🚌Walking plus Grab motorbike hops £1-2

🛏Old Quarter hostel or budget hotel

• →Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and One Pillar Pagoda (free)
• →Temple of Literature (~£1)
• →Tran Quoc Pagoda
• →Lacquer workshop or Bat Trang ceramics village
• →Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake

Take an early limousine minibus from Hanoi to Ha Giang city (about 6 hours, 250,000-350,000 VND / £8-12, book via your hostel or 12Go). Most Ha Giang loop operators (Jasmine, Bong, Flipside) run 3-day easy-rider or self-ride loops starting at 8-9am; if you'd rather go it alone, hire a bike in Ha Giang and ride the loop yourself. Climb to Heaven's Gate for the Tam Son view, then stay in a Tay family homestay in Quan Ba — dinner included on most homestay packages (bun cha or hotpot). Trek around the Black Dao rammed-earth houses on foot before dark.

🚌Limousine minibus Hanoi to Ha Giang ~£10; local transfers included in loop package

🛏Tay family homestay in Quan Ba, dorm or private room (£6-12 with dinner)

• →Limousine bus Hanoi to Ha Giang
• →Heaven's Gate viewpoint at Tam Son
• →Trek through Black Dao village
• →Tay family homestay dinner

Ride the plateau's most spectacular stretch: Quan Ba to Yen Minh, then Meo Vac and over Ma Pi Leng Pass with the Nho Que River far below. Trek a section through H'mong villages around Meo Vac, and stop at the Ma Pi Leng Skywalk for photos. Overnight in Dong Van old town — a small guesthouse or homestay is £8-14. Eat at one of the old-town pho or thang co spots.

🚌Easy-rider or rented motorbike on the loop (3-day loop packages £75-120 all-in incl. guide, bike, fuel, beds)

🛏Dong Van guesthouse or homestay (£8-14)

• →Ma Pi Leng Pass and Skywalk
• →H'mong village trek near Meo Vac
• →Nho Que River viewpoint
• →Dong Van old town evening

Morning at the H'Mong King's Palace (Vuong Palace) in Sa Phin — entry around 20,000 VND (~£0.70) — and the Dong Van UNESCO Geopark, walking through centuries-old H'mong and Tay villages en route. Finish the loop back in Ha Giang, then take an afternoon or early-evening limousine bus back to Hanoi (~£10, 6 hours). Crash in the Old Quarter.

🚌Loop ride back to Ha Giang plus limousine bus to Hanoi ~£10

🛏Old Quarter hostel or budget hotel

• →H'Mong King's Palace at Sa Phin
• →Dong Van UNESCO Geopark
• →Tay ethnic village walk
• →Return bus Ha Giang to Hanoi

Head northeast on a local bus from Hanoi's Gia Lam or My Dinh station to Lang Son (about 3.5 hours, 150,000 VND / £5), then a shared taxi or local bus on to Quang Uyen (2 hours). Stop at Chi Lang Pass and the Quy Mon Quan gate, Mother's Temple and the Dong Khe historical site if you're travelling with a driver — otherwise pick these up as roadside stops on the Lang Son route. Overnight with a Nung family in Quang Uyen (£8-12, dinner typically included).

🚌Local bus Hanoi to Lang Son ~£5, then shared taxi/bus Lang Son to Quang Uyen ~£4-6

🛏Nung family homestay, Quang Uyen (£8-12 with dinner)

• →Chi Lang Pass and Quy Mon Quan gate
• →Mother's Temple
• →Dong Khe historical site
• →Nung family homestay dinner

The big day: hire a local driver or join a shared day tour from Cao Bang to Ban Gioc Waterfall (entry 40,000 VND / ~£1.30 plus boat 30,000 VND) and Nguom Ngao Cave (45,000 VND). Stop in Phuoc Sen village to see the Nung knife-making. In the afternoon cross the 'snake pass' toward Ba Be, arriving at a Tay stilt-house homestay near the lake (£8-12 with dinner). A private car and driver for the day is around £35-45 and can be split if you're travelling with others.

🚌Private driver/shared tour Cao Bang to Ban Gioc and Ba Be ~£30-45 per car

🛏Tay stilt-house homestay near Ba Be Lake (£8-12 with dinner)

• →Ban Gioc Waterfall and boat ride
• →Nguom Ngao Cave
• →Phuoc Sen village knife-making
• →Tay stilt-house homestay dinner

Take a morning boat trip on Ba Be Lake (around 400,000-500,000 VND / £13-16 per boat, including a swim stop), pass through Puong Grotto with its bat colony, and stop at a tea plantation on the way out. Return to Hanoi by local bus from Cho Ra or Bac Kan (about 5 hours, £6-8). Evening in the Old Quarter.

🚌Ba Be to Hanoi local bus ~£7

🛏Old Quarter hostel or budget hotel

• →Ba Be Lake boat trip and swim
• →Puong Grotto
• →Tea plantation stop
• →Bus back to Hanoi

Book a 2-day/1-night Lan Ha Bay cruise direct (Venezia Cruise runs this route, but any Lan Ha operator is fine) — budget cruises start around £110-150 per person including transfers from Hanoi, all meals, kayaking and a cooking demo. Morning shuttle from the Old Quarter to Hai Phong, tender out to the boat, lunch as you sail past Con Vit islets, then kayaking to Dark & Bright Cave and a swim in Lan Ha. Sunset party on the sundeck, spring-roll cooking class, and optional night squid fishing.

🚌Cruise shuttle from Hanoi included in fare

🛏Lan Ha Bay cruise cabin, twin/double share (£110-150 for the 2-day cruise incl. meals, transport and activities)

• →Shuttle Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay
• →Kayaking at Dark & Bright Cave
• →Swimming in Lan Ha Bay
• →Sunset party and spring roll cooking class
• →Optional night fishing

Sunrise Tai Chi on the upper deck, early brunch, then a final kayak or row-boat to Dark & Bright Cave before the boat docks. Shuttle back to Hanoi for around 4-5pm. Pick up your Reunification Express or sleeper bus tickets for tomorrow, and treat yourself to a bia hoi corner dinner.

🚌Cruise shuttle back to Hanoi included

🛏Old Quarter hostel or budget hotel

• →Sunrise Tai Chi session
• →Kayaking at Dark & Bright Cave
• →Shuttle back to Hanoi

Take the train or express bus from Hanoi to Ninh Binh (about 2 hours, 120,000-200,000 VND / £4-7). Hire a bicycle (£2-3/day) and ride to Hoa Lu's Dinh and Le King temples (entry 20,000 VND), then do the sampan boat ride through Tam Coc's three caves along the Ngo Dong River (around 200,000-300,000 VND per boat). Cycle the back lanes toward the limestone karsts for sunset, with a Vietnamese tea stop en route. Stay in Tam Coc village.

🚌Train or express bus Hanoi to Ninh Binh ~£5; bicycle hire ~£2.50

🛏Tam Coc bungalow or hostel (£8-14)

• →Dinh and Le King temples at Hoa Lu
• →Sampan boat through Tam Coc caves
• →Bicycle ride around Tam Coc
• →Sunset over the karsts

Early Trang An boat trip through the 7-cave grotto network (300,000 VND per boat, best before 9am), then climb the 500 stone steps of Mua Cave for the Hang Mua viewpoint over Tam Coc (100,000 VND). Freshen up, then take the Reunification Express (SE trains, soft sleeper ~£20-25, about 7 hours to Dong Hoi) overnight, or a sleeper bus direct to Phong Nha (~£12-15). Arrange a Phong Nha hostel pick-up from Dong Hoi station in advance.

🚌Reunification Express Ninh Binh to Dong Hoi soft sleeper ~£22

🛏Overnight soft sleeper train (£20-25) or sleeper bus

• →Trang An grotto boat trip
• →Mua Cave viewpoint climb
• →Overnight Reunification Express to Dong Hoi

Base in Phong Nha village (hostels £6-10, riverside bungalows £14-20). Hire a scooter (£5/day) or join a shared tour to Paradise Cave — 31km of walkable boardwalk through vast chambers, entry 250,000 VND — then cool off at Mooc Spring (150,000 VND, includes kayaking and swimming in the emerald water). Evening at Phong Nha's easy hostels and backpacker bars along the river.

🚌Scooter hire ~£5/day

🛏Phong Nha hostel or riverside bungalow (£8-16)

• →Paradise Cave boardwalk
• →Mooc Spring kayaking and swimming
• →Scooter ride through Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Morning Phong Nha Cave trip by boat along the Chay River, visiting Bi Ky and Co Tien chambers (around 400,000 VND per boat). If you want adrenaline, book the Dark Cave zipline and mud bath tour separately (~£18-25, includes helmet and headlamp). In the afternoon take a local bus to Hue (about 3.5 hours, £6-8) or the train from Dong Hoi. Check into a hostel in the backpacker quarter on Chu Van An street.

🚌Bus Phong Nha to Hue ~£7

🛏Hue hostel or budget hotel in the backpacker quarter (£8-16)

• →Phong Nha Cave boat trip
• →Bi Ky and Co Tien caves
• →Dark Cave zipline and mud bath (optional)
• →Bus to Hue

Walk the Hue Citadel — Flag Tower, Noon Gate, Nine Urns, Thai Hoa Palace and the Forbidden Purple City (entry 200,000 VND). In the afternoon hire a motorbike driver or Grab to the Tomb of Tu Duc and the Tomb of Khai Dinh (each ~150,000 VND), then take the wooden boat up the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda (~£3-5). Stop at Thuy Xuan village to see conical hats and incense being made. Try bun bo Hue for dinner.

🚌Grab motorbike around the tombs £6-8; boat trip £4

🛏Hue hostel or budget hotel

• →Hue Citadel and Forbidden Purple City
• →Tomb of Tu Duc and Tomb of Khai Dinh
• →Wooden boat on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda
• →Thuy Xuan conical hat and incense village

Take the local train from Hue to Da Nang (about 2.5 hours, 100,000-150,000 VND) for the coastline stretch over the Hai Van Pass — one of Asia's best short train rides — then a bus or Grab the last 45 minutes to Hoi An (~£5). Alternatively hire an easy rider or ride a scooter over the pass yourself (~£10-15). Settle into Hoi An's old town and get a tailor fitting booked for tomorrow.

🚌Train Hue to Da Nang ~£4 plus bus/Grab to Hoi An ~£5

🛏Hoi An hostel or budget guesthouse (£8-16)

• →Hue to Da Nang train over Hai Van Pass
• →Walk Hoi An Ancient Town (entry 120,000 VND)
• →Old town lantern-lit evening

A day at your own pace: cycle to An Bang Beach for a swim (~£1 bike hire), wander the ancient town's merchant houses and Japanese Bridge, and get something made by a Hoi An tailor — a shirt from £18-25, a suit from £70-90. Take a self-booked cooking class in the afternoon (~£20-25, many include the market tour and basket boat ride). Evening at the night market.

🚌Bicycle hire ~£1

🛏Hoi An hostel or budget guesthouse

• →An Bang Beach swim
• →Hoi An Ancient Town merchant houses and Japanese Bridge
• →Tailor fitting
• →Optional Vietnamese cooking class (~£22)
• →Night market

Get to My Son early — a shared minibus or Grab from Hoi An is 45 minutes and £8-12 per car; entry is 150,000 VND. The Cham Hindu temple complex is best before 9:30am when the tour buses arrive. Come back via a Thu Bon River boat for the local village views (~£5), or stop at Kim Bong carpentry village. Afternoon free for the beach.

🚌Shared minibus/Grab to My Son ~£5-6 each way

🛏Hoi An hostel or budget guesthouse

• →My Son Sanctuary Cham temples
• →Thu Bon River boat trip
• →Kim Bong carpentry village

Fly Hoi An to Saigon: Da Nang to Tan Son Nhat is a cheap, frequent route (VietJet/Bamboo from £25-40 one-way if booked a few weeks out; a shuttle from Hoi An to Da Nang airport is £5-8). Alternatively take the Reunification Express overnight (~£30-40 in a soft sleeper, 17 hours) or a sleeper bus (£20). Land and stay in District 1 near Bui Vien or Pham Ngu Lao for hostels from £6-12.

🚌Flight Da Nang to Saigon ~£32 plus airport transfers ~£8

🛏District 1 hostel (£6-12 dorm, £16-22 private)

• →Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City flight
• →Evening wander around District 1 and Bui Vien

Morning DIY city walk: Independence Palace (65,000 VND), Notre Dame Cathedral exterior, the Central Post Office, and the War Remnants Museum (40,000 VND). In the afternoon book a shared half-day Cu Chi Tunnels tour from any District 1 travel agent (around £15-20 including transport and entry) — or take bus #13 to Cu Chi and do it yourself. Evening on Nguyen Hue walking street or a rooftop bar.

🚌Walking plus shared Cu Chi tour minibus included in tour price

🛏District 1 hostel

• →Independence Palace
• →Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office
• →War Remnants Museum
• →Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour
• →Optional shooting range at Cu Chi

Book a one-way Mekong Delta tour or do it independently: bus from Saigon's Mien Tay station to My Tho (£2-3), visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, hire a sampan to the four islands (Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, Tortoise) for around £10-15 per boat, walk Unicorn Island's paths and cycle around Tan Thach village. Continue by local bus to Can Tho (£3-4) and stay near the waterfront (£8-15). A packaged 2-day Mekong tour with a guide runs £35-50 if you'd rather have it arranged.

🚌Local buses Saigon to My Tho and Can Tho ~£6 total; sampan hire ~£12

🛏Can Tho guesthouse or budget hotel (£8-15)

• →Vinh Trang Pagoda
• →Sampan around the four islands of My Tho
• →Unicorn Island fruit plantation and bee farm
• →Cycling around Tan Thach village
• →Bus to Can Tho

Up at 5:30am for a small boat out to Cai Rang floating market (around 250,000-350,000 VND / £8-12 for a 3-hour private boat, best shared). Stop at the noodle factory and fruit boats, and visit Binh Thuy communal house and Munir Ansay Khmer Pagoda on the way back. Return to Saigon by express bus (3.5 hours, £5-7) in the afternoon, then spend the last evening at a bia hoi or a District 4 seafood spot.

🚌Cai Rang boat ~£10; express bus Can Tho to Saigon ~£6

🛏District 1 hostel

• →Sunrise Cai Rang floating market boat trip
• →Noodle and candy workshops
• →Binh Thuy communal house
• →Munir Ansay Khmer Pagoda
• →Bus back to Ho Chi Minh City