Vietnam Self-Launched Family Adventure: Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City

Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport and take the 86 Express bus into the city centre (around £1.50, ~45 mins). Check into your hostel or budget hotel in the Old Quarter. Spend the afternoon recovering from the flight or taking a gentle stroll along the French-colonial boulevards. In the evening, head out for a classic bowl of phở bò at a street-side stall — dinner for the whole family shouldn't cost more than £8–10 total.

🚌86 Express Airport Bus to Old Quarter: ~£1.50pp

🛏Hanoi Nostalgia Hotel & Spa or similar budget hotel in the Old Quarter (~£18–25/room/night)

• →86 Express bus from Noi Bai Airport to Old Quarter (~£1.50pp)
• →Explore tree-lined French colonial streets on foot
• →Dinner at a local street food restaurant — try phở or bún chả

Book a self-guided or GetYourGuide morning city tour (~£12–15pp) covering the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum area, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, and Hoa Lo Prison. After lunch, hire a cyclo (bicycle taxi) for a loop around the 36 Streets of the Old Quarter — negotiate a rate of around £3–5pp for 30–45 minutes. The afternoon is free: wander around Hoan Kiem Lake and grab an iced cà phê trứng (egg coffee) at a lakeside café. In the evening, book tickets for the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre directly at the box office (~£3–5pp) — one of Vietnam's most unique cultural experiences.

🚌Cyclo hire within Old Quarter: ~£4pp

🛏Hanoi Nostalgia Hotel & Spa or similar budget hotel in the Old Quarter (~£18–25/room/night)

• →Self-booked morning city tour via GetYourGuide: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison (~£12pp)
• →Cyclo ride through the 36 Streets Old Quarter (~£4pp)
• →Stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake and try egg coffee
• →Thang Long Water Puppet Show (book at box office, ~£4pp)

Book a 2-day/1-night Ha Long Bay cruise with a reputable operator such as Indochina Junk or Paradise Cruises — budget options start from £60–90pp including transport from Hanoi, all meals, kayaking, and cabin. Shared minibus transfers from Hanoi's Old Quarter are included in most cruise packages (around 3.5–4 hrs). Spend the afternoon cruising among 3,000 limestone peaks, kayaking into hidden lagoons, and watching the sunset over the bay. Dinner and a night in a twin-share cabin on board are included in your cruise package.

🚌Shared minibus Hanoi → Ha Long Bay included in cruise package

🛏Overnight on Ha Long Bay cruise boat (included in cruise package)

• →2D/1N Ha Long Bay cruise with cabin, meals, kayaking included (book via GetYourGuide or direct with operator, ~£70–90pp)
• →Kayaking among limestone karst formations
• →Sunset viewing from the boat deck
• →Seafood dinner on board

Enjoy a final morning cruise before disembarking and taking the shared minibus back to Hanoi (included in cruise package). Transfer to Noi Bai Airport for a VietJet or Vietnam Airlines domestic flight to Da Nang (~£25–40pp, book well in advance). From Da Nang Airport, take a Grab taxi or a pre-arranged shuttle to Hoi An (~£5–8pp, 45 mins). Check into your Hoi An guesthouse and relax by the pool or take a gentle wander along the lantern-lit streets.

🚌Shared minibus Ha Long → Hanoi (included in cruise); domestic flight HAN→DAD ~£30pp; Grab taxi Da Nang→Hoi An ~£6pp

🛏Hoi An Trails Resort or Vinh Hung Riverside Resort or similar (~£20–30/room/night)

• →Final morning Ha Long Bay cruise (included in package)
• →Domestic flight Hanoi → Da Nang (VietJet/Vietnam Airlines, ~£30pp — book in advance)
• →Grab taxi or shared shuttle Da Nang Airport → Hoi An (~£6pp)

Pick up a combined Old Town entry ticket (~£3pp) and spend the morning exploring this UNESCO World Heritage-listed living museum on foot — highlights include the Japanese Covered Bridge, ancient merchant houses, and the colourful riverside market. The afternoon is free to browse the tailors' shops, hire a bicycle, or relax by the river. In the evening, join a group cooking class bookable via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£18–22pp) where adults and kids alike learn to make Hoi An specialities including white rose dumplings and fresh spring rolls.

🚌All on foot or hired bicycle within Hoi An

🛏Hoi An Trails Resort or Vinh Hung Riverside Resort or similar (~£20–30/room/night)

• →Hoi An Ancient Town entry ticket (~£3pp)
• →Self-guided walking tour: Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky Merchant House, riverside market
• →Free afternoon — browse tailor shops or hire a bicycle (~£2/day)
• →Evening group cooking class via GetYourGuide/Klook (~£20pp, includes dinner)

Hire bicycles from your guesthouse or a local shop (~£2–3/day) for a morning ride on quiet rural roads through rice paddies, past village markets and schools, ending at Cua Dai Beach (around 5km). Spend the afternoon swimming or relaxing on the beach. In the early evening, take a Grab taxi back to Da Nang train station (~£5–7pp, 45 mins) and board an overnight train to Nha Trang. Book a soft-sleeper berth (4-berth cabin) in advance via the Vietnam Railways (VNR) website or Baolau.com (~£12–18pp). The train journey takes approximately 10–11 hours.

🚌Bicycle hire ~£3pp; Grab taxi to Da Nang station ~£6pp; overnight train soft sleeper ~£15pp

🛏Overnight train (soft-sleeper berth included in transport cost)

• →Bicycle hire for countryside ride to Cua Dai Beach (~£3pp)
• →Afternoon swimming at Cua Dai Beach (free)
• →Grab taxi to Da Nang train station (~£6pp)
• →Overnight train Da Nang → Nha Trang, soft-sleeper berth (book via Baolau.com, ~£15pp)

Arrive in Nha Trang in the morning. Grab breakfast at a local café near the station (~£2–3pp). To reach Whale Island (Hon Ong), take a Grab taxi or local bus to Van Phong Bay (~1.5–2 hrs, ~£5–8pp), then board the resort's ferry to the island — Whale Island Resort runs its own transfers and ferry service, book directly on their website. Note that Whale Island Resort is the only accommodation on the island, so book well in advance. Prices start from around £30–45/room/night (bungalow), often including breakfast. Spend the afternoon swimming in the turquoise bay — no schedule, just paradise.

🚌Grab taxi/local bus Nha Trang → Van Phong Bay ~£7pp; resort ferry included with booking

🛏Whale Island Resort beach bungalow (book direct at whaleislandresort.com, ~£35–45/room/night)

• →Breakfast near Nha Trang train station (~£2pp)
• →Transfer to Van Phong Bay then ferry to Whale Island (book direct with Whale Island Resort, ~£6pp transfer)
• →Free afternoon swimming and relaxing on the beach

Join the resort's daily boat trip around the surrounding islands (~£15–20pp including snorkelling gear and seafood lunch). The trip passes a small fishing village and the Whale Temple on a nearby islet. The afternoon is yours — laze on the beach, walk the island trail to the viewpoint for sweeping 360-degree views of the mountainous coastline and hidden coves, or simply enjoy the extraordinarily clear water. This is one of Vietnam's most serene spots.

🚌Resort boat trip included in activity cost

🛏Whale Island Resort beach bungalow (~£35–45/room/night)

• →Island boat trip with snorkelling, fishing village visit and seafood lunch (~£18pp, book with resort)
• →Viewpoint hike around the island for panoramic coastal views (free)
• →Afternoon beach relaxation

Enjoy a final early morning swim before the resort ferry returns you to the mainland. Take a Grab taxi to Cam Ranh Airport (Nha Trang), approximately 1.5 hours (~£8–10pp). Fly to Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat Airport) with VietJet or Vietnam Airlines (~£25–40pp, book in advance). Take the 109 Airport Bus or a Grab taxi into the city centre (~£1.50–5pp). Check into your hotel in District 1, the buzzing heart of Ho Chi Minh City.

🚌Resort ferry + Grab taxi to airport ~£10pp; domestic flight ~£30pp; airport bus ~£2pp

🛏Bui Vien Hostel or Liberty Central Saigon Riverside or similar budget hotel in District 1 (~£18–28/room/night)

• →Final morning swim at Whale Island
• →Resort ferry back to mainland
• →Grab taxi to Cam Ranh Airport (~£9pp)
• →Domestic flight Nha Trang (CXR) → Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), VietJet/Vietnam Airlines (~£30pp)
• →109 bus or Grab taxi from airport to District 1 (~£3pp)

Book a morning Cu Chi Tunnels tour via GetYourGuide (~£10–15pp including return transport from District 1) — a fascinating and sobering insight into Viet Cong life during the Vietnam War. Some widened sections allow you to crawl through the tunnels; those with claustrophobia can explore the forested grounds above. Return to the city in the early afternoon for a self-guided walk: stroll along the Saigon River waterfront, visit the Reunification Palace (~£2pp), browse Ben Thanh Market, and admire Notre Dame Cathedral. Grab a bánh mì from a street stall for lunch (~£1).

🚌Return transport to Cu Chi included in tour booking; local walking/Grab within city ~£3pp

🛏Bui Vien Hostel or Liberty Central Saigon Riverside or similar (~£18–28/room/night)

• →Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour via GetYourGuide (~£12pp including transport)
• →Reunification Palace entry (~£2pp)
• →Ben Thanh Market browse (free)
• →Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office (free)
• →Saigon River waterfront walk (free)

Book a Mekong Delta day-trip-plus-overnight via GetYourGuide or a local operator such as Mekong Rustic (~£25–35pp including boat, lunch, dinner, and homestay-style guesthouse). Depart Ho Chi Minh City by minibus to Cai Be (~2.5 hrs). Board a traditional wooden boat for a river journey past floating markets, riverside villages, and local cottage industries — watch rice paper and coconut candy being made. After lunch, continue through magnificent Delta scenery. Spend the evening at a family-run riverside guesthouse, enjoying dinner with local Delta specialities.

🚌Shared minibus HCMC → Cai Be and boat transport included in tour package

🛏Homestay-style guesthouse in the Mekong Delta (included in tour package)

• →Mekong Delta overnight tour with boat trips and village visits (book via GetYourGuide or Mekong Rustic, ~£30pp including meals and accommodation)
• →Traditional wooden boat journey along Mekong River
• →Village visits: rice paper, popped rice, and coconut candy cottage industries
• →Dinner at homestay-style guesthouse

After breakfast, take a morning walk through lush tropical orchards and navigate narrow canals in a traditional wooden sampan — a wonderfully peaceful way to experience the Delta's waterways. Rejoin the minibus for the return journey to Ho Chi Minh City, with a stop at a local Cao Dai temple en route — this indigenous Vietnamese religion uniquely fuses Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Christianity into vivid ceremonial practice. Arrive back in District 1 by early evening.

🚌Return minibus Mekong Delta → HCMC included in tour package

🛏Bui Vien Hostel or Liberty Central Saigon Riverside or similar (~£18–28/room/night)

• →Morning orchard walk and traditional sampan canal ride (included in tour package)
• →Visit to a local Cao Dai temple en route (usually included in package, or free entry independently)
• →Return minibus to Ho Chi Minh City (included in package)

A full free day to explore Ho Chi Minh City at your own pace. Options include visiting the War Remnants Museum (~£2pp, highly recommended for older children and adults), browsing souvenir and craft shops along Dong Khoi Street, or sampling your way through the city's incredible street food scene. For families with younger children, Dam Sen Water Park is a great option with slides, rides, and wave pools (~£4–6pp entry, accessible by Grab taxi). Alternatively, take a Grab to the Jade Emperor Pagoda — one of the city's most atmospheric temples.

🚌Grab taxi within city as needed (~£3–5pp)

🛏Bui Vien Hostel or Liberty Central Saigon Riverside or similar (~£18–28/room/night)

• →War Remnants Museum (~£2pp)
• →Dam Sen Water Park option (~£5pp entry, Grab taxi ~£3pp)
• →Souvenir shopping on Dong Khoi Street and Ben Thanh Market
• →Jade Emperor Pagoda visit (free)
• →Street food crawl: bánh mì, bún bò Huế, fresh coconut (~£5–8 for a full day of snacking)

Enjoy a final Vietnamese breakfast — try a bánh mì from a street cart or a bowl of hủ tiếu at a local café. Then take a Grab taxi or the 109 Airport Bus (~£1.50–4pp) to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your departure flight. If you have time to spare, pick up last-minute lacquerware, silk, or Vietnamese coffee at the airport shops. Tạm biệt Vietnam — until next time!

🚌109 bus or Grab taxi to airport: ~£3pp

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final Vietnamese breakfast at a local café (~£2pp)
• →109 Airport Bus or Grab taxi to Tan Son Nhat Airport (~£3pp)