Vietnam Classic 12 Day Tour
Vietnam Classic 12 Day Tour
Vietnam Classic 12 Day Tour
12 Days Starting in Ho Chi Minh and ending in Hanoi
Visiting: Ho Chi Minh City, Hội An, Hue, Ninh Bình, Hanoi, Hạ Long Bay
Tour operator:
Tour code:
VTM12
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
5 - 22
Age range:
18-45
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans, Meat
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
One Life Adventures is a premium youth operator, specialising in trips for travellers aged 18-45 years inclusive (at the time of travel). Get ready to experience the best of what Vietnam has while getting you off the beaten track and immersed in local life. Discover unseen parts of the vibrant cities, take a crash course lesson in their national sport, help local NGOs create a better future, and explore all the sights, smells, and tastes of this incredible destination. From village homestays in the remote Pu Long National Park, to having cocktails in the rooftop pool overlooking vibrant cities, or exploring the lesser-known Bai Tu Long Bay on the tip of Ha Long Bay by traditional style boat. This is Vietnam, but not as you know it.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival
Location: Ho Chi Minh City
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Alagon City Hotel
Meals Included: Dinner
Welcome to Vietnam! You will be picked up and transferred to your hotel in HCMC at any time. After you check in, you are then free to explore or chill until you meet the rest of your group for a welcome dinner feast with your new friends. Take a dip in the rooftop pool overlooking the city and get ready for the trip of a lifetime!
Day 2 : Ho Chi Minh City
Location: Ho Chi Minh City
Accommodation: Overnight Train
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, get ready for a cultural experience like no other, learning the national sport called da cao! This is also called “foot badminton” and you will see it played in every park around the country. Learn the basics from one of the local teams we support as part of our community projects. After that, we will head out on a walking tour to see sights and some hidden gems of this incredible city. Refresh back at the hotel before heading to the train station for our overnight train to Da Nang.
Day 3 : Kayak Into Hoi An
Location: Hội An
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hoang Trinh Hotel
Upon arrival, you will be picked up by the team and transferred to the banks of the Thu Bon River where we will have lunch before kayaking into the majestic old town of Hoi An. After a short walk to your hotel to freshen up, you can take a dip in the pool and then head out to explore the area. Near our hotel, you will find the famous Hoi An night market, where you can get your own tailored clothes.
Day 4 : Hoi An
Location: Hội An
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hoang Trinh Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Rise and shine! Spend the morning cycling through the countryside by small villages and rice fields to a quiet riverbank where we will start collecting plastic that has been dumped all along the river. Enjoy a refreshing sugarcane juice by the river before heading back
to a Hoi An garden house where we will classify the trash to make eco bricks for a local NGO.
An ecobrick is a plastic bottle packed with used plastic to a set density and serve as
reusable building blocks. This project not only helps to clean the riverbank but also builds a good amount of eco bricks that can be used for construction in Quang Nam province’s remote areas, and used to build playgrounds and schools. The afternoon is yours to explore however you want (beach time!).
Day 5 : Open Top Jeep To Hue
Location: Hue
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Alba Hue Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
After having breakfast at the hotel, you’ll travel to Hue (the Imperial City) in style, by an open-top army jeep through what was voted as one of the most beautiful roads in the world!
We will start by making our way up the Hai Van Pass to some viewpoints with awesome photo opportunities overlooking the spectacular coastline. On the way, we’ll also visit an area with historical French colonial buildings, plus a few other viewpoints along this amazing stretch of road. We will arrive in the historical town of Hue, the old seat of the Nguyen Dynasty, in the afternoon.
Day 6 : Hue
Location: Hue
Accommodation: Overnight Train
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, we will hop on the Dragon boat. After making a stop at a pagoda, we will make our way to a local garden situated on the banks of the Perfume River.
Here you will get to experience a traditional Vietnamese cooking class. After the cooking class, you can relax or explore the imperial city until it's time to transfer to Hue Train Station for your night train journey to Pu Luong.
Day 7 : Ninh Binh To Puluong
Location: Ninh Bình
Accommodation: Homestay, Homestay
Accommodation Name: Local Homestay
Meals Included: Dinner
Get ready for your trip to one of the most amazing landscape destinations of Vietnam! We will hop on the bus and head to Pu Luong National Park. On the way we will stop for lunch and visit the Chua Ngoc Chau Temple. We will then arrive at our accommodation, a local homestay in Ban Hieu which is nestled between rice paddies and mountains. Visit a waterfall before dinner with local families. Experience incredible off the beaten path scenery all around you and bed down tonight in one of the local houses.
Day 8 : Puluong National Park
Location: Ninh Bình
Accommodation: Homestay
Accommodation Name: Local Homestay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast with a wonderful valley view, we will start with a short trek down hill, heading to a beautiful traditional rural bamboo lake house where you can bamboo rafting or swim in the crystal clear water. Picnic lunch will be served here by the local family in an amazing setting surrounded by nature.
Get yourself ready after lunch for a waterfall chasing adventure. The guide will take you to his secret route to go up and see the stunning waterfall inside the valley through little trails in thw forest. Take in the serene views along the way as you wind through local farms and villages. This truely is a place to unplug and just take in your surroundings.
Trek back by rice fields and farms to the homestay for dinner and drinks.
Day 9 : To Hanoi
Location: Hanoi
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Media Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
As we say goodbye to our homestay family and scenery in Pu Luong, we can look forward to the hustle and bustle of Hanoi and a stay in a beautiful, boutique hotel! Take it easy in the morning and then after a big breakfast, we head off. We arrive in Hanoi in the afternoon and you’ll have time to freshen up and join the rest of your group for a city walk before a feast of local delicacies
Day 10 : Ha Long & Bai Tu Long Bay
Location: Hạ Long Bay
Accommodation: Cruise Ship - Cabin
Accommodation Name: Renea Cruise
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We will jump on our luxury transport to the coast where we will await our traditional boat to take us out into the famous Ha Long Bay. We get away from the crowds by travelling north to Bai Tu Long and more of the untouched locations of Ha Long Bay.
Kayak around the breathtaking scenery around Cap La Island and see the floating fishing villages. Opt to visit one of the secret beaches in Cong Do Island before heading back to our boat for sunset drinks and dinner on the top deck. If you feel like a challenge then you can take part in squid fishing with some of the crew, or you can just sit back with a cocktail and reflect on your journey.
Day 11 : Thien Canh Cave & Hanoi
Location: Hanoi
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Media Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Start your day with a chilled Tai Chi routine on the sundeck, or catch a morning view of the stunning bay’s landscape. We’ll then cruise over to the most famous cave system in the whole bay, Thien Canh Son. On the way back try your hand at the famous Vietnamese fruit & vegetable carving, as well as making spring rolls before disembarking and heading back to Hanoi where you can do an optional walking tour before celebrating our last night together.
Day 12 : Goodbye
Location: Hanoi
All good things have to come to an end, and sadly this is our final day in Vietnam together. After your breakfast and maybe a few tears with your One Life family, you can head to the airport at any time.
What's Included
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Accommodation
11 Nights Accommodation
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Airport Transfers at Destination
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Entrance Fees
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Fully Guided
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All Activities
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All Domestic Transportation (including internal flights)
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Free Wi-Fi at Accommodation
What's Not Included
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1 bottle of Mineral Water per person per day
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Country Entry Visas
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Drinks with Meals
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Game Drives on Safari
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International Travel
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Travel Insurance
Check out our Q&As
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What is the age range of this tour?
We have an age range of 18 – 45 years of age. Most of our guests are aged between 21-35 years old are looking to experience our adventurous “flashpacking” style of travel. Our tours are perfect for people of different backgrounds to share travel experiences with like-minded fellow travellers.
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Where should I fly into? /Where does the tour end?
You will start your tour in Ho Chi Minh City (Formally known as Saigon) The Airport here is Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN). As for the end of the tour, you will finish in Hanoi. So if you are looking to fly out from Hanoi, you’ll want to head to Noi Bai International Airport (HAN).
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How much spending money do you recommend for this tour?
You can expect to spend around $20/$30 USD per day. Budgeting can be done if you are open to eating at more local vendors and don’t drink alcoholic drinks.
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Is there WiFi throughout the trip?
Wifi is available on the tour in all mainland accommodations, Ha Long Bay cruise ships and trains do not. Your guide can help you purchase a local sim card if you want to have connection while outside too.
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I have never kayaked before. Will someone help me, and do we get our own kayaks?
We have 2 people kayaks, and we will try to allocate guests together depending on their experience to have a fun and successful time.
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Can I get picked up from the airport if I arrive before day 1?
We don’t offer this option at this time, however, what we can suggest is downloading online taxi applications called Grab or GoJek. They are similar to the famous Uber app and should make this transfer an easy process for you.
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Does it matter what time I arrive on day 1 in order to be picked up from the airport?
We definitely recommend you arrive before 3 pm, this way you should have enough time to make it to the first accommodation and be present at the welcome dinner. Arrivals after this could well risk you missing it. However, no matter the time or airport you are landing at, pickup is included and a driver will be waiting for your arrival with a One Life Adventures sign.
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How is the multi-share situation? Do we still have privacy on the Multi-share nights?
While in Pu Luong homestay you will stay in one big room, a very unique traditional stay, and it does have curtains between sleeping areas and multiple bathrooms. Also overnight trains will be multi-share rooms.
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I am applying for my visa and I need a reference and address?
Your first night’s stay will be: Alagon City Hotel & Spa Address: 56 – 58 Pham Hong Thai, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City Please see the government website for whether you will need a visa to enter Vietnam. This topic is continually changing, so we recommend you do relevant research on the government websites.
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Backpack vs Suitcases, what's better?
Kindly be aware that there are nights scheduled for overnight train travel during your Vietnam tour. To enhance your comfort and convenience, we highly recommend bringing a backpack or carrier for this portion of the journey.
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Do I need temple clothes for visiting the temple?
Yes, please do bring something that will cover your shoulders and knees. Temples do have dress codes and if your shoulders or knees are exposed you will be denied entry. Your guide will tell you on which days to wear these items so you’re prepared and ready.
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Can you cater for my dietary requirements on this trip?
Yes, although we can’t guarantee every dietary requirement can be catered to along the way, our guide will do their utmost best to help you with alternative options and what you can eat otherwise.
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Should I bring my hiking shoes?
Yes, we would recommend bringing hiking shoes or grippier trainers as there is hiking in Pu Luong, and again if you are doing the extension in Sapa.
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How big are your group sizes?
Our groups are capped at 22 people maximum.
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Do I have to have travel insurance to come on a tour?
Travel insurance on all One Life Adventures trips is compulsory and we will check for it on tour, if you do not have travel insurance when you arrive on your tour you will not be able to continue without purchasing it.
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What's the general age range on your tours?
We have an age range of 18 – 45 years of age. Most of our guests are aged between 21-35 years old are looking to experience our adventurous “flashpacking” style of travel. Our tours are perfect for people of different backgrounds to share travel experiences with like-minded fellow travellers.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Yes, we do. We cannot guarantee single sex rooming arrangements in multi-share accommodation (e.g. shared dormitory hostels), but twin share rooms will always be single sex.
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Free Date Changes
CTS demo white label allows you to make 20 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 0 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
CTS demo white label requires a minimum deposit of 55% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.
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Terms and Conditions