Inside Vietnam

18 days
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Small Group Tour
For more detailed information about this trip, download our Travel Handbook below. This document covers a wide range of information on specific areas of your trip, from passport, visa, and medical requirements; to the currencies of the countries you’ll visit and the types of electrical outlets you’ll encounter. This handbook is written expressly for this itin...
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • View the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh
    • Visit to the Temple of Literature
    • Enjoy a water puppet show
    • Discover wonderful architecture and hard-working, friendly people.
    • Visit the unofficial symbol of Hué—the seven-story Thien Mu Pagoda.
    • Views of the water are lovely, with rocky inlets, palm-lined beaches, and refreshing breezes.

What's this trip about?

    For more detailed information about this trip, download our Travel Handbook below. This document covers a wide range of information on specific areas of your trip, from passport, visa, and medical requirements; to the currencies of the countries you’ll visit and the types of electrical outlets you’ll encounter. This handbook is written expressly for this itinerary. For your convenience, we've highlighted our travelers' most common areas of interest on this page.

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Details

Itinerary focusOff the Beaten Path
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 23 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityHanoi
End CityHo Chi Minh City

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Local Immersion & Homestays
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Religious

Destinations

  • Asia
  • Vietnam

Attractions

  • Ha Long Bay
  • Hanoi
  • Ho Chi Minh
  • Hoi An
  • Mekong Delta

Activities

  • Culture
  • History
  • Nature
  • River cruise

Trip includes

    • International airfare, airport transfers, government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges unless you choose to make your own air arrangements
    • All land transportation and 3 internal flights
    • Accommodations for 17 nights
    • Services of a resident, English-speaking OAT Trip Leader
    • Gratuities for local guides, drivers, ship-crew, and luggage porters
    • 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next adventure—an average of $216

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Itinerary

DAY 1
Depart U.S.

DAY 2
Arrive in Hanoi, Vietnam Meals included: D Accommodations: May De Ville City Centre or similar Experience the Presidential Palace while touring Hanoi Your OAT Trip Leader greets you at the airport and escorts you to your hotel. Enjoy a free afternoon before we meet for a...
DAY 3
Explore Hanoi • Enjoy water puppet show Meals included: B L D Accommodations: May De Ville City Centre or similar

This morning, we have breakfast and set out on a full-day tour of Hanoi, where we'll drive through the French quarter and view the mausoleum of Ho Chi Min...

DAY 4
Hanoi • Optional Tho Ha Countryside tour OPTIONAL TOUR Meals included: B Accommodations: May De Ville City Centre or similar

This morning is free for independent exploration of this fascinating city. Because Hanoi was isolated from Western development after 1954, it h...

DAY 5
Visit Bat Trang Ceramic village Meals included: B L Accommodations: May De Ville City Centre or similar

After breakfast, we depart for Bat Trang, a small village outside Hanoi known for its unique style and superior quality of ceramic pottery.

Here, we visit a ...

DAY 6
Travel overland to Halong Bay • Embark junk Meals included: B L D Accommodations: Vietnamese junk

After breakfast, we set off for Halong Bay—the Emerald Bay of Vietnam—a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Some of the roads to the bay are rough, but the journey offers ...

DAY 7
Fly to Hué Meals included: B L Accommodations: Cherish Hotel or similar

This morning we enjoy breakfast onboard before cruising back to the port. We drive to the Hanoi Airport for our fight to Hué, located on the central coast of Vietnam, north of Danang. We arrive in Hué this evening and transfer to our hotel. Enjoy dinner on your own tonight.

DAY 8
Explore Hué Meals included: B L D Accommodations: Cherish Hotel or similar

After our breakfast at the hotel, we explore Hué, the former imperial capital, built by the first king of the Nguyen Dynasty during a time recognized as the golden age of Vietnam. For centuries...

DAY 9
Travel overland to Hoi An • Cooking class Meals included: B L D Accommodations: Lotus Hoi An Hotel or similar

We rise early for breakfast before our drive to the town of Hoi An, an ancient, well-preserved port town that's changed little in the past two centuries.

...
DAY 10
Hoi An • Optional cyclo-rickshaw ride and Thu Bon River cruise OPTIONAL TOUR Meals included: B L Accommodations: Lotus Hoi An Hotel or similar View well-preserved landmarks of Hoi An like this Japanese covered bridge Today, we have breakfast at the hotel and then embark ...
DAY 11
Hoi An • Explore Champa Ruins at My Son Sanctuary FOUNDATION VISIT Meals included: B L Accommodations: Lotus Hoi An Hotel or similar

Today, we have breakfast and then travel through the rice fields of the countryside to My Son Sanctuary, Vietnam's most significant rui...

DAY 12
Fly to Nha Trang • Boat tour to fishing village Meals included: B D Accommodations: Yasaka Saigon Nha Trang Hotel & Spa or similar Visit a local fishing village This morning, we fly from Danang to the town of Nha Trang.

Upon arrival in Nha Trang, we board traditio...

DAY 13
A Day in the Life of Xom Gio village FOUNDATION VISIT Meals included: B L Accommodations: Yasaka Saigon Nha Trang Hotel & Spa or similar

This morning, we visit Dien Phu Kindergarten, supported in part by Grand Circle Foundation. We’ll visit a classroom, play with ...

DAY 14
Travel overland to Dalat • University visit • Home-Hosted Dinner Meals included: B L D Accommodations: Sammy Dalat Hotel or similar

After breakfast we travel overland to Dalat, nicknamed the "City of Eternal Spring," admiring the rice paddies, vegetable patches, and g...

DAY 15
Optional Dalat Agricultural tour • Explore old French train station • Visit Linh Phuoc Pagoda OPTIONAL TOUR Meals included: B D Accommodations: Sammy Dalat Hotel or similar

This morning, you may choose to rise early before breakfast to explore a local market in Dalat....

DAY 16
Fly to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Meals included: B L D Accommodations: Au Lac II Hotel or similar

After breakfast, we head to the airport for our short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Formerly known as Saigon, it is now a modern seaport and the country's largest city. Upo...

DAY 17
Mekong Delta discovery Meals included: B L Accommodations: Au Lac II Hotel or similar Experience local life along the river After breakfast, we journey outside of Ho Chi Minh City to discover Vietnam's famous Mekong Delta. We'll drive to the picturesque province of Ben T...
DAY 18
Cu Chi Tunnels tour Meals included: B L D Accommodations: Au Lac II Hotel or similar See the Cu Chi tunnels in Vietnam This morning, we’ll explore the Cu Chi Tunnels. We’ll begin in the village of Cu Chi, which sits on a vast network of tunnels stretching more than 125 m...
DAY 19
Return to the U.S. or begin post-trip extension Meals included: B After breakfast, we transfer to the airport in Ho Chi Minh for our flight to Los Angeles, making a connection in Taipei. Travelers who are flying to San Francisco will enjoy a morning at leisure before the...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,095
Price per day$172
Last Updated: 8/2/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours).

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours) Reviews & Ratings

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Overseas Adventure Travel offers unique small group adventures worldwide to Americans over 50. By land and sea, we explore on—and off—the beaten path with a resident OAT Trip Leader, immersing ourselves in local cultures, sampling unique modes of transportation, and staying in authentic lodgings that reflect the essence of your destination. Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises serves both our GCT and OAT brands with an award-winning fleet known for exceptional value and high-quality experiences in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. Custom-designed according to our travelers’ specifications, our fleet includes 50+ small river and ocean-going ships that we own or privately charter.

Grand Circle Corporation is a global enterprise—comprised of a family of travel companies—committed to changing people’s lives by offering high-impact experiences to our travelers and building local communities through philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, and volunteerism.

Simply by traveling with OAT, you support the work of the nonprofit Grand Circle Foundation, which was created with the mission of changing people’s lives through travel—both those of our travelers, and of the people who welcome us so warmly into their homelands.

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Our Value puts your travel dreams within reach: OAT can help you realize your travel dreams for a lot less than you thought possible. Together with our regional offices located throughout the world, we’ve been able to establish long-term relationships with many local vendors and hotels. Buying direct brings down our costs—and allows us to pass the savings on to you. And negotiating directly for hotel space also allows us to secure as many single room allotments as possible for our solo travelers. That way, we can also extend our great value to solo travelers. In fact, we offer the best value for solo travelers, guaranteed.

The Choice is yours: You’ll always have plenty of choices with OAT. We offer you a breadth of awe-inspiring travel destinations—from the peaks of the Andes to the sweeping desert sands of the Sahara to the rugged natural beauty of Iceland. You'll also enjoy more trip extension choices than ever before—like hiking to ancient monasteries in Bhutan or discovering the Moai monolithic rock statues on Easter Island. You have plenty of choices within each adventure, too, including several interesting optional tours. And the free time we’ve woven into our itineraries allows you plenty of opportunities for independent exploration. You can shop, unwind, perhaps linger at a sidewalk café, visit an interesting gallery or museum, or explore a cobbled street that caught your eye earlier in the day. You can do as much or as little as you want on an OAT adventure—the choice is yours.

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Adventure Travel: Adventure travel with OAT is a journey beyond the familiar, one that takes you into the very heart of a destination—to meet people where they work and live.

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Personalize your trip: OAT travelers have long expressed the desire to decide exactly where they’re going, how they get there, and when they wish to leave. That’s why we developed a variety of choices that enhance the value of every trip we offer, allowing you to create the adventure that works best for you.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Main trip: All accommodations feature private baths and Western-style toilet facilities Throughout touring, only Asian-style toilets (squat-style rather than seats) may be available Pre-trip extension: 1 night in a private village home, sleeping on futon-style floor mattresses with shared bathrooms; 1 night on a sleeper train with shared bathrooms and no shower,May De Ville City Centre Hanoi, Vietnam Conveniently located in central Hanoi—within walking distance to the Ngoc Son Temple, Hoan Kiem Lake, and other local attractions—the May De Ville features a restaurant, salon, and sauna. The hotel’s 81 air-conditioned rooms are outfitted with satellite TV, coffee- and tea-making facilities, safe, Internet, and private bath with hair dryer. Cherish Hotel Hué, Vietnam This hotel is ideally situated at the center of Hué, Vietnam, close to the Huong River, with 106 guest rooms decorated in Vietnamese style. Rooms offer hair dryers, plasma TVs, Internet connection, minibars, bathrobes, private balconies, and delightful views of the city. Lotus Hoi An Hotel Hoi An, Vietnam This hotel offers a free shuttle to downtown Hoi An and nearby beaches like Cua Dai, but its free-form swimming pool, bar, and restaurant options entice many guests into staying on site. Each of the 65 guest rooms has a private balcony, air conditioning, coffee- and tea-making facilities, free wireless Internet, a minibar, and a private bath with a hair dryer. Yasaka Saigon Nha Trang Hotel & Spa Nha Trang, Vietnam The seaside Yasaka Saigon Nha Trang Hotel & Spa offers private beach access and beautiful views of Nha Trang Bay. Each of the 201 air-conditioned rooms features comfortable modern furnishings in the local style, as well as TV, Internet access, and private bath. During your free time, you may enjoy access to the rooftop swimming pool and bar, two on-site restaurants, spa, and garden area. Sammy Dalat Hotel Dalat, Vietnam Located in the city center and convenient for public transportation, the Sammy Dalat Hotel features a combination of unique French and traditional Vietnamese design. The hotel features 92 rooms that include satellite TV, minibar, Internet, and private bath with hair dryer. Extensions Golden Lotus Hotel Hanoi, Vietnam Conveniently located in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, the Golden Lotus Hotel is within walking distance of Hoan Kiem Lake, the Water Puppet Theatre, and several restaurants and cafés. Each air-conditioned guestroom includes Internet access, TV, safe, and mini-bar—along with modern amenities designed for your comfort. The hotel also features a roof-top swimming pool, restaurant, and bar. Village homestay Mai Chau, Vietnam In Mai Chau, we stay in a private home of a local family, spending the night in a thatch-roofed stilt house and sleeping on futon-style floor mattresses. In the traditional style of many Mai Chau house, the main room is elevated high above the ground with room for livestock beneath. Bath facilities are shared here. Overnight sleeper train During our journeys to and from Hanoi and Lao Cai, we’ll stay overnight on an air-conditioned sleeper train—the most efficient route to Vietnam’s remote northern hill towns. Each cabin features individual reading lights, baggage storage, large windows, and a mini bar. Bath facilities are shared on the train. Sapa Lodge Hotel Sapa, Vietnam Located in the heart of Sapa, Sapa Lodge Hotel is close to the bustling town market and offers stunning views of Fansipan Mountain. Each of the air-conditioned rooms includes a private bath, safe, TV, and wireless Internet access. The hotel also features a restaurant. Sokha Roth Hotel Siem Reap, Cambodia The Sokha Roth is located just a 10-minute ride from Angkor's temples and a 10-minute walk from Siem Reap's local markets and Pub Street. Each of the 57 air-conditioned rooms features cable/satellite TV, telephone, minibar, safe, and private bathroom. Hotel amenities include wireless Internet access, a currency exchange, an outdoor pool, a fitness center, an on-site restaurant, and a bar. Au Lac II Hotel Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam In the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, Au Lac II Hotel is conveniently located within walking distance of Ben Thanh market, Notre Dame, the Opera House, and Reunification Palace. Each spacious, air-conditioned room is equipped with a TV, Internet access, safe, and hair dryer. The hotel also features a spa and bar.

Transportation & Flights

Travel by 35-passenger coach, riverboat, junk (wooden sailboat), wooden “drawing boats,” and cable car 3 internal flights, each about 1 hour,

Transportation & flights

Travel by 35-passenger coach, riverboat, junk (wooden sailboat), wooden “drawing boats,” and cable car 3 internal flights, each about 1 hour
Ship & cabin information
Vietnamese junk
In the privacy of our OAT small group, we cruise the island-studded waters of Halong Bay on a wooden sailboat known as a junk. We'll appreciate its modern touches, including private baths with showers and air-conditioned cabins. Onboard, we can relax on the sun deck or enjoy a drink from the bar.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included
  • 40 meals—daily breakfast, 13 lunches, and 10 dinners (including 1 Home-Hosted Dinner)
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
overse-InsVieOve

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