16 Days Best of Vietnam — Self-Launched Independent Version
16 days · Vietnam
Swallow Travel charges £1,379
No-markup version: ~£635 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Swallow Travel's 16-day Hanoi-to-Ho-Chi-Minh-City tour, rebuilt for independent solo travellers. Same route and highlights — Halong Bay overnight cruise, Sapa trekking, Hue's imperial sights, Hoi An cooking class and My Son ruins, the Mekong Delta and Cu Chi Tunnels — but using hostels and budget guesthouses, local buses, sleeper trains and self-bookable day tours instead of a private guided package. Costs are approximate budget-traveller estimates per person.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Hanoi — Old Quarter
Hanoi
Fly into Noi Bai International Airport and take the public Bus 86 (about £1) or a Grab car (about £7-9) into the Old Quarter. Check into a hostel or budget hotel near Hoan Kiem Lake. Spend the afternoon walking the 36 streets of the Old Quarter, then do a self-guided food crawl — pho, bun cha and egg coffee are all under £2 each. Book your Halong Bay cruise in person or online this evening (many operators on Ma May street).
🚌Public Bus 86 or Grab from airport; walk the Old Quarter
🛏Old Quarter hostel or budget guesthouse (dorm £8-12 / private £25)
- →Walk Hoan Kiem Lake
- →Self-guided Old Quarter street-food crawl
- →Check-in at hostel and book onward tours
Halong Bay Overnight Cruise — Day 1
Halong Bay
Get picked up from your Old Quarter hostel (most budget cruises include shuttle) and transfer to Halong Bay, about 3.5 hours. Board a budget overnight boat — kayaking through the limestone karsts, a visit to Titov Island for the viewpoint and swim, a cooking class making fresh spring rolls and a sunset party on deck. Many boats also run squid fishing in the evening. Book a mid-range budget cruise to keep quality comparable.
🚌Shared minibus pickup from Hanoi included in cruise
🛏Overnight on junk boat (budget cabin £65-90 including meals)
- →Kayaking in Halong Bay
- →Titov Island viewpoint and swim
- →Sunset party and cooking class on deck
- →Squid fishing
Halong Bay to Hanoi
Hanoi
Morning tai chi or exercise on the sun deck, then visit Surprising Cave (Hang Sung Sot) before cruising back to the pier. Lunch on board, then shuttle transfer back to Hanoi arriving late afternoon. Stay a second night in the Old Quarter and consider the My Village bamboo circus show if you want an evening activity (£10).
🚌Included shuttle back to Hanoi
🛏Old Quarter hostel or budget guesthouse
- →Surprising Cave (Hang Sung Sot)
- →Sun-deck relaxation
- →Optional My Village bamboo circus show
Hanoi to Sapa — Cat Cat Village Trek
Sapa
Take an overnight or morning sleeper bus from Hanoi to Sapa (about 5-6 hours, £10-14). Alternatively book a soft-sleeper train to Lao Cai then a shuttle up to Sapa. Check into a Sapa guesthouse, then walk down to Cat Cat village of the H'mong — visit the waterfall, the old French hydroelectric station and the local craft displays (weaving, carved silver, hand-forged tools). Entry is around £3.
🚌Sleeper bus Hanoi to Sapa (~£12) or train to Lao Cai + shuttle
🛏Sapa budget guesthouse or homestay (dorm £7-10 / private £18-25)
- →Trek to Cat Cat village
- →Waterfall and French hydroelectric station
- →Learn H'mong weaving and silver craft
Sapa Valley Trek — Lao Chai and Ta Van
Sapa
Do a full-day guided valley trek (self-bookable locally for about £15-20) through terraced rice fields along the Muong Hoa stream. Pass Y Linh Ho hamlet, the Black H'mong village of Lao Chai and the Zay village of Ta Van, learning about bamboo houses and local customs. Finish with a return to Sapa, then take an overnight sleeper bus back to Hanoi to save a hotel night.
🚌Overnight sleeper bus Sapa to Hanoi (~£12)
🛏Overnight sleeper bus to Hanoi
- →Trek terrace rice fields and Muong Hoa stream
- →Visit Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai and Ta Van villages
- →Meet Zay ethnic families
Hanoi Free Day — City Highlights or Trang An
Hanoi
Full free day in Hanoi. Choose between a self-guided city walk (Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, Temple of Literature, Fine Arts Museum) or book the Trang An Grottoes and Bai Dinh Pagoda day trip (about £30). Alternatively do the Hoa Lu Citadel and Tam Coc boat trip. Eat bun cha near Hoan Kiem and check out the weekend night market if you're here on a weekend.
🚌Local buses or Grab around Hanoi
🛏Old Quarter hostel or budget guesthouse
- →Self-guided Hanoi city walk
- →Optional Trang An and Bai Dinh Pagoda tour
- →Optional Hoa Lu and Tam Coc boat trip
Hanoi to Hue by Reunification Express
Hue
Take the Reunification Express or a sleeper bus south to Hue, about 13 hours by train (soft-seat or sleeper from around £15-25) or about 12 hours by sleeper bus (£12). This is a travel day — stock up on snacks and a good book. Arrive in Hue in the morning and check into a guesthouse in the backpacker area near Pham Ngu Lao.
🚌Reunification Express train or sleeper bus Hanoi to Hue (~£15-25)
🛏Hue guesthouse or hostel (dorm £6-9 / private £15-20)
- →Scenic train journey along the coast
- →Arrive and explore Hue's riverside evening scene
Hue Imperial Sites — Citadel, Tombs and Perfume River
Hue
Rent a bicycle or motorbike (bike £3 / motorbike £8) and do the imperial circuit independently: the Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Purple City, then the royal tombs of Khai Dinh and Minh Mang. Book a short dragon boat cruise on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda (about £5) and stop at the conical hat and incense-stick making villages on the way. Finish at Dong Ba Market for lunch and snacks.
🚌Bicycle or motorbike rental; dragon boat on Perfume River
🛏Hue guesthouse or hostel
- →Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Purple City
- →Thien Mu Pagoda by dragon boat
- →Khai Dinh and Minh Mang tombs
- →Dong Ba Market
- →Conical hat and incense villages
Hue to Hoi An via Hai Van Pass
Hoi An
Travel Hue to Hoi An by public bus (about £5, 4 hours) or — a highlight — hire an Easy Rider motorbike guide for the day (about £35-45) and go over the Hai Van Pass with stops at Lang Co Beach and the Marble Mountains. If you're on a budget, the local bus stops at Lang Co for photos too. Arrive in Hoi An, an ancient lantern-lit UNESCO town, and settle into a guesthouse.
🚌Public bus or Easy Rider motorbike tour Hue to Hoi An
🛏Hoi An budget guesthouse or hostel (dorm £8-11 / private £20-28)
- →Hai Van Pass photo stops
- →Lang Co Beach stop
- →Marble Mountains
- →Evening in UNESCO-listed Hoi An old town
My Son Ruins and Thu Bon River Boat Trip
Hoi An
Book the My Son Sanctuary day tour with boat trip (about £20-25 via GetYourGuide or a Hoi An travel shop). Early start to beat the crowds at the Cham ruins — see the traditional dance performance and walk the temple complex. On the way back, board a boat on the Thu Bon River and stop by Duy Hai fishing village, Tra Nhieu weaving village, Kim Bong carpentry village and the Cam Thanh coconut jungle. Lunch of Quang-style noodles is usually included.
🚌Included in day tour; cycle or Grab transfers locally
🛏Hoi An budget guesthouse or hostel
- →My Son Cham ruins and dance performance
- →Thu Bon River boat trip
- →Duy Hai, Tra Nhieu and Kim Bong craft villages
- →Cam Thanh coconut jungle
Tra Que Village Bike Ride and Cooking Class
Hoi An
Join a half-day self-bookable Hoi An cooking class with market and Tra Que vegetable village tour (about £22-28). Cycle to Hoi An's central market to shop with your chef, ride through rice paddies to Tra Que, learn about farming life and plant bean sprouts, get a herbal foot massage, then cook a traditional Vietnamese meal and learn vegetable carving. Eat what you've made for lunch. Afternoon free to relax or get clothing tailored.
🚌Bicycle (included in cooking class)
🛏Hoi An budget guesthouse or hostel
- →Bike to Hoi An central market
- →Tra Que vegetable village farming experience
- →Herbal foot massage
- →Vietnamese cooking class and lunch
Hoi An Free Day
Hoi An
A full free day in Hoi An. Buy a combined ticket for the old town's traditional Chinese assembly halls and merchant houses (£5), visit tailors to get something made (allow £25-60), rent a bike to Cua Dai or An Bang beach (£3 plus a beach hut drink), or just wander the lantern streets. An Bang Beach is the best budget sunbathing option nearby. Consider a lantern-making or pottery workshop if you want a cheap cultural add-on.
🚌Bicycle rental; Grab for beach runs
🛏Hoi An budget guesthouse or hostel
- →Hoi An old town ticket and heritage houses
- →Tailor visit
- →An Bang or Cua Dai beach
- →Optional lantern-making workshop
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Travel day. Fly from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City with a budget airline like VietJet or Bamboo (about £30-45 if booked ahead) — the fastest option. Alternatively take the Reunification Express sleeper (about £30, 18-20 hours) or a sleeper bus. On arrival in Saigon, take a Grab or Bus 109 to District 1 and check into a hostel in the Pham Ngu Lao backpacker area.
🚌Budget flight Da Nang to HCMC (~£30-45) or sleeper train
🛏Saigon District 1 hostel or budget hotel (dorm £7-10 / private £18-25)
- →Fly south to Ho Chi Minh City
- →Evening walk down Bui Vien walking street
Mekong Delta Day Trip
Mekong Delta
Book a self-bookable My Tho and Ben Tre day trip from Saigon (about £18-25 via GetYourGuide or Klook). Cruise the Mekong, hop on a hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal, visit Unicorn Island to see orchards and sample tropical fruit, enjoy folk music, and stop at a honey-bee farm and coconut candy workshop. Cycle the lanes of Tan Thach village and relax in a hammock before returning to Saigon in the evening.
🚌Shared minibus day trip from Saigon (included)
🛏Saigon District 1 hostel or budget hotel
- →Mekong River and Thoi Son canal sampan ride
- →Unicorn Island orchards and folk music
- →Honey-bee farm and coconut candy workshop
- →Cycle Tan Thach village
Cu Chi Tunnels
Cu Chi Tunnels
Take a morning group tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels (about £12-18, half-day, bookable online or at any District 1 travel agent). Watch the introductory film, crawl through sections of the tunnel system, see the living areas and martial facilities, and try the special tea and cassava. Optional real shooting experience at the range costs extra (£15-20, paid on site). Return to Saigon by early afternoon — spend the rest of the day at the War Remnants Museum (£2) or Ben Thanh Market.
🚌Group minibus tour (included); return to Saigon
🛏Saigon District 1 hostel or budget hotel
- →Cu Chi Tunnels group tour
- →Tunnel system and living areas
- →Tea and cassava tasting
- →Optional shooting range
- →War Remnants Museum or Ben Thanh Market
Ho Chi Minh City — Departure
Ho Chi Minh City
Breakfast at your hostel, then a last wander through District 1 — the Notre-Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office and a final banh mi. Take the public Bus 109 or a Grab to Tan Son Nhat International Airport (about £1-4) for your onward flight. Trip ends.
🚌Public Bus 109 or Grab to Tan Son Nhat Airport (~£1-4)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Last morning in District 1
- →Notre-Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office
- →Transfer to airport
Self-launched vs. Swallow Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Swallow Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£635 | £1,379 |
| Duration | 16 days | 16 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £744 per person (54%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Swallow Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£635
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does 16 Days Best of Vietnam — Self-Launched Independent Version cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £635 per person for 16 days in Vietnam. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Swallow Travel?+
Yes — Swallow Travel charges around £1,379 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £635 — a saving of roughly £744 (54%) per person.
How long is the Vietnam trip?+
This itinerary runs 16 days, covering 16 day-by-day stops through Vietnam.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, backpacker, budget trip through Vietnam, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.