Self-Launched Vietnam Adventure: Hanoi to Hoi An (+ Ho Chi Minh City)

Land at Noi Bai International Airport. Take the 86 Airport Bus directly to the Old Quarter for around £1 (every 25 mins, ~45 min journey) — skip the overpriced airport taxis. Check in, rest up, and take an evening stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake. Tonight is all about acclimatising — grab a bowl of pho from a street stall for under £2.

🚌Bus 86 from airport to Old Quarter: ~£1 per person

🛏Stay in the Old Quarter: Hanoi Backpackers Hostel, Graceful Hotel, or similar — dorm from £8/night, private twin/double from £18-25/night

• →Arrive Noi Bai Airport — take Bus 86 to Old Quarter (~£1, avoid metered taxis)
• →Check in and rest
• →Evening walk around Hoan Kiem Lake (free)
• →Street food dinner near the Old Quarter (~£2-4)

Explore Hanoi on foot and by cyclo (rickshaw). The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, One Pillar Pagoda, West Lake and the Temple of Literature are all walkable or a short cyclo ride apart. Book a self-guided cyclo tour through GetYourGuide or negotiate directly with cyclo drivers at Hoan Kiem Lake (~£5-8 per hour). Sample bia hoi (fresh draught beer, ~20p a glass!) on Bia Hoi Corner (Ta Hien Street). In the evening, explore the Old Quarter's bar street.

🚌Walking + cyclo rides (~£5-10 total)

🛏Hanoi Old Quarter guesthouse/hostel (same as Day 1)

• →Walking tour of the Old Quarter (free, self-guided)
• →Cyclo/rickshaw ride through Hanoi — book via GetYourGuide or negotiate direct (~£5-10)
• →Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & One Pillar Pagoda (~£1 entry)
• →West Lake stroll (free)
• →Street food lunch: banh mi or bun cha (~£2-3)
• →Bia Hoi Corner for cheap fresh beer (~£1-2)
• →Night out on Ta Hien Street / Old Quarter bars

Ha Long Bay cruises are very easy to book independently and often cheaper than what group tours pay. Take a minibus transfer from Hanoi to Ha Long (included in most cruise packages, or ~£8 separately). Book a 2D1N budget cruise directly or via GetYourGuide/Klook — Dragon Legend, Bhaya Classic, or Cat Ba Ventures all offer excellent value. Cruises include caving, sea kayaking, meals and a cabin. Prices start from ~£55-75pp for a decent mid-range junk boat.

🚌Minibus Hanoi → Ha Long Bay pier: ~£8 (often included in cruise price)

🛏Overnight on Ha Long Bay junk boat — twin/double cabin with ensuite, from ~£55-75pp all-in for 2D1N

• →Minibus transfer Hanoi to Ha Long Bay pier (~£8, or included in cruise package)
• →2D1N Ha Long Bay cruise — book via GetYourGuide, Klook or direct (from ~£55-75pp)
• →Limestone cave exploration (included in cruise)
• →Sea kayaking between karst islands (included in cruise)
• →Overnight in cruise cabin on the bay
• →Dinner and drinks on deck under the stars (meals typically included)

Disembark after breakfast and take a minibus back toward Hanoi, then a connecting bus or direct shuttle to Ninh Binh (~£8-12 total). Ninh Binh is just 2 hours south of Hanoi. Check into a riverside guesthouse — many budget spots have stunning views over the rice paddies and karst peaks. Rent a bicycle (~£2/day) and explore at your own pace in the afternoon. Watch the sunset over the fields with a cold beer from your guesthouse.

🚌Minibus Ha Long Bay → Ninh Binh: ~£8-12 (via Hanoi junction or direct shuttle)

🛏Ninh Binh riverside guesthouse — e.g. Tam Coc Garden Resort, Ninh Binh Friendly Bungalow or similar. Private room with views from ~£15-22/night

• →Cruise breakfast and disembarkation
• →Minibus/shuttle Ha Long → Ninh Binh (~£8-12, book via your hostel or Baolau.com)
• →Check into riverside guesthouse
• →Hire a bicycle and explore the countryside (~£2/day)
• →Sunset drinks at the guesthouse overlooking the paddies

A full and fantastic day in one of Vietnam's most underrated regions. Start with a cycle through the rice paddy countryside toward Tam Coc or Trang An — both are stunning. Book a rowboat cave tour through Trang An (UNESCO World Heritage, ~£5-7) or Tam Coc (~£4) directly at the gate. After lunch, tackle the 500 steps up Mua Cave / Dragon Mountain Viewpoint — entry is ~£2 and the panoramic views are jaw-dropping. In the evening, head to Ninh Binh bus station and board the overnight sleeper bus or train to Da Nang (book via Baolau.com or 12Go.asia, from ~£15-20).

🚌Bicycle: ~£2. Overnight sleeper train/bus Ninh Binh → Da Nang: ~£15-20 (book via Baolau.com or 12Go.asia)

🛏Overnight sleeper train (4-berth AC cabin) or sleeper bus — no additional accommodation cost

• →Bicycle ride through rice paddies (bike rental ~£2)
• →Rowboat cave tour at Trang An UNESCO site (~£5-7, book at gate) or Tam Coc (~£4)
• →Street food lunch near Tam Coc (~£2-3)
• →Hike Mua Cave / Dragon Mountain Viewpoint (500 steps, entry ~£2)
• →Evening: board overnight sleeper train or bus to Da Nang (~£15-20, book via Baolau.com)

Arrive into Da Nang in the morning. Take a local bus (Bus 1) or grab a shared taxi/Grab (Vietnam's Uber, ~£5-8) the 30km to Hoi An. Check into your guesthouse near the Ancient Town. Spend the afternoon wandering the ochre-painted UNESCO-listed streets, browsing the market stalls and popping into the Japanese Covered Bridge (entry ~£1 with combined Old Town ticket ~£4). As night falls, the town transforms — the lanterns glow and the streets buzz. Head to the river for the famous lantern boat experience (book direct at the riverside, ~£3-5pp).

🚌Da Nang → Hoi An: Bus 1 (~£1) or Grab taxi (~£5-8)

🛏Hoi An central guesthouse or boutique hostel — e.g. Hoi An Backpackers, Hoi An Chic Hotel or similar. Private room from ~£15-25/night, dorm from ~£8

• →Arrive Da Nang — take Bus 1 or Grab app to Hoi An (~£1-2 by bus, ~£5-8 by Grab)
• →Check in and freshen up
• →Self-guided walk of Hoi An Ancient Town (Old Town entry ticket ~£4)
• →Japanese Covered Bridge, merchant houses, market stalls
• →Street food dinner along the riverside (~£3-5)
• →Evening lantern boat ride on the Thu Bon River (~£3-5, book direct at riverside)

Today is packed with hands-on local experiences. In the morning, book a basket boat crab fishing tour through the coconut water forest and river villages — these run from Cam Thanh village and can be booked via GetYourGuide or direct with local operators from ~£12-18pp. In the afternoon, join a Vietnamese cooking class — Hoi An has some of the best in the country, with market visits included. Book via GetYourGuide or direct with Red Bridge Cooking School or Morning Glory (~£20-30pp). End the evening back along the lantern-lit riverside.

🚌Bicycle or short taxi to Cam Thanh (~£1-3 return)

🛏Hoi An guesthouse (same as Day 6)

• →Basket boat crab fishing tour, Cam Thanh coconut forest (~£12-18, book via GetYourGuide or direct)
• →Local Vietnamese cooking class with market visit (~£20-30, book via GetYourGuide or Red Bridge Cooking School direct)
• →Evening stroll along the lantern-lit Ancient Town riverside (free)

Start the morning with a floating lantern making class — a wonderfully tactile Hoi An experience. Book via GetYourGuide or with local workshops near the market (~£8-15pp). In the afternoon, rent a bicycle or take a Grab to An Bang Beach (~5km from town, ~£2 by Grab). Spend the afternoon at one of the relaxed beach clubs or simply on the sand. Grab a sundowner at Soul Kitchen or La Plage beach bar (~£3-5 per drink). Evening back in town for one last dinner among the lanterns.

🚌Bicycle rental (~£2) or Grab to An Bang Beach (~£2 each way)

🛏Hoi An guesthouse (same as Day 6)

• →Floating lantern making workshop (~£8-15, book via GetYourGuide or local market workshops)
• →Cycle or Grab to An Bang Beach (~£1-2)
• →Afternoon at An Bang Beach — free entry, beach club optional (~£5-15 for food/drinks)
• →Sundowner at a beachside bar
• →Final dinner in Hoi An Ancient Town (~£4-8)

Spend the morning exploring more of Hoi An at leisure — visit the Hoi An Museum (~£2), browse the tailor shops, or relax at the pool. In the afternoon, take a Grab to Da Nang Airport (~£8-10) and fly to Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat Airport). Budget airlines VietJet Air and Bamboo Airways offer this route frequently from ~£25-45 one-way — book in advance via their websites or Skyscanner for the best fares. Arrive HCMC, take a Grab into the Bui Vien backpacker district (~£5).

🚌Grab to Da Nang Airport: ~£8-10. Domestic flight Da Nang → HCMC: ~£25-45 (book ahead on VietJet, Bamboo or Vietnam Airlines). Grab airport → District 1: ~£4-6

🛏Ho Chi Minh City hostel or guesthouse in District 1/Bui Vien — e.g. The Common Room Project, Pham Ngu Lao area guesthouses. Dorm from ~£8, private from ~£18-25/night

• →Morning free in Hoi An — museum, tailors, or pool
• →Grab taxi to Da Nang Airport (~£8-10)
• →Domestic flight Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City with VietJet/Bamboo/Vietnam Airlines (~£25-45, book in advance)
• →Grab from Tan Son Nhat Airport to Bui Vien / District 1 (~£4-6)
• →Evening exploration of Bui Vien Walking Street

The Mekong Delta is easily visited independently from HCMC. Book a Mekong Delta day tour or overnight homestay via GetYourGuide, Klook, or direct with local operators like Intrepid or Mekong Eyes (~£20-40pp for a guided day trip including transport from HCMC). Ben Tre and Can Tho are the most rewarding destinations. Activities typically include a boat through narrow canals, coconut candy factory visits, bracelet making, and local fishing. For the authentic homestay experience, book through Klook or direct — overnight packages from ~£35-55pp including dinner and breakfast.

🚌Transport included in Mekong Delta tour package from HCMC (~£35-55 all-in)

🛏Mekong Delta homestay bungalow (included in tour package, ~£35-55pp total for day + overnight)

• →Book Mekong Delta overnight homestay tour from HCMC via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£35-55pp including transport, guide, dinner & breakfast)
• →Boat through Mekong Delta canals
• →Coconut candy factory and local craft workshop (bracelet making)
• →Mud fishing experience with locals
• →Overnight in traditional Mekong Delta bungalow homestay

Return to HCMC in the morning, check back into your guesthouse and freshen up. In the afternoon, head to the Cu Chi Tunnels — one of the most extraordinary historical sites in Southeast Asia. Book a half-day guided tour via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£12-18pp including return transport from District 1) — guides bring the history alive in a way that's hard to replicate solo. The 'Ben Dinh' section is less crowded than Ben Duoc. Back in HCMC by early evening for a farewell dinner and drinks on Bui Vien Walking Street.

🚌Mekong → HCMC included in tour. Cu Chi Tunnels return transport included in tour price (~£12-18)

🛏Ho Chi Minh City guesthouse/hostel, District 1 (same area as Day 9)

• →Return to HCMC from Mekong Delta (included in tour transfer)
• →Half-day Cu Chi Tunnels guided tour (~£12-18pp including transport, book via GetYourGuide or Klook)
• →Crawl through the tunnel network, see booby traps and war history
• →Farewell dinner in District 1 — try banh xeo or broken rice (~£4-8)
• →Farewell drinks on Bui Vien Walking Street

Your Vietnam adventure wraps up today. Grab a final banh mi for the road (~£1), exchange details with any travel friends you've made, and take a Grab to Tan Son Nhat Airport (~£5-7). Note: a Vietnam e-visa is required for most nationalities — apply online at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn at least 3 business days before travel. Cost is approximately £17-20pp. Don't forget travel insurance — budget ~£30-50pp for a comprehensive Southeast Asia policy.

🚌Grab to Tan Son Nhat Airport: ~£5-7

🛏Check out — no accommodation needed

• →Final breakfast and morning free in HCMC
• →Last-minute shopping in Ben Thanh Market area
• →Grab taxi to Tan Son Nhat Airport (~£5-7)