Trails of Vietnam: Self-Launched Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City

Arrive into Noi Bai International Airport and take the airport bus (86 or 7B route) or a metered taxi into the Old Quarter — budget around £4–7. Check into a hostel in the Old Quarter, the best base for exploring. Spend the evening wandering the animated streets, picking up a bowl of pho from a street stall, and strolling around the illuminated Hoan Kiem Lake. Join the group dinner vibe by heading to a well-reviewed local restaurant on Ta Hien Street (Beer Street).

🚌Airport Bus 86 to Old Quarter (~£1.50) or metered taxi (~£7)

🛏Hanoi Backpackers Hostel or similar Old Quarter hostel (dorm ~£8–12/night, private ~£18–25/night)

• →Arrive and check into hostel in the Old Quarter
• →Explore Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple
• →Wander the 36 Streets of the Old Quarter
• →Admire French colonial architecture
• →Street food dinner on Ta Hien Street

Take an early morning bus from Hanoi's My Dinh Bus Station to Mai Chau / Tan Lac in Hoa Binh Province (~3–4 hrs, £3–5). Alternatively, book a shared minibus transfer through your hostel (~£6–8). Settle into a local stilthouse homestay in Xom Chien village — these are bookable directly or via local guesthouses for around £8–15pp including dinner and breakfast. In the afternoon, join a short afternoon trek (2.5km) through the valley and visit a local farm. Lunch is typically included at the homestay or available at a local family restaurant for a few pounds.

🚌Public bus from My Dinh Bus Station, Hanoi to Mai Chau (~£4, 3–4 hrs)

🛏Local stilthouse homestay in Xom Chien, Mai Chau (£8–15pp including dinner & breakfast)

• →Bus from Hanoi My Dinh station to Tan Lac/Mai Chau (~£4)
• →Check into a stilthouse homestay in Xom Chien
• →Afternoon trek through rice paddies and farm visit (2.5km)
• →Dinner cooked by local host family

A full day trekking through hill villages and terraced rice fields in the Lung Van area — known locally as the Valley of the Cloud. A local guide can be hired through your homestay for around £8–12 for the day. Pack a picnic lunch or ask your host to prepare one. Trekking routes wind through White Thai and Muong minority villages, offering incredible views across the valley. In the evening, enjoy a traditional music performance arranged by your homestay — this is common practice and usually costs £2–4pp or is included.

🚌On foot — guided trek from homestay

🛏Stilthouse homestay, Tan Lac (continued from Day 2)

• →Full-day trek through hill villages and rice terraces (~5 hrs)
• →Picnic lunch with panoramic views of Lung Van valley
• →Hire a local guide through your homestay (~£8–12)
• →Traditional Muong/Thai music show after dinner

Return bus to Hanoi in the morning (~£4). Spend the afternoon on a self-guided city tour covering Hoa Lo Prison (the 'Hanoi Hilton', entry ~£1.50), the Temple of Literature (~£1.20), and a wander through the bustling Old Quarter. In the evening, consider booking a water puppet show at the Thang Long Theatre — tickets bookable on-site or via GetYourGuide for around £4–6. Round off the night with lakeside cafes and a bia hoi (street beer, ~20p a glass).

🚌Public bus from Mai Chau back to Hanoi My Dinh (~£4)

🛏Old Quarter hostel, Hanoi (same as Day 1, or re-book for 1 night)

• →Morning bus back to Hanoi (~£4)
• →Visit Hoa Lo Prison / 'Hanoi Hilton' (~£1.50)
• →Explore Temple of Literature (~£1.20)
• →Walk the Old Quarter's 36 Streets
• →Optional: Water puppet show at Thang Long Theatre (~£5)

Book a 2-day/1-night Ha Long Bay cruise through a reputable operator — avoid the cheapest options and aim for mid-range budget cruises (~£55–85pp) which include transfers from Hanoi, all meals, kayaking, and a cabin. Operators like Hostel VN, Castaway Island, or Bhaya Classic are well-regarded. Transfers from Hanoi are included in cruise packages. Spend the afternoon cruising among the iconic limestone karsts, kayaking through caves and lagoons, and enjoying a fresh seafood lunch on deck.

🚌Included minibus transfer from Hanoi Old Quarter to Ha Long Bay (~3.5 hrs)

🛏Budget cruise cabin on Ha Long Bay overnight boat (~£55–85pp for 2D/1N all-inclusive)

• →Transfer from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay (included in cruise package)
• →Cruise among Ha Long Bay limestone karsts
• →Kayaking through caves and lagoons (weather permitting)
• →Seafood lunch and dinner on board
• →Sunset drinks on the cruise deck

Enjoy a final morning cruise on Ha Long Bay before the transfer back to Hanoi (included in cruise package). From Hanoi train station, board the Reunification Express overnight train to Hue. Book a soft-sleeper berth (4-berth cabin) in advance via the Vietnam Railways website (dsvn.vn) or through 12go.asia — expect to pay around £15–22 for a soft sleeper. The journey takes approximately 13–14 hours overnight, arriving in Hue in the morning.

🚌Cruise transfer back to Hanoi; Reunification Express SE3/SE5 overnight train Hanoi→Hue (~£18, soft sleeper)

🛏Overnight train soft sleeper berth — Hanoi to Hue (~£18)

• →Final morning cruise on Ha Long Bay
• →Transfer back to Hanoi (included in cruise)
• →Board overnight Reunification Express train to Hue
• →Soft sleeper berth — book in advance on dsvn.vn or 12go.asia (~£18)

Arrive in Hue in the morning and check into a guesthouse in the city centre. Hire a bicycle (~£2–3/day) or book a xe om (motorbike taxi) to reach the Imperial Citadel — entry ~£4. Explore the vast complex of palaces, the Hall of the Mandarins, and the Forbidden Purple City at your own pace. In the afternoon, ride or take a taxi to Thien Mu Pagoda on the Perfume River (free entry). In the evening, explore Hue's famous dinner street (Le Loi) and try local specialities like bun bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup, ~£1.50).

🚌Arrive by overnight train; hire bicycle (~£2–3/day) or xe om for sightseeing

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel in Hue city centre (~£12–20/night)

• →Check into guesthouse in Hue city centre
• →Visit Imperial Citadel — entry ~£4
• →Explore palaces, Hall of Mandarins, and Forbidden Purple City
• →Visit Thien Mu Pagoda on the Perfume River (free)
• →Street food dinner on Le Loi Street — try bun bo Hue

An iconic travel day through some of Vietnam's most dramatic scenery. Book a seat on a tourist minibus from Hue to Hoi An (~£6–8) with stops, or hire a motorbike/Easy Rider driver (~£25–35 for the day, negotiate directly). Key stops include Emperor Tu Duc's Mausoleum (~£3 entry), the Lang Co peninsula coastal views, the dramatic Hai Van Pass (Cloud Pass), and the Marble Mountains near Da Nang (~£1.50 entry) where you can explore Buddhist shrines and Viet Cong caves. Arrive in Hoi An in the late afternoon.

🚌Tourist minibus Hue→Hoi An with stops (~£7); or Easy Rider motorbike (~£30 for the full day scenic route)

🛏Guesthouse or boutique budget hotel in Hoi An Old Town (~£14–22/night)

• →Morning visit to Emperor Tu Duc's Mausoleum (~£3)
• →Drive through Lang Co peninsula coastal scenery
• →Stop at Hai Van Pass for panoramic views
• →Explore Marble Mountains and Viet Cong caves (~£1.50)
• →Arrive in Hoi An and check into guesthouse

Spend a full day exploring Hoi An at your own pace. Entry to the Old Town Heritage Area requires a combined ticket (~£4 for 5 attraction entries). Wander the iconic yellow-walled streets, cross the Japanese Covered Bridge, and browse silk tailors and riverside markets. Hire a bicycle from your hostel (~£2–3) and cycle the 5km to Cua Dai Beach in the afternoon. Optionally, book a sunset boat trip on the Thu Bon River through a local vendor (~£3–5). The lantern-lit Old Town at night is not to be missed — grab dinner at one of the riverside restaurants.

🚌Bicycle hire for the day (~£2–3); walking in Old Town

🛏Hoi An guesthouse (continued from Day 8)

• →Self-guided walking tour of Hoi An Old Town (heritage ticket ~£4)
• →Visit Japanese Covered Bridge, Assembly Halls, and Ancient House
• →Browse silk shops and riverside markets
• →Hire a bicycle and cycle to Cua Dai Beach (~5km, ~£2–3)
• →Optional: sunset boat trip on Thu Bon River (~£4)
• →Lantern-lit Old Town evening stroll and riverside dinner

Take a taxi or xe om to Da Nang Airport (~30 mins, ~£5–8) and catch a budget domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat Airport). VietJet Air and Bamboo Airways offer fares from £20–45 when booked in advance. From HCMC airport, take a taxi (~£5–8) or Grab app to your hostel in Pham Ngu Lao backpacker district. In the afternoon, book a half-day Cu Chi Tunnels tour (Ben Dinh section) — bookable via GetYourGuide (~£10–14pp including transport) or arrange independently via local bus + entry (~£4 entry + ~£3 bus).

🚌Taxi to Da Nang Airport (~£6); domestic flight to HCMC (~£30 avg); Grab/taxi from airport (~£6)

🛏Hostel in Pham Ngu Lao (Ben Thanh) backpacker district, HCMC (~£8–15/night)

• →Taxi to Da Nang Airport (~£6)
• →Domestic flight Da Nang→Ho Chi Minh City (~£25–45, book ahead on VietJet/Bamboo)
• →Check into hostel in Pham Ngu Lao district
• →Half-day visit to Cu Chi Tunnels, Ben Dinh section (~£12 via GetYourGuide or £7 independently)

Take a public bus from HCMC's Mien Tay Bus Station to My Tho (~£2, 1.5 hrs). From My Tho, you can hire a local guide and bicycle (~£8–12) for the 25km cycle ride through delta villages to Cai Be. Alternatively, book a budget Mekong Delta day tour from HCMC (~£15–20pp via GetYourGuide) that covers My Tho and Cai Be with cycling included. In the late afternoon, take a local bus or shared minibus onward to Can Tho (~£3, 2 hrs). Stop at fruit orchards along the way and sample tropical fruits. Can Tho is the beating heart of the Mekong Delta.

🚌Public bus HCMC→My Tho (~£2); bicycle hire (~£8); local bus/minibus to Can Tho (~£3)

🛏Guesthouse in Can Tho (~£10–18/night)

• →Bus from HCMC Mien Tay Station to My Tho (~£2)
• →Bicycle hire and cycling from My Tho to Cai Be (~25km, ~£8)
• →Sample tropical fruits at local orchards
• →Bus/minibus from Cai Be to Can Tho (~£3)
• →Check into guesthouse in Can Tho

Set an early alarm — the Cai Rang Floating Market is best experienced at dawn (5–7am). Book a local boat from the Ninh Kieu Wharf (~£3–5 for 1–2 hrs) to cruise the Bassac River and weave through the floating market. Afterwards, hire a bicycle (~£2–3) and cycle the ~32km to Vinh Long through flat delta countryside — a stunning ride past rice paddies, coconut groves, and stilted villages. Locals will wave you through. At Vinh Long, arrange a motorboat crossing (~£1–2) to a river island homestay for the night. A dinner of homemade southern Vietnamese cuisine is typically included at homestays (~£10–15pp with dinner & breakfast).

🚌Local boat for floating market (~£4); bicycle hire (~£3); motorboat to island (~£2)

🛏Island homestay near Vinh Long (~£10–15pp including dinner & breakfast)

• →Early morning boat trip to Cai Rang Floating Market (depart ~5am, ~£4)
• →Bassac River cruise from Ninh Kieu Wharf
• →Bicycle hire and cycle to Vinh Long (~32km, ~£3)
• →Motorboat crossing to island homestay (~£1–2)
• →Dinner of homemade southern Vietnamese cuisine at homestay

Start with a morning boat cruise past the Cai Be floating market and visit cottage industries (rice paper making, coconut candy factories) — local boat tours are ~£5–8. Transfer by road back to Ho Chi Minh City (~£4 by public bus from Vinh Long). Arrive mid-afternoon and check back into your HCMC hostel. Spend the evening on a self-guided city tour: visit the Reunification Palace (entry ~£2), walk to the War Remnants Museum (~£2.50 — allow 2 hrs, deeply moving), and photograph Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. End the night with dinner in Bui Vien Walking Street.

🚌Local boat to Cai Be (~£6); public bus Vinh Long→HCMC (~£4); walking and Grab app in the city

🛏Hostel in Pham Ngu Lao, HCMC (~£8–15/night)

• →Morning boat cruise past Cai Be Floating Market (~£6)
• →Visit cottage industries — rice paper, coconut candy (~free/small donation)
• →Bus back to Ho Chi Minh City from Vinh Long (~£4)
• →Visit Reunification Palace (~£2)
• →War Remnants Museum (~£2.50) — allow 2 hrs
• →Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office (free)
• →Dinner and drinks on Bui Vien Walking Street

Your final day in Vietnam — use it to revisit any highlights, pick up last-minute souvenirs in Ben Thanh Market, or book an optional extension to Angkor Wat in Cambodia (buses run daily from HCMC to Siem Reap via Phnom Penh, or fly direct ~£40–70). HCMC's Tan Son Nhat Airport is 30 mins by Grab or taxi (~£5–8). If departing, allow 2–3 hours for international check-in. If staying, consider a half-day street food tour of Chinatown (Cholon) bookable via Klook (~£12) or on foot.

🚌Grab/taxi to Tan Son Nhat Airport (~£6)

🛏Check-out from HCMC hostel

• →Browse Ben Thanh Market for souvenirs
• →Optional: half-day street food tour of Cholon (Chinatown) via Klook (~£12)
• →Optional: book onward bus or flight to Cambodia for Angkor Wat extension
• →Depart from Tan Son Nhat Airport (Grab/taxi ~£6)