Vietnam Adventure: Self-Launched Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City

Fly into Noi Bai International Airport and take the 86 bus or a Grab (ride-hail) app taxi into the Old Quarter — the bus costs around £0.50, Grab around £4-6. Check into a well-rated hostel or budget hotel in the Old Quarter such as Hanoi Backpacker's Hostel or a similar guesthouse. Spend the evening wandering Hoan Kiem Lake, grab a Bia Hoi (street beer, ~20p a glass) at a pavement stall and soak up the city's electric atmosphere. Grab pho or bun cha for dinner at a local street stall for under £2.

🚌Bus 86 from airport (~£0.50) or Grab taxi (~£5)

🛏Hanoi Backpacker's Hostel or similar Old Quarter guesthouse (~£10-15/night)

• →Arrive Noi Bai Airport — take bus 86 or Grab to Old Quarter
• →Check in and explore Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple
• →Evening street food crawl in the Old Quarter
• →Bia Hoi corner for cheap local beers

Spend the day exploring Hanoi's top sights independently — all are walkable or a short Grab ride apart. Visit the Temple of Literature (entry ~£1.20), Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex and his traditional stilt house on the Presidential Palace grounds (entry ~£1), and Hoa Lo Prison museum (entry ~£1). Stroll the 36 streets of the Old Quarter in the afternoon. In the evening, book a traditional water puppet show at Thang Long Theatre via GetYourGuide or direct at the box office (~£4-6).

🚌Walking and Grab taxis (~£3 total)

🛏Hanoi Backpacker's Hostel or similar Old Quarter guesthouse (~£10-15/night)

• →Temple of Literature (self-entry, ~£1.20)
• →Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & stilt house complex (~£1)
• →Hoa Lo Prison Museum (~£1)
• →Old Quarter walking exploration
• →Thang Long Water Puppet Show (evening, ~£4-6)

Book a 2-day/1-night Ha Long Bay cruise directly with a reputable mid-range operator such as Bhaya Cruises, Indochina Junk, or via GetYourGuide/Klook. Prices for a decent cruise start from around £60-90pp including transport from Hanoi, all meals, kayaking and a cabin. Shared minibus pick-up from your hotel at around 8am. Arrive Ha Long Bay mid-morning, board your junk boat and cruise among the 3,000 limestone peaks. Enjoy a seafood lunch on deck, swim, kayak (usually included), and watch the sunset from the top deck. Sleep in a twin-share cabin with private bathroom.

🚌Shared minibus from Hanoi included in cruise package (~3.5hrs each way)

🛏Overnight junk boat cabin (included in cruise price, ~£70-90 total for 2D/1N)

• →Board traditional junk boat at Ha Long Bay port
• →Cruise among limestone karst peaks
• →Swimming and kayaking among the islands
• →Seafood lunch on deck
• →Sunset from the top deck

Enjoy a final morning cruise among the karst peaks before returning to port around midday. The shared minibus drops you back in Hanoi by late afternoon, giving you a couple of hours to freshen up. Head to Hanoi Station and board the Reunification Express SE3 or SE7 overnight train to Hue (~£15-20 for a soft-sleeper berth in a 4-berth cabin, bookable via Baolau.com or 12go.asia). The train departs around 8-9pm and arrives in Hue mid-morning — a scenic and affordable alternative to flying.

🚌Minibus back to Hanoi (included in cruise); Reunification Express train Hanoi–Hue (~£17, book via Baolau.com)

🛏Overnight train soft-sleeper berth (~£17)

• →Morning cruise on Ha Long Bay
• →Return to Hanoi by shared minibus (included in cruise)
• →Free time in Hanoi — grab dinner near the station
• →Board the Reunification Express overnight train to Hue

Arrive in Hue mid-morning, refreshed from the sleeper train. Check into a budget guesthouse or hostel near the Perfume River — try Hue Backpackers or similar (~£10-14/night). In the afternoon, hire a bicycle (~£2/day) or take a Grab to the Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Purple City (entry ~£5). The citadel's vast walled complex houses palaces, halls and the haunting ruins of the Forbidden Purple City. Finish the afternoon at the striking seven-tiered Thien Mu Pagoda, a short riverside ride away (free entry). Grab bun bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup) for dinner — a local speciality for under £2.

🚌Grab from station (~£2); bicycle hire for the day (~£2)

🛏Hue Backpackers or similar budget guesthouse (~£10-14/night)

• →Check into guesthouse and freshen up
• →Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Purple City (entry ~£5)
• →Thien Mu Pagoda (free)
• →Cycle along the Perfume River
• →Street food dinner — bun bo Hue

After breakfast at your guesthouse, hire a bicycle or take a xe om (motorbike taxi, ~£2-3) to the elaborate Tu Duc Mausoleum, located about 7km south of the city centre (entry ~£4). One of the most extravagant royal tombs of the Nguyen dynasty, it features lakes, pavilions and landscaped gardens. Spend the rest of the afternoon freely — explore the vibrant Dong Ba Market, walk across the Truong Tien Bridge, or simply relax by the Perfume River. In the evening, try a set-price Hue royal cuisine dinner at a local restaurant (~£5-8).

🚌Bicycle hire or xe om (~£3 total)

🛏Hue Backpackers or similar budget guesthouse (~£10-14/night)

• →Tu Duc Royal Mausoleum (entry ~£4)
• →Explore Dong Ba Market
• →Stroll along the Perfume River
• →Optional: visit Khai Dinh Mausoleum nearby (~£4)

Book a shared minivan or open-tour bus from Hue to Hoi An via Da Nang (~£6-10, bookable at any guesthouse or via Sinh Tourist). The scenic route crosses the legendary Hai Van Pass with panoramic views over the ocean and Lang Co lagoon — consider booking a motorbike tour with a local Easy Rider guide over the pass (~£20-25) for a more immersive experience. Stop at Marble Mountain in Da Nang (entry ~£1.50) to explore the caves and climb to the viewpoint. Arrive in Hoi An in the late afternoon and check into a guesthouse in or near the Ancient Town.

🚌Shared minivan or open-tour bus Hue–Hoi An via Da Nang (~£7, book at guesthouse or Sinh Tourist); or Easy Rider motorbike over Hai Van Pass (~£22)

🛏Hoi An Hostel or budget guesthouse near Ancient Town (~£10-15/night)

• →Scenic drive over Hai Van Pass (views over ocean and lagoon)
• →Marble Mountain — caves, Buddha shrines and peak viewpoint (entry ~£1.50)
• →Arrive and check in to Hoi An guesthouse
• →Evening stroll along the Thu Bon River lantern-lit promenade

Pick up a combined ticket for Hoi An Ancient Town (~£4.50 for 5 attraction passes) at the tourist office and spend the morning exploring at your own pace: the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky Merchant House, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, and local pagoda temples. The streets are best explored on foot — the architecture blends Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and European styles beautifully. In the afternoon, rent a bicycle (~£1.50/day) and ride out through rice paddies and villages to Cua Dai or An Bang beach (~5km). End the day with a bowl of cao lau — a noodle dish unique to Hoi An — at a local restaurant (~£2).

🚌Walking and bicycle hire (~£1.50)

🛏Hoi An Hostel or budget guesthouse near Ancient Town (~£10-15/night)

• →Hoi An Ancient Town ticket (5 attraction entries, ~£4.50)
• →Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky Merchant House, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall
• →Riverside market browse
• →Bicycle ride to An Bang or Cua Dai beach (~5km)
• →Cao lau noodles at a local spot

Join a shared half-day tour to My Son Sanctuary (~£10-12pp including transport, bookable via GetYourGuide, Klook or local tour desks). The ancient Cham temple complex — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — dates to the 4th century, and the remaining stone towers and sanctuaries are atmospheric and historically fascinating. Return to Hoi An by midday and enjoy a free afternoon: browse the tailors and silk shops, take a Vietnamese cooking class (~£20-28 via Klook or direct with a local school), or simply wander the lantern-lit Ancient Town.

🚌Shared minibus to/from My Son included in tour (~£11 total)

🛏Hoi An Hostel or budget guesthouse near Ancient Town (~£10-15/night)

• →My Son Sanctuary half-day shared tour (entry + transport, ~£11)
• →Optional: Vietnamese cooking class in Hoi An (~£22)
• →Free afternoon in the Ancient Town
• →Evening lantern-lit riverside walk

Take a Grab or local bus to Da Nang Airport and fly to Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat) — budget airline fares with VietJet or Bamboo Airways start from around £20-35 booked in advance. Take a Grab from the airport to your hostel in District 1 (~£4-5). In the afternoon, self-guide a walking tour of central HCMC: Ben Thanh Market (free to browse), Reunification Palace (entry ~£2), Notre Dame Cathedral (free), Central Post Office (free), and the War Remnants Museum (entry ~£2 — note some images are very graphic). Grab a banh mi from a street stall for £0.80.

🚌Grab to Da Nang airport (~£3); flight (~£25); Grab from HCMC airport (~£5)

🛏The Common Room Project or similar District 1 hostel (~£10-16/night)

• →Fly Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City (VietJet/Bamboo, ~£25)
• →Ben Thanh Market browse (free)
• →Reunification Palace (entry ~£2)
• →Notre Dame Cathedral & Central Post Office (free)
• →War Remnants Museum (entry ~£2)

Book a half-day shared tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£10-14pp including transport and entry). Explore the extraordinary 75-mile subterranean tunnel network used by Viet Cong fighters during the Vietnam War — crawl through widened tunnel sections, see tank wrecks and bomb craters, and learn about daily life underground. Return to Ho Chi Minh City by early afternoon. Spend the rest of the day freely: explore the antique shops and cafes of Le Cong Kieu Street, visit the quirky Jade Emperor Pagoda (free), or join a street food tour (~£18-22 via Klook).

🚌Shared minibus to/from Cu Chi included in tour (~£12 total)

🛏The Common Room Project or similar District 1 hostel (~£10-16/night)

• →Cu Chi Tunnels shared half-day tour (transport + entry, ~£12)
• →Crawl through tunnel sections and view war exhibits
• →Jade Emperor Pagoda (free)
• →Optional: street food tour of District 1 (~£20)

Book a 2-day/1-night Mekong Delta tour via Sinh Tourist, GetYourGuide or a local operator in District 1 (~£35-50pp including transport, boat, meals and guesthouse). Depart HCMC by minibus (~2.5hrs) to Vinh Long. Board a traditional wooden boat on the Mekong River and cruise towards Cai Be, passing orchards, floating markets and cottage industries — stop to taste rice paper, coconut candy and fresh tropical fruit. Have dinner on an island and spend the night at a simple but welcoming homestay-style guesthouse with mosquito nets and basic amenities.

🚌Minibus and boat included in Mekong Delta tour package (~£40 total for 2D/1N)

🛏Mekong Delta homestay-style guesthouse (~£15-20, usually included in tour package)

• →Minibus from HCMC to Vinh Long (~2.5hrs)
• →Traditional wooden boat cruise Vinh Long to Cai Be
• →Visit rice paper and coconut candy cottage industries
• →Sample tropical fruits and local produce
• →Dinner and overnight at Mekong Delta homestay guesthouse

After breakfast at the guesthouse, take an early morning walk through fruit orchards and navigate narrow canals by traditional sampan. On the return journey to HCMC, ask your tour operator or independent driver to stop at a Cao Dai temple (free entry) — the colourful, syncretic religion unique to Vietnam makes for a fascinating visit. Arrive back in Ho Chi Minh City by mid-afternoon, giving you a free evening to explore Bui Vien Walking Street, rooftop bars, or try a final Vietnamese feast at a local restaurant.

🚌Minibus return to HCMC included in Mekong Delta package

🛏The Common Room Project or similar District 1 hostel (~£10-16/night)

• →Morning walk through Mekong orchards
• →Sampan canoe through narrow canals
• →Stop at Cao Dai temple on return route (free)
• →Return to Ho Chi Minh City
• →Evening at Bui Vien Walking Street

Your self-launched Vietnam adventure comes to an end today. Enjoy a final Vietnamese breakfast (banh mi or pho) from a street stall before taking a Grab to Tan Son Nhat Airport (~£5-7). If your flight is late, consider visiting the HCMC Fine Arts Museum (~£1.50) or strolling the leafy boulevards of District 3. Safe travels — you've done Vietnam your way.

🚌Grab to airport (~£6)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final Vietnamese street breakfast
• →Optional: HCMC Fine Arts Museum (~£1.50)
• →Grab taxi to Tan Son Nhat Airport (~£5)