Discover the best of Vietnam in just 10 days on this carefully designed journey from north to south. Begin in Hanoi, Vietnam’s charming capital, rich in colonial history and vibrant street life. Cruise the emerald waters of Halong Bay aboard a traditional junk boat, marveling at limestone islands and hidden caves. Fly to the lantern-lit town of Hoi An, where ancient streets meet riverside cafés and rural countryside. Experience local farming life, join a cooking class, and explore centuries-old landmarks. Continue to dynamic Saigon to uncover wartime history at the Cu Chi Tunnels and the War Remnants Museum. Taste the city's famous street food by night and cruise through the lush waterways of the Mekong Delta, visiting floating markets and rural villages. This tour captures Vietnam’s rich culture, stunning landscapes, and warm hospitality — the perfect introduction for first-time visitors.
Vietnam
Tra Que Herb Village
Just 4 km northeast of Hoi An Ancient Town, Tra Que Herb Village offers a peaceful retreat into Quang Nam’s lush countryside. Famous for its fragrant herbs like mint, basil, and perilla, the village showcases traditional Vietnamese farming methods, using organic seaweed from the De Vong River to enhance flavor. It’s a scenic stop, and it’s a living example of sustainable agriculture and local culinary heritage.
Hanoi Old Quarter
The Old Quarter in Hanoi is an intriguing neighbourhood, home to a mix of Vietnamese architecture, green spaces, ancient shops and fresh-as-it-gets street food — all of it easily explored on foot.
At first look, these 36 streets can feel frenetic. Don't worry: Constant motion is part of the Old Quarter's charm. Grab a seat at a cafe and enjoy the action from a safe distance. You'll notice bicycle vendors selling fresh flowers and ripe fruit, old friends gathering for games of checkers, and cooks doing a roaring trade in steaming phở and bún chả. The longer you wander, the more you’ll be rewarded with moments in hidden alleyways, secluded pagodas, and cosy coffee shops.
Halong Bay Kayaking
Kayaking in Ha Long Bay is a popular activity that allows you to explore the bay's natural beauty and culture from a unique perspective. It offers a chance to glide through the emerald waters, admire the limestone karsts, and discover hidden caves and fishing villages.
Saigon Food Tour
Dive into the vibrant streets of Saigon and taste your way through sizzling bánh xèo, crunchy spring rolls, smoky grilled skewers, and sweet chè desserts. A flavor-packed adventure where every corner hides a new bite to love!
Mekong River Cruise
Step aboard a charming wooden boat and drift along the tranquil canals of the Mekong Delta. Explore local villages, vibrant floating markets, and lush fruit orchards while soaking in the rustic beauty of Southern Vietnam. A peaceful journey back in time.
Cai Rang Floating Market
Cai Rang Floating Market is the largest and most lively floating market in the Mekong Delta. Experience the vibrant atmosphere as boats brimming with fresh produce, local delicacies, and handicrafts gather for trade. Witness the authentic daily life of locals and enjoy a bowl of hot noodle soup right on the river.
The day starts with visit to the complex dedicated to Ho Chi Minh, the Nation’s founder, containing Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, and his house on stilts. This complex also comprises the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city. Next, we visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology which successfully presents the recognition of Vietnam as a multi-ethnic country and promotes socio-cultural diversity.In the afternoon, return to city central, visit to the Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam dating back to the 11th century.
Discover the Hanoi Old Quarter on foot. Walk through the hidden alleys, amaze at the old styled tube houses, visit the lively local market and lovely peaceful temple Bach Ma. Next, hop on a traditional bicycle rickshaw move at leisure pace that’s perfect for photos and slow-moving sightseeing. Seat back and relax while your driver weaves through the busy streets, dodging speeding motorbikes and rolling past French colonial houses. As the local do, sit down at a local café by the church, enjoy a cup of ‘Tra Chanh’ – green tea with lime and chat with the youth. Overnight in Hanoi
Make an early morning departure from Hanoi by shuttle bus and drive 3.5hours through the Red River Delta on our way to Halong Bay. Upon arrival, the crew will greet us abroad the traditional style junk with a refreshing welcome drink and then the cruise begins!
While navigating the way through the emerald waters and limestone islands, lunch is served with delicious fresh seafood (vegetarians are also catered for). As cruising through the bay, marvel at the amazing karst scenery with different formations. Halong Bay is littered with hidden caves and grottoes and we’ll take some time to explore one of these. For those felling active you then can explore the bay by sea kayak. After the dinner, night fishing is available on the main deck. Overnight onboard on the bay.
In the morning, refresh your body and mind with a Tai Chi exercise on the sundeck at the break of dawn. Have tea and coffee onboard and continue exploring Ha Long Bay sailing across its 2000 islets and visiting some of its major highlights. Normally, check out at 10:30, have brunch while cruising back to shore. Disembark at 12:00 AM to transfer to Hanoi airport for the flight to Danang. Upon arrival, pick up by guide and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hoi An.
Breakfast at a hotel. Then we will take a bike trip to Tra Que Vegetable Village. Here, you will enjoy glasses of herbal tea and take a short tour around the vegetable gardens to see many different kinds of vegetables planted in the gardens. Back inside the local house for a 15-minutes foot massage. Continue riding bicycle along village path to see daily activities of local farmers, capture natural view of countryside, riding Buffalo.
Cooking class will be taught by professional chef how to make 2 dishes Banh Xeo and Tra Que Spring Rolls. Enjoy Vietnamese Lunch at the vegetable village. Then back to Hoi An Town for walk-in tour, explore the ancient city of Hoi An which former name’s Faifo where there were a lot of Chinese living together with the Japanese and Vietnamese, the highlights will be Japanese Covered Bridge, Phung Hung Ancient Trading House, Phuoc Kien Temple, the Cantonese congregation, silk street in Hoi an, the temples and pagodas of Chinese appearance. Overnight in Hoi An.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Enjoy breakfast at hotel. Guide pick up and transfer to Danang airport for flight to Saigon. Upon arriving Saigon, guide pick up in Saigon, have lunch at local restaurant. Then drive to Cu Chi Tunnels. We then spend time exploring the maze of tunnels including innumerable trap doors, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. These tunnels consisted of many ‘moving parts’ making them a livable structure for long periods of time. 16:00 We then drive back to Saigon and end the Cu Chi Tunnels tour. Check in hotel, free time for rest. Overnight in Saigon.
Breakfast at hotel. 8:30 am, we start this day tour by a visit to The Reunification Palace. This is one of the most important buildings in the city. Continue to The Post Office Center for the best examples of classical French colonial architecture in Saigon, Notre Dame Cathedral and War Remnants Museum, which formerly known as the Museum of American War Crimes. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, we will go to Thien Hau Pagoda, and Binh Tay Market. Come back to your hotel around 5:00 pm. 17:30 PM Tour guide from Food Tour will pick up you at hotel for explore Saigon by night on bike. End at 22:00. Overnight in Saigon.
Breakfast at hotel. Then a drive to the Mekong Delta. Often referred to as the ‘rice bowl’ of Vietnam, the fertile Mekong Delta is famous for its abundant harvests of tropical fruits, flowers and rice, as well as its fantastic views while boating along the canals. Taking our sampan from Cai Be we cruise through the maze of waterways watching the hubbub of daily life on the river. Passing colourful trading boats, house boats and children swimming we stop to visit some of the local cottage industries that produce popcorn, coco candies and paper along the way. Lunch is served today in a traditional wooden home on Dong Hoa Hiep Island. After lunch, we heading to Can Tho for overnight.
Early today we visit the ever lively Cai Rang floating market. Here, each boat usually sells one particular item, whether it be pumpkins, pineapples or sugar cane. To alert customers where to shop, vendors hang that item from the highest part of the boat. Have lunch at local restuarant. Back to Saigon. Overnight in Saigon.
Breakfast at hotel. Free time till guide pick up at hotel for flight back home.
With us, we know very well where you stay is very much part of the experience. Wherever possible we select characterful accommodation to suit your budget, which we have personally tracked down and visited regularly. We selected best accommodation from eco-homestay to luxury hotels.
Meals are included as per the itinerary that we have mentioned. Most meals are local and feature noodles, rice, curries, and soups.
While traveling with us, you will have the opportunity to not just experience the wide variety of wonderful food available in Vietnam and Cambodia, Thailand, Laos but also get to try some of it too. Your guide will be able to suggest some great restaurants for you to try during your trip.
If you have any specific food requirements (vegetarian, vegan, or food allergies), please inform us in advance so that we can provide a notice to the restaurant or hotel where you will be served.
You will be led by an English-speaking guide who offers local insight, pursues great experiences, and makes every tour exceptional. Our guides are well informed about the local culture, history, and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you.
An air-conditioned vehicle is standing by, fully prepared to take you away on an unforgettable excursion. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the destination in style, with all the amenities you need for a comfortable and enjoyable journey.
The included cold water & tissue, local snacks, and fresh fruit will keep your energy levels up while you enjoy the tour and ensure that you stay hydrated and well-nourished.
We organized and ran our trips to ensure they had a minimum impact on the environment and a positive impact on the local communities and cultures we operate in. Siem Reaper was founded not only to provide memorable and meaningful travel experiences for our guests but also to build a sustainable adventure-travel business that supports the local communities. We aim to support all of our local communities, whether it be through our unique educational tours, visits to nature preserves and wildlife sanctuaries, or by purchasing locally grown produce from farms in the region.
Want to know more about this adventure and how to plan for your trip? Essential Trip Information is a one-stop resource that provides everything you need to know about this trip. Read about your destination country's requirements for passports, visas, vaccinations, baggage restrictions, packing lists, and tipping guidelines before you go.
Visitors to Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos require a passport to enter the country, and all travelers must hold a passport with validity for 6 months after their planned exit from above countries
Citizens of the UK, EU countries, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, and almost all other nationalities will require a visa. Non-UK residents should check with the Embassy in their country of residence for the most up-to-date information. Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival at airports without prior registration. A visa is issued on arrival for most nationalities for US $25/pax to $30/pax, and the visa has a one-month validity. You need to pay in cash and in US dollars and provide two recent, identical passport photographs.
Read more about applying for an eVisa here:
You will be met by your guide in the arrivals hall, after immigration and baggage reclaim. He/She will be wearing the Footsteps Indochina Travel logo and will be holding a meeting board displaying your name.
You will be met by your tour guide and driver at your arrival point. They will be holding a Footsteps Indochina Travel name board with your name on it. It is possible you will be a little bleary-eyed after a long flight and there are also likely to be a large number of meeting boards displayed, so please take your time to locate them.
Firstly, do not panic - let the crowds clear a little and stay with your luggage. After 15 minutes, if you still have not been met then one of you should locate the airport information point and check that you are in the correct place (many airports have several terminals and your guide will be waiting for you at the timetable arrival terminal).
Travel insurance is not included in the tour price. You can arrange travel insurance with your preferred insurance company. As medical facilities in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand & Laos are rather limited, it is imperative for you to take out a good medical insurance policy when traveling.
Although not mandatory, for the safety of travelers, we strongly recommend immunization against malaria, infectious hepatitis, tetanus, typhoid, diphtheria and polio. Travelers should visit their general practitioners for advice on the best pills to take for malaria prevention. Although it is not required in all circumstances, travelers may want to consider immunization against Japanese Encephalitis as an added precaution.
Meals are included as per the itinerary that we have mentioned. Most meals are local and feature noodles, rice, curries, and soups.
While traveling with us, you will have the opportunity to not just experience the wide variety of wonderful food available in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand & Laos but also get to try some of it too. Your guide will be able to suggest some great restaurants for you to try during your trip.
If you have any specific food requirements (vegetarian, vegan, or food allergies), please inform us in advance so that we can provide a notice to the restaurant or hotel where you will be served.
Keeping you hydrated is one of the most important parts of our tours. We provide cold water, as well as local fruit and soft drinks to keep you energized and refreshed during your trip. Beers and alcoholic drinks are freely available everywhere but are not included in the price.
At Footsteps Indochina Travel, we’re ensuring that we’re fulfilling the core values of our business. We operate in a responsible manner to protect our local culture and environment, as well as youth development in our community. We’ve made a commitment to be a responsible business and live up to this promise every single day.
