Vietnam Adventure & Sapa - 15 Days

Welcome to Vietnam! Upon your arrival, you will be picked up and taken to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. After checking in, feel free to either explore the area or relax until it's time to join your group for a welcome dinner, where you can meet your fellow travelers.

Later, you can enjoy a swim in the hotel pool and prepare for an unforgettable journey!

Please note: This tour stays in a mixture of hotels and hostels and is designed for younger travellers looking for a backpacker-style experience and to meet like-minded people. The average age on this tour is around 21 - 35, and we are unfortunately unable to take any travellers over the age of 59. We have lots of group tours across our destinations that are suitable for travellers of all ages, browse our website or get in touch to find the perfect trip!

Ho Chi Minh City - Danang. After breakfast, we’ll embark on a walking tour to explore our city’s famous sights and hidden gems. We’ll then prepare for a unique cultural experience by learning our national sport, Da Cao, or “foot badminton.” This energetic game is a favourite pastime, played in parks across the country.

We’ll have the opportunity to learn the basics from one of our local teams, supported through our community projects. After the lesson, we’ll return to our hotel to freshen up before heading to the train station for our overnight journey to Da Nang.

Danang - Hoi An. On arrival, our team takes the group to the Thu Bon River for a quick lunch on the riverbank. We then continue into Hoi An for a walking tour of the Ancient Town, finishing at a local tailor. Here, you can have something made to measure.

Afterwards, we head to our accommodation to freshen up. In the evening, you can unwind by the pool or browse the Night Market.

This morning, we cycle across Cam Kim Island, riding through quiet countryside past farmland and rice paddies. You can pause for photos whenever you like or simply keep riding.

Along the route, we join a practical workshop to learn how used cooking oil can be made into environmentally friendly soap. The initiative helps keep pollution down, safeguards the local environment around Hoi An and gives local women and young people an extra source of income. Before leaving, we wash our hands with the soap we have made.

The afternoon is free for you to head to the beach or carry on exploring Hoi An. As the sun goes down, we regroup for a paddle in Hoi An, the town known for its lanterns.

Hoi An =- Hue. After breakfast, we leave Hoi An and travel to Hue, known as the Imperial City. The drive takes us over the Hai Van Pass, a well-known route with sweeping coastal views and a series of tight hairpin bends.

Beyond the pass, we follow country backroads and reach Hue in the afternoon. The Nguyen Dynasty once ruled from here, and we visit the Imperial Citadel.

Hu - Ninh Binh. This morning, we travel to Thuy Bieu Village, enjoying views of Hue from a different angle on the way. A gentle stroll takes us through the village to Luong Quan Communal House and on to the garden home of Ho Xuan Dai, which is around a hundred years old.

Here, we join a cooking class. Before cooking, we visit the local market to learn about traditional ingredients, then our host shows us how to prepare the dishes Hue is known for, which we sit down to eat together.

In the afternoon, we visit Thien Mu Pagoda, an active Buddhist monastery and one of the city’s longest-standing symbols. The rest of the day is yours to relax or explore more of Hue. Later, we board the overnight train to Ninh Binh.

Ninh Binh - Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Our day begins with a boat trip on Thung Nang, taking in the limestone landscape from the water. We then travel on to Pu Luong Nature Reserve, one of the most scenic areas of Vietnam, and reach Don Village, where we spend the night in a traditional local home.

After settling in, you have time to take a break and enjoy the village surroundings.

After breakfast, we set out on a trek to Hieu Waterfalls, crossing the nearby countryside on foot to reach the falls.

The rest of the day is yours. You might spend it getting to know hillside village life, watching daily routines and wandering among the working farms and rice fields.

Pu Luong Nature Reserve - Hanoi. We spend our final morning in Pu Luong on a looped walk around Ban Cong Village, following paths through the rice fields and past the giant water wheels the region is known for. Along the way, we learn about the herbs and plants that grow here naturally.

At the end of the loop, we join a Com Lam cooking class to make bamboo sticky rice, a traditional snack, and find out why bamboo matters so much to local culture. We then head out on a bamboo raft before saying goodbye to our host family.

Once we reach Hanoi, we head out on a street food tour to try local specialities.

Hanoi - Halong Bay. Today, we’re leaving the city's hustle behind for breathtaking bay views as we board a traditional boat to explore the renowned Ha Long Bay. Our cruise takes us north to the less-visited Bai Tu Long area, where pristine landscapes await. Experience the beauty of Cap La Island by kayaking around its stunning surroundings. There's also the chance to take a dip!

As the day ends, we’ll enjoy sunset drinks and a dinner on deck.

Please note: We recommend bringing a small overnight bag with only the essentials, as storage space on board is limited. Don’t worry about the rest of your luggage, it will be securely stored at your hotel in Hanoi, ready for you when you return after your overnight stay.

Halong Bay - Hanoi. Today, you can start your day with a calming Tai Chi session on the sundeck or simply enjoy the morning views of the bay.

Around 11.30am, you’ll return to Hanoi with time to freshen up before being transferred to Hanoi Railway Station for your overnight train to Lao Cai tonight.

Hanoi - Sa pa. Arriving in Sapa in the early morning, you’ll be met by your driver and transferred to your hotel to drop off your main luggage, bringing only a small overnight bag for your homestay. Once we arrive, we’ll meet our local guide and head directly to Ta Van Trek Point.

We’ll explore the vibrant rice fields of Muong Hoa Valley, where Ta Van village offers an authentic glimpse into the rural life of local tribes. We’ll immerse ourselves in the unhurried lifestyle, savor delicious meals, and engage with the curious and friendly locals.

As evening approaches, we’ll enjoy dinner with our local host and spend the night in a genuine homestay, fully absorbing the atmosphere of Sa Pa.

We’ll wake up to a delicious breakfast at our homestay. At around 9:00 AM, we’ll embark on a trek to Giang Ta Chai Village. We’ll hike uphill to encounter a stunning waterfall and take in breathtaking views. The village is home to the Red Dao people, recognizable by their unique black attire adorned with embroidered details.

We’ll enjoy lunch in the village before making a steep descent. Upon returning to Sa Pa Town, we’ll check into our accommodation for the night. The afternoon is free for you to explore Sa Pa Town and visit the local market, allowing you to immerse yourself in the local culture.

Please note: That we recommend wearing hiking shoes rather than trainers for this walk.

Sa pa - Lao Cai - Hanoi. Today marks our last day in Sa Pa. After enjoying breakfast at our hotel, we’ll set off with our guide and driver to reach an altitude of 1,700 meters to explore the captivating Silver Waterfall, the source of the Muong Hoa stream. We’ll capture some beautiful photos before proceeding along a wild forest road for about 3 kilometers. This route leads us to a red dirt path that meanders through vibrant green bamboo forests.

At the edge of the bamboo forest, we’ll follow the stream to arrive at the stunning Love Waterfall. From a distance, the waterfall resembles a hat, creating a scenic view amidst the expansive mountain and forest backdrop. After taking in the beauty of Love Waterfall, we’ll return to our car and head back to Sa Pa town for a final lunch there.

A late check-out from our accommodation has been arranged, allowing us to return to our room after lunch, freshen up, and gather our belongings before our overnight train journey. In the evening, we’ll transfer to Lao Cai Train Station for our overnight ride to Hanoi. We’ll be sure to pick up some snacks for the train and enjoy sharing a cabin with our travel companions.

Our Vietnamese adventure concludes as we reach Hanoi between 5 and 5:30 AM. As we bid farewell to our guide and fellow travellers at Hanoi Train Station, we wish you a safe onward journey.