Skip to content
0207 924 7133 START PLANNING
0207 924 7133
Mekong Delta in Vietnam
Family
16 Days Itineraries Vietnam

Vietnam: The Highlights and Far Beyond

Most suited for
Families
Ideal time to visit
April-September

Trip Highlights

Pu Luong

Paddle past idyllic steeped paddy fields as you raft along the Cham River in Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Ninh Binh-1121

Cycle through paddy fields and explore the caves and limestone mountains of Ninh Binh province

Explore the tropical tributaries of the Mekong Delta and spend the night in a homestay.

Vietnam: The Highlights and Far Beyond

As with all our holidays, this itinerary is just a starting point. We will create a bespoke package which will be completely unique for you. 

Skip
Day 1

Your adventure begins

Depart your home country for your flight to Hanoi.

Days 2 - 3

Hanoi

Hanoi is alive with culture, history and local day-to-day life bustling around you. You’ll learn a little about the cultural traditions at the Ethnology Museum, get lost in the hidden alleyways of the old quarter and taste some of the street food for which Hanoi is famous. 

 

Street food ladies Hanoi
Days 4 - 5

Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Departing Hanoi with your guide and driver, you’ll travel via a breathtaking mountain pass to Pu Luong Nature Reserve. The nature reserve lies along two picturesque mountain ridges far from the usual tourist trail. 

Explore the beautiful retreat, with its captivating panoramic views and tranquil setting. Go bamboo rafting along the Cham River and descend into the lovely local valley for a walk around the tumbling rice terraces. There is a chance to interact with the villagers in the hills above the retreat. Glimpse daily life, explore the working farmland and rice fields and learn about the colourful local textile craft. 

Pu Luong
Days 6 - 7

Ninh Binh and Trang An Eco System

Departing Pu Luong Retreat, you’ll travel through the countryside to the UNESCO Heritage site Trang An Ecosystem. Here, you’ll board a rowing boat to travel along the small river and explore the caves and river surrounded by dramatic limestone mountains and green field landscapes. You’ll stay in a boutique retreat with a lovely swimming pool in the paddy fields. 

Activities during your stay here include a cycle ride on a tranquil and peaceful trail devoid of tourists. Soak in the magnificent beauty of the surrounding beautiful limestone mountains, and a short hike will take you to the top of Hang Mua for an aerial view of the region. You will stop at a local house in a peaceful village with a beautiful setting, and then you will have a chance to visit Bai Dinh Temple, Vietnam’s largest Buddhist temple complex and an important pilgrimage site.

Nham Village
Days 8

Overnight train to Hoi An

 After freshening up at the hotel and enjoying dinner at a local restaurant, you’ll transfer to Thanh Hoa railway station to board the overnight train (around 10 pm) due south for Hoi An (Danang Station). 

N.B. – If you have extra time available on the train journey south, you can stop for a night or two in the Imperial City of Hue.

Days 9 - 12

Hoi An and the beach

On arrival in Danang, it’s a 30-minute transfer down the coast to your beach hotel in Hoi An.  

Much of your time here is free to relax and enjoy the beach and the hotel. A tour of the old town is included, incorporating one of our designated Give Back experiences: a visit to a social enterprise restaurant for a lovely lunch and a noodle-making class. 

Day 13 - 14

Mekong Delta homestay

Fly directly from Danang (Hoi An) to Can Tho in the heart of the Mekong Delta. Here, you will explore the palm-fringed waterways, farmlands and villages by cyclo, sampan boat and bicycle. You’ll stay overnight in a local homestay where you can catch fish and pick vegetables before enjoying a delicious dinner with your hosts

Green mangoes and fruits sold at Phong Dien market, near Can Tho
Day 15

Ho Chi Minh City

Travel by road from The Mekong Delta to Saigon for your final stay. In the evening, head out on a night-time tour; you’ll ride pillion on the back of a Vespa bike, exploring the city’s highlights.

Saigon
Day 16

Fly home

Depart Vietnam for your flight back home.

An Epic Adventure Across Southeast Asia

There were moments while I was out and about where I thought that everyone should experience this kind of mindful travel that Experience Travel organises, as it's not backpacking where you tick off the standard party hotspots, and it's not the typical cruise for tourists to visit the standard sightseeing destinations, but an experience where I really felt I got to know the countries, meet great people and do fun stuff that most people miss.
Sven
3 March 2025

Excellent850 Reviews

Read Reviews

What’s included:

With ETG, what’s included goes well beyond the basics. From the moment your trip begins to your final farewell, the essentials are already taken care of, leaving you free to immerse, explore and enjoy without the hassle of hidden extras.

Here’s what comes as standard in all of our holidays:

All flights (unless you’ve booked your own!)
Expert guides and drivers
All accommodation
Many meals and snacks
Immersive experiences throughout
All regional transfers
Tips
24/7 In-Country support
Personal travel consultant throughout

Pricing:

As every holiday is bespoke, prices vary depending on destination, flights, hotel choices, inclusions and travel dates. We aim to include as much as possible upfront, so you know exactly where you are. As an approximate guide:

Bespoke Holidays £4,500 - £8,500pp
Bespoke Luxury Holidays £8,500 - £14,500pp
Bespoke Family Holidays from £4,000 - £7,500pp

Meet Our Vietnam Experts

After living in Vietnam for almost a year, Chione knows the country inside out. From hidden street food gems in Hanoi to the best boutique stays in Hoi An, she helps travellers experience Vietnam beyond the obvious.

“This deluxe Easter itinerary gives families a perfect balance — raft through Pu Luong’s rice terraces, cycle and boat among the caves and karsts of Ninh Binh, journey south on an overnight train, unwind by the beach near Hoi An, and finish with a homestay and paddled Mekong Delta adventure. It’s active, immersive, and ideal for all ages.” 

Chione
Regional Expert

Explore Our Hotels & Villas

Wherever you go, and whatever you do, at the end of every day you can always be sure of a comfortable rest. Every location on our list of hotels is handpicked, and in its own way, shares the history, the hospitality, and the soul of Vietnam. Below are some examples of the different hotels we use.

Aira Boutique Pool

Hanoi - Superior

Aira Boutique

Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) - Superior

La Siesta Saigon

Nham Village

Ninh Binh - Superior

Nham Village Resort

Victoria Hoi an Pool

Central Vietnam - Superior

Victoria Resort & Spa

North Vietnam - Comfort

Pu Luong Retreat

Experiences of Vietnam

Crafting bespoke packages is the heart of what we do. Each holiday is specially designed to confound preconceptions and share magical, memorable, and truly exceptional experiences.

Hanoi

Hanoi Coffee Lovers Tour

Hanoi

Hanoi Family Tour

Hanoi

Life On The Railway Tracks

Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)

Ho Chi Minh City Highlights

Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), Southern Vietnam, Vietnam

Saigon Secret Cocktail Experience

Hanoi, North Vietnam, Vietnam

Reunification Express Train

Hanoi, North Vietnam, Vietnam

A Hanoi Food Story

Hoi An

Hoi An Cooking Tour

Green mangoes and fruits sold at Phong Dien market, near Can Tho

Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)

Mekong Delta Tour

Important FAQs about Vietnam

With Experience Travel Group, Vietnam isn’t just another tick-box holiday. We take you beyond the usual sights – yes, you’ll see Halong Bay and the Cu Chi Tunnels if you want to, but we’ll also introduce you to the quiet corners that most travellers miss. Think cycling through the backstreets of Hue, cooking lunch with a local family in Hoi An, or spending a night on a peaceful river island that barely anyone’s heard of.

We design every trip with care – using handpicked hotels, the best local guides, and routes that cut out the tourist conveyor belt. Our holidays are built for travellers who want something richer than a generic tailor-made holiday – more character, more flavour, more stories to tell when you get home.

If you want a trip where Vietnam feels personal, rather than packaged, that’s exactly what we do.

Vietnam’s weather can be a bit of a puzzle. With its long, thin shape and mix of beaches, mountains, and cities, each region dances to its own climate tune. The North, Central, and South all have distinct weather patterns – and that’s before you factor in the cooler highlands or the breezy coastlines.

Generally, November to April is the sweet spot when much of the country is dry and pleasantly warm. That said, Vietnam is almost a year-round destination, with good weather cropping up somewhere no matter the month. Whether you want winter sunshine, summer beaches, or a cultural escape with a side of adventure, Vietnam has a season for you.

Every ETG holiday to Vietnam is carefully designed to be seamless, immersive, and stress-free. Your journey typically includes international flights (if requested), guide throughout and accommodation in hand-picked, characterful hotels.

You’ll enjoy incredible, immersive experiences unique to you, all planned by dedicated Vietnam specialists, with the added reassurance of 24/7 in-country support from our local team.