Depart your home country for your flight to Hanoi.
Most suited for
Families
Ideal time to visit
April - September
This holiday is ideal for second-time visitors to Vietnam or adventurous families who want to discover the country beyond the typical tourist trail.
Vietnam has epic scenery, but many visitors miss much of it; on this holiday, you’ll explore by raft, river, train and bike, taking in the mountainous North, the limestone caves of Phong Nha and the central coast. The suggested itinerary entirely skips the major cities, although we can include them in your bespoke holiday proposal.
Vietnam Family Adventure
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
Days 2 - 3
Ba Vi Mountain National Park
On arrival in Hanoi, meet your local guide and driver and transfer to Ba Vi Mountain National Park. The forested area is just a 55km drive but feels like a world away from the bustling city, offering a tranquil gateway to the country’s mountainous, scenic north.
Days 4 - 5
Pu Luong Nature Reserve
Drive past breath-taking mountain scenery into the Pu Luong Nature Reserve, lying along two mountain ridges. Explore the beautiful retreat that provides captivating panoramic views in a tranquil setting. Head out on a bamboo river raft or descend into the beautiful valley for a walk around tumbling rice terraces. Interact with the villagers living in the hills above the retreat and enjoy a glimpse into daily life as you explore the working farmland and rice fields.
Days 6 - 7
Ninh Binh and Trang An Eco System
Departing Pu Luong, you’ll travel east through the beautiful countryside to Trang An Ecosystem, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Ninh Binh province.
Head out on a cycling tour through the quiet and peaceful trails, soak in the magnificent beauty amongst the mountains or take a short hike to the top of Hang Mua for a spectacular aerial view of the region. Stop at a local house in a peaceful village before a chance to visit Bai Dinh Temple, Vietnam’s largest Buddhist temple complex and an important pilgrimage site.
On Day 7, after time to freshen up at the hotel and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, you’ll transfer to Thanh Hoa railway station to board the overnight train (around 10 pm) due south for Dong Hoi.
Days 8 - 10
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
You’ll arrive at Dong Hoi early and transfer to your accommodation on the edge of Phong Nha-Ke Bang. This remarkable national park has underground rivers and a vast network of incredible caves.
Outside of the cave explorations, there are numerous activities to enjoy here – kayaking, trekking, taking a bike ride along with the rural riverside villages or learning about the significance of the Ho Chi Minh Trails (through which soldiers moved supplies from North to South Vietnam during the war).
Days 11 - 14
Hoi An and the beach
Depart Phong Nga-Ke Bang National Park and board the day train to Danang; this route offers some marvellous views of the countryside – especially as you weave south from Hue through the mountains. Disembark the train in Danang, and transfer to your beach hotel.
Although it’s more built-up than the other areas you’ve visited – the Hoi An area offers the best of both worlds with beach, countryside and the bustling ancient town. You could choose to relax by the pool or head into town to taste some delicious food, see some historic sites or explore the countryside by Vespa.
Day 15
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 2025Excellent
850 Reviews
850 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.
“I love that this itinerary goes beyond the usual. You have adventures that are far off the tourist trail. It’s real Vietnam, active, authentic, and unforgettable.”
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.
The ETG Guarantee
We guarantee you an experience no one else has ever had.
The travel magic you’ll remember won’t be found on a well-trodden – or over-Instagrammed – itinerary. It will be the surprises, discoveries and secrets that you’ll uncover along the way with us.
Do you ever feel like people aren’t listening to you?
We get it. And we will – that’s a promise. Your holiday starts with with a proper, no-pressure call to understand what you want, what you don’t want, and what matters to you.. From there, we create a completely unique adventure, inspired by our conversation together.
And because of our long-standing relationships with trusted partners across Asia, you’ll have access to experiences you can’t find on Google. The kind of special experiences that are literally impossible to find on your own.
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.
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.
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.
