Thoughtfully designed for second-time visitors or curious travellers who favour depth over checklists, this journey reveals the country through contrast and careful pacing.
From the best-kept secrets of “Saigon” and the floating markets of the Mekong Delta to the caves of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, from a vintage Vespa ride through ancient trading towns to the pulse of Hanoi’s Old Quarter and sizzling street food, your private guide and driver are with you at every turn, unlocking sides of Vietnam that most visitors never see.
If you’re craving an off-beat adventure without missing out on anything of significance, this ETG trip is made for you.
Depart your home country for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon.
Your guide and driver will welcome you to Vietnam and whisk you to your hotel. Once settled, explore the city’s lesser-known districts and markets, alongside its defining landmarks, with insight from your guide. Then travel south to Cai Be in the Mekong Delta, where life unfolds along the river. Walk through orchards and village lanes, visit homes on stilts, and share lunch with a local family, tasting the distinct flavours of the Delta.
Take a morning flight to Buon Ma Thuot, in the Central Highlands between the coast and the Cambodian border, and continue to Lak Tented Camp on the serene shores of Lak Lake.
Over the next two days, explore the surrounding countryside: visit local villages, trek through jungle to hidden waterfalls, learn about sustainable farming, and watch traditional fishermen in action. It’s a quieter, less-visited side of Vietnam that many visitors rarely experience.
Fly from Buon Ma Thuot to Danang, then continue by road to your hotel in Hoi An. Spend time wandering its lantern-lit streets, where Chinese temples and ochre merchant houses line the riverfront. One morning, join a hands-on cooking class, beginning with a visit to the local market. Learn the techniques and ingredients of central Vietnamese cuisine before sitting down to dig into the dishes you’ve prepared.
Travel north from Hoi An to Hue, following one of Vietnam’s most scenic coastal routes. Choose between the train or a vintage Vespa ride over the famed Hai Van Pass, with an experienced driver navigating the mountain curves.
In Hue, settle into your hotel for a two-night stay. With your guide, explore the city’s imperial history, visiting its most significant monuments and riverside landmarks on our insider tours.
Today, you’ll journey from Hue to the edge of Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park, home to one of the world’s largest limestone regions and some of its most extensive cave systems. Spend your first evening unwinding at your lodge and taking in the surrounding landscape.
During your stay, choose from a range of outdoor activities, including kayaking, cycling and guided nature trails. Consider going on a more in-depth caving adventure, with the option to camp overnight in the jungle or within a cave itself.
It’s an immersive way to experience the national park, with cave swimming, jungle treks, and night-time barbecues.
Travel on to Dong Hoi and board the “Reunification Express” to Hanoi. We can book you on to a daytime departure to soak in the spectacular scenery of northern Vietnam, or an overnight train in a comfortable sleeper cabin, arriving in the capital the following morning.
Arrive in Hanoi and settle into your hotel before beginning three days of privately guided exploration. Rise early to visit the city’s flower markets and stroll beside its lakes as locals practise t’ai chi. Wander the bustling Old Town, where residents go about their routines, seemingly unfazed by the slow-moving trains.
Explore the dynamic street food scene, try Vietnamese coffee and sip a refreshing beer at a roadside stall, while discovering French colonial architecture, museums and the Temple of Literature.
Sadly, it’s time to wave goodbye to Vietnam. Your driver will drop you off at the airport for your flight back home.
(Alternatively, consider extending your adventure to include a visit to Halong Bay or combine this itinerary with our Hanoi to Luang Prabang holiday for an extraordinary four-week off-the-beaten-track adventure.)
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With ETG, what’s included is shaped around ease. We take care of the practical details that can distract from the experience itself, so you’re free to relax into the journey and enjoy it as it unfolds.
Here’s what comes as standard in all of our holidays:
Each journey is shaped around you, so costs vary depending on season, flight choices, accommodation and how much is built in.
As a guide, most of our two-week trips fall between £5,000 and £10,000 per person.
Some fall below that, particularly for families or travel outside peak periods. Others go beyond it when the brief includes business-class flights, longer stays, or more ambitious hotel choices.
We discuss budget early, so everything is clear from the start.
After living in Hanoi while teaching English and making the most of her free time exploring the countryside, Chione knows the country inside out. From the capital’s hidden street food gems to the best boutique stays in Hoi An, she helps travellers experience Vietnam beyond go way beyond the obvious.
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.
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.
Immersive experiences sit at the heart of what we do. Each one is specially designed to confound preconceptions and create moments that are magical and memorable.
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.
Looking for more insider info?
Our Curious Traveller’s Guide to Vietnam describes the different regions of Vietnam and the best time of year to book a holiday, as well as our experts’ edit of the best beaches, unmissable sites, and much more.
