Vietnam Highlights: Small Group Tour
Ten days. Four cities. One extraordinary country.
From
£2,695pp
About this tour
Vietnam is one of those countries where even ten days produces memories that last decades. This small-group tour — led by Finn Rawlinson, capped at 12 guests, and paced for genuine enjoyment rather than a checklist — covers the four places that define Vietnam for most Western visitors: Hanoi (chaotic, colonial, extraordinarily characterful), Halong Bay (the UNESCO bay of limestone islands that looks exactly like its photographs, except more beautiful), Hoi An (the lantern-lit Ancient Town where every building is a story) and Ho Chi Minh City (the energy of modern Vietnam superimposed on a French colonial grid and a wartime history that still feels present). Finn has led this tour more than 60 times over eight years. He knows which morning light makes Halong Bay extraordinary, which alley in Hoi An leads to the best bánh mì in the country, and which table at the Metropole bar has the best view of the Old Quarter. His groups form quickly and travel warmly — there is a chemistry to a well-led small tour that independent travel cannot replicate, and Finn creates it reliably.
“Led by Finn Rawlinson, our small-group Vietnam specialist with eight years of experience.”
Why this works for travellers over 50
- Finn Rawlinson has led Vietnam small-group tours for 8 years — over 60 tours
- Max 12 guests — intimate, well-paced, sociable
- Halong Bay overnight cruise included on a quality shared junk
- Hotel standard maintained throughout — all 4-star or above
- Free afternoons every day — time to explore at your own pace
- Internal flights throughout — no long road journeys
- Solo travellers welcomed — our most popular destination for solo over-60s
Request a Callback
Price per person — based on two travelling together.
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Your journey
Day-by-day itinerary
1Welcome to Hanoi
Hanoi
Very lightCapella Hanoi
Welcome to Hanoi
Hanoi
Group transfer from Noi Bai Airport. Welcome dinner at a rooftop restaurant overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake — Finn introduces the group and the ten days ahead.
2Hanoi Old Quarter
Hanoi
ModerateCapella Hanoi
Hanoi Old Quarter
Hanoi
Morning in the 36 Streets — Finn's guided walk through the Old Quarter includes the Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake, and the Ngoc Son Temple on its island. Afternoon free. Optional evening street food walk.
3Hanoi to Halong Bay
Hanoi → Halong Bay
Active afternoon on waterGroup Junk, Halong Bay
Hanoi to Halong Bay
Hanoi → Halong Bay
Morning drive to Halong Bay (3.5 hours). Board the group junk at noon. Afternoon: sailing through the karst islands, swimming, kayaking through sea caves. Sunset on deck.
4Halong Bay Dawn & Return
Halong Bay → Hanoi → Hoi An
Travel dayAnantara Hoi An Resort
Halong Bay Dawn & Return
Halong Bay → Hanoi → Hoi An
Dawn on the bay, then back to Hanoi. Afternoon flight Hanoi–Da Nang. Transfer to Hoi An. Evening: Finn's first walk through the Ancient Town as the lanterns light up.
5Hoi An Ancient Town
Hoi An
GentleAnantara Hoi An Resort
Hoi An Ancient Town
Hoi An
Morning guided walk through the UNESCO Ancient Town — the Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese Assembly Halls, merchant houses. Afternoon and evening free for tailoring, cycling, beach or market.
6Hoi An Cooking Class & My Son
Hoi An / My Son
Active morning, moderate afternoonAnantara Hoi An Resort
Hoi An Cooking Class & My Son
Hoi An / My Son
Morning cooking class at a Hoi An riverside school. Afternoon: group excursion to My Son Hindu temple ruins. Finn's explanation of the Cham civilisation is a highlight.
7Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
Hoi An → Ho Chi Minh City
Travel dayPark Hyatt Saigon
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
Hoi An → Ho Chi Minh City
Morning free. Flight Da Nang–Ho Chi Minh City. Transfer to Park Hyatt Saigon. Evening orientation walk through District 1 with Finn.
8Ho Chi Minh City — History & Present
Ho Chi Minh City
ModeratePark Hyatt Saigon
Ho Chi Minh City — History & Present
Ho Chi Minh City
War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, Notre-Dame Basilica. Afternoon free. Optional evening rooftop cocktails.
9Mekong Delta & Group Farewell
Ho Chi Minh City / Mekong
ActivePark Hyatt Saigon
Mekong Delta & Group Farewell
Ho Chi Minh City / Mekong
Full-day Mekong Delta excursion — boat through the delta channels, floating market, rice paper factory, tropical fruit orchard. Group farewell dinner in the evening.
10Ho Chi Minh City Departure
Ho Chi Minh City
Departure day
Ho Chi Minh City Departure
Ho Chi Minh City
Final morning at leisure. Group transfers to Tan Son Nhat Airport throughout the day.
Like what you see?
Our specialists can tailor every day to your preferences.
Fitness & mobility
Pacing & accessibility
Active cultural half-days with free afternoons. Max 5km per activity session. Designed for travellers who want the essence of Vietnam without exhaustion.
Walking
Maximum 5km per activity session. Halong Bay involves optional kayaking. All other days flat city walking.
Transport
Air-conditioned coach or minibus. Two internal flights included. One night aboard group junk.
Altitude
All destinations at or near sea level.
Heat / Climate
October–March is the most comfortable season for this itinerary. Saigon is hot year-round.
Accommodation
Your hotels
Capella Hanoi
★★★★★French Quarter, Hanoi · 2 nights
An intimate 47-room luxury hotel in a heritage townhouse, steps from Hoan Kiem Lake. Inspired by the golden age of Indochine travel, with a jazz-age aesthetic and the finest breakfast in Hanoi.
- 47-room boutique hotel
- Heritage townhouse
- Jazz-age Indochine aesthetic
- Steps from Hoan Kiem Lake
- Outstanding breakfast
Group Junk, Halong Bay
★★★★Halong Bay · 1 night
A comfortable quality junk shared with the group. Private en-suite cabins, shared dining room and deck. The junk travels to less-visited areas of the bay away from the main cruise routes.
- Private en-suite cabins
- Full-board on board
- Kayaking from the boat
- Sundeck
- Less-visited bay areas
Anantara Hoi An Resort
★★★★★Thu Bon Riverside, Hoi An · 3 nights
Riverside resort in Vietnamese colonial style, minutes' walk from the Ancient Town.
- Riverside location
- Walking distance to Ancient Town
- Pool
- Cooking school on site
Park Hyatt Saigon
★★★★★District 1, Ho Chi Minh City · 3 nights
Colonial-inspired five-star facing the Opera House in Saigon's historic heart.
- Opera House views
- Rooftop pool
- Square One restaurant
- Central District 1 location
Enhance your trip
Cu Chi Tunnels
+£85
Half-day visit to the famous underground tunnel network used during the American War. Replace one of the free afternoons in Ho Chi Minh City.
per person
Pricing
Holiday pricing
All prices are per person, based on two people sharing. We arrange departures throughout the year to suit your preferred dates.
Starting from
£2,695
per person · 2 sharing
Solo traveller supplement: +£595 pp
Travelling solo?
Single supplement: +£595 pp · Single supplement waived on March 2026 for solo travellers willing to share a twin
Full details
What’s included & not included
Included in your price
- 9 nights in 4–5 star hotels (Hanoi 2n, Halong Bay junk 1n, Hoi An 3n, Saigon 3n)
- Expert small-group guide Finn Rawlinson throughout
- One night Halong Bay cruise (shared junk, group dining)
- Internal flights: Hanoi–Da Nang, Da Nang–Ho Chi Minh City
- All group transfers
- Hoi An cooking class
- My Son excursion
- Mekong Delta full-day trip
- All entrance fees
- Daily breakfast; meals as noted
- Welcome dinner and farewell dinner
- ATOL financial protection
Not included
- Travel insurance (required)
- Meals not listed
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Vietnam e-visa (approx US$25)
Your specialist
Who will plan your holiday
Finn Rawlinson
Finn grew up in Kendal, Cumbria, and has been leading small-group tours in Vietnam and Thailand for Holidays to Asia since 2016. He has led this Vietnam Highlights tour over 60 times and knows every guest question before it's asked. His groups are consistently the happiest in our portfolio.
Tailor-made
Like this tour but want it adapted?
Extra nights, alternative hotels, private transfers — our specialists will build your perfect itinerary from scratch.
What our guests say
Guest reviews
Perfect introduction to Vietnam
“We'd been meaning to visit Vietnam for 20 years. Finn made it everything we'd hoped for and more. The Halong Bay overnight was magical. Hoi An at night with the lanterns was like nothing else we've seen. The group of 10 became close friends within two days.”
Helen & Richard Oakes
Cheshire · 2025-01-25
Solo and absolutely loved it
“First solo trip at 68. Finn was wonderful — attentive, funny, deeply knowledgeable. The group had four solo travellers and we were all paired comfortably. Vietnam blew me away completely. Already looking at the 14-day version.”
Maureen Caffrey
Dublin · 2024-11-10
Excellent pace, excellent company
“The free afternoons were genuinely free — not scheduled into oblivion like some tours. I spent one afternoon in a Hoi An tailor and one in a café reading. The evenings were sociable. Finn strikes exactly the right balance between guide and companion.”
Peter Walsh
Bristol · 2025-02-28
Before you go
Practical information
Visa requirements
E-visa required for UK citizens. Apply at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. Fee approx US$25. 3 business days processing.
Currency
Vietnamese Dong (VND). ATMs widely available. Credit cards at hotels and most restaurants.
Tipping
Finn: £10–15/day is standard for a group guide. Junk crew: tip the captain (£10–15 total for the group). Hotel staff: 30,000–50,000 VND.
Electricity
220V. Mix of Type A, C and G sockets. Universal adaptor recommended.
Health & vaccinations
Hepatitis A, Typhoid recommended. Malaria low-risk in tourist areas. Bottled water provided.
Flights
Fly London to Hanoi (HAN) via Gulf hub (Qatar, Emirates). Total approx 13 hours. Return from Ho Chi Minh City (SGN). Internal flights Da Nang included.
Local transport
Air-conditioned coach throughout. Two internal flights included. One night on group junk.
Travel with like-minded people
Join a Small Group Departure
Prefer to travel with a small group of fellow over-50s rather than as a couple or solo? Our fixed-departure group tours put you alongside eight to twelve like-minded travellers with a dedicated tour manager for the entire journey.
- Maximum 12 travellers — intimate by design
- Dedicated tour manager throughout
- Social dinners and shared discoveries
- Single supplement waived on selected departures
- Like-minded over-50s travellers
- No single friends needed — just arrive and enjoy
Register Your Interest
Tell us your preferred dates and travel companions — we’ll match you with the right departure and send full details.
Our team will respond within 1 working day.
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Is the Halong Bay junk shared with other groups?
The junk is shared within your group of up to 12 — you will not be combined with passengers from other tour companies. The dining and deck experience is with your group only.
How does the group size affect the experience?
Maximum 12 is a deliberate cap that allows genuine connection. Most departures run with 8–10 guests. Finn manages the group dynamic expertly and our post-tour feedback consistently cites the group chemistry as a highlight.
Can I extend with the 14-day North to South tour?
The 10-day Highlights and 14-day North to South cover similar ground, rather than being extensions of each other. The 14-day tour adds depth (Hue's Imperial Citadel, a private junk, the Hai Van Pass) and uses Clara Nguyen as guide throughout.
Is Vietnam suitable for solo women travellers?
Vietnam is excellent for solo women travellers and has been consistently so for decades. In a small group with Finn, solo women are fully integrated and completely safe. Our Vietnam tours have one of the highest proportions of solo female guests of any destination we operate.
What is the difference between the Halong Bay junk and the private junk on the 14-day tour?
The group junk has en-suite cabins but a shared dining room where you eat with your tour group. The private junk on the 14-day tour is chartered exclusively for your group — no other passengers, the crew adjusts the menu and schedule entirely for you, and the boat is larger with a private sundeck lounge.
What is the dress code for the War Remnants Museum?
No specific dress code — comfortable clothing is appropriate. The museum is air-conditioned. The emotional content is strong; Finn briefs the group before entering and suggests a break point about halfway through.
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