Vietnam Complete: Hanoi, Sapa, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An & the Mekong
From the Chinese highlands to the Mekong — Vietnam from beginning to end
From
£4,295pp
About this tour
There are countries that reveal themselves slowly and completely, and Vietnam is one of them. The north — where the mountains touch China, where the Red River has fed rice paddies for three thousand years, where Hanoi's Old Quarter is the oldest continuously inhabited merchant district in Southeast Asia — feels ancient in a way that the south does not. The south — where Ho Chi Minh City buzzes with a mercantile energy that makes Bangkok feel sleepy, where the Mekong Delta's nine mouths push the rich silt of the Himalayan snowmelt into the South China Sea — feels new in a way that the north does not. Between them, central Vietnam offers Hue's imperial grandeur and Hoi An's cosmopolitan merchant beauty. This 18-day complete journey — guided throughout by Clara Nguyen — is the most thorough Vietnam itinerary we have designed. It adds Sapa and the northern highlands to the standard north-to-south route, and it extends Ho Chi Minh City with a full Mekong Delta day. It is the tour to book when Vietnam is a priority, when time allows, and when you want to come home feeling you have understood a country rather than merely visited it. The hotels tell their own story of the country: the Topas Ecolodge above the Sapa valley, the Metropole in Hanoi, the private junk in Halong Bay, La Résidence in Hue, the Anantara in Hoi An, and the Park Hyatt Saigon. Each is the finest available expression of its location.
“Designed by Clara Nguyen, our Vietnam specialist with 12 years of full-country experience.”
Why this works for travellers over 50
- Clara Nguyen guides all 18 days — no handoffs, no strangers mid-journey
- Sapa included: Vietnam's most spectacular highland scenery, not on most itineraries
- Two nights on a private junk — the proper Halong Bay experience
- Topas Ecolodge Sapa: lodges on a hillside above the rice terrace valley
- Mekong Delta included — the full south Vietnam experience
- Four internal flights included — no unnecessary long road journeys
- Full pre-departure personalised briefing from Clara by video call
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Price per person — based on two travelling together.
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Your journey
Day-by-day itinerary
1Arrival in Hanoi
Hanoi
Arrival daySofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
Arrival in Hanoi
Hanoi
Airport transfer to the Metropole. Welcome dinner with Clara in the Spices Garden.
2Hanoi: Old Quarter & Temple of Literature
Hanoi
ModerateSofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
Hanoi: Old Quarter & Temple of Literature
Hanoi
Morning: 36 Streets Old Quarter walking tour, Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake. Afternoon free.
3Hanoi to Sapa
Hanoi → Sapa
Travel dayTopas Ecolodge, Sapa
Hanoi to Sapa
Hanoi → Sapa
Drive or overnight train to Sapa (Clara arranges the most comfortable option by season). Check in to the Topas Ecolodge — lodges set on a hillside with views over the Sa Pa valley rice terraces to the distant peak of Fansipan.
4Sapa Rice Terraces & H'mong Villages
Sapa
ActiveTopas Ecolodge, Sapa
Sapa Rice Terraces & H'mong Villages
Sapa
Morning trek through rice terraces to the H'mong village of Lao Chai and Ta Van — one of the most beautiful walks in Vietnam. Clara accompanies with historical and agricultural context. Afternoon free at the lodge.
5Sapa Free Morning & Return to Hanoi
Sapa → Hanoi
Travel daySofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
Sapa Free Morning & Return to Hanoi
Sapa → Hanoi
Free morning at the lodge — perhaps a sunrise walk above the valley. Return to Hanoi by afternoon. Evening free.
6Hanoi to Halong Bay
Hanoi → Halong Bay
Active afternoonPremium Private Junk, Halong Bay
Hanoi to Halong Bay
Hanoi → Halong Bay
Drive to Halong Bay. Board private junk. Afternoon sailing, cave exploration and kayaking. Sunset dinner on deck.
7Halong Bay — Full Day
Halong Bay
Active morning, relaxed afternoonPremium Private Junk, Halong Bay
Halong Bay — Full Day
Halong Bay
Dawn on the bay. Cooking class, kayaking hidden lagoon, swimming, fishing. Five-course dinner.
8Halong Bay to Hue
Halong Bay → Hue
Travel dayLa Résidence Hotel & Spa, Hue
Halong Bay to Hue
Halong Bay → Hue
Return to Hanoi. Flight Hanoi–Da Nang. Transfer to Hue and La Résidence. Evening riverside walk.
9Hue Imperial Citadel & Royal Tombs
Hue
ModerateLa Résidence Hotel & Spa, Hue
Hue Imperial Citadel & Royal Tombs
Hue
Full day with Clara: Imperial Citadel, Emperor Minh Mang's tomb. Afternoon: Dong Ba Market and royal Hue cooking class.
10Hue to Hoi An via Hai Van Pass
Hue → Hoi An
Travel dayAnantara Hoi An Resort
Hue to Hoi An via Hai Van Pass
Hue → Hoi An
Drive south over Hai Van Pass. Arrive in Hoi An by afternoon. Lantern evening on the Thu Bon River.
11Hoi An Ancient Town
Hoi An
GentleAnantara Hoi An Resort
Hoi An Ancient Town
Hoi An
Morning guided tour of the Ancient Town. Afternoon free — tailoring, cycling, beach.
12My Son & Hoi An Cooking Class
Hoi An
ModerateAnantara Hoi An Resort
My Son & Hoi An Cooking Class
Hoi An
Morning My Son Sanctuary. Afternoon: Hoi An cooking class. Evening free.
13Hoi An Free Day
Hoi An
Free dayAnantara Hoi An Resort
Hoi An Free Day
Hoi An
Completely free. Beach, spa, market, more tailoring, cycling.
14Hoi 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
Flight Da Nang–Saigon. Transfer to Park Hyatt. Evening orientation walk with Clara.
15Ho Chi Minh City History
Ho Chi Minh City
ModeratePark Hyatt Saigon
Ho Chi Minh City History
Ho Chi Minh City
War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, Notre-Dame Basilica, Central Post Office. Afternoon free.
16Cu Chi Tunnels
Ho Chi Minh City
ModeratePark Hyatt Saigon
Cu Chi Tunnels
Ho Chi Minh City
Half-day at Cu Chi Tunnels — the remarkable underground network used by Viet Cong during the American War. Clara's historical framing is essential context. Afternoon free in the city.
17Mekong Delta
Ho Chi Minh City / Mekong
ActivePark Hyatt Saigon
Mekong Delta
Ho Chi Minh City / Mekong
Full-day Mekong Delta excursion — boat through the river channels, floating market, rice noodle factory, coconut candy workshop, tropical orchard. Farewell dinner at a Saigon rooftop restaurant.
18Ho Chi Minh City Departure
Ho Chi Minh City
Departure day
Ho Chi Minh City Departure
Ho Chi Minh City
Final breakfast. Private transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport. Clara says goodbye.
Like what you see?
Our specialists can tailor every day to your preferences.
Fitness & mobility
Pacing & accessibility
An ambitious itinerary with genuinely free afternoons and rest built in. Some longer travel days offset by the exceptional nature of each destination.
Walking
Sapa trek (Day 4) is the most active at 8km — a shorter alternative is available. All other days max 5–6km. Halong Bay and Mekong are mostly on the water.
Transport
Private vehicle throughout. Four internal flights included. Two nights on private junk. Multiple boat days.
Altitude
Sapa at approximately 1,500m — some guests feel mildly light-headed on arrival; acclimatisation happens within a day. Fansipan cable car optional (3,143m).
Heat / Climate
Northern Vietnam (Hanoi, Sapa) is cooler than the south. Best season November–April. Ho Chi Minh City is hot year-round. Bring light layers for Sapa nights (can drop to 12°C in winter).
Accommodation
Your hotels
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
★★★★★French Quarter, Hanoi · 3 nights
Vietnam's most historic hotel, open since 1901. Graham Greene's writing retreat.
- Open since 1901
- Graham Greene connection
- Spices Garden
- Bomb shelter bar
Topas Ecolodge, Sapa
★★★★Thanh Kim, Sapa Valley · 2 nights
Stone and thatch bungalows set on a hillside above the Sapa valley, with panoramic views over the rice terraces and the distant peak of Fansipan. Solar-powered and community-integrated.
- Hillside bungalows with valley views
- Solar-powered ecolodge
- Community-integrated
- Views to Fansipan (3,143m)
- Outstanding trekking base
Premium Private Junk, Halong Bay
★★★★★Halong Bay · 2 nights
Private charter junk for your group only.
- Private charter
- En-suite cabins
- All meals on board
- Kayaking
La Résidence Hotel & Spa, Hue
★★★★★Perfume River, Hue · 2 nights
Restored 1930s French Governor's Residence on the Perfume River.
- Former French Governor's Residence
- Art Deco
- Riverside pool
- Le Gouverneur restaurant
Anantara Hoi An Resort
★★★★★Thu Bon Riverside, Hoi An · 4 nights
Riverside resort minutes from Hoi An Ancient Town.
- Riverside location
- Walking distance to Ancient Town
- Cooking school
Park Hyatt Saigon
★★★★★District 1, Ho Chi Minh City · 4 nights
Colonial-inspired five-star facing the Saigon Opera House.
- Opera House views
- Rooftop pool
- Square One restaurant
Enhance your trip
Mekong Overnight at Victoria Chau Doc
+£395
Spend a night at Victoria Chau Doc on the Mekong, close to the Cambodian border — a former colonial town with floating fish farms and the most atmospheric stretch of the Mekong Delta.
per person supplement
Fansipan Cable Car
+£85
From Sapa, take the cable car to the summit of Fansipan (3,143m — "the Roof of Indochina"). Clear-day views are extraordinary.
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
£4,295
per person · 2 sharing
Solo traveller supplement: +£995 pp
Travelling solo?
Single supplement: +£995 pp
Full details
What’s included & not included
Included in your price
- 17 nights in handpicked hotels (Hanoi Metropole 2n+1n, Sapa Topas 2n, Halong Bay private junk 2n, Hue La Résidence 2n, Hoi An Anantara 4n, Saigon Park Hyatt 4n)
- Private guide Clara Nguyen for all 18 days
- All internal flights: Hanoi–Da Nang, Da Nang–Ho Chi Minh City (plus Sapa transport)
- Two nights private junk in Halong Bay (all meals on board)
- Sapa hill tribe village trek with home lunch
- My Son Sanctuary and Hue Imperial Citadel and Royal Tombs
- Two cooking classes (Hoi An and Hue)
- Cu Chi Tunnels half-day
- Mekong Delta full-day excursion
- All private road transfers throughout
- All entrance fees
- Daily breakfast; additional meals as noted
- Welcome dinner and farewell dinner
- Pre-departure video call with Clara
- ATOL financial protection
Not included
- Travel insurance (required)
- Meals not listed
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Vietnam e-visa
Your specialist
Who will plan your holiday
Clara Nguyen
Born in Hoi An. Art History degree from Hanoi University. Former UNESCO conservation guide. 12 years of Vietnam experience from Sapa to the Mekong. Speaks English and French. Has guided the Complete Vietnam tour over 40 times.
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
The definitive Vietnam experience
“We wanted to do Vietnam properly, once, and this was it. The Sapa section was the unexpected revelation — the rice terraces at harvest time are genuinely among the most beautiful things I've seen on any continent. Clara is remarkable — 18 days and she never flagged, never repeated herself, and seemed to become more interesting with each city. The private junk in Halong Bay and the farewell dinner in Saigon bookended the journey perfectly.”
Jonathan & Catherine Whitmore
Cambridge · 2025-01-28
Worth every penny of the longer itinerary
“I was going to book the 14-day version. A friend who'd done the 18-day talked me into this one and I'm profoundly grateful. Sapa is the thing — most Vietnam tours skip it entirely. The ecolodge above the valley, the trek through the rice terraces, the village lunch — it was the most immersive cultural day of my travelling life.”
Helen Bradley
York · 2024-11-29
Clara is the best guide we've had in 30 years of travel
“That's a bold statement and I mean it. Her English is as good as ours. Her historical knowledge is extraordinary. Her warmth and patience over 18 days were unwavering. We've done tours in 20 countries and nobody comes close. Vietnam itself is magnificent — complex, beautiful, endlessly surprising — and Clara made it comprehensible at every step.”
Robert & Sheila McNab
Glasgow · 2025-02-16
Before you go
Practical information
Visa requirements
E-visa required. US$25. Apply at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. 3 business days. Full instructions with booking confirmation.
Currency
Vietnamese Dong. ATMs everywhere. Credit cards at all hotels and most restaurants.
Tipping
Clara: £15–20/day is appropriate for an 18-day private tour. Junk crew: £25–35 total for 2 nights. Cooking class families: 100,000–200,000 VND. Boat rowers and local guides: 50,000–100,000 VND.
Electricity
220V, mixed socket types. Universal adaptor essential.
Health & vaccinations
Hepatitis A and Typhoid recommended. Japanese Encephalitis may be advised for rural areas including Sapa — consult your GP 8 weeks before travel. Malaria: low risk in tourist areas; higher in some Sapa forested areas — discuss with GP. Tap water not safe throughout.
Flights
Fly London to Hanoi (HAN). Return from Ho Chi Minh City (SGN). Book as an open-jaw (Hanoi in, Saigon out). Gulf airlines (Qatar, Emirates, Etihad) offer excellent connections. Total journey approx 12–14 hours.
Local transport
Private vehicle throughout. Four included internal flights: Hanoi–Da Nang, Da Nang–Ho Chi Minh City (plus Sapa transport by train or vehicle). Private junk for 2 nights.
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 Sapa trek suitable for someone in their 60s or 70s?
Yes, with the right expectations. The full 8km rice terrace trek involves some steep sections and uneven paths. A 3km accessible village circuit is available for guests who prefer a shorter walk. For guests who cannot walk far, a vehicle tour of the valley and village visit near the road is also possible. Clara assesses each guest's preferences and plans accordingly.
Is 18 days too long for Vietnam?
For Vietnam, 18 days is the ideal length for the complete experience. The country is 1,700km long and the cultural differences between north, centre and south are significant. Guests on the 18-day tour consistently say they felt they understood Vietnam; guests on shorter tours sometimes feel they've glimpsed it. If time allows, 18 days is our strong recommendation.
How does Sapa travel work — train or drive?
Clara recommends the overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai (8 hours, soft-sleeper berths in a private cabin) followed by a 45-minute drive to Sapa — it is comfortable, romantic and means you wake up in the mountains. The alternative is a 5-hour drive from Hanoi, which is also fine but less memorable. We discuss preferences at booking.
What is the Mekong Delta day like?
The Mekong Delta day is a full day on the water — the hotel car brings you 2 hours south of Saigon to the delta town of My Tho, then a boat tour through the river channels past floating houses, water hyacinth and coconut palms. You visit a floating market, a rice noodle workshop, a coconut candy factory and a tropical fruit orchard. It is joyful, colourful and completely unlike any other day on the tour.
Are 4 nights in Saigon necessary?
Yes — the 18-day itinerary uses four Saigon nights to include the War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi Tunnels, the French colonial city and the Mekong Delta day trip without any day feeling rushed. Four nights in Saigon also gives you a genuine free afternoon to explore the city independently.
Can I do just the northern half (Hanoi, Sapa, Halong) as a shorter tour?
Yes — our Halong Bay & Hanoi 8-day tour covers northern Vietnam in depth (without Sapa). Adding Sapa as a pre-tour extension is also possible. Speak to our specialists about building a custom northern Vietnam itinerary.
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