Vietnam – Nature Odyssey – 12 Days

12 Days

Nature Odyssey Vietnam

From £975

START: Hanoi, Vietnam END: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Vietnam's Wild Soul

12 Days / 11 Nights

From kayaking Ba Be Lake to cruising Halong Bay and trekking Cat Tien’s jungle, every day felt like a new chapter in a story I’ll never forget.

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12 Days of Discovery

Embark on a breathtaking journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, blending Vietnam’s iconic landscapes with immersive local experiences. From jeep tours through Hanoi’s hidden alleys to kayaking in Ba Be Lake, cruising Halong Bay, trekking Cat Tien’s jungles, and gliding through the Mekong Delta by sampan, this nature-rich itinerary is crafted for curious travellers who crave depth, authenticity, and cinematic beauty.

Hanoi – Jeep Tour – Ba Be Lake – Halong Bay – Ho Chi Minh City – City Tour – Cat Tien National Park – Mekong Delta (Ben Tre) – Cu Chi Tunnels – Ho Chi Minh City

The itinerary can be flexible, based on your arrival flight schedule.

Prices displayed are based on a single person in a 4-star hotel. You can downgrade to 3* or upgrade to 5* hotel, or get discounts for couple or groups.

Our tour prices include accommodation in shared Twin/ Double/ Triple room with air-conditioning (AC) and private bathroom, meals as stated in the programme (B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner), transfers and tours with local English-speaking guides in private/ joining air-conditioned vehicles, all entrance fees as mentioned in the programme, 2 bottles of mineral water on bus per day, available on the vehicles.

Not included in the price:

Personal Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses
Optional Activities

Also, International Flights and Domestic Flights are not included. (For domestic flights, the fare is about £50 each)

Please check our page for flight deals. Book early to get the best discounts.

Itinerary

From Hanoi to the Mekong Delta — a 12-day journey through Vietnam’s wild soul. Nature, culture, and cinematic landscapes — all in one seamless itinerary.

Day 1 : Hanoi - Arrival

All guests are warmly welcomed upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport by our local guide then transfer to check in the hotel (Standard check in time: 14:00 local time). Free for your own activities. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 2 : Hanoi – Jeep Tour (B/L)

Our team will pick you up from your hotel in the Old Quarter, greet you with a safety briefing, then begin the adventure.

Food & Local Life: Start with Hanoi’s famous Bún Chả, then continue to the Opera House and explore the “real Hanoi” – hidden backstreets, markets, local homes, and daily life beyond tourist sites.
City Highlights: Drive past Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Thanh Nien Street between two lakes, then enjoy authentic dishes like Phở Cuốn and Phở Chiên Phồng in a local eatery. Visit Banana Island farms, West Lake villages, and the ancient Van Nien Pagoda.
Hidden Gems: Discover bonsai streets, B-52 wreck site, and contrasting old & new Hanoi.
Final Stop: Relax with Hanoi’s signature egg coffee by the railway track before returning to your hotel.

Back to your hotel. Overnight in Hanoi

Day 3 : Hanoi – Ba Be Lake (B/L/D) – (Join in tour)

7:30 AM: Our tour guide will pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi for the 5-hour transfer to Bac Kan, with lunch en route.

Upon arrival at Boc Lom Pier, you will receive kayaking instructions and necessary equipment before paddling along the Nang River to explore Puong Cave. You will then continue through varied terrain and return to Ba Be Lake by motorboat, with an opportunity for swimming.

Check in at local house and enjoy a BBQ dinner.

Why book with us:

Halong Bay

Day 4 : Ba Be Lake (B/L/D) – (Join in Tour)

07:00 – 07:30 AM: Pick-up at your homestay, followed by a brief introduction. After a 30-minute drive, arrive at Tham Phay Cave and begin a steep hike through the forest and rocky terrain to the cave entrance. Enjoy a light snack before entering.

Explore Tham Phay, a stream cave with narrow passages, underground rivers, deep pools, and unique rock formations an ideal place for impressive photos. You will spend around five hours inside the 5 km cave, equipped with helmets and headlamps.

After a short snack break, continue to the second section of the cave, featuring ancient stalagmites, sinkholes, and geothermal heat flows.

Return to the cave entrance and back to the original pick-up point.

Day 5 : Ba Be Lake– Hanoi (B/L) – (Join in Tour)

After breakfast, take some time to relax and enjoy the fresh air and peaceful atmosphere of Ba Be Lake.

You may unwind by the water, read a book, or enjoy the quiet surroundings.

Cooking Class: Pho

You can also take a refreshing swim in the pool at the local house. Let the tranquillity of the area help you unwind and recharge.

Then transfer back to Hanoi for overnight.

Day 6 : Hanoi – Halong Bay - (Overnight Cruise) - (B/L/D)

Hanoi to Halong Bay (160 km): 3.0hrs

After breakfast, depart Hanoi for a scenic 3-hour drive to Halong Bay. Arrive at the jetty in Halong City around noon and complete the check-in formalities.

Board your cruise and enjoy a warm welcome, followed by lunch as the boat begins its journey into the bay. In the afternoon, take part in visits and activities according to the boat’s program, or simply relax and admire the stunning scenery.

As the day draws to a close, the boat anchors amidst the dramatic limestone karsts. Dinner will be served on board.

Overnight on the cruise in Halong Bay.

Mekong Delta

Day 7 : Halong Bay Cruise – Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh - ( City Tour) (B/L OR Brunch)

Halong Bay to Hanoi (160 km): 3.0hrs

Wake up to the fresh morning air in the heart of Halong Bay as the sun rises over the limestone peaks. Breakfast is served on board (or brunch on some cruises) while the vessel leisurely cruises back through the magnificent rock formations towards the port.

Disembark and transfer directly to Noi Bai Airport for your domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh.

All guests are warmly welcomed upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport by our local guide then transfer to visit Independence Palace (Reunification Palace), War Remnants Museum.

Afterwards, stroll through the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City: the Old Saigon Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral inaugurated in 1880 became the spiritual and cultural crucible of the French presence in the Orient as was the Post Office designed by Gustav Eiffel and resembling a grand railway station.

Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh.

Day 8 : Ho Chi Minh – Cat Tien National Park (B)

After breakfast, our local driver will pick you up depart Ho Chi Minh City for Cat Tien National Park.

Upon arrival, check in and enjoy free time to relax or explore the surrounding natural environment.

From 14:30- 17:30 :

Meet your guide and cycling to visit the ancient Tung Tree – the Uncle Dong’s percussion tree.

End of tour and return at the Park reception. Wait for the Night Safari trip

From 18:00 – 19:30 :

Move through the national park to go on a night tour to see wild animals at night. Then back to homestay.

Overnight at homestay.

Day 9 : Cat Tien National Park (B)

7:30 am-8:00 am Jeep through the forest 10km.

Treking 5km to Bau Crocodile. Sightseeing and exploring freely on the way to Crocodile lake.

Take souvenir photos of old trees. Watching crocodiles on the lake if you lucky and you can sign up for a boating experience with the rangers on the lake

(There is a fee to pay directly to the ranger).

12:00 pm: Treking 5km back to the Jeep and take it back to homestay for relaxing.

Overnight at homestay.

Cat Tien National Park - Bau Crocodille Lake

Day 10 : Cat Tien National Park - Ho Chi Minh (B)

Free at your own leisure until check out (before noon) and our local driver pick you up from homestay and transfer back to Ho Chi Minh.

Arrive to Ho Chi Minh, check-in hotel and relax.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Day 11 : Ho Chi Minh – Ben Tre (Mekong Delta) – Ho Chi Minh (B/L)

Start your day with an unforgettable journey to Ben Tre, the heart of the Mekong Delta, famous for its lush rice fields and serene landscapes.

Around 10:00 Arrive at meeting point and take a short walk through a local village to enjoy the landscape of local houses and gardens. Upon reaching the local pier board your day cruiser. Enjoy the river views as you cruise through the smaller tributaries of Ben Tre province (cruise time approx. 30 minutes).

Dock at “Bao Island” and disembark your Cruise to visit the Coconut Garden and drink fresh coconut there. Return to your cruise and head down the river to another visit – a local coconut processing operation.

From here, you will embark on a Bicycle trip around Huu Dinh village (approximately 4 kilometres). Then, you will stop at a brick-making factory, where locals still use centuries-old traditional methods to make bricks by hand.

After your visit, Cruises will transfer you to the other side of the river to take a rowing sampan.

Our team will paddle you through the maze of small canals to enjoy the natural beauty and tranquillity of Ben Tre province.

After about 15 minutes, we will arrive at Mrs Huong’s local house. Her family lives on fishing, shrimp trapping and farming.

Enjoy the tropical fruits and honey tea in her garden before getting on a tri-motor cycle (Xe Loi).

Enjoy the narrow village roads that navigate through the lush greenery and coconut palm trees.

After finishing the Xe Loi ride, return to your day cruiser as we will take you to Mango home restaurant to enjoy your 5-course lunch.

After your lunch, freshen up before switching to a bicycle and riding 500m, (approx. 4 minutes or 7-10 minutes’ walk) on village roads past green gardens and local houses.

First is Mr. Ba Tài’s house to learn the fascinating process of rice wine making. Lastly, a memorable visit to Mr. Sau Tuong, a former Vietcong soldier who survived two years fighting the Khmer Rouge in Phnom Penh. Today, he and his wife live on making rice paper which is the most famous specialty of My Long village. Have a chat with him and enjoy the crispy rice paper made by his wife and see how it is made.

15:30 – After the visit, walking to the main road where your car will be ready to take you back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 12 : Ho Chi Minh – Half day Cu Chi Tunnels by speed boat (Join in Tour) – Departure (B/L)

7:00 am: Early in the morning, our guide will meet you at your hotel’s lobby and bring you by car to our speedboat at Bach Dang pier.

7:20 am: Then you will depart Saigon by speedboat. Within 15 minutes, the banks of the river change from city sprawl to lush jungle. A light breakfast of sandwiches or pastries, fresh tropical fruits and Vietnamese iced coffee (Ca phe sua da) is served, as your guide explains rural traditions and aspects of riverbank life.

8:50 am: You will arrive at the Cu Chi Tunnels site before the majority of larger bus tours arrive. Watch a brief introductory ‘propaganda’ video to the Cu Chi area.

9:00 am: Explore the tunnel site, which includes weapon and booby trap exhibitions, navigating an authentic Viet Cong tunnel, visiting different underground bunkers (kitchens, meeting rooms, ammunitions etc.), a firing range and much more.

Try the local cassava root that sustained Viet Cong fighters for years.

11:00 am: Enjoy a delicious traditional Vietnamese lunch by the river, consisting of authentic fried spring rolls, chicken and beef dishes and soup.

11:30 am: Say goodbye to Cu Chi Tunnel and return to Ho Chi Minh City.

01:00 pm: Arrive back at Bach Dang’s pier.

Then you will transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your international flight home.