Vietnam Experience | with Ha Giang Loop

What's Included

• Accommodation

  Accommodation is provided at various hotels, homestays, and special stays such as a junk boat in Halong Bay and camping by the Nho Que River.

• Meals

  The tour includes 14 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 4 dinners.

• Transport

  Transport includes an overnight train, an overnight bus, and internal flights.

• Included Experiences

  Experiences such as visiting the Mekong River Delta, exploring the Cu Chi Tunnels, and a boat cruise in Halong Bay are included.

What's Not Included

• Visa Requirements

  Visa requirements are not included and must be arranged by the traveler.
  
  

• Optional Activities

  Optional activities such as a mineral mud bath in Nha Trang and a Vietnamese cooking class in Hoi An are not included.
  
  

• Personal Expenses

  Personal expenses such as shopping and additional meals are not included.
  
  

• Travel Insurance

  Travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers.
  
  

Mode of Transport

Travel through Vietnam with a mix of traditional boats, overnight trains, and internal flights. Enjoy scenic drives, an overnight bus, and a local jeep ride, offering a diverse and immersive transportation experience throughout the tour.

Accommodation

Experience a variety of accommodations including the Vien Dong Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Bay Thoi Homestay in the Mekong Delta, and the Qualia De Hotel in Hoi An. Enjoy unique stays like an overnight train, a junk boat in Halong Bay, and riverside camping at Nho Que River.

Dining Summary

• 14 Breakfast (B)
• 7 Lunch (L)
• 4 Dinner (D)

FAQs

• Danang: Do I need a visa to enter Vietnam? Your visa requirements can change according to your citizenship (and also according to the length and purpose of your visit). Generally, most of our travellers need to apply for an e-visa prior to arrival in Vietnam. But we always recommend that you check out our visa guide for accurate information.
• Danang: What is the best time to visit Vietnam? Vietnam is wonderful to visit year-round. But the best time to visit depends on what you wanna do, and where in Vietnam you wanna go.Generally, April & May are thought to be the best months to visit Vietnam because of the beautifully bright weather. Between December and March is a slightly cooler period. So if hiking, or city-dwelling is what you want, that’s the best time to visit. And if you wanna avoid the crowds, off-season tends to be between April and June or September to November.
• Danang: What is the currency used in Vietnam? The currency used in Vietnam (that can buy you a wholesome, delicious bowl of Pho) is the Vietnamese dong (?).
• Danang: What is the local food like in Vietnam? Planning to visit Vietnam to taste all the wholesome flavours? Aren’t we all?You’ll find plenty of street food stop-offs, serving up freshly made gems including rice, noodle and battered pancake-based dishes, plus the world-famous Pho. Pork is a common feature of Vietnamese cuisine. Generally, Vietnamese food isn’t too spicy (except if your dish has fresh chillies in it!) Oh, and the best thing about the food here? It’s very very cheap.
• Danang: How much money should I budget for on this trip? When you travel with Contiki, your accommodation, in-country transport and breakfasts are all included with the cost of your trip. So when it comes to budgeting, you only need to worry about your shopping! Luckily, Vietnam is heralded as an extremely affordable tourist destination too. As a rough guide, you should easily get by on US $50-80 a day.
• Danang: What should I wear in Vietnam? We’ll be visiting some traditional tourist hotspots - so don’t forget to keep your shoulders covered (it's customary in Vietnam, and will probably be insisted). For all that beach exploration, it’s generally acceptable for tourists to dress in the swimwear of their choice.Vietnam tends to get very hot & humid, so make sure you pack lots of loose-fitting clothes made from a lightweight and breathable material. Big up the baggy shirts!
• Danang: What is the etiquette for tipping in Vietnam? Tipping is pretty common in Vietnam’s tourism and hospitality sectors. Usually you’ll pay 10% of the total bill, which will amount to roughly $1-5.
• Danang: Where multiple optionals are offered in one day, can I do them all or do I have to pick just one? On some days, the Free Time Add-Ons will be during different times. So you’ll be able to do them all! But on some days, you might have to pick just one. Don’t worry, your Trip Manager will do their best to manage all of this for you, and will be able to give you all the details you might need.
• Danang: What are the luggage restrictions? You can bring one bag or suitcase of 73cm x 50cm x 25cm (29” x 20” x 10”), with a max weight of 20kg (44lbs) – plus one piece of hand luggage suitable as a carry-on for flights. Since our trips have included flights, your luggage needs to meet the weight & security restrictions imposed by airlines. On this trip, it’s necessary to use an overnight bag on the occasional nights when it’s not possible to access your luggage (overnight trips to Special Stays). It’s a good idea to bring an overnight bag, or hand luggage that’s big enough to double up as an overnighter when needed.
• Danang: Do we visit the Golden Hands Bridge in Da Nang? Currently, the Golden Hands Bridge isn’t included on our itinerary. But that means, you get a free day to explore Hoi An - which you REALLY don’t wanna miss out on.The Bridge is part of a theme park called ‘Sun World Ba Na Hills’ and is about a 2-hour drive away from where we stay in Hoi An (and tends to be incredibly crowded!). But if you really wanna visit the bridge, you can always ask your Trip Manager who’ll sort it out for you!

Included Experience

• Mekong River Delta: Grab your buddies and take a shot at catching an elephant ear fish for dinner. FYI: it tastes better than it looks.
• Mekong River Delta: Watch and learn as local craftspeople make rice wine, tea, sweets and more local delicacies.
• Ho Chi Minh City: Brave this subterranean world. The hand-dug tunnels were built by the Viet Cong to hide out during the war.
• Ho Chi Minh City: Tick off all of the landmarks on your bucket list – Notre Dame Cathedral, General Post Office and the Presidential Palace.
• Ho Chi Minh City: A meaningful reminder of the atrocities of the Vietnam War and its impact on local people and wildlife.
• Ho Chi Minh City: Passports at the ready folks.
• Hoi An: This 15th century port and UNESCO site is best explored on two wheels with a local expert. Don’t forget your Go-Pro!
• Da Nang: Next stop, Hanoi. But before we hit the streets, it’s time to hit the sky one more time.
• Hanoi: Gorge on a delicious, high-quality meal crafted by trainees looking to fine-tune their hospitality skills. The KOTO Community provides guidance, training and career prospects to the underprivileged young people of Vietnam.
• Hanoi: Listen up culture-lovers. This shrine – dedicated to ancient philosopher Confucius – is known as ‘Vietnam’s first university’.
• Hanoi: Take a look at the resting place of Vietnamese revolutionary leader and President Ho Chi Minh. This is where he, along with his party, declared the independence of Vietnam.
• Ninh Binh: Cool tropical breeze. Lush-green landscapes. And an unforgettable view of the sunrise over the shimmery silhouette.
• Halong Bay: Grab your new BFFs and hang out in this mini paradise. The powdery sand and turquoise waters will bless you with #islandvibes
• Halong Bay: The best way to drift off into dreamy sleep? Drifting along the Gulf of Tonkin in a traditional Chinese-style Junk Boat, of course!
• Halong Bay: Yet another work of art from Mother Nature. These huge underground caves are made for exploring. But can you spot the ‘mammoth’?
• Ha Giang Loop: Check out the incredible views from Heaven Gate - a popular stop off on the Ha Giang loop.
• Ha Giang Loop: Stop by to get a view of the winding roads that resemble a massive snake making its way down the slope!
• Ha Giang Loop: Walk like a royal around this ancient palace that's made with green pebbles, pine woods, terra-cotta tiles and even sugarcane! (Seriously.)
• Ma Pi Leng Peak: Lace up your boots! You'll take a challenging but short trek towards the Ma Pi Leng peak, passing by H'mong villages on the way.
• Nho Que: Feast on a delicious lunch with incredible views of the Nho Que river. It's a photo ops hotspot!
• Nho Que: Go with the flow on a local boat cruise as you check out one of South Asia's largest canyons.
• Nho Que: Paddle through the turquoise waters of this beautiful river with views of scenic rice fields and mountains along the way.
• Dong Van: Ever heard of a Qeej? It's a sacred instrument that was used to call the spirits (or at least that's what the legends say!). Today's your chance to witness a local man playing it.
• Dong Van: Ready? We'll trek all the way up to ruins of the Dong Can fortress - a beautiful stone structure built during the French colonisation. It's the perfect spot for epic 360° views of Dong Van town.
• Dong Van: Meet the incredible women at the Lung Tam Linen Cooperative who are working to preserve the craft of H'mong linen weaving. You'll see all the complicated stages of weaving, learn how they make high-quality fabric here and support local communities too.

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