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Vietnam is a vast country. From the most southern tip it is 1650 kilometers to the northern border with China. To see most of the many interesting places, take our 21 day tour which runs from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) in the south, to Hanoi in the North. For those who want a shorter Vietnam experience, we offer the first leg of the tour as a 10 day alternative.
The 10 day tour is identical to the itinerary of the first 10 days of the 21 day tour. This tour will take you from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) to Hoi An.
(For departure from and arrival in Hoi An, the international airport of Da Nang (the 3rd largest airport in Vietnam) is conveniently located 45 min from Hoi An.)
Day 1 & 2 – Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)
Day 1 & 2 – Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)
Our vegan travel to Vietnam starts on the morning of the first day. If you have not spent the night in our group hotel, you are expected to arrive there no later than 09.00 am for an introduction and to meet your fellow travelers.
It is up to you when you want to arrive in Vietnam. If you want to arrive a few days before the tour starts, we will gladly help you to arrange a hotel room for you.
After a brief introduction, we will start exploring the city on foot. The official name of the city was changed to Ho Chi Minh City in 1976, but most people still call it Saigon. The city center itself is actually still called Saigon. You can see plenty of evidence for this on signs all around the city.
Saigon has an ideal layout to explore on foot. It is a city of contrasts: you can wander through beautiful lanes and avenues with colonial French architecture but also explore flashy skyscrapers and luxury malls. However, most people in Saigon use mopeds as their main mode of transportation. The large numbers of cars, mopeds, scooters and pedestrians present a particular challenge when you want to cross the street.
If you want to join us for lunch, we have selected a nice restaurant with great vegan food. You are of course free to choose your own location.
The second day in Saigon is a free day, for you to spend however you want. If needed, your tour leader can recommend interesting places to visit (temples, parks, malls, museums, etc.). If you want to visit places further away from the city center, you can use a taxi or public bus.
Don't forget to join an ad hoc karaoke session on a street corner!
Day 3 – Mekong Delta
Day 3 – Mekong Delta
Today we make our way South toward the Mekong Delta, the so called 'rice bowl' of Vietnam. In this most densely populated part of Vietnam you can discover the numerous waterways, canals and streams by boat.
Everywhere you look, there are fields full of vegetables, which are sold on one of the many floating markets. At the end of the day we will return to Saigon.
Day 4 – Saigon
Day 4 – Saigon
Today you have some extra free time in Saigon. You can roam the streets, buy souvenirs on Ben Thanh market or visit a water park instead. There is so much to see in Saigon.
Day 5 & 6– Nha Trang
Day 5 & 6– Nha Trang
We will drive a few hours on a nice bus to get to Nha Trang, the beach capital of Vietnam. The remainder of the day and the next day are for you to enjoy at leisure. You will find kilometers of beaches, a turquoise sea, palm trees and an impressive shore-front with numerous restaurants, clubs and resorts.
The inland streets house an array of fine restaurants including a number of vegan restaurants. You can either spend your time relaxing on the beach, take a mud bath in a luxurious spa or take a nice long walk on the beach. Our hotel is not far from the beach.
Day 7 – Quy Nhon
Day 7 – Quy Nhon
We will continue our way further North and spend the night in Quy Nhon, a prosperous seaside city with a great sandy beaches. The beaches here are as impressive as in Nha Trang, but without the crowds.
Day 8 & 9 & 10 – Hoi An
Day 8 & 9 & 10 – Hoi An
Another bus ride and we arrive in Hoi An, a graceful and beautiful old town with a beautifully restored (with help of UNESCO) old town. Hoi An has a very large culinary variety and there are plenty of vegan restaurants to enjoy a nice meal. If you are interested in joining a cooking class (vegan, of course), this is the place to do it. There is much to see and do in Hoi An, so we will spend two full days here. In the old town you can find numerous Chinese merchant houses, ancient temples, houses and of course art centers and boutiques. Take a bicycle and just roam around, or follow one of the designated routes.
Travelers who have booked the 10 day tour, will leave the group on day 10. It is only a short ride to the International Airport in Da Nang, the 3rd largest airport in Vietnam.
Day 11 & 12 – Hue
Day 11 & 12 – Hue
The city of Hue is only a few hours north of Hoi An. Once the political capital of Vietnam, it houses the beautiful Citadel, located on the Perfume River.
In Hue you will find rather a mixture of traditional and modern day buildings, temples, pagodas and palaces. Take time to explore the city center and Citadel on foot, or take a bicycle to get further away. You will find some nice temples and pagodas along the Perfume River.
Day 13 & 14 – Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park
Day 13 & 14 – Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park
From Hue it is a few hours drive to Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, which houses the larges cave systems on the planet. The largest cave of them all, Son Doong, was only discovered in 2009. En route, we visit the Vinh Moc tunnel complex, where you can experience life in the tunnels during wartime.
Finally, we arrive in the small town of Phong Nha. It is a little off the beaten track and does not offer all the amenities that the tourist hot spots do, but it is certainly worth visiting. There are plenty of activities to do here. You can visit one of the many caves (of course), do a jungle trekking or stroll or cycle around to discover the natural beauty of the landscape. The national park, which borders on the country of Laos, houses the oldest karst mountains in Asia.
Day 15 & 16 – Tam Coc
Day 15 & 16 – Tam Coc
Our bus will take us to Tam Coc, where we arrive in the afternoon. In the town center you can hire a little boat (driver included) to take you on a beautiful tour. The boats are powered by people who paddle with their feet (so they have their hands free to update their Facebook page).
Day 17 - Endangered Primate Rescue Center
Day 17 - Endangered Primate Rescue Center
Today is reserved for a visit to the Endangered Primate Rescue Center in Cuc Phuong National Park, where you can do some volunteer work, if you like. We take a special tour around the park where a park ranger explains all activities to us. After this, you can even help prepare food for the primates or do other chores around the park.
Day 18 & 19 – Hanoi
Day 18 & 19 – Hanoi
After just a few hours on the bus, we will reach the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi. Opposed to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi has a more traditional and authentic atmosphere. The skyline is certainly not dominated by flashy high-rise buildings. The atmosphere is relaxed and it is a great city to explore on foot.
In the afternoon on day 18, you can enjoy a walking tour around the city center during which you will visit interesting sites and soak up the atmosphere. The next day will be free for you to enjoy. There is plenty to choose from, depending on what you are interested in.
Day 20 – Halong Bay
Day 20 – Halong Bay
In the morning, a comfortable coach will take us to the boat pier for an amazing cruise through Halong Bay, a unique and spectacular World Heritage site with thousands of limestone islands and rocks rising up from the sea. Consequently, we stop along the way for a swim or to explore a cave. Lunch is included in this trip and will be served on the boat. Finally, at the end of this exciting day, we will make out way back to the hotel in Hanoi.
Day 21 – Hanoi
Day 21 – Hanoi
This is the final day of our vegan travel to Vietnam. You can use it to visit the sights you have missed out on, or to buy those last minute souvenirs. Depending on the timing of your departing flight, you can make your way to the airport or enjoy the rest of your time in Hanoi.
Note: In the event of unforeseen circumstances, for example an upcoming typhoon, a broken bus or delayed train, it is possible that the travel program must be adjusted. The final decision will be made by the tour leader.
What is Included
What is Included
Included
Included
21 Day Tour
- Transport according to program
- 20 Overnight stays
- All breakfasts
- Dutch+English+German speaking tour leader
- A local, English speaking guide
- Boat trip on Halong Bay (including lunch)
- Visit and entrance to the Endangered Primate Rescue Center
- Walking tour in Saigon
- Boat trip on the Mekong Delta
- Walking tour in Hanoi
10 Day Tour
- 9 Overnight stays
- All breakfasts
- English speaking tour leader (German,Dutch, French possible)
- A local, English speaking guide
- Walking tour in Saigon
- Boat trip on the Mekong Delta
Not included
Not included
- International flights
- Meals (unless mentioned) (we WILL direct you to vegan restaurants)
- Entrance fees (unless specifically mentioned)
- Visa for Vietnam (if applicable)
- Travel insurance (mandatory)
- Cancellation insurance (optional)
- Spending money*
- Tips**
*For spending money you should count on an average of € 125,- per person per week. In this amount are included costs for food and drinks, entrance fees, additional excursions and personal tips. Souvenirs are not included in this amount as this very much depends on the person.
**Tipping in Vietnam is common and often a necessary part of peoples income. For common expenses such as tipping in hotels and our bus driver and guide, a joint pot will be used for which a contribution is requested from all participants. For this 21 day tour to Vietnam this will be € 40,-, for the 10 day tour this will be € 20,-. When you are satisfied with your tour leader, a tip is very much appreciated.
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