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

• Bangkok: A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations. There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers.
• Danang: 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: The currency used in Vietnam (that can buy you a wholesome, delicious bowl of Pho) is the Vietnamese dong (?).
• Danang: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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!
• Ha Giang Loop: Nope. We explore Ha Giang in style and safety using mini-coaches, overnight buses, local boats, plus hikes and kayaking. This way, you still see all the epic scenery without the risks of riding a motorbike. It’s adventure, comfort, and peace of mind all in one.

• 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:
  Step inside KOTO Restaurant  and enjoy a high-quality meal with a twist where you’re helping young, at-risk Vietnamese trainees sharpen their hospitality skills. KOTO (AKA  Know One, Teach One) is Vietnam’s first social enterprise, offering a 24-month free training program for disadvantaged youth, with a special focus on empowering women. 

  By eating here, you’re supporting more than just a meal. KOTO equips trainees with hospitality, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills, opening doors to long-term careers and breaking cycles of poverty. Each year, over 100 young people get a shot at realising their dreams—all while serving up delicious, expertly crafted dishes.

• 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.)
• 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.
• 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 Lung Ho French Fort – a beautiful stone structure built during the French colonisation.
• Du Già: Cool off with a dip in crystal-clear waters surrounded by jungle greenery, with nothing but the sound of rushing falls and birdsong echoing through the valley. Stunning.

Hike the Sky Path with a local guide towards Ma Pi Leng Peak. This short but challenging trek passes H’Mong villages and cornfields, with views of cascading limestone cliffs along the way.

Ma Pi Leng is among the Ha Giang Loop’s most dramatic mountain areas, and walking its high terrain offers a more immediate sense of the landscape than a roadside stop. Sturdy footwear is worthwhile for the climb and uneven path.

Trek to the ruins of Lung Ho French Fort to explore a stone structure associated with the colonial period in northern Vietnam. The walk adds an active historic visit to the mountain experiences of the Ha Giang Loop.

Standing among the remains offers a reminder that this remote-looking landscape has its own layered political history. The surviving stonework and elevated surroundings give the site a character distinct from the region’s villages, craft traditions and scenic passes.

Prepare up to four traditional Vietnamese dishes in an optional cooking class in Hoi An. Work hands-on with ingredients and techniques that bring the flavours of central Vietnam into sharper focus.

Hoi An’s food culture reflects its history as a trading port, while local cooking remains rooted in fresh herbs and carefully balanced flavours. The class offers a practical way to engage with that culinary heritage and enjoy the results of your work. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Contiki

Meet your travel companions at a hosted kickstart meeting in Ho Chi Minh City. Get acquainted with the group and hear what to expect from a journey spanning Vietnam’s cities, coast and northern mountains.

The gathering offers a welcoming introduction to a city still widely known as Saigon, where busy streets sit alongside landmarks shaped by French colonial rule and more recent history. It is a chance to put names to faces before exploring together.

Walk through central Ho Chi Minh City to see the Notre-Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office and Presidential Palace, also known as the Reunification Palace. The tour brings together some of the city’s most recognisable landmarks in one guided introduction.

Notice the contrast between French-era architecture and the palace associated with the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. Together, these sites offer a tangible way to understand the layers of history behind today’s fast-moving city.

Visit the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City for a sobering look at the Vietnam War and its lasting effects. Its exhibits include photographs, documents and military equipment that confront the human cost of conflict.

The museum gives particular attention to the experiences of Vietnamese civilians and the environmental consequences of the war. Some displays are confronting, but the visit offers important context for understanding the country’s recent history and the lives affected by it.

Explore Hoi An by bicycle with a local expert, visiting the Japanese Covered Bridge, a traditional ancient house and the central market. Riding through the town brings its historic streets, everyday trade and preserved architecture into close view.

Hoi An flourished as an international trading port from the 15th century, and its UNESCO-listed old town retains influences from Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese communities. The market adds a lively counterpoint to the quieter heritage buildings, with produce stalls and local voices filling the lanes.

Enjoy a meal at KOTO Restaurant in Hanoi, where young Vietnamese trainees develop practical hospitality skills while serving guests. The visit turns dining into direct support for a social enterprise with a long-standing role in the city.

KOTO stands for Know One, Teach One. Its training programme creates career opportunities for disadvantaged young people, including women, through hospitality education and workplace experience. The meal offers a meaningful connection to the people and purpose behind the restaurant.

Visit Hanoi’s Temple of Literature, a historic complex of courtyards, gates and pavilions dedicated to Confucius. Walk through a place closely associated with learning, scholarship and Vietnam’s long intellectual traditions.

Founded in 1070, the temple later became the setting for the Imperial Academy, often described as Vietnam’s first university. Its stone stelae record the names of successful scholars, lending a human scale to centuries of examinations and academic achievement.

See the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum at Ba Dinh Square, one of Hanoi’s most significant national landmarks. Learn why the resting place of Vietnam’s revolutionary leader draws visitors from across the country.

The surrounding square is closely tied to modern Vietnamese history: Ho Chi Minh proclaimed independence there in 1945. Seeing the mausoleum in its civic setting connects the story of one leader with the events that shaped the nation. Interior entry is not specified for this visit.

Climb roughly 500 steps to the Mua Cave viewpoint in Ninh Binh for sweeping views across the surrounding limestone landscape. The ascent is steep, but the elevated perspective makes the pattern of cliffs, fields and waterways clear.

Early light can bring soft colour to the valley and reveal why this region is sometimes called Ha Long Bay on land. Bring a camera and take time at the top to appreciate the scale of the karst scenery below.

Cruise Ha Long Bay aboard a Chinese-style junk boat and spend the night surrounded by its limestone islands. Watch forested cliffs rise from the Gulf of Tonkin as the boat passes sheltered waters, lagoons and grottoes.

The overnight stay lets you experience the bay beyond a brief sightseeing trip, including the changing light across the water as evening settles. A seafood dinner is part of the stay, bringing local coastal flavours to the setting rather than serving as a separate excursion.

Spend time on Ti Top Island, a small island amid the limestone scenery of Ha Long Bay. Step ashore from the boat and take in its sandy beach, turquoise water and close-up views of the surrounding karsts.

Named in honour of Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov, the island offers a different perspective from the boat’s deck. Its compact shoreline is a place to pause among the bay’s dramatic rock formations and appreciate their scale from the water’s edge.

Explore Sung Sot Cave, one of Ha Long Bay’s best-known limestone caverns. Walk through its spacious chambers to see stalactites, stalagmites and rock formations shaped over immense spans of time.

The cave’s Vietnamese name means Surprise Cave, a fitting description of the contrast between its modest entrance and expansive interior. As you move through the chambers, look for the imaginative shapes visitors have picked out in the stone, including the formation likened to a mammoth.

Travel the Ha Giang Loop by van, stopping to take in Heaven Gate, Quan Ba’s Twin Mountains and the winding Tham Ma slope. The route reveals steep valleys, limestone peaks and tightly curved mountain roads without requiring travellers to ride a motorbike.

Each viewpoint offers a distinct perspective on Vietnam’s far north: the paired green hills near Quan Ba, the high pass at Heaven Gate and the serpentine road at Tham Ma. Bring a camera for the broad mountain panoramas.

Visit the historic Vuong family palace in the Dong Van region of Ha Giang. Walk through its courtyards and rooms to examine the timber, stonework and tiled roofs of this former family residence.

Often called the H’Mong King’s Palace, the complex reflects the wealth and influence of the Vuong family in the early 20th century. Its blend of local building traditions and Chinese architectural details makes it a distinctive stop among the mountain landscapes of the loop.

Meet the women of the Lung Tam Linen Cooperative and see how H’Mong linen is made. Learn about the skilled stages involved in producing fabric, from preparing fibres to weaving and finishing the cloth.

This visit brings a living textile tradition into focus through the people working to preserve it. It also shows how craft skills can support livelihoods in Ha Giang’s mountain communities, giving a richer context to the handwoven fabrics seen across the region.

Cruise the Nho Que River by local boat and look up at the towering walls of Tu San Canyon. The journey offers a water-level view of the limestone landscape beneath the Ma Pi Leng area.

The river’s turquoise colour stands out against the steep rock faces and green slopes. A lunch with views of the Nho Que is also part of this experience, allowing time to take in the setting before continuing by boat towards the riverside campsite.

Kayak along the turquoise Nho Que River, paddling at your own pace through a landscape of mountains and cultivated slopes. From the water, take in the colours and contours that make this remote part of Ha Giang so distinctive.

Kayaking brings you closer to the river than the larger local boats used elsewhere on the trip. The quiet rhythm of paddling leaves room to notice the changing reflections, riverside greenery and high terrain surrounding the water.

Meet a local H’Mong musician and hear the qeej, a traditional reed-pipe instrument with a distinctive, layered sound. The encounter offers a chance to experience a musical tradition through a local performer rather than a recording or display.

The qeej holds cultural importance in H’Mong communities and has traditionally been associated with ceremonies and spiritual beliefs. Listening to it in the Ha Giang region adds a human dimension to a journey often defined by its mountain scenery.

Visit a waterfall near Du Gia, where clear water and jungle greenery create a refreshing pause in Ha Giang’s mountain landscape. There is an opportunity to cool off with a dip while taking in the sound of rushing water.

Du Gia’s valleys provide a gentler, greener contrast to the loop’s exposed limestone passes. The waterfall visit brings that side of the region into focus, with birdsong and flowing water replacing the sounds of the road.

Join an optional cruise from Nha Trang for time on the water along Vietnam’s central coast. It offers a different way to enjoy the seaside setting beyond the city’s sandy beaches.

Nha Trang is known for its broad bay and coastal atmosphere, making a boat outing a natural choice for travellers keen to see more than the beachfront. Specific cruise stops and onboard activities are not detailed in the itinerary. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Ride in a Vietnamese bamboo basket boat during an optional outing near Hoi An. The small, round craft offers a distinctive way to experience the waterways associated with the region’s coastal communities.

Known locally as thúng chai, basket boats have long been used by Vietnamese fishers. Their circular shape and low position on the water make the ride feel very different from a conventional boat trip. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Discover Hanoi after dark on an optional Vespa ride, with street-food stops amid the city’s illuminated evening streets. The outing combines local flavours with the energy of Vietnam’s capital at night.

Hanoi’s food scene comes alive around pavement kitchens and busy neighbourhood thoroughfares. Travelling by Vespa gives this experience a different pace from a daytime landmark visit, while the food stops offer a taste of the city’s everyday social life. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Cycle through villages near Van Long and cruise by sampan through Ninh Binh’s river landscape. This optional outing pairs time on local roads with a slower passage between wetlands and limestone formations.

The karst scenery has earned the region the nickname Ha Long Bay on land. From a small boat, its cliffs and greenery take on a different scale, while the cycle ride brings you closer to village life. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.