• 9 Breakfast (B)
• 3 Lunch (L)
• 1 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!

• 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. 
• 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’?

Prepare up to four traditional Vietnamese dishes in a hands-on cooking class in Hoi An. Work with familiar local flavours and techniques rather than simply ordering from a menu, with the chance to enjoy what you make.

Vietnamese cooking balances fresh herbs, savoury seasonings and contrasting textures, and regional kitchens give those ingredients their own character. This optional class offers a practical way to connect with that food culture. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Contiki

Explore central Ho Chi Minh City on a sightseeing tour taking in Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office and the Presidential Palace. See how colonial-era buildings and landmarks of modern Vietnamese history sit amid the city’s busy streets.

The cathedral’s red-brick exterior and the post office’s grand interior reflect French influence, while the palace is closely associated with the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. Together, these sights offer a vivid introduction to the city once known as Saigon.

Visit the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City for a sobering look at the Vietnam War and its aftermath. Photographs, documents and military equipment present the conflict through exhibitions focused on its effects on Vietnamese people.

This is a challenging but meaningful stop, offering context for the country’s recent history beyond the landmarks visible on a city tour. Some displays contain disturbing images; travellers may wish to approach the galleries at their own pace.

Cycle through Hoi An with a local expert, exploring the streets of its UNESCO-listed old town. See an ancient house and discover the tailor shops for which the town is known; you can discuss a custom garment if you wish, with purchases at your own expense.

Once a thriving trading port, Hoi An retains a distinctive mix of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and European influences. Its preserved buildings and lanes make a rewarding setting for a closer look at everyday life and centuries of exchange.

Dine at KOTO Restaurant in Hanoi, where your included meal supports a training programme for disadvantaged young Vietnamese people. The restaurant gives trainees practical hospitality experience while serving thoughtfully prepared food.

KOTO stands for Know One, Teach One. Founded as a social enterprise, it helps young people build skills and pursue careers in hospitality. Eating here offers a direct connection to that work: the service is part of the trainees’ learning, and your meal helps sustain the opportunity.

Explore Hanoi’s Temple of Literature, a historic complex of courtyards and traditional architecture dedicated to Confucius. Walk through a place long associated with scholarship, ceremonial learning and respect for teachers.

Founded in the 11th century, the temple became home to the Imperial Academy, often described as Vietnam’s first university. Its stone stelae record the names of successful scholars, giving a tangible sense of how deeply education shaped the country’s cultural life.

Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum area in Hanoi’s Ba Dinh Square and see the monumental resting place of Vietnam’s revolutionary leader. The itinerary identifies this landmark visit but does not specify entry inside the mausoleum.

Ba Dinh Square is where Ho Chi Minh proclaimed Vietnam’s independence in 1945. The broad ceremonial space and austere granite structure convey the importance of that event in the nation’s modern history.

Climb approximately 500 steps to the viewpoint above Mua Cave in Ninh Binh. From the ridge, look out across rice fields, waterways and the steep limestone formations that define this part of northern Vietnam.

The ascent is the experience here: it rewards a steady climb with a wide view over the karst landscape, especially striking in the early light. Bring comfortable shoes and a camera; the steps are steep, and conditions can feel warm and humid.

Cruise Halong Bay aboard a Chinese-style junk boat and spend the night surrounded by limestone islands in the Gulf of Tonkin. Watch forested cliffs and sheltered lagoons pass from the deck as the boat moves through the bay.

The overnight stay makes room for a different perspective on this UNESCO-listed seascape: changing light across the water, a fresh seafood dinner aboard and views from the boat at its evening mooring. It is both a cruise and the tour’s distinctive accommodation experience.

Spend time on Ti Top Island during the Halong Bay cruise. Step ashore for a pause beside the water, with the island’s sandy beach and the bay’s limestone formations around you.

This stop brings the scenery closer than a view from the boat alone. Enjoy the island atmosphere, take photographs or simply watch the junks crossing the water. Beach conditions and opportunities to swim depend on the weather and local arrangements.

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

Also called Surprise Cave, this stop reveals another side of the bay’s karst landscape: the geological formations hidden inside the islands. Its scale and varied rock shapes make it a striking contrast to the open-water views of the junk-boat cruise.

Ride in a bamboo basket boat during your time in Hoi An. These small, round boats offer an unusual way to experience the area’s waterways and get a closer look at a traditional Vietnamese craft.

Basket boats have long been used by coastal fishing communities; their woven form makes them immediately recognisable. The ride is an optional chance to see the boat’s distinctive shape and handling firsthand. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

See Hanoi after dark from the back of a bike on an optional city tour. Experience the streets at night, when illuminated shopfronts and the flow of evening traffic bring a different energy to the capital.

The ride offers a perspective distinct from exploring on foot during the day, placing you amid the sounds and movement of Hanoi’s nightlife. Specific stops are not listed in the itinerary. This tour is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Cycle through villages around Van Long in Ninh Binh, then board a sampan for a river cruise through its limestone scenery. The combination lets you take in rural life from the paths and the landscape from water level.

Van Long is known for its wetlands and karst formations, part of the scenery that has earned the region its nickname, ‘Halong Bay on land’. Keep watch for birds along the quieter waterways. This adventure is at additional cost and bookable on tour.