Savor Vietnam’s rich cultural history, lush landscapes, and electrifying flavors
See Vietnam’s unique makeup unfold before your eyes as you tour Hanoi’s prismatic French, Chinese, and Southeast Asian heritage before cruising between the colossal cliffs of Hạ Long Bay. You'll experience the timeless charm of Vietnam in Huế and Hội An, where ancient imperial grandeur meets lantern-lit streets, offering a journey through history and culture. Trace the steps of Vietnamese independence in Hô Chi Minh City—Vietnam's largest city—still known as Saigon to locals and travelers. Along the way, you’ll examine Vietnam War era sites, traverse verdant rice fields, and learn about Vietnamese traditions—like pearl farming—all while treating your taste buds to the spicy, tangy, sweet, and herbal complexity of Vietnamese cuisine. Extend your trip to tropical Phú Quốc and experience island life like no other—with flavors you won’t find anywhere else—before diving into colorful, dense coral reefs on a snorkeling cruise.
Your tour package includes
9 nights in handpicked hotels
1 night aboard a cruise ship
10 breakfasts
4 lunches
4 dinners with beer or wine
1 cooking demonstration
1 tasting
11 sightseeing tours
Expert Tour Director & local guides
Private deluxe motor coach
2 on-tour flights
Included highlights
Temple of Literature
Hỏa Lò Prison
Hạ Long Bay cruise
Hôi An’s Japanese covered bridge
Rice farm visit
Huê Imperial City
RENEW Mine Action Visitors Center
War Remnants Museum
Cù Chi tunnels
Itinerary
Overnight Flight1 night
Day 1: Travel day
Board your flight to Hanoi today.
Hanoi3 nights
Day 2: Arrival in Hanoi
Welcome to Vietnam! Transfer to your hotel to settle in. If you need an invigorating pick-me-up, remember that Vietnamese coffee, or cà phê, is typically brewed strong and sweetened with condensed milk.
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.
This convenient located hotel sits in the heart of Hanoi. Guests enjoy the fitness center, sun terrace, and spacious rooms. Nearby you'll find the Imperial Citadel, the Hanoi Temple of Literature, and te Vietnam Military...
Paradise Cruise
This tasteful hotel is located in Halong Bay. Guests enjoy internet access, a spa, and a sundeck.
La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa
This luxury boutique resort is located amongst the peaceful rice fields of Hoi An. Guests enjoy the outdoor infinity pool, a number of on-site restaurants, and complimentary bicycle rentals. Nearby you'll find the Museum of...
White Lotus Resort
This new luxury hotel is located in the city center of Hue, Vietnam. Guests enjoy the rooftop pool, the Lotus Spa, and several on-site food offerings. Nearby you’ll find Dong Ba Market, the Chieu Ung Pagoda, and the Ho Chi Minh...
Paragon Saigon Hotel
This modern hotel is located in the center of Hô Chi Minh City. Guests enjoy the outdoor rooftop pool, fitness center, and on-site restaurant that blends Asian and Western cuisines using local and sustainable ingredients....
Dusit Princess Moonrise Beach Resort
This charming hotel is located on the west coast of Phú Quốc. Guests enjoy the outdoor pools, private beach area, and fitness center. Nearby you’ll find the Coi Nguon Museum, the Sim Sơn Phú Quốc nature reserve, and several...
Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.
Add our airfare and you’ll get:
Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
In order to enter Vietnam, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of return.
We recommend having at least three blank passport pages for entry stamps.
U.S. and Canadian passport holders must obtain a visa to enter Vietnam. You must obtain your Vietnam visa in advance by purchasing an electronic visa on the Vietnam Immigration Department, by applying directly to the Vietnamese consulate, or by using a visa provider, such as our partner company, VisaCentral.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country's consulate for your specific entry requirements.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirementsand searching the code VET.
On this guided tour, you’ll walk for about 3 hours daily across uneven terrain, including paved roads, dirt paths, and stairs.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own luggage at times, as well as getting in and out of small boats.
Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Hanoi and depart from Hô Chi Minh City. A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
A one-night Hạ Long Bay cruise and other small boat rides, as well as flights from Hanoi to Da Nang and Huế to Hô Chi Minh City, are included in the price of your tour.
A round-trip flight between Phú Quốc and Hô Chi Minh City is included in the price of the tour extension.
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
Waterproof shoes or sandals, a swimsuit, sunscreen, and insect repellent are recommended for outdoor activities.
Binoculars are handy for a closer look at local wildlife and scenery.
A small bottle of hand sanitizer may be helpful when other facilities are not readily available while on the road.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
It is preferable not to visit temples or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
Please be sure to take proper care with sun exposure as the sun can be especially strong in some of the areas you are visiting.
Temperatures in this region can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius), especially during the summer months. Drinking plenty of water, limiting your alcohol intake, and using proper sun protection is extremely important in order to prevent the effects of dehydration and heat stroke.
There are inherent risks associated with water activities, particularly for those with pre-existing medical conditions. Discuss your planned activities with your doctor or healthcare provider for the best advice on participation.
Drink bottled water only. Refrain from drinking tap water, including when brushing your teeth.
Avoid eating fresh fruits and vegetables unless they are cooked or washed in clean water and peeled.
Bring a small first aid kit, including antacids, anti-diarrhea medication, motion sickness medication, and any prescription medications in your carry-on bag.
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour and any possible delays encountered.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to your departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirementsand searching the code VET.
Flavorful Vietnamese cuisine relies on mint, coriander, cinnamon, ginger, lime, lemongrass, and Thai basil. Foods are cooked minimally, from lightly grilled meats to blanched vegetables. Seafood is popular, usually flavored with ginger, as are chicken, duck, and pork. Don’t miss dishes like spicy beef noodle soup and bánh mì, a baguette stuffed with paté, cold cuts, and pickled vegetables.
Vietnam operates on 230 volts and uses Types A, E, or F plugs with two flat pins, two round pins, or three round pins, respectively.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
The strength of the air conditioning in Asian hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.
Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.
Vietnam is 11 hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
When it’s 9am in New York, it’s 8pm the same day on tour.
You will use the Vietnamese dong in on tour.
Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $10USD to $12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
Tips can only be paid in cash.
Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour.
Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for excursions.
Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information.
