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Pick your Vietnam batch before, fly into Saigon, leave from Hanoi, and let us handle everything in between.
Your two flights between cities are already included. So are the 4 star hotels, a Ha Long Bay cruise, the entry fees and a trip captain. Several November and December batches are already marked Filling Fast. Pay the booking amount and your seat is held. Book now from ₹59,999 per person, plus 5% GST, or download the itinerary first.
What you get in 8 days
- Saigon: an evening walking tour and a night on Bui Vien Walking Street.
- Cu Chi Tunnels: crawl spaces that started at 60 to 120 cm wide.
- Da Nang and Hoi An: My Khe Beach, a basket boat ride and the lantern lit old town.
- Ba Na Hills: the Golden Bridge, 150 m long and held by two stone hands.
- Hanoi: the Old Quarter, Train Street and egg coffee.
- Ha Long Bay: a 5 to 6 hour day cruise with kayaking.
- Ninh Binh: Mua Cave and the Trang An boat ride.
Who it is for. Travellers aged 18 to 35. Come alone and you are paired with a same gender solo traveller. Come with friends and you skip all the planning. First time abroad? The team helps with your e visa, your transfers and your questions before you fly.
Why travellers book with The Travel Story. We have run groups since 2021, with 100+ batches a year and 2,300+ Google reviews at 4.8. A trip captain stays with your group all eight days.
Not the right fit? Compare before you decide.
- Shorter and cheaper: Vivid Vietnam, 5N/6D.
- Beaches and islands: Exotic Vietnam, with Phu Quoc.
- Six nights: Vietnam Backpacking, with new batches coming soon.
- Christmas or New Year: Vibrant Vietnam NY Special and Xmas and NY Special.
- Everything in one place: Vietnam group tour packages and all international trips.
Itinerary
Your guide and driver meet you at Tan Son Nhat and get you to your hotel in central Ho Chi Minh City in about 20 minutes. The airport sits roughly 7 km from District 1, which is the shortest airport-to-centre run of the whole trip.
At 5 pm we walk Saigon. Vietnamese food at the food court opposite the War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral from the outside, and Saigon Central Post Office, which Gustave Eiffel's firm had a hand in. The walk finishes at HCMC Town Hall and you head back to the hotel.
Around 11 pm we take the group to Bui Vien Walking Street. This is Saigon's backpacker strip and it does not slow down until 2 am. Come if you want to. Skip it if you have just done a six-hour flight. Nobody is counting.
Stay: Ho Chi Minh City. Meals: none included on arrival day.
After breakfast we drive 1.5 hours to Cu Chi. You get a short briefing and a film on how the network was dug and used, then you go into it. Living quarters, kitchens with the smoke channels, weapons workshops. Some sections are widened for visitors. Some are not.
Wartime food, tea and boiled cassava, is included. The AK-47 and M4 range is available and is paid separately on site.
In the evening we fly to Da Nang. Check in and sleep.
Stay: Da Nang. Meals: breakfast. Included flight: Ho Chi Minh to Da Nang.
Slow start. My Khe Beach in the morning, which is a 30 km stretch of sand on Da Nang's eastern edge and roughly a 10-minute ride from most central hotels.
In the evening we go to Hoi An. First the basket boat ride through the coconut palms, which is a round bamboo coracle the fishermen actually use and which the boatmen will spin if you ask them to. Then the ancient town: the old Phung Hung house, the covered market, the port.
After sunset the lanterns come on. You get free time to walk it yourself, eat cao lau, and get the photos everyone comes here for.
Stay: Da Nang. Meals: breakfast.
Out by 7 to 8 am. We check in at Suoi Mo cable car station and ride up to Marseille station.
The Golden Bridge is the one you have seen: a 150-metre walkway held up by two giant stone hands, at about 1,400 metres. Get there early, because by 11 am the queue for photographs is real.
Then the Lunar Castle, the funicular up to the French Village, Fantasy Park's rides, and King Peak. Back down by cable car and to the hotel.
Stay: Da Nang. Meals: breakfast. Note: Wax Museum, the cotton animal game and carnival skill games inside Fantasy Park are not included.
Early transfer to Da Nang airport and fly to Hanoi.
City tour starts around 5 pm on foot through the Old Quarter, a 36-street grid where each street historically sold one trade. Mural Street, then Train Street, where the track runs about a metre from the café tables and the trains still come through. You sit with an egg coffee and wait for it. Egg coffee is a Hanoi invention: whipped yolk, sugar and condensed milk over black coffee, from a time when milk was scarce.
Finish near Hoan Kiem Lake.
Stay: Hanoi. Meals: breakfast. Included flight: Da Nang to Hanoi.
Morning transfer to Halong. We board at Tuan Chau Harbour for a 5 to 6 hour cruise through a UNESCO bay with over 1,600 limestone islands.
On the water: Sung Sot (Surprising) Cave and its chambers, Ti Top Island where you can swim off the beach or climb to the viewpoint, and kayaking or bamboo boating through Luon Cave.
Tea or wine on the deck on the way back to harbour, then the drive to Hanoi.
Stay: Hanoi. Meals: breakfast and lunch on the cruise.
Pick-up from your Old Quarter hotel after breakfast, then out through rice country to Ninh Binh.
Mua Cave first: roughly 500 stone steps to the top for the view over the Tam Coc valley and the Hoa Lu region. It is a genuine climb. Take water.
Then Trang An by rowing boat. Two to three hours through Sang Cave, Toi Cave, Ba Giot and Nau Ruou, with the boatwoman rowing with her feet, which is a Ninh Binh thing you will not see elsewhere. Some cave ceilings are low enough that you duck.
Back to Hanoi for the night.
Stay: Hanoi. Meals: breakfast.
Breakfast, leisure time until check-out, then transfer to Noi Bai airport for your flight home. Noi Bai is about 25 km from central Hanoi, so allow an hour.
Meals: breakfast.
Other Info
What does the Vibrant Vietnam trip cost?
The trip costs ₹59,999 per person on double sharing, excluding taxes, plus 5% GST. TCS may also apply under Indian tax rules.
- This is a land package with internal flights. Your international flights are booked separately.
- Solo travellers are paired with a same gender solo traveller. A single room is available at an extra cost.
- Compare other Vietnam trips: Vivid Vietnam is shorter, and Exotic Vietnam adds Phu Quoc.
Where do you stay, and for how long?
You spend 7 nights in 4 star hotels on double sharing, split across three cities.
- Ho Chi Minh City: 1 night (Day 1)
- Da Nang: 3 nights (Days 2 to 4), with Hoi An as a day trip
- Hanoi: 3 nights (Days 5 to 7), with Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh as day trips
Hotels stay in one city for three nights, so you unpack twice, not every night. The ride to Hoi An, Ba Na Hills, Ha Long and Ninh Binh are all day trips.
What meals are included?
Seven breakfasts and one lunch are included. Other lunches and all dinners are at your own cost.
- Vietnamese food is built around herbs, noodles and broth. Vegetarian options exist. Tell your trip captain about dietary needs early.
- Try cao lau in Hoi An and egg coffee in Hanoi. Both fit into the free evening time.
How do I get to Vietnam, and which flights do I book?
Fly into Ho Chi Minh City on Day 1 and out of Hanoi on Day 8. Your international tickets are not included.
- Land at Tan Son Nhat airport by noon on Day 1. The airport is about 7 km from District 1, and the transfer to your hotel takes about 20 minutes.
- Book your return from Hanoi’s Noi Bai airport, about 25 km from central Hanoi. Allow about an hour for the transfer.
- Two internal flights are included: Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang on Day 2 (evening), and Da Nang to Hanoi on Day 5 (early morning transfer).
- A past traveller, Tushar, arrived a day early to get a cheaper flight. If fares look high for your batch, check the day before.
Do Indians need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Vietnam has no visa on arrival, and you need an e visa. It usually gets approved in about 7 working days.
- The Travel Story team helps with the application. You pay the government fee.
- Apply well ahead of your batch date, not in the last week.
- Keep your passport valid for at least 6 months from arrival, with two blank pages [CONFIRM, taken from our Vivid Vietnam page].
- Past traveller Shruti mentions the team’s help with her flights and visa in her review.
How active is the trip?
The pace is moderate. Most days start after breakfast, with a few early starts.
- Day 2: Cu Chi is a 1.5 hour drive, then an evening flight.
- Day 4: Leave by 7 to 8 am for Ba Na Hills, so you meet fewer crowds at the Golden Bridge.
- Day 5: Early transfer to the airport, then a city tour from 5 pm.
- Day 7: Climb about 500 stone steps at Mua Cave, then spend 2 to 3 hours on the Trang An rowing boat. Some cave ceilings are low, so you duck.
- You walk a lot in Hoi An and the Old Quarter. Wear comfortable shoes with grip.
- If you have a back or knee issue, tell us before you book. One past traveller with a back issue joined the trip with the team’s help.
Who is this trip for?
It is for travellers aged 18 to 35. That limit is fixed.
- Solo travellers who want a ready made group.
- First time international travellers who want help with the visa, flights between cities and transfers.
- Friends who don’t want to plan each day.
- A trip captain stays with the group through all eight days.
What should I carry, and what is the weather like?
Pack for warm, humid weather, plus one light layer.
- Light clothes, a light layer for evenings on the water and in Hanoi, and a rain jacket or umbrella.
- Shoes with grip for Mua Cave and Trang An, and sandals for the beach.
- Sunscreen, a hat and a reusable water bottle.
- Da Nang and Hoi An can see showers late in the year, so the rain jacket earns its place. The lantern streets look good either way.
- Our batches run from October through June, so you can match them to the weather you prefer.
How does money work in Vietnam?
The currency is the Vietnamese dong. Cards work at many restaurants and hotels.
- Keep cash for street food and markets.
- Plan for your own dinners and drinks, since only breakfasts and one lunch are included.
- Check with your bank about forex card use before you fly [CONFIRM if you want this line].
Will my phone work?
Yes. Wifi is widely available. A local SIM or international roaming works in the cities you visit.
What if the weather or the government cancels an activity?
Some activities can be cancelled because of weather or government restrictions. The team will try to offer an alternative, but no refund is provided for the cancelled activity. See the cancellation policy for how booking and cancellation charges work.
When are the batches?
Batches run weekly from 31 October through 3 July. Several November, December and January batches are marked Filling Fast on the booking list.
- Travelling over the holidays? See Vibrant Vietnam NY Special and the Xmas and NY Special.
- Want to bring a friend and save? Use Refer and Earn.
- Questions before booking? Contact us or read about The Travel Story.
Where to go next
See all Vietnam group tour packages, browse international trips, or look at Sri Lanka Backpacking.
- 7 nights in 4-star hotels on double sharing
- 2 internal flights: Ho Chi Minh to Da Nang, Da Nang to Hanoi
- All airport pick-ups and drop-offs as per group timing
- Day tours and inter-city transfers on a sharing basis
- Hanoi to Halong to Hanoi transfer
- 7 breakfasts
- 1 lunch on the Halong Bay cruise
- Cu Chi Tunnels day tour
- Hoi An ancient town tour
- Basket boat ride in the coconut forest at Cam Thanh
- Lantern Street walk
- Full-day Ba Na Hills with cable car and funicular: Golden Bridge, French Village, Fantasy Park rides
- Hanoi Old Quarter city tour
- Train Street and Hanoi Beer Street
- Halong Bay day cruise with lunch and kayaking
- Ninh Binh: Trang An boat ride and Mua Cave
- Bui Vien Street nightlife
- All entrance fees and sightseeing listed in the programme
- English-speaking local guides throughout
- The Travel Story trip captain with the group
- International travel insurance (cover table below)
- Tipping for guides and drivers
Stay and travel
Food
Experiences and entry fees
Support
- 5% GST on the package
- TCS as applicable under Indian tax rules
- International flights to Ho Chi Minh and out of Hanoi, and airport taxes
- Vietnam e-visa (we handle the application, the government fee is yours)
- Single occupancy supplement
- Early check-in and late check-out
- Drinks and personal expenses
- AK-47 and M4 shooting range at Cu Chi
- Wax Museum, cotton animal game and carnival skill games at Fantasy Park
- Anything not listed under inclusions
No Refund shall be made with respect to the initial booking amount for any cancellations. However,
- If cancellations are made 30 days before the start date of the trip, 50% of the trip cost will be charged as cancellation fees.
- If cancellations are made 15-30 days before the start date of the trip, 75% of the trip cost will be charged as cancellation fees.
- If cancellations are made within 0-15 days before the start date of the trip, 100% of the trip cost will be charged as cancellation fees.
- In the case of unforeseen weather conditions or government restrictions, certain activities may be cancelled and in such cases, the operator will try his best to provide an alternate feasible activity. However, no refund will be provided for the same.
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Testimonials
Shruti Muzumdar
I did Vietnam trip with The Travel story. Itinerary, locations, hotels were extremely nice, well thought. Shagufta from their team and Mohit were always available for help, queries in regards to booking flights, visa. Overall it was a pleasant trip.
Vibrant Vietnam
25 April, 2026
Tushar Jumani
Vietnam with The Travel Story was amazing trip, better than expected. Just make sure you need to plan to make most of exploration time. trip begins early in morning so be prepared, if you love to explore by yourself, already get the location planned. I had a wonderful trip to Vietnam, I visited a day early to explore and for cheap flights, I would suggest you the same, The Travel Story shared me the idea, probably the best thing.
Vibrant Vietnam
8 August, 2026
Abha Gupta
Had an amazing time on our Vietnam trip! I was honestly quite skeptical about joining initially because of my back issue and the fact that heavy lifting and certain activities were not advisable for me. I had discussed this with Aniket, who convinced me to go ahead with the trip and assured me that Kapil, our host, would make sure I was comfortable and help me throughout the journey. I also loved how the group truly lived by their motto “Travel with strangers, return with friends.” And that’s
Vibrant Vietnam
15 August, 2026
Uttam Bhattacharjee
Our Vietnam trip with The Travel Story was truly an unforgettable experience. From the beautiful destinations and amazing food to the fun, laughter, adventures, and wonderful people we met along the way, every moment turned into a memory that we will cherish for a long time. A very special shout-out to our Captain, Kapil! Vietnam trip was much more than just a holiday, it was an experience filled with friendship, laughter, adventure, and memories for a lifetime.
Vibrant Vietnam
15 August, 2026
