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Hanoi to Bangkok
Small-group tour – maximum of 16
Includes:
- 15 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
- Transport via boat, motorbike, overnight sleeper train, plane, private minibus, taxi, sampan and tuk-tuk
- Accommodation: Hotel (15 nights), overnight boat (1 night), overnight sleeper train (1 night)
With Special Experiences:
- Sail through Ha Long Bay’s limestone karsts and island caves, visit a centre that turns the bay’s discarded trash into treasures and spend the night checking out the stars on an overnight cruise.
- Travel like a local on a motorbike tour, riding pillion and taking in the historical pagodas, bridges and villages of Hue.
- Watch the sun rising over Angkor Wat as it did over 800 years ago and wander through the ancient temples on a guided tour. With a three-day Angkor pass to cover your whole time in Siem Reap, you can explore this incredible temple complex as much and as often as you like.
- Discover the countryside around Battambang on a bike ride around rural farms to meet with local producers, through an Intrepid partner and social enterprise that supports the local communities.
- Experience life on water on a boat tour visiting the floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake and understand the deep bond between the late and the local communities.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Hanoi
- Xin chao! Welcome to Hanoi. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm at your hotel, followed by a group dinner at KOTO restaurant – this organisation is dedicated to developing the hospitality careers of disadvantaged youth. If you arrive early, there’s plenty to see and do in this gorgeous city. You could book the Hanoi Street Food Experience with Urban Adventures and sample some delicious Vietnamese cuisine like a true local, or chill by Hoan Kiem Lake. Maybe wander the Old Quarter to admire the city’s French architecture and shopping streets, then grab a cold beer and a Bahn mi on a bustling street corner.
Accommodation Hotel (1 night)
Meals Dinner Included activities Hanoi - KOTO dinner
Optional activities Hanoi - Women's Museum - VND30000 Hanoi - Museum of Ethnology - VND40000 Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex - VND80000 Hanoi - Hanoi Street Food Experience Urban Adventure - USD39 Hanoi - Ninh Binh Mini Adventure (TVAN) - USD355 Hiking in Sapa (TVAG) - USD432
Special information It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place. To book an Urban Adventure before you meet your trip leader, go to https://www.urbanadventures.com/en/hanoi If you’re thinking of arriving a few days early to explore Northern Vietnam, check out our Ninh Binh Mini Adventure (TVAN) for an off-the-beaten-path discovery of Pu Long and Ninh Binh. Or you can try our Hiking In Sapa (TVAG) for dramatic mountain landscapes, crisp fresh air and colourful hilltribes.
Day 2: Halong Bay
- Travel by private minibus to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay, which is dotted with sandy coves, grottoes and 1600 limestone islands, formed over millennia by wind and water erosion. Board a private boat and cruise the bay, exploring Surprise Cave and Ti Top Island Beach. If you like, you can also take on an optional kayaking tour of the bay and see the gorgeous natural scenery from a different perspective. Spend your evening aboard the boat beneath the night sky, watching as the stars come out and maybe grab a drink at the restaurant bar, getting to know your fellow travellers a little better.
Accommodation Overnight boat (1 night)
Meals Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Included activities Halong Bay - Overnight Boat Cruise Halong Bay - Cave entry
Optional activities Halong Bay - Kayaking Tour - VND250000
Special information Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours. Your wooden junk-style boat has twin-share cabins with air-conditioning and private facilities. There's also a dining room and bar to enjoy lunch, dinner and breakfast. Access to Surprise Cave is via staircases. Once inside the cave, the pathways are a little uneven and slippery. Kayaking and swimming is restricted to designated zones within the bay. There are restrictions on the number of boats that are permitted to stay in the bay overnight, sometimes resulting in a shortage. To ensure all Intrepid travellers can enjoy the experience of a night on the water, occasionally you will stay on a larger boat (with approximately 12 cabins) and share your boat with another group. Or your group may be split across different vessels, in which case an Intrepid group leader will be present on each boat. The route taken and inclusions on board will remain the same.
Day 3: Hanoi - Overnight train
- Wake up on the waters of Ha Long Bay and maybe watch the sunrise as the eagles soar overhead. Then, you’ll visit The Green Life Centre, which is committed to turning the bay’s trash into treasure by collecting discarded items and skilfully turning them into handicrafts. Meet the team behind this important cause and learn how to transform rubbish into a reusable bag, a scrunchie or a makeup case. After return to Hanoi by bus. Arrive late this afternoon and enjoy a free afternoon until tonight’s train voyage. Be sure to grab a bowl of pho while you’re in town and slurp down this local specialty made from broth, noodles and meat. Maybe chill by Hoan Kiem Lake until you board an overnight train to Hue this evening.
Accommodation Overnight sleeper train (1 night)
Meals Breakfast
Included activities Halong Bay - The Green Life Visit
Special information Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours, then approximately 12 hours on your overnight train. Shared day use hotel rooms are arranged in Hanoi if you would like to freshen up before the overnight train (one room for every six group members). Sleeper trains typically have four or six berth compartments with bench seats that convert into sleeping bunks. A sheet, pillow and blanket are provided, although some travellers prefer to bring their own sleeping sheet. Depending on the configuration of the group, you may need to share with people of different genders or passengers who aren’t part of the group. Your leader will coordinate this and give further information about the train.
Day 4: Hue
- Arrive in Hue this morning and transfer to your hotel. Once the imperial capital of Vietnam, Hue holds the treasures of the country’s royal past. Enjoy free time in the morning to rest or explore – you could check out the bustling Dong Ba Market to sample some of the specialties that once graced the Nguyen emperors' tables. Reunite with the group to visit the war-damaged ruins of the Imperial Citadel – a sprawling city-within-a-city which contains the remains of temples, state houses and the emperor’s palace.
Accommodation Hotel (1 night)
Meals There are no meals included on this day.
Included activities Hue - Imperial City entrance and guided visit
Day 5: Hue
- See Hue like a local today – from the back of a motorbike! Straddle the saddle and whiz around town with a local guide, taking in historic and contemporary sights along the way. Stop at Thanh Toan to see the 18th-century covered bridge and villagers shopping at their local market. Visit the 17th-century active Buddhist monastery of Thien Mu Pagoda and see the car that belonged to Thich Quang Duc – the monk who self-immolated in 1963 in protest against the treatment of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese regime. For lunch, sit down to a vegetarian feast in a nunnery. Finish at the lakeside royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc before heading back to town.
Accommodation Hotel (1 night)
Meals Breakfast Lunch
Included activities Hue - Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc Hue - Highlights & back streets tour by motorbike Hue - Thien Mu Pagoda Hue - Vegetarian Lunch at Pagoda
Special information The motorbike tour has been assessed for safety and is closely monitored. To participate please ensure your travel insurance covers riding pillion on a motorbike up to 125cc. If you prefer not to participate, please let your leader know and they will arrange car transportation (cost included).
Day 6: Hoi An
- This morning, take the bus through coastal rice paddies and the spectacular Hai Van Pass. After a photo stop on the way, arrive in Hoi An – recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, Hoi An was a major international trading port during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Today, parts of the beautifully preserved town retain the feel of centuries past. This is also a very popular town for shopping, famous for its many tailors. When you arrive, your leader will take you on a sightseeing walk through the Old Town to visit a handful of the city's major attractions. You’ll also be given a sightseeing pass so you can further explore select attractions at your leisure.
Accommodation Hotel (1 night)
Meals Breakfast
Included activities Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
Optional activities Hoi An - Food Adventure Urban Adventure - USD39
Special information Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
Day 7: Hoi An
- Today is a free day to explore Hoi An. Maybe browse the cobbled streets and art galleries or hire a bike and cycle through rice paddies out to Cua Dai Beach. Maybe browse for paintings, ceramics and colourful cloth lanterns in the town’s markets and preserved Chinese shophouses. If you’re craving a new look, you could visit to one of the hundreds of tailors and get an outfit custom made. Hoi An is also known for its delicious regional food, so you could have dinner a riverside restaurant or partake in a cooking class.
Accommodation Hotel (1 night)
Meals Breakfast
Optional activities Hoi An - Private Hoi An: My Son Discovery - USD73
Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City
- Today, you’ll take a short, early morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City has a fascinating history and is arguably Vietnam’s capital of commerce and culture. After landing, take a sightseeing tour around the city by bus. Pass the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Opera House, then stop in at the War Remnants Museum to discover some of the sobering stories of the 20-year-long Vietnam/American War.
Accommodation Hotel (1 night)
Meals Breakfast
Included activities Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum Ho Chi Minh City - City tour
Optional activities Ho Chi Minh City - Reunification Palace - VND40000 Ho Chi Minh City - A O show - VND1050000 Ho Chi Minh City - Saigon Street Food by Night Urban Adventure - USD29
Special information Your travel time today will be approximately 1.5 hours.
Day 9: Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh City
- This morning, head out on a daytrip to explore the Mekong Delta. Board a private boat to Ben Tre to visit the coconut gardens and stop at a local home to sample tropical fruits and coconut jams. After, paddle in sampans (small rowing boats) past coconut trees along the Mekong Delta. Take a tuk-tuk tour around the villages and learn about rural life and the industry created around coconut products like brooms and coconut fibre mats. Eat lunch at a restaurant in the heart of the Delta, sampling regional specialties like elephant ear fish. After, return to Ho Chi Minh City and maybe grab dinner with your fellow travellers to toast to a great adventure! Accommodation Hotel (1 night)
Meals Breakfast Lunch
Included activities Mekong Delta - Mekong Delta Day Trip & Village Tuk-Tuk Tour Mekong Delta - Lunch
Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City
- Enjoy a free day in Ho Chi Minh to get out and discover the city at your own pace. You could get a history lesson on guerrilla warfare during an Urban Adventures tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels – this underground network in the middle of the jungle was used by the Viet Cong during the war. On this day tour, you can climb into the tunnels and imagine what it would’ve been like to eat, sleep, work and cook as conflict raged above. Tonight, there will be another welcome meeting at 6 pm to welcome any new travellers joining you on the next stage of your adventure. After, perhaps get to know your new travel buddies over dinner.
Accommodation Hotel (1 night)
Meals There are no meals included on this day.
Optional activities Ho Chi Minh City - Reunification Palace - VND40000 Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum - VND40000
Special information As this trip is a combination of shorter itineraries, the travellers in your group and your group leader are likely to change today.
Day 11: Phnom Penh
- Travel by public bus across the border, through rural Vietnam and Cambodia to Phnom Penh. Cambodia's capital city is set on a major junction of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers and boasts some fine examples of French-inspired architecture. If you're looking for a tasty beverage when you arrive, head for a mojito on the rooftop. Or if you're in the mood for shopping, stop in at the art-deco Psar Thmei (Central Market) or travel out to Psar Tuol Tom Pong (the Russian Market) for the best range of local souvenirs.
Accommodation Hotel (1 night)
Meals Breakfast
Special information Your travel time today will be approximately 10 hours including border crossing and lunch stop. On the bus journey across the border, you will exit Vietnam at Moc Bai and enter Cambodia at Ba Vet. Your leader will assist you with border crossing procedures. You will also have the comfort of being on the same bus throughout the journey with less hassle at the border crossing by changing vehicles. If you’d prefer not to travel by bus today, you are welcome to book a flight instead (at your own expense).
Day 12: Phnom Penh
- Today, you’ll confront Cambodia's tragic past on a guided tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) – a former school which served as a Khmer Rouge torture centre. It's estimated that more than 20,000 people were held and tortured here. You’ll also head out to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, where a stupa made up of some 8000 human skulls marks the execution ground for the torture victims of Tuol Sleng. After, you may wish to learn about a brighter period in Cambodian history from an optional visit to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. Wat Phnom, shrouded in myth, is equally worth a visit, as is the National Museum with its excellent Khmer collection. Cyclo tours around the city are a great alternative to walking and generally include the Central Market, US Embassy, Wat Phnom, Mekong riverfront, the Independence Monument and Royal Palace.
Accommodation Hotel (1 night)
Meals Breakfast
Included activities Phnom Penh - The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek Phnom Penh - Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) Optional activities Phnom Penh - Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda - USD10 Phnom Penh - Wat Phnom - USD2 Phnom Penh - National Museum - USD10 Phnom Penh - Cyclo tour - USD4 Phnom Penh - Khmer massage - USD8
Special information The stories and history shared at the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) are confronting and many travellers will find them upsetting. This is an important part of Cambodia’s recent history that we feel is important for travellers to know. If you would prefer not to join these activities your leader can recommend some optional alternatives. Some further information on visiting these sites can be found here: intrepidtravel.com/adventures/importance-visiting-cambodia-killing-fields
Day 13: Battambang
- Travel by private minibus to Battambang today. Break up an otherwise long trip with a visit to the pottery visit in Kampong Chhnang and learn about the craft of pottery making at local workshops. Then continue to Cambodia's second-largest city – a pretty riverside town with French elegance, friendly Khmer people and beautifully preserved colonial architecture, this is a great place to explore on your own. Why not take part in an optional cooking class to learn the secrets of local dishes such as amok, Khmer curry and fried spicy chicken.
Accommodation Hotel (1 night)
Meals Breakfast
Included activities Kampong Chhnang - Pottery village visit
Optional activities Battambang - Cooking Class - USD12 Battambang - Phnom Sampov bat caves - USD15
Special information Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.
Day 14: Siem Reap
- Spend a bit of time riding around the countryside by bike, travelling out to the rural villages around Battambang. This is a great opportunity to get a closer look at what rural life means in Cambodia. Visit local families who have been producing agricultural products the traditional way passed down through generations, like rice paper, dried bananas, and bamboo sticky rice and stop by a Khmer house and relax and enjoy some coconut water while chatting about their life. The Intrepid partner for this activity is a local social enterprise that support training of local youth for their future career. In the afternoon continue by private minibus to Siem Reap, arriving in the evening, and relax as you prepare for your much-anticipated visit to Angkor tomorrow. Perhaps hit the markets for some delicious street food for dinner.
Accommodation Hotel (1 night)
Meals Breakfast
Included activities Battambang - Soksabike social enterprise countryside cycling & local snack tour
Special information Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours. Your cycling distance will be approximately 24 kms. If you prefer not to cycle, please let your leader know and they will arrange remork (tuk tuk) transportation (cost included).
Day 15: Siem Reap/Angkor Wat
- Make your way to Angkor Wat in the early hours this morning to watch the sunrise over this UNESO World Heritage site. Then, Temple-hop with your local guide through the world-famous complex. The temples, dating back as far as the ninth century, were believed to represent the cosmic world and were set in perfect balance, symmetry and composition. The intricately carved bas-reliefs and architectural designs are mind-blowing and there are spectacular photo opportunities at any time of day. The ruins are scattered over an area of some 160 square km, but the main cluster of temples is close to Siem Reap, so there will be plenty of time to fully appreciate the great archaeological sites of Angkor Wat, Bayon and the jungle-covered Ta Prohm.
Accommodation Hotel (1 night)
Meals Breakfast
Included activities Siem Reap - Three day Angkor Pass Siem Reap - Angkor Temples Guided Tour Siem Reap - Sunrise at Angkor Wat
Special information Temperatures and humidity can be high in Cambodia, especially walking around sights like the Angkor complex where there may be little shade. Be prepared by taking plenty of drink breaks and wearing appropriate skin protection. Some travellers find an umbrella handy to keep the sun off.
Day 16: Siem Reap/Angkor Wat
- Continue your explorations of the Angkor complex this morning. In the afternoon, embark on a private local boat discover the floating villages and local daily lives at Chhong Kneas – a trading port of agricultural products on the edge of Tonle Sap Lake, also known as the Great Lake of Cambodia.
Accommodation Hotel (1 night)
Meals Breakfast
Included activities Siem Reap - Angkor Temples Guided Tour Chong Kneas - Tonle Sap floating village visit
Optional activities Siem Reap - Angkor Zipline Silver Tour - USD54 Siem Reap - Landmine Museum - USD6 Siem Reap - Phare Circus Ticket - USD18 Siem Reap - Angkor Zipline Gold Tour - USD87
Day 17: Bangkok
- Fly from Siem Reap to Bangkok today. On the flight, you’ll be unescorted, but your Cambodian leader will see you off at the airport in Siem Reap and your Thai leader will be ready to welcome you in Bangkok. Thailand's bustling capital is an exciting world of tuk tuks, khlong boats and street vendors serving up delicious Thai food. Perhaps head out to sample some local specialties as a final farewell with your fellow travellers.
Accommodation Hotel (1 night)
Meals Breakfast
Special information Your travel time today is approximately 3 hours.
Day 18: Bangkok
- Your trip comes to an end this morning, with no further activities planned. However, if you have more time, Bangkok is full of things to do, including the Grand Palace, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and the fascinating Jim Thompson Museum. Just speak to your booking agent if you'd like to extend your stay.
Meals Breakfast
Optional activities Bangkok - Chinatown Sights and Bites Urban Adventure - THB1960 Bangkok - Jim Thompson's House - THB200 Bangkok - Temple & River of Kings Urban Adventure - THB2900 Bangkok - Tuk Tuk Experience Urban Adventure - THB2500
TERMS & CONDITIONS
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 2 (Overnight Boat) and Day 3 (Sleeper Train) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. Rooms booked only for day use are also excluded.
2. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport (including any middle names listed on your passport) and your passport number no later than 45 days prior to your departure for flight ticket booking for your trip. If you are booking your trip between 45 and 30 days prior to your departure date, please provide your passport details asap for us to secure your flight ticket within the trip. Additional fees may apply if details provided are incomplete or incorrect.
3. For flights within the trip – checked luggage allowance is a maximum of 20 kilograms, plus up to 7 kilograms carry-on luggage. Any excess luggage charges will need to be paid directly to the airline at check-in.
4. As this is a combination trip made up of two of our most popular itineraries, the composition of your group and your leader may change.
5. Thailand is going through a mourning period for the Queen Mother’s passing on 24Oct, 2025. This will last until 24Jan, 2026. The government has announced the recommended attire for visitors during this period and please refer to the Responsible Travel section in the Essential Trip Information for more details.
Essential Trip