Trip Overview
Stay in a local village family house, take a crash course lesson in the national sport, help local NGOs create a better future, and explore all the sights, smells, and tastes of Vietnam
Route
Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi
Stays
14 nights of accommodation
Meals
11x Breakfasts, 7x Lunches, 7x Dinners
Transport
All transport Day 1 to 12. From airport pickups to local vans, night trains, bikes, jeeps, buses and boats
Activities
22 included over 7 locations
Crew
Your tour guide, your drivers & your local guides
Route
Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi
Stays
14 nights of accommodation
Meals
11x Breakfasts, 7x Lunches, 7x Dinners
Transport
All transport Day 1 to 12. From airport pickups to local vans, night trains, bikes, jeeps, buses and boats
Activities
22 included over 7 locations
Crew
Your tour guide, your drivers & your local guides
Get ready to experience the best of what Vietnam has while getting you off the beaten track and immersed in local life. Discover unseen parts of the vibrant cities, take a crash course lesson in their national sport, help local NGOs create a better future, and explore all the sights, smells, and tastes of this incredible destination. From village homestays in the remote Pu Long National Park, to having cocktails in the rooftop pool overlooking vibrant cities, or exploring the lesser-known Bai Tu Long Bay on the tip of Ha Long Bay by traditional style boat. This is Vietnam, but not as you know it.

Go trekking & explore tribal villages in Sapa

Stay with a local family in the remote Pu Luong National Park

Experience one of Asia's most beautiful winding roads by open top jeep

Watch as trains skim past shops & homes on Train Street

Arrive into Hoi An by kayak with your One Life companions

Discover Bai Tu Long Bay, the hidden gem of the iconic Ha Long Bay

Enjoy the delicious delights of Vietnamese cuisine at local spots on a food tour in Hanoi

Enjoy a lake picnic while exploring the hidden pools of Pu Luong National Park
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive in Vietnam!
Accommodation: Twin/Double Rooms - Alagon City (or similar)
Activities: Welcome Dinner
Optional Extras: N/A
Meals: Dinner
Physical Rating: Low
Day 2 – Ho Chi Minh City, Walking Tour & Overnight Train
After breakfast, get ready for a cultural experience like no other, learning the national sport called da cao! This is also called “foot badminton” and you will see it played in every park around the country. Learn the basics from one of the local teams we support as part of our community projects. After that, we will head out on a walking tour to see sights and some hidden gems of this incredible city. Refresh back at the hotel before heading to the train station for our overnight train to Da Nang.
Accommodation: Overnight Train to Da Nang
Activities: Da Cao, HCMC Walking tour
Optional Extras: N/A
Meals: Breakfast
Physical Rating: Medium
Day 3 – Kayak into Hoi An
Upon arrival, you will be picked up by the team and transferred to the banks of the Thu Bon River where we will have lunch before kayaking into the majestic old town of Hoi An. After a short walk to your hotel to freshen up, you can take a dip in the pool and then head out to explore the area. Near our hotel, you will find the famous Hoi An night market, where you can get your own tailored clothes.
Accommodation: Twin/Double Rooms - Hoang Trinh (or similar)
Activities: Kayak into Hoi An
Optional Extras: Visit a Tailor
Meals: N/A
Physical Rating: Medium/High
Day 4 – Enjoy Hoi An
Rise and shine! Spend the morning cycling through the countryside by small villages and rice fields to a quiet riverbank where we will begin collecting the plastic pollution that has been discarded along the river. Enjoy a refreshing welcome drink at the Eco Brick house before heading back to a Hoi An garden house where we will classify the trash to make eco bricks for a local NGO. The afternoon is yours to explore however you want (beach time!)
Accommodation: Twin/Double Rooms - Hoang Trinh (or similar)
Activities: Cycling tour, Eco Brick NGO Visit, local farming
Optional Extras: N/A
Meals: Breakfast
Physical Rating: Medium
Day 5 – To Hue & Hai Van Pass
Accommodation: Twin/Double Rooms - Alba Hue (or similar)
Activities: Waterfall visiting, Open-top Jeep ride
Optional Extras: N/A
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Physical Rating: Low
Day 6 – The Imperial City, Hue
Prepare for an adventure to the Imperial City this morning, where you’ll gain insight into Vietnam’s imperial history and culture.
We’ll then make our way to a local garden house on the banks of the Perfume River to learn some Vietnamese classics in a cooking class. Relax until transferring to Hue Train Station for your night train to Ninh Binh.
Accommodation: Overnight train to Ninh Binh
Activities:Dragon boat, Pagoda,Cooking Class
Optional Extras: N/A
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Physical Rating: Low
Day 7 – To Pu Luong Park
Get ready for your trip to one of the most amazing landscape destinations of Vietnam! We will hop on the bus and head to Pu Luong National Park. On the way we will stop for lunch and visit the Chua Ngoc Chau Temple. We willthen arrive at our accommodation, a local homestay in Ban Hieu which is nestled between rice paddies and mountains. Visit a waterfall beforedinner with local families. Experience incredible off the beaten pathscenery all around you and bed down tonight in one of the local houses.
Accommodation: Multi-share Rooms - Local homestay
Activities:Unique stay, Temple visit, Waterfall visit
Optional Extras: Temple
Meals: Dinner
Physical Rating: Low
Day 8 – Explore Pu Luong Park
After breakfast with a wonderful valley view, we will start with a trek, heading to a beautiful traditional rural bamboo lake house where you cantry bamboo rafting or swim in the crystal clear water. Lunch will be served here by the local family in an amazing setting surrounded by nature. After lunch you will have time to relax or help the local family with their daily chores before we will have an amazing family dinner.
Accommodation: Multi-share Rooms - Local homestay
Activities: Bamboo Rafting, Trek
Optional Extras: N/A
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Physical Rating: Medium/High
Day 9 – To Hanoi
As we say goodbye to our homestay family and scenery in Pu Luong, we can look forward to the hustle and bustle of Hanoi and a stay in a beautiful, boutique hotel! Take it easy in the morning and then after a big breakfast, we head off. We arrive in Hanoi in the afternoon and you’ll have time to freshen up and join the rest of your group for a city walk before a feast of local delicacies.
Accommodation: Twin/Double Rooms - Golden Legend Diamond Hotel (or similar)
Activities: Street Food Tour
Optional Extras: N/A
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Physical Rating: Low/Medium
Day 10 – Ha Long & Bai Tu Long Bay
Accommodation: Twin/Double Rooms - Renea Cruise (or similar)
Activities: Ha Long Bay Cruise, Bai Tu Long Bay, Kayaking
Optional Extras: N/A
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Physical Rating: Low/Medium
Day 11 – Thien Cave & Hanoi
Accommodation: Twin/Double Rooms - Golden Legend Diamond Hotel (or similar)
Activities: Tai Chi, Thien Canh Son (cave), Walking tour
Optional Extras: Walking Tour
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Physical Rating: Low/Medium
Day 12 – Overnight to Lao Cai
After breakfast, say goodbye to the guests on the 12 Day tour and get ready for scenic views and rice fields!
Explore Hanoi at your own leisure during the day before we jump on an overnight sleeper train to Lao Cai!
Accommodation: Overnight sleeper train
Activities: N/A
Optional Extras: N/A
Meals: Breakfast
Physical Rating: Low
Day 13 – Sapa!
Departing from Sapa town, we will embark on a lovely walk to Lao chai and Ta van villages– Home to Black Hmong people. This is one of the most enjoyable treks and will involve descending into a nearby valley inhabited by avariety of ethnic hill tribes. Once on the valley floor you can really appreciate the wonderful scenery that surrounds you. The walls ofthe valley are covered with multi – layered rice terraces and scattered villages. Enjoy a local style lunch by a river, then walk through the spectacular villages and terraces.
Accommodation: Multishare – Local homestay (or similar)
Activities:Rice Terrace Trek
Optional Extras: N/A
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Physical Rating: Medium/High
Day 14 – Giang Ta Chai
After breakfast, we’ll leave Ta Van and trek to Giang Ta Chai village where we can see the Red Daopeople. The women of the Red Dao wear very colourful clothing.
We’ll stop for lunch before leaving Giang Ta Chai and drive back to Sapa where we will visit the Sapa markets. In the evening the shared bus pick us up to Lao cai railway station where you will have time to grab some dinner before taking the night train to Ha Noi.
Accommodation: Overnight sleeper train
Activities: Rice Terrace Trek, Guided Market Tour
Optional Extras: N/A
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Physical Rating: Medium/High
Day 15 - Depart
All good things have to come to an end, and sadly this is our final day in Vietnam together. You’ll be arriving back into Hanoi at around 6am and then your time is your own!
Accommodation: N/A
Activities: N/A
Meals: N/A
Physical Rating: N/A
Inclusions
Our crew comprises of award winning tour guides who will make your trip unforgettable. Expertly trained and prepared for every circumstance – they’ll be your new best mate and a fountain of knowledge all wrapped up in one, and will stop at nothing to make your trip life changing.
We’ve packed a full itinerary so you can see the best in your time. Not only that, we’ve personally tried and tested all of the accommodation, transport and meals included on this trip to be sure you’re receiving a quality experience.
Group
Maximum group size 22 people
Stays
14 nights of accommodation
*Note for Single Upgrades: Night 2, 6, 12 & 14 will be a multishare overnight train. Night 7, 8 & 13 will be a multishare homestay accommodation
Transport
All transport Day 1 to 15. From airport pickups to local vans, night trains, bikes, jeeps, buses and boats
Crew
Your tour guide, drivers & local guides
Meals
11x Breakfasts, 7x Lunches, 7x Dinners
Activities
- Da Cao Foot Badminton With A Local Team
- Unseen Saigon Walking Tour
- 2x Overnight Sleeper Trains
- Kayak Into Hoi An
- History Walk Of Hoi An
- Hoi An Beach Time
- Rural Village Bike Tour With Trash Collection
- Visit To Eco-brick Ngo With Collected Trash To Make Bricks For Local Community Projects
- Open Top Army Jeep Through The Hai Van Pass
- Imperial City Visit & History Walk Around Hue
- Garden Cooking Class On The Banks Of The Perfume River
- Homestay And Village Experience In Ban Hiue
- Mountain Trekking
- Waterfall Visits
- Bamboo Lakehouse Swim
- Local Family Picnic In Pu Luong
- Guided Walk Through The Old Quarter Of Hanoi
- Ha Long & Bai Tu Long Bay Cruise
- Hanoi Local Foodie Street Food Tour
- Trek From Sapa to Lao Chai & Ta Van Villages
- Cultrual Evening With the Black Hmong Tribe
- Trek to Giang Ta Chai to Meet the Red Dao Tribe
Night Stays
Unbeatable locations, stylish interiors, sparkling pools, and the level of comfort that One Life accommodation is known for. We mix up the fancier places with some nights in a remote homestay where you will eat, sleep, and live like the locals for that truly authentic experience. With twin rooms throughout (even on the cruise), all our accommodation options have been selected by us to ensure you get the best of what Vietnam has, without breaking the bank. Clean, comfortable, and perfect to recharge after a big day of adventure
Customer Reviews
Vietnam One Life Adventures – 15 Days
Secure your place now and pay later
Deposits from $400 AUD
Tour Dates
Popular & Award Winners

Vietnam - 15 Days
From $2579 (aud)
Our classic 12-day tour with a guided extension to the spectacular tribal region of Sapa! This is Vietnam, but not as you know it.

Bali - 12 Days
From $1575 (aud)
You’re in for a real treat with this tropical archipelago of 17,000+ islands! With so many options we’ve carefully curated an epic 12 day trip that will take you through Bali and beyond.

Japan - 10 Days
From $2899 (aud)
BEST TOUR IN THE WORLD 2019
Japan, where old meets new. Learn a traditional martial art, spot Geishas in Kyoto, explore the bustling cities of Tokyo & Osaka, learn to roll sushi and sleep in a real temple.

India - 14 Days
From $1799 (aud)
India, a place like nowhere else on earth. Watch the sun rise over the Taj Mahal, sleep in the desert, sample the delicious local foods and get lost in the Blue City.

South Korea - 10 Days
From $3299 (aud)
Delight in the serene beauty of mountain temples, savour the delectable flavours of local cuisine, and embark on breath-taking adventures in Korea.

Philippines - 10 Days
From $1699 (aud)
BEST TOUR IN ASIA 2019
Explore incredible Palawan and the emerald waters that lap secluded white beaches. Snorkel with turtles, cook with the locals and island hop the most beautiful islands in the world.