Trip Overview
Tales From Topdeckers
Trip itinerary
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Hanoi
2Ready to delve deeper into this incredible city? We thought so. Slip on the Birks and explore with your Trip Leader – ticking off the likes of One Pillar Pagoda, Lenin Park, Northern Gate, Cua Bac Church, B52 Lake and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (you can visit later, if you like). Then, we’re heading to a local bún cha eatery for lunch. How many spring rolls is too many? Stupid question. What you do this afternoon is 100% up to you, but if you’re chasing that off-the-beaten-path experience – jump aboard a locally guided Vespa tour. History buffs should check out Hoa Lo Prison. Catch a water puppet show at Thang Long theatre. Or stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake before hunting down a local hole-in-the-wall for a bowl of pho.
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Included Today
- Walking tour of Hanoi with Trip Leader
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Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
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Optional extras
- Locally guided Vespa tour of Hanoi: from 1,790,000 VND
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Included Today
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Hanoi – Halong Bay
3Halong Bay: World Heritage Site. The jewel in Vietnam’s crown. One of the ‘New 7 Wonders of Nature’. Whichever way you look at it, Halong Bay is pretty damn special. So, today we’re gonna do it properly with an overnight junk boat cruise. Spend the day swimming in glittering turquoise water, exploring limestone islands, digging into freshly made meals, and dancing into the sunset with your travel buds. This? This is what makes the memories. *Heads up! If you selected twin-share accommodation for this trip, you might be bunking with an extra trip mate for the duration of the cruise. All part of the experience, right?
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Included Today
- Overnight junk boat cruise in Halong Bay
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Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
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Included Today
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Halong Bay – Hanoi – Hoi An
4Rise and shine, sailors! Kick off the day with a refreshing dip and hearty brunch. Then: we’re dropping anchor back in Hanoi, where there’s free time to get your explore on. Afterwards, we’re moving on to ancient Hoi An the traditional way – by overnight train! This is your chance to catch up on some zzzs, swap tales with your trip mates, and get chatting to the locals. It doesn’t get more authentic than this.
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Included Today
- Overnight train to Hoi An
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Included Today
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Hoi An
5Hop off the train and wave chào to the locals – after a short drive from Da Nang prepare to be SERIOUSLY charmed by the ancient city of Hoi An. This stunner is a patchwork of all the civilisations to leave their imprint here. Expect: rustic Chinese shophouses, multicoloured French Colonial villas, and one helluva spectacular Japanese bridge. Want help discovering this gem of a place? We got you. Soak up views of the forest and surrounding villages on a sunset paddleboarding adventure along the river. Dreams = made.
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Optional extras
- Sunset paddleboarding in Hoi An: from 1,114,667 VND
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Optional extras
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Hoi An
6You wanted more free time to explore. So, here it is. Need some suggestions? Opt for a cooking class and local market visit – your mad new gastro skills are sure to impress the Tinder matches back home. Rather do your own thing? Explore the buzzing Central Market. Get a custom piece made by the city’s famous tailors. Or cycle to An Bang Beach for chilled boho vibes. Tonight, we’ll have free time to explore the lantern-filled magic of Hoi An Old Town and tuck into a bowl of cao lau (a local specialty) along the river. This is what you came for.
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Optional extras
- Traditional cooking class: from 800,000 VND
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Meals
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Hoi An – Phan Rang
7*Last call for Topdeckers!* Today we're taking to the skies. Touch down in Nha Trang and prepare to get your Indiana Jones on as we make a beeline for Hang Rai cave. Setting foot in this spellbinding complex of rock formations and fossilised coral reef is like being dropped into a screensaver. Just: wow. Lunch is included today, so prepare for more lip-smacking Vietnamese goodness. Once we’ve rolled into Phan Rang, the evening is yours. Hunt down some banh canh noodle soup and show off those expert chopstick skills (or not). Or just head to the local beach, sink your toes in the powdery white sand and relax. It’s pretty dreamy.
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Included Today
- Domestic flight to Nha Trang
- Visit Hang Rai cave
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Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
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Included Today
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Phan Rang
8Great news guys: today is 100% yours to delve deeper. AND we’ve got some epic optionals to help you do just that. Strap on those hiking boots and discover the wild beauty of Nui Chua National Park and underwater world of Vinh Hy Bay. Or simply turn off Google Maps and see where the day takes you. That’s what exploring’s all about. And this evening? Gather your trip mates and find a local haunt for some DElish banh xeo – pancakes filled with your fave veggies or meat. Plus dipping sauces of dreams. Mmm...
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Optional extras
- Full-day hike in Nui Chua National Park (including snorkelling in Vinh Hy Bay): from 1,800,000 VND
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Meals
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Phan Rang – Ho Chi Minh City
9You wanted more time to explore, and we LOVE making you happy. So here it is! What will it be today? Opt for a half-day tour of the city hotspots, or nearby sand dunes and a traditional Cham village. Channel your inner Lara Croft and discover the incred ruins of ancient Po Klong Garai Temple. Or just chill with the coconut trees along Phan Rang Beach – these guys are living their best lives. Later: we’ll choo-choose the overnight train once more as we make tracks for Ho Chi Minh City. Shotgun top bunk!
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Included Today
- Overnight train to Ho Chi Minh City
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Optional extras
- Half-day tour of Phan Rang: from 800,000 VND
- Half-day tour of sand dunes and a Cham village: from 1,053,333 VND
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Included Today
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Ho Chi Minh City, including Cu Chi Tunnels
10Jump off the train like the local pro you now are. Welcome to Ho Chi Minh! A capital with nearly 9 million people, HCMC is a bubbling pot of energy, excitement and hidden gems. Aka your perfect match. Next: pull out your history hat – we’re off to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. Surrounded by jungle that was once a stronghold of the Viet Cong, take a guided tour of the area and learn all about how this underground network was used by guerilla fighters during the Vietnam War. Then: we’ll drop into an organic farm for a lesson in local produce and a traditional homemade lunch. Tasty times. Back in the city, the evening is up to you. Need recommendations? Head to Relish & Sons and ask for the ‘Com Tam’ burger. So good, you’ll order two.
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Included Today
- Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels
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Meals
- Lunch
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Included Today
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Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta
11This is not over Ho Chi Minh – we’re coming back for you later. Today’s all about the wet stuff as we set our sights on the 'rice bowl’ of Vietnam: the Mekong Delta region. This tropical maze of rivers and swamps looks like it's dropped straight outta The Jungle Book. For real. Wanna know how to make markets more fun? Put them on boats, obvs. We’ll check out the world-class pineapple tossing skills of the traders at the traditional floating market in Cai Be. Then: time to take to the waterways with a pit stop at a local bonsai gardener’s home for an included lunch. Hope you like leafy greens. And tonight? We’re hunkering down in a traditional homestay with a local family, where our host will give us a masterclass in Vietnamese cooking. Heads up: rooms are shared here, so settle in and swap notes on the adventure so far.
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Included Today
- Boat trip through the Mekong Delta
- Visit Cai Be Floating Market
- Local cookery demonstration
- Overnight stay in a local homestay
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Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
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Included Today
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Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City
12Wake to the sound of the village stirring to life, and catch sight of the locals preparing for a new day. After a group brekkie at our homestay, we’ll jump back on a boat towards the waterfront city of Vinh Long for an included lunch – stopping along the way to see how some of the locals make their living. Afterwards: it’s time to return to HCMC for shellfish, rice paper pizza, and the city’s specialty – com tam *wipes drool from chin*.
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Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
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Meals
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Ho Chi Minh City – Phnom Penh (Cambodia)
13No lies, it’s an early wake-up call this morning. But you’ll have plenty of time to catch up on some zzzs as we roll into Cambodia! Ancient wonders. Serene landscapes. And a fascinatingly diverse history – Cambodia delivers on all fronts. We’ll kick off in Phnom Penh, where the evening’s yours to sample some sizzling street food along Sihanouk Boulevard. OR go full-out with an optional cocktail tour of the city. Be rude not to, right?
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Optional extras
- Evening cocktail tour: from 69 USD
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Meals
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Phnom Penh
14We’ll begin the day with a sobering visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum – documenting the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge during their ‘revolution’. There’s a lot to take in, but learning about this devastating period of the country’s history is important to fully understand modern Cambodia. Later on, quiz your expert Trip Leader on the best bargains to sniff out at the iconic art deco Central Market. And this evening? We’ll take to the water for a sunset cruise on the mighty Mekong. This is what you came for.
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Included Today
- Visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
- Sunset cruise on the Mekong River
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Included Today
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Phnom Penh – Siem Reap
15We’ll swap Phnom Penh for Siem Reap this afternoon, with plenty of time to spare for some pretty immense optional activities. Get a taste of local life on a sunset quad biking tour through the countryside. Or discover the treats on the streets with a finger-lickingly good food tour. There’s even an evening under the big top with the Cambodian Circus on offer. Can’t say we don’t spoil you! Tonight, immerse yourself in the neon-jungle of Angkor Night Market or experience the crazy that is Pub Street. Go steady – tomorrow is packed with memory-makers that you’re not gonna want to miss.
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Optional extras
- Siem Reap street food tour: from 71 USD
- Phare Circus show and workshop: from 40 USD
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Meals
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Siem Reap
16Ready for a real-life temple run? This is it. First up: we’ll explore the Angkor Thom complex with our local guide. Venture through statue-lined South Gate, the intricately decorated Bayon Temple and check out the Elephant Terrace. Then it’s onto Ta Prohm – a ruin filled with crumbling towers and overgrown tree roots. Think: Tomb Raider. Refuel and rehydrate – next we’re headed for Angkor Wat temple. The biggest temple complex in the world, ‘otherworldly’ doesn’t even come close to describing this place. Once you’re all temple-d out, we’ll settle in for our final group dinner at a local eatery. WHAT an adventure it’s been.
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Included Today
- Visit the Angkor complex with a local guide
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Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner
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Included Today
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Siem Reap
1717 days of incredible adventures with a pack of strangers who are now like family. Get down to breakfast and swap those socials – you’ll need them for next year’s reunion trip. Not ready for The End? There’s a final chance to flex your chef skills with an optional cooking class at a local farm. Niiiiice.
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Optional extras
- Local cooking class and farm tour (including lunch): from 53 USD
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Meals
What's included
Included experiences
- - Hanoi street food tour
- - Walking tour of Hanoi with Trip Leader
- - Overnight junk boat cruise in Halong Bay
- - Overnight train to Hoi An
- - Domestic flight to Nha Trang
- - Visit Hang Rai cave
- - Overnight train to Ho Chi Minh City
- - Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels
- - Boat trip through the Mekong Delta
- - Visit Cai Be Floating Market
- - Local cookery demonstration
- - Overnight stay in a local homestay in the Mekong Delta
- - Visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
- - Sunset cruise on the Mekong River
- - Visit the Angkor complex with a local guide
Accommodation
- 13 nights in hotel-style accommodation (twin or double), 1 night in a homestay, 2 nights on an overnight train
Transport
Optional activities
- FYI: these are optional activities available locally. Things might change – prices are here to give you a rough idea.
- Locally guided Vespa tour of Hanoi: from 1,790,000 VND
- Sunset paddleboarding in Hoi An: from 1,130,667 VND
- Hoi An street food tour: from 932,000 VND
- Half-day countryside cycling tour (including lantern-making lesson) in Hoi An: from 1,025,200 VND
- Traditional cooking class in Hoi An: from 600,000 VND
- Full-day hike in Nui Chua National Park (including snorkelling in Vinh Hy Bay): from 1,666,667 VND
- Half-day tour of Phan Rang: from 726,667 VND
- Half-day tour of sand dunes and a Cham village: from 933,333 VND
- Sunset quad bike tour in Siem Reap: from 48 USD
- Siem Reap street food tour: from 40 USD
- Phare Circus show and workshop: from 32 USD
Other Information
This Delve Deep adventure’s all about experiencing the REAL Vietnam and Cambodia. Meaning? Some flexin’ when it comes to sleeping arrangements. We're talking two nights travelling the authentic way – aboard a sleeper train! The 4-person cabins are communal only, and bathrooms are basic but functional.
Rooms are also shared at our homestay in the Mekong Delta. And on our Halong Bay overnight cruise, there’s the possibility that you might be bunking with an extra trip mate if you selected twin-share accommodation.
Views & Reviews
Latest Reviews
Average rating based on 1 reviews
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Denise He January 2023
The only problem I saw was the time in Phan Rang. I think we could just skip this city and stay one more day at Hoi An and Ho Chi Ming. Those cities are amazing, but the time there where too short. Meanwhile, Phan Rang is a beautiful beach, but Vietnam is too close to Thailand (that has better beaches), so I believe that anyone that really wants to go to the beach could just book a flight there after the Vietnam and Camboja trip.
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