Experiences & Activity Holidays in Vietnam | Not In The Guide Books

Overview

With white-sand beaches on its coast and a fascinating history and culture, there aren’t many countries where one day you could be trekking through lush jungle on the hunt for the largest cave on earth, and the next be sampling the famous street food of Hanoi. That is the beauty of Vietnam.

With iconic rivers, floating villages, relaxing and authentic rural villages, watching the sun set over distant mountains, Vietnam is just waiting for you. Wildlife as diverse as it comes, some of the most delicious cuisine in the world, these are just a couple of reasons that Vietnam is a destination not for the average tourist.

Our local host Thao has been working in Vietnam for over 10 years and is an expert in providing unique holidays that will stick with you. With us you’ll be supporting the local communities in Vietnam, minimising the effects of tourism leakage.

Our most popular experiences

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Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh – Ultimate Vietnam in 14 days

13 Nights

Vietnam

Taste of bustling Hanoi with its busy markets and delicious street food
Discover the magnificent caves of Ha Long Bay
Visit the Imperial City of Hue and the ancient port of Hoi An
Experience the vibrant city of Ho Chi Minh and the Mekong Delta

Price from

£2764 pp*

8 Day Adventure in Northern Vietnam

7 Nights

Vietnam

Explore Hanoi - busy markets and delicious street food
Discover the magnificent caves of Ha Long Bay
Visit Mai Chau and walk the Cham river suspension bridge
Stay in boutique eco lodges

Price from

£1209 pp*

8 Day Central and South Vietnam Adventure

7 Nights

Vietnam

Explore the city of Hue by guided motorcycle tour
Traverse the spectacular Hai Van Pass in an open top war-era jeep
Vist the ancient port of Hoi An and temples of Chien Dan
Experience the vibrant city of Ho Chi Minh

Price from

£1197 pp*

Local Trail Walking and Eco Retreat – North Vietnam

9 Nights

Vietnam

Explore Hanoi - busy markets and delicious street food
Visit Trang An UNESCO site and take a train ride to Hanoi
Enjoy a sampan boat ride and guided cycle tour
Stay at a luxury eco-lodge in Sapa

Price from

£2729 pp*

3 Days of Hanoi Like a Local

2 Nights

Vietnam

Deluxe Rooms
All guided tours included
Transport included

Price from

£458 pp*

Hue Imperial City and Cooking Class

7 Hours

Vietnam

Discover the Forbidden City and the Royal Palace in an old crumbling citadel, then turn yourself into an expert chef in ..

Price from

£103 pp

Urban Jeep Tour of Hanoi

2 Nights

Vietnam

A unique war era open top jeep is your transport
Explore Hanoi - busy markets and delicious street food
Stay in a boutique hotel in the old quarter
Discover parts of the city most tourists never see

Price from

£255 pp*

Rural Hanoi and Mai Chau Village

1 Night

Vietnam

This trip starts and ends in Hanoi
Stay in a luxury eco-lodge
Guided cycle ride to Mo Luong Cave
Get to know the authentic coutryside of North Vietnam

Price from

£504 pp*

Hanoi to Bai Tu Long Bay

5 Nights

Vietnam

Visit Ban Gioc Waterfall - spectacular waterfall that sits directly on the border of Vietnam and China.
Overnight cruise on a deluxe boat in Bai Tu Long Bay
Visit Hua Ma Cave which is famous for its thousands of stalactites.

Price from

£742 pp*

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Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh – Ultimate Vietnam in 14 days

13 Nights Vietnam
- Taste of bustling Hanoi with its busy markets and delicious street food
- Discover the magnificent caves of Ha Long Bay
- Visit the Imperial City of Hue and the ancient port of Hoi An
- Experience the vibrant city of Ho Chi Minh and the Mekong Delta
Price from

£2764 pp*

Take me there
8 Day Adventure in Northern Vietnam

7 Nights Northern Vietnam
- Explore Hanoi - busy markets and delicious street food
- Discover the magnificent caves of Ha Long Bay
- Visit Mai Chau and walk the Cham river suspension bridge
- Stay in boutique eco lodges
Price from

£1209 pp*

Take me there
8 Day Central and South Vietnam Adventure

7 Nights Hue
- Explore the city of Hue by guided motorcycle tour
- Traverse the spectacular Hai Van Pass in an open top war-era jeep
- Vist the ancient port of Hoi An and temples of Chien Dan
- Experience the vibrant city of Ho Chi Minh
Price from

£1197 pp*

Take me there
Local Trail Walking and Eco Retreat – North Vietnam

9 Nights Northern Vietnam
- Explore Hanoi - busy markets and delicious street food
- Visit Trang An UNESCO site and take a train ride to Hanoi
- Enjoy a sampan boat ride and guided cycle tour
- Stay at a luxury eco-lodge in Sapa
Price from

£2729 pp*

Take me there
3 Days of Hanoi Like a Local

2 Nights Hanoi
- Deluxe Rooms
- All guided tours included
- Transport included
Price from

£458 pp*

Take me there
Hue Imperial City and Cooking Class

7 Hours Hue

Discover the Forbidden City and the Royal Palace in an old crumbling citadel, then turn yourself into an expert chef in ..

Price from

£103 pp

Take me there
Urban Jeep Tour of Hanoi

2 Nights Hanoi
- A unique war era open top jeep is your transport
- Explore Hanoi - busy markets and delicious street food
- Stay in a boutique hotel in the old quarter
- Discover parts of the city most tourists never see
Price from

£255 pp*

Take me there
Rural Hanoi and Mai Chau Village

1 Night Hanoi
- This trip starts and ends in Hanoi
- Stay in a luxury eco-lodge
- Guided cycle ride to Mo Luong Cave
- Get to know the authentic coutryside of North Vietnam
Price from

£504 pp*

Take me there
Hanoi to Bai Tu Long Bay

5 Nights Hanoi
- Visit Ban Gioc Waterfall - spectacular waterfall that sits directly on the border of Vietnam and China.
- Overnight cruise on a deluxe boat in Bai Tu Long Bay
- Visit Hua Ma Cave which is famous for its thousands of stalactites.
Price from

£742 pp*

Take me there

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What our travellers are saying...

I am glad we did this tour. It was lovely to meet local people, share their home and their stories and of course try their delicious food.

Bridgette

From start to finish, this company went above and beyond to make sure this was a truly unforgettable trip. All of the staff were friendly and helpful when booking the tour and as soon as we met Mr Linh, we knew we had chosen the right company! Our trip to Ba Be was a definite highlight of my time in Vietnam. As well as seeing all of the main attractions, which really are breathtaking we also enjoyed getting off the beaten track and experiencing s

Lauren

We spent 6 days on the Highlights and Hidden Gems of Halong Bay and Ba Be tour with our guide Mr David Long and our driver Mr Nam. We were a bit apprehensive to begin with as we are usually independent travellers however we absolutely loved the experience for its authenticity, flexibility and accessibility to areas and people we would not normally have had access to. This is a tour company offering exceptional service right from the beginning of

Sophia

I can not say enough good things about how amazing this experience was. Even down to the initial inquiry to the drop off at the hotel at the end every second of this trip was perfect!

Steph

Best Time to Visit Vietnam

General

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High season: July & August

July and August are the busiest months in Vietnam, especially along the coast, leading to a 50% increase in prices. It is essential to book the trip well ahead of time. The weather throughout the country, except the far north, is hot, humid, and occasionally interrupted by impressive summer monsoon downpours.

Shoulder season: December-March

Vietnam’s winter is drier than the summer, but it also brings colder temperatures with highs just above 20℃. The northern regions can be chilly, while the far south enjoys clear skies and sunny days. For those who love a big city, the shoulder season is an enjoyable time to visit Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, although check for any festivals that might raise prices.

Low season: April-June and September-November

Vietnam’s low season occurs during the transitional periods from winter to summer and summer to winter. This time offers varying weather, with the possibility of splendid sunny days and occasional rain. It’s an excellent opportunity for travellers seeking to avoid tourist crowds or those planning to tour the entire country.

Best Places to Visit

Northern Vietnam

Cast your mind along a narrow, twisting mountain road that sweeps under endless, rippling mountain r

Discover

Northern Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City

A place where sleek glass skyscrapers clash with dingy market alleys, where one minute you can be in

Discover

Ho Chi Minh City

Hanoi

Discover

Hanoi

Hoi An

Discover

Hoi An

Hue

Discover

Hue

Unmissable Highlights in Vietnam

Ha Long Bay – Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO world heritage site, with its emerald waters and limestone islands, this breathtaking scene needs to be on your bucket-list. The whole area has a unique ecosystem and unique geography that makes it one of the most unique places on earth, and our local host will ensure you explore this area responsibly and sustainably.
Mai Chau Village – Some of our favourite memories of Vietnam are from cycling around Mai Chau Village in rural vietnam. Staying in an authentic stilt house surrounded by gentle streams and rivers and mountains, the sort of scenery that brings you down to earth and inspires creativity and mindfulness.
Sampan boat ride – A sampan is a traditional flat-bottomed boat that is found around east and south Asia, usually propelled by a single stern sculling oar. Travelling to Vietnam we fully recommend a sampan boat ride, it is a great way to experience and see otherwise hard-to-reach parts of Vietnam.

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What the guidebooks don’t tell you

Be open-minded – Some people still associate Vietnam with the war. Many first-time visitors are even still surprised when they visit and see a vibrant, peaceful community. Just be aware that the local people have moved on, and that they welcome everyone and expect respect in return.

Don’t forget to smile! – Vietnamese people are lovely, but might not always stop and help confused looking foreigners. So if you ask a local a question, do it with a smile, you’ll have your question answered and the smile returned.

Learn a few words – Even basic phrases like “cảm ơn” (thank you) or “xin chào” (hello) go a long way. Vietnamese people appreciate the effort to engage with their language, even if your pronunciation isn’t perfect. It shows respect for their culture and often leads to warmer interactions.

Learn more about Vietnam

Three Days in Northern Vietnam

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Off-Grid Holidays in South East Asia

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A Guide to a Digital Detox Holiday

Now more than ever, it feels as though it’s impossible to get away from screens. At work, on our commute, at home, in the pub… it seems as though digital technology has crept into almost every aspect of our lives, so it’s little wonder when some people find the idea... Read More »

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