Trip Details

Ultimate Vietnam Adventure

If you’re looking to book an adventure-packed Vietnam backpacking tour on your gap year, think TRU’s Ultimate Vietnam Adventure!  Our 13-day /13-night trip from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City includes the very best of Vietnam, with heaps of activities on our journey through the mountains, beaches and bustling cities. What’s more, our experienced tour leaders will be on hand to ensure you have the trip of a lifetime as all the ‘boring bits’ of planning a holiday are taken care of for you. And if you have time (and fun!) to spare, why not add one of our gap year volunteering programmes to this experience for an extended stay in this amazing country!

Adventure all the way on this TRU-ly Exciting Experience!

On this experience, you’ll find every day is its own adventure! Take a journey through Vietnam’s culture, communities and cuisine as we travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, kayaking, abseiling and snorkelling our way across the country. What’s more, you can test your courage and stamina as we take you canyoning, cliff-diving, under waterfalls and over mountains.

Get to know Vietnam’s Vibrant Culture

You can choose what type of experience this will be for you, (it is your adventure, after all!) and on our Ultimate Vietnam Adventure, you will get to know the country’s people and culture too! Get some authentic Vietnamese cooking lessons and explore the incredible ancient and recent history of Vietnam on foot, by bus and even junk boat! Evenings, too, are thoughtfully planned out as you are invited to join us for Karaoke nights, boat parties – and of course, some great beer, to wash down your delicious meals which are included in the programme.

You Focus on the Fun – we take Care of Everything Else!

If you are travelling alone, you won’t be for long! Make friends with your fellow intrepid explorers from the first night, as we put on activities to help you get to know one another. Further, if you have any queries or need help during your adventure, our experienced coordinator is on hand to assist and ensure you get what you need.  Importantly, all the basics are taken care of for you, on our Ultimate Vietnam Adventure – from food and transport to accommodation. So, once you’ve got yourself here, you can simply relax and go with the flow of our fun-packed programme, taking some chill time when you feel like it! This adventure really is the perfect combination of fun, sun, culture and adrenalin and will provide a memorable gap year experience!

Why Book our Ultimate Gap Year Adventure, Vietnam?

  • Explore the real Vietnam as we journey on foot, by bus and boat
  • Immerse yourself in Vietnamese culture and the history of this fascinating country
  • Make new friends as you journey together through 13 days and nights of adventure
  • Discover Vietnamese cuisine and learn to cook authentic Vietnamese food
  • All accommodation, in-programme travel, food and beverages* included

*tea, coffee and drinking water

Get in touch or add to this adventure with one of our many volunteer experiences.

Trip Itinerary

Our Ultimate Vietnam Adventure will be a trip to remember! Here’s our schedule, filled with fun-packed activities as well as opportunities to chill, explore and learn about Vietnamese culture …

Hanoi: Welcome to Vietnam

Meet the group at our welcome dinner and drinks (about 6pm on Day One. The tour leader will explain everything you need to know about the upcoming adventure. Later, get a taste of what Hanoi’s nightlife has to offer. (Welcome Dinner and Drink included)

Foodie Tour on Day 2.

Get a taste of local foods and delicacies, as we show you around the streets of Hanoi. Visit the markets and get a feel for how the locals live their way of life. Further you’ll find locals are really friendly, and you will mingling with them in the evening over some fresh beer. (Breakfast and all food during food tour included – basically an 8-course lunch)

Halong Bay: Escape the City

We go on a 3-Day journey to the famous and world heritage listed Halong Bay. Here, you will board a junk boat, followed by some delicious lunch. Later this afternoon we visit the colourful Haven Cave, go for a dip in the sea and kayak around the islands before we get the boat party started. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

The next morning, we head to a private island resort hidden in the maze of stunning Lan Ha Bay. Hammocks, beach, palm trees, kayaks, beach volley, unbelievable sunsets and karaoke – it’s all here! (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included) Refreshed and relaxed we make our way back to Hanoi. Lastly, take a cruise along hundreds of islands …and learn how to make Vietnamese spring rolls. (Breakfast and Lunch included)

Hoi An: The City of Lanterns

We head to the airport and fly south to Danang with only a short drive to romantic Hoi An, where we’ll stay for 2 nights. Explore the old town along the river, drop into one of the many tailors and chill out at the beach. (Breakfast included) We head to the local market where we’ll pick up groceries for our cooking class. Cruise along the river to our idyllic cooking location and learn how to prepare delicious Vietnamese cuisine. (Breakfast and Lunch included) The next day you get to sleep in, explore the city a little more or tan up at the beach before jumping on the overnight bus to Nha Trang. (Breakfast included)

Nha Trang: Snorkel in paradise

We arrive early morning, have some breakfast and drop our bags at the hotel before heading to the boat. Enjoy the day swimming, snorkelling and sunbathing in the paradise of Nha Trang. (Breakfast and Lunch included)

Da Lat: Canyoning and Abseiling

We catch the morning bus to DaLat and explore the city in the afternoon. Therafter, you will settle for the night, to be refreshed for the next day abseiling and swimming in the canyon. Walk down pounding waterfalls, slide through the canyon and jump off cliffs. Don’t worry if this isn’t for you. DaLat, where you will be staying, offers stunning scenery with heaps of things to do, so we’ll work out what you’re comfortable with. (Breakfast and Lunch included)

Ho Chi Minh City: Cu Chi Tunnels

Final stop, but the trip isn’t over yet! We head to Ho Chi Minh City, where we have 2 more days and nights. You can’t come to Vietnam without learning a bit about the Vietnam War, so we have a bit of the history lesson and visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. Thereafter, we have a Farewell Dinner and drinks. (Breakfasts included)

Trip Accommodation

About the Accommodation

During the course of your Ultimate Vietnam Experience, you will be staying across various types of accommodation …

  • Total of 13-nights accommodation
  • Sleep on a Vietnamese Junk Boat (with en-suite rooms)
  • Wake up on a private island
  • Overnight sleeper bus

Food Arrangements

You will have a wide variety of authentic Vietnamese cuisine as well as western cooking on our Ultimate Vietnam Adventure. Vegetarians can be catered for, but do let us know of any dietary requirements at the time of booking.

Facilities

Facilities will change depending on where you are staying, but your coordinator will ensure that you have ample opportunities to grab what you need at each location.

Trip Country Info

Vietnam

Population: Approx.92 million
Capital: Hanoi
Language: Vietnamese
Currency: Vietnamese dong (VND)
Time zone: UTC +7

Vietnam is currently the world’s 13th most populous country and occupies 331,211 square kilometers. Today, although scarred by its past, Vietnam is a fast-growing economy helped by tourism that its interesting history and beautiful sights draw in.

One frequent thing to hear is that it has not yet been subjected to the western influence that Thailand and, to an extent, Cambodia have been. The Vietnamese still tend to prefer their traditional cuisine to the fast food chains that seem to be taking over the world.

Aside from the beautiful countryside of the north, rice fields and beaches, Vietnam is a country that is very much on the move. Roads are being upgraded, new hotels are opening everywhere and its cities are fastly developing.

If you are planning to work & travel in Vietnam there are a number of fulfilling opportunities available from volunteering with children to Hospital Out reach projects. As an experienced gap year travel company we have helped many people enjoy the delights of Vietnam during their gap year so if you are looking for an adventure in South East Asia you should add Vietnam to your shortlist. Few countries in the world can offer such a diverse range of culture, history, natural wonders and excitement.

Vietnam offers ravishing coastlines, emerald-green mountains and dynamic cities. The breathtaking National Parks continue to yield new species and are teaming with exotic wildlife. With outstanding cultural interest and one of the world’s best cuisines, Vietnam has it all. If you are looking for a Volunteer experience in Vietnam have a look at our latest experiences below.

Participant Criteria & Requirements

Standard Requirements

No requirements have been provided.

Additional Requirements

No requirements have been provided.

What's included

  • 24/7 support in case of emergencies
  • Accommodation
  • Group Leaders
  • Some meals
  • Transport

What's not included

  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Vaccination
  • Visa