DISCOVER VIETNAM

Our sample itinerary is PERFECT for first-time visitors, taking you from north to south.  The bustling, vibrant streets of Hanoi, the iconic beauty and serenity of UNESCO World Heritage Site Ha Long Bay, the ancient marvels and recent history of Hue, the stunning sights and bargains of lantern-lit Hoi An, the intriguing river life of the Mekong,  the wonderful Saigon and an exploration of the Cu Chi tunnels.

From the ultra-modern cities of Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore to the chaotic and congested Bangkok, the white sandy, azure blue waters of Bali, Phuket and Langkawi, to the rich and diverse heritage of Vietnam, there are an amazing array of experiences on offer.  Imagine walking the magnificent Great Wall of China or cruising the shimmering seas of Halong Bay.

Whether it's crystal blue waters and white sandy beaches, bustling cities, unique temples or battering for a bargain in a local market, Asia will excite and enthral.
 

• • Best time to visit: Vietnam is a long, thin country with 3 climates! We have found the best time to visit is March-April or September-October. Temperatures are between 25 – 32 ° C.   You may get a bit of rain  September-October in the north and central but it’s usually brief and heavy. We have visited in September (after our winter!) twice and the weather has been great.
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  • Cost: Vietnam is one of Asia’s most-value-for-money destinations
  
  • Vietnam is perhaps the safest country to travel to in South-East Asia and is a very safe destination to travel with family.
  
  • We provide the best accommodation for your needs and budget
  
  • 24-hour emergency assistance
  
  • Transfers, transport, tour guides, local tours & flights included as per itinerary
  
  • TOP TIPS:Add an extra day in Hoi An. Fly Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) to Siem Riep in Cambodia to visit the legendary Angkor Wat temple complex. Or from Hanoi, add 3 days for trekking in the scenic wonderland of Sapa.

 

Day 1 Arrive Hanoi	If this is your first holiday to Vietnam, don’t stress. A driver will be waiting at the arrival gate holding a sign with your name. The hour long trip from the airport to your hotel in the old quarter is a visual feast; motorbikes, colour and the beautifully apparent French influence in the architecture.
Day 2 Hanoi City full day tour	Depart at 8:30am from your hotel. We will begin our day by visiting the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology which focuses on the 54 officially recognised ethnic groups in Vietnam - This collection relating to Vietnam's ethnic minorities features well-presented tribal art, artefacts and everyday objects gathered from across the nation, and examples of traditional village houses. Truly fascinating. Next stop is Temple of Literature. The site of Vietnam's first University, built in twelfth century, to teach the royals the Confucius theory. Following lunch continue to Hoa Lo prison – otherwise known as the notorious Hanoi Hilton - where many famous prisoners were kept during the Vietnam war. Your day finishes with a 1 hour electric cart around Hanoi Old Quarter. Breakfast & lunch included
Day 3 Halong Bay overnight boat tour	The emerald green waters and dramatic landscape of Halong Bay, one of the world’s greatest natural wonders, is calling your name. A shuttle bus will arrive to take you eastward to Hon Gai Port, where your overnight boat is docked. Lunch is served as you cruise through towering limestone karst. First stop is Tra Bau Bay, with kayaking or a swim in the cool, calm waters. Paddle back to the boat and sip a cocktail or beer as the sun dips below the horizon. Your personal chef will then showcase their skills and share their knowledge of Vietnamese cuisine during an immersive cooking class. Following a delectable meal, enjoy a performance of traditional Vietnamese music. Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Day 4 Fly Hanoi to Hue	As the sun creeps above the horizon to welcome a new day, start the morning with a relaxing Tai Chi session on the top deck. After breakfast the beautiful locals of the bay will arrive and invite you to step aboard their traditional wooden sampan boats. From here, the captains of these micro-vessels will take you through brilliant caves and two magnificent caverns to explore a vast enclosed lake.  Following lunch take one final glimpse of the sheer, unadulterated beauty of Ha Long Bay before departing the cruise ship at the harbour. On the way back, you will be transferred to Hanoi airport for a short flight to historic Hue. Breakfast & lunch included. Flight included
Day 5 Hue half day motorbike tour	Your local guide and highly skilled and qualified motorbike driver/s will meet you at the hotel – rest assured, these drivers are the best and will travel at a pace of no more than 40km. After a safety briefing your adventure begins.  During the tour you will ride through little laneways, beside canals and through local markets, visit a king’s tomb, pagoda and local handicrafts. Lunch is a delicious, traditional Buddhist banquet served at a pagoda.  This is a truly action packed day of scenery, history, culture and cuisine. Breakfast & lunch included
Day 6 Hue to Hoi An by road	Today a US army jeep (vehicle dependant on availability) takes you from Hue to Hoi An, along the famed Vietnam coastline and over the spectacular Hai Van Pass (a legendary drive made famous by Top Gear - you will see things that no bus or train trip could provide). Stop at Marble Mountain, a mystifying rock structure with ornate temples and enormous caves housing gigantic statues of buddha – this systems of caves and tunnels were also an important base for the Vietnamese Revolutionaries. Breakfast included

 

Day 7 Hoi An half day Cycling tour	Your local guide will take you along country lanes, through palm forests, fields of water buffalo, rice fields with farmers using centuries old traditional farming practices to Tra Que Organic Vegetable Village, where a large variety of vegetables are produced for the local community. The environmentally sustainable practices which the local villagers have used for centuries are still used extensively today. A delicious lunch follows a fun cooking lesson. Breakfast & lunch included
Day 8 Hoi An free day	Hoi An is a captivating, lantern lit, World Heritage town - beautifully restored and preserved. Shopping, restaurants, history, architecture, golf, fishing, swimming, scuba, abseiling, or massage and lazing around. – it’s all here for you to enjoy. Note that Hoi An has become famous for its tailoring and optometry – we can recommend who to see and where to go! Breakfast included
Day 9 Fly Hoi An to Saigon – Saigon foodies tour by back of the bike	Private transfer from your hotel to Danang Airport for the hour long flight to Ho Chi Minh City - a driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel. Tonight enjoy a foodie night out on the town with an English-speaking local guide. Travelling on the back of a motorbike, stop at 5 different food vendors throughout the districts of Ho Chi Minh. At each stop sit down to eat together like a family. Each food vendor prepares different dishes of Vietnamese Cuisine. We love this tour! Breakfast and dinner included. Flight included.
Day 10 Cu Chi Tunnels half day tour	This morning you will be met at your hotel for the journey west to explore the incredible network of communist guerrilla tunnels at Cu Chi. The tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels involves learning about the ingenious traps designed by the guerrilla fighters as well as demonstrations of the weapons and bombs used in the war. Even with B-52 bombers dropping 30-ton loads of explosive, turning the jungle into a pockmarked moonscape, 30 thousand American troops failed to conquer the area! For the brave and nimble, there is an opportunity to travel underground in a short section of the 121km, multi-layered tunnels. Breakfast included
Day 11 Mekong Delta full day tour	The mighty Mekong Delta, where colourful floating villages, rare birdlife, boats stacked with vibrant local fruit, water buffalo and rice paddy workers co-exist in a fascinating ecosystem. With your guide you will be taken to the township of Ben Tre, where you will climb aboard a private boat for a leisurely, culture-rich expedition down the Mekong Delta. From there motor cart or cycle to a local restaurant for traditional lunch, followed by an afternoon rowing along Water Palm Creek, before boarding the boat back to the Hung Vuong Pier and transfer to your hotel. Breakfast &lunch included
Day 12 Saigon – Departure	Private transfer from your hotel to Ho Chi Minh City Airport. Breakfast included