Day 1
Ho Chi Minh City
Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. At 6pm you will meet your group and local leader. If you have time beforehand, why not explore the city. After the meeting, you’ll enjoy a group dinner at an old opium refinery station built in 1861, with delicious southern Vietnamese favourites.
Dinner included.
Overnight: M Boutique Hotel or similar
Day 2
Mekong Delta
After breakfast, you will drive south through the region of Ben Tre and towards the Mekong Delta. Once there, you’ll board a private boat and cruise along the delta, marvelling at the sights and stopping by some coconut gardens to enjoy coconut jams and tropical fruits. In the afternoon, you’ll board small rowing boats (called sampans) to explore the waterways of the delta and see the stilt houses. When you’re back on land, there’ll be a tuk-tuk tour around the villages to see the role the coconut industry plays in local life, a lovely lunch at a local restaurant, and an evening of leisure back in Ho Chi Minh.
Breakfast and lunch included.
Overnight: M Boutique Hotel or similar
Day 3
Ho Chi Minh City
Today you will tour Ho Chi Minh City on a bus and walking tour with your local leader. On this trip, you’ll visit the Reunification Palace to hear the story of how the war ended, the War Remnants Museum and the Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral. The evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
Breakfast included
Overnight: M Boutique Hotel or similar
Day 4
Cu Chi Tunnels - Dalat
After breakfast you’ll embark on a half-day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a magnificent underground network of tunnels which was first dug by the Viet Minh and expanded by the Viet Cong. You’ll explore the area with your leader, who will tell you its incredible history, and a section of the tunnels has been widened so you can get a feel for what living underground would have been like. The tunnels are hot, and can get claustrophobic, so there is the option to see them above ground. In the afternoon, you’ll fly to Dalat.
Breakfast included.
Overnight: TTC Hotel Premium Da Lat or similar
Day 5
Dalat
Located high in Vietnam’s southern highlands, Dalat is a beautiful area enveloped by lakes, pine forests and waterfalls. Thanks to its temperate climate and high rainfall, many grow crops and flowers here that cannot usually be grown in Vietnam. The day begins with a morning brew at a local family-run coffee farm, where you’ll learn about how your drink has been harvested and roasted. After lunch together, you’ll have an afternoon free to explore.
Breakfast and lunch included
Overnight: TTC Hotel Premium Da Lat or similar
Day 6
Hoi An
The morning is free for you to enjoy at your leisure. In the afternoon, you’ll fly to Danang before jumping in a private vehicle for a short drive to Hoi An. Again, the afternoon is free for you to explore. Optional activities include learning to make rice paper at a local workshop and a Vietnamese cooking class.
Breakfast included
Overnight: Mulberry Collection Silk Eco or similar
Day 7
Hoi An
In the morning you’ll join your leader for a walking tour through Hoi An to see the beautiful architecture. The tour includes visiting an elegantly decorated historic house once home to a prominent trader, crossing the Japanese Covered Bridge, and stopping by the Chinese assembly hall. After lunch together, you’re free to explore the town at your own pace.
Breakfast and lunch included
Overnight: Mulberry Collection Silk Eco or similar
Day 8
Hoi An
The morning will begin with a guided tour of My Son Cham, a stunning collection of temples constructed by the Kings of Champa and dating back to the 4th century. From the afternoon, you’ll be wandering through Thanh Ha Pottery Village, one of the oldest pottery villages in Vietnam, and visiting the home of an artisan couple who were once the only artisans in the village. You’ll then meet descendants of the couple and learn how traditional pieces are made. You may even have the option of painting a traditional pottery mask. The evening is yours to enjoy at leisure back at Hoi An.
Breakfast included
Overnight: Mulberry Collection Silk Eco or similar
Day 9
Hue
Start your day with a journey to Hue, which was once the imperial capital of Vietnam. On your way, you’ll pass through the Hai Van Pass, a striking mountainous highway with views across Lang Co beach. Once in Hue, you’ll enjoy a half day guided tour, which includes the Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City.
Breakfast included
Overnight: Cherish Hotel or similar
Day 10
Hue
The ideal day for foodies. First, you’ll visit a street food eatery for a delicious breakfast of Bun Bo Hue, a noodle soup usually made with beef and pig knuckles. Afterwards, you’ll meet a local chef and wander through a local market while finding out more about Vietnam’s amazing cuisine. After a spot of lunch, you’ll visit a local chef’s home and learn how to cook simple and flavourful dishes using ingredients you picked up at the market.
In the afternoon, you’ll enjoy a guided visit to the Thien Mu Pagoda – the unofficial symbol of Hue, as well as a royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc and the Imperial Citadel.
Breakfast and lunch included
Overnight: Overnight: Cherish Hotel or similar
Day 11
Hanoi
Start your day with a flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, you will meet with your leader to experience the ancient 36 Streets and take a look at the lovely shops selling souvenirs, silk clothing, jewellery and more. The afternoon will be spent watching a traditional Hat Xam performance, an art form that dates back to the Tran Dynasty. These shows were once performed by blind performers until the 1950s, when a wave of communism deemed art to be a corrupting influence. Now, the shows aren’t performed very often, but you’ll be taken to a private club house for an exclusive performance.
Breakfast included
Overnight: La Sinfonia Hotel or similar
Day 12
Hanoi
On day 12, you will be taken on a guided half-day tour of Hanoi, visiting historic attractions such as One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature. Lunch today is at KOTO restaurant, an Intrepid Foundation supported program teaching hospitality skills to disadvantaged youth. The afternoon is free for your leisure. Why not visit the Vietnam Fine Arts museum, or simply wait around the area to take in its beauty.
Breakfast and lunch included
Overnight: La Sinfonia Hotel or similar
Day 13
Halong Bay
Today you will be driven to Halong Bay, a World Heritage listed destination that is a wonder to see. You’ll board a junk-style boat – your accommodation for the evening – and watch in amazement as you cruise through limestone islands, caves and karsts. Visit Surprise Cave to see its fascinating rock formations, then relax on the boat with a seafood lunch. If you visit in the summer months, you may get to swim from Top Ti Island, or enjoy some kayaking. In the evening, you’ll dine on the deck of the boat by candlelight and marvel at a gorgeous sunset.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Overnight: Secret Halong Cruise or similar
Day 14
Hanoi
Start your day right with breakfast on board the boat, and perhaps take part in an optional Tai Chi lesson. Once you’ve disembarked and returned to Hanoi, you’ll have some spare time to explore the city. In the evening, you’ll meet with your group and leader for the final dinner.
Breakfast and dinner included
Overnight: La Sinfonia Hotel or similar
Day 15
Hanoi
Enjoy a last breakfast before moving on to your onward travel.
Breakfast included
