Tour description
We’ll meet up in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, a bustling place where we can wander around the numerous museums, pagodas, colonial buildings and churches. There’ll be an opportunity to book an excursion to Tay Ninh, the centre of the colourful Cao Dai religion. We’ll also be able to see the famous Cu Chi tunnels, a famous 75-mile-long complex built by the Vietcong fighters during the Vietnam War, where you’ll be able to see a museum dedicated to weaponry and war crimes too.
The Mekong Delta
On day 3 we’ll drive to the Mekong Delta, with its paddy-fields and coconut and banana plantations. We’ll be able to take fantastic boat-trips and a bicycle tour. And we’ll stay overnight on An Binh Island. From this island the group will enjoy a private boat trip to the neighbouring island of Vinh Long where you can visit the floating island.Danang
After a domestic flight to Danang we’ll then drive down to attractive Hoi An, probably Vietnam’s most beautiful spot, where we’ll visit the photogenic market with baskets filled with fish, shrimps, vegetables and fruit (so don’t forget your camera!). We recommend that you also simply wander around the old stores and private houses to give you an appreciation of Vietnam’s history and culture. Or you may prefer instead to go on a boat or bicycle trip to a quiet beach.The ancient imperial city of Hué
A spectacular drive along the splendid coast and through the Marble Mountains on day 8 will then take us to the ancient imperial city of Hué, where we’ll be able to book a boat-trip along the Perfume River to see the imperial tombs and pagodas just outside the city. A visit to the extensive Forbidden City is also highly recommended.Night train to Hanoi
On day 10 we’ll depart, by night-train with pre-booked couchettes, to the capital of Hanoi where we will then spend two nights. The city is a feast for the eye with its small shops, markets, restaurants, old French villas, various lakes and broad boulevards.Interesting Vietnam trips
On day 13 another night-train will then take us to the tourist resort of Lao Cai (which means ‘old street’s). After a visit to the Saturday market at Can Cau, we’ll then continue to Bac Ha for one night and we’ll get up early to visit its Sunday market. On day 15 we travel to Sapa, situated in a magnificent valley close to the Chinese border. Here we spend two nights. On day 16-17 there is an optional Hill Tribe trek which offers you the opportunity to get to know the colourful Red Zao and Blue Hmong mountain tribes. This optional 1-day/1-night hike (to be booked locally) will pass through beautiful scenery and visit the picturesque settlements of several of the many tribes in the area. This unique experience will certainly add extra meaning to your Vietnam trip!Halong Bay
We’ll then take the night train to Hanoi and spend day 18 visiting the amazing Halong Bay nature reserve with its eery karst limestone rocks rising steeply out of the blue waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. We’ll tour the beautiful area by private boat and spend onboard in this unique setting.Paddy-fields, bamboo thickets and colourful communities
Our next stop will be Ninh Binh, via the bustling port of Hai Phong, where we’ll hire bicycles and enjoy the wonderful scenery. Paddy-fields, bamboo thickets and colourful communities nestle amongst steep slopes and jagged limestone outcrops, so there’ll be plenty to photograph! You’ll have made some great friends on this trip. We return to Hanoi on day 20 where we will say goodbye. But remember to keep your pals’ addresses so you can all book a different trip together next year!