Vietnam: the Highlights & Far Beyond

Day 1 DEPART THE UK

Depart the UK on your overnight flight to Hanoi.

Day 2 & 3 Hanoi  

Hanoi is alive with culture, history and local day-to-day life bustling around you. You’ll learn a little about the cultural traditions at the Ethnology Museum, get lost in the hidden alleyways of the old quarter and taste some of the street food for which Hanoi is famous. 

DAY 4 & 5 PU LUONG NATURE RESERVE 

Departing Hanoi with your guide and driver, you’ll travel via a breathtaking mountain pass to Pu Luong Nature Reserve. The nature reserve lies along two picturesque mountain ridges far from the usual tourist trail. 

Explore the beautiful retreat, with its captivating panoramic views and tranquil setting. Go bamboo rafting along the Cham River and descend into the lovely local valley for a walk around the tumbling rice terraces. There is a chance to interact with the villagers in the hills above the retreat. Glimpse daily life, explore the working farmland and rice fields and learn about the colourful local textile craft. 

DAY 6 & 7 NINH BINH & TRANG AN ECO SYSTEM 

Departing Pu Luong Retreat, you’ll travel through the countryside to the UNESCO Heritage site Trang An Ecosystem. Here, you’ll board a rowing boat to travel along the small river and explore the caves and river surrounded by dramatic limestone mountains and green field landscapes. You’ll stay in a boutique retreat with a lovely swimming pool in the paddy fields. 

Activities during your stay here include a cycle ride on a tranquil and peaceful trail devoid of tourists. Soak in the magnificent beauty of the surrounding beautiful limestone mountains, and a short hike will take you to the top of Hang Mua for an aerial view of the region. You will stop at a local house in a peaceful village with a beautiful setting, and then you will have a chance to visit Bai Dinh Temple, Vietnam’s largest Buddhist temple complex and an important pilgrimage site. 

Day 8  Overnight Train Adventure  

 After freshening up at the hotel and enjoying dinner at a local restaurant, you’ll transfer to Thanh Hoa railway station to board the overnight train (around 10 pm) due south for Hoi An (Danang Station). 

N.B. – If you have extra time available on the train journey south, you can stop for a night or two in the Imperial City of Hue.

Days 9-12 Hoi An And The Beach 

On arrival in Danang, it’s a 30-minute transfer down the coast to your beach hotel in Hoi An.  

Much of your time here is free to relax and enjoy the beach and the hotel. A tour of the old town is included, incorporating one of our designated Give Back experiences: a visit to a social enterprise restaurant for a lovely lunch and a noodle-making class. 

DAY 13 & 14 MEKONG DELTA HOMESTAY 

Fly directly from Danang (Hoi An) to Can Tho in the heart of the Mekong Delta. Here, you will explore the palm-fringed waterways, farmlands and villages by cyclo, sampan boat and bicycle. You’ll stay overnight in a local homestay where you can catch fish and pick vegetables before enjoying a delicious dinner with your hosts. 

DAY 15 HO CHI MINH CITY 

Travel by road from The Mekong Delta to Saigon for your final stay. In the evening, head out on a night-time tour; you'll ride pillion on the back of a Vespa bike, exploring the city's highlights.

DAY 16 FLY HOME 

Depart Vietnam for your flight back to the UK.