Explore Vietnam

Day 1

Hanoi

Today you will arrive in Hanoi and be transferred to your hotel for a welcome meeting in the evening.

Overnight: Golden Silk Boutique Hotel

Day 2

Mai Chau

Your day gets off to a unique start with breakfast at Hoa Sua, a non-profit training restaurant for Hanoi’s underprivileged youth. Afterwards, you will travel to the luscious Mai Chau Valley for a scenic stroll through local villages and sweeping rice paddies. Your walking tour will also take you to Mai Chau market for a chance to taste some exotic fruits.

You’ll also have the option to tuck into an authentic dinner at a local home, for the chance of delving into the White Tai culture.

Overnight: Mai Chau Ecolodge

Breakfast included.

Day 3

Mai Chau

Your whole day is free for you to explore the valley at your own pace. There’s plenty of great activities to take part in here, including cycling through the countryside, kayaking along the Hoa Binh reservoir, or even enjoying a cooking class.

Overnight: Mai Chau Ecolodge

Breakfast included.

Day 4

Hanoi

Today you will delve into Hanoi’s rich culture, including learning about the Vietnam War at the Hoa Lo Prison, immersing yourself in Ho Chi Minh’s life and political history at the Hi Chi Minh Mausoleum, and enjoying a fun cyclo tour of the city’s vibrant Old Quarter.

You’ll also have the option of seeing the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre Performance, a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show featuring wonderful live music and elaborate puppets.

Overnight: Golden Silk Boutique Hotel

Breakfast included.

Day 5

Halong Bay

Today you will transfer to Halong Bay before hopping on a traditional junk boat for the night. Slowly sailing along the bay, you’ll pass phenomenal views of limestone islands jutting out of the azure water, and cruise to the secluded Bai Tu Long Bay.

These are traditional wooden sailing boats offering the comfort of a motorised floating hotel, featuring twin cabins with ensuite bathrooms, plus a communal dining and sitting area, and an outside deck perfect for taking in gorgeous views. The chefs will prepare a delightful seafood lunch and dinner too.

Overnight: Halong Bay Boat

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 6

Hanoi and Hue

This morning, rise early to see the sun rise, and then cruise to the Thien Canh Son cave with a local guide. You’ll tuck in to an early lunch on board your boat, before returning to land and catching a short flight to Hue.

Overnight: Romance Hotel

Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 7

Hue

Your day will begin with an Imperial Citadel Tour, exploring the walled fortress and former palace, including the lovely gardens and courtyards. You’ll then embark on the Emperor’s Tomb Guided Tour, which involves exploring the tombs of Vietnam’s great emperors – some of which date back to the 1800s.

You’ll also have the option to enjoy a local tour of Hue by motorbike taxi, including visiting markets and learning how rice is made, before hopping on a boat to learn how incense and conical hats are created. This tour ends with a visit to a local Convent for lunch.

Overnight: Romance Hotel

Breakfast included.

Day 8

Hoi An

Today you will embark on a scenic drive to Hoi An, where you will enjoy a walking tour of the ancient town and visit Chinese assembly halls, historical homes, the Japanese covered bridge, and beautiful pagodas.

Next up is a traditional lantern experience at the Lifestart Foundation. A project helping Vietnamese locals with chronic disabilities gain sustainable employment, Lifestart Foundation will offer you the chance to learn how to make your own traditional lantern, before sharing stories with the teacher and learning more about this fantastic organisation.

Overnight: Essence Hoi An Hotel

Breakfast included.

Day 9

Hoi An

The Oodles of Noodles Culinary Experience is your first port of call today. Oodles of Noodles offer an 18-month training course for Vietnamese youth, who are divided into wait staff and kitchen staff and empowered to lead ‘insider noodle tours’ in Hoi An. You’ll visit the market with two students and their instructor to learn about the ingredients used to make over 26 types of noodles in the city, as well as tasting the different noodles and seeing female-run enterprises. After picking out the ingredients with the students, you will return to the training kitchen and learn to cook and prepare the noodles, tucking into your efforts for lunch and learning more about the organisation. This is your chance to help students practice their English, ready for getting jobs after their training is complete.

Overnight: Essence Hoi An Hotel

Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 10

Hoi An

Today is free for you to explore the city at your own pace. There are plenty of optional activities you can choose from, including soaking up the sun on Cua Dai beach, or visiting My Son – a UNESCO World Heritage Site brimming with interesting historical ruins.

Overnight: Essence Hoi An Hotel

Breakfast included.

Day 11

Ho Chi Minh City

Start with a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Here you’ll have some free time to explore – we’d suggest hopping on a cyclo tour of the city, or explore the markets and shops.

Overnight: Continental Saigon Hotel

Breakfast included.

Day 12

Ho Chi Minh City

Embark on an exciting Cu Chi Tunnels guided tour today. Legendary for being the place where Viet Cong lived to protect themselves from opposing forces during the Vietnam War, you’ll crawl through some of the tunnels and see where Viet Cong stored their ammunition and built underground hospitals.

Overnight: Continental Saigon Hotel

Breakfast and dinner included.

Day 13

Ho Chi Minh City

Your tour ends here.

Breakfast included.