From Magical Bays to the Emerald Island
Itinerary
Days 1-3 – Flavours of Hanoi
Hanoi is a capital city crammed with character. Motorbikes zip through tangled streets, food hawkers serve up steaming bowls of pho and fruit stalls spill onto shady boulevards. You’ll stay in the heart of the atmospheric Old Quarter and during your stay you’ll embark on a culinary and cultural journey through Hanoi with your private guide. You’ll learn all about local legends, admire the ancient architecture and taste a range of delicacies from grilled pork to vermicelli dumplings as you wander the streets of the Old Quarter.
Days 3-5 – Drift between limestone peaks
This morning, you’ll be collected from your hotel by minibus and taken to the coastal town of Bai Tu Long bay, where the junk boat awaits. The journey should take around 4 hours. A turquoise bay peppered with tropical outcrops, Bai Tu Long Bay is every bit as beautiful as neighbouring Halong, but with fewer crowds. Rich in stunning views, you’ll drift between emerald karst islets and laze on tiny beaches. You’ll stay aboard a traditional Chinese junk boat, rocked to sleep by the rhythm of the water. The following day, you’ll cruise back to the port and be taken back to Hanoi. You’ll have some free time this afternoon, before heading to the train station later that evening for your overnight sleeper train to Hue.
Days 6-8 – Lend a hand in Hue
On arrival into the train station in Hue, you will be met by a driver and transferred to your hotel. Help with the local harvest, pick your own lunch and amble along the banks of the Perfume River, where history lingers in the streets. Most travellers whizz through Hue, racing around the citadel, tombs and monuments before moving on. This trip is different. You’ll stay in Hue city and escape on a day trip into the peaceful countryside where you’ll experience helping out a farming family for the day.
Days 8-11 – Classic Hoi An
Today, you’ll be collected from your hotel in Hue and taken to the train station, where you will catch the train to Danang, a comfortable 3 hour journey. On arrival, a private transfer will take you to Hoi An, about 45 minutes south. Known for its charming lantern-lit streets, Hoi An is a mix of historic Chinese shop houses, artist studios, and riverside eateries. The town’s laid-back vibe and delicious food make it a national treasure. While there, you’ll join a small group for a cooking class, starting with a visit to the vibrant local market to pick up fresh ingredients. After learning to cook traditional Vietnamese dishes, you’ll enjoy a leisurely lunch of your creations, leaving the afternoon free for you to explore.
Days 11-13 – Scooting through Saigon
After lunch today you will leave the tranquility of the lake and head to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel in the city. Scoot through Saigon on a vintage Vespa, searching for hidden street food hotspots. Zip through the backstreets after dark, sample the best traditional snacks in the city and listen to live music as you sip on Vietnamese coffee. It’s a night tour and foodie adventure rolled into one. After all, Ho Chi Minh is a city that comes alive as night falls. You’ll stay in a comfy hotel near the central market.
Days 13-16 – Peace & quiet on Phu Quoc
From Saigon you will make your own way to the airport for your flight to the tropical island of Phu Quoc. When you land someone will meet you and take you to your accommodation. Sink your toes into powdery white sands on sleepy Phu Quoc Island. Sleeping in a cosy resort just steps from the beach, you can snooze in a hammock, take barefoot strolls and slow down to the lazy pace of island life. You’ll take a snorkelling tour to the tiny An Thoi islets, where you can float over coral-clad seabeds and watch clownfish dart between the rocks. You’ll make your own way to the airport in Phu Quoc for the quick 1 hour flight to Ho Chi Minh City, where you can catch your connecting flight home.
Accommodation
For this itinerary we offer the following options
From Magical Bays to the Emerald Island - In Style accommodation
For the locations included in this itinerary we have alternative options available in terms of comfort. Our In Style options can be more luxurious, offer something unique or offer a more comfortable transport option – all with that local flavour! If you would like to upgrade your itinerary select our In Style option below.
