Tumbling Rice Paddies and Winding Waterways
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 have an early start ready for your journey to the limestone islands of Bai Tu Long Bay. You’ll be picked up from your hotel by minibus and transferred to Hon Gai harbour, about 4 hours outside of the city. 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.
Days 5-8 – At home with the Hill Tribes
At the harbour you’ll board the minibus back to Hanoi. En route you’ll make a stop at a local farming village. You’ll spend another night in the same hotel in Hanoi. The next day you’ll travel 4 hours to Mai Hich where you’ll spend the next couple of days engrossing yourself in Vietnamese minority culture. Stay with a tribal family tucked away in the misty hills of rural Vietnam and hike through a plunging green valley. As house guests, you’ll experience genuine hill tribe hospitality and get a feel for authentic mountain ways. The accommodation might be simple, but it’s huge on heart. Nestled in the bright green countryside, Mai Hich is home to the White Tai people, known for their dancing, singing and punchy Can wine.
Days 8-10 – Lend a hand in Hue
After lunch, you’ll finish your journey through Mai Hich and begin the return trip to Hanoi, reaching the capital at around 5pm. You’ll spend another night in the same hotel in Hanoi before boarding a 13 hour sleeper train the next day to Hue. Help with the local harvest, pick your own lunch and amble along the banks of the Perfume River in Hue, 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 10-13 – Classic Hoi An
Today, you’ll fly from Hanoi to Danang, with a quick 90-minute 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 13-15 – Scooting through Saigon
We’ll arrange your transfer from your hotel to Danang airport where you’ll take a quick 90 minute domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon. 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 15-18 – A taste of life on the Mekong
Today you’ll be collected right after breakfast by one of our drivers. He’ll take you on a two and a half hour drive to the Mekong Delta from where you’ll continue your travels on the water. Get a real glimpse of delta life as you leave the big city behind you and twist through the tiny waterways of the Mekong. Spend a night in the home of a local Vietnamese family and cycle along waterside paths. It’s the perfect way to learn how to cook those delicious delta specialities! Spend the night in Can Tho and the next morning rise early to discover the frenetic floating market at Cai Rang. You’ll return to Ho Chi Minh city for a final night in the city. The following day you’ll make your way to the airport for your flight home.
Accommodation
For this itinerary we offer the following options
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