Vietnam in style
Itinerary
Days 1-2 – Arrival in Hanoi
After your international flight, one of our friendly representatives will meet you at the airport in Hanoi and take you to your accommodation which should take around 45 minutes. 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 in a beautiful boutique hotel with a rooftop pool that has panoramic views of the city and a renowned rooftop bar. After checking in, head for a stroll around the serene Hoem Kiem Lake which is just a short two-minute walk from the hotel, and find the perfect spot to enjoy a traditional egg coffee while soaking in the idyllic lake view.
Day 3 – Flavours of Hanoi
This morning is free for you to explore the city as you wish. Hop on the back of a motorbike taxi and head to Vietnam’s first university, the Temple of Literature. You can stroll around the peaceful gardens and admire traditional Vietnamese architecture including red-tiled roofs, stone pathways and intricate wooden structures. For a relaxed atmosphere, you can head to West Lake and enjoy a tasty lunch at one of the local lake-side restaurants.
Later this afternoon you will be enjoying a culinary and cultural journey through Hanoi with your private guide, learning all about local legends, admiring the ancient architecture and tasting a range of delicacies from grilled pork to vermicelli dumplings as you wander the streets of the Old Quarter. You will make several iconic stops along the way including Bach Ma Temple, and Saint Joseph’s Cathedral and finish the evening off with a local ‘Bia Hoi’ beer or hot green tea whilst watching the local life pass by.
Days 4 – 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 lunch of fresh grilled seafood will be served as you set sail, kicking off the trip in true local style. You’ll spend the early afternoon sailing between towering jungle-topped islands, before dropping anchor so you can explore the bay for yourself.
Kayaks will be available so that you can paddle to the places your boat won’t reach, where you’ll find secluded beaches and can swim in the azure waters between the rock formations. At sunset, grab an ice-cold beer, watch the blazing sun sink into the sea and soak up the magic of the place. A delicious dinner will be served on board before you retreat to your luxurious private cabin or try your hand at squid fishing or traditional Vietnamese games.
Day 5 – Bai Tu Long Bay – Hanoi – Hue
If you feel like it then you can start the day with a spot of Tai Chi on the deck to welcome in the day, before exploring a cave filled with sparkling stalactites. As you cruise back towards the harbour you can relax on deck or watch a cooking demonstration from the chef. You’ll have a tasty lunch on board, before disembarking for your transfer back to Hanoi. You’ll have some free time in the city this afternoon, before heading to the train station later this evening for your overnight sleeper train to Hue.
Days 6 – Arrival in Hue
On arrival at the train station in Hue, you will be met by a driver and transferred to your tranquil resort in a quiet village, surrounded by countryside, just outside Hue city. Hue is steeped in history, with crumbling tombs, monuments and fortified imperial cities to explore. After settling into your hotel, take the complimentary shuttle bus into the city and stroll along the riverbank, hop in a rickshaw to the Royal Citadel, or wander past the shabby but beautiful Chinese shopfronts of Phu Cat.
Day 7 – Lend a hand in Hue
Today you’ll leave dynastic history behind and get your hands dirty. Climbing on a bike, you’ll cycle past rice paddies and the meandering rivers of the countryside, where buffalo plough the fields and local fishermen wait for a catch. You’ll feel a million miles away from the big cities. In Thanh Toan Village you’ll set to work with a farming family, helping in the rice fields, reeling in some fish or trying your hand at some traditional handicrafts. Next, you’ll help prepare lunch with the family, including selecting home-grown produce from the fields. After lunch, you will say goodbye to your new colleagues and cycle back to Hue with a deeper understanding and appreciation for village life and Vietnamese cultural traditions. Spend the evening strolling along the perfume river before indulging in one of the local restaurants in the culinary capital of Vietnam.
Day 8 – Hue – Hoi An
After a delicious breakfast, you’ll head to the train station in Hue to catch the train to Danang, which is around 45 minutes from your next stop – Hoi An. The train journey takes around 3 hours, during which you can expect some seriously breathtaking sights. Winding through the iconic Hai Van Pass, you’ll be treated to incredible views of the coastline, lush green mountains and the South China Sea, before getting a glimpse of the towering Marble Mountains as you edge closer to Danang.
On arrival in Danang, you will be met by our driver and transferred to your riverside hotel in Hoi An. Hoi An is bursting with atmosphere. You’ll spend three nights in a stylish resort on the tranquil banks of the Thu Bon River, complete with an inviting pool for a refreshing dip with beautiful views over the river. After checking in, you can explore the tangle of tiny roads, made-to-measure tailors and tumble-down Chinese shopfronts just a 10-minute walk away in the old town.
Day 9 – Free time in Hoi An
On the final day of your Hoi An trip, you’re free to do exactly as you please. With the beach only a 15-minute taxi ride away, it’s worth heading over there to spend a few lazy hours on the sand and have a dip in the warm South China Sea, but if you’d rather stay dry you could get that final fitting for your new outfit. There’s certainly no shortage of possibilities in this charming little town.
Day 10 – Cooking class and free time
Today you’ll have the opportunity to whip up some authentic Vietnamese dishes in the kitchen. You’ll meet up with a small group of fellow travellers before you head into the colourful Hoi An market with your guide to purchase the fresh ingredients required. This is the best possible way to learn all about local cuisine as you become acquainted with the friendly vendors at the market. You’ll then head downriver to the cookery school where you’ll be taught all you need to know, before having a go at preparing your own dishes and enjoying the fruits of your labour for lunch. The afternoon is yours to spend as you please.
Day 11 – Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City (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 modern, sophisticated hotel in the heart of District 1, an area of Ho Chi Minh popular with tourists and locals alike. It might be hectic, but it’s packed with character and you’ll find something fascinating happening on every street corner. There’s an eclectic mix of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants right on your doorstep and when you’re ready to head back to your hotel you can take a dip in the rooftop infinity pool.
Day 12 – Scooting through Saigon
Today is your own until just after nightfall. Shop for anything under the sun at Ben Thanh Market, visit the harrowing War Remnants Museum or take a peek at the Reunification Palace. The city has a multitude of colonial architecture including churches, the central post office and railway station. Alternatively, pull up a plastic chair at a street cafe and people-watch with a sweet Vietnamese coffee.
Just after sunset, your driver will arrive to take you on a mouth-watering whirlwind Vespa tour of the city. Weaving through a maze of alleys and cut-throughs, you’ll stop at hole-in-the-wall hangouts to try some authentic street food dishes. Along the way, you’ll meet some great local personalities and hit some live music bars and truly secret spots. It really is a night to remember!
Day 13 – Saigon – Phu Quoc
From Saigon, you will be collected and taken to the airport for your flight to the tropical island of Phu Quoc. When you arrive in Phu Quoc a transfer will be waiting to whisk you off to your hotel. You’ll stay on Ba Keo Beach, a beautiful stretch of sand on the west of the island, just a 15-minute walk from the night market. The resort is charming, authentic and set amongst lush tropical gardens – the perfect place for relaxation after the busy streets of Saigon. There’s also a great restaurant, making it perfect for a sunset seafood feast and you can snorkel amongst shoals of tropical fish straight from the beach.
Day 14 – An Thoi Islands trip
Today you’ll set off on a snorkelling adventure among fifteen tiny islets that surround Phu Quoc Island. These islands are tropical hideaways for snorkelling, swimming and stretching out in the sunshine. Grab a mask, pull on some flippers and jump off the boat to float over a maze of multi-coloured coral. The remainder of your stint on Phu Quoc is free for lazing, hiking, dozing and daydreaming.
Day 15 – Free time on Phu Quoc
For your final day in Phu Quoc, you can do as much or as little as you like. The long stretch of white sandy beach starts right on your doorstep and this might be just the place to spend the day. But if you ever get tired of those ever-changing sea views, why not explore the island’s National Park with its many hiking trails taking you right into the heart of the jungle?
The following day you will be collected and taken to the airport in Phu Quoc to catch your international flight back home via HCMC. What an adventure.
Accommodation
For this itinerary we offer the following options
Vietnam in style - Standard accommodation
If you’d like to spend more time exploring Vietnam while keeping to your budget, you could opt for our standard accommodation. These hotels have been carefully selected by us for their warm, authentic atmosphere, offering the perfect balance of comfort and simplicity without compromising on quality. Both options provide a memorable stay but your choice depends on how you’d like to experience the country, whether that’s with a little added luxury or a more down-to-earth approach.
