Classic Vietnam

The sounds of the delta starting to come to life act as your wake up call this morning and you rise early to enjoy a simple breakfast. Boarding your boat once again, you'll visit the famous floating markets en route to Cai Be. You then return to Ho Chi Minh City via the famous Viet Cong hideout known as the Cu Chi tunnels. It’s likely that your guides were once soldiers here and their insight will help you to understand this tragic part of Vietnamese history. Some tunnels have been widened to accommodate foreigners - more than a touch of irony here! The network is made up of over 250km of tunnels and at it's height stretched from Saigon to the Cambodian border. Parts were several storeys deep and included countless trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centres and even cinemas and kitchens!

Taking a minibus, you'll then set out to explore the city on a comprehensive sightseeing tour, visiting the War Remnants Museum and the twin-spires of the Notre Dame Cathedral, before having te rest of the afternoon free to do some additional sight seeing, shopping or simply relaxing. This evening you will board your overnight train to Nha Trang, so you might like to use your free time to stock up on fresh bread, fruit and water for the journey.

Conditions on the train are basic, but they add to the adventure and are one of the best ways to travel long distances with the locals. You will usually be in four-berth compartments (occasionally six-berth depending on availability), in which there are bench seats that convert into sleeping bunks. A sheet, blanket and pillow are all provided, but you should be aware that although every effort is made to keep the group together, you may find yourself sharing a compartment with locals and people of different genders. Hotel - 1 night  Overnight train - 1 night

After taking a midday flight to Danang, you’ll make your way to Hoi An. After a brief orientation tour around this ancient town, you’ll be free to spend the afternoon at leisure. This little town is one of our favourites and we are sure you’ll love it too! Walking and cycling is the best way to soak up the atmosphere, so why not rent a bicycle and take a trip to the nearby Cua Dai Beach.

The rest of your time here has been left free and we are sure you will find plenty here to entertain yourself! Hoi An is also one of the best places to shop for souvenirs, especially if you’re looking for T-shirts, paintings or ceramics. For those interested in getting clothes tailored, this is definitely the place to shop. Hoi An is famous for a variety of culinary specialities, like Cao Lau or White Rose. If you can bring yourself to get up early, a visit to the wonderful local market is a must to watch the animated shoppers haggling over fresh fish, spices and vegetables. There are many things to do besides shopping and your Group Leader will of course be on hand to advise and help make arrangements.

You may also wish to take an excursion to the little visited My Son complex. Hidden for many years by dense jungle, the temples and towers of My Son are now designated a World Heritage site and make for an intriguing day of discovery. Alternative activities also include boat rides on the Thu Bon River or taking a bike ride into the surrounding countryside. Hotel - 3 nights

Your accommodation in hoi An is located near all of the attractions of the Old Town and has lovely twin and double rooms, all have private facilities and air conditioning and the hotel also has a pool, restaurant and bar.

Leaving Hue, you make for Hanoi, the gateway to Northern Vietnam. The former capital of the Ly Dynasty, when it was known as Thang Long (Soaring Dragon), Hanoi has developed into a modern cosmopolitan city. With Chinese and French influence in the architecture and layout of the city, it is a delightful place to visit. Today you will visit the Temple of Literature, which was Vietnam's first university, built in 1070 and the Fine Art Museum, to see it's collections on contemporary arts. This evening you jump in a minibus and head through the ancient '39 streets', where you'll discover an incredible selection of shops selling everything from souvenirs to exquisite silk clothing, beautifully embroidered tablecloths and CDs. You'll also be treated to a famous water puppet show, unique to Vietnam and best seen in Hanoi, followed by an optional dinner at a local restaurant. Hotel - 1 night

In Hanoi, your fully equipped hotel is centrally located near the historic Old Quarter. It has both twin and double rooms with private facilities and airconditioning. The hotel also has it's own restaurant and bar.

After breakfast on the boat you make the return drive to Hanoi. On the drive back to the capital you’ll visit some villages en route, where lovely locally made blue and white ceramics are made and can be purchased. 

This afternoon is left free for you to explore at leisure. The French brought more than just architecture to the country and Hanoi has a buzzing café-society - a relaxing way to spend an hour or two is to wander along the tree-lined avenues to one of the cafés alongside Hoan Kiem Lake and enjoy the view towards Ngoc Son Pagoda. If you fancy some last minute sightseeing, then why not pay a visit to Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and house, before regrouping for a farewell dinner. Hotel - 1 night

Nb. Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum is often closed for renovation for a period between the months of September to December, however, Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts is usually still open to visitors at this time.