Vietnam Explorer (New Year Departure)

Accommodation will be available from early afternoon today. You have the rest of the day and evening to get acquainted with Hanoi.

With ochre-coloured colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and
scenic lakes, Hanoi is full of charm. Today we’ll start our tour of the city by
visiting Ba Da Pagoda, a
Buddhist centre in the Hanoi Old Quarter. Later we’ll drop in on the Hoa Lo
prison aka Hanoi Hilton and learn of its use as a place for holding both
Vietnamese nationalists (during the days of the French) and later American
POWs. At the end of the
day, enjoying a walking street food tour with your expert local guide who will
give you an insight into the intricacies and traditions of Vietnamese food
culture.

This morning we will pack an overnight bag and head east, we’ll
drive to Halong Bay, and board our boat cruise.* Despite its undeniable and
understandable popularity, it is still possible to find more secluded areas of
the bay and during our time here our cruise will explore the striking limestone
formations that give the bay such character and have contributed to its
worldwide renown. There will be ample time for relaxing on the sundeck or
kayaking while admiring the beautiful Lan Ha Bay. In the evening, for those
that wish, there should be the chance to take part in a pre-dinner Vietnamese
cookery class on board the boat. *Please note that we will be sharing this boat
with fellow travellers.  

After some time to explore this stunning destination (with perhaps the chance of an early morning Tai Chi class) we’ll return to the jetty and drive back to Hanoi via the Green Life Centre, a project committed to turning Halong Bay’s trash into treasure by collecting discarded items and skilfully recycling them. We will arrive back in Hanoi in time to take a short rest before enjoying a water- puppet show - a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form followed by our overnight train south aboard the Reunification Express towards Dong Hoi. On this train we will be using 4 berth cabins.
You might be sharing with others in the group or other travellers on the train.

Disembarking from the train this morning, we’ll leave the coast and head inland up into the hills and the landscapes that make up the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. We’ll explore Paradise Cave, only open to the public since 2010 and said to be one of the longest dry caves in the world. We won’t be exploring its full extent (at over 30kms!) but we’ll have the chance to marvel at the breath-taking size of its cathedral-like interior replete with colossal stalagmites and stalactites. After a simple lunch at a local eatery, we continue exploring the surroundings on a half day biking adventure around Tram Me village and the peaceful countryside. We’ll cycle* along quiet village paths and roads, passing picturesque rice paddy fields and small hamlets. There will be plenty of photo opportunities along the way so we can take our time to soak up this stunning area.

*see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for more information on cycling in Vietnam

Today’s journey sees us heading south via the demilitarized zone
(DMZ). The area south of the DMZ was the scene of some of the bloodiest battles
during the war and the zone was established as the dividing line between North
and South Vietnam. There are various places of military significance here
including the Vinh Moc Tunnels and parts of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Today’s
visit offers a sobering reminder of how recently Vietnam was involved in major
conflict and how far it has come since then. Later this afternoon we’ll
continue our journey, aiming to arrive in Hue late afternoon.

Hue served as an imperial capital to the Nguyen Lords, a feudal
dynasty which reigned from the 17th to the 19th century and today retains much
of its royal charm. We’ll have the day to explore some of the city’s
fascinating sights including the Imperial Citadel, a UNESCO listed site and the
Thien Mu pagoda, which stands on the riverbank with its seven-storey tower.
We’ll also visit the elaborate Khai Dinh Royal Tomb, whose architecture and
atmosphere showcase elements of eastern art and western designs.

Today we’ll head up into the Bach Ma National Park which is known as one of the most bio-diverse areas of South-East Asia. Within its steep mountains and dense forests, the area is home to a wide variety of animals and plants and was a popular weekend getaway during the days when Vietnam was a French Colony. With our local expert we plan to take a 3-hour walk (approx. 8kms) along trails through sub-tropical forest which will take us to the magnificent Ngu Ho Lake and Do Quyen waterfall. Late in the afternoon we continue to Hoi An where we will be staying for the next two nights.

After having a leisurely start this morning, we will embark on a
walking tour of Hoi An. This once prosperous trading port has been declared a
World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is without doubt one of Vietnam's gems. These
days it is a delightful small market town, known throughout the region for its
beautiful silk paintings and boasting well-preserved buildings, pedestrianised
streets and unique cuisine, allowing visitors a glimpse of its illustrious
past. We will have time to stroll through the Old Town, and look at the many
handicrafts, antique shops and galleries, strongly influenced by Vietnamese,
Chinese and Japanese culture.

In the late afternoon we will join a local chef for a cookery
class. We will head to a market
and shop for the ingredients. Upon arrival to the chef’s home, we’ll be taken
through a culinary journey with hands-on demonstrations and stories behind the
yin and yang elements unveiling the secret of home-cooked Vietnamese meals.
Enjoy the fruits of your labour for our evening meal tonight.

This morning has been left free for you to revisit Hoi An’s narrow lanes and old merchants’ houses at your own pace, or alternatively to relax on the white sandy beach.  Then we will head to the airport to take a domestic flight to Can Tho in the Mekong Delta. We will check into our accommodation in time for dinner.

Today we will cycle* around the peaceful Nhon Loc Isles. Stop at
Cao Dai Temple in Phong Dien which symbolizes the local unique religion and
then stop at a local farmer’s house to savour a cup of tea and learn how to
make local banana cake/ specialties. Enjoy self-picked tropical fruits at one
of the most abundant orchards on the Mekong river. We will enjoy a Southern
style Vietnamese lunch with local people here and enjoy the banana cake we made
this morning. After lunch we keep on cycling to the blacksmith workshop and
having a chance to talk with Mr. Sau about his father’s story and his life
related to this Blacksmith before returning back to our hotel.

*see the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for more information on cycling in
Vietnam

Early this morning we’ll take a boat to Cai Rang floating market followed by visiting
a local family who have made noodles (“hủ tiếu”) by hand for 3 generations. After
a light breakfast at a local restaurant beside a beautiful canal we will cycle*
back to our transport as we end our time in the Delta. We’ll return this
afternoon to Ho Chi Minh City for our final two nights in the country. We will
finish the day with a visit to the War Remnants Museum for a vivid glimpse of
the war seen through local eyes.

*see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
below for more information on cycling in Vietnam

The former city of Saigon is the country’s commercial centre and,
with over eight million inhabitants and four million motorbikes, it’s a city
that never sleeps. However despite the well-documented hustle and bustle,
Saigon retains its connections with the past and today we’ll take a walking
tour to admire some of the city’s historic landmarks. These include Rue
Catinat, where we’ll discover some beautiful French colonial buildings; the
splendidly restored exteriors of the Opera House; the former Presidential
Palace with it's modernist 60's design; the former Hotel de Ville; and the
Notre Dame Cathedral, which was based on the original in Paris. We’ll also
visit Independence
Palace, sometimes known as the Reunification Palace, which was built on the
site of the former Norodom palace. The Independence palace is a widely known
landmark of Ho Chi Minh City and was designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu. In the
evening we’ll go out for a final sumptuous dinner in this mesmerising city.

The tour ends with breakfast at the hotel.