Mountain villages, forbidden cities and coral islands

This is a cut above the average road trip, giving you the chance to see the real Vietnam in style. You'll travel in comfort while you tour the treasures of the country in twenty days, beginning in the north and working your way south. You'll be amazed by the sheer variety of scenery that Vietnam has to offer: the limestone pinnacles of Halong Bay, the mountain wilderness of Sapa, the stately monuments of Hué and the lush greenery of the Mekong Delta. As a finishing touch, you'll spend a few days relaxing on the idyllic island paradise of Phu Quoc. You'll cover the longer distances by plane and the shorter journeys by private air-conditioned car with driver. You’ll have an English-speaking guide with you on the cultural excursions, bringing all kinds of local knowledge to your fingertips. Along the way, you’ll sleep in charming hotels bursting with local character. Breakfast is included.

Duration	20 days / 19 nights Departs daily from Hanoi	Accommodation	Comfortable hotels (comfort 3-4). See our accommodation page for more details.
Price	£1889 per person - based on 2 people in 3* accommodation £2518 per person - based on 2 people in 4* accommodation	Includes	Accommodation with breakfast, transport and described excursions with English-speaking guide
Transport	Private car, boat and plane	Excludes	Other meals and drinks

Day 1: Hanoi

When you arrive in Hanoi you'll be greeted by our local agent and transferred directly to you hotel by private car. You'll stay in a charming central hotel very near the Old Quarter, beside the Hang Dau Park. You'll have some time to settle in and freshen up before beginning a city tour of captivating Hanoi. During this tour, you'll explore the maze of narrow streets in the fascinating Old Quarter, weaving your way between bikes, rickshaws and mopeds. You'll visit the inspiring Quan Thanh Temple and the tranquil Temple of Literature, which was built in the 11th century as the first university of Vietnam. You'll also spend some time admiring the Fine Art Museum. In the evening, you'll attend a traditional water puppet show on the shores of peaceful Hoan Kiem Lake. A unique and unforgettable experience...

Day 2: Hanoi - Halong Bay

You'll leave early this morning for the journey to Halong Bay. The trip will take approximately 5 hours, and you'll travel by private air-conditioned car with driver. The first part of the journey will take you through the city, which has already been awake for hours. There will be mopeds everywhere, laden with a bags of rice, pans, tyres, vegetables, live chickens and even pigs. Once you get beyond the city limits, the landscape will change into rolling rice paddies and rustic villages. On the way, you'll stop in Hai Phong to pay a quick visit to the lovely Garden Theatre, the Du Hang Pagoda, and the Kenh. Finally, the picturesque landscape of Halong will appear in the distance, with craggy islands thrusting out of the gentle sea. You'll stay in a good hotel in Halong.

Day 3: Halong Bay - Hanoi

Today you’ll explore the bewitching archipelago of Halong Bay by private boat, weaving between craggy limestone islands. Halong Bay is a World Heritage Site, with more than 3000 bizarre rocky formations rising majestically from the emerald green waters. Some of these islands are completely wooded, others are bare rock and many have perfectly secluded sandy beaches. Erosion over millions of years has given the rocky islands their rugged character. During the boat trip you'll visit two spectacular natural caves, Thien Cung and Dau Go, to feel the strange atmosphere of these beautiful grottoes. A fresh seafood lunch will be served on board. After the trip, you'll return to Hanoi by car and stay overnight in a comfortable hotel.

Day 4: Hanoi - Lao Cai

This morning, you’ll visit some more of the highlights of Hanoi, such as the impressive Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda and the fascinating Army Museum. After the tour, you are free to explore Hanoi at your own pace. The narrow streets of the Old Quarter criss-cross each other, their pavements displaying all manner of local goods. In the 13th century, the 36 original streets were divided up among the craft guilds, each guild claiming its own street. The system remains to this day. For example, Shoe Street only sells shoes (every girl's dream). The Old Quarter is also home to a fascinating market with a booming trade in live chickens and fish, and a heady aroma of spices. After some retail therapy, visit peaceful Hoan Kiem Lake and munch on a typical Vietnamese spring roll.

In the eveing, you’ll be collected from your hotel and taken to the railway station for the overnight sleeper train to Lao Cai in the north of Vietnam. The train is fully air-conditioned and you'll travel in a 4-person couchette.

Day 5: Lao Cai - Coc Ly - Sapa

You'll arrive in Lao Cai very early this morning, and you'll be collected from the station for the journey to Sapa. You'll travel by private car with driver, and the trip will take about 2½ hours, passing through breathtakingly beautiful scenery of dense forest and terraced rice paddies that climb up the steep mountainsides like giant's staircases. On the way, you’ll make a quick stop at Coc Ly Market, where you'll have a chance to see people from the Flower H’Muong, the Black Dzao and the Tai tribes – a real blaze of colour in their traditional dress. After this, you’ll take a boat trip on the Chay River and you’ll be served a tasty picnic on the boat while you watch the wonderful landscape glide slowly past. En route, you'll pay a quick visit to a village inhabited by the Dzao and Tai people to get a glimpse into their remote way of life. In Sapa, you’ll stay in the Chau Long Hotel which lies in the centre of town and your room will have sweeping views of the emerald rice terraces.

Days 6 and 7: Sapa and surrounds - Hanoi

After breakfast, you'll travel by car to the tiny village of Ta Van. The trip follows a twisty road, with magnificent views around every bend, and on the way you'll come across many hill tribe people in elaborate traditional clothing. After you arrive in the village, you'll take a 2-hour hike past terraced rice paddies, getting familiar with the natural environment of the Dzao people. In the afternoon, you'll visit Cat Cat, home to the Black H’mong and the Red Dzao tribes. The Black H'mong wear mainly black clothing, as their name suggests. The dye that they use tends to run and, as a result, their hands are also stained a little black. The adults chew betel nut- the seeds of the betel palm rolled up in a leaf. This often stains their teeth dark red.

The next day you free to do whatever you want, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the peace, the beautiful countryside, and the fresh mountain air. Then, in the early evening, you'll be collected from your hotel for the transfer back to Lao Cai train station. From Lao Cai, you'll take the comfortable overnight sleeper train back to Hanoi. Once again, you'll sleep in 4-person air-conditioned couchettes.

Day 8: Hanoi - Ninh Binh - Hanoi

You'll arrive into Hanoi in the very early hours of the morning, and you’ll be collected at the station for a delicious breakfast at a local restaurant. After breakfast, you’ll head to the Tam Coc Caves. Tam Coc is often referred to as the dry Halong Bay. Like Halong Bay, the area is littered with huge limestone pinnacles, but in Tam Coc these rocky outcrops rise from the paddy fields rather than the sea. You'll wander through this bizarre landscape between towering rock faces. After this, you'll visit the Bich Dong Pagoda and the temples of the Dinh and Le dynasties. You'll spend the night in a lovely hotel in the Old Quarter of Hanoi.

Days 9 and 10: Hué

You can spend today at your own leisure until it's time for your transfer to the airport. From Hanoi, you’ll take a quick flight south to the ancient royal city of Hué. After you have settled in, you'll have a chance to explore the historic legacy of Hué, visiting the royal tombs of Emperor Tu Duc and Emperor Khai. On your second day, you’ll travel by traditional dragon boat on the Perfume River to the striking Thien Mu Pagoda, observing houseboat villages as you drift, making a quick stop at the lively floating market of Dong Ba on the way. You’ll also visit the Minh Mang Tomb and the ruins of the Royal Citadel within the walls of the Forbidden Purple City. Here, you'll find large bronze urns commemorating Nguyen emperors. Most of the buildings within the Purple City were destroyed in the Vietnam War. Now a Cultural Heritage Site, many have these have been reconstructed as authentically as possible. You’ll spend both of these nights in a wonderful hotel in Hué.

Day 11: Hué - Hoi An

Today, you'll make an early start for the journey to Hoi An (approximately 5 hours). During the trip, you will cross the awe-inspiring Hai Van Pass, also known as the Pass of the Ocean Clouds, and travel through many picturesque villages with red-tiled roofs and vibrant orchards bearing tropical fruit. The views here are quite simply are spectacular, so have your camera at the ready. When you arrive in Danang, you’ll take a short sightseeing tour to the Cham Museum, Marble Mountain, and China Beach (famed for its notorious role in the Vietnam War). After this, you’ll continue to Hoi An, where you'll check into a fantastic colonial-style hotel with a wonderful swimming pool, located very close to the old city. Once you have settled into your room, you'll take a look around the enchanting town, visiting Hoi An Market, the 18th century Tan Ky House, the Fulkien Assembly Hall and the Japanese covered Bridge.

Days 12 and 13: Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City

On Day 12, you’ll visit My Son, the holy ground of the Cham people. This area is rich in remnants of the Kingdom of Champa, which ruled this region from the 2nd to the 15th century. You'll notice many Indian influences as you walk among the ruins, wistfully soaking up the historic atmosphere. You'll have the afternoon free to explore Hoi An at your own pace. You can get measured up for a suit, or pedal about town on a rented pushbike. If you're looking for relaxation, you can wander through the narrow streets, enjoy some delicious food at the old port, or stretch out on the sparkling sands of the nearby beach. You'll spend another night in the excellent hotel.

The following day, (Day 13) you'll be free to explore until your transfer to Danang airport for your quick flight to Ho Chi Minh City. When you arrive in former Saigon, you'll be taken on a tour of the hectic city, visiting a number of museums and getting a real feel for the city. You'll stay in a comfortable hotel situated in the Dong Khoi district. As the sun goes down, try a cocktail on the roof of the legendary Rex hotel.

Day 14: Cu Chi Tunnels

Today you’ll visit the fascinating Cu Chi Tunnels that lie 30km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. You'll travel into the area by boat, drifting past peaceful paddy fields and watching delta life. Along the way, you'll see an unusual floating temple. You'll then hop into a minibus for the last section of the journey to the tunnels. The Viet Cong dug the haunting network of the Cu Chi tunnels during the Vietnam War to hide from American forces. The underground labyrinth covers an incredible 250km and include sleeping quarters, kitchens, ammunition stores, weapon factories, and command centres. You'll be given the opportunity to climb into the tunnels and experience their eerie atmosphere first hand.

You'll return from the tunnels at around 2.30pm, giving you plenty of time to explore more of the city or simply people-watch from a pavement cafe with a coffee or a steaming bowl of noodles.

Day 15: Mekong Delta

The next few days are dedicated to the dazzling Mekong Delta, as you travel slowly towards tropical Phu Quoc Island. Your day begins with a tour to the village of My Tho, on the banks of the mighty Mekong River that runs through Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar. The drive to this village takes approximately 2 hours, and passes through a colourful landscape of ripe orchards and emerald paddy fields. Here, you’ll visit the Vinh Trang pagoda, a beautiful temple that was built in the early 19th century. You'll take a boat trip on the legendary Mekong River, and make an interesting stop at a river island. From the boat, you can marvel at the plentiful flora growing along the fertile riverbanks. In the afternoon, you'll head to an incredible snake farm and the charming village of Dong Tam. After this, you’ll travel on to Can Tho, the regional capital and your final destination for the day. The town is connected with all of the villages in the Mekong Delta by means of the waterways and there are several floating markets selling a huge variety of goods. Tonight, you'll stay in an excellent hotel on the banks of the Mekong.

Day 16: Can Tho - Chau Doc

After breakfast, you'll take to the water again for a trip on the Rach Ngong River. This will give you a wonderful glimpse of life along the riverbank. You'll visit an orchard and the frenetic Cai Rang floating market. This is the largest, most important, and probably the noisiest floating market in the Mekong Delta. Vendors offer their wares from boats almost sinking under the weight of their produce, and they dangle their goods in the air from a long pole. You'll also see small flotillas drifting along as traders link up to swap goods amongst themselves. You’ll then travel on to Chau Doc, stopping on the way at the Bang Lang Bird Sanctuary in Thot Not. The sanctuary is also a breeding site for storks, and you’ll be surrounded by thousands of them- a truly spectacular sight.

In the afternoon, you'll go on a guided walk through Chau Doc. You'll also visit the mystical Sam Mountain that offers a view of Cambodia, the Thoai Ngoc Hau Temple and the Lady Xu Temple. You'll spend the night in a comfortable hotel in Chau Doc.

Day 17: Chau Doc - Ha Tien - Hon Chong

Today you’ll take a sampan trip on the Mekong River. A sampan is a traditional Asian boat, used by Vietnamese traders to sail the river. You’ll visit an Islamic floating village with its very own floating mosque, and houses that feed the fish of the river. After this, you’ll travel on to Hon Chong, stopping en route at Ha Tien, picturesque seaside village. In the village, you’ll visit the impressive Thach Dong temple. Finally, after a busy day, you’ll spend the night in a comfortable hotel in Hon Chong.

Days 18 and 19: Phu Quoc Island

Once you’ve finished breakfast, you’ll set off to visit Chua Hang, a beautiful pagoda in a cave. You’ll also explore the Gieng Tien River by boat. From the boat, you'll see the island of Hon Phu Tu, which means ‘Father and Son Island’. It was given this name because the island is shaped like a father embracing his son.

After this, you'll take the hydrofoil to Phu Quoc, a spectacularly beautiful island with much virgin countryside. The crossing takes about 2 hours. You’ll spend 2 nights on the idyllic island, relaxing on the unspoiled beaches or exploring the area by scooter. Just off the coast of Phu Quoc, there are wonderful coral reefs and you can snorkel through these colourful underwater gardens. You’ll stay in one of the charming bungalows right on the beach, in a resort run by a welcoming Vietnamese family.

Day 20: Phu Quoc - Ho Chi Minh City - UK

After breakfast this morning, you'll begin the journey home. You'll be collected from your hotel and transferred to the small airport on Phu Quoc, to catch your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. This will, in turn, connect onto your international flight home.

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