Highlights and Palm Island

Today, your Vietnam highlights itinerary will take you to the Cu Chi Tunnels, located 30km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. You'll travel into the area by minibus, passing peaceful paddy fields and watching delta life. Along the way, you'll see an unusual floating temple. 

The Viet Cong dug their haunting network of the Cu Chi tunnels during the Vietnam War to hide from American forces. You'll be given the opportunity to climb into the tunnels and experience their eerie atmosphere first hand. Many of them have been enlarged especially for tourists, making them far less hair-raising for visitors. However, if you're feeling brave, you can also try the originals. It's a unique, if creepy, experience. The guide will explain the history and the precise uses of the tunnels. In the adjoining Cu Chi Museum, you can also see a video with vintage American film material.

You'll head back to Ho Chi Minh City at about 2pm, giving you plenty of time to explore the city or sip a cocktail on the roof of the glamorous Rex hotel.  

The next two days of your Vietnam highlights itinerary are dedicated to the Mekong Delta. The Mekong River, with its vast fertile delta, is the backbone of the economy in the south. At 7:30am, the minibus will arrive to take you in the direction of Cai Be. From here, you'll hop onto a boat and sail in a small group through the Mekong Delta. In Cai Be you'll sail past colourful, floating markets, where vendors will offer their wares from their boats jammed with produce, dangling their goods in the air from a long pole.

You'll sail through canals inhabited by the people of the Mekong Delta. Daily life will pass you by as you sail through small villages, past rice paddies and when visiting family businesses. These businesses refine rice or make candy out of coconuts. While sailing through the maze of canals, you'll visit one of the many islands on the Mekong; Vinh Long Island. After a lunch consisting of Mekong Delta specialities, you can also cycle through one of the villages on a river island, catching an even closer glimpse of daily life. During the afternoon you'll sail for approximately 3 hours until you reach Can Tho, where you'll arrive on time for sunset. In the event of unforeseen circumstances, for instance low water levels, this entire portion of the trip will be conducted by mini bus.

The boat will then take you to a simple but charming hotel for the night. It lies in Cantho on the banks of the Mekong, where you can relax in the evening with a cool drink and watch the delta sunset.

There's nothing on the agenda for your Vietnam highlights itinerary today, leaving you to explore Ho Chi Minh City or simply chill out. You could have a long breakfast in the hotel and wander to Chinatown for some shopping and a bowl of steaming noodles.

In the evening, you'll leave Ho Chi Minh City and catch the overnight train to Nha Trang. This train leaves at about 6.30pm. You will sleep in a 4-bedded compartment, lulled by the gentle rocking of the train.

After your early arrival in Nha Trang, you'll be collected by minibus and taken to the jetty. From here, the speedboat will take you to Palm Island, the next stop on your Vietnam highlights itinerary.

Palm Island is Vietnam at its most exotic. Spectacular white beaches, azure seas, unspoilt coral reefs, quaint wooden bungalows... it's pretty much as close to paradise as you can get. You can also swim, snorkel, and dive, giving you the option to do as little or as much as you like. In the evenings, wander along the beach with the powdery sand between your toes, and eat fresh fish at the lovely restaurant.

When you arrive, a meal will be served and you can follow this with a drink in the tropical bar, the gentle sound of lapping waves in the background. Bliss.
 

There are only 15 bungalows on the island, all hidden amongst swaying palm trees. These bungalows are comfortable and secluded, letting you relax completely while you listen to the nearby waves. The bungalow walls are made of bamboo, brick and palm wood, and their roofs are thatched with local palm leaves. The water's edge is only a few short steps from your veranda. The bungalows are tastefully furnished by the French management with a double bed (or two singles) and a mosquito net. All of the bungalows have their own private bathroom and a fan to keep you cool.

You can rent good snorkels for less than £1 per day. Palm Island is an unbelievably good diving location. Apart from relaxing, there are all sorts of activities you can do. There are surfboards and catamarans for hire or you can book a boat or snorkelling trip to the neighbouring bays and islands.

Today, you'll head to the airport and take a quick domestic flight (1hr) from Nha Trang to Danang, the nearest airport to Hoi An. On arrival, you'll organise your own taxi to Hoi An. This is a very easy transfer. You'll never be short of taxis in Vietnam! Alternatively, you can hop on the bus. For a small extra cost we can arrange a private transfer from Danang airport to your Hoi An hotel, just ask us to add it to your itinerary.

The artistic town of Hoi An lies halfway between the south and north of the country. This makes it a perfect stopping place on your Vietnam highlights itinerary. It's popular with backpackers who come for the laid back atmosphere, the quirky cafes, the tailors, and the peaceful nearby beach. The centre of town is easy to explore on foot and has barely changed since the 17th century, when it was an important port and trading post. 

Today, you're free to wander lazily through the tiny streets of Hoi An. If you are feeling adventurous you can pay a visit to the historical site of My Son (optional). The area was the most important religious and intellectual centre in Vietnam until the 13th century and the temples are fascinating buildings to explore. Nowadays, My Son is a UNESCO World Heritage site, lying about 40km southwest of Hoi An in a wild, green valley.

Hoi An is jam-packed with tailors and you can have a good made-to-measure suit made for a fraction of the price you would pay in the UK. This is also the best place to purchase dresses, trousers, shirts etc. The perfect opportunity to update your wardrobe! Although the tailors can put together a suit for you in no time, it's best to plan to have this done a few days before you travel to the next destination on your Vietnam highlights itinerary. This way any alterations can be made while you're in town.

This is essentially a free day of your Vietnam highlights itinerary, so you can stay in the old town or head for the beach for some sun-kissed relaxation. We can also offer you the opportunity to whip up some authentic Vietnamese dishes in the kitchen. If you choose this option you'll be collected from your hotel and taken directly to the cooking school. This is the best possible way to get to know local Vietnamese cuisine and hear all about typical Vietnamese dishes. You will have a go at preparing your own dishes before gobbling them straight down afterwards.

The afternoon is yours to spend as you please. You'll spend all three nights in Hoi An in a comfortable, centrally located hotel in the historic centre of town. You won't have to worry about taxi cabs or rickshaws to get home, you can simply walk back to your hotel. Walking through the narrow, lively streets and popping into a few of the small souvenir shops is a fun way to spend time. The hotel also has a swimming pool and breakfast is included during your stay.

Today you'll make your own way back to the airport in Danang for a domestic flight into Hanoi, the next stop on your Vietnam highlights itinerary. On arrival you'll make your own way to your hotel. 

Your hotel is situated in the centre of the Old Quarter - the beating heart of Hanoi - surrounded by food stalls and quirky restaurants. The hotel is a wonderful example of classic Vietnamese architecture. All rooms have a bathroom with warm water, air-conditioning, TV and mini-bar.

The narrow streets of Old Hanoi criss-cross each other, their pavements displaying all manner of local goods. 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.    

Today, your time is your own. Spend your day ambling through the narrow lanes of the Old Quarter, stopping for coffee and cake, and watching the world go by.

If you're in the mood for a strange experience, you can drop in on the preserved body of former President Ho Chi Minh. A mausoleum was built for Ho Chi Minh, or Uncle Ho, after his death. You can see his body entombed in a glass sarcophagus - a huge building fronted by a grand square. Surrounded by guards, you can file in, one by one, to take a look at ‘Uncle Ho’. Every once in a while, his body is flown to Russia for a touch up, to keep him looking good for his guests. Vietnamese people consider it a great honour to visit his embalmed body, and you can see their emotional reactions as you file past.

You can finish off your day with a visit to the Municipal Water Puppet Theatre. This stands on the banks of Hoan Kiem Lake and performances take place every evening. Puppetry is a national tradition in Vietnam, and the people are very proud of the artform.  

This morning you'll head out to Halong Bay, one of the most memorable parts of our Vietnam highlights itinerary. You'll be collected from your hotel at approximately 8:00am and taken to the coastal town of Halong. The junk awaits you. Once onboard, you'll kick off your trip with a delicious lunch. Afterwards the boat will begin its superb cruise through Halong Bay past small limestone islands, some of which are thickly forested, others are inhabited and some have secretly secluded sandy beaches. During the cruise you'll visit one of the many hidden caves and you'll be able to take a dive into the azure waters from one of the tropical beaches. Fishing enthusiasts can attempt to catch their evening meal with a traditional rod and tackle. During dinner, you can mull over the impressions of the day and watch the sunset whilst enjoying a glass of Vietnamese wine. Life really doesn't get much better than this.

The next morning, you'll be woken by the wafting scent of a delicious breakfast. You'll then begin your morning Halong Bay cruise, which features trips to various islands and visits to fascinating rock formations. This entire area is a photographer's paradise, so be sure to keep your camera at the ready. Following this, you will board a small bamboo boat to explore the spooky Luong Cave. Lunch will be served aboard the junk during your return to the mainland. At Halong, a transfer will be waiting to take you back to Hanoi, the final stop on your Vietnam highlights itinerary.

Today is the last full day of your Vietnam highlights itinerary. If you're full of energy, you can get up at sunrise to visit Hoan Kiem Lake, where hundreds of locals gather for their morning workout. You'll find men and women doing Tai Chi, badminton tournaments, joggers, and groups of women walking around the lake, stopping now and again to stretch their arms and legs. A really inspiring start to the day.

After one last evening in Hanoi, you'll depart on Day 18 and your Vietnam highlights itinerary ends. You can easily arrange the transfer from your hotel to the airport yourself, or simply ask your hotel to call a taxi. When you arrive at the airport you'll check in for your international flight home.