Vietnam in a nutshell - two weeks

Today you'll fly from Hanoi to Danang, an airport close to enchanting Hoi An. The transfers to and from the respective airports are very easy for you to arrange yourself - you'll never be short of taxi drivers in Vietnam. Hoi An is, for many people, the highlight of their two week Vietnam itinerary. It is also a perfect halfway point between the north and south of the country in this two week itinerary.  

Hoi An is well known for its enthusiastic tailors, its art galleries, and its narrow streets crammed with tiny wooden cafes. During your stay, you can lazily browse the streets and hire a friendly tailor to sew your made-to-measure outfit. There is plenty to do in and around the port town, including a cycle trip past the paddy fields to the beach, not too far from Hoi An. The beach is surprisingly quiet in the daytime, so you can stretch out on a lounger under a thatched parasol and enjoy the peace. At sunset, the beach will fill with locals who come here to cool off, chat, and play football at the end of a long working day.     

Day 8 of your two week Vietnam itinerary is essentially a free day, 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 for your lesson. This is the best possible way to get to know local Vietnamese cuisine and you’ll hear all about typical Vietnamese dishes. Then, you'll have a go at preparing your own dishes before eating them 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, so 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 your time. The hotel also has a very pleasant swimming pool and breakfast is included during your stay. 

Today, your two week Vietnam itinerary will take you the Cu Chi tunnels, passing peaceful rice paddies, delta villages and an unusual floating temple along the way.

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 enabled the Vietcong to carry out covert attacks. 

You can climb into the tunnels and experience the eerie atmosphere first hand. Many have been enlarged especially for tourists, making them 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 more of the city or people-watch from a pavement cafe.

Today you'll leave your hotel at 7.30am. The local boat will take you to the floating market of Cai Rang, which is the largest, most important, and probably the noisiest floating market in the Mekong Delta. In order to get close to all of the excitement of the floating market, you'll transfer over into a bamboo rowboat. You'll sail amidst all of the boats peddling their wares. Naturally you yourself won't have to row during this journey, so you'll have plenty of time to negotiate and purchase goods. In the village on the banks of the river, you'll drop in on a factory where rice is ‘puffed’ and transformed into Vietnamese rice cakes. You will also visit a small rice noodle factory, (if it's open that day!)

Eventually you'll take the comfortable air-conditioned coach back to Ho Chi Minh City - you'll arrive back to Saigon at around 3-4pm for the final night of your Vietnam two week itinerary.