Classic Vietnam

Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. Upon arrival in Hanoi, private car and tour guide will pick you up at Noi Bai International Airport and then transfer you to hotel for check in (the rooms are at your disposal from 14:00). Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm today. You can arrive at any time during the day as there are no activities planned until this important meeting. Please check with hotel reception or look on the reception noticeboard for where and when the meeting will take place. If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you have all these details to provide to your leader.

Notes: An arrival transfer is included. In order to book this service please provide your booking agent with your flight details at least 2 weeks prior to your departure. If you can't arrange a flight that will have you arrive at the hotel in time for the meeting, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).

Start the day with a buffet breakfast at KOTO Restaurant, which is one of our supported programs that teaches street children hospitality skills. Next, drive for about three hours to Cai Be. Here you’ll board a boat to explore the canals of the Mekong Delta. The delta is known as ‘Vietnam’s rice bowl’ for its abundance of rice paddies, fruit and flower orchards. During the boat trip, you’ll stop to sample some of the fresh tropical fruit and visit some cottage industries in the area. Around sunset you’ll make your way to your homestay to spend a night with the locals and enjoy a wonderful meal of local specialties.

Notes: On the homestay, conditions will be basic. You’ll be sharing amenities and sleeping in a dorm-style arrangement. Bedding and mosquito nets will be provided but you’ll have cold water only.

Wake up early and see daily life begin on the delta at dawn. You’ll visit the enormous Cai Be floating market, where locals sell their produce on their boats. In the afternoon, return to Ho Chi Minh City and take a walking tour in town. Experience the hustle and bustle of former Saigon and explore some of the city's more interesting sights such as the War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace.

Make a day trip to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. This former Viet Cong stronghold provides an insight into the resourcefulness and tenacity of the Vietnamese people, and offers a glimpse of what like was like during the war. This evening, board an overnight train to Nha Trang. Conditions are basic on these trains and they may be a little dirtier than what you’re used to, however overnight trains are the best way to brush shoulders with the locals and make the best use of your time. Most trains have a dining carriage serving simple food, but some travellers like to take some fresh bread, cheese and fruit for the journey.

Notes: Sleeper trains typically have four or six berth compartments with bench seats that convert into sleeping bunks. A sheet, pillow and blanket are provided, although some travellers prefer to bring their own sleeping sheet. Depending on the configuration of the group, you may have to share with people of different genders or passengers who aren’t part of the group.

Upon your arrival in Nha Trang, you will have time to relax and enjoy a simple breakfast. Our tour guide will pick you up at your hotel and take you to Cau Da port. In here, you can visit Tri Nguyen Aquarium at Hon Mieu Island, with many fishes of Nha Trang and Khanh Hoa province which make this place become a small ocean world. Then you will have a visit to a fishing village and enjoy a fresh lunch at the island. On the way back, you will be able to see caves in which the sea swallows make their nests. At the end of day, you can choose to indulge in spa treatments before retiring for the evening. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Today you will be free to relax. Mun island will be your best choice when finding a place to snorkel with a lot of lives, colorful coral reefs and fishes in crystal blue waters. The rest of the day you can choose to relax, swim & do water sports or other activities at Mot Island, Tranh Beach Island,... or just relax on the white sand beach and admire the unspoiled mountain and sea views. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Say good bye to beautiful beach city Nha Trang, you will have a short flight to Da Nang and then take a bus to reach Hoi An. After lunch in a local restaurant, you will have a walking tour around the old town Hoi An which was one of the most important trading ports in Southeast Asia, and a center for East-West exchange and trade.

Over many decades, Hoi An still maintains its rustic but charming beauty and in 1980s, this place became a world's heritage recognized by UNESCO. Your destination today is the most attractive spots of this Old town as the Japanese covered bridge, Phuc Kien assemble hall, Phung Hung Old House, Hoi An Museum and Quan Cong temple. The remainder of the day is free for you to do anything you want. You can wander Dong Ba market and get for yourself some unique handicrafts as paintings, woodwork, ceramics, lanterns,...Overnight in Hoi An.

You will have the whole day for leisure. You can take a boat trip along Thu Bon River to immerse in the peaceful atmosphere here and admire the beautiful scenery at both side. Another suggestion for you is a cooking class. You can find this class very easily in town. You can learn how to make some simple but delicious Vietnamese dishes with local ingredients. At the end of this class, teachers will give you something that you can take home and really impresses your friends and family with. Overnight in Hoi An.

Enjoy a free day in Hoi An.

If you can muster an early rise this morning, head to the local produce market to watch animated shoppers haggling over fresh fish, spices and vegetables. Your leader can help you arrange an optional Vietnamese cooking course. Perhaps visit the ruins of My Son, Vietnam's most important Cham site. Set in a verdant valley, surrounded by hills and overlooked by the massive Cat's Tooth Mountain, the elaborate World Heritage-listed temples here reflect the rich cultural traditions of the Cham civilisation that flourished in this region between the 4th and 12th century. Make the most of your last day in Hoi An by doing any activities you couldn’t fit into your schedule yesterday.

After breakfast, you will depart from hotel for a three-hour trip to Hue, one of Vietnam’s most cultural and historical cities. On the way, you can visit Cham Museum and Marble Mountain. Marble Mountain was one of four mountains located south of Da Nang that stretched from the coast inland or westward for about three miles.

All of the mountains have lots of cave entrances and tunnels. Upon arrival, met up and transferred with guide to the city center. You will take a cyclo to visit the Old Imperial Citadel, containing the Imperial City, the Forbidden Purple City and take the van to the Imperial Museum. After the lunch at local restaurant, rest of the time is your own free discovery of the city. Overnight in Hue.

Take a cruise on a dragon boat along the Perfume River. You’ll stop off at the. Thien Mu Pagoda, and see an active Buddhist monastery dating back to 1601. One of the most poignant displays is a car belonging to a former monk who set himself alight to protest against the treatment of Buddhists. You’ll also visit one of the royal tombs, that of Emperor Tu Duc, with its lake, frangipani and pine trees.

Notes: Perfume River Cruises may not be available during festival season. During these times you’ll travel by land to reach the activities. During your trip to Hue, you’re likely to visit a Buddhist nunnery or monastery for lunch. The lunch provide economic benefits to these institutions, which rely on donations to survive, and gives you an insight into the unique traditions and food of Vietnamese Buddhism.

Fly from Hue to Vietnam’s charming capital of Hanoi. This afternoon, take a guided half-day tour of Hanoi that captures the beauty and the history of the laid-back, tree-lined capital. You’ll visit major sights including the Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda and the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh. You’ll also pass by the Hoan Kiem Lake and enter the ’36 Streets’ of the historic Old Quarter.

If you have some free time this afternoon, you may like to visit the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum. This Museum plays a crucial role in maintaining and promoting the cultural heritage of Vietnam’s ethnic communities. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show.

Travel by private minibus for about four hours to the spectacular World Heritage site of Halong Bay. This is one of Vietnam’s most beautiful places, a secluded bay of emerald waters flecked with sandstone islands and caves. Go on a cruise to explore the rock formations and caves and in the warmer months, go for a swim. You’ll spend the night on the boat. The sailing junk has twin-share cabins with air-conditioning and private facilities. There's also a dining room and bar where you’ll enjoy all of your meals, including a lavish seafood buffet for lunch.

Notes: There are restrictions on the number of boats that are permitted to stay in the bay overnight, sometimes resulting in a shortage. To ensure all Intrepid travellers can enjoy the experience of a night on the water, we’re occasionally using a larger boat (with approximately 12 cabins) or splitting groups across different vessels. An Intrepid group leader will be present on each boat, and the route taken and inclusions on board will remain the same. Your leader will discuss the option for swimming from Ti Top Island beach during the warmer months. Swimming in the bay from the boats is not permitted.

Drive for about four hours back to Hanoi. Along the way, you’ll stop at Dong Trieu Factory to watch locals creating ceramic art pieces. Arrive late this afternoon and enjoy a couple of hours free to visit Hanoi's sights or to do some last-minute shopping. Perhaps visit the Hoa Lo Prison aka the ‘Hanoi Hilton’ which was used for prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. There’s also the Museum of Ethnology with its fascinating indoor and outdoor exhibits.

Enjoy a final dinner with your fellow travellers.

There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart the accommodation at any time.