Go behind the scenes of Vietnam’s hot-spots on a small-group adventure that avoids the tourists.
From the fast-paced hub of Ho Chi Minh City to the charming capital of Hanoi, experience the beautiful landscapes, history-soaked monuments and all the delicious cuisine in between as you traverse the country from South to North like a local: paddle through the waterways of the Mekong Delta in a sampan, explore remote villages via tuk-tuk, cruise through the waters of Halong Bay on a traditional boat, wander the car-free streets of Hoi An on foot and discover the imperial icons of Hue from the back of a motorbike – and with the guidance of your expert local leader, you’ll discover secrets to this South-East Asian gem that you simply won’t find in a guidebook.
Highlights
See the very best that Vietnam has to offer in just 10 days as you traverse the country from bottom to top with a small group of up to 15 new friends.
Visit some of the must-see sights with your group such as a walking tour in Hoi An and the Temple of Literature in Hanoi, as well as plenty of free time to make your own discoveries.
Travel through Vietnam like a local as you explore the cosmopolitan and rural landscapes by boat, train, plane, tuk-tuk, taxi and motorbike.
Sample local food wherever you go: a seafood dinner on Halong Bay, lunch at a Buddhist nunnery, coconut candy in the Mekong Delta, and a final dinner at KOTO restaurant – oh, and did we mention the street food?
Have expert advice on hand the whole way with an experienced local leader to help you get the best out of your time in Vietnam.
- You will visit the following places:
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Hoi An
Hội An is a beautiful city on Vietnam’s central coast known for its well-preserved Ancient Town, cut through with canals. Vietnam’s most atmospheric and delightful city, the Old Town of Hoi An is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city also possessed the largest harbour in south-east Asia in the 1st century and was known as Lâm Ấp Phố (Champa City), which controlled the strategic spice trade with Indonesia from the 7th to the 10th century and was a major international port in the 16th and 17th centuries - and the foreign influences are discernible to this day.
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Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, formerly named Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam. It was once known as Prey Nokor, an important Khmer sea port prior to annexation by the Vietnamese in the 17th century. Today, the city's core is still adorned with wide elegant boulevards and historic French colonial buildings. The are so many prominent structures in the city center to be amused at. Some of the historic hotels are the Hotel Majestic, dating from the French colonial era, and the Rex Hotel, Caravelle hotel some former hangouts for American officers and war correspondents in the 1960s and 1970s.
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Huế
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Hanoi