Vietnam Adventure

Adventure starts in Hanoi

Begin your adventure in Hanoi, a city where an unstoppable energy meets traditional Vietnamese culture and colonial influences permeate the broad tree-lined boulevards, most noticeably in faded French architecture. Around 6pm, say xin chào to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big welcome by arranging a group dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Meals: Dinner

Tour the historic highlights of Hanoi

Today, we embark on a sightseeing tour of Hanoi, which includes: a visit to the Temple of Literature; the site of the oldest university in Vietnam; Hoa Lo Prison; and the Old Quarter. Another stop is the grounds of the Presidential Palace, where former prime minister Ho Chi Minh refused to live in the grand structure for symbolic reasons. We visit his traditional Vietnamese stilt house here. In the evening, there is the option to watch a traditional water puppet show.

Meals: Breakfast

To Ha Long Bay • Overnight on traditional junk boat

Today, we visit an icon of Vietnam: Ha Long Bay, a World Heritage site where some 3,000 limestone peaks break through emerald waters to create a mystical, magical landscape. We rise early for the approximately four-hour drive and, upon arrival, board a traditional junk sailing boat. After launching, we enjoy a seafood lunch on deck and drift among the forested pinnacles. We stop at a beach where we can hike up to a viewpoint, plus there's time for a swim. Optional kayaking trip may be available depending on weather conditions.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Cruise among the limestone peaks of Ha Long Bay • To Hanoi • Overnight train to Hue

We continue to cruise around Ha Long Bay, admiring those limestone pinnacles once more, before returning to port mid-morning. We then have a four-hour drive back to Hanoi, where we have a little free time, before transferring to the train station. Here, we board the Reunification Express for our overnight train ride to Hue, 428mi (688km) to the south.

Meals: Breakfast

Arrive Hue • Explore the Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Purple City of Hue

Arriving mid-morning in Hue, we transfer to our hotel to freshen up. In the afternoon, we visit the Imperial Citadel. Inside its 6mi (10km) long walls are the palaces and halls of the Mandarins, and the remains of the Forbidden Purple City. We also visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, a centre for anti-government protest in the early 1960s, which houses the Austin car that transported monk Thich Quang Duc to Saigon where he burned himself in protest.

Visit historic Tu Duc Mausoleum • Free afternoon to relax

After breakfast, we visit the tomb of Tu Duc, one of the most extravagant mausoleums of the great Nguyen emperors. Designed by Tu Duc himself, it was completed in 1867 but the excessive nature of the project sparked unrest and even an attempted coup. After, we head back to Hue, where we have a free afternoon to explore the historic centre or relax by the river.

Meals: Breakfast

To Hoi An • Stop at Marble Mountain to explore Viet Cong caves and enjoy views from the peak

Leaving Hue, our 81mi (130km) drive passes through the beautiful peninsula of Lang Co, between a crystalline lagoon and the Eastern Sea, and then passes over the Hai Van pass (Pass of the Ocean Clouds). In Da Nang, we stop for lunch before we climb Marble Mountain, where we explore large caves used by the Viet Cong as a hospital base during the war. From the mountain peak, there are fantastic views over My Khe beach and the countryside leading to Hoi An.

Meals: Breakfast

Explore the merchants' houses and pagoda temples of Hoi An • Free afternoon

This morning, we have a walking tour of Hoi An, the original European trading port in Vietnam, which dates to the mid-16th century. It is now a living museum, with attractive wooden merchants' houses and pagoda-style temples with Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and European architectural influences. This afternoon is free. One popular option is to jump on a bike for a ride through the countryside to Cua Dai beach (3mi/5km).

Meals: Breakfast

Visit My Son to see stone temples and sanctuaries • Free afternoon in Hoi An

This morning, we visit My Son, the spiritual home of the Cham civilisation, where Cham kings were buried as early as the fourth century. Although bombing has destroyed much of the site, there are several interesting stone towers and sanctuaries. Upon returning to Hoi An, the rest of the afternoon is free.

Meals: Breakfast

Fly to Ho Chi Minh City • Explore the city highlights

We drive to Da Nang and then fly to Ho Chi Minh City, an exciting and absorbing metropolis where scooters pack the streets and temples stand alongside modern developments. This afternoon's walking city tour includes a visit to the Ben Thanh Market, Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and War Remnants Museum.

Meals: Breakfast

Go underground at the Cu Chi Tunnels • Free afternoon

Today, we head north to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a mazey subterranean network that stretches some 75mi (121km) over three levels. During our visit, we see tank and aircraft remnants and visit the war re-enactment zones. We also have the chance to explore the tunnels themselves. In the afternoon, we return to Ho Chi Minh City and the rest of the day is free for individual exploration.

Meals: Breakfast

Mekong Delta boat ride • Overnight in a homestay-style guesthouse

In the morning, we drive (approximately 2hr 30min to 3hr) to the Mekong Delta. At the Delta city of Vinh Long, we take a wooden boat on the mighty Mekong River to Cai Be. En route, we pass many orchards and stop to see cottage industries, such as rice paper and coconut candy. The evening is tranquil as we have dinner on an island and enjoy Delta hospitality. We spend the night at a simple guesthouse built in the style of a local house.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Walk through orchards • Return to Ho Chi Minh City

This morning, we walk through orchards and navigate small canals in a traditional wooden sampan. Later, we rejoin our boat to rendezvous with our vehicle for the journey back to Ho Chi Minh City via a little-visited Cao Dai temple used by devotees of this indigenous religion, which fuses all the great religions of east and west.

Meals: Breakfast

Adventure ends in Ho Chi Minh City

You've cruised Ha Long Bay by junk boat, explored the Mekong Delta and toured both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City; but today, the adventure comes to an end and we begin our return journeys home. You can continue your journey of discovery in Southeast Asia by joining our Angkor Wat add-on tour.

Meals: Breakfast