Our Golden Vietnam itinerary commences and concludes in the country's most exciting, bustling cities. In the capital Hanoi, daily life plays out on the street; cafes and market stalls spill on to the pavements while ladies balancing bamboo baskets weave around outdoor hair salons and men asleep atop parked motorbikes. Ho Chi Minh City has a very different feel as sleek skyscrapers tower above French colonial architecture such as the Notre Dame Cathedral. Here you can also explore Vietnam's recent history at the War Remnants Museum and make an included side trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels from where the war against the US was won.

 

In Vietnam you're never far from the water and this itinerary includes two nights aboard very different boats. Among the thousand of craggy islands in Halong Bay you'll cruise on a Chinese-style junk boat past floating villages, while in the Mekong Delta you'll board a converted rice barge to float from Cai Be to Can Tho. The Mekong is the country's 'rice bowl' and you can take a break from the boat to cycle through paddy fields, sugar-cane groves and fruit orchards.

 

An overnight train from Hanoi takes you to Sapa, in the northern highlands close to the border with China, where spectacular mountains are cut into steep tiers of lush green rice paddies. Many minority groups live in and around Sapa, dressed in colourful woven skirts and elaborate head dresses. On market days H'mong, Dao and Nung people gather to buy and sell water buffalo, fruit and vegetables and electric goods.

 

Hue's draw is its fine historical sights, including the vast 19th century Citadel containing the Imperial City which Vietnam's emperors once called home and the merchant shops, assembly halls and pagodas of the Phu Cat district. Hue has long been a place of learning and Buddhist scholars, artists, intellectuals and university students still flourish here today.

 

In Hoi An every evening feels like a festival as hundreds of coloured silk lanterns hung from trees sway in the breeze. The streets bustle with tourists and locals enjoying a passeggiata, strolling from craft shop to art gallery to restaurant to indulge in some of Vietnam's most delicious cuisine. It's little wonder than Hoi An means 'peaceful meeting place' in Vietnamese.

 

This is a packed itinerary but one that offers plenty of chances to relax, unwind and watch daily Vietnamese life unfold around you whether you're lounging on a boat in Halong Bay or the Mekong Delta, strolling through a Sapa market, sipping coffee in the big cities or indulging in fantastic food in Hue or Hoi An. 

 

 

Your tour commences today in Vietnam's capital; the fantastic jumble of styles and influences that is modern-day Hanoi. On arrival at Noi Bai International Airport youi will be met and escorted the short distance to our hotel. Your accommodation will be centrally located, allowing you to explore the surround streets, crammed with food stalls, markets and cafes.

 

Day 2 Hanoi 

Ho Chi Minh died before the conclusion of the Vietnam War, but the reverence in which he was held was such that his body was preserved and a grand mausoleum created in Hanoi to allow the Vietnamese people to pay their respects. Our exploration of the city commences here, at the complex that houses the Stalinist mausoleum, the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh's more humble private residence. Our next stop is the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university constructed in 1070, with lovely gardens and well-preserved architecture. After an afternoon to explore further at your leisure this evening you head to Hanoi Station for your overnight train journey to Lao Cai, and the mountains of Sapa. Meals included: Breakfast

 

Day 3 Sapa 

The train arrives early into Lao Cai, the town on the border with China, and your guide meets you here for the scenic drive winding into the mountains to Sapa. After breakfast and a chance to freshen up, head into Sapa for a visit to the busy market where Red Dao, Black H'Mong, Tay and other ethnic minority people converge from the surrounding countryside to sell their silverware and handicrafts, and to buy provisions. Leaving Sapa behind take a light trek to discover Sapa's minority villages set against the stunning Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range and Indochina's highest peak, Mt. Fansipan. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

 

Day 4 Sapa 

The local markets are a highlight of any visit to northern Vietnam, with the distinctive and colourful dress of the different minority groups: Flower Hmong, Phu La, Black Dao, Tay, and Nung set against the towering rice terraces providing a photographer's dream. Visit a village market this morning, and have the day exploring the local countryside and learning more about minority culture and daily life. Return to Lao Cai in the late afternoon and climb back onboard for the return overnight train journey to Hanoi. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

 

Day 5 Halong Bay 

After the mountains and markets of the north, a cruise on UNESCO World Heritage designated Halong Bay provides a peaceful and relaxing contrast. On arrival in Hanoi check in to a local hotel to freshen up and have breakfast, before driving out to Halong. Board your comfortable cruise ship in late morning and set sail into the wonderful scenery of the bay. During the afternoon disembark to explore one of the floating fishing villages that shelter in the lee of the towering karst pinnacles that stud the bay. There is also the chance to swim or hire a kayak for some personal water-borne exploration. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 6 Hue 

A leisurely morning of cruising through the bay brings us back to the harbour in late morning. Drive back to Hanoi in time to catch the short flight south to the imperial city of Hue, former capital of the Nguyen Emperors. After checking in to your hotel the remainder of the day is yours to explore. Meals included: Breakfast

 

Day 7 Hue 

Following a morning guided exploration of the vast Citadel, home of the Nguyen Emperors, take a picturesque boat ride up the Perfume River, named for the fragrance of tropical flowers carried down from orchards upriver, to the Thien Mu Pagoda. The countryside surrounding the city is dotted with the tombs of the former emperors, and this afternoon you will pay these a visit. Two of the finest are the imposing Mausoleum of Tu Duc, and Khai Dinh's Tomb. Meals included: Breakfast

 

After breakfast continue your journey with one of the most scenic drives in the country, ascending the Pass of Ocean Clouds before dropping down to Danang and following the coast south to the ancient trading port of Hoi An. Your hotel is located on the edge of the pedestrianised Old Town, making it an ideal spot for personal exploration. The narrow, meandering streets of Hoi An's Old Town are perhaps the most appealing places in Vietnam to wander at your own pace. The many delightful riverside cafes and restaurants might appeal for a spot of people-watching, or you may fancy letting one of the tailors for which the town is famed measure you up. For those of a more active persuasion bikes can be hired to get out into the countryside. Meals included: Breakfast

 

Today take a half day to visit the capital and religious centre of the former Champa Kingdom, My Son. Here, 40km southwest of Hoi An, in a lush green valley, are dozens of red brick towers and sanctuaries dating from between the 7th and 13th Centuries. On the way back to Hoi An stop to visit Tra Kieu, formerly known as Simhapura or the Lion Citadel, the capital of Champa between the 4th and 8th Centuries. Some of the finest sculptures in Danang's Cham Museum originated from here. Meals included: Breakfast

 

Day 10 Ho Chi Minh City 

After a final leisurely morning in Hoi An, your guide will collect you from your hotel and drive you back to Danang in time for the flight onward to Ho Chi Minh City, the energetic heart of modern Vietnam. A short guided tranfer brings you to your hotel, located in the heart of District One, from where the excitement of the city awaits. Meals included: Breakfast

 

Day 11 Ho Chi Minh City 

Journey out of Ho Chi Minh City this morning to gain an insight into the American-Vietnam War period, at the Cu Chi Tunnels, a labyrinthine network of tunnels that sheltered great numbers of Viet Cong troops during the war. Returning to the city in the afternoon take a guided walking tour of the many sites of interest that surround your centrally located hotel, including the former Presidential Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Benh Thanh Market and Dong Khoi Street. Meals included: Breakfast

 

Day 12 Mekong Delta 

Head south from the city today into the evocative Mekong Delta. There are few more relaxing experiences than a cruise through the laid-back tropical, watery world of the delta, and you can kick-back and savour the scenery as you join an overnight cruise. This afternoon you have the opportunity to explore the local villages on foot or by bike, before returning to your boat to stay overnight. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 13 Ho Chi Minh City 

A brief visit to Tra On floating market after breakfast is followed by a chance to explore the largest floating market in the region at Cai Rang, where much of the Delta come to trade fruit and other produce from their barges. Here you disembark and return to Ho Chi Minh City for a final afternoon of exploration. Meals included: Breakfast

 

Sadly your trip comes to an end today, and your guide will collect you at a pre-arranged time today for the short transfer back to the International Airport for your onward flight. Meals included: Breakfast