Our 16-night adventure will have you travelling to the remote northern and central regions of Vietnam, taking in the highlights of Hue and Hoi An before finishing your trip in Ho Chi Minh City. Allow your adventurous side to flourish as you hike, bike and kayak around undiscovered and unspoilt parts of Vietnam, whilst dropping in at classic Vietnamese destinations: Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City. This itinerary is the perfect mix of both rural and urban adventure.

 

Starting your trip in Hanoi, you begin with an expert-led walking street-food tour. Spend a morning sampling some of the best street food Hanoi has to offer whilst simultaneously exploring the rambling, colourful, hectic streets of Hanoi's Old Quarter. After a couple of nights here in Vietnam's capital, you will travel by sleeper train to the far north-west mountains of Lao Cai Province.

 

The next few days will be spent hiking through the lush, misty mountains of the far north; on your way see locals work their buffaloes in the rice paddies, and visit rural markets. These authentic community markets are where local ethnic minority people go to trade their produce and animals and are rich in tradition and heritage. Seeing these beautifully clothed people in their traditional costumes in these working markets is a real highlight and a humbling experience. Travelling between communities and sights will be largely done on foot but also by car. As you trek though the northern hills and valleys you will have two nights staying with local families in traditional homes as you get off the beaten track and stay in remote villages.

 

From the northern mountains you will head back to Hanoi before travelling onwards to Dong Hoi and Phong Nha, in Central Vietnam. Arriving by early morning you will have the next couple of days and nights to explore the beauty of Phong Nha National Park. With its phenomenal caves, staggering valleys and beautiful and diverse landscape, Phong Nha national park is the perfect place to spend the next few days hiking and camping between secluded swimming holes and kayaking down jungle lined rivers. Your next destination will be a visit to the Vinh Moc Tunnels, where villagers escaped bombing and lived underground during the Vietnam-American War. You will also see a section of the infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail before making our way to Hue.

 

Known for it's regal past and historical significance Hue is a great city to explore. With the imposing Hue Citadel, famous cuisine, countless tombs and temples and with the mighty Perfume River running through its centre, Hue is a wonderful city to enjoy for a couple of nights. From Hue you will take the scenic Pass of Ocean Clouds over the hills along the coast to Hoi An. For the energetic this is a wonderful cycle ride.

 

Hoi An is arguably Vietnam's most picturesque town; a significant spice and silk port in the 16th and 17th century many of the merchant houses and original architecture has been preserved to the present day. Now protected by UNESCO, Hoi An's Old Quarter is an idyllic and quintessential Vietnamese and the traditional architecture, colourful silk lanterns and and phenomenal food make this a charming place to spend some time.From Hoi An you have the opportunity to cycle to the ancient My Son Ruins before having time at leisure to enjoy

 

From Central Vietnam you will fly to your final destination, Ho Chi Minh City. Colloquially known as Saigon, this is Vietnam's most cosmopolitan and lively city. Springing from its traditional past Saigon is a metropolis of dazzling lights, and a relentless torrent of motorcycles. This exciting city has plenty to offer, with phenomenal food, world class accommodation, amazing museums, and traditional local markets this a great place to finish your Vietnamese adventure.   

 

 

On arrival to Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport you will be met by your English speaking guide and taken by private transfer to your centrally located hotel. The rest of the day will be spent at your leisure to relax and enjoy the bustling streets of the capital. 

 

This morning you will enjoy a half day street-food and market tour with a local expert guiding you through the maze of old streets and allowing you to sample the finest street food Hanoi has to offer. After lunch explore the city further, taking in the enchanting Temple of Literature followed by a visit to Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and former residences. In the early evening board your overnight sleeper train to Lao Cai in north Vietnam. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

 

Your adventure commences in earnest on arrival in Lao Cai this morning. Your guide will be here to meet you, and after breakfast a quick shower you continue to a market in one of the local villages nearby. These villages are inhabited by different minority groups: Dao, H'mong, and Nung, each with distinct cultures and they come to sell their wares, buy their weekly necessities but most importantly for the social interaction. They come in their finest clothes, resulting in a colourful and interesting market. After exploring the market, depart for the beautiful drive up to the town of Bac Ha. After checking in to the hotel, head out of a walk out into the smaller hamlets around Bac Ha. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

After an early breakfast, transfer 30 minutes to the start of the trek in Ta Chai Village. This is home to the Lung Phin ethnic group. After a picnic lunch, trek into Lu Suoi Tung village, home to a local population of Flower Hmong community. The afternoon usually take approximately 3 hours of trekking and exploring. At the end of the trek, your van will be there to transfer us over the 8 km of paved road to the small community of Tay. This is one of the most photographed areas in Ha Giang, with breathtaking views of the Ban Gia Valley. Tonight we will be hosted by a Tay family, in their large stilt home where you have the opportunity to have tea or a glass of rice wine with the family and learn more about their unique customs and culture. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

After breakfast, trek along the large dirt track with great views of the Ban Gia valley to Song Lam village, home of the Nung community. After 3 hours, take a break for a picnic lunch in Song Lam Village. Continue trekking for 3 hours up the trail along the Ban Gia valley via Sin Chai Village, home to the Flower Hmong and Yao communities. Your vehicle will pick you up in Ban Ngo village, and transfer to Nam Dan Village. Nam Dan is famous for the ancient petrogliphs. Continue on to Nam Chien Village in the early evening, where you stay tonight with a local Nung family. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

After breakfast, trek downhill 2.5 km to cross the river. Then we have a 5 km climb through three Nung villages and small tea trees. The last portion of the trek takes us down 2 km to a suspention bridge. Here we will be picked up and transferred to Xin Man for lunch. The afternoon we will drive back to Lao Cai. Enjoy a short time at a local guest house, where you can shower and relax before dinner and the overnight train to Hanoi. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

 

After an early arrival enjoy breakfast and day use of a local hotel to shower before embarking on your next adventure - Hanoi by bicycle. This ride highlights the diversity of Hanoi. Bike along quiet roads, around West Lake, passing through the heart of Hanoi. Cycle past bustling coffee shops, an old French bunker and along lotus ponds to one of the most revered Buddhist pagodas in Vietnam. This afternoon is yours to explore Hanoi on your own, before you are met for the transfer to railway station in time for your onward overnight train to Dong Hoi. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

 

Day 8 Phong Nha National Park 

Arrive early this morning, and after a chance to freshen up and have a spot of breakfast drive an hour inland to the towering peaks of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, home to the region's most spectacular cave systems. Spend the day exploring this remote and beautiful jungle region; swimming at Nuoc Mooc Spring, where warm waters usher forth from a nearby cavern, and experiencing some of the largest and finest caves in Asia. An undoubted highlight will be the vast cathedral-like space of Paradise Cave, deep in the mountains of the park.  Finish the day with a kayak down the Chay River to your overnight accommodation. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

After breakfast, transfer 1.5 hours to Tan Hoa Village. Here start to trek through the pristine valley to Hang Chuot (Rat Cave). This dry cave is a good way to start to learn how to move in a cave, find your footing and balance using only the light of your headlamp. After exploring Hang Chuot, it is a short 30 minute trek to Hang Hung Ton cave. Explore the large rooms  and formations in the cave, including several columns and a few calcite pools. After enjoy lunch next to a lovely swimming hole. In the afternoon, continue to explore Hung Ton, the wet branch of the cave. We will traverse this cave by swimming 100 meters. If you prefer not to swim, trek 1 hour to To Mo Valley. Tonight set up camp in To Mo Valley, a secluded valley, surrounded by limestone cliffs. Spend the evening watching the swallows dive along the cliffs. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

After breakfast, pack up camp and start the trek to the secluded Tu Lan Valley. This trek is a 2 km climb out of To Mo Valley. The summit provides spectacular views of both To Mo Valley and Tu Lan Valley. Continue down into Tu Lan Valley. Before lunch enjoy a refreshing swim in the pool created by the river and water fall that pours out of the mouth of Hang Ken cave. After lunch, visit Hang Kim, a wet cave that includes a small waterfall and small lake. Then trek 30 minutes on to Tu Lan cave, here you have a chance to see a rare cave formation, called cave pearls. These fragile, classified grains of sand are found on the cave floor. After visiting Tu Lan cave, trek 45 minutes back to camp. Enjoy another swim in Tu Lan River, or relax along the river bank. Dinner is served under a canopy of stars. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

After breakfast, break camp and trek back to Tan Hoa Valley. This trek winds through thick jungle up the ridge the separates Tan Hoa Valley and Hang Hung Ton Valley. Then descend down into Hang Hung Ton Valley. Our route is not the same as previous days, as the scenery opens up to a grass covers valley floor. There is one more climb, over the valley ridge into Tan Hoa Valley. After descending to the valley floor, enjoy a refreshing swim in the river, before trekking through the Tan Hoa Valley to Tan Hoa village. Here enjoy a local lunch before transferring on to Dong Hoi, 2.5 hours. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

 

Day 12 Hue 

From Dong Hoi you head south this morning toward Hue. En route stop in at the DMZ and Vin Moc Tunnels, constructed at the height of the war by local villagers living close to the notorious 17th Parallel of the Vietnam War-era, to protect themselves from the relentless carpet-bombing. Cross the Ben Hai River before picking up your bikes and cycling the back roads to the former imperial capital of Hue. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

 

Today cycle from the hotel to experience some of Hue?s most important cultural sites. First stop will be the Imperial Citadel modeled after the Forbidden City in China. While much of this site was destroyed during the Tet Offensive you will gain a clear understanding of how the Royal family lived in the peek of their rule. After exploring the ruins of this wonderful monument, take a boat trip on Perfume River to Thien Mu pagoda. Continue to cycle to Ming Mang mausoleum and loop back across the perfume river to Hue via the mausoleum of Khai Dinh. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

 

Drive by bus beyond the city limits of Hue to avoid the busy traffic. Begin riding off the beaten track for 40 km along a picturesque, very narrow peninsular road from Thuan An beach to Vinh Loc. Hop on a local ferry to cross the estuary of the Perfume River before joining Highway 1. From here transfer or cycle to the start of today's three hill climbs! After the first two moderate climbs of 2-3km a piece, cruise down to stunning Lang Co Beach for a rest/ swim and lunch before tackling the final hill of the day - the Hai Van or Pass of Ocean Clouds. Now that the new tunnel through the mountain is completed, the 11km of uphill will be on a quiet section of road. The gradient is manageable and the views breathtaking! Transfer the rest of the way to Hoi An, a delightful old trading town and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

 

After breakfast, cycle out of town to visit My Son, the ancient centre of Cham civilization. The ride is worth the effort in itself and is arguably one of the best of the trip. We transfer out of town to avoid the highway before cycling along scenic country backroads past rice fields and through eucalyptus forest passing many scenic villages. The road climbs away from the coast offering stunning views.   You will arrive tired but triumphant at these most wonderful towers and enjoy a picnic lunch before transferring back to Hoi An. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

A final leisurely morning in Hoi An gives you a chance to relax before transferring to Danang Airport and flying south to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's exciting economic powerhouse. Have the afternoon to explore some of the many sights to be found within walking distance of your District One hotel. Meals included: Breakfast

 

Your adventure comes to an end today, and unless you have chosen to extend your trip with a few nights on one of Vietnam's excellent beaches, or by crossing the border to explore the incredible temples of Angkor in neighbouring Cambodia, you will be taken to Ho Chi Minh International Airport by your guide and waved off on your return flight home.  Meals included: Breakfast