Vietnam's capital is our starting point, providing an exciting launch-pad for the adventure to come. Kick off the tour like the locals with a few glasses of street side 'bia hoi' and a bowl of steaming pho noodles, before we embark into the terraced mountains of the north. Our destination is the remote Ba Be Lakes National Park, home of the Tay minority group, where we spend two glorious days exploring the lakes, caves and forests of this beautiful region by boat and on foot. Our tour is arranged by the lunar calendar to enable us to visit local markets rarely seen by visitors, where the different minorities come in their finest to trade and socialise.

 

We return to Hanoi for a short, relaxing break sailing on the limpid waters of Halong Bay, before jumping aboard the Reunification Express and trundling our way south to Dong Hoi, gateway to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. These jungle-clad mountains stretch to the Laos border and hide a remarkable collection of vast caverns, many discovered only in recent years. Here we explore the awe-inspiring Paradise Cave, recently opened and filled with remarkable sculpted stalactite and stalagmite formations; we don our costumes to swim in Nuoc Mooc Springs, and explore the jungle paths of this wonderful area.

 

En route to the imperial city of Hue we stop in at the DMZ to explore the incredible underground network of the Vinh Moc Tunnels. A gentle cycle ride around Hue and the surrounding countryside the following morning is followed by a scenic drive over the Pass of Ocean Clouds to Hoi An, ancient trading port and relaxed riverside destination. Try your hand at local fishing techniques and learn about traditional farming methods; saunter through the streets of the old town and indulge in a spot of people-watching or simply relax by the pool.

 

The final leg of our journey takes us to the dense jungle of Nam Cat Tien National Park, last refuge of many of Vietnam's large mammals. We may not be fortunate enough to see the elephant, leopard and tiger said to reside in the park's depths, but we will trek through the jungle to seek out the endangered Siamese Crocodile, listening out for the wild gibbon in the canopy above. We conclude our trip with a final night in the bright lights of Ho Chi Minh City; an energetic end to a remarkable journey.    

 

 

The tour commences today in Vietnam's capital; the fantastic jumble of styles and influences that is modern-day Hanoi. Many of our customers choose to come in a day or two early to get over jet-lag and get the most out of the tour. Whatever you choose we will have someone there to meet you on arrival at Noi Bai International Airport and escort you the short distance to our hotel. Our base here is the Medallion Hotel, located bang in the heart of the city's old town, surrounded by street food stalls, markets and cafes, and within a few minutes walk of Hoan Kiem Lake. Tonight, once all members of the group have arrived we will venture out into the city to indulge in an included welcome dinner of your Tour Leader's choice. Meals included: Dinner

 

Ba Be Lakes National Park is a remote region to the north of the city, and head out early for the long but scenic drive ahead. There is plenty of opportunity to break the journey along the way, to stretch limbs and take photos, before we arrive in late afternoon. Our accommodation here is a lovely traditional stilt-house homestay; facilities are simple and we sleep in a large communal house, but it is to experience the character of the location and people that brings us here, and this low impact tourism benefits the local community and the environment alike. There is time for a little personal exploration before our hosts prepare dinner at our homestay. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

We spend our day exploring this beautiful area by boat and on foot, drifting downstream to the vast Puong Cave and exploring the local village market nearby. Returning to our boat we cruise gently down the lake to the cascading waterfalls at Dau Dang, before heading back to our homestay for a well-earned dinner. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

En route back to Hanoi today we stop in at Cho Da market, a remote gathering of the local minority groups set in beautiful rural landscape. We return to town in the late afternoon and have the remainder of the day at leisure. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

 

Day 5 Halong Bay 

We leave Hanoi early this morning for the four hour drive east to Halong Bay. We board our comfortable Chinese-style junk boat, the Bai Tho, in late morning and set sail into the wonderful scenery of the bay. During the afternoon we will disembark to explore one of the remarkable 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

 

A leisurely morning of cruising through the bay brings us back to the harbour in late morning. We drive back to Hanoi in time for a quick dinner before boarding the Reunification Express, the train that links north and south Vietnam, for our overnight journey south to Dong Hoi. Facilities onboard are simple but clean, and very much part of the Vietnam experience! Meals included: Breakfast

 

Day 7 Phong Nha National Park 

We arrive early this morning, and after a chance to freshen up and have a spot of breakfast we drive an hour inland to the towering peaks of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, home to the region's most spectacular cave systems. We 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. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

 

Day 8 Hue 

From Dong Hoi where we have stayed overnight we head south this morning toward Hue. En route we 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. We cross the Ben Hai River and continue to Hue, arriving mid-afternoon; after checking in to our hotel overlooking the Perfume River the remainder of the day is at leisure to explore. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

 

Day 9 Hoi An 

This morning we climb into the saddle for a gentle morning of cycling in and around the city of Hue, visiting local villages and climbing to a great vantage point overlooking the beautiful rural countryside of the area. After lunch we drive on over the spectacular Pass of Ocean Clouds to Hoi An, ancient trading port and captivating traditional town. The afternoon is yours to meander through the winding streets of the old town, or relax by the pool after a few long days of travelling. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

 

Day 10 Hoi An 

This morning we climb into the saddle for a gentle morning of cycling in and around the city of Hue, visiting local villages and climbing to a great vantage point overlooking the beautiful rural countryside of the area. After lunch we drive on over the spectacular Pass of Ocean Clouds to Hoi An, ancient trading port and captivating traditional town. The afternoon is yours to meander through the winding streets of the old town, or relax by the pool after a few long days of travelling. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

 

Day 11 Nam Cat Tien National Park 

A short flight early today takes us to Dalat in the Central Highlands, from where we drive southwest through coffee and tea plantations to the lush, dense jungle of the Nam Cat Tien National Park. We stay at Forest Floor Lodge, a thoughtfully designed eco-lodge overlooking the Ben Cu rapids and Monkey Island, home to the excellent gibbon rescue and rehabilitation centre. This afternoon we have a short jungle trek, and stop in at the Bear Rehabilitation centre close to the National Park entrance. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 12 Nam Cat Tien National Park 

We rise early for a short drive and trek through the jungle to Crocodile Lake, providing plenty of opportunity to see many varieties of bird life and, if we are lucky, the critically endangered Siamese crocodile. We return to the lodge and in the afternoon take a boat trip along the Ben Cu River to view wildlife on the riverbank. This evening we take a night drive into the park using a spotlight to view nocturnal wildlife. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 13 Ho Chi Minh City 

This morning we pay a visit to the gibbon rescue centre to learn more about the vital rehabilitation and teaching operation conducted there, before we head back by coach to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam?s most energetic and electric city, for a last evening in town. A final group meal will round off our expedition, with a last chance to reminisce on the highlights of the trip and exchange addresses before parting ways the following day. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 14 Ho Chi Minh City 

Sadly the adventure is over and we all have to say our farewells and go our separate ways. 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 tour leader or a guide and waved off on your return flight home. Meals included: Breakfast

 

 

05 Apr 2014 - 18 Apr 2014