Welcome to Hanoi! Vietnam’s buzzing capital is a vibrant mix of old and new, bustling market streets and scooter-filled alleyways. Upon arrival at Hanoi International Airport (HAN) you’ll be transferred to your hotel for check-in and a welcome drink. Spend the rest of your day at leisure exploring the sights and sounds of this bustling cosmopolitan city.
Today, your guide will meet you at your hotel and drive with you through the countryside to the Tuan Chau Marina, where you’ll embark on an overnight cruise through Ha Long Bay. After a brief meet-and-greet with the captain and crew, you’ll be served a steaming cup of refreshing tea or energising coffee, along with a flavoursome lunch, as you set sail through striking emerald waters. Witness the majesty of the bay’s jungle-topped limestone islands and delve between the stalactites of Sung Sot, a fantastically secluded grotto. Cruise onward to Ti Top Island and climb to the summit for panoramic views over the bay, then return to your vessel for a sunset dinner party.
Enjoy dawn on the expansive sundeck with a tranquil tai chi class, connecting breath to movement as you energise your body and soul. Continue your morning among the tree-trimmed cliffs of Ha Long Bay’s Natural Preservation Zone. Choose to kayak the dazzling waters or visit a floating house to learn more about the fishermen who call Ha Long home.
Return to your vessel for a special onboard cooking class as you float among limestone giants, then disembark at Tuan Chau Marina for your return journey to Hanoi. The rest of the late afternoon and evening is yours to spend freely. Choose to join an optional guided street food tour of Hanoi’s best sizzling plates. Wander through 36 streets of sumptuous treats – visiting just some of the city’s vast collection of stalls, restaurants and shops – and taste Hanoi’s culinary brilliance for yourself.
Optional activities:
- Hanoi street food tour (from A$45 per person).
Your day is spent freely uncovering the many treasures of Hanoi, from the Old Quarter to the countless welcoming cafes. Perhaps choose to visit the revered Temple of Literature dedicated to Confucius, the site of the country’s first university.
Optional activities:
- Hoa Lu & Tam Coc full-day tour (from A$75 per person).
After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight to Da Nang (DAD). Upon arrival, you’ll take a short journey to your hotel in the charming coastal city of Hoi An. Once a bustling Southeast Asian trading port, the city is now a colourful blend of cultural influences and lively tradition.
The rest of your day is yours to explore and wander the busy streets in search of adventure.
Today, you’ll hit the pedals on a cycling tour of Hoi An, starting at the vibrant central markets. Mingle with stallholders and get a glimpse of the ingredients you’ll use later for your cooking lesson. Taking to the countryside, you’ll ride past fields of verdant rice paddies, keeping your eye out for buffalo. Arrive at a local house for a special welcome drink and tour of an aromatic herb garden. Here, you’ll enjoy a soothing foot massage using local herbs, from lemongrass to Thai basil. Once you’re suitably relaxed, it’s time to try your hand at cooking Vietnamese cuisine using this fresh produce. Later, return to your hotel for the rest of the day spent freely.
After breakfast, you’ll have another full day to catch the sights and sounds of Hoi An as you wish. Perhaps choose to hit the golden sands of An Bang Beach, or explore the exciting Hoi An Night Market.
Optional activities:
- Ba Na Hills and Golden Bridge full-day tour (from A$135per person).
Spend one last morning wandering the picturesque streets of Hoi An before transferring to Da Nang Airport (DAD) for your onward flight to Ho Chi Minh (SGN). Once you’ve landed, you’ll be transfered to your hotel for the rest of the day at leisure. Choose to step out into the vibrant street markets and inviting cafes that make this thriving metropolis a treasure trove of cultural experience.
Today, meet with your guide and embark on a scenic voyage through the green rice fields of the Mekong Delta on your way to the market town of My Tho. Visit the enchanting garden temple of Vinh Trang and admire the many Buddha statues around the temple grounds. Later, take to the river in a traditional wooden sampan boat, watching the fishing village drift by. Step ashore on Dragon, Phoenix, and Tortoise Islands, then explore the orchard and tropical fruits of Unicorn Island.
Continue along the canals for a visit to a buzzing honey farm, where you’ll have the chance to experience a coconut candy workshop before sitting down to a local lunch. Finally, cycle into idyllic Tan Thach village, birthplace of the famed ‘Coconut Monk’, where you’ll meet residents and have the opportunity to recline in a hammock.
Upon returning to Ho Chi Minh City, the evening is yours for the taking.
Wake up bright and early and head towards Cu Chi, just 60 kilometres south of Ho Chi Minh City. Considered a powerful remnant of the conflict that once threatened Vietnam, this city is legendary for its seemingly endless serpentine tunnels beneath the earth. Glimpse beyond the rice paddies, ducks and water buffaloes to uncover a city below, a place of solemn pilgrimage, and an extraordinary demonstration of ingenuity. Afterwards, taste a special tea and bite into cassava as the guerrillas once did, then return to Ho Chi Minh City for an afternoon at leisure.
Optional activities:
- Saigon River dinner cruise (from A$79 per person).
After breakfast, spend an easy morning wandering through the Saigon streets, then transfer to the airport for your flight to the island of Phu Quoc (PQC). Here, your tropical beach holiday begins as you check in for white-sand bliss.
The next two days are yours to enjoy however you desire. Decide to walk the magnificent curving shoreline of Sao Beach, go kayaking in the jade waters or explore the island’s striking interior by motorbike or scooter. Whether you choose to explore the shimmering green waters on a catamaran journey, visit the solemn Phu Quoc Prison or simply relax by the hotel pool, your island experience is sure to be a memorable one.
With one more breakfast, it’s time to say farewell to your fellow travellers and transfer to Phu Quoc Airport (PQC), where your Vietnamese voyage concludes.
