Vietnam cultural tour
| country: | Vietnam |
| location: | Mekong Delta, North Vietnam, South Vietnam |
| departures: | Departs most Sundays throughout the year |
| price: | From £1195 (14 days) excluding flights. Single supplement and deluxe options available - please contact us for details. Maximum group size is 15 people. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
Experience the incredible diversity of Vietnam from the orchards of the Mekong Delta to the tropical beaches of Nha Trang, from bustling Saigon and Hanoi to the enchanting port town of Hoi An and finally the majesty of Halong Bay. This popular trip covers most of Vietnam’s attractions in only two weeks by flying between major points of interest. Our superior option features some of the most historic hotels in Vietnam.
We stay in hotels and travel by modern air-conditioned vehicles and on domestic flights. Our price includes breakfast daily and 2 lunches, a tour leader and English speaking guides.
Highlights include:Flights between major points plus scenic drives, on a well paced trip Saigon River speedboat to Cu Chi Early morning walks and a tranquil Hoi An sunset cruise Luxurious Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel
We stay in hotels and travel by modern air-conditioned vehicles and on domestic flights. Our price includes breakfast daily and 2 lunches, a tour leader and English speaking guides.
Highlights include:
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Saigon. Arrive Saigon and transfer to your centrally located hotel. This evening get to know your tour leader during your tour briefing and welcome drinks. |
| Day 2-3: | Saigon, Cu Chi & Mekong Delta. We wander Saigon’s wide and historic boulevards, visiting famous landmarks such as Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), Hotel de Ville, the former Presidential Palace and the lively Chinatown district – Cholon. Take a special boat trip along the Saigon River to Cu Chi to visit the amazing tunnel system used by Communist guerrillas during the Vietnam War. We then head south to the Mekong Delta, where we walk amongst lush fruit orchards and take a boat through the intricate waterways of the Mekong River system. |
| Day 4-6: | Dalat & Nha Trang. A short flight takes us to the cool climate of the former French hill station of Dalat in the Central Highlands. Dalat was a favoured retreat for the colonial elite and its natural setting makes it a welcome respite from the frenetic pace of Saigon. From Dalat, we travel across the impressive Ngoan Muc Pass, through remnants of the ancient Champa Kingdom, to the picturesque coastal town of Nha Trang. We cruise through the turquoise waters and islands off Nha Trang, enjoying great swimming, snorkelling and seafood. |
| Day 7-10: | Hoi An & Hue. Flying to Danang on Vietnam’s central coast, we travel the short distance south to the famous China Beach and the Marble Mountains. It’s then on to the quaint merchant town of Hoi An, where we walk ancient and narrow lanes visiting markets, historic houses and temples. In the evening, try your hand at Vietnamese cooking in a friend’s restaurant. There is time for a boat trip along the Thu Bon River to appreciate the tranquil scenery and time to relax and soak up the atmosphere of this laid back town. From Hoi An we travel north across the spectacular Hai Van Pass to the former imperial city of Hue. There we visit the emperors’ tombs, explore the moated ruins of the Citadel, continue on to Thien Mu pagoda – Hue’s oldest and most revered religious monument, and finish with a boat cruise on the Perfume River. |
| Day 11-14: | Hanoi & Halong Bay. Today we fly to Hanoi. Vietnam’s capital and cultural centre is a stylish and gracious city that retains a unique old world charm and some of Asia’s most striking colonial architecture. We arrive in time to see a performance of Hanoi’s famous water puppets and the following day we start our exploration of Hanoi itself with a morning walk along some of the beautiful tree lined boulevards. We visit the Ho Chi Minh Quarter with its mausoleum, museum and the simple wooden house from which he ruled as Vietnam’s President. We also visit the ancient Temple of Literature, the infamous Hanoi Hilton and enjoy a cyclo tour through the lively Old Quarter. We take a day to travel to Halong Bay and experience one of Vietnam’s most spectacular landscapes, cruising amongst the thousands of limestone islands in the bay made famous in the film Indochine. Finally gather to bid Vietnam and your fellow travellers farewell over dinner. On day 14, your journey ends with your airport transfer. |
travellers' tales
The land was beautiful, the people friendly, and the prices exceptional. The operator’s selection of hotels was very good, especially the luxurious Hilton Hanoi Opera, where we spent the final 4 nights. (more)
small group adventure holiday
These small group journeys have a maximum of 15 like-minded travellers which ensures that all travellers have an amazing overall experience with the destination and that they enjoy the flexibility that comes with the small group dynamic. On this trip you will stay at boutique accommodation with character. Our numbers are discreet enough for us to interact with local families in their homes and meet people in markets, bazaars and temples – something that’s just not possible when you arrive as part of a large tour group. Along with our unique combination of Western tour leader and local English-speaking guide this will ensure an unforgettable travel experience.how this holiday makes a difference
 We believe that travel should entail an exchange of knowledge and perspectives, a sharing of wealth, and a genuine appreciation of Vietnam’s beautiful natural environments. This philosophy underpins the heart and soul of our style of travel. We recognise that poorly planned itineraries or poorly informed tourists contribute less to cross-cultural understanding and less to the livelihoods of local people. Experience the incredible diversity of Vietnam from industrial Saigon to beautiful Hanoi. At the latter there is the opportunity to visit Koto’s (know one, teach one) – a not-for-profit restaurant and vocational training centre staffed by disadvantaged young people – to try their infamous Koto smoothie. Our offices also finance the Loretto Foundation in Saigon (which assists disadvantaged, poor and disabled children through education), and The Fred Hollows Foundation (which provides ophthalmologic services to underprivileged Vietnamese). On this journey our local guides are trained to share their knowledge of cultural and other local issues in a balanced, informative way; in this journey alone you are likely to meet several local guides from different provinces in Vietnam. They share real experiences from their own lives and insights into their family life, influences and beliefs, thus providing our travellers with a deeper understanding of the places they visit. This is what motivates our guides, not shopping commissions. Our offices in Saigon, Danang and Hanoi are staffed with local people wherever possible and we have a long term aim of filling management roles with competent local staff. This presence in Vietnam means we are much better able to control the content, the actions of our suppliers, and the style of our small group journey. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |