Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi
Upon arrival at Noi Bai airport, our guide will pick you up and transfer Hanoi Centre for hotel check in.
Day 2: Hanoi (B)
Hanoi is one of the most charming of Indochina's cities. Become immersed in a whirlwind of activity and colour. The shops and markets of the old quarter offer endless temptations while you can escape it all in one of the coffee shops surrounding the city's lakes. Enjoy fascinating museums and unbeatable food.
Day 3 - 4: Halong Bay (B, L, D)
This morning we take a 3-hour private bus to Halong Bay. You can leave your main luggage in Hanoi, so just take a small bag with a change of clothes and essential travel items. On arrival in Halong Bay board a wonderful junk boat, our home for the evening. This traditional wooden sailing junk boat offers a unique way of navigating the lime castes of Halong Bay with all the comforts of a motorized, floating hotel. Once settled in, you start your cruise around the majestic Halong Bay, while enjoying a delicious seafood lunch. Halong Bay is a breathtaking secluded harbour with 2, 000 limestone islands rising from the emerald waters of Bac Bo gulf. It is one of the most scenic regions in Vietnam and has been referred to as the 8th Wonder of the World. The area of about 1, 500 sq km is dotted with innumerable beaches and grottos, created over thousands of years by waves and wind. After lunch you will have the chance to explore some of the limestone caves dotted around the bay. Then, the captain will find a secluded spot where you can swim in the clear water of the bay or soak up the sun on the top deck. In the evening the cook will prepare a sumptuous meal as the boat weighs anchor in the heart of the bay. After a light breakfast we continue to cruise around the bay to find more secluded areas followed by an early lunch before we return to land and head back to Hanoi ready for our overnight sleeper train to Hue. We use basic 4 berth sleeper compartments with shared facilities (approx 13 hours overnight train).
Day 5: Hue
Founded as a royal city in 1687, Hue is the gateway to the treasures of Vietnam's royal past and remains one of Vietnam's major tourist attractions. This quiet city is widely known for the magnificent architecture of its citadels, palaces, royal tombs, pagodas and temples built under the Nguyen dynasty in a poetic background of greenery on the banks of the Perfume River. Arriving early morning we meet our local guide and take a tour of the ancient walled Citadel containing the former Imperial Palace. The Citadel was closely modeled on the Forbidden City in Beijing and was almost totally destroyed during the Tet Offensive of the Vietnam War. It is now being faithfully restored thanks to the generous funding by UNESCO. We will cruise on the Perfume River at the heart of Hue city followed by a trip into the surrounding countryside to see the final resting place of former Emperors by visiting one of the most impressive Royal Tombs.
Day 6 - 7: Hoian (B)
We depart Hue by private bus for the scenic journey to Hoi An, stopping at Lang Co fishing village and passing the famous China Beach. We travel via the Hai Van Pass, an incredibly scenic and mountainous stretch of highway with spectacular views of Lang Co Beach. Hoi An itself is a charming small town 30km south of Danang. Known as Faifo to early Western traders, it was one of South East Asia's major international ports during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Today, parts of Hoi An look almost exactly as they did a century ago. More than perhaps any other place in Vietnam, it retains the feel of centuries past, making it the sort of place that grows on you the more you explore it. There is plenty of free time in Hoi An to explore the small picturesque town, through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter. You will see the various Chinese Assembly Halls, Ancestral Homes, the Japanese Covered Bridge, and well-preserved Pagodas. You may like to visit a local tailor and be fitted for some very reasonably priced clothes. Alternatively, you can organise an optional day tour to My Son. Approximately 1 hour from Hoi An My Son is the major Cham site. These historical ruins are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If all of this sounds too strenuous, you can always spend the day by the pool or head to the nearby beach.
Day 8 - 9: Ho Chi Minh City (B)
In the early afternoon we head to Danang Airport for our flight to Ho Chi Minh City. With a population of approximately 6 million, Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam. The huge number of people rushing about their daily business gives Ho Chi Minh City a dynamic atmosphere. Ho Chi Minh City is characterised by a vast variety of sights and sounds, from ancient pagodas, mosques and cathedrals to the former Presidential Palace and the War Museum. Explore Dong Khoi Street (the Rue Catinat from Graham Greene's novel The Quiet American) to the bustling markets of Ben Thanh and Cholon (Chinatown). Much of the city life takes place on the streets which are lined with stores, shops, stalls and vendors with their wares spread out on the footpath selling everything from soup to sophisticated electronics. The French influence is evident in the excellent baguettes and coffee. After settling into the hotel we take a short cyclo orientation tour of the cities main highlights.
In the morning of day 9 we take a half day trip to the Cu Chi tunnels with an English speaking guide. This network of over 200 km of tunnels became legendary during the 1960's when they played a vital part in the American war, allowing the Viet Cong to control a large rural area only 30 to 40 km from Ho Chi Minh City. At its heyday, the tunnel system stretched from Ho Chi Minh City to the Cambodian border. The network, parts of which were several storeys deep, included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and feel for what underground life during the American war was like. If you are planning to explore the underground tunnels, it is recommended that you bring a torch (flashlight). Your afternoon is free for independent exploration or shopping in Ho Chi Minh City; try your hand bargaining at the Ben Thanh Market, hire a cyclo (pedicab) for sightseeing or take a boat ride on the Saigon river.
Day 10 - 12: Siem Reap (B)
A short morning flight takes us to Siem Reap town which is only a few kilometers from the temples of Angkor and serves as the base from which to visit the stunning complex. We meet our local guide and start to explore Angkor, the former capital of the Khmer kingdom and one of the wonders of the archeological world. Rediscovered at the end of the last century by French explorers this vast ruined city is becoming one of the most popular sites in Southeast Asia. Over these 2 days we visit some of the highlights of this ancient capital, like the magnificent temple of Angkor Wat, the enigmatic Bayon within the walled city of Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm, one of the temples which has been deliberately left to the ravages of the jungle, also known as the 'Tomb Raider' temple.
Day 13 - 14: Bangkok (B)
A 60 minute flight takes us from sleepy Siem Reap in to the buzz of Bangkok, Thailand's capital city. With beautiful temples, several museums, great food and shopping, and the magnificent Chao Phraya river, Bangkok is full of life 24 hours a day. We will say our goodbyes over a dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya river.
Day 15: Depart Bangkok
