Highlights of Vietnam

Depart London.

Day 2

Today is free to recover from the flight or stroll amongst broad tree-lined
avenues dating from the French period. There is a faded colonial charm where
baguettes and good coffee are sold from doorways of grand buildings of a past
era. There will be a welcome briefing this evening with your leader followed
by a welcome dinner at KOTO, a social enterprise that trains and employs
underprivileged youth to provide a step up in life. The delicious food
provides a fitting welcome to Vietnam and chance to meet your fellow
travellers.

*May De Ville City Centre Hotel or similar*

Day 3

We make an early start for the approximate 4-hour journey to Halong Bay. This
is one of the most stunningly beautiful sights in South East Asia with
roughly 3,000 limestone peaks rising directly from the clear emerald sea. We
cruise amongst this amazing karst scenery and enjoy a seafood lunch on board.
We overnight on board in twin share cabins with en suite facilities.

*Overnight Boat*

Day 4

We continue to cruise around Halong Bay this morning before returning to
port. We then drive back to Hanoi where we have a bit of free time to explore
this fascinating city. You might like to join the locals by pulling up a
plastic stool and sampling one of the many street food offerings; the bun cha
(barbecued pork with rice noodles and fresh herbs) is not to be missed! Late
afternoon we transfer to the train station to board our overnight train to
Dong Hoi, 500km south of Hanoi. 

*Overnight Train *

Day 5

Arriving into Dong Hoi at sunrise we journey to the Phong Nha Ke Bang
National Park and have breakfast at the farm-stay that will be our overnight
spot later on. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2003, the National
Park contains the oldest karst mountains in Asia. Riddled with hundreds of
cave systems and spectacular underground rivers, this is an area very new to
tourism but sure to impress with its scale. We will first explore Thien Duong
cave, known locally as Paradise Cave. This was only discovered in 2005 by
scientists from the British Cave Research Association with the help of a
local man who had heard the mountains ‘whistling’ while farming.

After lunch we will visit Phong Nha cave by boat before returning to the
farm-stay. There will be time to relax and enjoy the peace of the countryside
or for those who wish there is the option to cycle around the local
villages. 

*Chay Lap Farm or similar*

Day 6

We start our journey to Hue today stopping en-route at the Vinh Moc war
tunnels. Less well-known than the Cu Chi tunnels in the south, these tunnels
were predominantly used as bomb shelters during the Vietnam War. During times
of bombing, village life carried on underground; children went to school,
hospitals were established and films were even played with a generator.

We next stop at the Hien Luong bridge which crosses the Ben Hai River. This
formed part of the border between North and South Vietnam from 1954 until
reunification in 1975. We will arrive in Hue mid-afternoon and will have some
free time before an optional group dinner. 

*Park View Hotel or similar*

Day 7

It is claimed that Hue is the cultural and historical centre of Vietnam, and
there is plenty to see. The most outstanding sight is the Imperial Citadel
with walls six miles in length; inside are the palaces and halls of the
Mandarins, and the remains of the Forbidden Purple City, where only the
emperor, his eunuchs and concubines were allowed. The Forbidden Purple City
was almost totally destroyed during the Vietnam War's Tet Offensive, but the
foliage-covered ruins are still atmospheric and the gaping holes left by
bombs give an idea of the destruction wreaked upon the country during the
war. This morning we visit the Imperial Citadel and the famous Thien Mu
Pagoda. The pagoda was a centre for anti-government protest in the early
1960's and it houses the Austin car that transported a monk, Thich Quang Duc,
to Saigon in 1963 where he burned himself in protest against the President.
The photograph of his self-immolation was printed in newspapers all around
the world.

After lunch we leave for Hoi An via the spectacular Hai Van Pass; 19kms of
road winds up and over the fortress of mountains providing breath-taking
views of the coast. 

*Hoi An River Green Boutique or similar*

Day 8

This morning will include a walking tour of Hoi An, the original European
trading port in Vietnam dating back to the mid-16th century. It is now a
living museum, with attractive wooden merchant's houses and pagoda-style
temples with Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and European architectural
influences. It is also a marvellous place to wander around and enjoy the
thriving riverside market and great silk, clothes shopping. 

This afternoon is free, one popular option is to jump on a bike for a ride
through the countryside past local markets, schools and villages before
continuing on to Cua Dai beach (5 km).

*Hoi An River Green Boutique or similar*

Day 9

We drive to Da Nang and then fly to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), an exciting
and absorbing city where scooters pack the streets and temples stand
defiantly alongside modern developments. Devastated by the Vietnam War, it is
now a bustling free market city where anything goes. Here, we include a visit
to the Ben Thanh Market, Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and War
Remnants Museum. The Museum has an interesting photographic record of the
Vietnam/American War. Please be aware that some images at the museum are very
graphic.

*Adora Hotel or similar*

Day 10

Journeying out of the city we head to the lush countryside that is the Mekong
Delta for a day tour. Known as the ‘rice bowl’ of Vietnam, this region
produces most of Vietnam’s fruit, sugar cane and coconuts. We take a boat
trip along the many tributaries and stop to see some small cottage industries
along the way. We will journey by sampan, a traditional wooden low-riding
boat still used by the locals as the main form of transport. After sampling
some of the local produce we head back to Saigon where your leader will
organise an optional group farewell dinner.

*Adora Hotel or similar*

Day 11

Depart Saigon. The group flight departs later in the evening so you will have
some free time to further explore this fascinating city.

Day 12

 Arrive London.