Classic Vietnam

Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. Your adventure begins in Ho Chi Minh City – a French-infused city with a frenetic atmosphere. If you arrive early, maybe head to Pham Ngu Lao Street to see the local open-air market or visit Vinh Nghiem Pagoda. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight, where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers. After your meeting, make your way out for dinner as a group for the fresh flavours and rich sauces that make up the delicious Vietnamese cuisine.

Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)

Meals
Dinner

Included activities
Complimentary Arrival Transfer
Ho Chi Minh City - Welcome Dinner

Special information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

After breakfast this morning, you’ll head out of town to explore the Cu Chi Tunnels, which make up part of a larger war museum outside Ho Chi Minh. This former Viet Cong stronghold provides an insight into the resourcefulness and tenacity of the Vietnamese people and offers a glimpse of what life was like during the war. Like an underground maze that stretches over 120 km, the tunnels are complete with trapdoors, living areas, kitchens, storage facilities, armoury, hospitals and command centres. Your trip through history doesn’t stop there, you’ll head back to Ho Chi Minh City to discover the War Remnants Museum where you’ll see old military equipment including an F5A fighter and a UH1-Huey helicopter. In the afternoon, you’ll be free to explore the city at your leisure. Perhaps gather some of your newfound travel buddies and explore Notre Dame, the Post Office or Reunification Palace.

Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)

Meals
Breakfast

Included activities
Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels
Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum

Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.

This morning you’ll wave goodbye to Ho Chi Minh City for the night and travel south by private bus to Ben Tre. When you arrive, you’ll board a small traditional boat and explore the intricate waterways of the Mekong Delta. The delta is known as ‘the rice bowl of Vietnam’ for its abundance of rice paddies, fruit and flower orchards. During the boat trip, you’ll stop to sample some of the fresh tropical fruit and visit a selection of cottage industries in the area. Then, you’ll get your first taste of Vietnamese hospitality and tuck into a home-cooked Vietnamese-style lunch at a local family home. Then, around sunset, you’ll make your way to your guesthouse to spend the night with the locals and enjoy another wonderful meal featuring regional specialties.

Accommodation
Guesthouse (1 night)

Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Included activities
Mekong Delta - Boat cruise with visits to local producers
Mekong Delta - Home-cooked lunch

Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.

Your guesthouse is operated by local hosts, with simple twin and double rooms. Bedding and mosquito nets are supplied. Bathroom facilities this evening may be shared and may only have cold water available.

Enjoy more of the Mekong Delta’s finest fruits over breakfast this morning and then hit the road back to Ho Chi Minh City where you’ll arrive in the late afternoon. Then, you’re free to explore at your own pace. Maybe go in search of the best food with some of your fellow travellers – your group leader will know where to go for meals of any budget. Then, you might like to check out one of the city’s vibrant rooftop bars.

Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)

Meals
Breakfast

Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.

This morning, you’ll take a short flight to Danang, then you’ll make your way to your next stop in Hoi An. When you arrive, shake off your morning of travel and dig into a traditional Vietnamese lunch to welcome you to the city – try the mi quang or cao lau noodles that Central Vietnam is famed for. After lunch, your leader will take you on an orientation walk around the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town. The city was a major trading port with the west during the 16th and 17th-centuries, and has various architectural influences from Europe, China and Japan. Today, the city is being restored and looks much like it did over a century ago. You'll see Chinese temples, Japanese pagodas, French-inspired houses, wooden shops and old canals during your walk. After, you may like to wander Hoi An Market and the street stalls selling paintings, woodwork, ceramics, lanterns and much more.

Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)

Meals
Breakfast
Lunch

Included activities
Hoi An - Old Town walking tour

Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 2.5 hours.

Enjoy a free day to explore Hoi An and all it has to offer. You could rent a bicycle and take a trip out to the nearby Cua Dai Beach. Or, maybe book into an Urban Adventure, like Hoi An Boat & Bike, which offers a guided tour of the area, including a countryside bike ride and a sunset cruise along the Thu Bon River. Vietnam is, of course, known for its delicious food, and Hoi An is no exception. To unlock the flavours of Hoi An's vibrant Old Town on the Hoi An Food Adventure.

Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)

Meals
Breakfast

Optional activities
Hoi An - Food Adventure Urban Adventure - USD39
Hoi An - Private Bike, Boat and Dinner Experience - USD69

Special information
See urbanadventures.com/destination/Hoi-An-tours for more information on the optional day tours. Your leader can help arrange optional activities and tours if this interests you.

Today is another free day in this historic haven. If you can muster an early rise this morning, head to the local produce market to watch the animated shoppers haggling over fresh fish, spices and vegetables. Otherwise, if you’d like, your leader can help you arrange an optional Vietnamese cooking class, or a visit to the ruins of My Son – Vietnam's most important Cham site. Set in a verdant valley, surrounded by hills and overlooked by the massive Cat's Tooth Mountain, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed temples here reflect the cultural traditions of the Cham civilisation that flourished in this region between the 4th and 12th-century.

Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)

Meals
Breakfast

Optional activities
Hoi An - Private Hoi An: My Son Discovery - USD73

Continue your journey north today and drive over the spectacular Hai Van Pass – an incredibly scenic and mountainous stretch of highway with views of Lang Co Beach. Make a stop at beautiful Lang Co to buy yourself some lunch. In the afternoon, you’ll arrive in Hue – Vietnam’s former Imperial capital. Here you’ll take a step into the past as you visit the Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City. As the name suggests, The Forbidden Purple City was once reserved only for the personal use of the emperor and his concubines. It was almost entirely destroyed by bomb blasts during the war and now serves as a reminder of centuries past – the crumbling palaces tell a fascinating story if you look carefully. After a little time to explore, the evening will be at your leisure to relax and simply enjoy this poetic place.

Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)

Meals
Breakfast

Included activities
Hue - Imperial City entrance and guided visit

Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.

After a local breakfast of bun bo hue (spiced beef noodle soup) it’s time to really delve into the historical highlights of Hue. You’ll stop off at the Thien Mu Pagoda and get the chance to see an active Buddhist monastery dating back to 1601. Your adventures will work up an appetite, so you’ll be treated to a delicious vegetarian feast at a local nunnery for lunch. Make one final stop at the royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, with its lake, frangipani and pine trees. After a big day of exploring the sights, the evening is yours to enjoy as you wish. Be sure to ask your leader which of Hue’s favourites you should seek out for dinner – it’s not known as Vietnam’s culinary capital for nothing!

Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)

Meals
Breakfast
Lunch

Included activities
Hue - Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc
Hue - Thien Mu Pagoda
Hue - Vegetarian lunch at a Buddhist nunnery

After breakfast today, you’ll take a flight from Hue to Vietnam’s charming capital of Hanoi. When you arrive, head out for a delicious lunch at KOTO restaurant – an Intrepid Foundation supported program that teaches disadvantaged youth hospitality skills. After lunch, take a half-day tour of Hanoi that captures the beauty and the history of the laidback, tree-lined capital. You’ll visit major sights including the Temple of Literature and One Pillar Pagoda. You’ll also pass by Hoan Kiem Lake and enter the ’36 Streets’ of the historic Old Quarter – a series of interwoven lanes and roads that historically sell a certain product in each street. Silk, bamboo, ceramics, kitchen products – and upwards of 32 more!

Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)

Meals
Breakfast
Lunch

Included activities
Hanoi - KOTO lunch
Hanoi - One Pillar Pagoda & HCM stilt house
Hanoi - Temple of Literature

Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 1.5 hours.

Please note that the One Pillar Pagoda & HCM stilt house is closed on Mondays. If you are on a departure that falls on a Monday in Hanoi, you will visit the Hoa Lo Prison instead.

You’ll depart Hanoi for the UNESCO protected Ninh Binh this morning. A naturally beautiful area, often referred to as ‘Ha Long Bay on land’, with its winding river etched between towering limestone mountains. When you arrive, you’ll head straight for the lush Cuc Phuong National Park, to Save Vietnam’s Wildlife – a non-for-profit organisation focusing on the rescue, rehabilitation and release of wildlife. A veterinarian will guide you through the park, teaching you about their conservation project and how they protect endangered species like pangolins, monkeys, otters and leopard cats that are at risk. SVW is one of the newest Intrepid Foundation supported projects in Vietnam. Then, you’ll be welcomed into a local home for a traditional Vietnamese lunch. Meet the family who live here and enjoy dishes like grilled beef wrapped with guise leaves, spring rolls and fried fish with tomato sauce. Top off the day in this scenic spot with a visit to the Dinh and Le Temples, which were built in the 10th century and dedicated to two of the former emperors of Vietnam.

Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)

Meals
Breakfast
Lunch

Included activities
Ninh Binh - Hoa Lu
Ninh Binh - Home Cooked Lunch
Cuc Phuong NP - Save Vietnam's Wildlife (The Intrepid Foundation partner) visit

Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.

Wake up without an alarm today as you’ve got a free morning to explore. Maybe head to the Hang Mua Cave for sunrise, where you can take photos at the gorgeous lotus field and hike to the viewpoint, which offers a 360-degree view of Ninh Binh. Then, get ready for a fun, action-packed afternoon in the Thung Nham ecotourism zone, just outside of Ninh Binh. First, you’ll take a traditional rowboat to discover the largest natural bird garden in northern Vietnam. Float peacefully along the calm waters as you’re surrounded by towering mountains, lush greenery and, of course, a mass of beautiful birds. Then, you’ll explore the cave system that features But Cave and Tien Ca Cave. From here, your journey will take you to spiritual sights that include the thousand-year-old banyan tree, Gii Dai Temple and Linh Than Mieu. Unwind as you explore the Thung Nham flower paradise, nursery and vegetable garden.

Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)

Meals
Breakfast

Included activities
Ninh Binh - Thung Nham Ecotourism Zone

Optional activities
Ninh Binh - Visit to Mua Cave - VND100000

Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 1 hour.

Travel by private minibus to the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay. This is one of Vietnam’s most beautiful places – a bay of emerald waters dotted with sandstone islands and caves. Here, you’ll go on a cruise to explore Surprise Cave and the surrounding rock formations, and in the warmer months, you can go kayaking or opt for a swim at Ti Top Island. You’ll spend the night on a traditional cruising boat, under the moon and stars of a clear night sky. The sailing junk (traditional sailing boat) has twin-share cabins with air-conditioning and private facilities. There's also a dining room and bar where you’ll have all your meals, including a fresh seafood lunch and dinner. For sunset, maybe grab a drink at the bar and head out on the deck with your travel buddies for a gorgeous night!

Accommodation
Overnight boat (1 night)

Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Included activities
Halong Bay - Overnight Boat Cruise

Optional activities
Halong Bay - Kayaking Tour - VND250000

Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.

It is recommended to pack a smaller overnight bag to take to Ha Long Bay for ease of boarding and disembarking. You can store your main luggage in Hanoi for tonight.

Kayaking and swimming is restricted to designated zones within the bay.

Access to Surprise Cave is via staircases and once inside, the cave the pathways are a little uneven and slippery, so be sure to watch your step.

There are restrictions on the number of boats that are permitted to stay in the bay overnight, sometimes resulting in a shortage. To ensure all Intrepid travellers can enjoy the experience of a night on the water, occasionally you will stay on a larger boat (with approximately 12 cabins) and share your boat with another group. Or your group may be split across different vessels, in which case an Intrepid group leader will be present on each boat, and the route taken and inclusions on board will remain the same. The boat is not likely to be a traditional sailing junk, as many older or imported vessels do not comply with waterway traffic safety laws.

If you’re an early riser, maybe set an alarm this morning and soak up the scenery of Ha Long Bay from your floating accommodation at sunrise. Take in the turquoise waters one last time before hitting the road for Hanoi. When you arrive in Hanoi, you’ll head out for a traditional water-puppet performance hosted by a local family, who are experts in this art form. Tonight, gather as a group and tuck into dinner together, maybe trying the traditional cha ca la vong (a fish dish filled with fresh herbs and noodles). Enjoy this evening with your group as you reminisce on the highlights of your Vietnam adventure.

Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)

Meals
Breakfast
Dinner

Included activities
Hanoi - Old Quarter Tour
Hanoi - Local water puppet performance

Optional activities
Hanoi - Fine Arts Museum - VND30000
Hanoi - Hoa Lo 'Hanoi Hilton' Prison - VND50000
Hanoi - Museum of Ethnology - VND40000

Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.

With no activities planned for today, your adventure comes to an end after breakfast. If you would like to spend some more time in Hanoi, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.

Meals
Breakfast

Optional activities
Hanoi - Street Food Experience Urban Adventure - USD29