Vietnam communities & countryside 14-day discovery trip

hanoi

Day 1: Welcome to Vietnam

After arriving at the airport in Hanoi, you’ll be welcomed by your driver for transfer to your hotel. Spend a little time relaxing after your journey and, depending on your arrival time, take a stroll around the nearby city streets.

This evening, you’re invited to a home-hosted dinner with a local family. You’ll be welcomed into an authentic Hanoi home where you’ll share tea, stories and a home-cooked meal with the family.

hanoi

Day 2: Hanoi cultural tour

After breakfast this morning, you’ll visit the beautiful Ho Chi Minh Complex, the Presidential Palace and the One Pillar Pagoda. You’ll also take a walking tour around the Old Quarter discovering its many sights and its fascinating history. After finding a spot for lunch from the city's many delicious offerings, visit the home of one of the few remaining traditional mask-making artisans in Hanoi. Your visit will help support and preserve this centuries-old art form. Finally, sit down to enjoy a Water Puppet Show. This uniquely northern Vietnamese art form is said to have originated in the flooded rice fields of the Red River Delta.

hanoi - Ba Vi - Sapa

Day 3: A day in the countryside

After an early breakfast, your driver will pick you up and take you on a short drive to Ri village. Here, you’ll meet your host at their home with a welcome drink. Mr Duoc is a Vietnam War veteran and tea farmer. As you explore the tea farm, enjoy the peace of this tranquil rural setting and chat with your host about life and tea production. He’ll show you how to pick the tea leaves and then process them in the workshop. 

After this, we take a short drive to meet your next host for a Vietnamese cooking class and lunch. After a delicious meal, take a stroll around the village and later a cycle ride through beautiful paddy fields. Finish the day with a traditional Muong foot bathing experience with warm water and herbs. Transfer back to Hanoi ready to board the night train to Sapa and overnight on the train.

Sapa

Day 4: Market day in the mountains

Wake early for breakfast on the train, as you make the final part of your journey to Lao Cai railway station. From there, travel by road through the mountains to the Ethnic Market. Every Thursday morning, many different ethnic groups, such as the Flower H’mong, Phu La, Black Dzao, Tay and Nung minorities gather to buy and sell local goods, such as embroidery, tobacco and rice wine. This is also a place for the locals to catch up and meet friends over rice wine at the end of the week, and it’s a fun and colourful place to spend time.

Later, transfer to Sapa to check in at your hotel, then relax and enjoy a free evening.

Sapa

Day 5: The roof of the world

After breakfast, set off to the nearby cable car station for a sky-high ride with spectacular scenery. Reaching a height of 2800m, the views are incredible. From the top station, you can climb up another 600 steps to the peak of Fansipan Mountain – the Roof of Indochina. 

After admiring the views, return to Sapa and the rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy the town.

Sapa - hanoi

Day 6: Hiking & rural life

Eat a hearty breakfast this morning, as today you’ll take a hiking tour through a landscape of rainforest and paddy fields.

You’ll be walking in the Hoang Lien National Park, enjoying lunch and visiting several local villages, finding out about their customs, crafts and way of life. Visit the local Black Mong handicraft shop and join a batik class in Lao Chai Village. The beautiful art of batik – using wax and dye to create patterns on cloth – has been around for centuries. In the afternoon, transfer back to Hanoi for an evening at leisure. 

Hanoi - Ha Long Bay

Day 7: Ha Long Bay cruise

After breakfast in your hotel, your driver will pick you up for the ride to the jetty, arriving around noon. Here, you'll board your junk (traditional Chinese sailing boat) and sit down for lunch onboard as you begin the cruise. In the afternoon, enjoy the spectacular scenery from various viewpoints, dive in for some swimming in a quiet cove or sunbathe on deck.

Later in the afternoon, visit a local fishing village and meet a community that has lived in the bay for almost three generations. Towards the end of the day, the boat sets anchor for the night amongst the striking karst formations. Dinner is served on board after sunset cocktails and you will sleep afloat tonight. 

Ha Long Bay - hanoi

Day 8: Sunrise over Ha Long Bay

Greet the morning on board with Tai Chi on deck and watch the sun rise over stunning Ha Long Bay. Breakfast is served on the boat, as the vessel cruises slowly back through the magnificent rock formations towards the port. Disembark around noon and transfer to Hanoi for the overnight train to Da Nang. 

Da Nang - hoi an

Day 9: History & craft in Hoi An

Enjoy breakfast on the train before you arrive at Da Nang railway station, where you'll be picked up and transferred to your hotel in Hoi An. Relax and freshen up before your afternoon walking tour. Between the 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An was a prosperous trading port, attracting Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish ships. Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Ancient Town is recognised for its well-preserved architecture, pedestrian-only streets and distinctive local cuisine. Hoi An’s narrow lanes are ideal for a guided walking tour, with atmospheric sights, including old merchant houses and a market brimming with local specialities. Later, call in at a lantern-making workshop and try your hand at the craft as you learn about its history.

The evening is free for relaxation at your hotel or getting to know the town better at your own pace. 

hoi an

Day 10: Countryside cycle tour

After breakfast, spend today on a leisurely cycle ride through scenic countryside. Far from the traffic and noise of the city, you’ll cross the islands on the Song Thu River delta using local ferries and a floating bridge. On this cultural cycle tour, you’ll discover how wooden river boats are made, learn the secrets of weaving colourful straw sleeping mats and much more, all under the guidance of a local tour guide.

At lunchtime, you'll be invited into the home of a local Vietnamese family for a traditional meal and learn about their customs and traditions. After relaxing under the shade of a mango tree, begin your journey back to Hoi An by boat and enjoy a free evening.

Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City

Day 11: Saigon by night

This morning after breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City and check in at your hotel.

Spend the afternoon relaxing before experiencing the local nightlife and culinary scene on a Vespa tour. Enjoy tasty food and live music as we ride pillion on vintage Vespas along the busy streets of this vibrant city. Feast on authentic, fresh seafood dishes and try the local favourite Banh Xeo, a traditional Vietnamese savoury pancake. We then ride on to experience live music at two very different venues. Bring a healthy appetite and a sense of adventure as our guides show you their city by night.

Ho Chi Minh City

Day 12: Saigon city tour

Fuel up at breakfast time, as today it’s time to get out and explore Saigon by day, first with a visit to the famous Vietnam War-era underground network known as the Cu Chi Tunnels. Later we visit the Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine, with its amazing collection of 3,000 fascinating instruments and artifacts. Afterwards, explore Cho Lon, the Chinatown district, to discover the area’s markets, shops and the Cantonese Thien Hau Pagoda.

Later, head back to your hotel and the city centre for the night.  

Ho Chi Minh City - Vung Liem

Day 13: Laidback rural rambles

After breakfast this morning, we leave the city behind and travel to the Coco Riverside Lodge in Trung Nghia. Here you’ll enjoy a refreshing welcome drink before heading out on a relaxed-pace countryside cycle tour through fruit plantations, quiet roads and small villages.

After freshening up back at the lodge, set off to a nearby musical performance followed by a cooking class and then dinner.

Vung Liem - Ho Chi Minh City

Day 14: Homeward bound

Enjoy a final breakfast at your hotel and, if there’s time before your flight today, explore the area a little more. Find out about the local coconut industry and enjoy picturesque river views.

Later, transfer to the airport in good time for your homeward flight.