Vietnam for 2

Today depart Australia (or New Zealand) for your flight to Hanoi, Vietnam. On arrival, be picked up by a tour representative and transferred to the hotel.

Please note: Some departures may occur on day 0 due to flight scheduling and availability. Affected customers must be available to depart the day before. Your final documents will indicate flight times, issued 4-6 weeks before departure.

Overnight: Hanoi (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: In-Flight

After breakfast, begin a walking tour to discover the real life of Hanoi people. Visit a local market and mingle with the vendors, stroll around the picturesque West Lake and enter Quan Thanh, a sacred Taoist temple and Cua Bach Parish Church, a Roman Catholic church built in the early 20th century by the French administration and one of the most beautiful in Hanoi.

After the walking tour, you may return to your accommodation and enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure.

Overnight: Hanoi (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: Breakfast

For approximately 180 kilometres, journey past farmlands and rice paddy fields to Ha Long Bay. Embark on board your traditional junk-style vessel for an overnight cruise through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed area. Settle into your deck chair and cruise through picturesque emerald waters while marvelling at the towering limestone karst islands. Enjoy a seafood lunch before participating in some afternoon activities such as swimming, relaxing on a remote beach, climbing to the top of a lookout for a fantastic panoramic view, or riding on a rowing boat into a secluded bay. Cruise further into the bay to visit a pearl farm before watching a traditional Vietnamese cuisine cooking demonstration, followed by dinner on board. Drop anchor in the late evening for an overnight stay among the dramatic limestone peaks.

Please note: We recommend packing an overnight bag only for your cruise. The remainder of your luggage will be securely stored, or you can take all your belongings on board if you’d prefer.

Overnight: Ha Long Bay (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

After breakfast, climb aboard the tender for a visit to Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave), a colourful grotto of giant stalactites and stalagmites. Return to the boat and enjoy a short cooking class where you will learn to prepare local delicacies such as spring rolls. Enjoy a light lunch on board, then a relaxing trip back to port, where you will disembark and return approximately 180 kilometres to Hanoi. Upon arrival, check into the hotel for an evening at leisure. Alternatively, join the optional evening activity below (not included).

Optional Activity: Water Puppet Performance and Vietnamese Dinner
Sit back and watch a traditional and unique performance of water puppetry originating in the Red River Delta of northern Vietnam. Each show lasts approximately 45 minutes and includes lively, illustrative Vietnamese pastoral scenes of rural daily life and fairy legends. Afterwards, head into the Old Quarter and feast on a dinner of authentic dishes such as Goi Cuon Tom Thit (fresh rice paper roll with prawn and pork), Pho bo (noodle soup with beef), Bun Cha (BBQ Vietnamese pork meatballs with noodles), Goi Ga Hoa Chuoi (banana blossom salad with chicken) and Che Nep Dua (sticky rice in coconut cream). Please see current pricing in Important Information or at checkout.
Please note: Depending on the timing of the water puppet performance, dinner may be enjoyed before the show.

Overnight: Hanoi (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch

This morning, you will depart to Tam Coc, in the Ninh Binh province, where you will enjoy the beautiful scenery. Upon arrival, your guide will take you to Hoa Lu, the ancient royal capital of Vietnam. Here, you will visit the Dinh King and Le King temples from the 10th Century, learning about the heroic histories of these two kings during the Chinese wars. Afterwards, continue to Tam Coc, where you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, enjoy a bamboo boat ride on the Hoang Long River to see Tam Coc (three caves). It takes approximately two hours to go up and down the river, and along the way, you witness local fisherfolk, village life, and, of course, the striking limestone karst formations that Tam Coc is famous for. In the early evening, arrive at the hotel, where you will enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight: Ninh Binh (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch

After breakfast, drive to the Trang An Ecotourism Complex. This site is of worldwide value for geological, geomorphological, archaeological, and aesthetic tectonics and has been honoured by UNESCO as a Natural World Heritage site. Here, enjoy another 2-hour bamboo boat journey to admire its wonderful beauty, known as “Ha Long Bay on land.” Enjoy a lovely lunch at a local restaurant with many traditional dishes and Vietnamese tea before continuing onwards to Bich Dong Pagoda.

Overnight: Ninh Binh (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch

After breakfast, head to Pu Luong Nature Reserve with a stop at Phat Diem Church to admire its architectural beauty. Upon arrival in Pu Luong Nature Reserve, check into your accommodation and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Pu Luong Nature Reserve is a nature reserve located in Thanh Hoa Province, in the northern part of Vietnam. The reserve covers an area of over 17,600 hectares and is situated between the two districts of Ba Thuoc and Quan Hoa. The nature reserve is known for its stunning natural beauty, with picturesque terraced rice fields, towering limestone mountains, and lush green forests. The area is home to diverse flora and fauna, including many endangered species, such as the langur monkey, Delacour's langur, and the clouded leopard. Visitors to the reserve can participate in various activities, such as hiking, trekking, and mountain biking. The reserve is also home to several traditional Thai villages, where visitors can experience the local culture and way of life.

Please note: Accommodation in Pu Luong Nature Reserve will be at properties located in beautiful locations on hillsides. These properties may require you to walk up multiple steps to access your room without a lift service, but the views are worth it.

Overnight: Pu Luong Nature Reserve (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast this morning, drive a short distance from your accommodation to the traditional Thai villages of Kho Muong & Ban Don, enjoying beautiful valley views of terraced rice fields. Here, you will enjoy a stroll around these charming villages, taking in the charm of the local Thai tribe and their culture, before setting off on a leisurely hike in the surrounding mountain area. Walk through the natural reserve zone, looking for caves and waterfalls along the way. Finish the day at your accommodation, where you can enjoy a relaxing evening and dinner.

Please note: Today will involve walks on walking trails, which will include some steep sections and require a moderate level of fitness. Travellers uncomfortable with the walking required on this day are welcome to spend the day relaxing poolside at your accommodation. Your guide will provide more information on the walking required for the tour.

Overnight: Pu Luong Nature Reserve (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, depart for Hieu Village and begin an easy trek to Hieu Waterfall. Walk along the small road trail, through the terrace by the green and yellow rice fields and jungle to reach Hieu Waterfall. Take the opportunity to swim at this beautiful waterfall or admire it from below. Afterwards, return to the hotel and enjoy your own time at leisure at the retreat.

Please note: Today will involve walks on walking trails, which will include some steep sections and require a moderate level of fitness. Travellers uncomfortable with the walking required this day are welcome to spend the day relaxing poolside at your accommodation, and your guide will provide you with more information on the walking required on the tour.

Overnight: Pu Luong Nature Reserve (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, take your time to relax at the resort or explore the village. Late in the morning, depart Pu Luong for Hanoi. Upon arrival in Hanoi, check into the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight: Hanoi (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: Breakfast

Enjoy this morning at leisure until transferring to the airport at the appropriate time for the flight back to Australia.
 
Please Note:

• Some travellers may depart the morning of day 11 and arrive in the evening of day 11

Meals included: Breakfast; In-Flight

Meals included: None

Today, depart Australia (or New Zealand) for your flight to Hanoi, Vietnam. On arrival, be picked up by a tour representative and transferred to the hotel.

Please note: Some departures may occur on day 0 due to flight scheduling and availability. Affected customers must be available to depart the day before. Your final documents will indicate flight times, issued 4-6 weeks before departure.

Overnight: Hanoi (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: In-Flight

After breakfast, begin a walking tour to discover the real life of Hanoi people. Visit a local market and mingle with the vendors, stroll around the picturesque West Lake and enter Quan Thanh, a sacred Taoist temple and Cua Bach Parish Church, a Roman Catholic church built in the early 20th century by the French administration and one of the most beautiful in Hanoi.

After the walking tour, you may return to your accommodation and enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure.

Overnight: Hanoi (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: Breakfast

For approximately 180 kilometres, journey past farmlands and rice paddy fields to Ha Long Bay. Embark on board your traditional junk-style vessel for an overnight cruise through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed area. Settle into your deck chair and cruise through picturesque emerald waters while marvelling at the towering limestone karst islands. Enjoy a seafood lunch before participating in some afternoon activities such as swimming, relaxing on a remote beach, climbing to the top of a lookout for a fantastic panoramic view, or riding on a rowing boat into a secluded bay. Cruise further into the bay to visit a pearl farm before watching a traditional Vietnamese cuisine cooking demonstration, followed by dinner on board. Drop anchor in the late evening for an overnight stay among the dramatic limestone peaks.

Please note: We recommend packing an overnight bag only for your cruise. The remainder of your luggage will be securely stored, or you can take all your belongings on board if you’d prefer.

Overnight: Ha Long Bay (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

After breakfast, climb aboard the tender for a visit to Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave), a colourful grotto of giant stalactites and stalagmites. Return to the boat and enjoy a short cooking class where you will learn to prepare local delicacies such as spring rolls. Enjoy a light lunch on board, then a relaxing trip back to port, where you will disembark and return approximately 180 kilometres to Hanoi. Upon arrival, check into the hotel for an evening at leisure. Alternatively, join the optional evening activity below (not included).

Optional Activity: Water Puppet Performance and Vietnamese Dinner
Sit back and watch a traditional and unique performance of water puppetry originating in the Red River Delta of northern Vietnam. Each show lasts approximately 45 minutes and includes lively, illustrative Vietnamese pastoral scenes of rural daily life and fairy legends. Afterwards, head into the Old Quarter and feast on a dinner of authentic dishes such as Goi Cuon Tom Thit (fresh rice paper roll with prawn and pork), Pho bo (noodle soup with beef), Bun Cha (BBQ Vietnamese pork meatballs with noodles), Goi Ga Hoa Chuoi (banana blossom salad with chicken) and Che Nep Dua (sticky rice in coconut cream). Please see current pricing in Important Information or at checkout.
Please note: Depending on the timing of the water puppet performance, dinner may be enjoyed before the show.

Overnight: Hanoi (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch

This morning, you will depart to Tam Coc, in the Ninh Binh province, where you will enjoy the beautiful scenery. Upon arrival, your guide will take you to Hoa Lu, the ancient royal capital of Vietnam. Here, you will visit the Dinh King and Le King temples from the 10th Century, learning about the heroic histories of these two kings during the Chinese wars. Afterwards, continue to Tam Coc, where you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, enjoy a bamboo boat ride on the Hoang Long River to see Tam Coc (three caves). It takes approximately two hours to go up and down the river, and along the way, you witness local fisherfolk, village life, and, of course, the striking limestone karst formations that Tam Coc is famous for. In the early evening, arrive at the hotel, where you will enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight: Ninh Binh (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch

After breakfast, drive to the Trang An Ecotourism Complex. This site is of worldwide value for geological, geomorphological, archaeological, and aesthetic tectonics and has been honoured by UNESCO as a Natural World Heritage site. Here, enjoy another 2-hour bamboo boat journey to admire its wonderful beauty, known as “Ha Long Bay on land.” Enjoy a lovely lunch at a local restaurant with many traditional dishes and Vietnamese tea before continuing onwards to Bich Dong Pagoda.

Overnight: Ninh Binh (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch

After breakfast, head to Pu Luong Nature Reserve with a stop at Phat Diem Church to admire its architectural beauty. Upon arrival in Pu Luong Nature Reserve, check into your accommodation and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Pu Luong Nature Reserve is a nature reserve located in Thanh Hoa Province, in the northern part of Vietnam. The reserve covers an area of over 17,600 hectares and is situated between the two districts of Ba Thuoc and Quan Hoa. The nature reserve is known for its stunning natural beauty, with picturesque terraced rice fields, towering limestone mountains, and lush green forests. The area is home to diverse flora and fauna, including many endangered species, such as the langur monkey, Delacour's langur, and the clouded leopard. Visitors to the reserve can participate in various activities, such as hiking, trekking, and mountain biking. The reserve is also home to several traditional Thai villages, where visitors can experience the local culture and way of life.

Please note: Accommodation in Pu Luong Nature Reserve will be at properties located in beautiful locations on hillsides. These properties may require you to walk up multiple steps to access your room without a lift service, but the views are worth it.

Overnight: Pu Luong Nature Reserve (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast this morning, drive a short distance from your accommodation to the traditional Thai villages of Kho Muong & Ban Don, enjoying beautiful valley views of terraced rice fields. Here, you will enjoy a stroll around these charming villages, taking in the charm of the local Thai tribe and their culture, before setting off on a leisurely hike in the surrounding mountain area. Walk through the natural reserve zone, looking for caves and waterfalls along the way. Finish the day at your accommodation, where you can enjoy a relaxing evening and dinner.

Please note: Today will involve walks on walking trails, which will include some steep sections and require a moderate level of fitness. Travellers uncomfortable with the walking required on this day are welcome to spend the day relaxing poolside at your accommodation. Your guide will provide more information on the walking required for the tour.

Overnight: Pu Luong Nature Reserve (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, depart for Hieu Village and begin an easy trek to Hieu Waterfall. Walk along the small road trail, through the terrace by the green and yellow rice fields and jungle to reach Hieu Waterfall. Take the opportunity to swim at this beautiful waterfall or admire it from below. Afterwards, return to the hotel and enjoy your own time at leisure at the retreat.

Please note: Today will involve walks on walking trails, which will include some steep sections and require a moderate level of fitness. Travellers uncomfortable with the walking required this day are welcome to spend the day relaxing poolside at your accommodation, and your guide will provide you with more information on the walking required on the tour.

Overnight: Pu Luong Nature Reserve (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, take your time to relax at the resort or explore the village. Late in the morning, depart Pu Luong for Hanoi. Upon arrival in Hanoi, check into the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight: Hanoi (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: Breakfast

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your accommodation in Hoi An.

Overnight: Hoi An (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: Breakfast

Spend the day exploring the city on your own, or join one or both of the optional activities below (not included).

Optional Activity: Discover My Son, a UNESCO World Heritage Listed site
Depart early for the journey to My Son (approximately 40 kilometres, 75 minutes), one of the most extensive collections of Cham remains and a UNESCO World Heritage Listed site. My Son was once the capital and religious centre of the Champa Kingdom and is believed to be the longest-inhabited archaeological site in Indochina. Wander through what remains of the 7th to 13th century BC temples that once stood here and imagine the influence of the former kingdom. Located in a valley overlooked by Hon Quap (Cat’s Tooth Mountain), the sides of which are covered in thick jungle, these mountains are the source of the Thu Bon River, a holy river that flows through the site. After lunch at a local restaurant (included), return to Hoi An. Please see current pricing in Important Information or at checkout.

Optional Activity: Explore a Local Market and Join a Cooking Class
This afternoon, head to Hoi An’s colourful local market and soak in the buzzing atmosphere, breathe in the aromas, and take the opportunity to interact with the local sellers. Accompanied by your local chef, purchase some ingredients for your cooking workshop. Continue to Tra Que, a picturesque village a short distance from the centre of town, and meet some of the farmers. Before stepping inside to start your workshop, learn more about this community farm project and the traditional techniques, including fertilising with seaweed. Watch as the chef guides you through several home-style recipes, including a savoury pancake wrapped in rice paper, before sitting down to savour your dishes. Please see current pricing in Important Information or at checkout.

Overnight: Hoi An (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: Breakfast

Today, enjoy a day free at leisure to continue exploring this fascinating town. Alternatively, you can take the opportunity to join the optional tour below (not included).

Optional Tour: Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge Full-Day Tour
Early this morning, you will be picked up from the hotel and travel to Ba Na Hill Station on the outskirts of Da Nang. Take a cable car to Ba Na Hills to enjoy amazing views. Here, you will visit an old French cellar (Debay Ancient Wine Cellar), a flower garden - Le Jardin D’amour, Linh Ung Pagoda, a wax statue museum and the iconic Golden Bridge. Afterwards, enjoy free time exploring this resort park and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, return to Hoi An, where you may enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Please see current pricing in Important Information or at checkout.

Overnight: Hoi An (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, you will be transferred to nearby Da Nang airport for your onward flight to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), located in the south of the country (approximately a 1.5-hour flight). Upon arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel accommodation, where you may enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: Breakfast

Today, enjoy a day at leisure to discover Ho Chi Minh City or take the opportunity to join the fantastic half-day tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels (not included).

Optional Tour: Cu Chi Tunnels
Journey approximately 60 kilometres to the Cu Chi Tunnels, constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the country’s long fight for independence. Watch a short introduction video to learn more about their construction before exploring a section of tunnels used as hospitals, schools, kitchens, weapon storage, command centres and living quarters. The hidden tunnel system was an excellent way for the Vietcong to move around the countryside undetected by foreign troops. At one stage, the tunnels were home to around 10,000 people. View the remains of American tanks and numerous bomb craters before returning to Ho Chi Minh City, where you will have the option of being dropped back at the hotel, or at the nearby War Remnants Museum (entrance not included). Afterwards, spend the remainder of the day at leisure. Please see current pricing in Important Information or at checkout.

Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: Breakfast

Today is the last day in Vietnam! You will be picked up from the hotel and transferred to the airport for your return flight home after the trip of a lifetime. A packed breakfast will be provided for travellers with an early departure.

Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City (Premium or Luxury Option)

Meals included: Breakfast; In-Flight

Meals included: None