Reunification Express tour
| country: | Vietnam |
| location: | Mekong Delta, North Vietnam, South Vietnam |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2009: 14 Dec 2010: 8 Jan, 12 Feb, 5 Mar, 26 Mar, 30 Jul, 27 Aug, 17 Sep, 15 Oct, 12 Nov, 15 Dec 2011: 7 Jan, 11 Feb, 4 Mar, 25 Mar, 29 Jun, 26 Aug, 16 Sep, 14 Oct, 11 Nov, 14 Dec |
| price: | From £1639 - £2199 (16 days) including flights from the UK. From £889 - £1099 excluding flights. Local payment $200 USD. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
"I think there really is something so utterly charming and romantic about traveling by train, especially in Vietnam. You’ll cover so much ground on this holiday and you’ll be sure to have many lasting memories of this beautiful country and culture. The floating markets and the night spent on a homestay with a local family are the highlights of this trip in my opinion."
- Krissy, responsibletravel.com
- Krissy, responsibletravel.com
the amazing things you'll be doing
A comprehensive cultural journey and exciting mix of experiences travelling from north to south. All the highlights are included, plus venturing off the beaten track to discover hilltribes of beautiful rural Vietnam. You'll explore from Hanoi to Saigon, embark on a famous rail journey, enjoy a memorable cruise on a traditional junk in Halong Bay and have the opportunity to extend your trip to visit Cambodia's awesome Angkor Wat.
Vietnam Tours - Hanoi to Hoi An
From the charming old city of Hanoi you travel to Halong Bay for a cruise amongst towering limestone cliffs and spectacular islands, before heading into the northern hill-country to spend a night in the hilltribe vilage of Mai Chau. Returning to Hanoi you board the Reunification Express for a fascinating rail journey to Hué. Here you take a boat on the Perfume River to the elaborate Nguyen tombs. The old port of Hoi An has a great atmosphere and provides a mix of interesting architecture, busy markets and tasty food. There’s also ample opportunity to relax on the beach.
Saigon & Mekong Delta
Your journey continues by plane to vibrant Saigon to discover its museums, markets and nearby Cu Chi Tunnels – the infamous hideout used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam war. You’ll experience rural life in the intricate waterways of the Mekong Delta - spending a night with a local family and travelling by boat among canals, islands and floating markets.
Hands On Hanoi - a Hands On Adventure
Certain departures of the Discover Vietnam itinerary are designated Hands On Adventures. On these dates you will have the opportunity to combine all the adventure of the regular itinerary with helping out at the Tay Dang orphanage near Hanoi. Activities include helping the children with learning English and creating craft activities, and will provide a wonderful experience and a chance to make a small difference to the lives of the children here.
Vietnam Tours - Hanoi to Hoi An
From the charming old city of Hanoi you travel to Halong Bay for a cruise amongst towering limestone cliffs and spectacular islands, before heading into the northern hill-country to spend a night in the hilltribe vilage of Mai Chau. Returning to Hanoi you board the Reunification Express for a fascinating rail journey to Hué. Here you take a boat on the Perfume River to the elaborate Nguyen tombs. The old port of Hoi An has a great atmosphere and provides a mix of interesting architecture, busy markets and tasty food. There’s also ample opportunity to relax on the beach.
Saigon & Mekong Delta
Your journey continues by plane to vibrant Saigon to discover its museums, markets and nearby Cu Chi Tunnels – the infamous hideout used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam war. You’ll experience rural life in the intricate waterways of the Mekong Delta - spending a night with a local family and travelling by boat among canals, islands and floating markets.
Hands On Hanoi - a Hands On Adventure
Certain departures of the Discover Vietnam itinerary are designated Hands On Adventures. On these dates you will have the opportunity to combine all the adventure of the regular itinerary with helping out at the Tay Dang orphanage near Hanoi. Activities include helping the children with learning English and creating craft activities, and will provide a wonderful experience and a chance to make a small difference to the lives of the children here.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Depart London Depart London on an overnight flight to Hanoi. |
| Day 2: | Arrive Hanoi After your flight, you transfer to your first night’s accommodation and check in. Hanoi is sometimes called the Paris of the Orient, with shaded boulevards, verdant parks and ochre buildings that retain an old-world charm. To find your feet you start with a brief orientation tour, leaving full exploration for tomorrow. Hotel - 1 night |
| Day 3: | Hanoi Your city tour this morning takes in sights such as the infamous ‘Hanoi Hilton’, the prison so named by American soldiers housed here during the 1960s and 70s. You also visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, now a site of pilgrimage, plus the Royal Palace complex. The Temple of Literature is also an interesting place to discover, used as an educational facility from the 11th to 18th centuries, and now a place of red-roofed pagodas and many courtyards. The Old Quarter has great shopping opportunities; silk, silver, enamel bracelets and embroidery are among the best buys and the street names bear testimony to the business conducted there; Silk Street, Rice Street, Vermicelli Street, and even Boiled Fish Street! It’s great fun to explore these streets on cyclo (pedal-rickshaw) and if you wish, we can arrange this for you today! Please note the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed for restoration between October and December each year. You can still visit his house and palace complex, though. This evening you’ll visit one of the water-puppet theatres to enjoy a performance of this fantastic art form - unique to Vietnam and best seen in Hanoi. Hotel – 1 night (B) |
| Day 4: | Mai Chau From Hanoi head west into rural Vietnam to discover what is sure to be a real highlight of your trip. Mai Chau, located in the Hoa Binh province, approximately 135km from Hanoi. The village is nestled within and surrounded by a verdant valley that affords superb panoramic views. After a four hour drive passing through lovely countryside scenery, you’ll have lunch on arrival then take a short walk round the villages to take in the picturesque Mai Chau Valley and enjoy the relaxing surroundings of the villages. In the evening, you have dinner at homestay the spend the evening watching traditional dancing and musical performances before spending overnight in a shared room in a traditional stilt house. Village homestay – 1 night (BLD) |
| Day 5: | Return to Hanoi The morning is free for you to take optional excursions, perhaps cycling around the villages or visiting the markets. You then return for a night in Hanoi, arriving back by 5pm for a free evening. Hotel – 1 night (B) |
| Day 6: | Halong Bay A minibus is chartered for the journey to the coast and the beautiful Halong Bay whose name means ‘descending dragon’. En route, you stop at the Sao Dao Charity Centre. Founded in 1996, the purpose of the centre is to provide free training and employment for disabled people. Here you can purchase products made from the skilful hands of the trained craft artisans such as embroidery, clothing, lacquer paintings, ceramic, sculpture, gemstone processing, and jewellery. Arriving at Halong Bay around lunchtime, you jump straight on a boat to go cruising in this secluded bay, marvelling at the 3000 limestone peaks that emerge from the sea. You have the opportunity to visit spectacular caves crammed with stalactites and stalagmites and, weather permitting, to swim from the boat, before spending the night onboard. Berth in en suite twin-cabin on a traditional junk - 1 night (BLD) NB you will need an overnight bag for your visit to Halong Bay and, later in the trip, the Mekong Delta. The rest of your luggage can be left in the city hotels while you are on the boat or in the Delta village. |
| Day 7: | Hanoi / Reunification Express train journey This morning you depart back for Hanoi, a journey of about four hours. There maybe free time to explore the capital on your own or take optional excursions during free time on your return. A great way to get a feel for the city is to wander the frenetic streets of the Old Quarter or visit the tranquil Den Ngoc Son Temple on Hoan Kiem Lake, sheltering among ancient trees and accessed by a bridge across the lake. In the evening you board the famous ‘Reunification Express’ train. Travelling in four-berth, soft sleeper compartments, which are simple but comfortable, you travel to Vietnam’s cultural capital, Hue.Berth on overnight sleeper train - 1 night (B) |
| Day 8: | Hue Arriving in Hue you can look forward to free time to explore the superb sights of the city. It was once the capital of the Nguyen emperors and was packed with influential people: bureaucrats, princesses, traders, astrologers and courtiers, who left behind many beautiful reminders of their times. This morning you could make your way down to the Perfume River to embark on a riverboat journey to the elaborate tombs of the Nguyen emperors (optional). The tombs are situated among the houses of local farmers who grow rice, fruit and vegetables here. You can visit one of the seven tombs, all of which follow a similar layout; statues of mandarins, elephants and horses; a pavilion where a stele (obelisk) tells of each emperor’s glorious reign; and a temple where he was worshipped after death. Also recommended is exploring the Thien Mu Pagoda (the Temple of the Heavenly Lady) - possibly the most famous of all Vietnam’s pagodas (optional). Legend tells of ‘fairy maids’ who foretold that a great king would build a pagoda and bring great wealth to the countryside. Situated on the banks of the peaceful Perfume River, it is one of Vietnam’s best-loved buildings. If you have time, you can visit Dong Ba Market - fantastic to wander around. It sells all manner of items and is a lively place to spend a couple of hours. You could also consider maybe making an optional visit to the famous Citadel, a vast 2.5km expanse of old palaces and temples, much of it ruinous. This is worthwhile as it houses a magnificent collection of buildings similar to Beijing’s Forbidden City plus the exclusive ‘Purple City’, the sole preserve of Vietnam’s emperors and the members of their court. This evening you can sample some delicious regional food at one of the many local restaurants - one speciality is banh khoai, a kind of egg batter stuffed with shrimps and vegetables – delicious! Hotel - 1 night |
| Day 9-11: | Hoi An This morning you drive south for four hours by bus, climbing up and over the spectacular Hai Van Pass (496m) before descending to the city of Danang and continuing to Hoi An. This little town is one of our favourites and we are sure you’ll love it too! Walking and especially cycling are the best ways to soak up the atmosphere or you may wish to take a guided walking tour (optional) which includes entrance fees to some of Hoi An's sights. You could also take an easy (5km) bicycle ride through the rice paddies and shrimp ponds to Cua Dai beach, or enjoy a boat trip on the river. Hoi An is also one of the best places to shop for souvenirs, especially if you’re looking for T-shirts, paintings or ceramics. For those interested in getting clothes tailored, this is definitely the place to shop. Hoi An is also famous for a variety of culinary specialities, like Cao Lau or White Rose. We may even be able to arrange a cooking class for those who are interested. Another possible optional trip is to My Son, Vietnam’s most important Cham site, which dates back to the 4th century. Hoi An offers many choices and we leave how best to see it to you - with the help of the Group Leader to advise. Hotel - 3 nights (Bx3) |
| Day 12: | Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) Setting off today you gear up again for more exploring after your relatively relaxed time in Hoi An. Early morning you drive the hour or so back to Danang and fly south to the nation’s commercial centre - Saigon, a fascinating mixture of old and new and the powerhouse of the south. You head out of the city to make a visit to the famous Viet Cong hideout known as the Cu Chi tunnels; it’s likely that your guides were once soldiers here and their insight will help you to understand this tragic part of Vietnamese history. Some of the tunnels have been widened to accommodate foreigners; more than a touch of irony here! You return to the city in the afternoon, when there maybe enough time to visit the famous Reunification Palace (optional). A nice thing to do in the evening, is to sit on the terrace of one of the many high-rise hotels in Saigon and sip a cocktail as the sun goes down! Hotel - 1 night (B) |
| Day 13: | Mekong Delta This morning you once again leave the city behind and head for Vietnam’s rice-bowl – the Mekong Delta. Passing through idyllic rural scenes you arrive at Cai Be where you transfer to local boats in order to reach your simple lodgings for a night in the house of a local family. By boat you will explore the intricate waterways of the Mekong, zigzagged with ramshackle ‘monkey bridges’ and busy with local traders. There’s time to stop and visit the local markets and cottage industries and take in the wonderful atmosphere of this colourful collection of stilt homes built on channels and rivers. Homestay – multishare - 1 night (BD) |
| Day 14: | Saigon This afternoon you arrive back in Saigon. You now have time to explore Ho Chi Minh City (as Saigon is now called) with a guided city tour including a visit to one of the museums, like the graphic War Remnants Museum. There are also plenty of hidden corners to discover and there should be free time this afternoon for some last minute shopping. If there's time, those who prefer to explore further could take a trip out to Cholon (optional) – Saigon’s Chinatown - with its strange mix of colonial and Chinese architecture. Here you’ll find markets, pagodas and incense-filled temples. Remember when you’re wandering around Saigon, to look at the magnificent architecture which sits alongside the more familiar shops and hotels. Hotel - 1 night (B) |
| Day 15-16: | Depart Saigon / arrive London Final free morning in Saigon then transfer to the airport for overnight flight from Saigon to London. (B) |
| Day 17-20: | Optional Angkor Wat extension Day 1-13 As per main itinerary. Day 14 As per main itinerary until the evening when you transfer to the airport for your short flight to Siem Reap. After your flight you transfer by road to this evening’s accommodation. Hotel – 3 nights (B) Day 15/16 Today you begin your exploration of the world famous Angkor Wat – perhaps the zenith of human ingenuity in Indo-China. Angkor was built between the 9th and 12th centuries, when Khmer civilisation was at the height of its extraordinary creativity, and constitutes one of humanity’s most magnificent architectural achievements. Your first visits are to Angkor Thom, the Bayon, and the eerie, unsettling third level of 49 towers projecting 172 icily smiling, gargantuan faces. Whilst here, you also view the 350m long Terrace of Elephants, and Baphuon Pyramid. You end the day by watching the sunset over Bakheng Mountain whilst looking forward to your visits tomorrow to Prasat Kravan, Banteay Kdei, Pre Rup and East Mebon amongst others. (Bx2) NB: the authorities at Angkor Wat require all visitors to produce a passport photograph in order to combat the use of fake entrance tickets. Photos can be obtained on the spot, and are scanned on to your pass, before entry. Day 17/18: A flight on day 17 brings you to Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital for almost 500 years. Its amazing history can be seen in the buildings and is brought to life with a city tour. You’ll visit the spectacular Silver Pagoda, which houses the Emerald Buddha and a life-size Buddha of solid gold, decorated with 9584 diamonds; the Victory Monument and the incredibly moving Tuol Sleng museum which documents Cambodia’s more recent, brutal and, ultimately, tragic history. There is also free time to explore hidden corners of this charming city. Perhaps take a walk along Sisowath Quay for cameo views of Phnom Penh, or wander the streets around the Victory Monument where colonial buildings exhibit a fading charm. Hotel - 2 nights (Bx2) Day 19/20: Transfer to Phnom Penh airport for your flight to the UK fly to Kuala Lumpur for your onward flight to London. (B) |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places. how this holiday makes a difference
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On this trip: Whilst much of South East Asia suffers from grinding poverty and poor pollution control we ensure that we reduce our own impact to an absolute minimum - we stay in locally owned hotels, utilise the services of local guides, eat in local restaurants and use cyclo rickshaws for much of our sightseeing and transport requirements. Our homestay in the Mekong Delta puts money directly into Vietnamese family pockets and gives us an opportunity to learn about and thus appreciate the culture of this wonderful, friendly country - hopefully exporting this knowledge back home and thus encouraging more responsible travellers to choose their next holiday just as carefully as you.
Our Responsible Travel Code: Clients who travel with us will automatically receive a copy of our Responsible Travel leaflet. This contains details and advice on how you can make a positive difference when you travel. If you would like a copy in advance of travel please contact us. Charity Partnerships: We work in partnership with Plan International. Plan works with some of the world’s poorest communities where three out of four children die before the age of five. We also support Friends of Conservation – an international charity committed to working with local people to develop a balance between their needs and the wildlife with which they share the natural habitat and ecosystems. Carbon Balancing: Global warming is a real issue and is a direct result of your travel. We have teamed up with Climate Care to give you the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions from your flight. You’ll be asked upon booking if you want to donate – with set amounts from £5. As a company we offset the carbon emissions from all staff travel in full. Our Foundation: We’ve highlighted a few of the ways in which we offer our support, financially or otherwise, and now you can, too. We have set up our own foundation, which will administer funds donated by you. A small donation of £1 per person will be taken when booking a holiday and that money will be put to good use by one of our carefully selected projects. If you don’t want to make the donation, just tell us when you book. |
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