| country: | Vietnam |
| location: | Mekong Delta, North Vietnam, South Vietnam |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2008: 29 Aug, 19 Sep, 10 Oct, 24 Oct, 14 Nov, 15 Dec 2009: 2 Jan, 6 Feb, 13 Feb, 6 Mar, 3 Apr, 22 May, 24 Jul, 28 Aug, 18 Sep, 23 Oct, 13 Nov, 14 Dec |
| price: | From £1299 - £1749 (16 days) including flights from the UK, from £699 - £749 excluding flights. Local payment US $40 |
what excites us about 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
the amazing things you'll be doing
A comprehensive cultural journey from north to south.
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 boarding 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 Vietcong 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.
Angkor Wat Extension
Why not extend your stay with a visit to the magnificent complex of ancient temples at Angkor Wat in Cambodia – one of the wonders of Asia. Also explore the charming capital city of Phnom Penh.
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 boarding 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 Vietcong 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.
Angkor Wat Extension
Why not extend your stay with a visit to the magnificent complex of ancient temples at Angkor Wat in Cambodia – one of the wonders of Asia. Also explore the charming capital city of Phnom Penh.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-2: | Overnight flight to Hanoi; orientation tour |
| Day 3-4: | Halong Bay; overnight cruise then return to Hanoi |
| Day 5: | Cyclo tour; Reunification Express |
| Day 6-7: | Hue; boat on Perfume River to Nguyen Tombs; free day |
| Day 8-10: | Drive to Hoi An; free to explore |
| Day 11: | Drive to Da Nang; fly to Saigon; free afternoon |
| Day 12: | Visit Cu Chi Tunnels |
| Day 13-14: | Mekong Delta; homestay |
| Day 15-16: | Overnight flight to London |
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. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |














