Vietnam holiday, explorer
| country: | Vietnam |
| location: | Mekong Delta, North Vietnam, South Vietnam, Hill Tribes |
| trip type: | Strenuous trekking holidays |
| departures: | 2008: 6 Sep, 18 Oct, 29 Nov 2009: 10 Jan, 21 Feb, 4 Apr, 16 May, 27 Jun, 8 Aug, 19 Sep, 31 Oct |
| price: | From £660 (20 days) excluding flights, plus local payment US $265. We can arrange flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
This is Vietnam at its best - away from the well worn trail.
We make a challenging trek to remote hilltribe communities where we enjoy the hospitality of minority people, go kayaking, discover unspoilt coral gardens and experience life in the Mekong Delta.
It’s real proof that you don’t need to break the budget to enjoy a fantastic trip.
We make a challenging trek to remote hilltribe communities where we enjoy the hospitality of minority people, go kayaking, discover unspoilt coral gardens and experience life in the Mekong Delta.
It’s real proof that you don’t need to break the budget to enjoy a fantastic trip.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive Hanoi. |
| Day 2: | Hanoi A free day in this elegant city. You can visit the fascinating Ho Chi Minh Museum, amble through the winding streets of the Old Quarter or relax in a café by Hoam Kien Lake. |
| Day 3: | Hilltribe trek. Travel west to Hoa Binh province. We visit the White Thai village of Sa Linh and then make a 3 hour trek to the village of Hang Kia. Our hosts for the evening are the H'mong minority people. Their hospitality allows us to find out a little more of their lives and culture - and they will want to learn about you too! |
| Day 4: | Hilltribe trek. Following breakfast we set off on foot for Van Village inhabited by White Thai people (7 hrs walking). Our hosts this evening will treat us to a fine meal and stories of life in Van. Watch out for their home brewed rice wine! |
| Day 5: | Hilltribe trek. A trek this morning to Khoe Village from where we drive back to Hanoi (3 hrs walking). |
| Day 6: | Halong Bay kayaking safari. In Halong city we board a private boat to cruise through Halong Bay to the isolated Ho Ba Ham Island. Lunch will be served on board as we cruise we have the rest of the day to explore the area by kayak or on foot. Tonight you can sleep below deck or under the carpet of stars on deck. |
| Day 7: | Halong Bay kayaking safari. More kayaking this morning as we head towards Cat Ba Island. We continue to Hai Phong by local ferry then return to Hanoi. |
| Day 8: | Hanoi. Free time today until we board the Reunification Express train to Hue. |
| Day 9-10: | Hue. We spend a day and a half in Hue, famous for its stunning imperial architecture and the Perfume River. |
| Day 11: | Hoi An. Travel to Hoi An via Ocean Cloud Pass, Danang and China Beach. |
| Day 12: | Hoi An. Free day in Hoi An. Travellers love Hoi An's laid back atmosphere. |
| Day 13-14: | Whale Island. Transfer by road and boat to secluded Whale Island. Two days to swim, laze on pristine beaches or go snorkelling amidst lovely coral gardens. |
| Day 15: | Whale Island - Nha Trang. Late departure from this paradise island and travel south towards Nha Trang, a laid back beach resort. |
| Day 16: | Nha Trang. There’s time to check out the town before we board the overnight train to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). |
| Day 17: | Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Arrive in Saigon and transfer to the hotel. Free day. |
| Day 18: | Mekong Delta homestay. A day exploring the area by boat and on foot is a great opportunity to learn about life in the Delta. Tonight we are guests of a local family. |
| Day 19: | Mekong Delta- Saigon. This morning we visit an authentic floating market before returning to Saigon |
| Day 20: | Saigon. Tour ends |
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.highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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Travelling the length of Vietnam our hotels are always local, transport often public and the unique one-to-one style interactions with real people are endless. We overnight in many small family run hotels and enjoy the hospitality of families in Vietnam's highlands and in the Mekong Delta.
This trip includes a hilltribe trek in an area way off the tourist trail where there are few sources of revenue for the local people. On the first night our hosts are the H'mong minority people and on the second night we stay with the White Thai tribe in Van Village both of whom will be just as intrigued about your life as you are about theirs! In the Mekong Delta we stay with a local family in their home where we gain a fantastic insight into life in the delta. Our small group visits are carefully controlled to help distribute revenue from tourism without destroying the local tradition. Throughout the trip we use local guides, porters and boatmen who are often from the villages we are visiting and all activities are organised directly through local people. There are also many opportunities for travellers to purchase fairly priced souvenirs. |
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. |