Vietnam tours, tailor made
| country: | Vietnam |
| departures: | This trip can be arranged at a time to suit you, and adapted to your requirements as necessary |
| price: | From US $999 (18 days) excluding flights. Price includes all accommodation, transport (including internal flights), activities, equipment, guides, entrance fees, tours and some meals |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
This 18 day tailor made tour is an adventurous mix of colorful culture, ancient history and diverse geographies and is an ideal package for travelers who wish to experience the beauty of Vietnam in an active style as well as being a great option for families.
We cycle in the capital Hanoi with its colonial charm, and cruise and paddle amidst the magic of Halong Bay with an overnight stay on the boat. Then its on to the royal city of Hue on the banks of the Perfume River with its ancient Palaces and Emperor’s tombs. Trek in Bach Ma National Park with overnight camping, and onto the ancient town of Hoi An. Dive in Nha Trang and explore the underwater life of coral and fish.
Then hit the road towards Dalat - the Central Highland of Vietnam where you will not only visit this town of cool climate but also find yourself canyoning and navigating your way through the area's natural environments. Last but not least visit bustling Saigon and the Cu Chi tunnels, then board a boat for a trip on the mighty Mekong River to visit the tropical, fruit laden areas of the Mekong Delta by bike.
We cycle in the capital Hanoi with its colonial charm, and cruise and paddle amidst the magic of Halong Bay with an overnight stay on the boat. Then its on to the royal city of Hue on the banks of the Perfume River with its ancient Palaces and Emperor’s tombs. Trek in Bach Ma National Park with overnight camping, and onto the ancient town of Hoi An. Dive in Nha Trang and explore the underwater life of coral and fish. Then hit the road towards Dalat - the Central Highland of Vietnam where you will not only visit this town of cool climate but also find yourself canyoning and navigating your way through the area's natural environments. Last but not least visit bustling Saigon and the Cu Chi tunnels, then board a boat for a trip on the mighty Mekong River to visit the tropical, fruit laden areas of the Mekong Delta by bike.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrival in Hanoi. A warm sunny welcome at the Hanoi International Airport! Transfer (45 km) to the your hotel, check-in, followed by some free-time at your leisure to relax. This evening, indulge in a Vietnam welcome dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi. |
| Day 2: | Hanoi, city tour. 8am: Meet at your hotel, for a traditional 1 hour cyclo ride down the tree-lined boulevards of Hanoi and to visit the Ho Chi Minh complex (mausoleum, presidential palace, house on stilts, one pillar pagoda). We will next visit the Temple of Literature and stop for lunch at a nearby restaurant. 2pm: Take a short ride in our van to visit the Museum of Ethnology and learn about Vietnam's 54 ethnic minorities. Many of which you will meet on your trip through Vietnam. Then its back to Hanoi's Old Quarter for a Water Puppet Show at 5pm. Overnight in Hanoi. |
| Day 3: | Halong Bay, cruise and kayak. 8am: Morning pickup followed by a 3 hour bus journey to Halong City. Coffee break at the half way point. Arrive at the boat dock at noon, check-in, then start your magical cruise out into this World Heritage Site. Lunch will be served on boat while we cruise. After lunch we will anchor at the most suitable area for sea kayaking. Paddle for 2-3 hours at your own pace exploring the hidden lakes, lagoons and islands of Halong Bay. Back to our boat for the dinner's selection of the freshest seafood and overnight on the sea under the stars. |
| Day 4: | Halong Bay, kayaking - Hanoi. Wake up at sunrise then breakfast on boat. More cruising in the morning then another hour of kayaking before heading our way back to Ha Long City. Lunch in Halong City before we make our way back to Hanoi. Arrival into Hanoi by 4:30pm. Free at your leisure to explore the charm and fascination of Hanoi's Old Quarter. Overnight in your same Hanoi hotel. |
| Day 5: | Hanoi, free day, night train to Hue. A free day to relax and learn more about Vietnam's people, culture, and capital city. Some suggestions include waking up extra early (6am) for some exercise around Hoan Kiem lake or participating in one of the many cooking classes available in town for a slightly different type of local flavor. Overnight on train to Hue. |
| Day 6: | Hue, city tour. 8:50am: Arrive in enchanting Hue, transfer to your hotel for check-in, shower and a change of clothes (a basic breakfast will be served on the train). We will visit the Imperial city, followed by a boat trip along the Perfume River and then embark on a visit to the Thien Mu pagoda. We drive back to central Hue for lunch. In the afternoon we set out for country side for a scenic drive and a visit to one of the tombs of the Nguyen Kings. Then back to your hotel. Free time for your own exploration of Hue in the afternoon and evening. |
| Day 7: | Bach Ma National Park, trekking. 7am: Morning departure for Bach Ma National Park, arriving at Bach Ma Center at 8am. We will have a short rest before driving up to the Bach Ma Summit (45 minutes). En route be prepared with your camera for some spectacular views of the area. 9:30am: The summit will also act as our trekking base. Our hard trek will travel down natural trails with ample opportunity for superb bird viewing. We are back for our lunch and a short rest at 11:30am. 12:30pm: We will lead you on a light trek to the Five Lakes (35 minutes). This area is inhabited by a multitude of butterflies. Continue our trek to Do Quyen Waterfall. 3:30pm: Our trek journeys us uphill to our campsite and overnight location. Dinner by the fire and an enjoyable sleep in the jungle. |
| Day 8: | Bach Ma - Lang Co - Hoian. 6:30am: Take down camp and walk to an area guesthouse for our breakfast. Then drive to Lang Co town for a rest on the lovely beach there. You will have up to 3 hours to swim, sun bathe and lunch before our ride to Hai Van pass, Cham museum and onto Hoian. We arrive in Hoian at about 4:30pm. Free at your leisure to explore this favorite city. Dinner and overnight in this, yet another, World Heritage town. |
| Day 9: | Hoian city tour, flight to Nha Trang. 8am: After breakfast, take part in a walking tour visiting Hoian and all the treasures of this old town. Old houses, temples, pagodas, ancient bridges, followed by a traditional music show at 10:15am. Then free time to shop. 12 noon: Check-out and transfer to Danang for our flight to Nha Trang. 2:10pm: One hour flight to Nha Trang. Arrival at the Cam Ranh Airport then transfer downtown for check-in. Explore this wonderful beach town around at your leisure for the rest of the day. |
| Day 10: | Nha Trang, beach relaxation. A whole day of sand and sea. Take some time to relax and play on the beach. |
| Day 11: | Nha Trang, scuba diving. Depart early at 7am. from the Dive Center to the boat station, where we board our dive boat and brief with our dive instructors. We then depart for Mun Island for your first 45 minute dive. Lunch on boat (included) and free for swimming and snorkeling. Afternoon, you can take part in a second dive at a different site before heading back to port. Transfer to your hotel at about 3pm. Overnight in Nha Trang. |
| Day 12: | Nha Trang - Dalat, city tour. 8am: We leave for Dalat on a morning drive in our van. It will take us about 4-5 hours (200 km) to reach our destination. We will stop at Cham towers at Phan Rang then second stop for lunch. Continue driving to an elevation of 1200 meters then onto Dalat. After check-in at your hotel we will do a short city tour to visit a local artisan Crazy House, area French villas, the Valley of Love, and Xuan Huong Lakes. Back to your hotel for overnight in Dalat. |
| Day 13: | Dalat, canyoning. 8am: Today we will do something a little different. Today we will take part in canyoning. Canyoning is navigating your way through a canyon. In this case, the canyon runs through a series of spectacular waterfalls and in some sections the topography requires ropes to navigate our way safely and successfully. Other sections can be hiked or swam through. We will travel by van to the mountain areas then do some hiking, rappelling, and swimming. Back to our hotel at 4:30pm. Overnight in Dalat. |
| Day 14: | Saigon. You have some hours in the morning here to visit the city's market, flower stores, and art galleries. At 11:30am we will leave for Saigon. Lunch is served en route, and stops for some sightseeing and breaks on the way. Arrive into Saigon at 5:30pm. Check-in and free to explore this bustling city. |
| Day 15: | Saigon, city tour and Cu Chi tunnels. 8am: We will tour around the city and visit the Unification Palace, Norte Dame Cathedral, National Post Office, and the War Remnants Museum. Have lunch in town before we head to the infamous Cu Chi tunnels to witness this unbelievable tunnel system dug by Viet Cong. Back to Saigon, dinner and overnight in town. |
| Day 16: | Vinh Long - Can Tho, cycling and boating. 8am: Departure for Cai Be (2.5 hours). On arrival, where we board a touring boat to the floating market and cruise over the mighty Mekong River to Dong Phu Island. We start cycling one hour under the natural green canopy, exploring the orchards and daily life of farmers. Lunch break on island & more cruising by boat to Vinh Long. In the afternoon we have 2 hours pedaling through immense rice fields and numerous rural riverside villages before our bus picks us up to Can Tho city. Evening is free time for a scenic promenade along the city quay. Overnight in Can Tho. |
| Day 17: | Can Tho - Saigon. Start your day off with a morning boat trip to the exciting and chaotic Cai Rang Floating Market. Then up a quiet canal for more of a pleasure cruise and some peace and relaxation. Then its back on the bikes to explore some backcountry roads (2 hours) to enjoy the beautiful Delta scenery. Meet the locals, many of whom are on bicycle too, along the way. After lunch we head back to Saigon for dinner. |
| Day 18: | Saigon. Free on your own to relax or to do some last minute shopping before you pack. We will bring you to the Saigon International Airport for your departure. Your Vietnam adventure ends here, with smiles and a suitcase full of memorable experiences. |
how this holiday makes a difference
|
Small group: We set our group to a max of 10 persons thus we are not being seen as a mass travelers groups and also giving everyone a chance to talk, make friends and learn from each others.
Our travelers: We have to inform them well before the trip on how to behave to the local people, how to help save the Bay of Halong, say no souvenir made from the endangered species. In Halong Bay and Nha Trang, we encourage our travelers to pick up trash to clean the Bay. Less fuel: We use proper van or minibus for our groups, when possible, our driver will stop the engine and also we turn off the air-conditioning on the van. We use more green activities than using vehicle, such as kayaking in Halong instead of engine cruise, we cycle in Mekong & trek Bach Ma so that we do not have to use van…  Local guides: We select good guides then do the training locally for them on guiding skill and responsible travel, our guides are local Hanoi, locals in Halong, Hue, Nha Trang, Dalat, Saigon and Mekong. Buying locally: We use locally owned hotels and guesthouses at all places and eat at local restaurants in Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An and Mekong… Visit local projects: We visit the responsible tourism project for the fishing village Vung Vieng in Halong bay, we visit and learn about the conservation project at Bach Ma national park. Cultural impacts: We and our travelers know well that we should not enter someone’s house without permission, not taking picture without asking first, we teach our travelers some basic Vietnamese so that they can do some ‘hello’, ‘good bye’ and ‘thank you’ Entrance fees: Most of the places we visit require fee from visitors to come in like Halong Bay, Imperial citadel of Hue, Hoi An ancient town, Nha Trang Bay, Bach Ma national park, a large percentage of this fee is going to conservation and protection of the areas/sites. |
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. |