Vietnam activity holiday
| country: | Vietnam |
| departures: | This trip can be tailor made throughout the year and can be adapted to suit your interests, budget and requirements as necessary |
| price: | From US $1750 - US $1900 (17 days) per person based on minimum of 2 people, excluding flights. Single supplements apply |
| more info: | Price includes: transfers, local English speaking guides, meals as per itinerary, admission fees, drinking water, accommodation (3 star) and local home-stay, internal flights and trains |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
After an introduction to the highlights and flavours of Hanoi, drive into the countryside for a hiking adventure in Mai Chau.
Mai Chau (pronounced My Chow) is the little known option to Sapa – less tourists, closer to Hanoi, and hands down stunning. Instead of a long overnight train journey to Sapa, drive 3 ½ - 4 hours to Mai Chau and check into our boutique lodge. Involving the surrounding community in initial consultations when building, the lodge was created with local materials and hires only from the hill tribes of this region, providing them with language, hospitality training & opportunity. Equipped with a pool, sauna & spa you can enjoy a little luxury before heading off the next morning on a fantastic hike through local farms & villages, rice paddies & bamboo groves. Spend the next two nights sleeping in local family homes - the accommodation is basic, but offers a truly authentic experience. End your trip with one last night at the lodge before driving back to Hanoi for the night.
The following travel by public coach with your guide to Cat Ba Island and Halong Bay (approx 4 hour drive, plus ferry to the island). Halong Bay is made up of 1000’s of craggy, jungle covered limestone islands mushrooming out of the water. Its natural formations make it the perfect site for rock climbing. For beginners, families & experienced climbers, you will be guided by local & internationally accredited rock climbing instructors. Stay overnight on Cat Ba Island, home of the elusive languor, and get a feel for what a typical North Vietnamese fishing village is like. Cycle through the National Park or swim in the island’s islets (weather permitting).
After a day of climbing, catch a boat to another island away from the tourist trail and stay in pure peace & quiet in traditional bamboo huts. The next morning enjoy a spot of kayaking and a cruise on a ‘junk’ boat before heading back to the main port for your return trip back to Hanoi. In the evening catch the overnight train to Dong Hoi for the beginning of your next adventure in one of the less travelled regions of Central Vietnam.
Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park is a mini nature retreat that truly takes you off the beaten track. Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park (situated a few hours from Hue near the Vietnam-Laos border) is a region that is both un-spoilt and rarely visited by tourists. A UNESCO site, the Park is one of the world’s two largest limestone regions and holds almost 300 caves & grottos. It is also home to the world’s largest cave & underground river.
Stay in local rustic ‘home-stay’ accommodation and participate in activities with the locals such as gardening, fishing, or even volleyball. Cycle & hike at leisure through the Park and be wowed by spectacular rock formations and lush forest. From Phong Nha drive back to Dong Hoi town for an overnight stay at a nearby beach resort. From Dong Hoi drive approx 3 hours to the ancient capital of Hue for a little bit of ‘cultural time’. Explore the citadel and pagodas of Hue before driving further south to the popular town of Hoi An where you can spend the next couple of days shopping up a storm in the tailor shops, dining on fabulous street food or in gourmet restaurants, participating in cooking schools, or cycling to the beach. Refreshed from your Hoi An holiday, fly to Ho Chi Minh City where your trips ends.
Best time to go
Mai Chau: Mar/April/May and Sept/Oct/Nov/early December. November-February is very cold in the Valley so you would need to pack appropriately. June to August can be too hot for trekking.
Phong Nha: February/March to August is the best time to visit. Possible flooding September - November. Dry season is typically January to August. The weather will be cooler from December to February, and the hottest months are in June – August (above 28 degrees Celsius).
Halong Bay: Year round. During the Summer you can also swim & kayak (April/May – October). During the cold winter months you can curl up around a fire, bicycle and hike (Nov – Mar/Apr).
Mai Chau (pronounced My Chow) is the little known option to Sapa – less tourists, closer to Hanoi, and hands down stunning. Instead of a long overnight train journey to Sapa, drive 3 ½ - 4 hours to Mai Chau and check into our boutique lodge. Involving the surrounding community in initial consultations when building, the lodge was created with local materials and hires only from the hill tribes of this region, providing them with language, hospitality training & opportunity. Equipped with a pool, sauna & spa you can enjoy a little luxury before heading off the next morning on a fantastic hike through local farms & villages, rice paddies & bamboo groves. Spend the next two nights sleeping in local family homes - the accommodation is basic, but offers a truly authentic experience. End your trip with one last night at the lodge before driving back to Hanoi for the night.
The following travel by public coach with your guide to Cat Ba Island and Halong Bay (approx 4 hour drive, plus ferry to the island). Halong Bay is made up of 1000’s of craggy, jungle covered limestone islands mushrooming out of the water. Its natural formations make it the perfect site for rock climbing. For beginners, families & experienced climbers, you will be guided by local & internationally accredited rock climbing instructors. Stay overnight on Cat Ba Island, home of the elusive languor, and get a feel for what a typical North Vietnamese fishing village is like. Cycle through the National Park or swim in the island’s islets (weather permitting).
After a day of climbing, catch a boat to another island away from the tourist trail and stay in pure peace & quiet in traditional bamboo huts. The next morning enjoy a spot of kayaking and a cruise on a ‘junk’ boat before heading back to the main port for your return trip back to Hanoi. In the evening catch the overnight train to Dong Hoi for the beginning of your next adventure in one of the less travelled regions of Central Vietnam.
Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park is a mini nature retreat that truly takes you off the beaten track. Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park (situated a few hours from Hue near the Vietnam-Laos border) is a region that is both un-spoilt and rarely visited by tourists. A UNESCO site, the Park is one of the world’s two largest limestone regions and holds almost 300 caves & grottos. It is also home to the world’s largest cave & underground river.
Stay in local rustic ‘home-stay’ accommodation and participate in activities with the locals such as gardening, fishing, or even volleyball. Cycle & hike at leisure through the Park and be wowed by spectacular rock formations and lush forest. From Phong Nha drive back to Dong Hoi town for an overnight stay at a nearby beach resort. From Dong Hoi drive approx 3 hours to the ancient capital of Hue for a little bit of ‘cultural time’. Explore the citadel and pagodas of Hue before driving further south to the popular town of Hoi An where you can spend the next couple of days shopping up a storm in the tailor shops, dining on fabulous street food or in gourmet restaurants, participating in cooking schools, or cycling to the beach. Refreshed from your Hoi An holiday, fly to Ho Chi Minh City where your trips ends.
Best time to go
Mai Chau: Mar/April/May and Sept/Oct/Nov/early December. November-February is very cold in the Valley so you would need to pack appropriately. June to August can be too hot for trekking.
Phong Nha: February/March to August is the best time to visit. Possible flooding September - November. Dry season is typically January to August. The weather will be cooler from December to February, and the hottest months are in June – August (above 28 degrees Celsius).
Halong Bay: Year round. During the Summer you can also swim & kayak (April/May – October). During the cold winter months you can curl up around a fire, bicycle and hike (Nov – Mar/Apr).
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Hanoi Arrival: Arriving in Hanoi, your guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. Enjoy a half day city tour including the Ho Chi Minh Complex, Temple of Literature, Ngoc Son Temple, Hoan Kiem Lake and a one hour cyclo (rickshaw) tour through the Old Quarter. Later attend a traditional water puppet show in the evening before heading to dinner. (D) |
| Day 2: | Hanoi - Mai Chau: Upon arrival in Mai Chau Valley you will check into the lodge and have a brief orientation to the facilities and activity options (such as nature walks, cycling, and visiting hill tribe villages). Dinner will be served accompanied by a traditional dance performance by the local Thai people. (BLD) |
| Day 3: | Mai Chau - Hang Kia Village: Following breakfast you will be driven to the Hmong village of Sa Linh and from here commence a three hour hike to the village of Hang Kia. Overnight in a village homestay at Hang Kia. (BLD) |
| Day 4: | Hang Kia - Van Village: Today get truly off the beaten track as you trek (approx. 6-7 hours), using local tracks and passing through cornfields as you descend into Mai Chau Valley. Arrive at Van village, home to the ethnic Thai minority people in the late afternoon. Spend the night here in a traditional house. (BLD) |
| Day 5: | Van Village - Mai Chau Lodge: After breakfast, continue to walk (approx. 2 hours) to Xam Khoe village where a vehicle will transport you to Mai Chau Lodge for rest and relaxation in comfort. (BLD) |
| Day 6: | Mai Chau - Hanoi: Breakfast provided in Mai Chau then depart to Hanoi mid-morning. (B) |
| Day 7: | Hanoi – Cat Ba: Departing from Hanoi, this tour takes you to Cat Ba Island in Halong Bay, where you can spend the afternoon exploring the National Park, rent bicycles and ride past rice paddies and along stunning coastline, or laze on the island’s islets during the Summer months. Overnight in a simple local Guest House at Cat Ba. (BLD) |
| Day 8: | Cat Ba – Rock climbing: The following day go on a rock climbing adventure. Halong Bay is South East Asia’s best rock climbing secret – it’s thousands of limestone peaks & formations make it a climber’s paradise! This trip is suitable for beginners or advanced climbers. In the late afternoon take a boat to the quiet, ‘eco’ Nam Cat Island for pure nature and serenity, staying in simple bamboo huts on the water’s edge. Enjoy a BBQ dinner on the beach and chill out under the stars. Overnight in twin bamboo huts. (BLD) |
| Day 9: | Ha Long – Hanoi – Phong Nha: After a refreshing morning breakfast on a private beach, board a Junk boat and cruise to a secluded cave with biodiversity of corals, aquatic, and animal life. You and your guide will kayak into a serene hidden lagoon. After you exit the cave, you’ll cruise to a gorgeous uninhabited island beach for swimming and relaxing in the early afternoon sunshine while having lunch (weather permitting). Cruise back to Cat Ba Island and take the ferry back to the mainland. Catch a public coach with your guide back to Hanoi (approx 4 hours). Return to Hanoi at around 7:30pm in time for dinner and then catch an overnight train south to Dong Hoi (BL), the main arrival point for visitors who are heading to Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park. (B) |
| Day 10: | Dong Hoi- Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park: Arrive in Dong Hoi at 7.45am and transfer from Dong Hoi to Chay Lap village, just outside Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (approx 45 minute drive). After arriving at the village, you will be welcomed by the local family who will be your hosts. Stay overnight in a traditional, yet comfortable house built using local available resources. Participate in different activities during the day such as a dragon boat tour into Phong Nha Cave. You will also have the opportunity to participate in social activities with the locals in the village, such as fishing in the pond, gardening, and playing volleyball. After a day of outdoor activities enjoy a home cooked dinner made with locally grown ingredients. (BLD). Activity: Dragon boat tour (2 to 3hours). |
| Day 11: | Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park- Dong Hoi: After enjoying breakfast at the home-stay go cycling around the outlying area and visit the memorial site of Tam Co Cave situated along the historic Ho Chi Minh Trail and then continue on to the “Nuoc Mooc cold springs for a swim”. Enjoy a simple picnic lunch along the way. In the afternoon kayak along the “Chay River” that cuts a ravine through the lush vegetation. Return to the home- stay in the late afternoon to bid farewell to your host family. You will then drive to Dong Hoi town for an overnight stay at the comfortable Sun Spa Resort on the beach. (BL). Activity: Biking 2 to 3hrs (flexible, depending on client’s fitness)/ hiking: 30min/ Kayaking 1hour) |
| Day 12: | Dong Hoi – Hue: Morning at leisure and at around 1.30pm, pick up and transfer to the ancient capital of Hue (approx 3 hour drive). Free afternoon.(B) |
| Day 13: | Hue – Hoi an: In the morning we begin with a trip to the ancient walled Citadel containing the former Imperial Palace. The Citadel was closely modelled along the lines of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Later take a cruise on the Perfume River to see Thien Mu Pagoda. In the afternoon, drive to Hoi An via the cloudy Hai Van pass. (BL) |
| Day 14: | Hoi An: Free day (B) |
| Day 15: | Hoi An: Free day (B) |
| Day 16: | Hoi An – Ho Chi minh: This morning we take a flight to Ho Chi Minh City and enjoy a half day Ho Chi Minh city tour in the afternoon including the Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum and Notre Dame Cathedral (time permits). We also can drop you at Ben Thanh Market for some shopping in the late afternoon. (BL) |
| Day 17: | Ho Chi Minh departure: Free time till transfer to airport.(B). End of service |
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
travelling with a local operator
This holiday is operated by a company based in the holiday destination and they will be able to provide expert local knowledge. They will be able to tailor make your holiday to suit your requirements not only concerning the dates of travel but also typically the standard of accommodation, and thus price. It is rare for local operators to be able to help with the booking of your flights.how this holiday makes a difference
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Environment
All guests are emailed our Responsible Travel guidelines policy prior to travel and guides are also fully trained in this. We donate to many local charities, such as funding a nutrition program at Binh Luc Orphanage and sponsoring an annual trip to Halong Bay for underprivileged disabled children & their families from ‘Blue Dragon’. We hold an annual medical trek with local & international doctors and medical students into the hill tribes of Northern Vietnam, and organise many volunteer projects such as building wells & housing in Agent Orange affected communities and teaching English. We also catch public coach and trains where appropriate. Community Mai Chau Lodge involved the local community in its initial planning stages, and hires only from the hill tribes of this region, providing them with language, hospitality training & opportunity. Mai Chau Lodge was built with local materials and its restaurant serves food that is grown in the local region. Locals are also given employment through presenting traditional dance performances, which in turn help to preserve and keep alive cultural traditions. This is a private tour so group size is kept to a small number so as not to be too intrusive on the local villages. We provide income to local families and villages by using their homes for accommodation. The home stay creates income through hosting accommodation as well as working opportunities for local people (ie. local guide, cook, porter). It also helps in raising public awareness about the value of natural resources, environment and cultural heritage, and encourages locals and tourists to interact on a social level in their villages creating cross cultural understanding and authentic travel experiences. Food served is grown locally in the region and the houses/accommodation are made out of natural materials from the area. |
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