DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: UK to Hanoi 
Fly overnight from the UK to Hanoi

Day 2: Hanoi
On arrival you will be met and transferred to The Lapis Hotel where you will be staying for your first 2 nights, a lovely centrally located hotel with a beautiful rooftop pool.

Day 3: Hanoi
Get your first taste of Vietnam today as you go on a private street food tour being shown various fascinating food markets and trying local Hanoi dishes along the way. This afternoon, our local guide will take you on a private tour of the capital to discover local monuments such as the Temple of Literature, the One Pillar Pagoda, and the West Lake where you will admire the sixth century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda. Your afternoon and evening is free to do as you wish. Rather an evening street food tour by Vintage Vespa? Give us a call to find out more! 

Day 4: Hanoi to Mai Chau
Leave early this morning to take the picture-perfect drive through to Mai Chau. Travelling over mountains, fertile valleys and traditional villages you will arrive at the Mai Chau Ecolodge to stay for 2 nights. Made entirely from natural materials, this property has been created to blend with its surrounding untouched nature, a firm Sundowner favourite. Enjoy a light walk in the area surrounding the lodge and end your evening back at the lodge taking in the stunning beauty around you.

Day 5: Mai Chau
Today you will head to the village of Pu Long and to the Cham River for a full day tour. Search for stunning water wheels, learn about the local water systems and even get a chance to raft down the Cham River itself, try your hand at steering it too if you’re brave enough! After all that excitement, enjoy a local authentic cooked meal included at a local resort. Want to stay in Pu Long? Get in touch to hear about what else we can plan for you. 

Day 6: Mai Chau to Ninh Binh
Today you will head towards the stunning region of Ninh Binh, also known as ‘Halong on land’. Here you will be spending 2 nights at Tam Coc Gardens. Situated in the heart of Tam Coc, this beautiful property provides a warm and welcoming service with stunning views of the many limestone formations and rice fields that surround it. Grab a bike a have a gentle explore of the local area.

Day 7: Ninh Binh
Today you will head to the Van Long Nature Reserve. Covering nearly 3000 hectares, it’s the largest wetland in Northern Vietnam. Take a private boat trip along the river spotting magnificent birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians including some endangered species. You will then continue to Cuc Phuong National Park where if you are extremely lucky you may spot a panther or bear. You will definitely spot langur monkeys – from the golden-headed to the black crested gibbon. Visit the conservation centre that protects primates and turtles before enjoying your included lunch and spending the afternoon strolling around this magnificent rainforest.

Day 8: Ninh Binh to Lan Ha Bay
This morning you will be transferred to the port where you will stay for two nights aboard a traditional Vietnamese junk, the Azalea Cruise. You will sail through the stunning Lan Ha Bay before enjoying lunch and heading to Cat Ba Island where you will visit Trung Trang Cave and swim in the bay’s waters. After dinner, be sure to grab a drink and head to the deck to watch the magnificent sunset over the bay.

Day 9: Lan Ha Bay
Start the morning with Tai Chi on deck before breakfast. Today you will continue to explore this beautiful area as you cruise through islets, visit Viet Hai Village, enjoy a cooking class and swim some more!

Day 10: Lan Ha Bay to Nha Trang
This morning you will jump in a kayak to explore the Ao Ech areas before lunch. As you cruise back to the port, enjoy a traditional tea ceremony. Upon disembarkation, you will be transferred to Hanoi Airport to take a short flight to Nha Trang. Here you will be staying for you final 4 nights at the Anam Cam Ranh Villas. A beautiful luxury resort on Cam Ranh’s Norther Peninsula with a stretch of private beach, 3 pools and a relaxing atmosphere. If you would like to take the luxury level up for the last few nights on the beach, you could upgrade to Six Senses Ninh Van Bay. Call us on 01273 923100 to talk through the hotel options – beach recommendations will depend on the time of year and whether you prefer larger or smaller hotels and the level of luxury you are looking for. 

Days 11-13: Nha Trang
You have the next 3 days to really immerse yourself in the paradise around you. If you want to explore a little, then why not take a boat trip to the many nearby bays and surrounding islands to snorkel in the clear waters of Hon Mun. You can also visit the nearby Monkey Island home to over 2000 monkeys or take a tour around the city of Nha Trang itself. Though if all you want to do is relax, then look no further than sitting on the beach with a perfectly made cocktail, overlooking the ocean as the sun begins to set – a perfect sundowner moment. If you would prefer to use this time to explore Laos then talk to us on 01273 923100 about itinerary ideas.

Day 14: Nha Trang to the UK
Today you will have your final day to relax on the beach before catching your flights to the UK.

Day 15: Welcome home… What an adventure!