Off limits to Westerners till relatively recently, Vietnam is the South East Asia that Elvis knew! Today, travel there is taking off and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) in the south is a boom town, bustling with traffic and business.
Travel to Vietnam is well worth the long haul and for seekers of the exotic, an assault on the senses by it's very differences, then Vietnam has to be one of the most fulfilling travel destinations left on Earth.
Proud and with a reputation for doing things their own way, Vietnam's total population of around 86 million is overwhelmingly of the the main ethnic group, the Han Vietnamese.
Sometimes compared to the Prussians, the Vietnamese are martially adept and have a 4000 year history of beating up World powers to prove it.
Vietnamese autononmy goes back to the year 938 AD when Ngo Quyen vanquished the Chinese armies at the Bach Dang River and
ended 1000 years of Chinese Imperial rule. Subsequent and repeated invasions from China were repulsed over the next few centuries while the Vietnamese expanded southwards, building their nation from the Red River Delta near Hanoi, to the delta of the Mekong below Saigon. Religious followings amongst Vietnamese are diverse including Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity (both Protestant and Catholic), Islam and indigenous beliefs.
In 1858 French and Spanish-led forces stormed Danang and by 1867 France had conquered all of southern Vietnam renaming the territory Cochin-China. At the end of WW2 the man that would deliver Vietnam from colonial suppression, Ho Chi Minh (more affectionately known as Uncle Ho) declared independence sparking violent confrontations until in 1954 the French were comprehensively defeated at Dien Bien Phu in the remote north. After that Vietnam was temporarily divided into the communist North and the anti-communist, USA supported South. It was a disaster of global proportions, political and ideological opposition quickly turned to armed struggle prompting the USA and other countries to commit combat troops in 1965. The war lasted until 30 April 1975.
Today Vietnam is looking beyond it quote s history, even relations with the USA have been lquote normalised quote and trade is once again flowing between the two nations. Vietnam enjoys it's lquote tiger economy quote status but for the vast majority of Vietnamese economic struggle is still a daily reality.
Notes
This is a tailor made holiday concept which can be adapted and tailored to meet your dates, preferences and passions. Please contact one of our bespoke holiday planners to create the ideal itinerary for you.
North to South
Day 1 Arrive Hanoi
A guide will be waiting to meet and greet you at the airport, you will then be taken into Hanoi and to your hotel. Depending on your time of arrival, you could start to explore this fascinating city and the leafy French areas of large villas and wide boulevards. Overnight Chains First Eden Hotel.
Day 2 Hanoi [B]
Full day sightseeing tour, your guide will give you a walking tour around the Old Quarter including Dong Xuan market, and take you to visit Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and house, the One Pillar Pagoda, West Lake Area and Quan Thanh Temple, the History Museum, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ethnology Museum, Ngoc Son Temple, the Temple of Literature and Fine Arts Museum. Overnight Chains First Eden Hotel.
Day 3 Hanoi ~ Mai Chau [B, D]
Depart from Hanoi for Mai Chau with your driver and guide. Drive west from Hanoi to Hoa Binh passing through lush, green rice country passing numerous cottage industry brick works. The road becomes higher and higher above the paddies as they dig deeper and deeper for mud to make their bricks. From Hoa Binh continue through Muong where the scenery takes on a dramatic form with limestone cliffs jutting upwards from the green paddies. The road then climbs up into the mountains before descending to Mai Chau, a fertile valley occupied by the White Thai minority group descended from the same roots as the Thais of Thailand. Stay overnight in the village of Ban Xa Linh in one of the traditional wooden stilt houses sleeping in the main gallery.
Day 4 Mai Chau ~ Dien Bien Phu. [B]
It is an early start for the drive up into the mountains heading north-west towards Dien Bien Phu. This will take most of the day but the views on the way up are worth the effort. Lunch will be at Son La, the provincial capital. The region is home to various ethnic minorities such as the Hmong, Muong, White Thai and Black Thai, whose villages you will pass on the journey. Overnight in a guesthouse.
Day 5 Dien Bien Phu [B]
Well known as the site of the decisive battle against French control of Indochina in 1954. After a seige of 59 days the French surrendered, effectively ending their rule. A good start to the day would be a visit to the town?s museum, it houses displays of weaponry from both sides of the conflict, as well as interpretative displays of the battle. Overnight in a guesthouse.
Day 6 Dien Bien Phu ~ Phong Tho [B]
From Dien Bien Phu travel up the Nam Na valley towards the Chinese border. You will be travelling through one of the least visited areas of Vietnam, inhabited almost entirely by ethnic minority hilltribes - Hmong, Thai and Dao. They have many villages here as it used to be the centre of their opium growing activites. Overnight in a guesthouse at the small market town of Phong Tho.
Day 7 Phong Tho ~ Sa Pa [B]
After breakfast continue towards Sa Pa. On arrival at the old French Hillstation of Sa Pa, check into your guest house. Saturday night?s are party nights for the local hilltribes and many people trek all day from the surrounding area to attend the evenings ?Love Market? in the center of Sa Pa. A chance for the younger members of the hilltribes to court prospective partners from other villages and for their chaperones to share stories and swap topical gossip. About 3,300 Kinh (ethnic Vietnamese) live in Sa Pa town, the remainder of the 30,000 district population are largely Hmong and Dao hilltribes with a few settlements of Tay and Giay.
Overnight Victoria Sapa.
Day 8 Sa Pa [B]
Sunday morning the market starts bright and early, with the food stalls working hard to help clear all the hangovers from the night before. All the stall holders will have stayed in the market overnight to look after their stock. Having breakfast here is excellent fun. In the afternoon the market starts slowing down as traders who have sold enough stock take the afternoon off and just enjoy the magnificent views of the valley below. A motorcycle taxi can give you a a good tour of the valley views along the ridge road either direction out of town. There is also the Hoan Lien Nature Reserve on the other side of the valley. Overnight Victoria Sapa.
Day 9 Sa Pa ~ Hanoi
Early start for the journey back down to Hanoi taking the route via Lao Cai and Bao Yen, stopping on route to see anything that catches your eye. Overnight Chains First Eden Hotel.
Day 10 Hanoi ~ Halong Bay [B]
You will be driven to Halong via Haiphong City, where there will be a tour of Haiphong including old colonial buildings, Du Hang Pagoda and Hang Kenh temple. Continue onto Halong Bay and transfer to your hotel. The name Ha Long means 'descending dragon', and an enormous beast is said to have careered into the sea at this point, cutting the fantastic bay from the rocks as it thrashed its way into the depths. Vietnamese poets have traditionally extolled the beauty of this romantic area with its rugged islands of fragmented limestone that protrude from a sea dotted with sailing junks. Overnight Halong 2 Hotel.
Day 11 Halong Bay ~ Hanoi ~ depart Hanoi by train to Hue [B, L]
In the morning there will be a 5 hour boat cruise around Halong Bay, including a seafood lunch on board. Many of these dramatic islands that tower above the water are honeycombed with caves and tunnels chiselled out over thousands of years of tidal action. Where cave roofs have collapsed, secret lagoons or ?hongs? have been born where micro-ecosystems have been able to develop protected from the outside world. In the afternoon return to Hanoi and transfer to the station for the 2000 hrs overnight train to Hu?. Sleeping arrangements are in private, fan-cooled, 4-berth couchettes with soft mattress and bed sheet. Overnight on the train.
Day 12 Arrive Hue [B]
Arrive in Hu? at 0852 hrs, considered to be the cultural centre of Vietnam and scattered with forbidden cities, tombs, and temples. In the afternnon visit the Citadel and Dong Ba market. Overnight Saigon Morin Hotel.
Day 13 Hue [B]
After breakfast set off by boat on the Perfume River with your guide for a tour with bicycles of the Thein Mu Pagoda, Minh Mang Tombs and numerous other tombs. This is lovely day exploring the countryside and ancient ruins. A picnic lunch will be provided. Return to the city via a visit to Khai Dinh Tomb. In the evening your guide will agree departure time the next morning for Hoi An. Overnight Saigon Morin Hotel.
Day 14 Hue ~ Hoi An [B]
Set off by car to Hoi An, you can stop at Lang Co, a beautiful tiny fishing village at the bottom of the spectacular Hai Van Pass. After crossing the pass, the Cham Museum in Danang has the best collection of relics from the most culturally rich of the Vietnamese empires. Continue onto Hoi An via Marble Mountain and perhaps China beach en route. Afternoon walking tour of Hoi An ancient city including The Japanese Bridge, The Tan Ky ancient house, Phuc Klen Pagoda and the market. Overnight Victoria Hoi An.
Day 15 Hoi An [B]
Morning visit to Hoa Phouc village in Danang to experience the real life of the local people. Possibility of visiting a local home for a cup of tea with the family.
Afternoon free to spend exploring Hoi An by foot or catch up on any of the sites missed the day before. The locals are extremely friendly and there are several great riverside restaraunts and bars to hang out in. Overnight Victoria Hoi An.
Day 16 Hoi An ~ Danang ~ depart Danang on train to Saigon [B]
Morning free, although the market is well worth a visit early in the morning when the fish catch arrives. Afternoon transfer to Danang station for the 1600 hrs train to Saigon. Sleeping arrangements are in private, fan-cooled, 4-berth couchettes with soft mattress and bed sheet. Overnight on the train.
Day 17 Arrive Saigon [B]
On arrival transfer to the Grand Hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore Saigon. In the mornings it is nice to take a stroll along the Saigon River and watch the old folk doing Tai Chi while the younger ones play badminton. You could visit the recently renamed 'Museum of American War Crimes', take tea at the Continental where Graham Greene wrote ?The Lonely American? and Somerset Maugham stayed, or a beer on the roof terrace of the Rex Hotel next to the City Hall, where the famous daily ?Five O?clock Follies? press briefing used to take place during the American War. Overnight at the Grand Hotel.
Day 18 Saigon ~ Vinh Long [B]
Morning transfer to Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta. Full day exploring Vinh Long and the rivers and canals of the delta. More water than land, the Mekong Delta is the living emodiment of the classic Vietnamese rural idyll. Overnight at a homestay in the delta.
Day 19 Vinh Long - Can Tho [B,L,D]
Transfer to Can Tho. On arrival take a boat ride on the Mekong River to Cai Be and the floating market there. In the outlying villages, down the small side paths that disappear into the rice paddies or along canals, this is where the real life of the Mekong Delta can be found. Visit to a rice paper mill and the local market. Overnight Victoria Can Tho.
Day 20 Can Tho ~ Saigon [B]
Morning return to Saigon. Afternoon visit to the legendary Cu Chi tunnels. Overnight at the Grand Hotel.
Day 21 Depart Saigon [B]
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
Notes
This is a tailor made holiday concept which can be adapted and tailored to meet your dates, preferences and passions. Please contact one of our bespoke holiday planners to create the ideal itinerary for you.
