A Taste of Vietnam
Itinerary
- Itinerary:Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta - Hoi An - Hanoi - Bai Tu Long Bay - Hanoi
- Duration:13 days / 12 nights (flexible)
- Price:From £ 1,685.- per person (excluding flights)
Days 1-3 – Scooting through Saigon
Scoot through Saigon on a vintage Vespa, searching for hidden street food hotspots. Zip through the backstreets after dark, sample the best traditional snacks in the city and listen to live music as you sip on Vietnamese coffee. It’s a night tour and foodie adventure rolled into one. After all, Ho Chi Minh is a city that comes alive as night falls. You’ll stay in a comfy hotel near the central market.
Days 3-6 – A taste of life on the Mekong
Next, a private car will take you on a 2.5 hour journey to the Mekong Delta ready for your trip through the waterways. Get a real glimpse of delta life as you leave the big city behind you and twist through the tiny waterways of the Mekong. Spend a night in the home of a local Vietnamese family and cycle along waterside paths. It’s the perfect way to learn how to cook those delicious delta specialities! Spend the night in Can Tho and the next morning rise early to discover the frenetic floating market at Cai Rang.
Days 6-9 – Classic Hoi An & cooking class
After one more night in Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight to Danang, the closest hub for Hoi An. On arrival, you’ll be transferred to your central hotel. Watch lanterns twinkle along the river and meet the local tailors in Hoi An, Vietnam’s most atmospheric town. During your stay, you’ll help support a local not-for-profit organisation, The Lifestart Foundation which helps disadvantaged people and their families become self-sufficient. You’ll take part in a traditional painting class, making your own card and traditional miniature lantern. Next, you’ll have a chance to learn how to cook Vietnamese dishes yourself, with a visit to a local market to pick up aromatic ingredients before having a cooking class by the riverside.
Days 9-11 – Xin Chao Hanoi!
Today you’ll wave goodbye to charming Hoi An as you make your own way to the airport for your flight to Hanoi in Northern Vietnam. After you have landed you will be transferred to your hotel. Hanoi is a capital city crammed with character. Motorbikes zip through tangled streets, food hawkers serve up steaming bowls of pho and fruit stalls spill onto shady boulevards. You’ll stay in the heart of the atmospheric Old Quarter and embark on a culinary and cultural journey through the Old Quarter with a guide. Learn about local legends, admire the architecture and taste a range of delicacies from the bustling food stalls in the city streets.
Days 11-13 – Drift Between Limestone Peaks
Next you’ll head to Bai Tu Long Bay for a night on the water in a traditional junk boat. The minibus transfer from Hanoi takes around 4 hours. A turquoise bay peppered with tropical outcrops, Bai Tu Long Bay is every bit as beautiful as neighbouring Halong, but with fewer crowds. Rich in stunning views, you’ll drift between emerald karst islets and laze on tiny beaches. You’ll stay aboard a traditional Chinese junk boat, rocked to sleep by the rhythm of the water. At the pier, a minibus transfer will be waiting to take you back to Hanoi. You’ll spend another night there before you make your way to the airport for your international flight home.
For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options
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- Price:from £ 2,038.- per person (excluding flights)
- Included:In Style accommodation, excursions, transport and meals as described above
For the locations included in this itinerary we have alternative options available in terms of comfort. Our In Style options can be more luxurious, offer something unique or offer a more comfortable transport option – all with that local flavour! If you would like to upgrade your itinerary select our In Style option below.