Magnificent Vietnam - Small Group Tours

One of the most positive legacies of Vietnam's turbulent history is the elegant colonial architecture that still graces the boulevards that were laid out in the French Indochina-era. Many of the remaining buildings have been converted into stylish period accommodation, and it is with these as our luxurious base that we will set out to explore the length and breadth of this diverse and fascinating country.

 

Our journey commences in the modern, energetic hub of southern Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City, and journeys north to a grand conclusion in the nation's capital, Hanoi. Along the way we explore the country's finest cultural and scenic highlights; the imperial capital of Hue and the ancient trading port of Hoi An, one of Asia's most relaxed and characterful destinations. We confront more recent history at the Cu Chi Tunnels near Ho Chi Minh City, and pay a visit to the revered leader's mausoleum in Hanoi, where locals still mass to pay their respects. We travel overnight by train to witness the stacked rice terraces of Sapa stretching to the skyline, and visit the minority groups who reside still throughout the mountains, and whose ancestors created these remarkable feats of early engineering.

 

Food plays an integral part in Vietnamese life, and for those as yet unfamiliar with the variety of cuisine on offer, a treat is in store. Our tour provides plenty of opportunity to sample many of the sumptuous styles, often with a local expert on hand to select the finest options, from simple but delicious street food in Ho Chi Minh City, to the elegant and complex imperial cuisine of Hue, where we try our hands at creating (and of course eating!) some of the traditional dishes at the wonderful Tha Om Garden House.

 

Vietnam is also a land of water, from the remarkable bounty of the Mekong Delta in the south, to the sweeping coastline that stretches for more than two thousand miles to UNESCO World Heritage designated Halong Bay in the north, making exploration by boat a wonderful way to better understand the country and its people. As part of our tour we spend a night on board a couple of our favourite boats - the beautiful converted rice barge, the Bassac, deep in the Mekong Delta, and the refined Paradise Luxury that cruises through the towering peaks of Halong Bay.     

 

 

Day 1 Ho Chi Minh City 

The tour begins today in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's most energetic and electric city. You will arrive at Tan Son Nhat Airport where your Tour Leader or guide will meet you and escort you the short distance to our central hotel. Many of our customers choose to come in a day or two early to get over jet-lag and get the most out of the tour. Whatever you choose you will be met on arrival at the airport. The Caravelle Hotel is situated bang in the heart of District One, known still as Saigon, opposite the Opera House and surrounded by bustling streets full of cafes, restaurants and shops. This is a fantastic and historic base to commence our journey, and we'll start on a high note, soaking up the atmosphere with a welcome dinner at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the Rex Hotel, infamous Vietnam War briefing location for US journalists. Dinner is on us, so this is a great chance to start getting to know the other members of the group. Meals included: Dinner

 

Day 2 Ho Chi Minh City 

The Cu Chi Tunnels, some miles north of the city, give a fascinating and, to most Western visitors, unfamiliar perspective on the Vietnam War. To avoid the worst of the city's traffic we travel by exhilarating speed-boat up the Saigon River, passing quickly from the tower-blocks of the city to palm-fringed rice-paddies. After exploring the incredible network of tunnels that housed great numbers of Viet Cong fighters throughout the war, we return to the river and proceed somewhat more sedately back down river with a tasty lunch onboard. This afternoon we explore the city's colonial and post-colonial heritage, including the former Presidential Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and Dong Khoi Street. The day finishes with one of the most fun things we've ever done in Vietnam: hopping on the back of a Vespa and scooting round the city to our favourite street food stalls, sampling as we go. In the city with four million motorbikes, this is the only way to travel! Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 3 Mekong Delta 

After a high-paced first day, we slow things down today as we head south from the city into the evocative Mekong Delta. There are few more relaxing experiences than a cruise through the laid-back tropical world of the delta, and we've chosen the cosy and comfortable Bassac on which to do it. After a welcome drink and an introduction to the ship and crew we cast off and sail up the Tien Giang River, enjoying lunch on the upper deck en route. In the afternoon we visit a village on the banks of the Mang Thít River, where we can appreciate Delta life firsthand. We stroll through the fruit orchards and rice fields nearby, before returning to the Bassac for sundowner drinks, as the sun sets over Mekong's magical waterways. Dinner will be served whilst the Bassac cruises the Mang Thit River towards our anchorage for the night, downstream from the little market of Tra On. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 4 Hoi An 

A brief visit to Tra On floating market after breakfast is followed by a chance to explore the largest floating market in the region at Cai Rang, where much of the Delta come to trade fruit and other produce from their barges. We disembark here and return to Ho Chi Minh City in time for our flight north to Danang, the largest city in Central Vietnam. On arrival a coach will be waiting to transfer us down the coast to one of Vietnam's most magical destinations: the ancient trading port of Hoi An. Our hotel is located on the very edge of the pedestrianised Old Town, making it an ideal spot for personal exploration. Meals included: Breakfast

 

Day 5 Hoi An 

A short walking tour of the Old Town this morning is designed to help you get your bearings sufficiently to make the most of your afternoon at leisure. The pool at the resort hotel is inviting, or the many wonderful riverside cafes and restaurants might appeal for a spot of people-watching. For those of a more active persuasion bikes can be hired to get out into the countryside, or your Tour Leader could help you to arrange a visit to the Cham Dynasty ruins at My Son, an hour's drive from town. Meals included: Breakfast

 

After breakfast today we drive onward to the imperial capital of Hue, stopping briefly in Danang to visit the Cham Museum, which contains the finest collection of Cham sculptures in the world. The drive to Hue is one of the most scenic in the country, ascending the Pass of Ocean Clouds before dropping down to the photogenic fishing village of Lang Co beyond. After checking in to our splendid art-deco hotel, La Residence, and freshening up, we head out to enjoy dinner at the private 'garden house' of one Hue's most famous architects. This traditional style house, which is set in a large and attractive formal garden, has connections with the ancient Hue Royal Imperial Court, and in addition to preparing us a sumptuous Vietnamese meal, the owner of the house will also give us a short cooking demonstration and let us try our hands at creating some of Hue's celebrated royal dishes. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

 

Hue is set along the banks of the Perfume River, named for the fragrance of tropical flowers said to be carried down from orchards upriver. After a morning exploration of the huge Citadel, home of the Nguyen Emperors, and a cyclo tour through the Old Town, we take a picturesque boat ride up the river to the Thien Mu Pagoda.  The countryside surrounding the city is dotted with the tombs of the former emperors, and we will visit two of the finest this afternoon: starting at the Mausoleum of Tu Duc, and continuing to Khai Dinh's Tomb; the European-influenced resting place of the final Nguyen Emperor. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

 

A short flight north brings us from the former to the current capital, and the fantastic jumble of styles and influences that is Hanoi. Our base here is the magisterial Metropole Hotel, one of the oldest and most refined of Vietnam's colonial properties, located in the French Quarter close to the Opera House and within a few minutes walk of Hoan Kiem Lake. One of the best ways of understanding Vietnamese culture, and the differences between the regions, is through food, and we have arranged for our favourite local food expert, Mr Tu, to combine a tour of Hanoi's old town with an introduction to the markets, cuisine and eating habits of North Vietnam. As we stroll through the narrow lanes we will sample pho tiu and bun dau, pick out the best seasonal fruit and maybe stop at a French-influenced patisserie for coffee and cakes. There is no better, or tastier, way to get to know the city. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

 

Ho Chi Minh died before the conclusion of the Vietnam War, but the reverence in which he was held was such that his body was preserved and a grand mausoleum created in Hanoi to allow the Vietnamese people to pay their respects. Our exploration of the city commences here, at the complex that houses the Stalinist mausoleum, the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh's more humble private residence. Our next stop is the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university constructed in 1070, with lovely gardens and well-preserved architecture. After lunch, to provide context to the journey ahead, we visit the excellent, recently-opened Ethnology Museum, where Vietnam's diverse minority cultures are explained in a thoughtful and hands-on manner. This evening we head to Hanoi Station for our overnight train journey onboard the Victoria Express to Lao Cai, and the mountains of Sapa. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

 

The train arrives early into Lao Cai, the town on the border with China, and we board our private coach here for the scenic drive winding into the mountains to Sapa. After breakfast and a chance to freshen up, we head into Sapa for a visit to the busy market where Red Dao, Black H'Mong, Tay and other ethnic minority people converge from the surrounding countryside to sell their silverware and handicrafts, and to buy provisions. Leaving Sapa behind we then take a light trek to discover Sapa's minority villages set against the stunning Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range and Indochina's highest peak, Mt. Fansipan. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

 

The local markets are a highlight of any visit to northern Vietnam, with the distinctive and colourful dress of the different minority groups: Flower Hmong, Phu La, Black Dao, Tay, and Nung set against the towering rice terraces providing a photographer's dream. We visit the remote Cao Son village market this morning, and have the day exploring the local countryside and learning more about minority culture and daily life. We return to Lao Cai in the late afternoon and climb back onboard the Victoria Express for the return journey to Hanoi. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

 

After the mountains and markets of the north, a cruise on UNESCO World Heritage designated Halong Bay provides a peaceful and relaxing contrast. On arrival in Hanoi we check in to a local hotel to freshen up and have breakfast, before driving out to Halong. We board our elegant ship, the Paradise Luxury, in late morning and set sail into the wonderful scenery of the bay. During the afternoon we will disembark to explore one of the floating fishing villages that shelter in the lee of the towering karst pinnacles that stud the bay. There is also the chance to swim or hire a kayak for some personal water-borne exploration. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 13 Hanoi 

A leisurely morning of cruising through the bay brings us back to the harbour in late morning. We return by private coach to Hanoi, and complete the tour in style with a final night at the Metropole. A final group meal will round off our expedition, with a last chance to reminisce on the highlights of the trip and exchange addresses before parting ways the following day. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

 

Sadly the tour is over and we all have to say our farewells and go our separate ways. You will be taken to Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport by your tour leader or guide and waved off on your return flight home. Meals included: Breakfast

 

 

20 Apr 2014 - 03 May 2014

05 Oct 2014 - 18 Oct 2014