Land of Adventure
This trip is truly an adventure from start to finish! In fifteen days we will transport you through this magnificent country enabling you to discover the excitement and charm of Vietnam by land, sea and air. Starting out from Hanoi, the country's elegant capital we head up in to the scenic countryside of Mai Chau where we trek through an unspoiled landscape and stay with hill tribes. We
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Details |
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Price Includes |
(HK-5239-P) |
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Service of a tour leader throughout |
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All transfers and transport |
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Accommodation based on twin sharing |
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Food as mentioned in the itinerary |
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Soft sleeper train service |
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Domestic flight: Da Nang Ho Chi Minh City |
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All guided sightseeing fees and entrance fees as per itinerary |
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Price Excludes |
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Meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
Visa and visa fees
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
Tips & gratuity |
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Suitability / Level |
Easy |
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Itinerary
& Highlights |
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Day 1 Arrive Hanoi. Today is the arrival day and a transfer will be provided from the airport to the hotel. There is no activity planned for today but this evening we will meet with our group leader and fellow travelers to discuss the outlines of the tour and also to answer any questions you may have. Later we go out for a meal. (Dinner included)
Day 2 Hanoi. This morning we drive to the Ho Chi Minh Complex, containing the mausoleum of the nations founder Ho Chi Minh. We follow this with a walking tour of Hanoi's vibrant Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake, the focal point of the city. The Old Quarter with its bustling streets are home to hundreds of small thriving businesses. In the afternoon we visit the Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam's oldest university, dating back to the 11th century. From here we visit the impressive Museum of Ethnology dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic minorities, several of which we will see on our forthcoming trek. In the evening we witness a performance of the celebrated Water Puppet Theatre. (Breakfast included)
Day 3 Mai Chau Trek. After breakfast we depart Hanoi for Hoa Binh province and the town of Mai Chau. This scenic drive takes around three hours. After lunch in a traditional stilt house of the Thai people, we drive for one hour to Sa Linh Village to begin our trekking. Today we walk along gravel tracks and small paths used by the locals. Our destination is Hang Kia village, home of the Hamong Minority people. Here we stay overnight as the guests of an H'mong family in a traditional long house, situated in a picturesque valley of peach orchards.
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 4 Mai Chau Trek. Today we get well and truly off the beaten track as we trek through tropical rain forest, using the local tracks and passing through cornfields as we descend in to Mai Chau Valley. The trek usually takes around 7 hours and is quite steep in places. En route we pass through several White Thai villages before arriving at Van village, home to the Thai people and tonight we will be their guests in one of their traditional stilt houses. There, we will be toasted as honored guests and will be able to sample some of their homemade rice wine! (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 5 Mai Chau - Hanoi. This morning we trek for a couple of hours passing through several more Thai hamlets. We walk on the valley floor and are surrounded by rice paddies and beautiful scenery. At the small village of Khoe we meet up with our waiting vehicle and drive back towards Mai Chau. Lunch is again provided in Mai Chau and there is also the chance to do a little souvenir shopping before we return to Hanoi. (Breakfast and lunch included)
Day 6 Hanoi Ha Long Bay. This morning we set out through the lush Red River Delta en route to the magnificent setting of Ha Long Bay. Situated in the Gulf of Tonkin, Ha Long Bay covers an area in excess of 1,500 square km. Legend has it that a huge dragon fell to the earth, creating the natural wonder that is Ha Long Bay. Indeed Ha Long means 'descending dragon'. This UNESCO listed world heritage site is the perfect place to unwind amidst the towering limestone karsts. We have the chance to swim in the bay's emerald waters and also visit one of its many splendid caves. There will be time for another swim after lunch, or if you prefer, you can simply laze around on deck and soak up the sunshine aboard your very own private luxury junk. In the evening we find a secluded cove and weigh anchor for the night and sleep on board. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 7 Ha Long Bay - Hanoi. We have more opportunities to relax and admire the beauty of our surroundings before returning to Hanoi in the afternoon. In the evening we board the famous Reunification Express for our southbound train to Hue. (Breakfast and lunch included)
Day 8 Hue. We arrive in Hue, Vietnam's former capital until 1945 and transfer to our hotel. There are many things to see in this city, regarded by many as the cultural center of Vietnam. We begin with a tour around the Citadel, containing the Imperial City and the Forbidden Purple City, the Emperor's private residence. Later we we have a dragon boat cruise up the Perfume River stopping along the way at the Thien Mu, or Heavenly Lady pagoda. We also visit some of the Royal Tombs of the Nguyen Emperors on the outskirts of the city. The Nguyen dynasty ruled Vietnam from 1802 until 1945 and several of its most prominent Emperors are buried in the surrounding countryside. (Breakfast and lunch included)
Day 9 Hue - Hoi An. This morning we continue south by road to Hoi An. The scenery en route is beautiful as we hug the coastline of the South China Sea before winding our way up the spectacular Hai Van Pass. Here we stop to admire the stunning views north, to Lang Co beach and south to Danang City. Once in Danang we stop to visit the Cham Museum. It houses the most complete collection of Cham artifacts anywhere in the world. We continue on to China Beach and the Marble Mountains. The journey takes about 5 hours. In the afternoon we will have our first glimpse of Hoi An with a walking tour of the old quarter. (Breakfast included)
Day 10 Hoi An. Hoi An is a charming, small town which can be easily explored on foot. Between the 17th and 19th centuries the town was a thriving international trading port with a large Chinese and Japanese population. You can spend your time walking around the historic town soaking up the atmosphere, exploring the many Chinese assembly halls and fascinating ancestral homes. The town is also famous for it's shops, in particular it's large number of tailors. You also have the option of taking a day trip to My Son, about 1 1/2 hours away. My Son is another UNESCO world heritage-listed site. Here, in a secluded valley, the Cham built over 70 impressive Hindu-style temples, many over a thousand years old. (Breakfast included)
Day 11 Hoi An Ho Chi Minh City. We transfer to Da Nang for the short internal flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Upon arrival we transfer to our hotel. Ho Chi Minh City is the largest and busiest city in Vietnam with a population of 7 million people. In the afternoon we set to explore the city's sights inckluding the War Remnants Museum and the Reunification Palace. (Breakfast included)
Day 12 Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels and Tay Ninh. In the morning we have an excursion to the famous Cu Chi tunnels. This network of tunnels became legendary during the 1960's. The Cu Chi tunnels allowed the Viet Cong to control a large rural area only 30 to 40 km from Saigon. At its height, the tunnel system stretched from Saigon to the Cambodian border. The network, parts of which were several levels deep, included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. From here we drive to Tay Ninh, the headquarters of the Cao Dai Sect. The religion is an eclectic mix of Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism. (Breakfast and lunch included)
Day 13 Ho Chi Minh City Mekong Delta. This morning we travel by road to the heart of the Mekong Delta. From here we will board our boat cruise around the tributaries of the mighty Mekong River. On the way we visit some local cottage industries and a floating market. After lunch we continue to weave our way through the intricate network of canals. The canals carry everything from human cargo to huge rice barges and are the lifeblood of the Delta. Tonight we will be the guests of a local family in the heart of Vinh Long in a home stay.
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 14 Mekong Delta Ho Chi Minh City. After a leisurely breakfast we bid farewell to our charming hosts and take the boat to visit the cultural village near the town of Vinh Long. From Vinh Long we transfer by road back to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon. We have a couple of free hours in HCM City before joining our tour leader for a farewell dinner tonight. (Breakfast and dinner included)
Day 15 Depart Ho Chi Minh City. The tour finishes after breakfast. There will be a transfer waiting to take you to the airport for your departure flight. (Breakfast included) |
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Accommodation
& Centre Details |
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International standard hotels throughout. Traditional homestays in Mai Chau and Mekong Delta. |
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Holidays
Extras |
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| Trip: |
Land of Adventure |
| Duration: |
15 Days |
| Company: |
Buffalo Tours
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| Location: |
Hanoi |
| Region: |
Vietnam,
Asia |
| Price: |
From
GBP729
p/p |
| Flights: |
Not Included 
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| Availability: |
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, |
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| Related Searches |
 Trekking and Walking in Hanoi |
| Trekking and Walking in Vietnam |
 Accommodation
in Vietnam |
| Accommodation
in Hanoi |
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