13 days / 12 nights

Inclusions:

• Flights

• Insurance and travel visa

• Accommodation

• 12 Breakfasts, 12 lunches, 11 dinners

• Excursions and activities

• One teacher travels free per 10 paying students

• English speaking local guides throughout

• One Western Tour Leader

• Drinking Water on excursions and in hotels

• Tips for local guides, leader and drivers

• Departure date of your choice

• ​Transfers by private coach

Itinerary:

Please note that this itinerary is provided as an example and can be changed as required.
 

Day 1 New Zealand – Ho Chi Minh

Depart NZ city for the overnight international flight to eventually hit the biggest city in Vietnam. You will be met at the airport by our leader and local guide then transferred to a central hotel in District 1. Lunch and dinner at a nearby restaurant. Free time to relax and explore.

Day 2 Ho Chi Minh

After breakfast the bus departs for a full day trip to explore the Mekong Delta. On the way the group will visit a Cao Dai temple, a religion unique to Vietnam and enjoy the scenery of green paddy fields stretching towards the horizon (90 minute drive). At the port we board a boat which takes us to a coconut plantation and fruit orchards to enjoy some tropical fruits and local folk music. We will then ride in a hand-rowed sampan through the tiny canals and soak in the beauty of the area. We will also visit the family run cottage industries, visit a honey-bee farm and coconut candy workshop. Our lunch will include many Mekong specialities, including the ‘Elephant Ear fish’ dish and other delicacies from the region. In the afternoon, there is time for cycling around the village to meet the locals and see daily life in the Mekong Delta. Alternatively relax in a hammock and enjoy a cool breeze before returning to Ho Chi Minh City to freshen up and head out for dinner.

Day 3 Ho Chi Minh

After breakfast, we will drive about 90 minutes to the Cu Chi Tunnels and gain a fascinating understanding of how the Vietnamese outwitted their enemy during the war. Students can experience the tunnels and see typical traps used, as well as watch a propaganda video. We return to Ho Chi Minh City, better known as Saigon. Vietnam's largest city is a place of fascinating contrasts - something we will appreciate as we tour the city. We will visit some of the most important places of interest including the Notre Dame Cathedral,  City Post Office,  the  Reunification Palace and War Museum - where you can see countless artifacts, photos and memorabilia documenting the various conflicts. The last stop is a local market where you can find some of the friendliest, liveliest, most convivial people in the city.

Day 4 Ho Chi Minh – Hoi An

This morning take a short 75 minute flight to Da Nang in Central Vietnam. Transfer 30 minutes from the airport to the hotel in Hoi An and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch discover Hoi An Ancient Town - a mix of eras and styles from wooden Chinese shophouses and temples to colorful French colonial buildings, ornate Vietnamese tube houses and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge with its pagoda. We do a walking tour, visit the Hoi An History Museum, local market, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Japanese Covered Bridge and Tan Ky Ancient house. Then we’ll head back to hotel; use your free time to enjoy the swimming pool or go shopping.

Day 5 Hoi An 

Today we take a back road drive to My Son, passing the beauty of Hoi An countryside and local life to visit My Son Sanctuary - an important historical relic that represents the Cham kingdom's existence in Central Vietnam, explore the past of the ancient Kingdom of Champa at this breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then embark on a traditional boat for a river cruise back to Hoi An. After lunch on board, we will visit some traditional villages on the way. Kim Bong village - a craft village, visit and learn about the shipbuilding area where wooden fishing vessels are built using traditional techniques. Thanh Ha Village - a pottery village has over 500 years of history from yesteryear up to now, learn about pottery making. Then we head back to town for some free time and dinner.

Day 6 Hoi An

Ride along country lanes at a peaceful pace viewing local life and pause to see farmers toiling
in the rice fields using farming practices that haven’t changed much in centuries. Pedal your way through palm forests, across bridges; past fields of water buffalo... Take a short break at a local family home before enjoying a 1-hour boat trip inside the coconut water palm forest on a traditional round fishing basket 'boat'. Continue to Tra Que organic herb & vegetable village. Here you will be shown the environmentally friendly way to plant which the farmers have used for centuries and continue using today. After visiting a local family and their garden, you will sit down to enjoy lunch with fresh greens from the garden Then we’ll cycle back to town; use your free time to enjoy the swimming pool or shopping.

Day 7 Hoi An – Hue

We leave Hoi An and visit Marble Mountain, a cluster of 5 marble and limestone hills overlooking the Eastern Sea. The main mountain has many caves and pagodas dating from the early seventeenth century. Climb the 150 steps to the top to enjoy the beautiful pagodas, fresh air and a spectacular vista down the length of the coast. Next we visit Linh Ung Pagoda to see the huge statue of Lady Buddha who overlooks the city. We continue to Da Nang, one of Vietnam’s most modern and picturesque cities: It has many interesting bridges that span the Han River including a dragon bridge that not only changes colour at night but also ‘breathes’ fire. After lunch there, we head up and over the iconic Hai Van pass. This narrow coastal highway winds its way through a mountain pass above Da Nang and showcases Vietnam’s stunning coastal scenery. It was made famous by the TV show ‘Top Gear’ and is a popular route for visitors each year. Arrive Hue, a peaceful city with a fascinating history, dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 8 Hue

Today explore the city of Hue, regarded as the cultural and spiritual capital of the country and
recognised by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site. We start the tour at the Imperial Palace, also known as the Forbidden City to learn about Vietnam’s emperors and their intriguing histories. Then take a boat on Perfume River, enjoy the sightseeing and docking at Thien Mu Pagoda for visiting before lunch at a Buddhist monastery – a delicious vegetarian buffet. This afternoon, we continue visiting King Duc's tomb - this amazing garden arena is a wonderful place to learn some history and take some fun pictures too. Moving to the last stop at Khai Dinh Tomb - the most prominent and impressive structure and the last construction under the Nguyen Dynasty. We also visit an incense maker in this district and students can have a go at rolling 'their own' incense stick. Back to hotel and relax. Dinner at local restaurant.

Day 9 Hue– Hanoi

Take a morning flight to Hanoi, pass by the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum for some quick pictures from the outside then enjoy lunch at KOTO restaurant. We then we visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university and a popular spot for students to visit, in the hope of gaining ‘luck’ with their studies from previous students. There are many things to discover in the capital. One gem is the Ethnology Museum, which highlights the diversity of the country’s different indigenous groups including typical houses from different groups. We watch a water puppet show in an outdoor arena with live folk music. After the show students can practise using the puppets. We return to the Old Quarter, famous for its labyrinth of 36 narrow streets that used to sell an exclusive product 100 years ago. The products may have diversified but the charm and chaos of the Old Quarter live on today. Free time to explore before dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 10 Hanoi - Ha Long Bay

After breakfast, the group will drive 2 hours to Ha Long City. Prepare for an eyeful of verdant rice
fields, water buffalo and other iconic Vietnamese scenery. Step aboard a junk boat to explore the UNESCO World Heritage site: Ha Long Bay. Enjoy a delicious seafood lunch. The boat will cruise through the karsts stopping to visit a cave and go kayaking in this beautiful location. No kayaking experience necessary however there is the option of a bamboo paddle boat instead. After an informative exploration with the local guide, students will return to the ship and enjoy the landscape as the sun sets. After dinner you can try squid fishing or just chill out under the stars.

Day 11 Halong Bay - Ninh Binh
Wake up for an early Tai Chi session, then breakfast, followed by a cave visit in Halong Bay. Back on board for lunch, then we farewell the crew and disembark at Ha Long City port. We drive about 3 hours through the calm countryside to arrive in Ninh Binh. This fascinating area is a must see for geography and history buffs. We will climb up the natural great-wall of Mua mountain about 500 steps at the Mua cave, it is the best place to watch the spectacular panorama view of the area. After that, we will head back to the hotel to relax and enjoy dinner.

Day 12 Ninh Binh - Hanoi

After breakfast we explore Ninh Binh. We visit the temples of Hoa Lu, renowned as the ancient capital featuring the royal palace grounds of the Le and Dinh dynasties. We'll explore the remains of temples, dedicated to King Dinh and King Le, the two heroes who lived in the 10th century and chose to build the capital city here (from 968 to 1009) After Hoa Lu we bike to Tam Coc and have lunch in a local restaurant (served with goat meat which is famous as the local specialty). Tam Coc: means three caves and is considered as Halong Bay on land. Ride in a sampan boat rowed by the feet of a local on the Hoang Long River. Enjoy the peaceful scenery of limestone mountains, rice paddies and temples along the way including the three caves. Return to Hanoi for our final celebration dinner.

Day 13 Hanoi - New Zealand

After breakfast at the hotel, check out and transfer to the Hanoi airport. You have a quick connection in Singapore and then will get back home.

*Costs are based on the current level of exchange and are therefore subject to change due to currency fluctuation until final payment is received.
We reduce your exposure to currency rate fluctuations by making regular and early payments to overseas suppliers.