Vietnam Adventure 15 days 14 nights

Over 15 days, you’ll have the opportunity to delve a little deeper into Vietnam, reaching parts of the country where very few people get to go. Some of the highlights include visiting endangered primates in the beautiful Trang An, exploring one of the largest caves in the world, a scenic drive along the Hai Van pass made famous by the show Top Gear, sampling some of the world’s best coffee, tackling rapids while white water rafting and a cruise through the canals of the Mekong Delta to name just a few. This trip certainly packs a punch!

Destination:

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Tour code: GPT11E
Departure date: Daily
Duration: 15 days 14 nights
Price USD: $1726 per person

Day 1: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay - Ninh Binh (L/D)
- After breakfast, you will start the tour by heading to Ha Long Bay, an iconic and beautiful spot designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here we set out on a sailing boat for an exploration of the Bay and the many wonders within.
  
  This exciting 4-hour cruise provides a fantastic view of the bay which is dotted with some 3,000 limestone islands rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water. These limestone karst formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. Along the way we will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to one of the many hidden grottoes beneath the towering cliffs.
  
  After your exploration of Ha Long Bay, we will transfer you to Ninh Binh, making sure you have the chance to take in the beautiful scenery along the way. Once in Ninh Binh you will be ped off at your hotel before dinner.
Day 2: Ninh Binh - Night train to Dong Hoi (B/L/D)
- Today, you will have a chance to visit a natural wonder just as impressive as Ha Long Bay. About 150 kilometres from the famous Vietnamese bay is another equally as impressive landscape. This one, known as Trang An, is nowhere near the coast though, and the mountains are connected by rice paddies, not water. After enjoying a delicious lunch, we will take a boat up the beautiful river fed by natural springs, through caves that bisect amazing limestone karst mountains to visit an Ancient 10th Century pagoda and temple.
  
  After our visit to the Pagoda and Temple, it’ll be great fun to hop on a bike for a trip to Thung Nham Bird Garden. The route to the garden is a quiet one, consisting of flat roads and dams set to a back of stunning scenery. In total the round-trip is roughly 10 kilometres long.
  
  After all this activity you might feel a bit damp, so we’ll take you back to the hotel where you can enjoy a shower and get cleaned up, before boarding the overnight train to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.
Day 3: Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park (B/L)
- Phong NhaKe Bang is one of the largest National Parks in Vietnam and is home to a huge amount of wildlife, breath-taking scenery, crystal clear rivers and immense cave systems.
  
  A documentary by National Geographic has given this area much attention with the discovery of Son Doong, the world’s largest cave, in the early 1990’s. Our first stop is Eight Lady Cave which is named for the eight women working on the Route 20 highway who died from a bomb attack that caused a massive rock to seal off the exit, trapping them inside. Then we move on to Paradise Cave, one of the most beautiful and famous caves in Phong Nha stretching for more than 30 kilometres and featuring hundreds of incredible rock formations.
  
  After lunch we visit the awesome Dark Cave by zip line or kayaks for the slightly less adventurous. With only a head torch to light our way, we will navigate through the darkness to the mud baths where you can either relax and soak up goodness, leaving you with baby smooth skin, or have some fun with a classic mud fight! Afterwards you can take a refreshing dip in the lake and wash all the mud away.
Day 4: Phong Nha (B/L)
- After so many great activities the day before, this day is free for you to cycle around & explore the town, check out the local life by the river or just chill out. We will take you on a short but bumpy ride through the villages to and from the homestay if needed.
Day 5: Vinh Moc Tunnel (B/L)
- Vinh Moc is a tunnel complex in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), built to shelter families from the intense bombings of the area during the American war. Over 600 people lived here and 17 babies were even born in these tunnels between 1965 and 1972.
  
  After lunch we will visit the Mine Action Visitors Centre in Dong Ha, which examines the effects of the war that persist to this day, even after hostilities ended over 40 years ago in 1975. After this you will arrive in Hue, and discover Thien Mu pagoda which rests on the banks of the perfume river. This is actually the tallest pagoda in Vietnam, featuring 7 tiers reaching for the sky, each level representing one step of the path to enlightenment.
  
  You will then spend the rest of the evening and night in Hue.
Day 6: Hue city tour Beach (B/L)
- After breakfast, our tour guide will take you to the Imperial Citadel. The structure and its majestic architecture, built by Gia Long, sadly suffered extensive damage during the years of fierce conflict which took place here. These scars provide an extra layer of history, telling a tale of the decades of fighting long past.
  
  We will continue your trip into the past by visiting Minh Mang Tomb, the final resting place of the 2nd emperor of Vietnam. This tomb is special in the way its architecture blends seamlessly with its surrounding landscape (a result of Minh Mang’s staunch belief in Confucianism). Following this, you can hop back on the bus and we’ll take you to the local beach to enjoy some lunch and cocktails as we swim and enjoy the sunset. This hidden gem is a great way to cap off an eventful day.
Day 7: Hai Van Pass - Hoi An (B/L)
- We will depart Hue in the morning, riding motorbikes all the way to Hoi An. There will of course be many stops along the way to let you appreciate the beautiful beaches and coastline and enjoy the breath-taking Elephant Springs. Make sure you have packed your swimming gear as this is a great place to relax, swim and enjoy lunch for a couple of hours.
  
  The journey then heads South to take in some breath-taking views as we ascend the famous Hai Van Pass where we will stop at the top to see some French and American bunkers, remnants of the past war. This road, made famous by the Top Gear motoring programme, is a site that simply cannot be missed.
Day 8: Hoi An Old Quarter (B)
- Depart from your hotel on a 30 minute bicycle ride to Tra Que village. Here you can take a short stroll around the vegetable garden and listen to the history of the village. Other activities here include enjoying the peaceful coconut mangroves and a traditional basket boat ride where you’ll even get to do some crab fishing.
  
  Finish up with a fresh coconut by the side of the river, and then some free time to explore the Old Town’s staggering array of thousands of tailor shops, art galleries and riverside market stalls or simply kick back on the beach and relax.
Day 9: Buon Ma Thuot (B/L/D)
- Option 1: Take a night bus from Da Nang to Buon Me Thuot late on day 8.
  Option 2: Take a flight from Da Nang to Buon Me Thuot in the early morning of day 9.
  
  Whether you arrive in Buon Me Thuor by bus or by plane, we’ll start your day by taking you for a local Vietnamese breakfast before setting out to explore Buon Ma Thuot, the coffee capital of Vietnam. Seeing as Vietnam is actually the second biggest coffee exporter in the world, this is quite the claim to fame. Here at the world-famous Trung Nguyen coffee village you can taste a wide variety of delicious coffee, including the exotic “weasel coffee”!
  
  After lunch, you will visit the famous waterfalls of D’ray Nur on the Krong Ana River, which is particularly impressive and photogenic during the rainy season. Then you’ll visit an Ede Ethnic Minority Village near the falls, allowing you to learn about and explore the Ede’s Matriarchal Society.
  You will then spend the night in a homestay.
Day 10: Yok Don National Park - Da Lat (B/L)
- Today we wake up early for a special day, as we check out around 06:30 am, and join with the team from the National Parks Elephant Conservation Project and meet the elephant caretakers at first light to track the roaming elephants through the jungle.
  
  When you reach the elephants’ home deep in the jungle, you’ll get to take part in washing them (30 minutes) and feeding them bananas and sugar cane. As the centre focuses on the conservation and ethical treatment of the elephants, they no longer allow elephant rides, but this just makes for a better experience as the elephants are happier and healthier.
  
  We head back to Buon Ma Thuot to enjoy a local specialty lunch before boarding our minibus to Da Lat, arriving in time for a dinner of your choosing.
Day 11: Adventure Da Lat (B/L)
- Today, we have 2 options for you to explore Dalat.
  
  Option1: One of the best ways to explore all Dalat’s beauties, canyoning combines sightseeing and plenty of outdoor activities.
  The tour gives you a chance to discover the charming scenery sporting waterfalls, hills, pine forest and many other beautiful sights. You will of course be fully equipped with the best quality tools to overcome any challenges you may face in the wilderness. This journey will let you test your courage and strength, giving you a feeling of achievement and excitement.
  
  Option 2: Strap in for some intense adventure with our professional white water rafting crew and head to the river for a safety briefing before our guides take you for a thrilling adventure through the Da Lat countryside. Following a pit stop at a local village restaurant, we head for a coffee farm where we can taste the famed weasel coffee in front of panoramic views of the coffee fields. Sit down for a local dinner in Da Lat and enjoy the town in the evening.
  ** White water rafting is seasonal depending on water levels. We do make alternative arrangements. Please double check with our team when booking**
Day 12: Da Lat - Mui Ne (B/L)
- For your final hours in Da Lat, you can relax in your hotel or spend some time walking around the city, perhaps making a visit to the Dalat flower garden and/or the Crazy house. Afterwards we’ll organize lunch and send you on your way to Mui Ne.
  
  On arrival in Mui Ne, you will get to visit the white sand dunes which are located by a lake. You can walk up the hill to feel the cool air or be driven up and down the dunes in adventurous style on an All-Terrain-Vehicle. After that we will visit the old iron mine, which is the source of the red colour in the ground, and see the fishing village, where you can take some beautiful pictures before we you off at your hotel.
Day 13: Mui Ne - Ho Chi Minh City (B/L)
- Enjoy a lazy morning with breakfast around the pool before travelling onwards to Ho Chi Minh City.
  
  Lunch will be provided en-route before your arrival in Ho Chi Minh, where we’ll start by visiting Ben Thanh market, a huge marketplace in central District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City. The market is one of the oldest surviving structures in Saigon and an important symbol of Ho Chi Minh City, popular with tourists seeking local handicrafts, textiles, áo dài and souvenirs, as well as local and international cuisine. Then, you can walk around the Nguyen Hue Street – Walking street to enjoy the atmosphere of the city.
Day 14: Mekong Delta (B/L)
- We head for the Mekong Delta, aptly known as Vietnam’s food basket. Given this fact, today is all about food, as we check out local fish farms and fish markets by boat, and meet a local fruit farmer at his house where we can relax and enjoy some of the local fare. We’ll also check out the coconut farms and watch them make the famous local coconut candy (seriously addictive!).
  
  After lunch we’ll go for a 1 hour – 1 hour and 30 minute bike ride to explore the small towns before returning to Ho Chi Minh City for the evening.
Day 15: Ho Chi Minh City Departure (B)
- There are no activities planned for the final day so you’re free to spend the day at your leisure or continue your journey elsewhere. If you’re still not ready to leave, why not extend a few more nights and discover more of what the city has to offer?

ACCOMMODATION LIST

Please note that the hotels mentioned in this list are for reference only. Depending on availability and your preference, they can be changed. If we are unable to book any hotel, it will be replaced by another hotel at least of equivalent standard and value.

Destination	Accommodation	Star	Night
Ninh Binh - Phong Nha	Night Train		1
Phong Nha Ke Bang	Homestay		2
Hue	Midtown Hotel		2
Hoian	Hotel Thuy Duong 3		3
Buon Me Thuot	Homestay		1
Da Lat	River Prince Hotel		1
Mui Ne	Hotel		1
Saigon	GK Central Hotel		3

TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:

•    A/C transfer.
•    Accommodation at homestay/ hotel.
•    Experienced English speaking guide.
•    Meals as stated in the itinerary (B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner).
•    All sightseeing tickets and travel permits.
•    No extra charge after confirmation.
•     24/7 hotline support guaranteed.

TOUR PRICE EXCLUDES:

•   Personal expenses, tips and gratuities.
•   Travel insurance.
•   International & domestic flights and taxes.
•   Beverage.
•   Other personal expenses: drinks, souvenir, etc…

WHAT TO TAKE:
•   Pack essentials, including light comfortable clothes suitable for outdoor activities, comfortable walking shoes. Take a small day pack for hiking and trekking.
•   It is essential to bring your passport on this trip. We also recommend packing: insect repellent, sun cream, raincoat and sun hat...

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Vietnam Adventure 15 days 14 nights

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