Vietnam Adventures
Vietnam Highlights
All our Vietnam itineraries are customized just for you. Here we highlight some of our favorite destinations in the country and give you sample itineraries.
Mekong Delta is known as Vietnam’s rice basket. It is a landscape of green fields, tiny villages and the mighty Mekong River. Its floating markets, tasty fish dishes and incredible fruit are a feast of all senses. Halong Bay, designated as a World Heritage Site in 1994, is a natural wonder with over 3,000 islands dotted with beaches and caves. The breathtaking beauty of the area is best explored by kayaking from islet to islet.
Sapa, a mountain town in the northwest, is another gorgeous spot surrounded by cascading rice terraces and high peaks. A market town, it draws from the surrounding hills the Hmong, the Dzao and the Montagnards peoples among others to a colorful combination of languages, customs and handicrafts. Sapa is high up in the mountains – a welcome break from the coastal heat but it can get cold here during the winter. Another favorite location in Vietnam is the charming city of Hoi An. Wander around the Old Town and marvel the history and get yourself a handmade garment by one of the 400 tailors working here. If you can, time your visit so you will be here for the full moon when the Old Town is transformed to a enchanting place of silk lanterns, dancing, singing and street food galore.
For divers, Vietnam’s nascent diving industry offers a few choice locations worth visiting. Phu Quac is a large green island with lovely beaches in the Gulf of Thailand. Known mostly for its black pepper production, the island is also a great low-key getaway for a beach and dive vacations – come here before this lovely spot gets developed and loses some of its charm. The top prize for gorgeous beaches goes to Nha Trang, a bustling resort town with plenty of life in one of the prettiest settings in the world. If you want to get away from the crowds altogether, Con Dao Archipelago is for you. It is one of the most important sea turtle nesting sites in the world, and known for its small population of dugongs. The main island, Con Son, is getting a PADI dive shop soon.
Immerse yourself into Mekong life by cruising through a myriad of beautiful waterways, overnighting at a friendly homestay and visiting traditional markets.
Day 1: Tour starts from Ho Chi Minh City on a river boat cruise through Cai Be floating market with a stop at a local restaurant for lunch. Overnight at a local house in the lush orchards of Vinh Long, dinner included.
Day 2: After breakfast, visit a Bonsai Garden and a handicraft village to see how the artisans make rice paper, pottery, coconut candy and lots more. After a lunch in Vinh Long Town, drive to Can Tho, which is considered to be the heart of Mekong Delta. Overnight in a hotel.
Day 3: On the river visiting Cai Rang floating market and the fruit gardens of Can Tho. Return to Ho Chi Minh City.
With its flat, lush flood plains and green rice paddies, the Mekong Delta is a landscape perfect for cycling. On your modern, lightweight European made bike you will see Mekong by getting off the beaten track and getting close to the people.
Day 1: Drive from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho where you will hop on your bike. Enjoy a 25-mile bike ride along village paths and paved roads. Visit Cai Be floating market and have lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, two-hour boat trip to Vinh Long past bustling river life. Van transfer to Can Tho where overnight in a hotel.
Day 2: Early morning boat trip to the colorful Cai Rang floating market, and transfer to Phung Hiep. Today’s biking distance is about 30 miles. Cycle alongside a small river, passing by small villages and markets before arriving at Champa Pagoda. Continue on to Tan My Village with a picnic lunch along the way. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and enjoy a short bike trip to some significant pagodas and Khmer Museum.
Day 3: Early start to Can Tho by a car and a ferry. Upon arrival, it’s back onto the bikes for a 33-mile trip to Sa Dec through country lanes, paddy fields, bamboo villages and windy paths. Enjoy a picnic lunch along the way. Upon arrival to Sa Dec, transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City.
Cruise Halong Bay onboard your own private luxury junk Princess (one cabin) or Prince (two cabins). Pass by floating villages, limestone islands and hidden caves, and explore secluded lagoons by kayak. Enjoy peace, privacy and great food.
Day 1: Transfer from Hanoi to Halong City to board your boat. Cruise Halong Bay to Bai Tu Long Bay. Along the trip, visit a cave, take a break for swimming and explore the stunning beauty of the area by kayak.
Day 2: Spend the morning at Bua Cua beach with kayaking and a barbecue lunch. In the afternoon, visit floating villages and a local school.
Day 3: Cruise through Bai Tu Long and visit the floating fishing village of Vong Vieng. Return to Halong City and transfer to Hanoi.
Halong Bay Rock Climbing and Kayaking
Get off the beaten track to Cat Ba and Nam Cat Islands, rock climb and kayak Halong Bay’s secluded lagoons and caves. During the summer months swim on the shores of quiet Nam Cat Island, where this is nothing but you, a basic bamboo bungalow and the stars. Rock climbing is tailored to suit the needs of beginners through experienced climbers and is run by professional rock climbing instructors who will introduce you to some of the best climbing in the world. This really is the alternative Halong Bay trip for the adventurous!
Day 1: Transfer from Hanoi to Hai Phong City where you will take an express boat to Cat Ba Island. Afternoon at leisure – cycle through Cat Ba Island National Park, swim or explore the town. Overnight at Cat Ba Island Resort.
Day 2: Rock climbing at the best sites in the bay. Afternoon boat transfer to Nam Cat Island for an evening of simplicity, stars and seafood. Overnight in twin bamboo huts.
Day 3: After local style breakfast, board a traditional junk and cruise the bay. Explore small beaches by kayak, swim and relax. Enjoy a lunch onboard before cruising back to Cat Ba Island for an express boat to Hai Phong, and transfer back to Hanoi.
Experience a fantastic Sapa adventure tour with trekking Vietnam’s remote countryside (as easy or challenging as you wish), visit local hill tribe markets and enjoy the colorful town of Sapa.
Day 1: Overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai. The express train has sleeper berths, and you can choose your cabin class.
Day 2: Early arrival at Lao Cai with a transfer to Sapa for breakfast. Trek the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat, Ta Van and Cau May, and on the way meet locals from Red Zao, Hmong and Tay cultures. Overnight in Sapa.
Day 3: Climb up Ham Rong Mountain for panoramic view of Sapa and its surrounding countryside. After lunch, a walk to Ta Phin, home to the distinctive Dao community. Afterwards, transfer back to Lao Cai for an overnight train back to Hanoi.
Enjoy a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200-year-old Tam Ky ancestral house and the Japanese Bridge. After lunch take a short boat ride to a nearby island to visit a handicraft village specializing in ceramics and the boat building yards. Hoi An is now one of four World Heritage listed sites in Vietnam.
Visit Hoi An’s colorful market, and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy trading post. You will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and learn about all the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later. Afterwards, board the Red Bridge Boat for a leisurely cruise along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. This is a chance to view local river life, so make sure your camera is handy.
On arrival, explore the cooking school’s herb garden before learning about some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The cooking lesson runs for about two hours, starting with a demonstration, continuing with preparing the dishes and finally eating the tasty results for lunch. Dishes can include Handmade Fresh Rice Paper, Shrimp Rice Paper Rolls, Crispy Hoi An Pancakes, Marinated Beef, Vietnamese Eggplant in a Clay Pot and Steamed Ocean Fish.
This small group guided day tour takes you to selected highlights that this beautiful, romantic city has to offer. You will go to the Ho Chi Minh Complex, Temple of Literature, Museum of Ethnology, Ngoc Son Temple and enjoy an hour’s cyclo tour around the old quarter. Lunch will be served at one of Hanoi's finest restaurants.
A great day out takes you on a remarkable cruise on the Red River, stopping off for a short cycle ride to a pagoda. Meet local villagers and visit the handicraft villages of Dong Ho and Bat Trang. To top it off you will enjoy a five course lunch onboard while slowly cruising back to Hanoi.
This city tour unravels Ho Chi Minh City’s turbulent past and also provides a glimpse into the fascinating variety the city has to offer. The tour is split into a morning and afternoon schedule, with a delicious lunch in between. In the morning, visit the Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum and Notre Dame Cathedral. After lunch, it is time for Ho Chi Minh City’s oldest pagoda, the Giac Lam which was built in 1744. Stop at Cholon, Vietnam’s largest market and at Ben Thanh Market for beautiful silks.