Hotels (9 nts), junk boat (1 nt), lodge (2 nts). with Breakfast Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Breakfast at Hoa Sua, Hanoi Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Traditional Lantern Making Experience, Hoi An Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Oodles of Noodles Local Market Excursion, Hoi An Your G for Good Moment: Oodles of Noodles, Hoi An. Arrival transfer. Visit Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton) and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Mai Chau Countryside Hike. Cyclo tour of Hanoi's Old Quarter. Overnight on a junk boat on Halong Bay. Guided tour of Emperor's Tomb and Imperial Citadel Hue. Lunch at a Buddhist Nunnery. Walking tour of Hoi An Old Town. Guided tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels. Internal flights. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.Hotels (9 nts), junk boat (1 nt), lodge (2 nts). with BreakfastHotels (9 nts), junk boat (1 nt), lodge (2 nts). with BreakfastHotels (9 nts), junk boat (1 nt), lodge (2 nts). with All MealsHotels (9 nts), junk boat (1 nt), lodge (2 nts). with BreakfastHotels (9 nts), junk boat (1 nt), lodge (2 nts). with BreakfastHotels (9 nts), junk boat (1 nt), lodge (2 nts). with Breakfast
Day 1: Hanoi
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included.
Day 2: Hanoi/mai Chau Valley
Travel to the verdant Mai Chau Valley, a patchwork of rice paddies, emerald hills, and charming traditional villages. Opt to take a kayak out on the scenic Hoa Binh reservoir, the largest reservoir in Vietnam, or pedal through the countryside on a bike, enjoying the lush scenery and getting a glimpse of local life.
Day 3: Mai Chau Valley
Spend the day exploring the picturesque valley. Set out on a walk through the peaceful countryside, learning about the local tribes and customs, and visit a rural market for a fruit tasting. Choose to enjoy an authentic country lunch at a village home.
Day 4: Mai Chau Valley/hanoi
Return to Hanoi and discover the bustling Vietnamese capital on a guided tour. Visit the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, one of Vietnam’s most influential political leaders, and learn more about his life at the Presidential Palace, a French colonial-style building that was designed to be his official residence. Gain insights into the Vietnam War at the Hoa Lo Prison, known by American POWs as the Hanoi Hilton; then jump on a cyclo, a three-wheel bicycle taxi, for a fun-filled ride through Hanoi’s colourful Old Quarter.
Day 5: Hanoi/ha Long Bay
This traditional wooden sailing boat offers a unique way of navigating the lime karsts of Ha Long Bay with all the comforts of a motorized, floating hotel. The boat crew will prepare an included seafood lunch and dinner. All cabins are twin share and have an en-suite bathroom. The boat features an enclosed dining and sitting area and of course plenty of outside deck space to enjoy your beautiful surroundings.
Day 6: Ha Long Bay/hue
Enjoy an early lunch on board before returning to land and heading back to Hanoi to catch a short flight to Hue. A former imperial capital of Vietnam, this World Heritage-listed city boasts many architectural treasures; it was also the site of one of the Vietnam War’s most dramatic battles.
Day 7: Hue
Day 8: Hue/hoi An
The journey to Hoi An, via the Hai Van Pass, is an incredibly scenic and mountainous stretch of highway with spectacular views of Lang Co Beach.
Day 9: Hoi An
Delve into a local market this morning with guides from Oodles of Noodles, a G Adventures–supported program that trains local youth in the culinary arts. Taste dozens of varieties of noodles and pick out fresh ingredients at the market; then take your groceries to the Oodles of Noodles training kitchen, where you’ll learn to prepare mouthwatering noodle dishes and enjoy your creations for lunch.
Day 10: Hoi An
The day is yours to explore enchanting Hoi An and its environs. Choose to take a day trip to World Heritage-listed My Son, a cluster of moss-covered Hindu temples dating between the 4th and 13th centuries. Alternatively, head to the nearby Cua Dai beach, or relax at your hotel by the pool.
Day 11: Hoi An/ho Chi Minh City
Fly to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon. Immerse yourself in this vibrant metropolis—Vietnam’s economic hub—on a variety of optional activities. Discover the city on a cyclo tour, taking in iconic sites like the Notre Dame Cathedral and the ornate Central Post Office and City Hall. Visit the War Remnants Museum, a powerful reminder of the atrocities committed during the Vietnam War; or take a tour of the Reunification Palace, the site which marked the end of the war.
Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City
Venture to the legendary Cu Chi tunnels, a network of underground passageways that provided a base for Viet Cong soldiers during the Vietnam War. Visit subterranean hospitals and ammunition stores, and learn about the vital role that the tunnels played in the eventual victory of the North.
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City
Depart at any time.