Exodus Vietnam Adventure

• 12 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners
• All accommodation
• All transport and listed activities
• Tour leader throughout
• Flights from London
• Arrival & departure transfers

• Boat trip around stunning Halong Bay
• Hanoi city tour including the Old Quarter
• In Hue visit the Imperial Citadel, the Thien Mu Pagoda and the Tu Duc Mausoleum
• The historic trading town of Hoi An
• Crawling through the Cu Chi war tunnels
• Exploring the Mekong Delta by boat
• Experiencing mouth-watering cuisine

Day 1: Depart London

Day 2: Arrive Hanoi

The day is free to recover from the flight or stroll amongst broad tree-lined avenues dating from the French period. This evening there will be a welcome briefing followed by an optional group dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 3: City tour

In Hanoi we take a sightseeing tour of the city that includes a visit to the Temple of Literature; the site of the oldest university in Vietnam with over 2000 graduates, Hoa Lo Prison & the Old Quarter of the city with its ’36 Streets’ where each street is home to shops selling particular products – e.g. ‘silk street’, ‘gold street’, ‘paper street’ and ‘tourist souvenir street’. Another stop is the grounds of the Presidential Palace .

Day 4: To Halong Bay; cruise; overnight on boat

We make an early start for the approximately 4-hour journey to Halong Bay. This is one of the most stunningly beautiful sights in South East Asia with roughly 3,000 limestone peaks rising directly from the clear emerald sea. We cruise amongst this amazing karst scenery and enjoy a seafood lunch on board. We overnight on board in twin share cabins with en suite facilities.

Day 5: Cruise; return to Hanoi; overnight train to Hue

We continue to cruise around Halong Bay this morning before returning to port. We then drive back to Hanoi, and transfer to the train station and board the Reunification Express for the overnight train ride to Hue, 500km to the south.

Day 6: Arrive Hue; sightseeing

Arriving mid-morning in Hue we transfer to our hotel. Hue claims to be the cultural and historical centre of Vietnam, and there is plenty to see. The most outstanding sight is the Imperial Citadel with walls six miles in length. Inside are the palaces and halls of the Mandarins, and the remains of the Forbidden Purple City, where only the emperor, his eunuchs and concubines were allowed.

Day 7: Morning visit local market

This morning we will take a cycle ride out to the Thanh Toan bridge and a nearby local market. Travelling as the locals do, we discover the sights, sounds and smells of the villages surrounding Hue. Riding past rice paddies and small villages we arrive at Thanh Toan, a small village that is home to a legendary market. There will be time to explore the market stalls, before heading back to Hue for a free afternoon to further get to know this historical centre or to simpy relax by the riverside and absorb the local sights.

Day 8: Journey to Hoi An via Danang

Leaving Hue, our 130km journey drives through the beautiful peninsula of Lang Co between the crystal waters of a lagoon and the South China Sea, and then passes over the spectacular Hai Van pass (‘Pass of the Ocean Clouds’) where the views are stunning. In Da Nang we first stop at the Cham museum where there are altars, statues and decorative works collected from Hindu and Buddhist temples and towers from the Kingdom of Champa that flourished between the 7th to 17th centuries in Central Vietnam. We then climb Marble Mountain where we explore the large caves which were used by the Viet Cong as a hospital base during the war.

Day 9: Walking tour of Hoi An; free afternoon

This morning will include a walking tour of Hoi An, the original European trading port in Vietnam dating back to the mid-16th century. It is now a living museum, with attractive wooden merchant’s houses and pagoda-style temples with Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and European architectural influences. It is also a marvellous place to wander around and enjoy the thriving riverside market and great silk clothes shopping.

Day 10: Visit My Son; free afternoon in Hoi An

This morning we will visit My Son, the Cham civilisation’s spiritual home, where Cham kings were buried as early as the 4th century. Although wartime bombing has destroyed much of the site, there are a number of interesting stone towers and sanctuaries. Upon returning to Hoi An the rest of the afternoon is free to carry on enjoying this historic town.

Day 11: Fly to Saigon; walking city tour

We drive to Da Nang and then fly to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), an exciting and absorbing city where scooters pack the streets and temples stand defiantly alongside modern developments. Devastated by the Vietnam War, it is now a bustling free market city where anything goes. This afternoon’s walking city tour includes a visit to the Ben Thanh Market, Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and War Remnants Museum.

Day 12: Visit Cu Chi Tunnels; free afternoon

Today we leave the city behind us and head north to visit the infamous Cu Chi tunnels. Used by the Viet Cong during the war, the network covers 3 levels and approximately 240km of tunnels. Traditionally these were very narrow but some areas have been widened to allow tourists to explore the system. Claustrophobes may prefer to stay outside in the sunshine!

Day 13: Mekong Delta boat ride; overnight in homestay

In the morning we drive to Vinh Long (approx. 2.5-3 hrs) in the Mekong Delta, known as the ‘rice bowl’ of Vietnam. This region produces most of Vietnam’s fruit, sugar cane and coconuts. We take a boat trip on the mighty Mekong River to Cai Be.

Day 14: Walk through fruit orchards; return to Saigon

This morning we take a walk through the fruit orchards and navigate our way through the small canals in a traditional wooden sampan. Later we rejoin our boat to rendezvous with our vehicle for the journey back to Saigon via a little visited Cao Dai temple used by devotees of this strange indigenous religion, which fuses all the great religions of east and west.

Day 15: Free day; evening depart

Free time before flying to London. The group flight is usually scheduled to depart Saigon in the late afternoon.

Day 16: Arrive in London

• 10 nights comfortable hotels
• 1 night boat with twin share cabins
• 1 night standard guesthouse to experience some ‘Mekong Delta’ hospitality, all en suite
• 1 night sleeper train, soft-bed berths
• Group normally 5 to 16, plus leader. Min age 16yrs.

You will spend 10 nights in a comfortable hotel, 1 night aboard a night boat with shared cabins and 1 night will be spent in a standard guesthouse. All of these have en suite facilities (not the standard guesthouse/homestay in the Mekong Delta) and there is also a night aboard a sleeper train with soft berth cabins. All of the hotels have either fans or air conditioning. Single supplements are available (on request).

Please note, prices listed are guide prices only and are based on 2 people sharing and don’t include any additional supplements. Holiday prices are fluid and dynamic and may be changed at a moment’s notice, prior to booking, at which point they are confirmed. Please call the team free on 0800 707 6229 for more departure dates available and a quote.