Day 1-2 | HanoiPlease note that airport transfers on arrival are included, so please advise Intrepid of your flight details at the time of booking and there will be a representative from Intrepid Indochina to meet you at the airport and transfer you to our hotel.
You can arrive at any time on day 1 as there are no activities planned until the important welcome meeting. Your leader will leave a note at reception telling you where and when this important meeting will take place. Please ask a member of reception for this information. The meeting will be followed by an optional group dinner.
Your group leader will collect your local payment at this meeting. Please bring US$ in large denominations; unfortunately, coins are not accepted.
On day two, we enjoy a buffet breakfast at KOTO restaurant, one of Intrepid's Responsible Travel supported programs, which aims to teach street children hospitality skills that will enable them to find employment. The rest of the day is free to explore at your leisure. You might like to explore the atmospheric Temple of Literature or the Ho Chi Minh Complex nearby. In the evening, enjoy a cyclo tour of the Old Quarter and make a visit to the famous water puppet theatre.
In Hanoi, our fully equipped hotel is centrally located near the historic Temple of Literature and has ensuite bathrooms, air conditioning and a bar.
Back to the top
Days 3-4 | Halong BayOn the morning of day 3, we drive to the World Heritage site of Halong Bay (approx. 4 hours), where we board our private boat and cruise among some of the 2,000 dramatic limestone peaks.
There is an opportunity to swim in the famed South China Sea as well as to explore caves filled with stunning stalactites and stalagmites. We spend a peaceful night on board, beneath a velvet night sky alive with stars.
Our overnight accommodation on Halong Bay is on a sailing junk with twin bed cabins that have air-conditioning and private facilities. There is also a dining room and bar where we enjoy a sumptuous lunch and dinner.
Day 4 sees us enjoying breakfast on our boat before returning to Hanoi where we board an overnight train headed south. We depart in the evening on our soft sleeper class train. Compartments are clean, with padded berths (four to a room), sheets, pillows, blankets and boiling water are all available. Most trains have a dining carriage and there are snacks available on the train along the way.
Back to the top
Days 5-6 | HueWe arrive early into Hue, another World Heritage site. The pace of life is slow and tranquility prevails in this former imperial capital of Vietnam. We'll visit the Imperial Citadel, one of the Nguyen emperors' tombs, the famed Thien Mu Pagoda and also enjoy a dragon boat cruise on the Perfume River.
With two full days here, there is ample time to explore the city's many Buddhist pagodas, outlying handicraft villages and the busy Dong Ba Market. Enjoying an ice-cream or a coffee at one of the riverside coffee shops at sunset is also an experience not to be missed.
In Hue, our hotel is located in a quiet part of town, and has ensuite bathrooms, air conditioning and a pool.
Back to the top
Days 7-9 | Hoi AnTravelling by bus, we leave Hue and head south through coastal rice paddies to the fishing village of Lang Co, before traversing the spectacularly mountainous Hai Van Pass.
After a brief visit to beautiful China Beach and a photo stop at the alluring Marble Mountains, we arrive at the river port of Hoi An (approx. 4 hours travel) just in time for an introductory tour of this ancient town. Recently declared a World Heritage site, Hoi An is being beautifully restored and preserved. We have a full free day here to check out the charming architecture, and on day 8 we head to visit Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation children’s centre for information about the project and some interaction with local kids. BDCF is a community based project supported by The Intrepid Foundation. (Tuesday departures visit Children’s Hope in Action centre for information about the project and some interaction with local kids. CHIA is a community based project supported by The Intrepid Foundation.)
Hoi An is a shopping Mecca - with much to browse and buy. Choose from original paintings, handcrafted woodwork, ceramics, embroidery, lanterns and more. Hoi An has also become famous for its tailoring - with a great variety of fabrics to choose from. Bring your favourite piece of clothing or even just a picture, and you'll be able to have it copied. You can also hire bicycles to explore the surrounding areas, charter a small boat and take to the sea, or head to the beach - a popular sunrise destination.
Our accommodation in Hoi An is located near to the bustling local market and has private facilities, air conditioning, restaurant, bar and a pool.
Back to the top
Days 10-12 | Nha TrangWe travel the short distance to Danang and board our flight to the beachside city of Nha Trang.
A highlight for most Intrepid travellers is the full-day boat cruise we take over the turquoise waters here, complete with seafood lunch. We also stop at Hon Mieu Island to explore the outdoor aquarium, built in the shape of a ship. In the afternoon, we laze about on our own private beach before returning to Nha Trang. For those who rise early, morning exercise on the beachfront is an experience not to be missed. For foodies, there's plenty to fill up on because this resort town boasts many restaurants featuring all kinds of cuisine.
For our three nights in Nha Trang we stay in a centrally located 2 star hotel which has comfortable twin and double rooms, air conditioning, restaurant, bar and two swimming pools.
Back to the top
Days 13-15 | Ho Chi Minh Cityshort flight brings us to the economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City. Formerly known as Saigon, this busy city is a charming blend of old and new, East and West.
In the afternoon, we head off to nearby Ben Thanh Market to experience a local lunch, market-style! With your belly full, why not head off afterwards to explore the city on your own? Your leader will have plenty of interesting and fun ideas. Perhaps you might consider scooting off on cyclos to Cholon, the Chinatown area of Ho Chi Minh City for a spot of temple-hopping? Or perhaps you'd like to visit the Vietnamese version of a department store for some serious shopping - the choice is yours!
On day 14 we visit the Dam Sen Water Park, which is a great spot to escape the city heat, cool off, relax and watch the kids have fun.
Our final nights in Ho Chi Minh City are spent in a new hotel conveniently located near the Ben Thanh Market.
There are no activities planned for day 15 and you are able to depart the hotel at any time. Check out time from the hotel is at 12 noon. If you are departing later, you can arrange luggage storage at the hotel.
Arrival Complications
Back to the top
Itinerary DisclaimerPlease note: occasionally our itineraries are updated during the year to incorporate improvements stemming from past travellers' comments and our own research and may change with no prior notice.
Back to the top