Day #1
Depart UK. Below is the provisional itinerary for the August group. The order will vary for the September group as the flight back to the UK is from Hanoi rather than Ho Chi Minh. The letters in brackets below indicate B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner
Day #2
Arrive in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Rest at that hotel before we take a tour of the city, including the moving War Remnants Museum, China town and the Thien Hau pagoda. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh (B/-/D)
Day #3
Check out of our hotel after breakfast; travel out of the city to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, a remnant of the Vietnam War. After lunch we take a tour around the complex; you can even crawl a part of the tunnel if you'd like to. Late afternoon we travel back to the airport to take our evening flight to Da Nang. On arrival at DaNang, we are met by our guide and travel on to stay in Hoi An. . Overnight in Hoi An (B/L/-)
Day #4
We have some leisure time in the morning to relax or discover Hoi An town. In the afternoon we embark on a walking exploration of Hoi An, a magical old world with its oriental feel and source of inspiration to market artists and folk musicians. In the evening we return to the old town and see it lit up with the colourful lanterns it is famous for. Overnight in Hoi An. (B/-/D)
Day #5
Free day or Optional tour. Hoi An is also known for its excellent beaches – you can spend the day enjoying these or you can continue to explore Hoi An itself. Early evening, we are entertained by theTeh Dar Show, a show of contemporary dance, daring acrobatics, and traditional instruments. We return back to our hotel for dinner.
An optional tour is available to Ba Na Hills, which offers a cable car ride, a visit to Fantasy Park and the Golden Hands bridge. The cost will depend on the number of people who choose to join the excursion but to give you an idea, for 10-14 people it would cost $73 per person (including lunch, payable locally. Oak Hall do not make a commission on this excursion. Return to hotel for dinner. Overnight in Hoi An (B/-/D)
Day #6
Visit Tra Que village, where we will have the opportunity to try our hand at the organic vegetable garden production and learn how to cook some traditional, delicious dishes for our lunch together. The afternoon Is free. Overnight in Hoi An (B/L/-)
Day #7
We head to Da Nang to see the cultural exhibits at the Cham Museum. We then continue over the spectacular Hai Van pass to reach the former capital city, Hue. Recognized by UNESCO, Hue is notable for its royal mausoleums, imperial citadel, and iconic pagodas. We dine out in a Hue garden-house style restaurant. Overnight in Hue. (B/-/D)
Day #8
After breakfast and checking out of the hotel, we embark on a full day’s tour of Hue to help us discover the charm of the Royal Citadel and Forbidden City. After lunch together, we continue to Thien Mu pagoda and visit the Tombs of King Minh Mang.
Late afternoon we check-in at Hue Airport for our evening flight to Hanoi. . Overnight in Hanoi. (B/L/-)
Day #9
We start with a visit to Ba Dinh Square, the Museum of Ethnology and the Temple of Literature. In the late afternoon a “green car” tour will take us around the Old Quarter of Hanoi. To end the day, we enjoy the Water Puppetry show, a traditional stage art. Overnight in Hanoi. (B/-/D)
Day #10
After breakfast, we head to Halong Bay, an UNESCO Natural World Heritage site. Famous for its spectacular limestone karsts and islands, we cruise around these. We have the option of kayaking on Ha Long Bay (cost included) before returning to our boat for dinner and to watch a magnificent sunset. Overnight onboard. (B/L/D)
Day #11
Enjoy breakfast whilst our boat continues between the Halong islets. Return to the Ha Long Wharf and reboard our coach for the journey back to our hotel in Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi. (B/Brunch/-)
Day #12
Have a leisurely morning before we checkout of the hotel, and take our flight back to Ho Chi Minh City. We dine out at a local restaurant for dinner. (B/-/D)
Day #13
A relaxing day ahead as we travel to My Tho, gateway to the Mekong Delta. We board a boat to travel across the mighty Mekong River. We visit a local island and enjoy fresh tropical fruits accompanied by traditional music. Later, we transfer to local sampan boats to cruise along the beautiful canals, stopping to see how the local coconut sweets are made. We also visit Vinh Trang pagoda, with its architecture showcasing a combination of Chinese, Cambodian, and French cultures. (B/L/-)
Day #14
Our final day in Vietnham - you have the whole day to relax or explore the city. We have a late check out. We enjoy a restaurant dinner before heading to the airport. (B/-/D)
Day #15
Arrive back in the UK