Location is an approximation

Vietnam

From Saigon palaces to ancient Hanoi culture
Overnight stay on a boat in Halong Bay
Excellent value including internal flights

 

Thank you for visiting us here at Oak Hall!

This holiday is in the past now but please click here for our programme for this year:

Oak Hall Holidays
 
 
 
 
 

Experience Vietnam’s highlights

Vietnam's verdant landscapes, striking history and delicate cuisine offer an exciting destination for an Oak Hall tour. Come and join us for a gripping journey through this South East Asian land by road, air and sea!

We start by exploring Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in the south of the country. Internal flights help to reduce the amount of travelling. The first flight takes us to see the highlights of the central region around Hoian and Hue. A second flight takes us north to explore Hanoi and the remarkable Halong Bay before we return to Ho Chi Minh. 

We meet each evening during the tour to hear a helpful Bible talk.

 

Majestic Saigon

In Ho Chi Minh City, grand palaces contrast with humble markets and busy backstreets. We also head out of the city to the Mekong delta to explore this area, which is rich in agriculture and criss-crossed by sparkling waterways. At Cuchi we can explore the tunnels used during the Vietnam War, as well as learning more about this painful part of the country’s history at the War Remnants Museum in Saigon.


"The whole trip was exceptionally well organised and enabled us to explore and experience the different areas of Vietnam "
Michelle
 

New option - Golden Hand Bridge

At Hoian we learn how to cook some local cuisine in Tra Que village. We enjoy a free day on Hoian's beautiful beaches, or explore the atmospheric riverside town with its rich, cultural heritage.

New for this year, there is an optional day trip to the Golden Hand Bridge, payable locally, on the Hoian free day. This is a striking new bridge that has been built in the mountains above Da Nang where two giant hands appear to hold the golden bridge in mid air.

The City of Hue radiates the glory of a traditional former capital with the “Perfume River” and Tombs of the Kings. Exploring the Forbidden City, we again breathe the atmosphere of an ancient land before enjoying dinner in a garden-house restaurant. 

 

The atmospheric capital city

The sights and sounds of Hanoi’s Old Quarter form the backdrop to the next stop on our expedition as we explore these historic streets. 

Viewing ancient Buddhist architecture, such as the Lotus-inspired “One Pillar Pagoda” or “The Temple of Literature” built in 1070, we glimpse something of Vietnam’s distant past. By way of contrast, we visit the Ba Dinh Complex associated with Ho Chi Minh and his declaration of independence. Hanoi is also famous for its attractive lakes.

 

Heading east to Halong Bay

From Hanoi we head out to the jewel in Vietnam's crown at Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The road glides by the Red River Delta, passing green paddy fields and rural villages dotted with farmers using buffalo for ploughing.

Halong means “Descending Dragon”, an evocative name for this magnificent bay with its limestone rocks and grottoes. We stay overnight on a comfortable boat amidst the emerald waters. Dining on fresh seafood and stopping to swim or kayak, our cruise is a wonderful highlight of the tour.

 
 
 
 

Itinerary

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