From Magical Bays to the Emerald Island
Itinerary
- Itinerary:Hanoi - Bai Tu Long Bay - Hoi An - Lak Lake - Ho Chi Minh City - Phu Quoc
- Duration:15 days / 14 nights (flexible)
- Price:From £ 2,175.- per person (excluding flights)
Days 1-3 – Xin Chao Hanoi!
Hanoi is a capital city crammed with character. Motorbikes zip through tangled streets, food hawkers serve up steaming bowls of pho and fruit stalls spill onto shady boulevards. You’ll stay near the heart of the atmospheric Old Quarter and we’ll arrange a unique introduction to Hanoi and the Vietnamese language with a local guide who’ll double as your tutor. It’s a great way to get to know the city like a local.
Days 3-5 – Drift between limestone peaks
This morning, you’ll be collected from your hotel by minibus and taken to the coastal town of Bai Tu Long bay, where the junk boat awaits. The journey should take around 4 hours. A turquoise bay peppered with tropical outcrops, Bai Tu Long Bay is every bit as beautiful as neighbouring Halong, but with fewer crowds. Rich in stunning views, you’ll drift between emerald karst islets and laze on tiny beaches. You’ll stay aboard a traditional Chinese junk boat, rocked to sleep by the rhythm of the water.
Days 5-8 – Classic Hoi An
At the pier, a minibus transfer will be waiting to take you back to Hanoi. You’ll spend the night on a sleeper train from Hanoi to Danang, a town close to enchanting Hoi An. When you arrive in Danang, we’ll arrange a 45 minute transfer by private car to pick you up and take you to your hotel. Watch lanterns twinkle along the river and meet the local tailors in Hoi An, Vietnam’s most atmospheric town. A jumble of crumbling Chinese shop houses, artist studios and riverside restaurants, it’s crammed with charm. The pace is slow and the food is scrumptious. In recent years, Hoi An has become something of a national treasure with its day dreamy, timeless atmosphere.
During your stay you will be getting crafty making your own souvenirs from bamboo! You’ll be collected from your hotel in Hoi An and transferred the 20 minutes to the Bay Mau Coconut village where you’ll meet your teacher. This local family have been creating household items from bamboo for three generations and once they’ve shown you the ropes, it’s your turn to get creative. You’ll be supported along the way but what you create is up to you!
Days 8-10 – Discover life by the lake
Today, you’ll leave Hoi An, probably with a whole new wardrobe. We’ll arrange your transfer by private car from your hotel to Danang airport where you’ll take a quick 60 minute domestic flight to Buon Me Thuot, the closest airport to Lak Lake. On arrival you will be transferred to your tented camp. Now for a rural escape into the Central Highlands to explore the lush landscapes and minority villages surrounding Lak Lake, the largest natural body of water in the area. Set on a hill overlooking the picturesque lake, your eco-friendly luxury tented accommodation awaits. Here it’s all about getting away from it all: trekking to hidden waterfalls, learning about local culture and taking a breather from the bustling city streets.
Days 10-12 – Scooting through Saigon
After lunch today you will leave the tranquility of the lake and head to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel in the city. Scoot through Saigon on a vintage Vespa, searching for hidden street food hotspots. Zip through the backstreets after dark, sample the best traditional snacks in the city and listen to live music as you sip on Vietnamese coffee. It’s a night tour and foodie adventure rolled into one. After all, Ho Chi Minh is a city that comes alive as night falls. You’ll stay in a comfy hotel near the central market.
Days 12-15 – Peace & quiet on Phu Quoc
From Saigon you will make your own way to the airport for your flight to the tropical island of Phu Quoc. When you land someone will meet you and take you to your accommodation. Sink your toes into powdery white sands on sleepy Phu Quoc Island. Sleeping in a cosy resort just steps from the beach, you can snooze in a hammock, take barefoot strolls and slow down to the lazy pace of island life. You’ll take a snorkelling tour to the tiny An Thoi islets, where you can float over coral-clad seabeds and watch clownfish dart between the rocks. You’ll make your own way to the airport in Phu Quoc for the quick 1 hour flight to Ho Chi Minh City, where you can catch your connecting flight home.
For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options
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- Price:from £ 2,438.- per person (excluding flights)
- Included:In Style accommodation, excursions, transport and meals as described above
For the locations included in this itinerary we have alternative options available in terms of comfort. Our In Style options can be more luxurious, offer something unique or offer a more comfortable transport option – all with that local flavour! If you would like to upgrade your itinerary select our In Style option below.
