Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Mekong Delta Tour

Take the bustling highway into the surrounding countryside where you will pass carefully tended, lush rice paddies, before boarding your motorised sampan for a unique experience on the mighty Mekong Delta waterways.

You will see how, to the people of Delta, the water is a lifeline – the focus of all daily activity – as you journey through a maze of tributaries and fruit plantations. Enjoy a sample of delicious fruit in the shade of a fruit farmer’s garden before continuing via even smaller waterways to lunch, where the specialty is a remarkable dish of ‘elephants ear fish’.

Hoi An, Vietnam

Ancient Ruins of My Son

Often referred to as the mini “Angkor Wat” of Vietnam, the Cham ruins at My Son are well worth the slightly arduous journey needed to reach them! Your day will begin with an early morning drive from Danang/Hoi An through 60 km of rolling countryside, passing through small towns with markets in full swing, often journeying alongside the wide reaches of the Han River. As you draw closer to My Son, which translates literally as “Beautiful Mountain” the condition of the road begins to deteriorate and the last few kilometres of track are often rutted and potholed. On arriving at the My Son area and after crossing a bamboo “Monkey Bridge” you will transfer to a local jeep for the last spectacular 3 km bump and jolt along a river gorge. Finally, a 500m walk through lush hillsides, trees and brush, before emerging into the main site.

There are over 70 classic Cham monuments at My Son, dating from the 7th – 13th Centuries. Set against the backdrop of the appropriately named Cat’s Tooth Mountain, they would have been an awesome sight in their prime. Until 1968 they remained, remarkably, in almost perfect condition, having been sheltered from the worst excesses of weather by the surrounding hills. Regrettably however, man achieved what nature could not and B52 bombers destroyed most of the towers when My Son found itself in a free-fire zone during the Vietnam War.

Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An Social Enterprise Lunch

Most ETG experiences include a lunch, and we design the experience to ensure you steer clear of ordinary tourist buffets and focus on flavours of the local cuisine. We also like to ensure at least one such meal during your holiday is taken at a social enterprise restaurant. Typically, establishments that collaborate with local community programs, offering vocational training that creating life-changing employment opportunities for marginalised youth. Beyond the skills they teach their trainees, these restaurants serve lovely home-cooked food and are a platform for cultural exchange – where you can chat with staff members and learn about local customs.  

During our walking tour of Hoi An, we invite you to experience lunch at STREETS. Since 2009, they have been providing culinary and hospitality training to disadvantaged youth. By dining here, you get a delicious lunch and support a project that provides trainees with nutritious food, housing, clothing, uniforms, a supportive community, and access to basic medical care.   

We began including social enterprise restaurants as part of an initiative we call “One Meal At A Time”. We started this in Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar and have since expanded it to include restaurants in Sri Lanka, Laos, India, Indonesia and Thailand.  We are confident of the positive local impact these restaurants have and of the way in which they can also enhance your experience of our destinations.  

Hue, Vietnam

Art of Slow Living in Hue

Travel beyond the more famous sites of Hue and discover a slower and more traditional way of life.

Hue was the capital city of Vietnam during the Nguyen dynasty (1802 – 1945), during which many beautiful garden houses were constructed. Often tucked away down unassuming side streets and landscaped yet wild gardens, the traditionally built houses were once the homes of officials, royal associates, poets, and writers, and many of them are still owned by their descendants today.

Each house is unique in design, and each has its own story to tell, and there’s nobody better to tell it than the residents themselves. As you amble through the town (or cycle if you prefer), you’ll be welcomed into homes to drink tea and chat with the owners about the history of the houses, the area, and the current occupants. You’ll also learn how some traditional crafts and industries are being kept alive here, with the chance to try your hand at some yourself.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi Street Food Tour

It’s the whack of chilli in a Banh Mi, the hit of steam from a bowl of Pho, the crackle of grilled pork, the slippery noodles, the fistfuls of fresh herbs. Vietnamese food, if you’ll allow us a cliché, is an assault on all of the senses, and maybe some you didn’t know you had.  

Anthony Bourdain said the food here has the power to change your life, and we’re certainly not going to quarrel with him. Hanoi is one of the world’s great food capitals and it deserves a properly guided exploration.  

Our expert local good guide will take you on a journey through the sights, scents, and sounds of the Old Quarter, a neighbourhood known as ‘36 streets’. Weaving through people and motorbikes you’ll duck into hole-in-the-wall restaurants and hidden markets to meet the cooks, chefs, and characters that bring life to the area.