Countryside & Culture | Vietnam | Experience Travel Group

A Different Side of Vietnam

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Vietnam’s long narrow geography lends itself to a fairly obvious and well-trodden travel route. This holiday weaves away from that and offers second-time visitors or those who like something different, the chance to discover Vietnam in a new way.

Highlights include:

Stay in safari-style tented accommodation overlooking Lak Lake in the central hills.
Kayak, cycle and trek around incredible Phong Nga - Ke Bang National Park, home to the world's largest caves.
Zip along the famous Hoi An to Hue coastline riding pillion on a vintage Vespa bike.
Weave north through the countryside on the Reunification Express route between Dong Hoi and Hanoi.
Immerse yourself in “Saigon” and Hanoi with insiders tours of the backstreets and traditional markets of the less-explored districts.

As with all of our suggested itineraries, we can change this holiday to suit your budget, style and expectations. Find out about our exclusive Journey Planner here.

Day 1 Depart the UK

Depart the UK on your overnight flight to Ho Chi Minh City, commonly known as Saigon

Day 2-4 Saigon Insider tours of LOCAL districts

Your private guide and driver will meet you on arrival for the transfer to your hotel. During your stay in “Saigon”, you'll enjoy an insider's tour of the backstreets and traditional markets of less-explored districts combined with a highlights tour of the city’s famous landmarks.

With your guide, you'll also visit Cai Be an area in the Mekong Delta where you'll find charming pockets of rural life. You will pass locals selling fruits and vegetables, as well as fruit orchards, farmland, houses on stilts on the riverside. Lunch is taken with a local family where you'll sample some Mekong Delta specialities, including delicious seasonal fruits.

Day 5 & 6 Buon Ma Thuot Lakeside Tented Camp

A morning flight will take you north to Buon Ma Thuot where you’ll transfer to the mysterious hill country that lies between the central coast and the Cambodian border. You’ll stay at Lak Tented Camp on the edge of Lak Lake. Here you’ll spend two days in the countryside with the chance to explore local villages, trek through the jungle to waterfalls, learn about the bio-farm and observe traditional fishing as you boat on the lake. This is an element of Vietnam that most visitors miss.

Day 7-9 Hoi An relaxing in the atmospheric town

Depart your hotel this afternoon for the short flight from Buon Ma Thuot to Danang. On arrival in Danang, you’ll transfer to your hotel in Hoi An, the ideal place for a bit of mid-trip relaxation. Hoi An is one of Vietnam’s most atmospheric towns with picture-postcard streets of Chinese temples interspersed with yellow home’s adorned with pink flowers and lanterns.

We include a morning cooking school here. A great way to learn about local traditions, taste some delicious food and explore the local markets.

Day 10 & 11 Vespa Coastal Adventure from Hoi An to Hue

It's roughly 100 miles from Hoi An to Hue with some of the best views in Vietnam en route. Your options for the journey include train, private car transfer or you could jump on the back of a Vintage Vespa. With an experienced driver steering you along the coastline and across the famous Hai Van Pass this is a thrilling way to travel with some interesting stops en route.

On arrival in Hue, you’ll check in to your hotel for two nights and spend the following day with your guide exploring the cities remarkable historical sites.

Day 12-14 Phong Nga Ke Bang Extraordinary limestone caves

With your guide and driver, you’ll transfer from Hue to your accommodation at Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. This extraordinary national park is one of the world's largest limestone regions and is home to some of the world's largest caves. Spend your first night in a lodge on the edge of the park where you can relax and enjoy the scenery and local activities.

During your stay, you have some options depending on how adventurous you are. You could simply enjoy the range of fun soft adventure activities provided by the lodge (kayaking, bike tours and nature trails) combined with a day trip to the most accessible cave.

For the more intrepid you could opt for an in-depth caving adventure either with or without an overnight camping experience in the jungle or cave. This is a fantastic way to make the most of the national park with cave swimming, jungle treks and barbecues by night included.

Call our Vietnam travel experts on 020 7924 7133 to discuss your cave exploring itinerary.

Night 14 or Day 15 Reunification Express to Hanoi

Transfer to Dong Hoi where you’ll board the “Reunification Express” train. Take the day train and enjoy the scenery as you traverse Northern Vietnam or even take the night train and travel in a soft sleeper cabin bound for Hanoi.

*You can also fly from Dong Hoi to Hanoi if preferred.

Day 14-16 Hanoi StreetFood & SECRET Alleyways

Arrive in Hanoi and check in to your hotel. Here you'll spend three days enjoying a range of exclusive, tailored experiences accompanied by your private guide.

Rise early to explore the colourful, fragrant flower markets and stroll around the cities lake as the Hanoians practise t’ai chi. Immerse yourself in the old town which is dissected by Hanoi’s main railway artery, the residents go about their daily chores almost oblivious to the slow-moving trains!

Sip Vietnamese coffee, discover the city's lively street food culture and try a cold local beer at a stall. Marvel at the French colonial architecture and explore the labyrinthine alleyways of the old quarter. Peruse your chosen museums: ancient history, military history, fine arts or the serene Temple of Literature.

Day 17 fly Home (or Stay)

Today you depart Vietnam for the flight back to the UK. Alternatively, you could extend to include a visit to Halong Bay or combine this itinerary with our Hanoi to Luang Prabang tour for a fantastic 4-week off-the-beaten-track adventure. Please call our travel experts on 020 7924 7133 to craft your perfect trip.

As every holiday is unique to you, prices vary. To give you an indication, our holidays typically cost between £4,000 and £6,000 per adult depending on trip length and time of year as well as the hotels and flights involved. We offer child and seasonal discounts. You can read our ultimate guide to holiday costs in Asia for more in-depth information.

To start your journey, talk to one of our friendly consultants today.

Since every traveler is unique - Call our experts on 1-888-577-8452 to create your personalised vacation itinerary.