The Very Best of Vietnam

Day 1 Depart London Gatwick
Your experience begins in the executive lounge, where you can relax and meet your Tour Manager before your flight to Hanoi.

Day 2 Arrive Hanoi
After arriving at the Sofitel Legend Metropole this morning, settle in for a 3 night stay. Relax and refresh before this evening’s welcome dinner at a renowned Hanoi restaurant.

Meals: Dinner.

Day 3 Hanoi
On today’s tour, you’ll visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex and the Temple of Literature. After lunch, the tour continues on to Ngoc Son Temple and the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake. Enjoy a traditional Vietnamese cyclo ride through the narrow, bustling streets of the Old Quarter, before you arrive at the lakeside theatre for a performance of Hanoi’s famous Water Puppets.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Day 4 Hanoi to Halong Bay
Your drive to the coast passes through wonderful scenery, which gives you a feel for the local way of life. You’ll then board the deluxe Bhaya Junk at UNESCO heritage-listed Halong Bay for an overnight stay. You’ll cruise out to a secluded area of the bay and dock so you can trek to an island summit for a panoramic view, swim in the quiet waters or relax on board. You’ll also visit a traditional floating village. In the evening, you might like to sip a cocktail as the sun sets over the water, before a seafood dinner on board.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 5 Halong Bay to Hanoi
Join in with this morning’s tai chi lesson, then enjoy a buffet breakfast as you cruise back to the dock and return for a final night in the Sofitel Legend Metropole.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 6 Hanoi to Hue
Early this afternoon, you arrive in Hue, home to the Vietnamese royal family from 1802 until their fall in the mid 20th century. In the evening, you’ll meet up for a royal themed dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 7 Hue
On this full day tour, you’ll visit the Imperial Citadel, closely modelled on the Forbidden City in Beijing. The evidence of French aerial bombings and the Tet Offensive in 1968 are apparent, but much of the city is being faithfully restored. In the afternoon, you’ll head into the countryside to see two of the most impressive Royal Tombs before returning to your hotel by boat along the Perfume River.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 8 Hue to Hoi An
On a five hour trip south along the South China Sea coastline to the riverside town of Hoi An, you’ll pass through spectacular scenery, with wonderful views as the road winds its way up Hai Van Pass, “Pass of the Clouds and Sea”. Your home for 3 nights is the Life Heritage Resort, superbly located by the river on the very edge of the old town.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 9 Hoi An
On a half day walking tour, you’ll wander the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter and visit the Chinese Assembly Halls, ancestral homes, the Japanese covered bridge and well-preserved pagodas that make Hoi An such a fascinating town. This afternoon you’re free to explore further.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 10 Hoi An
Today’s lesson in Vietnamese cuisine will highlight the marked differences between the food in Hoi An, the north and the south. You’ll barter with local sellers at the outdoor markets for ingredients, before cruising down the Thu Bon River to the cooking school for an engaging, hands-on lesson with your chef. Your delicious lunch will include the dishes you’ve prepared.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Day 11 Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
From Danang Airport, you’ll fly to Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon. An afternoon tour takes in the city’s highlights, including Reunification Palace, which has been preserved almost exactly as it was in April 1975, when the gates were stormed and the war ended. You’ll also visit Notre Dame Cathedral and the post office constructed in the 19th century by French engineer Gustave Eiffel.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 12 Cu Chi
Leave the bustling urban sprawl behind as your comfortable speed boat whisks you by the verdant riverbanks of the Saigon River. At Cu Chi, you’ll learn about this amazing series of underground passages, constructed during the Franco- Viet Minh War, and used by the Viet Cong to fight the US Army. You’ll have the opportunity to enter a reconstructed section of the tunnels, which will give a taste of what life was like underground. A packed lunch is served during your scenic return boat trip to Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Day 13 Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho
After a drive to the lush Mekong Delta region, you’ll cruise the Mekong River aboard the Cai Be Princess. During your trip, you’ll visit a colourful floating market, as well as some local home workshops where rice paste, rice popcorn and coconut candies are made. Continuing along the Mekong canals, you’ll pass beautiful landscapes, evergreen islands and observe typical rural life.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Day 14 Can Tho
Breakfast is served on the Lady Hau, a deluxe rice barge, en route to Cai Rang floating market, where you’ll enter the market on a smaller traditional boat. Your guided cruise continues along narrow creeks to visit a noodle factory and an orchard, to sample local fruits, before navigating the canals to return to your hotel. In the afternoon you’re free to relax or explore further.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 15 Can Tho to Ho Chi Minh City
You’ll return to Ho Chi Minh City and enjoy dinner with your fellow travellers.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 16 Depart Ho Chi Minh City
If you’re returning to the UK, you have time to explore before your evening flight to Heathrow via Paris which arrives the next morning. Alternatively, you may choose to extend with a fabulous beach stay on the Vietnamese coast. If you’ve decided to take the opportunity to visit the fascinating and rather mysterious country of Cambodia, you’ll fly to Siem Reap. Once you’re settled into the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa, your hotel for the next 3 nights, you’ll head to the famous Angkor Wat temple. There’s time to explore before watching the sunset in one of the most intriguing and beautiful places in the world.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 17 Siem Reap and the Temples of Angkor
From the South Gate of Angkor Thom, you’ll explore the Bayon; with its 54 towers, decorated with more than 200 enigmatically smiling stone faces. You’ll also take in the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King, as well as Ta Prohm which is fondly known as the Jungle Temple due to its giant overgrown tree roots and excessive foliage.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 18 Siem Reap
We’ve arranged a 3-day Angkor Complex Pass, so you can spend your free day exploring the temples at your own pace. If you’d like to see another side of life in Cambodia, spend time in the cafés and markets of Siem Reap town or visit Tonlé Sap – the lake which is the region’s life blood.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 19 Depart Siem Reap
You have some more free time before transferring to Siem Reap airport for your flight to London Gatwick via Saigon which arrives early the next morning.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 20 Arrive London Gatwick
Your plane lands early this morning, but we hope you’ll still feel uplifted from all your adventures.

Tour includes:

Local expert guides in resort
All flights specified
London airport executive lounge
Inspirational sightseeing programme
Hotel luggage porterage ser vice
14 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 5 dinners
Saigon River speedboat
Hands-on cooking class

On a Journey of Distinction, you are not merely a bystander. They believe that the wonders, customs and cultures you experience will live on in the core of your being. They even go so far as to say that one of their holidays will change your life forever.

Their combination of Tour Managers and Local Guides is what makes Journey of Distinction so distinctive. When you’re embarking on a voyage of discovery, it’s reassuring to know that a seasoned traveller is with you every step of the way; planning, organising, checking details and offering their advice and support. Their groups all depart from the UK, and no one joins us along the way, so you have the reassuring constancy of always knowing your travelling companions.

Our Opinion
“Limited to just 25 travellers per departure, every Journeys of Distinction escorted tour has an intimate, personal feel that makes for a more enjoyable experience.”