Authentic Indochina

On arrival you will be met and transferred to downtown Saigon and your hotel. The rest of the day or evening is at leisure.

After breakfast depart the city centre towards Cu Chi district, eventually entering the lush countryside of southern Vietnam.

Arrive at the entrance of the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters (Viet Cong) during both the French and American wars. Hear the tales of how these tunnels were built while walking through the forest. Visit two sections of the tunnel where it is possible to venture underground. There are informative displays and war relics around the area to explore.

Return to the city centre in time for lunch. Then take a closer look at the city itself, starting at Reunification Hall. This fascinating building, once known as the Presidential Palace, is filled with history. Hear the story of how, on 30 April 1975, North Vietnamese tanks seized the building as Saigon fell. Continue to the Old Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral, two colonial-era monuments.

The final stop of the day is Ben Thanh market. Located in the heart of the city, this market is one of the liveliest in the area. The food and dried goods sections of the market are particularly interesting, as are the adjoining streets. (B)(L)

After breakfast depart Ho Chi Minh City on the 2 hour drive  south of the city to the Mekong Delta.

On arrival in Ben Tre Province, board a local boat for a first glimpse of life inside the Mekong Delta’s maze of waterways, fertile green terrain and its family-run cottage industries such as coconut candy making. You can see many local women spending their days boiling cauldrons of the sticky coconut goo before rolling it out and slicing sections into squares. Take a hand-rowed sampan journey under the shadow of water coconut trees.

After lunch at a riverside restaurant featuring delicious Mekong Delta specialties, cruise back toward the pier then drive back to Ho Chi Minh. (B)(L)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Danang. Transfer the short distance on to Hoi An.  A prosperous trading port from the 16th to 19th centuries, merchants from China, Japan, India, Indonesia and Europe who came to buy silk, spices and porcelain. There is plenty to see and do in Hoi An, with its busy markets and trading streets, galleries and cafes, and the many tailors and restaurants. Outside the town are traditional villages, quiet waterways, and a beach stretching all the way to Danang.

This afternoon is free to explore this charming little town, and perhaps sample one of its many great value restaurants by the Tu Bon River in the evening.  (B)

Today’s tour will begin after breakfast. Travel from Hoi An’s bustling town centre (cycling option available) to a local farm in Tra Que herb village for an insightful morning in the countryside. Learn about the local produce grown and the area’s history from the farmers themselves.

Assist the farmers as they work in the garden. Depending on the time of year, this may include tilling the land, fertilising the garden with seaweed, or picking vegetables. This is a unique insight into Vietnamese rural life.

Return to the village and enjoy a herbal foot massage.

As midday approaches join the family to prepare lunch. Learn the secrets behind some of Hoi An’s most famous traditional dishes. Using vegetables and herbs straight from the garden, cook tam huu, prawns and pork mixed with lots of herbs, and banh xeo, a savoury pancake served inside thin sheets of rice paper. Then sit down and enjoy this delicious home-cooked meal, before returning to Hoi An. (B, L)

Today is free for you to explore Hoi An at your own pace. Try more of the town’s delicious cuisine, walk across the Japanese Covered Bridge, browse the many shops. You may wish to head out of town, take a boat trip on the river or head out to the beach for a swim. (B)

Leave Hoi An by road for Hue, a drive of approx 3 hours. Drive through the modern city of Danang and visit the Cham Museum, which contains the finest collection of the former Cham kingdom’s sculptures and other arts. The scenic route on wards from Danang climbs over the Pass of Ocean Clouds, then passes through the fishing village of Lang Co and on past coastal villages, rice fields and lagoons.

Start your afternoon at the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. The ancient citadel reflects the pomp and ceremony of the dynastic rulers as well as the scars of many years of turmoil, both ancient and modern (the Royal Citadel was badly damaged in the latter stages of the war) but retains a sense of grace and majesty even today. 

Continue to Thien Mu (Celestial Lady) Pagoda overlooking the Perfume River, constructed in 1601.
Leaving the city centre, travel through Hue’s beautiful countryside. Arrive at Tu Duc’s tomb for a stroll. Resting place of one of the Nguyen Dynasty’s emperors, the complex blends traditional and European elements.
Take a short ride to Vong Canh Hill with its panoramic viewpoint over the Perfume River and the Royal Valley, home to the Nguyen Dynasty emperors’ tombs. 

This evening will feature a visit to the Doan family for a hosted dinner. They take pride in preserving their traditional customs that have been passed down from generation to generation. Join your hosts in preparing your own delicious local Hue food specialties, with stories of the city’s rich culture and history, before sitting down to a delicious meal. (B)(D)

After breakfast, transfer to Hue Airport for your flight to Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital. You will be met and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is free until you meet your guide for an evening of Hanoi street food.

This evening take a fascinating walking tour of Hanoi’s vibrant Old Quarter. In addition to taking in the sights and sounds of this remarkable trading district, our focus will be on some of the city’s signature cuisine. Dishes you may wish to try include famous Hanoi noodle preparations like pho ga (chicken noodle soup), banh cuon (pork and mushroom filled rice noodles), nem cua (crab spring rolls) and perhaps a glass of Hanoi’s famous fresh beer. (B)(D)

This morning depart Hanoi early for a special experience. Our guide and driver will take us into the countryside north of Hanoi, to Animals Asia Vietnam Bear Sanctuary. Adventure World proudly supports Animal Asia’s efforts to rescue and rehabilitate bears from the suffering of the bear bile industry. The 11 hectare sanctuary provides housing and care for dozens of Asiatic Black and Sun Bears rescued from poachers and captivity across Vietnam.

After a safety and tour briefing, one of Animals Asia’s dedicated team will escort us around the sanctuary, where we will learn about the organisation’s work, hear the life stories of some of the bears, observe them at rest and play, and assist in behind the scenes work where practical. After lunch, we will return to Hanoi by mid-afternoon.

Note: Animals Asia hosts Adventure World travellers on Wednesdays only, each week. (B)(L)

This morning you will be picked up from your hotel for the 3 hour drive to Halong Bay. After check-in and a short boat transfer, you will be taken to your cabin, home as you cruise the spectacular waterways of Ha Long and Lan Ha Bays. Lunch will be served as you commence cruising, enjoying superb vistas of the thousands of limestone islands.

This afternoon’s touring usually includes a visit to Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba Island, and later on a chance to swim in one of the secluded coves of the Bay.

Enjoy a delicious dinner on board, with views of the Bay from the deck beforehand. (B)(L)(D)

Take tai chi on deck, or just a leisurely breakfast admiring the views. Afterwards there is another chance to kayak on the bay, before beginning the return cruise to port. Transfer back to Hanoi, arriving by mid-afternoon. The remainder of the day is free to explore or relax.
 
In the evening, you will be picked up and transferred to KOTO. This not-for-profit social enterprise provides hospitality training to youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, with over 1200 young people graduating since founder Jimmy Pham launched the enterprise in 1999. (B)(D)

Today is free until your transfer to Hanoi’s Noi Bai airport for your flight to Luang Prabang, Laos. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The evening is free to relax or perhaps explore Luang Prabang’s popular food market. (B)

Explore Luang Prabang with a knowledgeable local guide. Visit the highlights of this UNESCO World Heritage site and also learn about Laos’ rich, colourful culture.

We begin at the Royal Palace, in the heart of this historic old town, which now holds the collection of the National Museum. The Museum displays historical relics and informative exhibits which showcase the Lao religious and secular arts. From here, walk to nearby Wat Mai, a Buddhist temple whose gold-covered bas relief is an incredible piece of craftsmanship. While here, learn about Buddhism and how its influence pervades the local culture.

Continue through downtown Luang Prabang to Wat Sensoukarahm, a temple noted for its dazzling gold façade, then Wat Xieng Thong, one of the oldest and most revered temples in Laos. Situated on the tip of the city’s peninsula, its ornate surfaces and sparkling gold exterior are one of the town’s most spectacular sights. 

The afternoon is free for your own exploration until you are picked up and taken to board your private boat for a sunset Mekong cruise. Enjoy Lao snacks and a Beer Lao or glass of wine as you take in the sublime sunset colours and atmosphere of the Mekong River. (B)

Start the morning with a visit to the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre (TAEC), where hill tribe costumes and detailed descriptions of traditional culture provide an excellent overview of the various ethnic groups of Laos.
Leaving the town behind, drive a short distance to a small village of one of the many ethnic groups described at TAEC and see, first-hand, their customs and way of life.

Continue on to the Kuang Si waterfalls, a series of cascading turquoise pools, surrounded by lush forest. Spend time exploring the falls and enjoying the beautiful surrounds, either relaxing or taking a hike to the top of the highest drop.  Have a picnic lunch by the falls.

At the nearby Asiatic Black Bear sanctuary, learn about these endangered bears rescued from poachers. The centre’s efforts to stop poaching  preserve the bear’s natural habitat. You may also wish to visit the unique Lao Buffalo Dairy Farm, a social enterprise that produces sustainable and delicious cheese while giving back to the community and environment.  (B)(L)

Depending on your flight time, this morning you will transfer to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap. On arrival in Siem Reap, Cambodia, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax or explore Siem Reap town. (B)

This morning, start your exploration of the remarkable Angkor temples. The ancient city of Angkor Thom and Bayon, the temple at the center of the city, are our first stops. A tour of the city can also begin at The Terrace of The Elephants and the Royal Palace enclosure. The forested grounds are particularly beautiful in the morning.
Stroll around the lower galleries of carvings of Bayon, which depict fascinating scenes of life from the late 11th century, then find a quiet spot on the exterior of the temple to appreciate the 52 towers with their giant stone faces gazing out into the jungle around you.

Return to your hotel for a break at lunch time, and in the afternoon, continue to visit Ta Prohm, the temple best known for the trees and vines growing atop the temple walls. Enter from the east, to avoid the crowds.

As the only west-facing temple, Angkor Wat is best to visit (and photograph) in the later afternoon. Exiting the temple with the setting sun shining on the Vishnu image discovered beneath the temple’s central sanctuary is a magical sight to behold and a fitting end of your exploration of the temple built by King Suryavarman. (B)

Today is free until your departure transfer to Siem Reap Airport. (B)