Vietnam

The Magic of Vietnam: Ha Long, Hue, Hoi An and the Mekong Delta in Depth

The highlights, then four days in the delta: a homestay, a floating market and mangroves

Vietnam

The Magic of Vietnam: Ha Long, Hue, Hoi An and the Mekong Delta in Depth

The great classic from north to south (Hanoi, a night on a junk in Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, the night train, Hue, Hoi An and Saigon), then four days in the Mekong Delta: a homestay night in Ben Tre, Can Tho and the house from the film The Lover, Cai Rang floating market, the Tra Su mangroves by rowing boat, Chau Doc and Sa Dec, Marguerite Duras's town. Group of 24 at most. With 3 beach nights in Mui Ne (18 days) from €2,526 per person; private version from €2,639; with a Cambodia extension (18 days) from €3,234.

When

Feb to April

Price

From 2 256€ excl. flights

(based on 2 people sharing)

How long

12 nights

Ideal length

Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh

Days 1-5

The capital, a night on a junk and 'Ha Long Bay on land'.

Day 1

Flight to Vietnam

Flight to Hanoi. Dinner and night on board.

Day 2

Arrival in Hanoi

Welcome by your French-speaking guide and a tour of the capital: Ba Dinh square, Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, the presidential palace, the Opera House and the old quarter of the 36 guilds, then the Temple of Literature, the country's first university. A walk around Hoan Kiem lake before dinner.

Day 3

Ha Long Bay by junk

Drive to Ha Long Bay and its 2,000 or so limestone islets, a UNESCO site. Board a junk, lunch on board, a cave visit and activities along the cruise. Dinner and night on board.

Day 4

Ha Long – Hoa Lu – Ninh Binh

Tai chi at sunrise, the end of the cruise and brunch on board. Drive to Ninh Binh, 'Ha Long Bay on land', with a stop at Hoa Lu, capital of Vietnam in the 10th century, and its Dinh and Le temples.

Day 5

Tam Coc, Hang Mua – night train

By rowing boat among the limestone peaks and rice fields, then by bike to Bich Dong pagoda. In the afternoon, the steps of Hang Mua and the view over the Tam Coc valley. In the evening, a night train in an air-conditioned sleeper to Hue (flight as an option).

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Hue and Hoi An

Days 6-8

The imperial city, the Hai Van pass and the lantern-lit old town.

Day 6

Hue, the imperial city

A bowl of bun bo Hue on arrival, then the citadel and the imperial city, Thien Mu pagoda and a boat on the Perfume River. Cycling in the pomelo countryside and a cookery class with a family, Dong Ba market, and in the evening street food by cyclo.

Day 7

The tombs, the Hai Van pass – Hoi An

The imperial tombs of Khai Dinh and Minh Mang, then the road over the Hai Van pass and through Lang Co village. A stop at the Museum of Cham Sculpture before Hoi An and its evening lanterns.

Day 8

Hoi An

The old town of Hoi An, a UNESCO site, and its old houses along the Thu Bon river. A cao lau lunch, then a free afternoon. Optional: a lantern workshop, a boat on the river or a traditional treatment.

1 / 4

Saigon and the Mekong Delta

Days 9-15

Four days on the water, from Ben Tre to Chau Doc.

Day 9

Flight to Saigon

Flight from Da Nang to Saigon. The Cholon Chinese quarter, Thien Hau temple and Binh Tay market, pho for lunch, then the centre on foot: the post office, the cathedral, the Opera House, Dong Khoi street and Ben Thanh market. In the evening, Nguyen Hue walking street.

Day 10

Ben Tre – a homestay night

By boat on the river at Ben Tre: coconut workshops, arroyos and medicinal plants, then by bike to a lunch of elephant-ear fish. Back by rowing sampan through the narrow canals. A fruit tasting, a walk through the village and a night with a family (simple comfort, no air-conditioning).

Day 11

Ben Tre – Can Tho

A quiet morning with your hosts, then drive to Can Tho: the market, the Ninh Kieu quays and the old house of Binh Thuy, a setting for the film The Lover.

Day 12

Cai Rang and Tra Su – Chau Doc

At dawn, by boat to Cai Rang floating market. Drive to Chau Doc with a rowing-boat ride in the Tra Su cajeput forest, more than 850 hectares of wetland.

Day 13

Sa Dec – Saigon

Back to Saigon via Sa Dec: the house of Huynh Thuy Le, Marguerite Duras's lover, and the school where her mother taught. A long day on the road.