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HIGHLIGHTS
A quick look about this trip!
DURATION
14 DAYS
COMFORT
STYLE
LANGUAGE
RATING
  • Family Vietnam Adventure
  • Easy trekking and homestay with the charming hill-tribes of Sapa
  • Two day cruise on Halong Bay in a traditional junk boat
  • Explore the Mekong Delta backwaters with its floating market
  • Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and relaxation at the resort of Phan Thiet
ACTIVITIES ON THIS TRIP
Primary: Urban Exploration, Trekking
Other: Local Culture & Cuisine, Historical Sites, biking, Kayaking, Swimming, Temples & Shrines, sightseeing, sleeper train, World Heritage Sites, Local Markets, national parks, caves, walking, boating, sailing
$1640USD
Prices vary by date. Make sure to pick your departure date.
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8 SPOTS AVAILABLE
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ONGOING PROMOTIONS
"Get 5% off when you book with AdventureLink before May 31st, 2012!"
SAVE 5%
Applies to Departures Between:
4/25/2012 and 1/1/2013
Promotion lasts :
From 4/25/2012 To 6/1/2012
TRIP MAP
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Vietnam - Jungles and Junks

In this superb family adventure, we have put together an itinerary which explores the best of Vietnam. From the Red River Delta in the north to the Mekong Delta in the south, Vietnam offers the visitor an almost overwhelming variety of natural beauty and traditional culture.
In this superb adventure, we have put together an itinerary which explores the best of Vietnam. From the Red River Delta in the north to the Mekong Delta in the south, Vietnam offers the visitor an almost overwhelming variety of natural beauty and traditional culture. As a result of the 1960's civil war most people had heard of Vietnam, but it was not until the early 1990's that the first intrepid travellers started arriving. They received a warm welcome from a forward looking people and discovered a hidden gem. Thatched bamboo huts set in a patchwork of brilliant green rice paddies, tended by women in conical hats, bustling city streets and grand colonial buildings, exotic temples and pagodas, deserted sandy beaches, breathtaking mountain scenery, colourful ethnic minorities, graceful women in ao dai tunics, delicious cuisine, luxurious hotels and resorts. Vietnam is all this and much more. With a rapidly developing infrastructure, opportunities for varied activities, and its famous hospitality, Vietnam is now firmly online as a destination for family travel. After exploring the maze-like streets of Hanoi's old quarter, we catch the overnight sleeper train to the former French hill-station of Sapa, close to the Chinese border. Here, we have a homestay with a family from the Giay hill-tribe, joining in with their daily life and rituals. Returning by train to Hanoi we then drive to sensational Halong Bay, where we board a traditional Vietnamese junk for a two day cruise around the island limestone towers. Sleeping on board there will be opportunities to explore caves and do some kayaking in this very special scenery. Heading south via Hoi An and Hue ,we visit Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon and take a boat trip on the backwaters of the Mekong Delta, including a visit to the floating market at Cai Be. The adventure ends perfectly with 2 full days of relaxation at a comfortable beach hotel in the laid-back resort of Phan Thiet.

Additional Information
The child price age for this holiday is: 6-12 years
The group size for this holiday is: 4-15

Note: Prices and itineraries shown for holidays departing in 2013 may be subject to change, although we will endeavour to keep any price increases to a minimum. 2013 prices will be confirmed in October 2012.
Day 1: Arrive Hanoi
Rendezvous at the group hotel in Hanoi. Airport transfers are provided for preferred group flight. After settling in, there will be time to take a stroll around nearby Hoan Kiem Lake, stopping off to visit Ngoc Son Pagoda or one of the many coffee shops and ice cream parlours around the lake. KE Land Only package services begin with a cyclo tour (like a bicycle rickshaw except you sit up front) of Hanoi’s ‘Old Quarter’. The bewildering maze of narrow streets tells a fascinating story of Hanoi where past meets present. This evening we have a ‘Welcome’ dinner in one of Hanoi’s traditional restaurants where we can sample typical North Vietnamese cuisine. Overnight at the group hotel in Hanoi. (Included meals: Dinner)
Day 2: Sightseeing in Hanoi, train to Laocai.
We have a full day of sightseeing in Hanoi. In the morning we visit President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, and his house, the President’s Palace (both viewed from outside), Tran Quoc (the most beautiful pagoda in Hanoi), and Quan Thanh temple (dedicated to the guardian genie of North Hanoi). After lunch in a local restaurant, later in the afternoon we watch a performance of Vietnam’s unique water puppetry. Water puppetry is an art, traditionally practiced by rice farmers in flooded paddy fields in the Red River Delta. The puppeteers are hidden behind a bamboo screen and depict Vietnamese folk tales, complete with special effects. A fun experience for all members of the family! In the evening we transfer to Hanoi Railway Station for the night train to Laocai and soon we settle down into comfortable berths to be rocked to sleep. Beds are bunks in 4-berth cabins and dinner is available to purchase on the train. (B,L)
Day 3: Trek through hilltribe villages to Tavan
We arrive in Laocai in the early morning and transfer to a local hotel for a quick shower, short rest and breakfast. After breakfast, we walk through the bustling market and then leave the town behind following a road going downhill to Cat Cat village. We continue on a dirt trail through rice paddy terraces and then through forest following the river to the Black Hmong village of Y Linh Ho. We have lunch here down by the river and then travel through the Muong Hoa valley passing through Lao Chai, another Black Hmong village and onto Tavan, a village of the Giay hilltribe. Here we spend the night in a local house enjoying the hospitality of the Giay. Approx: 5 hours walking. (B,L,D)
Day 4: Continue trek to SuPan, train to Hanoi
After breakfast with our hosts, we continue our trek heading for Giang Ta Chai, a village of the Red Dao minority. We walk through bamboo forest, which is part of Hoang Lien National Park. On the way we pass a waterfall and enjoy a picnic lunch. Reaching the village of SuPan, we return to the road where we meet our tour vehicle and drive back to Sapa. Once again we use a local hotel for a rest and to shower before transferring to Laocai Railway Station for the night train back to Hanoi. Approx: 3 hours walking and 1 hour driving. Overnight on the train. (B,L)
Day 5: Drive to Halong Bay, cruise on a Junk
Arriving in Hanoi in the early morning, we transfer to our hotel for a short rest and breakfast. After breakfast we set off again, driving through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta, watching scenes of everyday Vietnamese village life – figures in conical hats tending rice fields and water buffalo. After approximately 3½ hours we arrive at Halong Bay, where we board a traditional wooden junk for a cruise among the 3,000 spectacular limestone islands that make up this UNESCO World Heritage Site. We enjoy a fresh seafood lunch on board while the captain heads out for the horizon. The boat carries several Kayaks on board and there will be an opportunity to do some paddling this afternoon. We stay in comfortable cabins on board. (B,L,D)
Day 6: Morning cruise, then onward to Hoi An
After breakfast and possibly an early morning swim, we continue the cruise passing the rock formations which tower out of the bay. We can take to the kayaks for part of the day, paddling from Luon cave toward islets named for the shapes they resemble such as ‘Tortoise’, and ‘Man's Head’. Back on board the junk we cruise to Bai Tu Long Bay and around Bai Tho Mountain before heading back to Halong City. We have lunch on board and then drive to Hanoi airport to catch the evening flight to Danang. From Danang airport we transfer to our hotel Hoi An and the rest of the evening is free. There are several good restaurants in the near vicinity of the hotel offering a wide variety of western and Vietnamese cuisine. (B,L)
Day 7: Hoi An to Hue
After a leisurely breakfast, we will head out to see some of the wonderful relics in the surrounding area. We visit the 200 year old house of Tan Ky, the Tran family home and chapel, the central fish market and Hoian’s traditional handicrafts centre where we can see live silkworms in all stages of their growth. We will also stop off to see other famous artefacts, such as the 'Japanese Bridge' and Fu Kien Temple. In the afternoon, we will take a boat trip to visit the village of Thanh Ha, famous for its ceramics, or Kim Bong, whose inhabitants are known for their excellent carpentry. In the afternoon, we transfer to Hue via Cloudy Pass, on arrival we check in to our hotel. (B)
Day 8: Explore Hue
Hue served as Vietnam’s political capital from 1802 to 1945 under the rule of the 13 Emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty. Traditionally, the city has been one of Vietnam’s cultural, religious and educational centres and has recently been listed as a World Heritage Site. We will make our exploration of Vietnam's most beautiful city by bicycle. Initially taking a bus from the hotel to the Imperial Citadel, we will explore the ruins of this wonderful monument and then continue by bicycle on quiet backstreets to the banks of the Perfume River. Our route will take us to the Khai Dinh Mausoleum, and then on to Thuy Bieu Village. Thuy Bieu is an eco-village where we will visit a household producing incense for local temples, and meet the local farming people. We’ll take lunch in the village and then enjoy a traditional herbal foot bath. From here we will travel to Thien Mu Pagoda by boat for a visit before returning to our overnight accommodation in Hue. (B,L)
Day 9: Fly to Saigon and visit the Mekong Delta
We have an early breakfast and transfer to the airport for the morning flight to Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) city. We drive directly out to the magnificent Mekong Delta, formed by nine tributaries of the Mekong River and often referred to as the “rice bowl” of Vietnam. Arriving in Cai Be, we board a boat and cruise on the river towards An Hoa Village. The scenery here is completely different from that we’ve encountered further north. In the afternoon we take an exploratory trip by bicycle or on foot around the orchards before visiting the ancient house at Ba Kiet, one of the oldest preserved houses in the Mekong Delta. This evening we’ll enjoy a Vietnamese cooking class, and spend the night in a lodge on the Delta. (B,L,D)
Day 10: River cruise and Ho Chi Minh City Visit
After an early breakfast, we check out of the Mekong Lodge and board a boat for our river trip to the colourful Cai Be floating market. The market is a lively place with hundreds of people who live in the delta meeting on their boats to buy and sell rice, fresh fruit, fish, handicrafts…everything is for sale! After lunch we transfer to Ho Chi Minh City, and enjoy a short city tour that includes visits to Ben Thanh market, the impressive Central Post Office building and Notre Dame cathedral. Overnight in a city hotel. (B, L)
Day 11: Cu Chi Tunnels and transfer to Beach Resort
We begin the day driving to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. During the Vietnam War these tunnels enabled the Viet Cong to withstand American bombing raids and control a large rural area around Ho Chi Minh City. The Cu Chi complex consisted of more than 250 km of tunnels on three levels. Some of the tunnels have been left in their original condition while others have been excavated to allow easy public access. There is also an interesting museum dedicated to the conflict. Leaving the city limits we begin the drive to our beach resort at Phan Thiet, taking lunch en route. We should arrive in the late afternoon. (B,L)
Days 12 & 13: At the beach resort
This very comfortable and stylish resort is just a few yards from the beach and has a large freshwater swimming pool and a smaller children’s pool. It also has a tennis court and a spa including sauna. Mountain bikes and jeeps are available for rent. The hotel has a restaurant, snack bar and in the evening, a poolside cocktail bar. We have two full days to enjoy the beach and spa resort. (B)
Day 14: Departure from Ho Chi Minh City
The morning is free until the transfer to Ho Chi Minh City Airport (Saigon) where KE Land Only package services end. (B)
TRIP INCLUDES
  • Experienced English speaking local guide
  • Internal flights
  • Single timed group airport transfers
  • All accommodation as detailed in the trip dossier
  • Meals outlined in the meal plan
  • Ferries and cruise boats and all land transport
TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE
  • Travel insurance
  • Visas
  • Airport taxes
  • Meals outlined in the Meal Plan Tips for local staff
  • Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc.
CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

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