12-Day North & Central Vietnam Adventure

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Today, you'll experience the morning like a true Hanoian at Hang Be Market, one of the Old Quarter’s liveliest “wet” markets. Then, you'll head into an alley and pull up a tiny plastic stool for a breakfast bowl of bun ca and ca cuon. You'll then head to the Citadel to marvel at the ancient architecture. After visiting the Women's Museum, you'll head back to the Old Quarter for a tasty lunch before you soaking up the atmosphere of a favourite Vietnamese hobby, drinking coffee with friends.

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This morning, you'll depart Hanoi for Hai Phong. Here, you'll board your cruise for an epic voyage through Lan Ha Bay, the pristine little sister of the popular Halong Bay. You'll spend the afternoon deep within Cat Ba National Park, hiking through Trung Trang Valley to Trung Trang cave, a 2000-year-old cavern filled with stalactites and stalagmites. You'll return to the ship for some downtime, enjoying a traditional Vietnamese cooking class and a delicious dinner onboard before retiring.

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As the sun rises over the bay, you can join the ancient practice of Tai Chi on the sundeck, a martial art known for its health benefits and meditational use. After breakfast, you'll reach Viet Hai Village by bike as there are no roads connecting it to the rest of Cat Ba Island. You'll spend time getting to know the history and traditions of the Vietnamese people who live there, enjoying lunch before setting off for Van Boi, a secluded beach area where you have time to swim, sunbathe, and kayak.

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Savour your morning in the Gulf of Tonkin with an excursion via bamboo boat to the Dark and Bright Cave, one of Halong Bay’s most atmospheric water caves. Back on the boat, you'll head to the mainland where you'll return to Hanoi for an afternoon at leisure until your overnight train departure to the valleys and mountains of Sapa. Settle into your cosy bunk bed and let the clickety-clack of the railroad tracks lull you to sleep.

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Today, the fun really begins! Upon arrival in Sapa, you'll trek downhill from Hang Da, a Black Hmong Village, taking in the beautiful mountain vistas on the way to Hau Chu Ngai, another Black Hmong Village. The trek continues to My Son, where the Xa Pho, one of the most isolated groups in Sapa, live. The trek ends in Nam Cang, a Red Dzao Village, which is also coincidentally where the accommodation for the night is, the boutique homestay styled Topas Riverside Lodge.

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You'll discover the jungle on a gentle hike this morning and see where the villagers plant cardamom along with other herbs and spices that can fetch a good price in the local markets, and make your way to the local stream, dipping your toes in or going for a final swim. You'll enjoy the scenery before heading back to the lodge through the forest for lunch. Then, you'll say goodbye to your host family as you depart for Topas Ecolodge by private transfer.

This day of your Vietnam package is yours at leisure until a mid-afternoon departure for Hanoi via the Topas Mountain Express. Sunbathe and splash in the pool, sample delicious cuisine at the restaurant, breathe in the fresh mountain air from your bungalow’s patio or indulge in some locally-inspired treatments at the wonderful spa on site. When you're ready, you'll travel down to Hanoi arriving in time for dinner at your hotel.

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This morning, you'll be able to spend a few hours at leisure before a late afternoon flight to central Vietnam’s Hue. You can stop by the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s oldest university and a place of worship, or browse the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology’s carefully curated exhibits. In the evening, you'll arrive in Hue and have some time to get some local dinner before retiring to your hotel for the night.

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You'll start your morning with a calm cycling tour down colonial Le Loi Head boulevard, looking out for colonial mansions before crossing the iconic Truong Tien bridge. You'll park your bike to roam the former grandeur of the Hue Citadel, a grand walled city of parks and lakes as well as a traditional garden house for lunch. You'll then spend the afternoon gliding down the Perfume River on a colourful dragon boat to two different tombs on UNESCO’s list.

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Not only is Hue a wonderful place to discover because of its legendary history, but also because of the lush scenery that surrounds it. You'll leave the sleepy city on a day excursion to Bach Ma National Park, one of Vietnam’s least-visited protected reserves. You'll spend the morning hiking to Hai Vong Dai for a panoramic overview of Lang Co Beach, Cau Hai Lagoon, and even the Hai Van Pass. You'll visit several waterfalls and the Five Lakes.