We leave Auckland Thursday, 6th June and fly to Ho Chi Minh via a short stopover in Singapore.

After an early arrival into Vietnam on Friday, 7th June, we're welcomed by our local guide and a private transfer to our hotel in the city centre. Our hotel is located in the heart of the business and entertainment neighbourhood, known as district 1. We stay here for two nights. 

Ho Chi Minh City (or Siagon to the locals) hosts an expansive collection of modern buildings that create a colourful skyline. The city thrives on the hustle and bustle of  local residents, motor scooters, tuk tuks and people. Immerse yourself in the mesmerising smells, sounds, sights and colours of this busy city.

We arrive at our hotel and the rest of your day is free to relax. You may like to explore Ho Chi Minh on your own, or with the help of our local guide.

Dinner.

This morning, we are met at the hotel by our local guide, who takes us on a tour to explore this unique city. We’ll visit the picturesque colonial centre, see some wonderful french influenced buildings, visit several markets, the Reunification Palace, Jade Emperor Pagoda, Notre Dame Cathedral and The Central Post Office, having lunch at a local restaurant along the way.

Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.

This morning, we check-out of our hotel and travel to Cai Be in the amazing Mekong Delta and board our boat – our home for the next 2 nights. 

As we meander up this remarkable river's many tributaries, you will wonder how the skippers of these boats know every nook and cranny. For these few days, we'll definitely be “off the beaten track” and away from big towns.

Today we’ll lunch on board, then disembark and wander through the countryside pathways with our local guide and observe farmers, orchards and everyday life of the local Vietnamese. 

Back on board, we make ourselves comfortable before enjoying pre-dinner drinks while watching the sunset. This is followed by a delicious traditional Vietnamese dinner on deck. No posh frocks or suits on this cruise – just cool and casual.

Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.

Early to bed, early to rise, is the order of the day – as you soon learn on the Mekong. After breakfast we continue our cruise to Can Tho on the Bassac river. This is a tributary of the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers, it starts in Phnom Phenh, Cambodia and flows south across the border into Vietnam.

On our arrival in Can Tho we explore the Cai Rang markets – one of the most bustling floating markets in Mekong Delta with many small boats barging and jostling for space as owners attempt to sell their goods. We then meander through palm shaded creeks, discovering local houses and fruit orchards. 

Once again we go ashore and wander through the countryside with our local guide and see cottage industries in Xuan Hiep, Vinh Long (a southern province in the Mekong Delta and also the busy capital). 

Back on board we enjoy a complimentary drink and once again watch the sunset and devour another delicious dinner on deck.

Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.

This morning we wake to the sound of the floating markets.

After breakfast, we bid farewell to our wonderful crew and transfer to a smaller boat and explore the Cai Be floating market followed by a visit to a small village and admire handcrafts made by villagers and sample various tropical fruits. 

We then continue on our boat to an Eco Resort beside the Tien river and observe local people going about their daily activities. Here, we're met by our driver who escorts us back to Ho Chi Minh City Airport.

After a one hour flight to Danang, we meet our new local guide who takes us on a short drive to the La Siesta Resort Hoi An and stay 4 nights.

Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.

In the morning we depart for a guided tour of the ancient city of Hoi An. 

Some hundreds of years ago, this town thrived on trading with the Chinese, Japanese and Spanish. You will see a strong influence of French colonial buildings along with the iconic Japanese covered bridge with its Pagoda dating back to the 16th century. The Old Quarter of Hoi An was declared a UNESCO World heritage site in 1999. 

Hoi An is also famous for their lantern festival and lantern making. During our tour, you can light a candle in a lantern and float it on the Thu Bon river – a tradition followed by many.

After lunch in a local restaurant, we're introduced to the history and art of lantern making. You can make your own lantern, which is loads of fun (with a bit of local help) and “yes”! men are great at this too... no pressure!

Dinner tonight is in our hotel.

Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.

Today is at leisure. 

You can relax in your hotel, or go on a leisurely cycle to some villages or Cua Dai beach, or shop around town. 

We have great contacts for a taylor and a jeweller, so if you have an item you would like replicated or made, don’t forget to bring it with you. 

Breakfast.

You can either do your own thing today or opt to do one of these great experiences:

HALF DAY RED BRIDGE COOKING SCHOOL  

8.15am start. ($US34 per person)

Join in a half day cooking & market tour including guided market visit, boat trip to cooking school, cooking demonstration and lunch.

HALF DAY TOUR TO MY SON HOLY LAND

Departs 8am or 1pm. ($US37 per person).

Enjoy a historical tour to My Son Holy Land. Older than Angkor Wat, this ruin is considered as being in the same league as some of Southeast Asia's greatest archaeological sites, including Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Bagan in Myanmar, Ayutthaya in Thailand and Borobudur in Indonesia. The towers and sanctuaries were built from the 7th to 13th centuries and was the capital and religious centre of the Cham people. 

DINNER

Tonight you can choose to do your own dinner or join Liz with her Vietnamese family friends. Eat at a local restaurant, where the food is traditionally ordered by the father of the family and be amazed at how much you can eat for such a small cost. Embrace this wonderful experience and meet a local family while we all share dinner. ($US10 per person).

Breakfast.

This morning we say goodbye to beautiful Hoi An with wonderful memories and maybe new clothes and jewellery tucked in our bags. 

Our first stop is the famous Marble Mountain –these 5 limestone and marble mountains are home to several Buddhist and Hindu grottos. We’ll see amazing stone sculptures and stone cutting crafts. 

We then drive over the spectacular Hai Van Pass along the coast and stop for lunch on the beautiful Lang Co Beach. 

Afterwards, we head to Hue airport for a short flight to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. We’re met by a new local guide and transferred to our hotel in the Old Quarter for our 2-night stay.

Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.

Today we take a tour of Hanoi’s most outstanding cultural and historical sites. As Hanoi is known as the political centre of Vietnam, we visit significant landmarks and buildings and also visit the One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature for a brief understanding of Buddhism and Confucianism.

Our day ends with a cyclo ride to explore the old Quarter of Hanoi. Hold onto your hat and enjoy being peddled around by these amazing men with nerves of steel, who love their job.

Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.

We head back to the water today, but this time, to a very different experience – a 2 night cruise on the stunning Halong Bay, a UNESCO world heritage park. 

We drive to Hon Gai International harbor and board The Dragon Legend Cruise ship. Lunch is served and we cruise to the magnificent Cap La, Tra San. Here, you have an opportunity to kayak around this amazing part of Halong Bay or simply relax on deck and soak in the beauty of the surroundings. 

Back onboard our “junk” relax, have a swim or pre-dinner drink and enjoy a delicious dinner on deck. The service, food and accommodation on this stunning boat will not disappoint.

Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.

This morning while having breakfast on deck we cruise to Con Dam – we discover the geological wonders of Bai Tu Long Bay amongst hundreds of majestic, towering lime stone islands topped by rainforests as we go. As we cruise through the emerald green water you will feel like you’re in another world.

Today, you can go kayaking through hidden lagoons and through the geological Park in Cong Dam with our trusted guide at our side. Alternatively, you may wish to stay on board and enjoy the vista from the deck.

We have a BBQ lunch on a beach followed by a leisurely cruise to the Cong Da area. On arrial at Hon Co Island we explore the well-hidden and stunning Thien Cahn Son cave.

With plenty of time to relax we close the day with dinner on the deck overlooking the Bay.

Breakfast, Lunch. Dinner.

This morning we visit Vung Vieng fishing village on a rustic row boat – the element of surprise of seeing how these remarkable people live is a real eye opener! Their smiles and friendly greetings will capture your heart. 

We then pack our bags, check out of our cabins and enjoy lunch while we cruise back to Hon Guy international harbour and once again farewell our crew before driving back to Hanoi. 

We stop along the way to watch a water puppet show and check back in to our hotel for another 2 nights.

Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.

Today is a free day in Hanoi. Explore on your own, do that last minute shopping, relax, or wander the streets of this wonderful old city.

An optional extra is a full day tour to Bai Dinh Pagoda and Ninh Binh.

8am Start. ($US87 inclusive of lunch). 

Visit the place of prayer at the Bai Dinh Pagoda, the biggest pagoda in Vietnam. This houses 500 La Han statues and the biggest bronze Buddha in Vietnam – 10m high and weighing 100T.

We then head to  the recently recognised UNESECO world natural heritage site of Trang An. We board a small rowing boat (sampan) and you’ll be escorted through the river with breathtaking mountain views, green fields and eye boggling landscapes. Your guide will take you through a surreal network of cave complexes and wow you with hundreds of Stalagmites and Stalactites. 

Ninh Binh is also known as the Ha Long Bay on land and is a trip that shouldn’t be missed.

Breakfast. 

Oh no... it’s time to go home! After breakfast, we drive to Hanoi Airport for our flight home via a short stopover in Singapore.

We arrive in beautiful Aotearoa on  21st June and we say our final farewells to our fellow travellers. 

We hope you’ve made some life-long friends and have amazing stories to share and memories to cherish.

Breakfast.