Comfort Level

This cultural journey is graded ‘gentle’ with plenty of free time and opportunities for cycling and walking. Humidity can be high. Be prepared for some longer journeys.

Dining Out

Trip price includes: 12 breakfasts, 1 lunch & 2 dinners. Vietnamese food is notoriously tasty, fragrant and fresh. Fish and seafood feature heavily and you’ll get to try lots of local delicacies on this trip - especially on the boat trip and during your homestay. Vegetarians are well catered for.

Max Group Size

16

Pricing Notes

Insurance from £80 • Single room option from £130 (not available on overnight train, boat or during homestay).

Responsible Travel

We support the Binh Luc Children’s Centre near Hanoi, providing a home for orphans aged between 6 and 15 years old. You will have the opportunity to visit the centre during your stay in Hanoi. If you would like to take a gift they would be delighted to receive clothes, stationery and sports equipment. Recent improvements include a better dining room and kitchen, and separate toilet building. We return from Halong Bay via the Sao Do Charity Centre, helping disabled children sell handicrafts to the public.

Special Inclusions

Hoi An - Beautiful streets of old merchant’s houses lead to the riverfront markets. Magical tailors can whistle up new suits overnight whilst you have the opportunity to try your hand at Vietnamese cooking!

Transport Used

The overnight train has four-berth cabins, with drinks and food available on board. There are Western toilets and bedding is provided. The Halong Bay boats feature twin-share cabins with en suite bathrooms, and a crew to cook dinner (vegetarians are catered for).

Your Accommodation

Hotels (10 nights), homestay (1 night), overnight train (1 night), boat (1 night). All hotels used on this trip are of a good standard and where possible we use quiet locations to avoid the noise of the Vietnamese traffic. The Mekong Delta homestay is run by a welcoming family and the house is typical of the surrounding area; there are good washing and toilet facilities and the food is excellent.