Discover Vietnam

Get the camera ready as soon as we land—overloaded motorbikes accompany us towards the center. To acclimatize, we take a relaxing stroll in the lively area around our hotel as our guide welcomes us to his country with a smile.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and his House on Stilts are the place to start our tour. We criss-cross the Old Quarter by cyclo—the Quarter of 36 Streets and the old French sector. Discover a market that even the most experienced traveller will find amazing. The real Hanoi!

Driving east, we leave the city behind. In Halong Bay, the romance of old Vietnam still lingers—bizarre karst islets randomly scattered and the odd red-sailed junk sliding across the waters. Laze on the deck of our junk boat, swim, and visit one of the caves. After dinner on board, comfortable sleeping cabins await.

Waking up to the gentle rocking of the boat, watching the fishermen from the sundeck. Imagine breakfast with a view! We sail to the harbor, leave the Gulf of Tonkin behind, and transfer to the airport for our flight to the Imperial City of Hue.

Hue has long been regarded as the cultural, religious and educational heart of Vietnam. We visit the Royal Citadel and learn about the emperors. Sailing on the Perfume River we reach the finest of the Imperial Tombs. Stop at a handicraft village to see how the Vietnamese hat is made—and make your own.

From Hue we drive to Hoi An via the Champa Museum in Danang. This UNESCO World Heritage town has a terrific ambiance: traditional architecture, great cafés and restaurants, and some of the best deals in Vietnam for custom tailoring and artworks.

Hoi An still retains remnants of its trading days—the bustling market, old tile-roofed shop houses, shady pagodas and colourful communal halls. Relax at the beach, take a cooking course, or stroll past old family houses and pagodas. Discover the countryside by bike and enjoy a fresh coconut on the way.

We visit My Lai village, a name famous from the Vietnam War—a chance to understand more about that tragic part of Vietnam's history. As the cradle of the Champa kingdom, we visit temples of Cham civilization. We continue to Quy Nhon, passing unspoiled beaches and rice fields. A local port town with a large fishing fleet and few tourists.

Today's drive along the coast is one of hidden bays and secret inlets, among the most beautiful parts of Vietnam. We stop to chat with fishermen and learn about their daily activities and Vietnam's famous nuoc mam (fish sauce). Nha Trang's palm-fringed beachfront stretches for 5 km—seafood on the menus is irresistible.

From Nha Trang we drive up into the mountains to the Central Highlands—lush tropical forests, fertile farmland and the country's largest Buddha at Long Son. Dalat was the French colonialists' escape from the heat. We walk past villas, the church and the railway station. The market overflows with the juiciest fruit and freshest vegetables.

Dalat is not only a destination for leisure—the rich culture leads to new experiences. In a hill tribe village we learn how the original inhabitants lived and join in their daily activities. In the afternoon, explore the wonderful scenery on two wheels; bicycles still rule the roads in the rural areas.

We reach Ho Chi Minh City after many sights along the way—coffee and tea plantations, forests, a village on the Nga River and roadside stalls. This city used to be called "the Paris of the East" but now feels more like Vietnam's Los Angeles. Taste a banh mi, sit on a street corner and watch the world go by.

Get caught up in the heady buzz of Saigon—dizzy with the pace of a million motorcycles. Follow the history and culture from Reunification Palace to the War Museum, with Asian and Indochine architecture throughout. Cu Chi tunnels, pagodas and com pho shops are all here to discover.

Leave the bustle of the city and head south to the Delta. Quiet laneways and dirt paths weave through villages and fields. Another highlight is life on the canal—the Cuu Long (Nine Dragon) river. If lucky you may witness a floating market. Back in Saigon for a last night in Vietnam.

End of the programme. Transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport, Ho Chi Minh City.