Vietnam Express Southbound & Phu Quoc

Day 1  Hanoi  
Welcome to Hanoi. Join a welcome meeting in the evening at your hotel, followed by a group dinner at a restaurant dedicated to developing the hospitality careers of disadvantaged youth.    

Day 2  Hanoi to Halong Bay  
Travel to the UNESCO listed Halong Bay, which is dotted with sandy coves, caves, and 1,600 limestone islands. Cruise the bay, exploring Surprise Cave and Ti Top Island Beach, then perhaps take a kayaking tour. Spend your evening on board the boat beneath the night sky.  

Day 3  Halong Bay to Hue  
Wake up on board your boat on Halong Bay. Visit The Green Life Centre, which is committed to turning the bay’s trash into handicrafts. Return to Hanoi by bus and enjoy a free afternoon until you board an overnight train to Hue this evening.

Day 4  Hue  
Arrive in Hue this morning and transfer to your hotel. Once the imperial capital of Vietnam, Hue holds the treasures of the country’s royal past. This afternoon, visit the ruins of the Imperial Citadel – a sprawling city-within-a-city which contains the remains of temples, state houses, and the emperor’s palace.  

Day 5  Hue  
See Hue like a local on a motorbike tour. Stop at Thanh Toan to see the 18th Century covered bridge and villagers shopping at a local market. Visit the 17th Century Buddhist monastery of Thien Mu Pagoda. After enjoying lunch at a nunnery, finish at the lakeside royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc before heading back to town.  

Day 6  Hue to Hoi An  
This morning, take the bus through coastal rice paddies and the spectacular Hai Van Pass. After a photo stop on the way, arrive in Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  When you arrive, your leader will take you on a sightseeing walk through the old town to visit a handful of the city's major attractions.    

Day 7  Hoi An  
Today is a free day to explore Hoi An. Browse the cobbled streets and preserved Chinese shophouses or hire a bike and cycle through rice paddies out to Cua Dai Beach. Hoi An is known for its delicious regional food, so perhaps have dinner at a riverside restaurant or partake in a cooking class.  

Day 8  Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City  
Today, take a morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Take a sightseeing tour around the city by bus. Pass the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Opera House, then stop in at the War Remnants Museum to discover some of the sobering stories of the Vietnam/American War.  

Day 9  Mekong Delta    
This morning, head out on a daytrip to the Mekong Delta. Board a boat to Ben Tre to visit the coconut gardens and stop at a local home to sample tropical fruits and coconut jams. After, paddle in sampans (small rowing boats) past coconut trees. Take a tuk-tuk tour around the villages and learn about rural life. Eat lunch at a local restaurant, sampling regional specialties like elephant ear fish. After, return to Ho Chi Minh City.    

Day 10  Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc
Your tour comes to an end this morning. Make your way to the airport to catch a flight to Phu Quoc, an island off Vietnam’s southern coast.  

Days 11-14  Phu Quoc  
Spend a few days relaxing on Phu Quoc. Known as ‘Pearl Island’, wander along powdery white sand beaches, swim in turquoise waters and unwind in the comfort of your lovely resort. Perhaps visit Sunset Town to see the European inspired buildings, replica landmarks and iconic Kiss Bridge.

Day 15  Phu Quoc  
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.