Arrive in Ho Chi Minh on flight. Your guide and private car will meet you and transfer you to your hotel for check-in. 

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Despite all the hustle and bustle, Saigon retains its connections with the past. Today, discover the real Saigon like a local on the back of an old style vintage Vespa. Enjoy a ride behind your driver passing by the city’s historic landmarks including the Opera House, Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office. Cruising further, head to China town to visit Francis Xavier Church and the Thien Hau pagoda. Following your tour head back to your hotel.   

Saigon is a city on the move! Discover what this thriving and exciting metropolis can offer in terms of street food, all from the back of a vintage Vespa giuong ngu gia re scooter. After a briefing at your hotel lobby about the logistic, be introduced to your driver and start the journey. Stops include dinner and drinks at Saigon's best authentic street food, and a Vietnamese-style coffee shop. Drive to District 4 to taste various snail dishes which are very popular in Saigon. Then it’s back to District 3 to sample a southern Vietnamese specialty – Banh Xeo (rice pancake with pork and prawns). Finally, head to a local Vietnamese style coffee shop and annoy a long slow coffee – the local way.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Departure from your hotel and transfer by vehicle 30km out of Saigon to avoid the teeming traffic. Cycle back-roads to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Spend the morning riding back-roads to Cu Chi tunnels, which were more than 250 km long and three levels deep, were important for the Viet Cong victory over the Americans as they allowed the Viet Cong to control a large rural area around Saigon. Along the way pass rice fields, rubber plantations and local villages. 

Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience of what underground life in the American war was like. The district of Cu Chi was the most bombed shelled, gassed, defoliated, and generally devastated area in the history of warfare. While U.S. forces relied on artillery support from fixed "Fire Bases," the Vietnamese used their tunnel system to move their artillery around, making it difficult for the U.S. troops to locate them.

Lunch at the tunnels next to the Saigon River. Continue cycling a great tarmac road to Trang Bang, from there cut across country by bike or bus towards Ha Nghia and Duc Hoa. In the afternoon return to Saigon by vehicle.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Depart Saigon for 2 hour drive to the southwest to Cai Lay. Along the way, notice lush rice paddies and fruit farms emerging alongside the highway. Upon arrival, board a charming wooden boat to enjoy countryside scenery and river life. Then stretch your legs a bit and hop on a bicycle for a short ride of about 7km (over easy, level terrain) along narrow village lanes, past fruit orchards and local cottage industries. Locals will often greet you with a hello or “xin chao” as you pedal by. Arrive at the home of a tropical fruit farmer and have a walk around his orchard. Enjoy the opportunity to taste fresh fruits. Then relax while enjoying the view from a small sampan boat as you are paddled slowly along tropical canals. Disembark and walk through this Mekong village to a local home and enjoy a home-hosted lunch of Mekong Delta specialties. After lunch, a short walk takes you back to the car and your return trip to Saigon. 

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Leave the hustle and bustle of Saigon behind and transfer to the lush forest of Cat Tien National Park. Enjoy a short trek through the jungle to see the wildlife and make your way to a bear rehabilitation centre. This facility has been established by Wildlife at Risk who rescues bears that have been captured for the bile market or pet trade. It is hoped that after a time in the holding enclose that some of the endemic bears can be released back into the forest. This evening, travel by vehicle deep into the park and use a spotlight to see the nocturnal wildlife. Enjoy a good night’s rest in the lodge and fall asleep to the sounds of the jungle.

Overnight at Cat Tien Park.

After a leisurely breakfast visit the Dao Tien Endangered Primate Species Centre. The aim of the Centre is to rescue and rehabilitate endangered primates and when appropriate release the rehabilitated pairs of gibbons back into the forests of Cat Tien National Park.

Return to the lodge for lunch before driving to Dalat directly. Arrive in Dalat, check in hotel and enjoy your night in Highland Vietnam.

Overnight in Dalat.

Enjoy some free time this morning before we hop on your bike to visit to the nearby flower and vegetable gardens. In the morning, pedal downhill to Van Thanh hamlet where you can stroll along the garden paths to admire the colourful scenery and learn more about the traditional gardening methods. Continue driving and witness the beautiful rural outskirts before you pay a visit to a family-run silk making factory. Get all the insights of the entire process from cocoon to garment. Take a short drive to the imposing Elephant Waterfall. Enjoy the fresh air and cool breeze after walking the 145 rather steep steps downhill. Drive back to town for a late lunch served at a family style restaurant, overlooking a valley of local houses and vegetable gardens. After lunch, pay a visit to the Dalat railway station, which was designed with elements of architecture from the East of France. Back to your hotel for a rest. A total of between 50 and 60km cycling over a mix of paved and unpaved roads.

Overnight in Dalat.

Breakfast at hotel Transfer from Da Lat to Nha Trang for 140km. Sightseeing stopover for visiting Cham Tower. Hotel check-in upon arrival.

Overnight in Nha Trang.

After breakfast, transfer out of town to the Dien Khanh Citadel which was built around the 18th century by a prince from the Nguyen dynasty. Start cycling along the countryside roads passing paddy fields and home industries producing rice paper. You will feel like you are a long way from any hustle and bustle as this trip offers serenity and stunning scenery to boot. After 35km, stop at a church for a break and enjoy your packed lunch. Continue over the quiet inland roads until we reach National Highway 1, which marks the end of our cycling adventure of the day. A total of 60km cycling on a mix of paved and unpaved roads.

Overnight in Nha Trang.

After breakfast transfer to Cam Ranh Airport for the short flight to the central port city of Danang. Upon arrival in Danang, transfer to the hotel and make a stop at the Cham Museum, which houses the best collection of Cham ruins dating to periods between the 2nd and 15th centuries.

Transfer to Hoi An, a major Asian trading port in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries whose architecture and relaxed lifestyle has changed little over the years. Then, take a walking tour around this enchanting port town. Follow the narrow lanes lined with centuries-old houses influenced by Chinese, Japanese, French and European architectures and visit its numerous places of interest: the 400-year old Japanese Covered Bridge, the Phuc Kien Assembly Halls, the local fish market… Around the town we can see a numerous art galleries and tailor shops, get some made-to-order clothes if you like. The tour takes about 2 hours - Finish tour and check in Hotel.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Breakfast at hotel, ride a bicycle to a local farm in Tra Que village. Introduction to the history of the village, the cultivation of the vegetables as well as discovering about the use of vegetables in traditional Vietnamese medicine. You will take a trip around the vegetable garden and join the farmers in preparing the land and fertilizing it with seaweed from the local lake. Continuing doing some next steps such as: raking the ground, sowing, watering greens, picking greens and many more gardening activities. Then spend the rest of the morning working the land in the time honored way, before breaking to prepare lunch with a local family. Your lunch will consist of many local delicacies including ‘tam huu’ spring roll, Banh xeo or local pancake of people's middle region. After your lunch and the exertions of the morning, take an even more traditional Vietnamese post-prandial nap before learning how to harvest and wrap the vegetables.

After that, Set in three acres of lush tropical gardens, Meet up with your in the old town for a brief introduction and a welcome drink. Meander through Hoi An’s central market with your chef to enjoy the sights, sounds and aromas. This is your chance to learn about how to select fresh produce and ingredients essential for Vietnamese cuisine. Get your camera ready as the cruise offers glimpses of local river life. Upon arrival visit the school’s herb garden before enjoying a private hands-on cooking class. After the lesson, sit down and eat what you have created in the lovely restaurant overlooking the river.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Depart from Hoi An in the early morning for Hue via the impressive Hai Van Pass where spectacular views can be enjoyed and the scenic fishing village of Lang Co.

In Hue, to discover Hue, former Imperial capital during Nguyen Dynasty. Take a boat for a cruise on the gentle Perfume River to the seven – storey Thien Mu Pagoda on the riverbank. Thien Mu – one of the most beautiful and ancient architectural structures of work-ship in Hue. Heading to visit Imperial Citadel.

Finish up the day at Khai Dinh’s Tomb which is traditional Vietnamese in design with a European touch making it unique from the other tombs in Hue. End of the day, check in hotel.

Overnight in Hue. 

Transfer to Hue Airport after breakfast for the short flight to Hanoi, and we have half day city tour of Vietnam's capital. Jump in the saddle and depart early from your hotel to discover the streets of Hanoi coming to life. Cycle towards Hoan Kiem lake, the heart of Hanoi, where you can see people practicing their exercises. Continue to the Yen Phu dike to see bicycles and motorbikes loaded with colourful agricultural products entering the city. Head back through the edge of the Old Quarter and onto the tree lined boulevard splitting the West Lake and Truc Bach Lake. Make a stop at Tran Quoc Pagoda which is one of the endearing symbols of Hanoi. Round the corner to Ba Dinh Square, famous for its monuments to Ho Chi Minh and some well preserved French mansions before returning to your hotel.

According to availability: Finish the day with a Water Puppet show. This is a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes from rural life and episodes of national history.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Leave Hanoi by road for Halong Bay. Enjoy the journey through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life. Arrive in Halong and board the Huong Hai or Bai Tho traditional sailing junk. Whilst cruising the exquisite waters sample the regions fresh seafood. Visit the recently discovered Surprise Grotto with its great views, and on the next island see the yawning mouth of Bo Nau Cave. Alternatively journey to Dau Go Cave and nearby see the famous stalagmites and stalactites of Thien Cung Cave. Enjoy a swim in the emerald waters of Halong Bay at any spot that you wish to visit. Watch the sun set over the bay whilst enjoying a delicious dinner.

Overnight on board junk.

Wake up to fresh coffee and a wholesome breakfast before cruising back to Halong City. En route the junk weaves through strange-shaped rock formations that invite comparisons from fighting cocks to dragons and even General de Gaulle’s nose! disembark at the dock at Halong City. Transfer back to Hanoi, check in hotel.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Breakfast at hotel and free time at leisure until transfer back to airport for departure flight.