Vietnam Backroads, 21 days

On arrival at Ho Chi Minh Airport, you are met by our guide and taken to your hotel by private transfer. You may have some time free to relax or discover at your own leisure. The bustling city of Ho Chi Minh, still called Saigon by many locals, was originally a fishing village built up on a vast swampland, but it has developed into Saigon under the French domination. The effervescent development has bought Ho Chi Minh some cosmic changes from a war-torn city to a thriving metropolis. However, the architecture, local culture and lifestyle in Ho Chi Minh are still a reconciliation among French, American and Chinese influences. This fast growing city is now punctuated with elegant international hotels and exclusive restaurants, crowded with motorbikes, cars and vociferous cyclo drivers, and excited by numerous shopping areas, sidewalk cafés and noodle stalls. They have formed a dynamic urban area in very special sense and make for an endless exploration in this  south Vietnamese gem.

Today, we spend a morning to explore Ho Chi Minh City. The beautiful walking square of Nguyen Hue  is  always a live attraction, giving an interesting view from the bygone time to the new fashion of Ho Chi Minh. This pedestrian boulevard linking the Saigon River and the ornate City Hall, is fringed with exquisite colonial structures, nice restaurants and shopping malls.  We have a quick visit to Nguyen Hue Street  before going to see the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Sai Gon Post Office. They boats some of the most striking colonial buildings in Ho Chi Minh Center. We drive past the Independence Palace and catch  an outside view of this historical landmark on our way to  the War Remnant Exhibit. This house contains a wealth of images and real objects reflecting the notorious Vietnam- American War and the first Indochina War involving the French colonialists. They make your visit like taking a step back into the war time.  We follow this sight with the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the retail  Ben Thanh Market, where vendors display a vast array of goods and handicrafts appealing to every taste!. You have some time free to further explore  the town at your leisure or join one of  our optional activities;  cooking class, Saigon River cruise, Cu Chi Tunnel trip, evening Vespa tour, spa treatment and many more. These optional trips are not included; however our guide is in hand to provide you with valuable information.   

The bustling commerce of Ho Chi Minh contrasts sharply with the languid, almost-soporific pace of life in the Mekong Delta. Today we depart early for Cai Be Town and  spend  two days to join many activities in this plain region and  apprehend a true taste of rural life. On arrival in Cai Be,  we embark on a private boat to visit  the Cai Be Floating Market. The traffic usually flusters at dawn while many big boats converge from nearby regions to make for a bustling  trade hub on the water. We continue venturing into the Mekong Delta and have stops at local industry cottages. They will give us some information on how local villagers make the rice paste, rice popcorn, handicrafts, and coconut candy. The boat excursion will deliver us at An Binh Island, which rises up between the Tien and Co Chien Rivers. This large island has been warped by both rivers in hundreds of years and offers an authentic experience of the Mekong Delta. We have  time to explore  An Binh Island, one of the fascinating ecotourism sites  in this watery region. The intricate narrow canals, fruit gardens and rural lifestyle make for an endless exploration.  We spend this night as the guests of a family, prepare some foods for  our dinner and learn  about  the local culture. The accommodation is very simple, no western facilities, but the experience is definitely unique.

Upon leaving the village of our previous night,  we cycle along  meandering paths of An Binh Island and pass  through lush greenery and waving children. We see many local villagers going on their daily business,  who call the Mekong Delta their home. The local life of villagers in this area revolves around the rivers and canals  so they  are more likely to transport by river than road. Along the way, we also visit a rice husking mill, bonsai garden and ceramic  kiln. The ceramic wares from tiny spoon to giant jars are widely sold throughout the Mekong Delta. You may get a chance to make some objects at your skill.  The river excursion comes to an end  in  Vinh Long Town by late morning. We have time to stroll around the town market  before we set off on our  journey to back to Ho Chi Minh. En route,  we visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda  which was built with a mixture of China, Vietnam, and Cambodia elements,  and the famous China Town, locally named Cho Lon. This  bustling area , locally named Cho Lon, is crammed with sacred temples and mysterious, narrow lanes. The major attractions in place are the Binh Tay Market and  the Thien Hau Pagoda, which will  give us some interesting views of the local trading ways, old date culture and  traditions. You  spend the remainder of this afternoon on your own to further explore Ho Chi Minh City and pack your luggage for the days ahead.

The northbound journey begins as we leave Ho Chi Minh City for the central highland of Vietnam. There are several ways of travelling to Da Lat, but we choose a private drive  to enjoy the scenery as much as possible. The jostling houses give way to rice fields, rubber forest and tea plantations, which offers glimpses of the real beauty awaiting you further up. We can make stops to stretch our legs and  catch some interesting views of floating houses along the winding La Nga River. The scenic drive will deliver us to Da Lat Town by mid or late afternoon, depending on the traffic and road conditions. We check in our hotel and start the exploration of this hill town. The fresh climate dominates Da Lat, giving it a lovely name “City of Eternal Spring”.   This charming town was first found by the French explorers and has rapidly become a hill retreat for the French colonials to escape the oppressive heat in the coastal plains and the chaos of Saigon. The colonials endowed this city with European style villas, nice gardens, and tree lined boulevards. They have formed a prominent cityscape rarely found throughout  Vietnam. We can soak up the fresh climate as much as we want, by spending our time to walk around the town center and have a look at the lovely Xuan Huong Lake and the vibrant Dalat Central Market. This trading hub sells a wide array of local treasures and has many eating spots, which are  all ideal for visitors to taste local delicacies.

Today, we continue our exploration of Da Lat Town with the Chicken Church, one of the largest religious structures in this hill station. This beautiful catholic structure got its name from a rooster statue attached at the highest cross. We head to the summer residence Bao Dai, the last emperor of Vietnam. He was forced to abdicate in 1945, shortly after the end of the World War II. This mansion displays a lovely collection of Vietnam treasures. We follow it with the Lam Ty Ni Pagoda and the Hang Nga Guesthouse. This construction is  well known as the Crazy House because of its bizarre architecture. We keep on driving to the old rail station where we have an optional ride on Cremaillere railway to the  Linh Phuoc Pagoda. This masterpiece was built from debris of glass, pottery bowls, and porcelain in previous mid-century, housing the largest bell in central Vietnam. We head south to see the scenic Tuyen Lam Lake and  the Truc Lam  Pagoda. This religious complex  was built in tranquil setting of pretty gardens  and lush pine hill, and seems to be the biggest  Zen Monastery in Vietnam. The pagoda structure is divided into two areas; domestic areas and public areas, containing  the main hall, consulting room, library and contemplation hall. We stroll around this monastery, bring the soul back into peaceful state.

The modern comforts will be left behind as we venture into Lak Lake and drive along the meandering path surrounded by spectacular mountains and coffee plantations. The road conditions are very poor in some places, but it is still a unique experience. The rural life offers an amazing scene rarely found in modern life as we see many locals doing their daily works, funny children riding their bike, and farming animals  grazing on roadsides. We arrive in Lak Lake by early afternoon and  start our exploration of the largest natural body of water in the central highlands. This tranquil lake is encompassed by undulating hills and accommodates several minority groups, one of which is notably the Mnong hill tribe people. They are living on both southern and western lake banks, but we will find men in wooden boats fishing with baskets and nets, and women and children collecting snails,  crabs, and small fish anywhere on the water. We enjoy a short  walk to visit June Village, which seems more effected by modern life by its location near the tourist track. The adventurous fevers can continue to  walk or take an optional dug out boat to M’lieng Village  on southwestern lake shore. This tranquil village filed with rattan and wooden stilt houses offers some interesting views of the authentic local life close up. Tonight,  we  will stay  in traditional long house of a M'nong family at Jun Village . The facilities here are very basic, but it gives us a chance to see  the simple lifestyle of the M’nong ethnic minorities and live as many  local villagers usually do in many centuries.

The local villagers mostly rely on this grand lake for their livelihood. They usually get up early for a morning fish catch in traditional dugout canoes. You have free time this morning, to catch a panoramic view of this spectacular scene  or  make fund with optional  elephant ride across the lake. Upon leaving Lak Lake, we set forth to Kon Tum Town and drive past the biggest growing coffee area of Vietnam. The deep contrast of lush vegetation and red surface of the basaltic soil is incredible all along the way. We make stop in Pleiku Town, the capital of Gia Lai Province, which  links Quy Nhon, Buon Ma Thuat and Quang Ngai regions. This crossroad is easily recognizable to anyone  who lived through the Vietnam War era. There are not much to see in place as it is simply a stop to stretch our legs.  We continue our journey to Kon Tum lying near the Laos and Cambodia borders. The favorable location has made Kon Tum a remarkable region with diversified tribal groups, some of which are Bahnar,  Jarai, Sedang, Gie Trieng, and Brau,…They are living right from the town edge to secluded  villages requiring two or three days trek. We arrive in Kon Tum Town, a worthwhile stop for travellers intent on exploration of  the surrounding hill tribe villages. This sleepy urban center offers some interesting sights we will see in forthcoming days.

Upon leaving Kon Tum Town, we set off on a short drive to Konkotu Village  before we take a walk  into this beautiful mountain region. The local track goes along a river and passes by  some narrow steams, rugged mountains and rolling hills, which are homeland to the Bahnar hill tribe people. They have settled in place down centuries, making for the main local population. The trekking is strenuous at times with walk uphill and downhill walking; however, some physical preparation will enable you to maximize your enjoyment from the walk.  We make a stop nearby the Dakbla River, to stretch our legs, enjoy a picnic lunch, and go for a dip. The walking adventure is followed by a boat ride downstream the Dakbla River towards Konkotu Village. This wooden boat is very simple and small, but it is still a perfect transport mode for local villagers to carry their provisions or cross the river. We get some interesting views of the beautiful scenery and the riverine life  before disembarking near Konkotu Village,  home to Bahnar ethnic minorities. They  are very poor, but have the interesting culture and  history. We spend this night as the guests of a Bahnar family and sample some of their homemade foods. The homestay conditions are very  simple, no western toilet facilities but it is still highlight of our expedition.

The morning sound will awake you, bringing a new exploration. We leave Konkotu Village for  Kontum Town and drive past Nha Rong Kon Klor, a symbol of this highland region. This commanding structure covered by impressive stiff roof, is used to be a meeting hall for the village or festival place. We enjoy a short tour of Kon Tum Town, seeing the Wooden Church  and the Bishop of Kontum Building. They have been built nearly 100 years ago and are still standing from the recent direful war. The architectural design of Bishop Building features a unique  combination of  the western style and the traditional elements from local ethnic communities.  We set off on our journey to Hoi An, travelling along Ho Chi Minh Highway  which passes Dak To, Ngoc Hoi and Dak Glei. This new country path was drawn by the allure of the old Ho Chi Minh Trail. Along the way, we pass various former battle fields, including Phoenix Airfield with  Dak To Base Camp and Dak To II Airfield, and Charlie Hill. These bloody war fields are now at peace, but the damage caused by bombs and defoliants is still visible on the landscape. We follow  the Ho Chi Minh Road, which twists up into the mountains, cutting a path through rock and along thickly forested and river valleys. This back road gives a chance  to explore the real Vietnam as we see very few other travellers, mostly rural dwellers going on their daily business.

The delightful town of Hoi An was originally a Cham seaport but has been influenced down the centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries. We spend this morning to explore Hoi An on a walking tour, passing by many ornate Vietnamese tube houses, Chinese temples, and Japanese shop houses. They reflect the multi-cultural past of this ancient town. Along the way, we visit the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge, which was first constructed in 1590s by the Japanese traders to link them with the Chinese quarters. The ornamentation has remained relatively faithful to the original Japanese design over centuries. We continue onto the Museum of Trade Ceramics, a beautifully restored timber house where displays many relics of the bygone civilization and the origins of this port town. Upon leaving this museum, we come to the typical Old Tan Ky House, a gem with a mixture of Japanese and Chinese architectural elements. This ancient house was built by a Vietnamese family two centuries ago and has been lovingly preserved through seven generations. The sightseeing tour ends with the Chua Ong Pagoda and the large Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, one of the five well-known halls in Hoi An. You spend this free afternoon at your leisure . The suggested activities include relaxing at An Bang Beach, discovering the busy market, strolling around the vibrant waterfront or making some fine garments at famous tailor shops.

Heading out of Hoi An, we make our way through many gorgeous beaches to Da Nang City, a major trading hub in central Vietnam. Along the way, we make stop at the sensational Marble Mountain topped with five rocky outcrops. They are said to represent the five natural elements of the universe; fire, water, earth, wood and metal. The long steep staircase may involve some hardship to see this mountain top. However, you can take an optional cable car ride with small extra fees. We follow the coastline to Da Nang City and visit the famous Cham Museum, which is formerly the Ecole Francaise d’Extreme Orient. This beautiful mansion contains many exquisite limestone carvings from the vanquished Kingdom of Champa that has been in central coastal littoral prior to the march of the Vietnamese nation south. We continue our journey to Hue, the ancient capital of Vietnam, passing through the challenging Hai Van Pass, an obvious boundary between northern and southern Vietnam. The panoramic view from this pass top is nothing short of spectacular, with a mixture of zigzag roads, turquoise sea, winding rail way behind the verdant forest. On arrival in Hue, we enjoy a boat trip along the Perfume River to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda. This iconic religious structure has a nice legend and a prominent architecture stretching from the river banks in seven successive tiers to monastic buildings and octagonal tower, regarded as a symbol of this town.

The rising flag tower draws a line for our exploration of Hue. We visit the massive Hue Citadel containing the Imperial City and the Purple Forbidden City. This royal residence was all but partly destroyed during the 1968 Tet Offensive. However, it is still fascinating to walk around to see many pavilions, bridges, libraries, and great halls. They have been restored to explain the legends of the Nguyen Dynasty emperors who have built the fortress and lived within its moated walls for nearly 150 years. We follow it with a walk to the bustling Dong Ba Market, which is crammed with local treasures and also has many eating spots. They make an ideal place for visitors to try their hand at bargaining and sample some local delicacies.. Upon leaving this trade center, we make our way to  the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang. This majestic complex of courtyards, pavilions and temples, was built in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. We drive through the rolling hills to the Khai Dinh Mausoleum, a synthesis of Vietnamese and European elements. The mandarin courtyard where are standing various statues of mandarins, horses and soldiers, makes for a real scene of the royal court.  The most notable place is Thien Dinh Palace housing the bronze statues and the King steles. We have free time to explore this town before we board a local train for  an overnight journey to Hanoi. The train conditions are basic; we travel in soft sleeper class which is compartment for up to four people, a communal environment. This train journey is in keeping with the adventure nature of our trips and allows you to experience a taste of the ‘ real Vietnam’. 

The local train delivers passengers in Hanoi by late morning. You are met by our guide and transferred to hotel. The capital city of Hanoi  is a fascinating blend of East and West, combining traditional Sino-Vietnamese motifs with French flair. The building boom has made Hanoi a rapidly developing city in Southeast Asia. However, it still retains an old charm brought from a thousand year of history, with many interesting cultural and historic monuments, beautiful lakes, shady parks, bustling street markets, funny shops and open air eating spots jostled in ancient houses, and historic temples adjoining colonial style structures. They offer both local and foreigner visitors an endless exploration. We enjoy a short afternoon walk through the fascinating old quarter containing many vibrant streets which are named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. The lively atmosphere in Hanoi old quarter runs from the early hours until late at night with many street vendors calling, horns honking, and chaotic traffic with waves of motorbikes you’ve never experienced.  We can continue strolling around Hoan Kiem Lake, which is one of the major scenic spots in the city and serves as a focal point for its public life. No matter the time of day, this legendary  lake is surrounded by activity and points of interest. We can see grandfathers playing chess under tree silhouettes and  locals out exercising in the cool at dawn.

Today, we enjoy a guided tour of Hanoi, seeing the most notable landmark of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (close on Mon. and Fri. and Oct. to Nov).  This imposing marble and granite monument was built towards the Ba Dinh Square. We queue up for a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Ho Chi Minh House, a simple traditional stilt structure set in a well-tended garden. He has  lived and worked in this place until his final days.  Nearby this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, of which the origins date back to the foundation of Hanoi City. We follow it with the Temple of Literature, which is now dedicated to the scholars of Confucius but was once the first university of Vietnam. We head towards  the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (close on Mon.), where display various documents, images and objects focusing on  54 Vietnamese ethnic groups in  both outdoor and indoor sections. Upon leaving this sight, we drive past various attractions, including Tran Quoc Pagoda, Quan Thanh Temple, West Lake, Long Bien Bridge, Opera House, and Hoan Kiem Lake. There are no stops planned as it is simply a glimpse of the cityscape. We enjoy a fantastic water puppet show before we board the local train for an overnight journey to Lao Cai. The train conditions are a bit enhanced but still lack of modern comfort. You  travel in soft sleeper cabin accommodating up to 4 passengers and get a genuine Vietnamese experience, an integral part of your adventure in Vietnam.

The train pulls into Lao Cai Station, giving us a unique view of Vietnam away from the capital cityscape and a different type of discovery. You are met by our guide and driven along the winding road to Sapa. This hill station set at an elevation of 1,500 meters has some warm days and cool evenings. The evident vestiges of the French colonial era are still found in place as it was once a summer retreat place for French administrators to escape the unbearable summer heat in the  plain regions. We have a short break in Sapa Town before we head to Tam Duong, travelling along O Quy Ho Pass. Along the way, we make stop at the Heaven Gate to catch the panoramic scenery of  winding roads and cloudy mountain peak in the far distance. The exciting journey delivers us at Tam Duong Town, a base for our visit to the local market which is usually animated on week-end days. Upon leaving this market place, we venture into the homeland of  the Lao and Lu hill tribe people. They have settled in place long time ago and are famous for both textiles and teeth dyeing techniques. The traditional house on stilts comes into view, making feels like we have stepped into a postcard. We see may Lao women weaving and wearing their traditional dress  on daily basis, smoke  billowing  from  top of  wooden stilt houses, and barefoot  children running around. The local villagers are very friendly and welcoming, but they  also attempt to sell their local textiles. We drive back to Sapa this afternoon and have time to catch the first  glimpse of  this hill town.

The extremely beautiful region around Sa Pa is ideal for anyone seeking a true adventure and trekking expedition. We spend these two days trekking to explore the  mountain landscape and the hill tribe people. There are many local track options to choose from, but we will opt for a trek from Sapa Town to Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai , Ta Van and Giang Ta Chai Villages in  Muong Hoa Valley.   This peaceful  ravine  is inhabited by  many tribal groups, including   the Dao, Giay, Tay, Xa Pho and  Black Hmong, who are mostly farmers living from their slash and burnt tradition. The local footpaths lead us from the valley floor to the steep mountain side, giving a chance to admire the beautiful scenery  of mountain backdrop and  steep terraced rice fields, and make friends with local ethnic minorities. Perhaps they are Dao, Hmong or Giay people, who come on promenade or sell local textiles and handicrafts. We break our trek  on arrival at Ta Van  Village and have some time free to walk around,  enjoy the splendid  view of unfolding valley and  as swim in the river nearby. Tonight we will be toasted as honored guests of a Giay family and sample some of their homemade foods! The accommodation is very simple and dormitory style, no western facilities but the experience is definitely unique.

Upon leaving the village of our previous night, we blaze the trail with our local guide and walk along the mountainside to Giang Ta Chai Village, home to the Red Dao People, who are one of the most colorful ethnic groups in Vietnam. They are still keeping their old age culture and colorful   traditions. We meet many women doing  their handmade embroidery and can try your hand at bargaining.  The undulating mountainsides will involve some uphill and downhill walking, however some physical preparation will enable you to fully appreciate the walk. We follow the local tracks to Su Pan  Village and encounter some mountaineers doing their daily works such as logging, herding buffalo and tilling the field. The great pleasure of trekking in this mountain region is a joy of exploring the scenic mountain scenery  and the different culture. We complete our trek at  Su Pan Village  and stretch our legs on a drive back  to Sa Pa Town. The ethnic minorities will be left behind as we leave Sapa for Hanoi this afternoon, travelling along the new high way. This journey can take everything between 5 to 6 hours; however, the scenery changing from the Tonkinese Alps to the delta region makes for an interesting drive.

Heading out of the town, we travel by road through the  beautiful countryside  of flooded rice fields and roadside villages to the rocky formations of Halong Bay, one of the outstanding scenic natural wonders in Vietnam. The cruise team will welcome us on board with refreshing drinks and provides some information about the watercraft and the activity program. We check in our private cabin and unpack for a two-day cruise. The amazing time begins as our traditional style junk zigzags itself in Halong Bay. Along the way, we feast on a huge lunch (veg. meals also available on request), catching some beautiful views of the bay with a blend of the sky and limestone islets jutting out from the clear and emerald water. These rocky islands are usually named by their distinctive shapes and littered with tiny beaches and beautiful caves. We have time this afternoon, to do many sea activities, some of which are rowing boat excursion, swimming, or kayaking ( optional) within rock formations. Today we can improve our culinary skill while participating to the cooking class in the flavor of the sea. The master chef will show the guests how to make some traditional Vietnamese delicacies. We follow it with a sumptuous dinner and some evening entertainments at the dining room. There are also possibilities to try your hand at squid fishing from our boat.

The early light begins washing the night away, unveiling the marvelous beauty of Halong Bay. You can participate in a Taichi exercise on the sundeck and may get a chance to catch some wonderful photos of the sunrise over Halong Bay. The boat trip continues past many imposing  islands, giving us a new exploration of this beautiful bay.  We can spend our time at leisure or step onto a tender to visit Sung Sot, one of the many beautiful caves hidden beneath towering cliffs. The uphill walkway with nearly 100 steps is somewhat arduous; however, the panoramic view from nearby boat pier to rocky islands in the far distance, makes the hardship all worthwhile. We enjoy this splendid landscape before we start the exploration of Sung Sot Cave. This remarkable cave is naturally adorned with countless stalactite and stalagmite formations. They stretch amazingly from floor to ceiling, forming various pillars to support the cave dome. The illuminating spotlights of various colors within the stone formations add more enchantment to this beautiful cave. We come back to our cruise and weave our way through a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars towards Tuan Chau Marina. The wonderful time in Haling Bay is followed by a drive back to Hanoi. Along the way, we make stop at our pleasure, to stretch our legs and see many local villagers making excellent craft objects in traditional ways. 

There are no activities planned on  this final day. You may have free time to continue your exploration of Hanoi City, do your last shopping or simply look back upon your trip images. The holiday comes to an end with a transfer to Hanoi Airport for your departure.