Explore a Vietnam away from the tourist trail, where life goes on as it has for centuries. Take a boat through the villages of the mighty Mekong Delta and visit a traditional floating market. Watch master craftsmen at work – a traditional calligrapher in Ho Chi Minh City and a water puppeteer in Hanoi. Discover the hidden corners, ancient traditions and contrasting histories of these two great cities. Meet the tribes of the Central Highlands and admire their traditional architecture. Discover ancient traditional villages and illustrious little-seen temples and pagodas, as you unlock the true essence of Vietnam.
Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta - Can Tho - Buon Ma Thuot - Central Highlands - Kontum - Hanoi - Dau Pagoda - But Thap Pagoda - Workshops of Dong Ho - Dong Ky Village - Ky Son - Mai Chau
Arrive into Ho Chi Minh City. You will be met by a Travel The Unknown representative and transferred to your hotel. Rest of the day is free to enjoy at your leisure. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
Overnight in Cititel Central Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City
Meal plan: n/a
A trip to Sai Gon offers you a good experience of the country‘s most dynamic city – a vital economic hub with bustling life. Sai Gon is the reconciliation between American and Chinese influence, with many dots of modernity yet without losing Vietnamese traits. Modern office skyscrapers, amidst Chinese style pagodas and food stalls, street vendors along the street, they all create a dynamic urban area in a very traditionally modern sense.
You will depart from your hotel after breakfast, around 8:30 and our first stop will be the Jade Emperor Pagoda, one of the most spectacularly atmospheric temples in HCMC, stuffed with statues of phantasmal divinities and grotesque heroes. Continue on to the Reunification Palace, former residence of the presidents of South Vietnam before 1975. Next, you will visit two iconic architectural landmarks the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office built between 1877 and 1883 by renowned designer Gustav Eiffel. Then we will head towards the War Museum, one of Vietnam’s most popular museums which primarily exhibit the American phase of the Vietnam War.
Evening city with Vespa: Around 18.00, depart from your hotel for a first stop at Café Zoom to "watch the world go by" and enjoy a cocktail and appetiser. We then venture into a popular local eating spot. You can experience the nightlife of Saigon the way locals do, all from the back of a vintage Vespa scooter. Start with a ride to Chinatown and then head to District 4 through busy streets and alleyways for nightlife and street seafood; places that foreigners won't be found. Leave District 4 to District 3, pass through downtown District 1 to take in the sights on the way to Banh Xeo, specialty of Saigon, and southern food with the locals. Then the tour will continue to a hidden Vietnamese-style coffee shop to taste a bit of Vietnamese music. After this the tour ends at a lively bar to enjoy drinks and live music.
Overnight in Cititel Central Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City
Meal plan: Breakfast & dinner
Enjoy a morning drive to Cai Be. Upon arrival board the Bassac riverboat and cruise to Cho Lach village. Stop for brief walking tours of villages lining the riverbank. Dock at Tra On for overnight stay onboard.
Overnight in Mekong Eyes Cruise, Cai Be
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Leave Tra On for Can Tho City. On arrival explore the colourful and bustling floating market at Cai Rang. Disembark at Can Tho Pier and drive back to Ho Chi Minh. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Overnight in Cititel Central Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City
Meal plan: Breakfast & lunch
After breakfast, you will meet your guide and driver for heading toward Truc Mai House where you will be welcomed with a cup of tea by Mrs. Tuyet Mai and Mr. Dinh Linh, who have both studied at the Vietnam National Academy of Music. Enjoy a short show! After the show, you’ll have the opportunity to play any and all of the many traditional instruments yourself amidst kind coaching and laughter from your hosts! The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. Overnight Ho Chi Minh City.
Overnight in Cititel Central Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City
Meal plan: Breakfast & lunch
Upon arrival at Buon Me Thuot airport, the driver and guide will pick up and transfer you to visit Trung Nguyen Coffee Museum. Continue to Dak Lak Ethnology Museum which was designed on the basis of a traditional house aimed to present on its 1st level the history of the province through pictures and artifacts, its biodiversity and traditional way of life of the E De and M’nong minorities. Next, drive to the spectacular Dray Nur waterfall. After lunch, visit Lak Lake and enjoy a boat ride to visit the native lotus flowers and nearby Jun village. Overnight in Buon Ma Thuot.
Overnight in Dakruco Hotel, Buon Ma Thuot
Meal plan: Breakfast & lunch
This morning will be a village of the Ede (or Rade) ethnic minority. Here you will learn about Ede culture and about the “Space of the Gongs” which has been declared an “intangible” UNESCO World Heritage. You will also meet Ede people. They will teach you a couple of words in their unique language.The Ede are known for their long houses, which are used to accommodate several families. We will visit one of these long houses.
We will continue to Kon Tum. Lunch will be in a local restaurant along the way. On our drive to Kon Tum we will pass many coffee plantations and we will stop at several of them to do a walk and meet the people working there. We will also pass several ethnic minority villages where we will stop to stretch our legs. We will stop at one of the many pepper plantations as well.
At the end of the day we will arrive in Kon Tum, the charming capital of Kon Tum province. Your guide will recommend a restaurant for dinner.
Overnight in Indochine Hotel, Kontum
Meal plan: Breakfast & lunch
Today we will explore this quiet, friendly town and outskirts by bicycle. First we will do some shopping for our lunch. We will visit several Bahnar villages that are located on the fringe of Kon Tum. The Bahnar are an ethnic minority who have their own language, traditions and customs. You will meet villagers and learn about Bahnar culture.
Each village has a communal house called a ‘Rong House’. The Rong House is the place where village ceremonies and festivals take place. It serves as a court of justice and as a meeting place where important decisions are being made. This house is really the heart of the village and is visible from far away. The Rong houses of the Bahnar are very beautiful. They stand up to 30 metres high and the roof is curved.
You will learn how they make their rice wine, which is consumed through long bamboo straws out of jars. You will participate in an agricultural activity, depending on the season. Enjoy a simple but delicious lunch in a village house. You can help the guide prepare lunch.
After lunch we pedal back to Kon Tum. We will visit the Catholic Seminary, a beautiful and imposing building, dating back from 1935. It houses an interesting exhibition on Kon Tum and the minorities living around the town.
Return to hotel and rest of the day free.
Overnight in Indochine Hotel, Kontum
Meal plan: Breakfast & lunch
Morning free to relax or explore by yourself. Transfer to Pleiku airport for your flight to Hanoi. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.
Overnight in Medallion Hotel, Hanoi
Meal plan: Breakfast
Explore Hanoi like a local: This morning, you will meet your guide and driver early morning and head towards Hoan Kiem Lake. The Vietnamese typically wake up very early and start the morning with some exercise. It is very interesting to see how the local people, mostly women from varying age, start their busy routine. Several groups of people can be found practising tai chi and aerobics. Be part of Vietnam and join the locals in their morning routine!
After visiting the Ngoc Son Temple, located in the middle of the Hoan Kiem Lake, we will visit a traditional, local and charming coffee place, where you will be able to try Vietnam’s local coffee: Cà phê sữa đá (Iced coffee) and if you feel more adventurous, you can also try the ‘Egg coffee’! After our coffee, we will continue walking and we will stop in a street food place, where you will try the delicious ‘bánh mì’ – a typical baguette sandwich filled in with a variety of things. Later, we will get deep into Hanoi’s Old Quarter and you will start a walking tour where you will be able to witness the French architecture in different Vietnamese buildings. Our first stop will be the St. Joseph Cathedral, a French gothic building constructed in 1886. Next, we will walk just 10 minutes until we arrive to the Hoa Lo Prison, where Vietnamese as well as American and French prisoners of war used to be imprisoned. To finish our morning, we will pay a visit to the Huu Tiep Lake, better known as ‘B-52 lake’, where US B-5 bomber wreckage can be seen.
Around noon, we will return to the Old Quarter. Vietnam is very well known for its food, so we will stop at a ‘Bún Chả’ restaurant, where you will try Hanoi’s specialty. After lunch, we will visit the Temple of Literature, built in 1076. Vietnam’s first university was established within this temple to educate Vietnam's royalty, mandarins and members of the elite. The university functioned for 700 years and its gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a fascinating glimpse into Vietnam’s past.
Our last stop of the day will be on Hanoi's railway tracks! This is something very particular from this city as the railway tracks are sometimes located metres away from entrance door of houses! Together with our guide, you will walk along the railway tracks and take some of the most beautiful pictures of the city. After a long day, we will finish with evening drinks at the well known 'Bia Hoi', where you can taste the local draft beer; finishing the day as a local!
Along the tour, you will be trying different street specialties, therefore we recommend avoiding breakfast at the hotel this day!
Overnight in Medallion Hotel, Hanoi
Meal plan: Breakfast & lunch
After breakfast, head towards Dau Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam. In this pagoda, locals not only worship Buddha but also female deities such as Lady Dau, known as the “Black Lady” due to the unique dark colour of the wood from which her statue is made. The pagoda used to be in the centre of the old citadel of Luy Lau, a former holy Buddhist site and an important intellectual centre during the period of Chinese domination. The tour will continue to But Thap pagoda, which was founded in 1037 and is one of the most beautiful pagodas in the region. Here you will have the opportunity to see a prayer wheel dated from the 13th century. Around noon, we will stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Afterwards, we will visit a Zen Buddhist temple. You will discover woodblocks carved with an old language (Chu-Nom language) used in the past. We will meet monks there who will open the pagoda library and show you some unique pieces. Nowadays these woodblocks are classified by UNESCO as cultural heritage in Vietnam. Before heading back, enjoy a tea break with some local snacks in Hanoi. When the tour finishes, you will be taken back to the hotel. The rest of the day will be free at leisure.
Overnight in Medallion Hotel, Hanoi
Meal plan: Breakfast & lunch
Morning drive to Ky Son Village, which is located approximately 55km to the west of Hanoi and is a locality of the historic Duong Lam Village, home to many traditional houses of which some are over 200 years old. When you arrive at the village, you will start walking around to get a glimpse of the local lifestyle. You will also have the chance to join them with their lunch preparation and learn more about Vietnamese food. After lunch, have your fingers dipped in a fragrant lime bowl and enjoy a traditional herbal hand massage. Then, free time for relaxing or further conversation with the host family about local snacks, sharing cultures, and learning about traditional customs. If you want to learn Vietnamese, one of the family members can teach you. Around 15:00 you will start biking around the village. This is a great opportunity to get a more in-depth look at Vietnamese culture, farming and daily life. You will also visit the market which is an authentic experience with a genuine local atmosphere. You can have choice of a short ride of 6km or a longer ride of 12 km round trip:
- Short ride: Take a bicycle ride to discover the Ky Son, Tam Son, Van Minh, and Cham farming communities and stop at any home you like for a cup of tea. Visit the kindergarten (if open), and chat with local people about their daily life and farming. You can help with plowing or making rice beds, planting seedlings, harvesting rice (or cassava, corn, sweet potatoes) depending on the harvest season.
- Long ride: Take a bicycle ride with local guide to discover the Ky Son, Tam Son, Van Minh, and Cham farming communities, Duong Lam ancient village and visit Mia Pagoda, Mong Phu Communal House. Ride back along the ritual paths of Thang thac village to discover the Ngo Quyen tomb, Phung Hung temple.
Return to the Moon Garden for happy hour. While waiting for your steam bath to be prepared, you can enjoy our local drink and taste some of the local products such as maize, sweet potato, cassava, peanuts… (depending on season) or some traditional desserts.
At around 19:15, you will observe the evening Buddha worship before dinner. After that, enjoy your foot bath in warm water with ginger, salt and mugwort medicinal herbs before drifting off to sleep!
Overnight in Moon Garden Homestay, Ky Son
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
This morning you will have a free morning around the homestay. You can opt to wake up early to join Yijin-jing traditional exercises or make yourself at home relaxing on the hammocks in the garden. At noon you will check out and continue to Mai Chau, where you will check in and have the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Mai Chau.
Overnight in Mai Chau Homestay, Mai Chau
Meal plan: Breakfast
This morning you will be transferred to Mai Hich village- a famous village for traditional rice wine products. Today you will hike through many villages in the Mai Chau valley. After your hike, you will be transferred back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.
Overnight in Medallion Hotel, Hanoi
Meal plan: Breakfast & lunch
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the airport for departure at appropriate time.
Meal plan: Breakfast
All accommodation subject to availability. Final accommodation choices will be confirmed after booking.
Cititel Central Saigon is a modernly-furnished property, located within a 5 minute walk of the Ben Thanh Market. Rooms are air-conditioned and include tea/coffee facilities and en-suite bathroom. Wifi is complementary but subject to availability. Guests may enjoy the hotel's rooftop pool which offers scenic views of the city.
Explore the Mekong Delta on board the comfortable Mekong Eyes Classic. The ship has just 14 cabins, so guests have the opportunity to relax and mingle with other passengers on the sun deck. Meals are served in the large dining room and bar area. All rooms have river views and en-suite bathrooms.
Dakruco Hotel is located in the city of Buon Ma Thuot. Its interior is designed with a contemporary yet simple decor. The bedrooms are spacious and comfortable, providing guests with access to wifi, an en-suite bathroom and a satellite television. The hotel facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre and a spa.
Indochine Hotel is situated on the banks of the Dakbla River, at the heart of the city of Komtum. The bedrooms are spacious and fitted with modern amenities, including wifi, international television and in room refreshments. The on site restaurant serves a variety of cuisine options to its guests. The Indochine cafe provides an interesting alternative, where visitors can sit beneath the shade of a large bamboo roof and look out across the lakes in the hotel garden.
The Medallion Hotel is situated at the heart of Hanoi's old quarter. The spacious hotel has a modern decor and fittings for guests, which include wifi access and air-conditioned rooms. Medallion's restaurant serves a mixture of Western and Asian cuisine, along with a buffet style breakfast.
Moon Garden homestay can be found in the remote village of Ky Son. It provides an opportunity for visitors to have an authentic Vietnamese experience, where they can see traditional architecture and culture of the region. The houses are surrounded by colourful gardens, which are home to many native fruits, flowers and trees. One of the most interesting houses within at Moon Garden is the stilt house, which is built in the traditional style of many ethnic groups in Vietnam. The furniture within the stilt house has been decorated with hand carved lotus, peach blossom, phoenix and dragons.
Mai Chau homestay offers travellers traditional Vietnamese accommodation, where they can experience the tranquility of rural village life. Mai Chau is set within a valley, surrounded by scenic hills and terraced paddy fields.The simple facilities of the homestay provide for both a comfortable and authentic overnight experience in this idyllic setting.
Capture the true essence and diversity of Indochina
Lively cities, majestic coastlines and welcoming people
Discover Vietnam's charms and its people
Discover Vietnam's wonderful food culture
Historic cities, beautiful landscapes and pagodas
Mark Pettengel & Jo Martin , Tailormade Vietnam & CambodiaA well-planned itinerary that crammed an impressive amount into 16 days, without ever feeling rushed. Cambodia and Vietnam are both fantastic destinations, offering stunning natural scenery and beautifully preserved historical sites, together with truly delightful and welcoming people. Our guides made our trip extraordinary, weaving their personal histories in to the many insights they gave us of two countries that have experienced such difficult pasts.
Ciorsdan Taylor , Tailormade VietnamTTU created a first class tailor made tour for my sister and I. We couldn't have had better service, from the tour guides, the hotel, the cruise and even the transport between places.
Greg & Jan Sheffer , Classical Indochina, IndochinaOur trip with Travel The Unknown was one of our best trips ever. All went as planned, wonderful guides, perfect hotels - best of all: excellent scheduling of activities and time to rest - balance was just what we needed!! Thank you to all staff involved!
Erika & Robert Hollingdale , Tailormade Laos, Cambodia and VietnamOur holiday to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam with Travel the Unknown was a huge success. We had a fascinating itinerary, well-informed and friendly guides who really looked after us, and lovely accommodation. Every time there was a change of vehicle or guide, the next one was always there and waiting. All stages of the planning and booking process were efficiently done, so all we had to do was enjoy it!
