Meet & greet: Upon arrival in Hanoi, you will be welcomed to Vietnam by your private English-speaking guide, and then transferred to your hotel to check in.

Afternoon at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the La Siesta Premium Hang Be (Junior Suite )

Guided tour of Hanoi: Start your tour of Hanoi with a visit to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's principal Confucian sanctuary and its historical centre of learning. Made up of five courtyards, this is one of the few remnants of the original city, and Vietnams first national university that dates from the 11th century. You will then be able to take a break in a local café for a cup of coffee, where you can try one of Hanoi's specialties - egg coffee - which is tastier than it sounds! Feeling revitalised, embark on a walking tour around Hanoi's atmospheric Old Quarter, including Dong Xuan market to see exotic plants, fresh fruits and fragrant flowers on sale. Also known as "36 Streets District" the Old Quarter was once the thriving commercial centre of the city. Each of the 36 short lanes used to specialise in a particular trade represented by one of the guilds. This is still reflected in the names of certain streets: like Silk Street, Gold Street and Fish Street. Among the ancient homes and attractive temples there is a multitude of handicraft shops and upmarket boutiques.

For a tasty lunch you will be taken to an authentic Old Quarter restaurant to sample a local delicacy. Choose from either Pho (Noodle Soup), Bun Cha (grilled pork with rice noodles), Banh Mi (Vietnamese baguette), or Cha Ca La Vong (grilled fish fillets with dill and saffron-infused oil), and your guide will take you to one restaurant for lunch specialising in that dish. After lunch choose between visiting the Women's Museum or the Hoa Lo Hilton. The Women's Museum provides an insight into the role played by women throughout Vietnam's history, including its 54 ethnic groups. Commonly referred to as the "Hanoi Hilton", Hoa Lo is famous for the significance it holds within the history of the war as the prison where high profile American POWs were detained. Finish your tour of Hanoi with a leisurely ride on a cyclo (three-wheeled bicycle taxi) around Hoan Kiem Lake, finishing with a drink at a nearby street café where you can sample some "Bia Hoi" (fresh beer), a popular draft lager in Vietnam. After your fill of refreshing beer, or herbal tea if you prefer, you will then be transferred back to your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the La Siesta Premium Hang Be (Junior Suite )

Road journey from Hanoi to Pu Luong: After breakfast, you will be met at your hotel by your guide and transferred to Pu Luong Valley in Thanh Hoa province. Depending on traffic, this is a journey of approximately 4 hours.  

Afternoon rafting tour: This afternoon, you will be transferred to the rafting site. Sail along the quiet stretch of river, taking in the beautiful scenery as you go. Arrive in picturesque Hieu Village, where you will be welcomed to the Pu Luong Retreat and settle in for the evening.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Pu Luong Retreat (Valley View Bungalow)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Guided trek around the Pu Luong Nature Reserve: After breakfast, set out with a local guide for a walk through the various villages of the Pu Luong Valley, including Doc, Lung Cao, Lan, Uoi and Lac minority villages. Visit a family who specialise in traditional weaving. Today’s walk will take you through some truly spectacular scenery, with small villages hidden on hills, and nestled among waterfalls and terraced fields. A picnic lunch will be taken during the walk, and in the afternoon you will return to the lodge for a chance to rest your tired legs. Today’s walk will cover around 10-15km.

The remainder of the day is left free at leisure for you to relax at the lodge or to continue to explore the surrounding area independently. Dinner is included at the lodge tonight.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Pu Luong Retreat (Valley View Bungalow)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Guided tour around the Pu Luong Valley: After breakfast, set out on a guided walk through working farmland and rice terraces, where you can see the local people’s daily life and learn about local products made in the area, such as rice wine and textiles. Lunch will be taken with a local family and you will return to your lodge in the afternoon.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Pu Luong Retreat (Valley View Bungalow)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Morning at leisure: This morning you have some time at leisure to enjoy a final few hours in the Pu Luong Nature Reserve. You can simply relax and enjoy the surroundings or arrange further excursions through staff at the lodge.

Road journey to Hanoi: At the agreed time today you will be picked up from the hotel by your driver & guide and driven back to Hanoi, a journey of around 4 hours. On arrival in Hanoi you will be transferred to the railway station in time to board your overnight train to Dong Hoi.

Overnight train: Depart from Hanoi Station on train SE1 to Dong Hoi. The train departs at 19.00 and arrives at 04.30 the following day.

A 4 / 6 berth air-conditioned soft-sleeper cabin will be booked for your exclusive use.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Road journey to Phong Nha National Park: Upon arrival at Dong Hoi train station, you will be met by a local guide and driver, and there will be the chance to visit a local restaurant in the city for a cup of coffee/Vietnamese green tea and to enjoy a basic breakfast before heading to the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park. After your refreshment stop head out from Dong Hoi by road on the 50km journey which takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Kayaking on the Son River: This leisurely kayak trip along the Son River offers an interesting view of the villages and local life along the riverbanks.You will be driven to the starting point at Chay Lap Riverside, then set off downstream on the river surrounded by majestic limestone karsts, river beaches and lush fields. You can stop to visit a number of local villages including Tram and Me to get a sense of daily life in this rural part of Vietnam. Continue paddling until reaching the end point in the village of Phong Nha, where you will be met by your driver and transferred back to your hotel..

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Phong Nha Lakehouse (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Phong Nha Cave & Paradise Cave Full Day Tour: Recognized by UNESCO in 2003 as a World Natural Heritage, Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park is one of the world’s two largest karst regions with 300 caves and grottoes. The plateau on which the park is situated is probably one of the finest and most distinctive examples of a complex karst landform of Southeast Asia.

Begin a relaxing boat trip on the Son River to explore the most popular Phong Nha Cave – the longest water cave in South East Asia. Board the private boat for the 2.5 km cruise down the Son River to the mouth of the cave. Pass by the entrance to the 'Cave of Teeth and Wind' and enter the mystical tunnels, filled with giant stalactites and stalagmites and crystal-clear waters.

After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the spectacular Paradise Cave, considered as one of the largest complexes of caves in the world. Surrounded by forested karst peaks, this remarkable cave system features cathedral-like spaces with colossal stalagmites and glimmering stalactites, each part of the cave opens into a different space, with giant naturally formed silhouettes of unicorns, lions, and dragons.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Phong Nha Lakehouse (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Phong Nha Biking Full Day Tour: Cycling is one of the best ways to explore the charming beauty of Phong Nha, one of the most favorite destinations for adventuring in Vietnam. Your journey will start with cycling slowly from the crowded town across the Phong Nha villages along the Son River. See the peaceful countryside of Vietnam with the green corn fields, rice fields, villages and meet local families with the buffalo on the fields and see their daily lives. Stop at a local house to see the process of cooking rice wine before heading to Gia Hung Church which features a fusion of European and Vietnamese architecture. Continue cycling to a beautiful and poetic Bong Lai Valley. After lunch at a pub with Cold Beer, visit Duck Stop for a fun and unique experience with tending ducks and water buffaloes which is part of a daily routine for children supporting their family in the area. Follow Ho Chi Minh Trail, cycle back to Phong Nha town.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Phong Nha Lakehouse (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Transfer to Dong Hoi Railway Station: Early this morning, you will be driven back to Dong Hoi Railway Station in time to board your onward train to Danang.

Train journey: Depart from Dong Hoi Station on train SE3 to Danang. The train departs at 07.49 and arrives at 13.12.

A 4 / 6 berth air-conditioned soft-sleeper cabin will be booked for your exclusive use.

Transfer to your hotel in Hoi An: Upon arrival at Danang Railway Station, you will be transferred by road to your hotel close to Hoi An’s Old Town. After checking in, the rest of the day will be free at leisure for you to settle in, relax and begin exploring Hoi An independently.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Ancient House Resort (Garden View Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Day at leisure: You have time to relax. Alternatively there are opportunities to visit the beach, cycle in some beautiful countryside, visit the ruins at My Son, discover the artists of Hoi An or see a tailor to get some clothes made.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Ancient House Resort (Garden View Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Private transfer: After a leisurely morning, your guide and driver will transfer you to Danang Airport for the flight to Saigon.

Flight: VN123 Danang - Saigon 12.15 - 13.40

Private transfer: On arrival at Saigon airport, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel to check in.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Silverland Yen (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Day at leisure: Today you have a full day at leisure in this bustling Asian metropolis. Relax at your hotel, or explore independently. Great shopping opportunities can be found in busy Ben Thanh market as well as numerous glitzy modern malls, while great food can be found on every corner either on the street or in a number of fantastic upmarket restaurants.

A late check-out from your hotel can be arranged today, subject to availability and additional cost.

Private transfer: This evening your guide and driver will transfer you to the airport for your return flight.

Meals: Breakfast