Arrive anytime. There are no activities planned for today. We'll meet our fellow group and learn about the upcoming adventure. You can join the group for a meal if you wish or explore the city on your own accord. Tomorrow the activities begin!
We'll begin our activities with an epic cycle to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels for a guided tour. We'll pedal past plush rubber plantations and sleepy villages hemmed in by rice fields. The tunnels were dug and used by the Viet Cong to better engage in guerrilla warfare and give a sensory feel of what it must have been like surviving those arduous times.
By afternoon we'll take a short 1hr flight to Hoi An via Danang where we'll bed down for the night.
We'll begin the day with some time to explore the Hoi An province by bike scooting through rice paddies along winding country lanes. Then stop for delicious, quintessential Vietnamese noodle lunch where we'll see exactly how they're made by the locals. In the evening your time is your own. If you'd like you can relax on the golden beaches or head to town to find traditional Vietnamese goods and attire.
Before moving on from Hoi An we'd like to give you one more opportunity to explore it's intricacies. The beguiling riverside town is steeped in atmosphere in history. As a former major port it's heritage of goods and markets can be seen throughout the banks of the Thu Bon river.
In the afternoon we'll take a drive to Huế so you can settle in and survey the scenery from our private vehicle.
We'll take to our trusty two wheeled companions once more to explore Huế (pronounced hway). Peruse the citadel overlooking the city and navigate the tomb of Tu Duc. Huế was once one of the most important royal cities in Vietnam, and it's cuisine still carries enough quality to satisfy any monarchs palette so be sure to tuck in whilst you can!
In the evening we'll head to the overnight train to Hanoi. All bedding and conveniences will be provided including western-style toilets, bedding, wash basins etc.
Upon arrival in Hanoi we'll head out to the nearby rural hills of Mai Chau. By late morning we'll be hiking around the idyllic valley prefecture away from the buzz of the bigger cities. There we'll find a patchwork of rice fields stretching out towards the horizon, freckled with Thai villages comprised of stilt houses.
We'll get to live like the locals, eating a home cooked meal by a family there and sleep in a dormitory style traditional house. There's no alarm clock that can compete to waking up to the rural hymns of birdsong.
After a traditional evening that took us out of the congestion, and into a world of generations gone by, we'll return to Hanoi as the jump off point of our next cycle. We'll cross the river and pedal around the suburbs surrounding the city. In the evening we'll head to the old quarter, an iconic area laced with French colonial architecture, a thriving foodie scene (the Bahn Mi's here are touted as the best in the country), and a bee hive like cluster of mopeds carving their way through the city. This is vintage Vietnam. We'll be given a tour of it's labyrinth streets and learn about how it came to be this thriving hub.
If you're looking to go on a "foodie tour" in Vietnam, this is your opportunity to do so, our guides will help arrange it for you.
Today we head to one of the worlds most ornate natural wanders, Ha Long bay. We'll get to relax on a traditional junk boat, and cruise around the limestone karsts in style, sampling the freshest seafood and coldest beers on offer.
Once we've seen the surreal bay with our eyes, it's time to get a little more hands on and take to our kayaks to see it from the surface! Paddle through the rock formations and crane your neck skyward in awe at their scale and detail.
By evening we'll be embarking on a very special experience, by sleeping on one of the boats within Ha Long bay among the beautiful scenery! Gaze out to the stars on our drinking deck and toast a magical day of activity and bookitlist ticking.
The morning provides our last chance to view the serene and spectacular view of Ha Long bay.
We'll then head back inland on a private bus to Hanoi. By evening we're ready to explore more cultural treats with visits to fhe Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton), two of Hanoi's most iconic tourist attractions. Here we'll bed down for our final night. Hanoi is teeming with fun things to do at night, including all the bars and clubs you can shake your wallet at so feel free to ask our tour operator for some tips and make the most of your final night of the adventure!
We personally love Bia Hoi junction for it's no thrills, plastic stool drinking humble vibes and cheep drinks.
Depart anytime. If you'd like to extend your stay in Vietnam or head to a neighbouring country our guides can help advise you before you set off on your next adventure.
Meals: Breakfast
Whilst our Vietnam backpacking adventure is a trip of a lifetime, sometimes we need to make things unique to fit our unique circumstances. Perhaps you'd like a longer break, to head to additional countries, or simply to upgrade the accommodation throughout! We understand! Let our travel experts curate a custom package for you!
Make My TripA moderate level of exercise is required. None of the activities are peak intensity cycling for personal best timing. We want to absorb the landscape and soak in the atmosphere when hiking, but a few hours on your feet shouldn't be a struggle if you want to make the most out of it.
We meet in Ho Chi Minh on day 1 at the hotel, from that point on our guides will handle transport and everything else so you can just quite literally enjoy the ride.
UK passport holders currently don't need a visa to Vietnam as you'll be given a visa on arrival.
With the amount of exercise we'll be doing, and the warmer, more humid climate of South East Asia, light breathable clothing that easily dries is recommended. Keep yourself cool!
Rob was a fantastic guide. The trip was very enjoyable and Robs knowledge and expertise were great. Would defo recommend
Excellent service from start to finish. I booked the National 3 Peasks challenge in 24 hours. i had regular communication from Rob and the team prioe to the event checking in on my progress, which really spurred me on as well as a helpful fitness plan i has to folow. For the challenge itself Rob and Tim really helped put the group at ease, and was very encouraging. Such a credit to business. i would not hesitate at all in recommending bookitlist to friends and family and will define use again in the future. Thank you for pushing me to finish the challenge!
Just come back from completing the 24 hour natinal 3 Peaks Challenge with Bookitlist. 25-27th June 2021. From start to finish the group I was in was well looked after. From pick up to drop off the team were well organised & made the experience/challenge as enoyable & relaxing as possible. an unforgettable experience & will definitely be looking out for what other trips they have to offer.
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