Vietnam: Hanoi, Halong Bay & Trekking Pu Luong

From the organized chaos of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to the soothing lush green terraces of Pu Luong, Vietnam pushes you to let go, step out of your comfort zone, and reconnect with your inner explorer. Vietnam can feel unfamiliar and familiar all at once. Try foods you have never even heard of before while being greeted with smiling hosts who feel like familiar friends. Welcome to Hanoi, and to Vietnam, and we invite you to dive in, push your limits, and refill your cup.

It wouldn't be a trip to Vietnam without hopping on the back of a motorbike. Your drivers and guides this morning are all women from a local organization dedicated to empowering women through employment as motorbike drivers in the tourism sector. These women will guide you through the city-stopping the motorbike to allow for exploration of all the must see stops. Walk around the perimeter of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and visit Ba Dinh Square and One Pillar Pagoda. Explore Huu Tiep Lake and Tran Quoc Pagoda. After working up an appetite, return to the Old Quarter for a huge bowl of Pho at a local restaurant. Slurping is highly encouraged.

Step on board our private boat and dig into a thoughtfully catered Vietnamese lunch. Sample local delights like pumpkin soup, fried chicken and Halong steamed tiger prawn. Get in the water with a guided kayaking adventure to explore the natural scenery of the incredible caves within Ha Long Bay. Look out for fossilized shells of oysters and crabs-proof that life existed here millions of years ago. Join your hosts to help prepare springs rolls, or sit back with a well earned glass of local beer. Dinner is plentiful this evening-and served on board.

Tropical rainforest covers the low mountains that surround Pu Luong-with rice terraces as far as the eye can see. Villages dotted throughout the valley are like splashes of colour against a bright green painting. Trekking along the terraces, throughout villages, brings you face to face with day to day life in this picturesque corner of northern Vietnam.

The village of Pu Luong lies just west of Hanoi, but feels a million miles away. Step out of your wooden bungalow to a vast landscape of green. Start the day with a rich coffee and fuel up for a morning trekking among the rice paddies. Pass by local villages and wave hello to local people as they move about their daily routines. Walk to Ban Cong and dig into a BBQ picnic lunch prepared for you by local chefs just along the riverbank.

Hoi An roughly translates to "a peaceful meeting place" and we promise it lives up to its name. Admittedly, it's hard to get more peaceful than the rice terraces of Pu Luong, but Hoi An offers a contrast to its northern neighbour. Where Pu Luong boasts serenity and calm, Hoi An offers conviviality and vibrancy. Explore this meeting place with a cooking class led by a local chef preparing a three course meal.

The remainder of the afternoon will involve some time at leisure. Your CEO will lead an excursion to a local beach. For the adventure-seekers, we recommend a Jeep tour through the countryside. Learn about the agricultural practices of local farmers by visiting their crops and livestock. Witness how traditional occupations have changed through time from weaving to rice-wine making, to newer industries like bird’s nest farming and aquaculture. Interact with friendly locals, spark conversations, and leave feeling a genuine connection to this place and the people you are meeting along the way.

Hoi An is a must visit on any Vietnam itinerary because you can do it all here. From ancient ruins and fascinating architecture, to delicious food and active adventures-there is a dizzying array of things to see and do. You get to choose today between two curated choices. Embark on a kayaking adventure that takes you from the Cua Dai bridge down to a fishing village and beyond. If you would rather explore the ruins of My Son, join a local guide for comprehensive exploration of various complexes of the site, before returning to Hoi An by boat.

Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's most populated city with just around 9 million people calling it their home. For every 6 people, 1 motorbike enters the city on a daily basis. This organized chaos is a recognizable feature of many Vietnamese cities and learning to navigate the chaos is all part of the adventure. When you arrive in the afternoon, hop onto a pedaling cyclo to get a bit above the motorbike fray and tour the city with your knowledgeable guide. A sunset boat ride is peaceful way to end the day in the big city.

Pass through local villages and stop at a local market to sample local produce. Visit the Phu Hoa Dong traditional rice paper village and witness the age-old craftsmanship and traditions that have withstood the test of time. Your cycling adventure comes to an end once you arrive at the tunnels-where your guided tour begins. Venture into the depths of history with a visit to Ben Dinh Tunnel, one of the remarkable sections of the Cu Chi Tunnels network. Learn how the tunnels were used for strategy and for survival. When you return to Ho Chi Minh City, its time to freshen up and prepare for a final farewell dinner with your CEO and fellow travellers.

Your adventure comes to end, and you can depart at any time.