Vietnam vacation
Highlights
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) | Cu Chi Tunnels | Mekong Delta | Mekong Delta homestay | Cai Be floating market | Dalat | Nha Trang | Quy Nhon | Hoi An | Hue | Hanoi | Hanoi Old Quarter Mai Chau | Hoan Kiem Lake | Halong Bay
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Small group adventure
What is a small group adventure?It's a great way to travel! Whether you are traveling on your own, with a partner or with friends, a small group trip is a fantastic way to see the world. You'll travel on a fixed itinerary that has been designed to help you discover the best of region. From the known highlights, the hidden gems that you won't find in the guidebooks.
Itineraries run on set departure dates, accompanied every step of the way by an English speaking local group leader. You chose the itinerary and the date that suits you best and you book on.
Why travel on a small group adventure?
Small groups allow us to explore where larger tour groups can't. Our maximum group size of 16 travelers allows us to use local transport to get from A to B, to visit rural villages, spend time with the locals and even stay at a local home overnight, and it allows us to give our travelers genuine, real life experiences of the countries we are visiting; what you'll be doing and how you'll travel depends entirely on your chosen itinerary.
Is an adventure right for me?
The word adventure means something different to everyone, and our range of trips reflects that. Whether you want to explore local markets, visit out of the way temples and meet local people or go on an early morning safari drive searching for the 'big five', we'll have a trip for you. If you are looking for a physical challenge such trekking the Kokoda Track or summiting Kilimanjaro, we can help with that too.
So what can I expect on this trip?
This is a classic style of small group adventure. You'll find your trip combines a good mix of included activities and free time, with some meals included as per your itinerary. We don't want you to feel chaperoned, it's your vacation not ours. Your group leader will be on hand to assist with organising anything you might wish to do in your free time, but how you spend it is up to you. Anything listed as included in your itinerary will be included in trip price; whereas anything listed as optional will be at an additional cost should you wish to take part.
These trips are great value, including things that you would struggle to organise independently, such as a night at a homestay in a remote village, or local guides around a remote place of interest. Transport will be a combination of private vehicle and public transport, whichever is the most appropriate for the route we are traveling; this might include train, plane, camel, tuk tuk, bicycle, boat…
On a majority of these trips you'll stay in 2-3 star accommodation, locally owned and reflective of the region you are traveling through. All solo travelers will be automatically roomed on a twin share basis with another group member of the same sex, unless you opt to pay for your own room at time of booking. There are no compulsory single supplements for solo travelers willing to share. Single rooms aren't available on camping trips, and you will be expected to help out with camp tasks such as setting up and breaking down your camp.
Can I book my flights with you?
Yes! We are a fully ATOL bonded tour operator meaning that we can book flights from the UK as part of your vacation package. Just ask us for a quote including flights when you make your enquiry.
Responsible tourism
Responsible tourism: Vietnam vacation
Environment
Each traveler on this trip is given a gift of a Responsible Traveler cloth bag made by the Nguyen Nga Training Centre, in Central Vietnam, helping those with special needs and disabilities. This bag is designed to combat the increasingly prevalent problem of plastic bag pollution disrupting the various marine and land habitats of Vietnam.
This tour is carbon offset. We are proud to be a carbon neutral company. We measure our main carbon emissions for transport, accommodation and waste. The offset cost is embedded in the cost of the trip – so traveling with us you do it in a way which dramatically reduces your carbon footprint.
We use local transport where ever possible, from overnight sleeper trains to locally owned river boats on the Mekong Delta. Public transport is also the most environmentally sound method of travel, so we try use it where ever safe and practical.
Stay at a farmstay in Phong Nah, established the help the small town to benefit economically from tourism, it also has recycling and waste management programs, such as reusing kitchen waste for compost on the farm.
Community
This journey includes many opportunities to meet local people and learn about their lives in this diverse country.
In the Vinh Long area of the Mekong Delta your local guides introduce us to the daily life, floating markets and cottage industries of the Delta's rich waterways. Your homestay host family welcomes you with a dinner of local specialties and the opportunity to ask questions and gain insight into customs schooling and religion in this area.
You'll be spending an additional night in a homestay in Mai Chau. While the accommodation is shared and basic, this is a great opportunity to connect with the local people (and enjoy delicious home-cooked meals!)
When you arrive in Quy Nhon, you’ll visit the Nguyen Nga Training Centre, a not-for-profit venture which provides support to people with special needs, in particular those with physical disabilities, through their education, training and job placement programs.
Hue is famous for its imposing Citadel and the Tombs of the last ruling Dynasty of Vietnam. It was also the Buddhist capital of Vietnam, a fact, which is less lauded. Our local guide takes us through the back roads of Hue, where we are lunch guests at a Buddhist nunnery or monastery.
5 Reviews of Vietnam vacation
Reviewed on 29 Jul 2013 by Fiona Christie
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The old town and cycling in Hoi An.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Pack lots of light weight clothes, leave room for shopping and pack a good light weight waterproof!
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Benefitted local people and projects.
Reviewed on 11 Apr 2012 by Juliet Price
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The home stay on the Meakon delta and the National park. I also love kayaking and seeing the wild monkeys in Haylon bay.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
There are long travel days so bring books and cards, although the guide was great and no one got bored.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
The whole ethos of the vacation was on sustainability and local services. We visited an orphanage and played with the children and many local charities supporting victims of Agent Orange, but I was most impressed with the support for disabled artisans, allowing them to support themselves and make a good living from their work.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Absolutely brilliant.
Reviewed on 05 Sep 2011 by martina kocjan
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Cambodia - the temples of Angkor Wat are a true gem; Phnom Penh and its museums as well as the recent Cambodian history were heart breaking but very educational.
Vietnam - Halong Bay is stunning, but overcrowded even during low season.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
The trip I booked consisted of 2 trips. The first is mainly in Cambodia and it is an excellent trip, true to the responsible travel philosophy. The second is mainly in Vietnam and was overall disappointing.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The part in Cambodia possibly benefited local people, but there was nothing responsible or sustainable about the trip as organised in Vietnam.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Enjoyable, some great memories, but certainly not outstanding. I have been using the same provider for a few years now, but will reconsider using it in the future. I imagine it is still a good choice for some countries but has become the victim of its own success and the type of agency I would normally try and avoid in others (Vietnam).
Reviewed on 11 Jul 2008 by Charlotte Barton
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Staying in a remote raft house in the middle of a lake surrounded by rainforest and gibbons!
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Take some comfortable sandals which you can walk or climb in, not just flip flops!
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes we usually got public transport, and we stayed in homestays although the families we stayed with were quite well off already.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Good - lots to do and see, plus time to relax.
Reviewed on 15 Jan 2006 by Christopher Jones
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
I think discovering the way of life of the Vietnamese people, particularly in the remote rural areas and the open friendliness of the locals. I also found the food very affordable and very fresh.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
I would advise them to have patience, be open minded and willing to accept things that you do not see at home. Also be prepared to sacrifice a little comfort when not staying in hotels.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
I believe the tour benefited the local people which is something I feel is not always the case with other tours. I like the idea of pooling money to use as a kitty for tipping the guides.
4. Any other comments?
Although it was a big culture shock, our tour guide had everything organised in advance and really had a passion for his country. Mostly the warmth and hospitality of the people was ever-present.
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