Vietnam Adventure: Hoi An, Beaches & Ho Chi Minh City
7 days, Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
Itinerary
Day 1Hoi An
Arrive at any time, and choose to kick back at the hostel, or head out to explore the city before meeting up with fellow Roamies in the evening. Later, tuck in for a welcome dinner at one of the stylish restaurants in the ancient town of Hoi An. Hop out of your comfort zone and try Nem Rán, Gỏi Đu Đủ Bò Khô, or how about Cao Lầu; you'll find all the local favourites here.
The welcome moment begins at 17:00. Please ensure you arrive at the joining hotel by then to ensure you do not miss the meeting.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Accommodation
Below is an example of the hotel we may use in this city. For the actual hotel your specific departure will be using, please check your voucher.
Dolphin Hostel Hoi An (or similar)
Meals included:
DinnerDay 2Hoi An/Qui Nhon
Ready for some noodles? Then let's dig in! Start the day with a cooking class at the G Adventures–supported Oodles of Noodles training school, enjoying your creations for lunch. Afterwards, you're free to do as much (or as little) as you choose. Feeling fancy? Get fitted for a custom suit. Creative? Learn to make Vietnamese lanterns. Thirsty? pull up a stool at one of the many river-side bars and cafes. Later, it's all-aboard for the overnight train heading south. Settle into your sleeper cabin and catch some zzzzz's.
On the overnight train we use 4 x birth soft sleeper - Each soft sleeping-car has a corridor running down one side with seven 4-berth compartments opening off it, each of which can be securely locked from the inside. Each compartment has 4 berths, two upper and two lower. Each berth has an individual reading light and is supplied with pillow, sheet and duvet. By day you simply sit on the lower berths. You keep all your bags with you, there is luggage space beneath the bottom bunks and in the large recess above the compartment door. Compartments may be mixed gender.
Your G for Good Moment: Oodles of Noodles
Try some of the oodles of noodles (more than 26 types!) available in the city in this tasty cooking class. Run by our G for Good partners, STREETS International, this class was developed exclusively for G Adventures. Former street youth that are part of this hospitality training program, will help you prepare and cook a number of different types of noodles. This program helps these youth practice their English, increasing their skill-set and opportunities available to them in the tourism industry. Enjoy your yummy creations while learning more about the local cuisine and this initiative which empowers street youth through skills and employment training.
Free Time
Your afternoon is free to relax, explore or try optional activities like making traditional lanterns, and visiting the ruins of My Son. Your CEO has lots of ideas if you need them.
Overnight Train (beds)
Stretch out and get some well-earned rest en route to the next stop.
Optional Activities - Day 2 HideShow
Hoi An Bike and Boat Tour
Enjoy a peaceful exploration of the villages around Hoi An, cycling through rice paddies and along narrow country lanes. Take advantage of this tour – it includes a boat trip through the water palm forest and a visit to the farming village of Tra Que.
Hoi An Lantern Making
Get crafty in the lantern capital of Vietnam. You'll visit the Lifestart Foundation and learn how to make a traditional lantern from one of the students. See how this project, supported by G Adventures, helps local Vietnamese with chronic disabilities gain sustainable employment.
Ba Na Hills and Golden Bridge Excursion
Take the worlds longest cable car to Ba Na hills station. Along the way up make stops at By Night station to visit Linh Ung pagoda, The Old French Villas. Continue by cable car to the Nui Chua Mountain at the top of Ba Na range. Visits here can include; Le Nim Villas, the Orchid Garden, the Furnicular railway and old French cellar (Debay Ancient Wine Cellar), Le Jardin D’amour and Linh Ung Pagoda. You also visit the Golden Hand Bridge and have time to wander and enjoy the view of the surrounding misty mountains and Da Nang City below.
Mỹ Sơn Excursion
38USD per personTravel approximately one hour from Hoi An to arrive at My Son. Tour these Hindu temples built between the fourth and 14th centuries; the site is widely accepted as one of the most important Hindu temple complexes in Southeast Asia. Learn about the architectural style and history of a site that’s often compared to Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Bagan in Burma. Please note this optional activity is a half-day and includes a guide, transportation, and the entrance fee.
Tailor Shops
Go home with some new (handmade!) clothes from one of Hoi An’s famous tailor shops. Walk the streets lined with hundreds of local shops that turn out gorgeous suits, dresses, winter coats, shoes, purses – almost anything – in a day's time to create next season's wardrobe.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 3Qui Nhon
Jump off the train and head to Thap Doi to explore the imposing Cham temples. Hungry? You'll stop by Eoi Gio for a local breakfast and walk along the gorgeous coastline. OK, enough is enough, are you ready to hit the beach? Of course you are! With it's white sand and crystal blue water, Ky Co beach is exactly where you want to be. This remote spot is perfect to spend a chill afternoon or grab a snorkel to spot pristine corals and colourful fish. Speaking of fish, later you'll visit one of Qui Nhon's best seafood restaurants for dinner. Try local favourites like Bun thit nuong, Banh Xeo, and banh beo chen–you'll be bursting after this awesome feast!
Thap Doi Tower Ruins
The Quy Nhon province has the highest number of Champaera ruins in Vietnam. The Cham temples were built in the 11th century by Champa rulers and you will visit the ruins of Thap Doi towers. These ancient sandstone structures have very similar characteristics as the Angkor complex in Cambodia.
Eo Gio Visit
Take a walk to explore the beautiful Eo Gió (translated as “Windy Waist”) coastline. Admire the jagged cliffs, hidden caves, and deep blue water as it smashes into the massive rocks. Swimming is not allowed, but you can cool off your feet in the rushing waves and keep your eyes open for fish and marine wildlife.
Ky Co Beach Visit
Visit beautiful Ky Co beach (Bãi Kỳ Co) considered one of the best beaches in Vietnam (known as the “Maldives of Vietnam”). Walk along the white sand and dive in to the crystal-clear blue water. Choose to do some snorkelling where you can view massive corals and colourful fish.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Accommodation
5 Elements Hostel, Qui Nhon (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 4Qui Nhon/Nha Trang
Settle in to your private ride for a bit of a drive today. Catch up on your feeds, take a nap but get ready for a gorgeous stop along the way. Gành Đá Dĩa, known as the Giant’s Causeway of Vietnam offers amazing views and angles for your pics–snap away! Next stop is the Mud Baths in the resort city of Nha Trang. Climb into the mud and mineral pools and soak away. The evening is then yours–ready to party? There are a gazillion options and your CEO will suggest the best of the best nightclubs and beach bars for your enjoyment. Really hope you had a nap on the bus.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Ganh Da Dia Visit
Stop at Gành Đá Dĩa, known as the "Giant’s Causeway of Vietnam." This unique landscape is a result of volcanic activity millions of years ago where lava flows reached the sea, solidified and cracks formed the stunning basalt columns. Erosion over thousands of years did the rest, creating unique shapes and forms seen today.
Your Wellness Moment: Mud Bath Visit
Take a relaxing dip in the therapeutic mud baths of Nha Trang. Thought to possess healing properties, the mud baths are the perfect place to unwind.
Accommodation
Bondi Backpackers Nha Trang (or similar)
Take in the city views while floating in the rooftop pool or chill out by the rooftop bar. Get the best of both worlds here by being close to the beach with exclusive access to the hotel lounge. Accommodations at this hostel are multi-share.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 5Nha Trang/Ho Chi Minh City
Freedom! The day is yours to enjoy Nha Trang's many beach options. Find a spot and stretch out on your towel to catch some rays and play in the surf. Stroll the extensive promenade for shopping, bars and fun. Why not channel your inner child at the waterpark or jump on a boat for a snorkelling tour–the choice is yours! Tonight brush off the sand and hop back on the train for your overnight journey back to the big city.
On the overnight train we use 4 x birth soft sleeper - Each soft sleeping-car has a corridor running down one side with seven 4-berth compartments opening off it, each of which can be securely locked from the inside. Each compartment has 4 berths, two upper and two lower. Each berth has an individual reading light and is supplied with pillow, sheet and duvet. By day you simply sit on the lower berths. You keep all your bags with you, there is luggage space beneath the bottom bunks and in the large recess above the compartment door. Compartments may be mixed gender.
Free Time
Enjoy a full free day in Nha Trang. Choose to hit the beach, go snorkelling, or visit local shops, beach bars and markets.
Overnight Train (beds)
Stretch out and get some well-earned rest en route to the next stop.
Optional Activities - Day 5 HideShow
Nha Trang Street Food Crawl
Bring your appetite and your wallet. The CEO will bring the group to the best spots to eat and teach everyone about the local street food. Yum!
Nha Trang Boat Tour and Snorkelling
29USD per personBoard a boat in the morning at Nha Trang's harbour for hours of fun. Begin with a visit to an island fishing village to take in daily life by foot, then take a ride in a basket boat. Afterwards, go for a swim or snorkel. Relax on the beach before heading back to Nha Trang.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 6Ho Chi Minh City
Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City–this thriving metropolis will not disappoint! Head out on a walking tour visiting bustling Ben Thanh market, Reunification Palace and the French quarter. Hungry? Your CEO will order up HCMC's most famous dish; pho–the breakfast of champions. After slurping up your noodles, you are free–why not hop on a cyclo or motorbike tour, visit the infamous Cu Chi tunnels or head back to the hostel to relax. Whatever you do, don't forget to warm up your vocal cords and throw on your most outrageous frock because it's time for karaoke. You'll have a farewell party like no other in one of the city's top sing-along bars. Neon lights, blaring tunes and roaring crowds will entice you to the stage. Get ready–you're next. Own it!
Highlights of Ho Chi Minh City Walking Tour
Walk to the bustling Ben Thanh Market, filled with everyday goods, handicrafts, clothing, souvenirs, and lively hawkers trying to win over a customer. Continue to the Reunification Palace and learn about the power struggle between Vietnam's North and South regions. Continue to the French Quarter and admire its colonial architecture. See the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Central Post Office, City Hall and the Opera House, before ending the tour at the quirky Cafe Apartments.
Ben Thanh Market
Wander this bustling market for more insight into Ho Chi Minh City. Pick up souvenirs, sample local cuisine, and experience local living. Learn a little history along the way; Ben Thanh started as a cluster of street vendors selling wares by the Saigon River, and was formalized into a true market in 1859.
Free Time
The afternoon is yours, get out and explore this bustling city.
Ho Chi Minh City Karaoke Night
Enjoy a night out at one of Ho Chi Minh Citys' most popular karaoke bars!
Optional Activities - Day 6 HideShow
Cu Chi Tunnels Guided Tour
23-27USD per personTake a guided tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels, a complex network of tunnels that the Viet Cong lived in to protect themselves from opposing forces during the Vietnam War. Try crawling through some of the tunnels (if you’re not claustrophobic). These tunnels stored ammunition, had underground hospitals, and served as a hidden base for attacking allied forces.
Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Tour
Hop on a scooter and take a tour through vibrant Ho Chi Minh City. Learn how to make the iconic Bahn Mi sandwich and enjoy six delicious Vietnamese street food dishes, three drinks and one dessert.
War Remnants Museum Visit
2USD per personVisit the War Remnants Museum, a gut-wrenching but worthwhile experience that includes three storeys of exhibits and military hardware. Learn about the devastation that occurred in Saigon during the Vietnam War, a period that greatly contrasts the joy and liveliness of the Vietnamese people today.
Ho Chi Minh City Cyclo Tour
10USD per personTake a city tour on a cyclo (cycle rickshaw) – a great way to absorb the sights, sounds, and smells of Ho Chi Minh City while keeping your hands free for that camera action.
Accommodation
Phan Anh Backpacker (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 7Ho Chi Minh City
Say goodbye to your Roamies and depart at any time, or keep the adventure going by heading through the Mekong delta into Cambodia on the next leg of this epic adventure.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.