FLAVOURS OF VIETNAM
Blue-Roads | Asia
Dive in to picturesque Vietnam on this laidback tour of buzzing cities, beautiful bays and lush green countryside. Along the way you'll witness spectacular sunsets, come face to face with breathtaking architecture and enjoy delectable local cuisine - all while staying in charming accommodation.
TOUR CODE:
BAHFVHO-0 Thank You for Choosing Blue-Roads
Thank you for choosing to travel with Back-Roads Touring. We can’t wait for you to join us on the mini-coach!
About Your Tour Notes THE BLUE-ROADS DIFFERENCE Visit a traditional paper-mâché mask making family in Hanoi's Old Quarter These tour notes contain everything you need to know Enjoy an overnight cruise in the before your tour departs – including where to meet, picturesque Halong Bay what to bring with you and what you can expect to do on each day of your itinerary. You can also print this Take a scenic river cruise down the Mekong Delta document out, use it as a checklist and bring it with you on tour.
TOUR CURRENCIES
Please Note: We recommend that you refresh + Vietnam - this document one week before your tour departs to ensure you have the most up-to-date accommodation list and itinerary information available. Your Itinerary
DAY 1 | HANOI, VIETNAM
After transferring from the airport to our hotel, we’ll meet the group and get to know each other in lively Hanoi – a city brimming with busy street food stalls, picturesque pagodas and well- preserved colonial buildings. Tonight, we’ll sample our first taste of Vietnamese cuisine at KOTO restaurant, a social enterprise that gives disadvantaged young people the chance to learn new skills.
MEALS: Dinner
DAY 2 | HANOI
After a refreshing breakfast at the hotel, we’ll set off for the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum – where we’ll discover more about the man who led the movement for Vietnamese independence. Next, we’ll take a stroll through Hanoi’s bustling streets and visit the Temple of Literature to soak up some of Vietnam’s unique ancient history. The afternoon will see us embark on a cyclo tour through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, where we’ll learn more about the area’s French colonial architecture. Finally, after a busy day of sightseeing we’ll stop in at the home of the city’s last remaining mask-making family, where we’ll gain an insight into how traditional papier-mâché masks are made.
MEALS: Breakfast Lunch
DAY 3 | HANOI - HALONG BAY
After breakfast, our transfer will take us to a World Heritage Site that’s widely regarded as the jewel in Vietnam’s crown: the beautiful Halong Bay. Here, we’ll take to the emerald waters in a traditional junk boat and set off to explore the area’s famous limestone islets and fascinating grottoes. This evening will be yours to spend reclining on a comfy chair, clinking glasses with the group or watching the twinkling stars from the sun deck. *Please note: Our exact cruise itinerary is subject to change depending on season and weather conditions.
MEALS: Breakfast Lunch Dinner DAY 4 | HALONG BAY - HANOI - DANANG - HOI AN
We’ll tuck into tea, coffee and pastries on board the boat before cruising back to Halong City this morning. Upon arrival, we’ll disembark and transfer to the airport, where we’ll begin our journey to historic Hoi An.
MEALS: Breakfast Lunch
DAY 5 | HOI AN
This morning we’ll get acquainted with Hoi An’s atmospheric Old Town on a guided tour of historic houses, museums and assembly halls – not to mention the famous Japanese Covered Bridge. After an included lunch, the afternoon will be yours to spend strolling past the area’s tailor shops, artwork-filled stores and aromatic tea warehouses. Tonight, why not enjoy some incredible sunset views over Cua Dai Bridge before heading out into the beautiful paper lantern-lit streets to sample some of the delicious local fare?
MEALS: Breakfast Lunch
DAY 6 | HOI AN
After this morning’s breakfast, we’ll have the opportunity to channel our inner creatives with a silk lantern making workshop. This traditional craft not only adds a wonderful touch of colour to the streets of Hoi An, but it’s also a practice said to bring luck, happiness and wealth to the family home. After returning to the hotel, you’ll have the afternoon to spend at your leisure. Tonight, the choice is yours: sample a selection of Hoi An’s specialty dishes at a local restaurant, or simply spend the evening sipping on glasses of crisp wine overlooking the Thu Bon River.
MEALS: Breakfast
DAY 7 | HOI AN - HUE
We’ll awaken our senses with a Vietnamese coffee before we depart Hoi An and move on to our next stop: the imperial city of Hue. Despite having the majority of its ancient architecture destroyed in the American War, this city still resonates with imperial glory at every turn. After lunch, the afternoon will be yours to dive into the illustrious history of the region. Our suggestion for tonight: take some time to hunt down a steaming bowl of Bun Bo Hue at a local haunt.
MEALS: Breakfast Lunch DAY 8 | HUE
Today we have an appointment with Hue’s Imperial City. A citadel-inside-a-citadel, this enormous complex on the banks of the Perfume River once housed the emperor’s residence, palace and temples within its six-metre-high walls. After taking in the sights of what remains of the ancient city, we’ll visit a historic garden house for a delicious lunch. You’ll have some well-deserved time to relax this evening back out our accommodation.
MEALS: Breakfast Lunch
DAY 9 | HUE - HO CHI MINH CITY
After breakfast, we’ll head to the airport for our flight to the incomparable Ho Chi Minh City. After touching down and dropping off our bags at our hotel, we’ll acquaint ourselves with this pulsating city on a walking tour of the main sights. Be swept up in the swirl of energy as we visit the Central Post Office, Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Reunification Palace – passing incense-filled temples, aromatic street stalls and chic designer malls as we go. Tonight, the evening will be yours to enjoy some contemporary Vietnamese cuisine at your choice of local restaurants.
MEALS: Breakfast
DAY 10 | HO CHI MINH CITY - MEKONG DELTA - HO CHI MINH CITY
First today: we’ll make an early departure for the province of Ben Tre, where we’ll swap the hustle and bustle of the city for a scenic cruise through the Mekong Delta – an area that’s known as the ‘Rice Basket of Vietnam’ due to its rich and fertile soil. We’ll arrive back in Ho Chi Minh City in time to hit the streets and sample more tantalising food stall delights. Why not wrap your tastebuds around some sizzling banh xeo or the full flavours of a bowl of bun mam before returning to the hotel?
MEALS: Breakfast Lunch
DAY 11 | HO CHI MINH CITY - CU CHI - HO CHI MINH CITY
Today we’ll set off on a day trip to the labyrinthine Cu Chi Tunnels: a strategic operation base during the Vietnam War that housed kilometre upon kilometre of secret trap doors, weapon factories, living areas and hospitals. After venturing back out into the daylight, we’ll gather for lunch at a remote organic farm in Cu Chi. Then: we’ll put our palates to the test at a craft beer tasting session back in Ho Chi Minh City.
MEALS: Breakfast Lunch DAY 12 | HO CHI MINH CITY
After one last breakfast with the group, our tour will come to a close.
MEALS: Breakfast Tour Information
Meals Blue-Roads Travel App INCLUDED MEALS
Breakfast (B) is included daily. Why not check in for your tour using the Back- Some of your lunches and dinners are also Roads app? included, either in hotels or local restaurants. This handy tool allows you to view your These are indicated by (L) and (D) in the bookings, check your itinerary, see tour maps itinerary. and more – making it the perfect travel Please note that drinks will not always be companion for your Back-Roads trip. included. How to Download the Back-Roads app We will do our best to accommodate any specific dietary requirements you may have. 1. Launch the App Store or Google Play on Please ensure to make these clear to us your device before your tour begins so we can 2. Search ‘Back-Roads’ and click ‘OK’ communicate them to our hotels, restaurants 3. Select the Back-Roads app in the search and suppliers. results 4. Click the download/install button 5. The app should be installed in your device’s applications page
Other Information
Finances
CHANGING MONEY SPENDING MONEY CASH: Foreign money can be changed at Naturally, everyone’s spending varies. Many of banks, airports, railway and tube stations, and your meals are included in the price of your at major hotels (though at a less favourable tour, so this just leaves a few meals and your rate) personal spending to budget for. CREDIT CARDS: Visa and MasterCard are widely Tips for the Tour Leader and Driver are not accepted. American Express is only accepted in included. Tipping is entirely at your some larger establishments discretion; however, if you feel you have CASH MACHINES: ATMS are widely available received exceptional service, it is recommended that you tip £1-2/€ per day for Drivers and £4-5/€ per day for Tour Leaders.
Insurance Passports and Visas
You will need to take out full travel insurance We advise you either to carry a photocopy of before travelling with Back-Roads Touring. your passport (and visa, if applicable) with you Please ensure that you have adequate medical, while abroad, or to ensure that you leave a personal effects and cancellation cover. copy with relatives back at home. We recommend that you carry your insurance This will enable the local embassy or high details with you at all times. You may be asked commission to arrange a replacement if the to provide details of your medical insurance or original should be lost or stolen. a payment guarantee in some countries before If you do take copies with you on your trip, medical assistance can be provided. please ensure that you keep these separate Your insurance company may not assist you from your original documents. with your claim if the instructions given in the It is your responsibility to obtain any visas policy have not been followed. necessary to enable you to travel in Europe or Asia. Contact your local consular office for more information. Transport
We travel in premium mini-coaches equipped with comfortable seats, air conditioning and large windows for enjoying the view. With far more flexibility than a standard-size coach, we’re able to take the scenic route – winding through beautiful countryside to the heart of tiny villages and coastal towns. What to Bring
Suggested Packing List Wondering what to take with you on tour? Our packing list can be used as a guide. Please Note: What you pack will depend on the countries you’re visiting and the time of year you plan to travel. The following is a suggested clothing list only, based on our experience:
Sun hat Sunglasses Shorts/skirts Long-sleeved tops Short-sleeved tops Trousers Light jacket Waterproof jacket and Warm jacket umbrella Walking shoes/comfortable shoes Smart casual evening Sleepwear Swimwear and towel wear
Other things to pack:
Multi-use travel adapter Camera Batteries Phone Personal medication Sunscreen Paracetamol or aspirin
OPTIONALS TO CONSIDER:
Motion sickness tablets Anti-diarrhoea tablets Sewing kit Lip balm
That's it!
We look forward to seeing you on tour.