Meet & greet: Upon arrival in Hanoi, you will be welcomed to Vietnam by your private English-speaking guide, and then transferred to your hotel to check in.

Afternoon walking tour of Hanoi’s Old Quarter: This afternoon, there will be a walking tour around the Old Quarter which will include visits to the Memorial House at 87 Ma May House, Bach Ma Temple and Ngoc Son Temple. Also known as the "36 Streets District", the Old Quarter was once the thriving commercial centre of the city. Each of the 36 short lanes used to specialise in a particular trade represented by one of the guilds. This is still reflected in the names of certain streets: like Silk Street, Gold Street and Fish Street. Among the ancient homes and attractive temples there is a multitude of tantalising souvenir shops.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the La Siesta Premium Hang Be (Junior Suite )

Road journey from Hanoi to Pu Luong: After breakfast, you will be met at your hotel by your guide and transferred to Pu Luong Valley in Thanh Hoa province. Depending on traffic, this is a journey of approximately 4 hours.  

Afternoon rafting tour: This afternoon, you will be transferred to the rafting site. Sail along the quiet stretch of river, taking in the beautiful scenery as you go. Arrive in picturesque Hieu Village, where you will be welcomed to the Pu Luong Retreat and settle in for the evening.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Pu Luong Retreat (Valley View Bungalow)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Guided trek around the Pu Luong Nature Reserve: After breakfast, set out with a local guide for a walk through the various villages of the Pu Luong Valley, including Doc, Lung Cao, Lan, Uoi and Lac minority villages. Visit a family who specialise in traditional weaving. Today’s walk will take you through some truly spectacular scenery, with small villages hidden on hills, and nestled among waterfalls and terraced fields. A picnic lunch will be taken during the walk, and in the afternoon you will return to the lodge for a chance to rest your tired legs. Today’s walk will cover around 10-15km.

The remainder of the day is left free at leisure for you to relax at the lodge or to continue to explore the surrounding area independently. Dinner is included at the lodge tonight.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Pu Luong Retreat (Valley View Bungalow)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Guided tour around the Pu Luong Valley: After breakfast, set out on a guided walk through working farmland and rice terraces, where you can see the local people’s daily life and learn about local products made in the area, such as rice wine and textiles. Lunch will be taken with a local family and you will return to your lodge in the afternoon.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Pu Luong Retreat (Valley View Bungalow)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Morning at leisure: This morning you have some time at leisure to enjoy a final few hours in the Pu Luong Nature Reserve. You can simply relax and enjoy the surroundings or arrange further excursions through staff at the lodge.

Road journey to Hanoi: At the agreed time today you will be picked up from the hotel by your driver & guide and driven back to Hanoi, a journey of around 4 hours. On arrival in Hanoi you will be transferred to the railway station in time to board your overnight train to Dong Hoi.

Overnight train: Depart from Hanoi Station on train SE1 to Dong Hoi. The train departs at 19.00 and arrives at 04.30 the following day.

A 4 / 6 berth air-conditioned soft-sleeper cabin will be booked for your exclusive use.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Road journey to Phong Nha National Park: Upon arrival at Dong Hoi train station, you will be met by a local guide and driver, and there will be the chance to visit a local restaurant in the city for a cup of coffee/Vietnamese green tea and to enjoy a basic breakfast before heading to the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park. After your refreshment stop head out from Dong Hoi by road on the 50km journey which takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Afternoon cycling tour around the countryside: This afternoon, you will have the opportunity to take a mountain bike to explore the countryside, and visit a local village famous for producing rice wine. Enjoy the scenery and landscape of this unspoilt part of Vietnam before returning to your homestay for an evening at leisure. Tonight there is the option to have dinner with the local family who run the homestay (arranged locally).

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Jungle Boss Homestay (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Guided tour around Phong-Nha National Park: Today you will spend some time exploring the National Park and some of the caves hidden within. Phong Nha Cave was the first cave in the area to be opened to tourism, and is still one of the most popular sights today. Take a boat ride from town past some gorgeous rural scenery and into the cave itself, before making your own way back out on foot. Another unmissable sight is Paradise Cave, the longest dry cave in Asia and only discovered a few years ago. Once you get past the unassuming entrance and down into the cave’s interior, it is one of the most stunningly beautiful caves in the world. Sturdy wooden walkways have been set up for tourists to explore the first km of the cave, but anyone continuing further than that must be part of an organised tour. The entrance to Paradise Cave is located up a hill, and a visit here involves a large number of steps, and should only be attempted by those who have a reasonable amount of fitness. The rest of the day is free for you to relax and explore the captivating surroundings at your own pace.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Jungle Boss Homestay (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Day trip to the Abandoned Valley: Today you will set out from the homestay for a full day excursion in the caves and valleys of the national park. The Abandoned Valley is a remote area of the Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, covering a section of the famous Ho Chi Minh Trail. From the departure point you will trek through the jungle to the other exit of the Dark Cave, where you can explore up to 500m inside. Trek for another hour over to E Cave, one of the most impressive caves in the area. Enjoy a BBQ lunch in the cave entrance and swim in the crystal clear spring that runs through the cave. Continue your trek through the jungle along a different trail back to the Ho Chi Minh Road, and enjoy a cold drink before being taken back to your homestay early evening for a well-deserved rest. This tour involves a 12km trek across some challenging terrain, and should only be attempted by those who have a reasonable level of fitness. This tour may be shared with other tourists.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Jungle Boss Homestay (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Transfer to Dong Hoi Railway Station: Early this morning, you will be driven back to Dong Hoi Railway Station in time to board your onward train to Danang.

Train journey: Depart from Dong Hoi Station on train SE3 to Danang. The train departs at 07.49 and arrives at 13.12.

A 4 / 6 berth air-conditioned soft-sleeper cabin will be booked for your exclusive use.

Transfer to your hotel in Hoi An: Upon arrival at Danang Railway Station, you will be transferred by road to your hotel close to Hoi An’s Old Town. After checking in, the rest of the day will be free at leisure for you to settle in, relax and begin exploring Hoi An independently.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Ancient House Resort (Garden View Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Day at leisure: You have time to relax. Alternatively there are opportunities to visit the beach, cycle in some beautiful countryside, visit the ruins at My Son, discover the artists of Hoi An or see a tailor to get some clothes made.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Ancient House Resort (Garden View Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Private transfer: After a leisurely morning, your guide and driver will transfer you to Danang Airport for the flight to Saigon.

Flight: VN123 Danang - Saigon 12.15 - 13.40

Private transfer: On arrival at Saigon airport, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel to check in.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Northern Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Day at leisure: Today you have a full day at leisure in this bustling Asian metropolis. Relax at your hotel, or explore independently. Great shopping opportunities can be found in busy Ben Thanh market as well as numerous glitzy modern malls, while great food can be found on every corner either on the street or in a number of fantastic upmarket restaurants.

A late check-out from your hotel can be arranged today, subject to availability and additional cost.

Private transfer: This evening your guide and driver will transfer you to the airport for your return flight.

Meals: Breakfast