Meet & greet: Upon arrival in Hanoi, you will be welcomed to Vietnam by your private English-speaking guide, and then transferred to your hotel, where the rest of the day will be yours at leisure to relax after your journey.

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

Morning tour of Hanoi: After breakfast, start your tour of Hanoi with a visit to the 900 year old Temple of Literature, Vietnam's principal Confucian sanctuary and its historical centre of learning. Made up of five courtyards, this is one of the few remnants of the original city. Continue to the Soviet style Ba Dinh Square where Ho Chi Minh read out the declaration of the nation's independence in 1945. Visit the museum dedicated to Ho Chi Minh before passing through the mausoleum (you will be asked to remove hats if entering, and no shorts or vests are allowed) escorted by a soldier in full regalia. As you leave, you will be able to walk through the gardens of the Presidential Palace before seeing Ho Chi Minh's house, the modest dwelling he built based on a rural Vietnamese stilt house and where "Uncle Ho" lived for the last years of his life.

After your excursion you will be taken to ‘Pho Thin’, one of the oldest and most atmospheric ‘Pho’ Restaurants in Vietnam where you will enjoy a traditional lunch of beef noodle soup (Pho).

Private transfer: This afternoon 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.

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 to enjoy a cup of coffee/Vietnamese green tea and enjoy a basic breakfast before heading to the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park. After your refreshment stop head out of from Dong Hoi by road on the 50km journey which takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Afternoon at leisure in Phong Nha: After checking into your homestay accommodation, you have the rest of the day free at leisure in Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park. There are many activities that can be arranged locally. For example, hiring a bike and riding along the winding tracks weaving through the rice paddy fields and through tiny quaint villages where you can stop to interact with the friendly locals, visit local markets & swim in the clear streams nearby. Or simply relax and enjoy the view over the countryside and interact with this local family.

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

Meals: Breakfast

Caving adventure - Day 1: You will be met at your hotel in Phong Nha at around 7.30am. Join your group and continue by road to the Oxalis Headquarters. Learn all about safety and collect your gear before driving 45mins through the National Park to reach the trailhead. A steep jungle hill starts the adventure, with a refreshing river at the bottom. Hike through rich jungle to reach the Ban Doong minority village, where a hot cup of tea welcomes you.

There are a number of different caving adventures of varying lengths that we can offer in the Phong Nha National Park, including more challenging and private trips - please ask for more details. 

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Hang En Caving Experience (Tent)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Caving adventure - Day 2: Wake for breakfast early, and afterwards explore the breath-taking cave exit. Later trek through the dry passage to the viewpoint high above camp, where 300 million year old fossils can be found. In the late morning, trek back through the mountainous river valley, through jungle and across streams, until reaching Doong village again. Enjoy a picnic lunch by the stream and then prepare for the biggest challenge ahead, climbing the treacherous hill up to the Ho Chi Minh Road. Watch out for leeches and push ahead to the road, where cold drinks are waiting. Return by vehicle to Phong Nha by 5pm and check back into your accommodation for a well-earned rest!

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

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Road journey from Phong Nha to Hue, via the DMZ: After breakfast this morning, meet your guide for the long drive to Hue via Quang Tri province, passing through beautiful countryside scenery on the way. This narrow province borders Thua Thien-Hue to the south, Quang Tri in the middle, Laos to the west, and the East Sea to the east. It was famous during the Vietnam/American war for being the location of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). There will be stops en route to see some of the highlights of this area which, time permitting, may include the ancient citadel of Quang Tri, Khe Sanh Combat Base, Truong Son National Cemetery, Vinh Moc Tunnels, Hien Luong Bridge and Ben Hai River. Lunch will be provided at a local restaurant on the way.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Moonlight Hotel Hue (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Morning visit to Dong Ba market and the Imperial Citadel: This morning, stroll around the hectic Dong Ba Market with your guide. The market is best explored in the morning when a sea of conical hats, colourful fabrics, produce of every description and an array of vendors offering delights for the senses await you. Continue to the Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City nearby. Modelled on the Forbidden City in Beijing by the Nguyen emperors in the early 19th century, the city was badly damaged during the war but the imposing city walls, surrounded by a large moat, afford good views of Hué. The palace retains a feeling of its past scale and importance, with detailed stonework and pavilions and it is at the moment in the process of being restored to its former magnificence.

Afternoon tour of the Royal Mausoleums, Thien Mu Pagoda & Perfume River cruise: This afternoon visit the Royal Mausoleums, the final resting places of the Nguyen Emperors, which are dotted around the hills surrounding the south bank of the Perfume River. Continue to Thien Mu Pagoda, sitting on the riverbank outside the city, this octagonal seven tier stupa has long been regarded as the symbol of Hué and was founded in 1601. It is still a site of Buddhist worship and its huge bell is said to be audible from the city. In the late afternoon, enjoy a cruise downstream on the Perfume River, named after the tree resins and blossoms it carries on its way to the Pacific.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Moonlight Hotel Hue (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Morning cycling tour to Nguyet Bieu village: After breakfast this morning, you will be met by your guide, who will give a short briefing about the conditions of the road ahead and the sites chosen for your 9km cycling tour. Drop in first at the bronze-casting village of Phuong Duc for a visit to one of the 20 foundries still in operation here. Learn the usage of a great number of tools the craftsmen use at work and an interesting casting demonstration is held on site for you. Ride on to take a look at the Royal Arena, the former site for fights between elephants and tigers held by the Nguyen Dynasty to demonstrate their will and power. Continue to the lush and lively farming village of Nguyet Bieu, famous for its grapefruit. First stop at the Hoang family chapel to meet with one of the patriarchs of the extended family for a talk about the annual ancestral worship they hold here, and learn how traditions still live on and thrive in the rural areas of Vietnam. Cycle along the rural paths, enjoying the peaceful and serene atmosphere of the village. En route you may take the opportunity to drop in at one of the grapefruit orchards here for a visit and interact with the local farmers, and sample the local product if the fruit is in season, or visit some manufacturers of the iconic "conical hats". Then return back your hotel to freshen up before checking out.

Road journey from Hue to Hoi An: This afternoon, you will be driven south, along Highway 1, to Hoi An, a journey of approximately 3 hours. Soon the highway meets the Hai Van Pass (meaning Pass of the Ocean Clouds). There are some spectacular vista points and photo opportunities en-route as the Truong Son mountain range cuts across the narrow centre of the country. The mountain range has created a barrier to the cold airstreams from the north which often results in thick cloudbanks over the peaks. The pass has been a strategic military focal point during Vietnam’s turbulent history and from the top there are views of the curve of Danang Bay. En route pass through the port city of Danang with the option of stopping to see the famous 'Danang Beach' before continuing south to Hoi An where you will check-in to your hotel.

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

Meals: Breakfast

Days 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 these nights at the Ancient House Resort (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Private transfer: After a further day at leisure in Hoi An you will be transferred to Danang Airport for your onward flight.

Flight: VN190 Danang - Hanoi 20.45 - 22.05

Meals: Breakfast