Chua Huong - Perfume Pagoda.
The most famous place of Buddist worship in the whole of Vietnam.
Photo: An Tran

Extension of 17 days: Hue and Hanoi’s Old quarters.

D1-9. Fly to Hue. Hotel.

10. Hue. Visit on foot, the ancient imperial capital, the most romantic city and birthplace of the Vietnamese intelligentsia. Then by dragon-boat along the Perfume river, we’ll return to visit the last emperors of the Nguyen dynasty. Pagoda and forbidden city...Hotel.

11. Hoi An. En route, in a Southerly direction and the Mountain pass of Clouds (Hai Van). Extraordinary panoramic view of the Lang Co ba, between sky, sea and mountain. Hoi An, ancient commercial port, classed a UNESCO world heritage site. Hotel.

12. Da Nang and the Cham museum. Return flight to Hai Phong. Transfer and board our private boat to cruise through rocks, tunnels, caves and the bays of Bai Tu Long (The Dragon Son) and Ha Long (The Dragon Mother). Seafood meals onboard. Anchor for the night in mid-bay.

13. Ha Long Bay. Wake up to a magnificant sunrise on the bay. Then cruise through the magic that is Halong Bay. Little walks on a few of the bay’s islands....Disembark beginning of the afternoon. Then by car to Ninh Binh, the terrestrial Ha Long Bay. Hostel.

14. Hoa Binh. Sampan outing in Ninh Binh. Excursion by car to the Hoa Binh Mountain and a Muong village in the valley of Luong Son, overhanging the River Bui. Welcome reception. Dine on the house speciality. Night in one of our beautiful traditional stilt houses, which borders the Dap Dom Lake.

15. Perfume Pagoda. Beautiful outing on foot and by sampan on the small Yen Vi river, in the heart of the My Duc valley, with it’s scenery punctuated by karstic rocks and boulders. Deeply embanked between the Day river and its chain of mountains, at an altitude of some 800m between tropical forests, pagodas and ricefields. Return to Hanoi. Hotel right in the heart of the Old quarter.

16. Hanoi. Guided day visit around the city. Hanoi, the beautiful city which has inspired many of the best poems in Vietnam. Lively and colourful Old quarter shopkeepers and French-style colonial villas. Return flight back to Paris.

17. Arrive in Paris.

For departure dates: See General Price Conditions and Price List.

Practicalities

• Discovery trip by car, boat with some easy walks.
• Night in Hotel (double room), hostel and tribal home.
• A French/English-speaking Vietnam Aventure guide.
• Formalities: passport and visa.