Remote Lands

Vietnam

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1 - Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)

Arrive in the bustling commercial city of Saigon which feels both European and Asian at the same time, with its gorgeous old French architecture left over from colonial days.

Go on a private tour taking in all of Saigon's most important sites: Visit the Reunification Palace, preserved in its original state since the collapse of the Republic of Vietnam in April 1975. See the sobering War Remnants Museum as well as the excellent collections at the History Museum, housed in an architectural masterpiece Sino-French colonial building. See the Giac Lam Pagoda, a Taoist-Confucian temple that is the oldest in Saigon, and also the Jade Emperor Pagoda, the most dazzling and colorful temple in the city. Go to the Ben Thanh Market, Saigon's liveliest, with everything from exotic food to the iconic conical hats being bargained for by throngs of locals.

Go on a bespoke shopping excursion in the fashionable Dong Khoi Street, the Rodeo Drive of Vietnam. Have a gourmet Vietnamese lunch at the elegant Indochine Restaurant, housed in a stylish French villa, and then visit the boutique art and handicraft shops that line Dong Khoi.

Alternatively, visit an orphanage in Go Vap on the outskirts of Saigon. The center offers housing and education to about 200 orphans ranging in age from newborn to 18, some of whom have physical and/or mental disabilities. Volunteers regularly pass through to offer any assistance that they can, from playing with ones that require physical therapy or teaching them. Spend time with the children and learn more about the center's goals through meeting with administrators and touring their facilities with the children, who are happy to play tour guide.

Stay in the posh Park Hyatt, one of Asia's most luxurious hotels, occupying the site of the former Catholic Diocese of Saigon, and noted for its stunning rooftop cocktail bar.

Have dinner at Maxim's or at Au Manoir De Khai, both of which are upscale Vietnamese restaurants rated amongst the very best in Saigon. The latter was opened by the Vietnamese silk fashion guru Khai, and is located in an ornate villa. Taste the cuisine of southern Vietnam which uses coconut milk and spices from Cambodia, Thailand and India. A former Vietnamese General or Colonel and his wife will join you for dinner and tell you about their fascinating wartime experiences.

Finish the night off with a drink at the stylish Q Bar, where Saigon's sophisticated and fashionable crowd hangs out.

Day 2 - Can Tho

Escape the urban sprawl of Saigon and travel to Can Tho by high speed charter boat, which takes about five hours not including stops. As you enter the Mekong Delta, you will see many wooden boats carrying rice, fruit, and produce, as well as other ships involved with the Delta's busy commercial trade.

Stop in My Tho for a casual local lunch, and then drive to the famous snake farm of Dong Tam, which is run by the Vietnamese Army. If you are feeling adventurous, you can go to a local house to sample various dishes made from snake that are considered a delicacy in Vietnam.

Upon arrival in Can Tho in the late afternoon, you will be met at the wharf and taken to the Victoria Hotel, a comfortable resort located right on the riverfront.

Have cocktails and dinner at the home of a prominent local family and learn all about life in contemporary Vietnam and how it is changing rapidly.

Day 3 - Can Tho

After breakfast, cruise the Mekong River to visit the floating markets of Cai Rang and Phong Dien, as well as the lovely fruit orchards that dot the riverbanks.

Transfer to a smaller boat to navigate the system of crisscross canals that are the heart of the Mekong Delta. Shaded by mangrove and coconut forests, the canals are home to many warm and friendly locals, and you will no doubt be invited into their homes for coffee and a snack.

Have lunch with a local family and learn about the interesting local tradition of mouse hunting that takes place in the region. The process involves climbing coconut trees to find the mice and using dogs below to catch any mice that fall. The mice are then cooked and used with rice wine. This process will be demonstrated to you, along with the preparation of pungent but delicious fish sauce. Have a taste of either if you wish!

Finish the afternoon by learning how to catch fish by the interesting local net method.

Return to Can Tho and the Victoria Hotel for a relaxing evening along the riverside.

Day 4 - Mekong Delta and Saigon

Following breakfast, make a leisurely return to Saigon by car. On the way, stop in to see sticky-rice wine being made. Known as "Vietnamese vodka," the wine is used for good luck offerings at temples, and is a big part of any kind of local rituals or festivities.

If your trip is on an auspicious day of the lunar calendar, you will be a guest at a Vietnamese wedding, and you will take part in the great celebration with feasting and dancing, not to mention toasting with

Return to Saigon and spend the late afternoon exploring the streets to see some of the gorgeous old colonial architecture, such as the stunning Opera House, the former Hotel de Ville town hall (now the People's Committee Building), Notre Dame Cathedral and the lovely Continental Hotel, made famous by Graham Greene's novel The Quiet American.

Have dinner at Camargue, on the terrace of an old French colonial villa, serving baguettes, Beaujolais and gourmet French cuisine. Other fine options for are Le P'tit Bistro and La Fourchette.

Day 5 - Ninh Van Bay

Fly forty minutes from Saigon to the Cam Ranh Airport near Nha Trang, known for having the best weather in Vietnam with sunshine 250 days a year.

Take a private car for one hour, and then a twenty-minute boat ride to the unspoiled Ninh Van Bay, where the Evason Hideaway Resort at Ana Mandara awaits you, offering hedonistic pampering on one of Asia's most beautiful private beaches.

Spend the afternoon at the seaside and have several of the traditional Vietnamese spa treatments that the resort is lauded for.

Have a barbecue dinner right on the white-sand beach, or outside on the verandah of the Pavilion Restaurant with spectacular panoramic views.

Day 6 - Ninh Van Bay

Charter a private boat to Ebony Island and Bamboo Island, where charming little traditional fishing villages abound. You can go scuba diving or snorkeling here to explore the remarkable hard and soft coral in the crystal clear waters, where visibility can be up to 100 feet. This is one of Vietnam's premier diving sites and is not to be missed if you are an avid diver.

At nearby Salangane Island, you can see locals engaged in the challenging task of retrieving swiftlet nests, used for the exotic Bird's Nest Soup featured on most elegant Chinese menus the world over, and selling for over $2000 per kilogram on the international market!

Have a picnic lunch of freshly caught lobster and Vietnamese beer with a fisherman and his family.

Return to the Evason Hideaway in the evening for a delicious al fresco seafood dinner.

Day 7 - Hoi An

Take two short flights, first from Cam Ranh to Saigon, and then from Saigon to Da Nang. Drive 45 minutes from Da Nang to Hoi An.

Have lunch at a popular local cafe in town, such as Mermaid, for excellent spring rolls and tuna cooked in banana leaves.

Check into the Nam Hai, one of the most exclusive and luxurious resorts in Southeast Asia. At cocktail hour you will be having drinks with the sommelier of the hotel, who will give you a primer on food and wine pairing with Vietnamese and other Asian cuisines.

Have dinner at the hotel's restaurant, which serves Vietnamese and international cuisine and overlooks water gardens and the ocean.

Day 8 - Hoi An

Spend the morning snorkeling at Nam Hai's remarkable stretch of China Beach.

Indulge in a spa treatment at The Spa at The Nam Hai, which features eight tranquil spa villas surrounded by a lotus pond.

Drive to Hoi An harbor and take a private boat to Cham Island (30 minutes), a quiet little fishing area populated by ethnic Cham people, an Austro-Asiatic group that fought the north Vietnamese for this territory for centuries. The island is famed for salanganes, birds whose nests have long been considered a delicacy by aristocrats and the wealthy. On a clear day, you will be able to see cliffs where salanganes build their nests and speak with a salangane-nest taker, who will invite you back to his home for tea.

Lunch at Bale Well is one of the Old Town's hidden secrets. Make your own rice paper wraps with barbecued pork, country pancakes, spring rolls, salad and dipping sauce. The friendly staff will show you how. This is a chance for authentic street-side dining, but with a good standard of cleanliness ensured.

One of Hoi An's most distinctive features is its mix of cultures, which comes from its history as a trading port. It used to be a major trading hub in South-east Asia between the 15th and 19th centuries, when it was known as Faifo. By the 17th century the town's foreign settlers included people from China, Japan, the Netherlands and India. This afternoon, explore the confluence of cultures in the old city of Hoi An, where Chinese, Vietnamese and Japanese aesthetics mingle in the area's architecture.

Take a cooking class at Brother's Cafe, where you will also have dinner. This grand U-shaped colonial by the Thu Bon River is a window into a bygone era, with its gourmet Vietnamese cuisine and romantic garden courtyard.

Alternatively, take a day trip from Hoi An to My Son Sanctuary, a conglomerate of over 70 structures dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and memorializing Champa kings. The Champa civilization ruled Vietnam from the 4th-13th centuries; for a time they were extremely influential across Asia as they controlled the trade in spices and silk between China, India, Indonesia and the Abbassid empire in Baghdad.

Day 9 - Hue

Leave on a scenic drive from Hoi An to Hue (three hours). Take Hai Van Pass instead of the tunnel, which is longer but offers stunning views of bowl-shaped Da Nang Bay. The Pass forms an obvious boundary between North and South Vietnam, and if proof were needed, you need look no further than the fortifications built by the French and then later used by the South Vietnamese and the Americans.

Arrive in Hue and take a cruise along the Perfume River. From the 18th century to 1945, Hue temporarily took over from Hanoi as capital of Vietnam and the Nguyen Dynasty of Emperors lived, ruled and subsequently were buried here. The seat of the Nguyen Emperors was in the Citadel, which occupies a large, walled area on the north side of the river. Inside the Citadel was a "forbidden city" where only the concubines, emperors, and members of their households were permitted. Today, little of the forbidden city remains, though reconstruction efforts are in progress, but Hue has eight relatively intact royal tombs scattered along the Perfume River valley. Each was built when the emperor was still alive and was meticulously planned right down to the last detail. Hidden for years by sworn vows of secrecy, they are now open to the public.

For lunch, dine like the Hue royals at Tinh Gia Vien, a wonderful old Hue-style garden villa on a quiet side street. Formerly the residence of a princess, the restaurant was converted by a bonsai enthusiast and serves Imperial cuisine.

Stop at Thien Mu Pagoda where you will meet with the senior resident monk in his private chambers, which are normally off-limits, and learn about Buddhism and his monastic life. If you are lucky, he may bestow a private blessing upon you.

Check in to the charming boutique Hotel La Residence, set in a former colonial governor's mansion right on the banks of the river facing the citadel, and have dinner at the hotel's stylish French-Vietnamese restaurant, le Parfum.

Day 10 - Hanoi

Fly from Hue to Hanoi and check in to the opulent Metropole Hotel, one of Asia's most legendary establishments, along with Raffles in Singapore and the Oriental in Bangkok.

Accompanied by your private guide, wander along Hanoi's grand, wide boulevards, and be awed by its gorgeous old French-Colonial architecture. Stroll around tranquil and scenic Hoang Kiem Lake, where locals come to practice tai chi, socialize, and watch the world go by.

Explore the bustling and hectic streets of the Old Quarter, with its convivial cafes and enticing shops. Buy some beautiful clothing and household goods made of Vietnamese silk, as well as other hand-made locally made handicrafts.

Browse in the contemporary Vietnamese art galleries (many local artists paint in lacquer), perhaps the next great art trend after the exploding contemporary Chinese art scene. Have a private visit to the studio and gallery of one of the most famous artists in Hanoi, hosted by the artist herself.

Have cocktails with her and learn about her work and her life, and go together with her to Vine Wine Boutique Bar and Cafe for dinner.

Day 11 - Hanoi

Depart at 06:30 for a bicycle tour of Hoan Kiem Lake (which means 'Lake of the Returned Sword'), a tranquil and scenic spot, ringed by weeping willows, where locals come to relax and socialize. The surrounding park is a popular spot to practice the ancient, meditative art of tai chi. Have a private, informal lesson following your bike ride.

Visit Dong Xuan (Spring Field), a local spice and produce market where you will see many of the city's chefs picking over the best of what is available and forming their daily menus on the spot. Your guide has been informed that you'd like to try durian and that you are a fan of indigenous fruits so he can take you to various stalls to try whatever is on offer and in season.

After a full breakfast back at the hotel, make a pilgrimage to Vietnam's most famous site, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where the great statesman and leader of Vietnam lies entombed. The mausoleum complex is made up of parks, museums and shrines, and is full of families, schoolchildren, and visitors from all parts of the country, coming to pay their respects and have a festive outing.

In the afternoon, visit the serene Temple of Literature, the 11th-century pagoda built to honor academics, and one of Hanoi's best preserved buildings. The immaculate gardens are a welcome and peaceful retreat from the bustling pace of the rest of the city.

Go to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, which has an immense collection of artifacts and items from the daily life of all the ethnic minorities that populate the highlands of Vietnam, and is a good primer for the upcoming trip to Sapa.

Attend an art gallery opening for one of Hanoi's most renowned artists, and chat with important people in Vietnam's contemporary art scene.

For dinner, try Bobby Chinn's - a chic fusion restaurant that's a popular late-night hangout, where the knowledgeable bar staff can expertly pour just about any cocktail. The restaurant's style reflects the eclectic background of its owner, a half-Chinese, half -Egyptian, British-educated former stockbroker who gave up finance for a career as a chef, and got his start working in Hubert Keller?s renowned kitchen at Fleur de Lys in San Francisco.

Day 12 - Tam Tao

After breakfast, your private car, driver, and guide will pick you up for a drive into the countryside to visit the small village of Tam Tao, today a quaint place, but formerly on the fringe of a secret Vietnam War-era military base.

Here, villagers will greet you with a charming singing performance. Have lunch and an informal cooking demonstration with the colorful locals and learn about their lives and livelihood. Visit the school and teach the children (5-7 years-old) some basic English, and chat with them about their schoolwork and family lives.

Relax back at your hotel, and have cocktails at one of the four bars: the poolside Bamboo Bar; La Terrasse du Metropole, which resembles a Parisian sidewalk cafe; Le Club Bar in the courtyard garden; or Met Pub, one of Hanoi's liveliest and most popular bars with live musical entertainment.

Have dinner at the Metropole and dine at Le Beaulieu, Hanoi's finest restaurant serving the best French cuisine in town. Other options for fine dining, both of which happen to be just steps away from the hotel, include the Ly Club and Press Club. You might want to have cocktails or a nightcap at one of the places that you don't select for dinner just to see and experience them.

Day 13 - Halong Bay

Drive 3-4 hours from Hanoi to Halong Bay, where a beautifully restored Chinese junk, your home for a night, awaits you. Freshly prepared gourmet meals and snacks, soft drinks, wine and beer will be available on the junk, your floating home for the next two nights. The yacht is a traditional wooden boat that has been luxuriously fitted with traditional Chinese rosewood furniture and design elements in your bedroom. The junk is staffed by a private chef, captain and deck crew.

Cruise to Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where over 3,000 limestone karst islands rise straight out of the emerald waters of the Tonkin Gulf.

Spend the day visiting grottoes and spectacular cave chambers, seeing local fish and pearl farms, and sailing into the magical coves and beaches that dot the bay. The more intrepid can do some kayaking, a more intimate way to get close to the spectacular natural beauty of the area.

After a gourmet dinner on the prow of your junk, go night fishing if you wish.

Day 14 - Halong Bay

Spend the morning exploring jungle-clad Cat Ba Island. Visit caves, lakes, and waterfalls that are scattered throughout the hills. Go to Cat Ba National Park, where, if you are lucky, you may see a hornbill, and where the more avid trekkers can hike through the park and down to the other side of the island to meet a boat waiting to transport you back to Cat Ba town.

In the afternoon, sail back through the pristine waters, stopping in at a few more grottoes to round out your visit of this fascinating natural paradise.

Return to Hanoi, have dinner and then board the elegant Victoria Express train, where a private cabin awaits you for your overnight journey up into the fascinating hill station of Sapa.

Day 15 - Sapa

Arrive in Lao Cai early in the morning, and drive 30 minutes up to Sapa. Check in to the Victoria Sapa Hotel, which has sweeping views of the rice terraces and surrounding mountain scenery, including Fansipan, Vietnam's highest peak at 10,315 feet.

After breakfast, meet your Hmong guide who will take you to do some easy trekking to local villages. Cat Cat and Lai Chau are several of the picturesque hamlets that are surrounded by dazzling rice terraces underneath the Hoang Lien Mountain Range, where the colorful Hmong tribal people spend their time farming and embroidering their vibrant clothing.

Meet one of the local village leaders and his family, and witness their traditional way of life that has not changed much for centuries. Have tea or lunch with the family in their home.

Spend some time in the fascinating and colorful Sapa Market, where Hmong, Red Yao and other hill tribes come to hawk goods, shop, and socialize.

Have cocktails and dinner back at the hotel.

Day 16 - Bac Ha

From Sapa, it is a roughly two-hour drive along gorgeous mountain roads to the small town of Bac Ha, where one of the most colorful and vivacious markets in Asia takes place every Sunday. The Bac Ha area is home to the Flower Hmong, famed for the elaborate floral motifs that the women sew on their long skirts. The market is a frenzy of activity, a chance for different tribes in the area to come and sell produce and handicrafts, to barter for supplies, and to mingle. The riot of colors and activity is very memorable.

After lunch, drive down to Coc Ly, where a scenic boat trip along a tributary of the Red River will give you a chance to relax and see life unfold along the riverbank.

Return to Sapa in the evening and the comforts of the Victoria Sapa Hotel.

Day 17 - Sapa

Spend the day continuing to tour the beautiful Sapa area. Drive up to the Tram Ton Pass near Sapa, at over 5,000 feet the highest pass in Vietnam, and enjoy the stunning mountain views.

Visit the nearby Thac Bac, or Silver Waterfall, a 300-foot cascade with an impressive loop track taking in all the scenery.

Stop in Ta Phin village, home to the Red Dzao tribe, and visit a local home and have lunch with a family. Here you can see firsthand the differences in traditions and customs from the nearby Hmong.

Day 18 - Dien Bien Phu

From Sapa, drive to Dien Bien Phu, a historic town in remote Vietnamese hill country that is a point of interest for war buffs as it was the site of a major French defeat (1954) in the War of Independence. However, the real draw to the area is the amazing drive to Dien Bien Phu, considered one of the best in Vietnam, filled with dramatic turns, bucolic landscapes and authentic villages populated by black Thai, white Thai, H'mong and Muong hill tribe people. Stop at your leisure into the produce and handicraft markets you will see along the way to chat with the people and take photos if your subjects are amenable. Have a picnic lunch at a scenic spot.

Drive through Pha Din Pass, which is 3280 feet above the sea level. According to local legend, Pha Din means the connection between Heaven and Earth. Climbing and descending the slopes with their many bends and deep gorges is an unforgettable experience. After passing through this mountainous area, you will arrive in Dien Bien Phu in the late afternoon where you can meet with a Vietnamese pre- and post-colonial history expert who will explain the significance of the battle at here by visiting key war sites.

If you wish to continue exploring Indochina, you can drive into Laos from Dien Bien Phu.

Day 19

From Dien Bien Phu, fly back to Hanoi, and depart Hanoi for home.

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