Scent of Green Papaya - 17 days
Vietnam
17 days
$7599pp twin/double | solo traveler please add $2399
Our 17-day holiday in Vietnam has been our flagship since its first departure in 1997. Its popularity remains undiminished with some guests returning for a second journey. For us every visit to Vietnam is special and this trip allows us to introduce our many Vietnamese friends and to sample some of the best food in Southeast Asia.
We begin in old Saigon at the Continental Hotel where Graham Greene penned his classic The Quite American. The pace is relaxed with visits to the Mekong Delta and an easy walking tour of the city. We drive north into the mountains and the old French Hill Station of Dalat where the weather is spring like all year round before descending down mountain passes to the coastal city of Nha Trang – the drive is spectacular through remote countryside.
We fly north to central Vietnam and the essence of Vietnamese culture in the World heritage towns of Hoi An and Hue with visits to the former Nguyen Dynasty residence and some time to wander the ancient streets of Hoi An. Further north we reach Hanoi, the Paris of the East as it was once known, with its splendid mix of French and Vietnamese architecture. Here we will wander the 36 streets of the old quarter, visit Ba Dinh square where Ho Chi Minh declared independence for Vietnam in 1946 and visit Vietnam’s oldest university created in the 13th century.
In Hanoi we will have an opportunity to see a performance of the Thang Long water puppets – a cultural institution in Vietnam.
Inclusions
* International and internal flights in Economy with Vietnam Airlines
*Quality accommodation for 16 nights
*Daily breakfast & five lunches
*All entrance and sightseeing fees
*Private boats
*Private vehicle (always a ratio of two seats to one)
*Tour director - Ross Goddard
Our favorite things on this journey - extended stays, no hurry, delicious food and Hanoi's grand lady the Sofitel Legend Metropole. Meeting the Vietnamese people and introducing our guests to a culture and history that spans 2000 years. Lazy days in the Mekong Delta and driving into the hills and valleys of Dalat. Wandering the old streets of Hoi An and learning the history of Vietnams dynasties in Hue.