Stray Asia: Vietnam - 14 Day Freestyle Tour

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh

Stop At: Khoi Hostel, 373/11 Phạm Ngũ Lão, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Welcome to Stray! At 6pm you’ll meet your Tour Leader and new travel mates at the Khoi Hostel for a Welcome Night introduction. We’ll cover how Stray works and answer any questions you have about travelling in Vietnam. Afterwards, make the most of your first night by getting to know each other over a delicious Vietnamese dinner and a few cold beverages.
Duration: 4 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Centrally located hotel or guesthouse

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City

Stop At: War Remnants Museum, 28 Vo Van Tan Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City 700000 Vietnam
Today is a free day to explore the hot and lively Ho Chi Minh City. Learn about the history of the American and Vietnam War at the War Remnant Museum, visit the French Colonial Saigon Opera House, browse the surrounding shopping plazas or see a cultural show. Ho Chi Minh even has its own Notre Dame Cathedral, which is said to be a connection between the physical and spiritual life for the Ho Chi Minh people. We recommend taking a trip out to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, a complex of over 200kms of tunnels used by the Viet Khong in the war against the US.
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Centrally located hotel or guesthouse

Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat

Stop At: Da Lat Night Market, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Da Lat 670000 Vietnam
Leaving behind the chaos and heat of Ho Chi Minh City, we head for the refreshingly cool climate of Da Lat, known as the ‘honeymoon capital of Vietnam’. Our journey today takes us through fertile farmlands that specialise in rubber, coffee and tea, locally produced wine, vegetables and flowers. Spend the afternoon checking out the large market near the guesthouse or sample a glass of locally made Da Lat wine at one of the local restaurants.
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Local guesthouse in the centre of town

Day 4: Da Lat

Stop At: Crazy House, 03 Huynh Thuc Khang St Ward 4, Da Lat Vietnam
Today is a free day so fuel up on an excellent locally sourced coffee at one of the friendly cafes that seem to occupy every corner, and then head out to discover the notable city sights on foot, by bicycle or the popular option of a guided motorbike tour. Must see sights include the Emperor’s Art Deco-style Summer Palace, the surrealist Hang Nga ‘Crazy House,’ the French Quarter and railway station, as well as the never ending local coffee or strawberry plantations and the aptly named Paradise Lake that lie outside the city.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Local guesthouse in the centre of town

Day 5: Da Lat to Bai Xep

Stop At: Bai Xep Beach, 1d, Quy Nhon Vietnam
Leaving behind the cool climate of Da Lat we’ll head for the Vietnamese coast, stopping for refreshments at the coastal city of Nha Trang. Driving on your destination is the tiny fishing village of Bai Xep located along a stretch of sandy white beach.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Accommodation right on the beach

Day 6: Bai Xep

Stop At: Bai Xep Beach, 1d, Quy Nhon Vietnam
Today you are free to enjoy this remote coastal location and all it has to offer. Swim, snorkel and take long walks on the beach, learn to paddle a traditional round boat, go fishing and cook your catch for tea, wander the village and get to know the friendly locals or just relax at your comfortable seaside guesthouse.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Accommodation right on the beach

Day 7: Bai Xep to Hoi An

Stop At: My Lai Massacre - Son My Memorial, Tinh Khe, Son Tinh District, Quang Ngai Vietnam
A coastal drive takes us to the popular tourist spot and UNESCO World Heritage town of Hoi An. Before arriving in Hoi An, we’ll stop along the way to visit the My Lai Memorial, a site that commemorates an event that marked a turning point in the American War.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Centrally located, family run hotel

Day 8: Hoi An

Stop At: Hoi An Ancient Town, Hoi An 560000 Vietnam
Take time today to explore this charming town’s many offerings. When the sun goes down is when Hoi An really turns on its charm. Paper and fabric lanterns are lit throughout the streets, bathing the historical French Colonial architecture in a warm glow. Take a sunset stroll through the old town, and try a local delicacy called the ‘White Rose’ - a dumpling stuffed with shrimp or pork bunched into the shape of a rose.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Centrally located, family run hotel

Day 9: Hoi An to Hue

Stop At: Hue Imperial City (The Citadel), Hue Vietnam
Hue is regarded as the cultural and spiritual centre of Vietnam and is the former home to the Vietnamese emperors. Jump on the back of a motorbike and discover a little bit of the ‘real’ Vietnam with a local guide. Motoring through quaint villages and lush rice paddies, you’ll see the historic and picturesque Japanese covered bridge, find out your future from a local fortune teller, have a go at making incense sticks and learn about the rice growing process at the Rice Museum. Visit the home of a conical hat maker and explore an Emperor's Tomb and the Citadel's Forbidden City.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Local guesthouse

Day 10: Hue to Phong Nha

Stop At: Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, Bố Trạch District, Quang Binh Province, Vietnam
This morning we head for the fascinating Vinh Moc Tunnels, an impressive underground complex that was used by more than 90 families to live and work during some of the heaviest bombings in the American War. From there it’s on to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, passing through the provincial town of Dong Hoi on our way to the charming hotel in Phong Nha town that will be our base for exploring the park.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Comfortable private hotel room

Day 11: Phong Nha

Stop At: Phong Nha Caves, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park 510000 Vietnam
Today we visit the spectacular rural area of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, 45km from Dong Hoi. This area has pristine rivers (perfect for a refreshing dip or kayak) and boasts a number of impressive caves, including the recently discovered Thien Duong Cave. Inside you’ll find glittering limestone walls, impressive stalagmites and stalactites and a limestone waterfall. This afternoon you have the option to go on a guided tour of the ‘Dark Cave’, suitably named as such because the rock is black.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Comfortable private hotel room

Day 12: Phong Nah to Ninh Binh

Stop At: Rong Market Ninh Binh, Van Giang Ward Along the river, Ninh Binh 40000 Vietnam
Our journey today takes us through beautiful countryside and stunning limestone karst mountains. We’ll stop along the way for a chance to stretch your legs before continuing our express journey to Ninh Binh. We arrive late in the afternoon, but you have time to wander around and acquaint yourself with the tiny town before dinner.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Locally run hotel with excellent restaurants nearby

Day 13: Ninh Binh to Hanoi

Stop At: Trang An Grottoes, H Hai Ba Trung district, Ninh Binh 100000 Vietnam
This morning we venture out in traditional canoes to discover the Trang An Grottoes. Sometimes called the ‘Halong Bay on land’, we’ll coast through caves in the mountains to view stony outcrops and dramatic karst formations towering above flat tranquil waters and rice paddies. After lunch in Ninh Binh, we jump back on the bus bound for the chaotic streets of Vietnam’s capital.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Local guesthouse or hotel

Day 14: Hanoi

Stop At: Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural, runs along the road of Au Co, Nghi Tam, Yen Phu, Tran Nhat Duat, Tran Quang Khai, Tran Khanh Du and terminates at the pier of the Long Bien Bridge, Hanoi Vietnam
This is where your journey with Stray comes to an end, but there is plenty to see and do in and around Hanoi. If you have some extra days to spend here, we highly recommend booking a cruise around breath-taking Halong Bay or making a trip inland to visit the hill tribes of Sa Pa. Both of these excursions can be organised for you by your Tour Leader. We hope you’ve had a blast on your great Stray adventure!
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.