Today is arrival day, so your day is free to settle in, until 18:00 when we'll meet up with our fellow vegan travellers for a pre-trip info meeting and for everyone to meet each other. Afterwards, we'll enjoy our first vegan meal together, ensuring a wonderful start to your tour.

Hanoi offers a beguiling combination of tranquillity and chaos, from the elegance of its crumbling colonial architecture and tree-lined boulevards, to the boisterous cacophony of street vendors and motorcycles.

Much can be absorbed of daily life by wandering the streets of the old quarter, wandering through the local markets, and people-watching.

Culturally, Hanoi has so much to offer. Museums, temples and tombs are plentiful, offering a rich and interesting insight into this wonderful city's history and character.

Our first full day in Hanoi offers the opportunity to explore the city on the included city highlights tour.

We start at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, paying our respects to Vietnam's famous leader. Afterward, we enjoy the peaceful Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university, and have a delicious vegan Vietnamese lunch featuring authentic Vietnamese dishes.

In the afternoon, we visit Hoan Kiem Lake and the historic Ngoc Son Pagoda reached viae the classic red painted wooden bridge before taking ina short tour of the busy Old Quarter.

This tour is a wonderful mix of history, culture, and local cuisine, offering a great overview of Hanoi's main attractions.

Today we depart Hanoi for the mystical Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the highlights of Vietnam. The towering limestone islands and beautiful waters are an amazing sight and something that every visitor to Vietnam must behold. Our accommodation for the night is an incredible, traditional junk boat.

Halong translates to Bay of the Descending Dragons, and local legend describes a great dragon soaring down from the mountains, gouging out the valleys, and spitting jewels which transformed into the various islands. Staying on the boat in the heart of the bay means we have time to explore the caves, go swimming, and soak up the beauty and tranquillity of the area.

Tonight we are treated to a local dinner aboard the boat, followed by time to relax on deck.

This morning we will do some final exploring of Halong Bay before returning to Hanoi. Take the morning to get in some more swimming or relaxing on the boat, and enjoy an early lunch on board before we get a private minibus back to our Hanoi hotel.

While exploring the tranquil waters of Luon Cave, you can choose how you’d like to discover its hidden lagoon. You have the option to take the helm yourself with a kayak, or you can sit back and soak in the scenery in a traditional bamboo boat rowed by a local boatman. Both options offer a peaceful way to see the endemic vegetation and limestone cliffs up close.

Tonight you are free to take in the sounds and smells of the Old Quarter, join your tour leaders for a group meal, and have a drink in one of the many bars dotted around the area.

Today is our final day in Hanoi, and after a few busy days, we feel you need a well-earned rest, so you're free to enjoy the day as you please. You can visit "coffee street" in the Old Quarter for a caffeine fix, grab some hearty vegan bowls of Pho from your tour leader's restaurant recommendations, or cross the red Huc Bridge to visit Jade Island where the Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of Jade Mountain) stands.

During free days, your tour leaders are always around to assist or advise in any way at all, and we're always around the hotel ready and happy to help.

Of course, we also need to eat, so most nights we'll be inviting everyone out to eat with us. No obligation to join, but we feel it's nice to have the choice.

Today we take a short flight to DaNang and a short drive to the close-by picturesque town of Hoi An.

Hoi An is widely considered one of the most colourful and beautiful towns in Vietnam. Largely spared of any major damage during the Vietnamese conflict, the old trading port of Hoi An is a UNESCO Heritage town offering an amazing central old town with small, friendly streets dotted with an abundance of family-run shops, restaurants, and coffee shops.

Whether you want to stop for a nice cheap Bia hơi (fresh beer) while watching the sun set over the river, or simply wander the quaint streets of this picturesque town, Hoi An has it all within a short walking distance.

Today we explore the rich heritage and rural beauty surrounding Hoi An. We begin with a short transfer to Kim Bong Carpentry Village, a historic hub where shipbuilding and woodworking have thrived since the 16th century. We’ll visit the village craft center and local workshops to see artisans using generational techniques to create intricate sculptures and furniture skills that have been vital in restoring Hoi An’s UNESCO World Heritage buildings.

In the afternoon, we swap the car for bicycles for a scenic ride to Tra Que Village. This organic farming community is famous for its lush green landscapes and high-quality vegetables grown without chemicals. You’ll have the unique experience of seeing how local farmers tend to their crops and soaking up the peaceful, rural atmosphere before we head back to town.

Today, we dive into the flavors of Central Vietnam with a half-day vegan cooking class. We’ll begin by meeting our guide and heading to a vibrant local market to learn about the fresh herbs and unique ingredients used in regional recipes.

Afterward our shopping is done, we'll make our way to a local cooking school located in a peaceful setting. Under the instruction of an experienced chef, we'll learn traditional Vietnamese cooking techniques and prepare a delicious multi-course vegan lunch to enjoy.

Today we leave Hoi An and fly south to the energetic city of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon. Upon arrival, we’ll head to our hotel located in the heart of the action.

To help you settle in, we’ll take a relaxed orientation walk of the local area. This is a great way to get your bearings, locate some nearby vegan gems, and see the immediate neighborhood. We’ve kept the rest of the day light to give you plenty of time to recharge before we venture further afield tomorrow to explore the city's major landmarks and the surrounding regions in more depth.

In the early evening, we'll head to one of our tour leaders' recommended restaurants for an optional group meal and maybe a glass or two of the local Beer Saigon.

Today we visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible 250km underground network used during the war.

After exploring the tunnels, we return to the city for a guided tour of Saigon’s historic landmarks, including the Reunification Palace, Notre-Dame Basilica, and the Central Post Office. We’ll also visit the Jade Emperor Temple in the city’s vibrant Chinatown.

Today the remaining tunnels have been preserved, giving visitors a unique experience and a feel of what underground life during the Vietnam/American war must have been like.

We leave Ho Chi Minh City today and head south into the Mekong Delta for an immersive overnight stay.

The Delta is a central part of life in southern Vietnam, with agriculture, trading, and markets all everyday practices. The unique ecosystems and communities here make it unlike anywhere else in the world.

We’ll begin our discovery of the waterways by boat before heading to a local island to see traditional rural life firsthand. You can choose to bike or walk along peaceful village paths, visiting family workshops to see how rice paper, coconut-leaf roofing, and water-hyacinth crafts are made.

This evening, we join our hosts for an overnight stay at their charming homestay by the river. Our host family will cook a local home-style dinner for us and share their stories of life in the Delta, both past and present.

Wake up to the fresh air of the Delta and the sounds of the river coming to life.

We’ll take a boat trip to visit local workshops producing rice paper and coconut candy, then cruise along the Mekong River past floating market vendors and traditional brick kilns.

After a visit to the vibrant Vinh Long market, we return to Ho Chi Minh City.

Today is our final day in Vietnam, so take the day at your own pace, either relaxing, exploring, or seeking out those last-minute souvenirs.

During free days, your tour leaders are always around to assist or advise in any way at all and we're always around the hotel ready and happy to help.

Tonight will be our last night together, so we'll be inviting everyone out to eat with us for an included farewell meal.

Today your Vietnam Adventure comes to an end, but we hope you're leaving with some amazing memories.

Your Tour Leader will be available throughout the day should you need anything at all.

If you're making your own way to the airport, please check out at the allotted time. Luggage can be kept in the luggage area. Please ask your Tour Leader or reception for details.

If you have a transfer arranged with us, please check out by the appointed time and be ready in reception with your luggage at the specified pick-up time, usually 4 hours before your flight time for international flights.

If you wish to return to Hanoi or Bangkok, we can arrange flights and accommodation for you at the time of booking or your Tour Leader can help you book something during the tour.

Have a great flight and we hope to see you again in another amazing Govegan Travel destination!