Day 6 Halong Bay – Ninh Binh
Perhaps rise early for a tai chi class on deck as the boat continues its picturesque route through the bay. After stopping for a quick visit to Vong Vieng fishing village you will disembark and head to Ninh Binh. This is a beautiful area to the south of Hanoi, and home to one of its earliest capitals, Hoa Lu. The drive takes around 2.5-3 hours.

Day 7 Ninh Binh
This morning take a boat ride in Trang An. Here the rivers have carved a route through ancient limestone cliffs and your boat will follow the course of the river through caves up to 300m long. The tunnels are very narrow and low in areas, and the precision with which the boat ‘rower’ navigates the route is remarkable – you will need to duck frequently as you pass under low stalactites!

In the afternoon either relax and soak up the views or take a bike ride through the countryside, passing through paddy fields and small villages.

Day 8 Ninh Binh – Overnight train
After breakfast visit Cuc Phuong, the oldest national park in Vietnam. There is a primate rescue centre here and you can also take a gentle trek through the jungle to try to spot animals in the wild.

This evening board the overnight train to Dong Hoi. You will be accommodated in 4-person cabins, each with four individual comfortable bunks. Additional berths can be purchased if necessary (so a family of five, for example, can arrange to take two private cabins). If you would prefer to fly, this can of course also be arranged.

Day 9 Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
Your guide will pick you up from the train station this morning and will take you out for breakfast. Then transfer to the Phong Nha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to some of Vietnam’s most spectacular scenery. Here you can find the oldest limestone mountains in Asia, underground rivers and over 300 caves and grottos, many of which remain unexplored.

After lunch take a boat trip along the Son River, passing through lush jungle vegetation as you make your way to one of the many cave systems.

Day 10 Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
A wonderfully exciting day today starts with a visit to Paradise Cave, the largest of all the ‘dry’ caves within the park.  Surrounded by forested karst peaks, this remarkable cave system extends for 31km – don’t be fooled by the deceptively tiny entrance!  The scale is breathtaking, as wooden staircases descend into a cathedral-like space with colossal stalagmites and glimmering stalactites.

Afterwards continue the adventure to Dark Cave (Hang Toi), which includes zip-lining, swimming (warning; the water’s cold!), a relaxing mud bath and short kayak ride on the Chay River.  Children under 10 are not allowed to do the zip wire into the mouth of the cave but can do all the other activities.

Day 11 Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park – Hoi An
It’s a long journey by car today along the coast to Hoi An, although we can arrange a train ride if you prefer. (Some families may also like to break the journey for a night or two in Hue, one of Vietnam’s ancient capitals).

Hoi An is one of the loveliest towns in Vietnam, a small port that has traditionally been home to a thriving merchant community of foreign traders. There are lively markets and quaint narrow streets lined with old buildings that have been converted into tailors, cafes and boutiques. The town also lies on one of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam, and you can choose to either stay in Hoi An itself or alternatively at one of the beach resorts just outside the town.

Days 12-14 Hoi An
Three full days to relax on the beach and enjoy Hoi An.

In Hoi An you can wander around and soak up the ambience of the town, perhaps visiting a couple of the old Chinese mansions. This is also a superb place to shop for souvenirs, especially in the evening when the streets are lit by traditional lanterns. The tailors here are particularly good so you could consider getting some clothes made up.

There are also a wide range of activities that can be arranged in the area around Hoi An; one of our favourites includes taking a basket boat along the narrow waterways around the town. This is a small round rowing boat made of woven palm thatch and you can stop in the water bamboo to try to catch purple crabs before enjoying a fresh fruit snack at a simple local café. You then continue by bike, following quiet trails along the edge of the river through a bucolic landscape of meandering waterways, paddy fields and small villages.

Day 15 Hoi An – Danang
Transfer to Danang airport for your flight home. This will be via Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh (Saigon). If you prefer, we can include a night in either of these cities before your return flight.