Vietnam Explorer

After breakfast, begin the day by boarding a bus to Mai Hich village at 8:30 am. The drive will last approximately 20 minutes and afterwards, you will be able to trek through the White Thai villages of Mai Hich, Na Sun, Xam Khoe and Buoc, where sweeping grasslands and peaked hilltops dominate the landscape. At 11:45 am, enjoy lunch with a local family in Buoc Village before boarding the bus again in the afternoon to return to the lodge.

This very scenic walk will take you through peaceful traditional Thai villages surrounded by picturesque hills, cascading rice terraces and soaring limestone mountains. You’ll also get to experience a taste of local life as you sit down for lunch hosted by a local family in Buoc village.

Additional information: Please ensure you have sturdy and comfortable walking shoes as mountain trails can become slippery in wet weather.

This half-day cooking tour is perfect for those who want to learn how to recreate authentic Vietnamese specialties in their own kitchen. Start around 7 am, and travel to the Mai Chau market to handpick ingredients for your cooking class. In the early morning, observe the fascinating sight of people arriving from the surrounding villages to sell their produce, including garlic, H’mong bok choy, potatoes, sweet potatoes and chicken. 

Spend around 1 to 1.5 hours shopping in this colourful and lively marketplace before returning to the Mai Chau Ecolodge. Then, try your hand at making authentic specialities under the guidance of an experienced local chef. Using the fresh ingredients purchased at the market, begin crafting a delicious three-course meal, including a salad and two main dishes. 

In the afternoon, you will be free to explore or simply relax at the Lodge.

After breakfast, take a transfer to Sapa.

Please note that: Mai Chau – Sapa: appx. 400km, takes at least 9-10 hours of driving (excluding break time, sightseeing time and lunchtime on the way). 

Due to health and safety, the driver must stop for a 45-60 minute break after 200km driving.

Enjoy a great breakfast and prepare for today’s walk. At 8:30 AM, you will commence the excursion with a transfer deeper into Hoang Lien National Park to the trek starting point near Sin Chai village. You are now “off the beaten track”  and can enjoy beautiful views of the towering mountains, cascading waterfalls and the plunging valleys. The trails will soon lead you to the Red Dao village of Nam Nhiu, where you will meet the villagers, visit their homes, and learn about their way of life.

Leaving the village behind, you will turn into a small dirt trail and soon be inspired by the marvellous view of the rice valley dotted with bamboo huts, which are used by local farmers as overnight lodges on harvesting days. Passing the rice terraces and a river, you will walk on a quiet road for a while before arriving at Nam Cang village. Your lunch will be served at Topas Riverside Lodge, with a jungle backdrop behind the lodge and the flowing river in front. Nam Cang village is located in the most remote area of Sapa. The Red Dao women wear some of the most colourful and diverse costumes of all Vietnam’s ethnic groups, and they are skilled at herbal baths, local medicine and embroidery.

Accompanied by your guide, you will explore the village and learn how the local villagers make writing rice paper, jewellery and embroidery. You may also want to take a swim in the river. At 14:15, you will be transferred back to Topas Ecolodge. Here, you may want to book a traditional Red Dao herbal bath at the lodge’s newly opened spa.

Grade: Moderate/ 3-3.5 hours walking

The walk in the morning starts from Topas Ecolodge on a quiet road with a great view of the rice terrace below, taking a slight ascent to Lech village. After this, you will have the chance to visit a traditional wooden house, meet the friendly Red Dao hosts and experience their daily way of life. The Red Dao women, like their ancestors, shave their hair and eyes brows and wear very colourful outfits. They are famous for beautiful handmade embroidery. On the way back to Topas Ecolodge, you will walk along small trails passing rice terraces and cross a stunning suspension bridge, where you can take some great pictures of the natural landscape. Your guide will teach you the interesting cultivating culture of the local farmers before you enjoy exploring at your own leisure for the remainder of the day.

You will have an early start, departing at around 4 am, or earlier (the driver will advise the exact time based upon weather conditions), to be transferred to the airport for a flight to Hue. Upon arrival, you are picked up and transferred to the hotel for check-in.

VN1543 @ 12.25 – 13.40 (fixed schedule)

VN 7543 @ 18.20 – 19.35 (seldom and random schedule)

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before embarking on a day of exploring Hue’s famous Citadel and its garden houses. Begin your day by taking a cyclo to the Citadel, which was closely modelled along the lines of China’s Forbidden City. 

For lunch, feast on a vegetarian meal prepared by nuns at a pagoda. You will be able to visit the kitchen to see how your meal is prepared in a wood-burning stove before digging in alongside the nuns who made it. Take the opportunity to learn about the religion of Buddhism or just get to know your friendly hosts and their way of life.

Next, make your way to Thanh Tien Village, well-known for over 300 years of crafting paper flowers. Meet one of the local villagers and learn how to make your own ornate paper flower. You can be sure that your visit is backing a good cause, supporting struggling artists, craftsmen and home-based workers with additional income and recognition.

Finally, visit Tha Om Garden House and its owner, Mr Vinh. Explore the traditional 19th-century Hue residence and listen to Mr Vinh’s stories of his royal heritage before returning to your hotel.

You will have an early start to the day before being transferred to Danang airport for a flight to Can Tho.

VNA 11.15 – 12.50 every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Depart from your hotel and drive for about 2 hours from Can Tho to the township of Cai Be to board the Cai Be Princess. The crew shall welcome you aboard with cold towels and a refreshing drink as the Cai Be Princess Sampan sets off for its leisurely cruise on the busy waterways of the Mekong Delta.

On the river, all sorts of boats ply the water, from small fishing boats to cargo barges loaded with fruit and vegetables. Observe a little of river life as it plays out on the banks – noting the people and the stunning landscapes – while your attentive crew serves you tea and seasonal fruit. At Tan Phong Islet, board a little rowing boat to explore the canal’s hidden mangroves. Return to your sampan to visit an ancient house built in the 19th century. Make stops along the way to provide glimpses of local cottage industries, including factories for the production of coconut candy and puffed rice (the local equivalent of popcorn) – products that provide a living for the river people.

Your cruise ends at Le Longanier Restaurant. Lunch is served in this exquisite colonial-style villa, set in a lush tropical garden by the river and surrounded by fruit trees, giving you a sense of life during the Indochina of yesteryear. After lunch, take a short walk along a small canal, towards the Ba Bon Bridge where your personal vehicle awaits to drive you to your hotel in Can Tho.

An early start to the day will allow you to travel by boat to the daily floating market of Can Tho. Experience the flurry of vendors trading their wares as boats teeming with fruit, vegetables and household goods ply the waters. Transfer back to your hotel for breakfast. Then head to the airport for a flight to Con Dao where you will spend your next 4 nights on a remote, luxurious Island resort.

Enjoy a relaxing and luxurious stay at Six Senses Con Dao, a 5-star accommodation with spa treatments, white sandy beaches and beautiful ocean views.

After checking out, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.