Secret Vietnam

First stop: Hanoi, where streets blare with the horns of innumerable scooters, colonial architecture provides a visual feast and the smell of street food infuses the air at every turn. Having met your group and had a chance to relax post-flight, your first night will see you all invited into the home of a Hanoian family for a traditional Cha Ca meal. Sitting in their living room alongside three generations, you’ll get to feast upon a traditional fish or vegetarian dish that’s near-impossible to find outside of a family kitchen. Relax into the meal and get to know your generous hosts and new friends. Just a few hours into your Vietnam trip and your cultural immersion has officially begun.

Today you’ll be transported to Ha Long Bay, an enchanting world of emerald waters and towering limestone cliffs. It’s a popular spot, but secret bays far from the crowds can still be found. Board your luxury junk boat and cruise amongst the 2,000 islands that dot this UNESCO World Heritage Site until you reach the isolated and lesser-explored Lan Ha Bay. After lunch on deck, your Flash Pack guide will lead you on a kayaking expedition into the Dark and Light Cave. Prepare to experience “can’t-see-your-hands-in-front-of-your-face” darkness as you venture through this spectacular network. Later there’ll be cocktails, a sunset dinner, and, if your vocals are up to it, a night of karaoke on board. When in Asia…

Wake early (if the karaoke didn’t get too out of hand) and take part in an atmospheric tai chi class on the top deck. The combination of deep breathing and slow movement amongst such majestic scenery makes for a memorable group experience. After breakfast, you’ll sail to Cat Ba National Park. Shrouded in jungle – this is Ha Long Bay’s biggest island and vast swathes of it remain wild and untethered. Wander amongst the greenery and discover hidden remnants of the Vietnamese war, stopping to explore Hospital Cave, where soldiers once recuperated safely within its natural confines. Afterwards, coast back to port for your onward journey to Hue.

Straddling the tranquil Perfume River; Hue is a UNESCO city steeped in Imperial history. Travel back in time to the Ngugen Dynasty as your private guide leads you through the sprawling Citadel, with its vast network of temples and pavilions. Lunch will be a unique affair as you join Buddhist nuns at the Dong Thien Pagoda. Following Buddhist rituals, you’ll eat for a while in silence and be encouraged to savour the individual flavours of this satisfying Vietnamese food. You’ll end the day at Tam Giang Lagoon, the biggest natural lagoon in Southeast Asia. A seafood feast will be served for your group in a picturesque water hut as locals swim and fish nearby, their daily customs uninterrupted by your presence. 

Today you’ll reach Hoi An by taking one of the world’s best train rides (as voted by Condé Nast). The Hanoi–Danang train travels at a lethargic pace through Vietnam’s most spectacular scenery and we’ve secured you tickets for an unbeatable three hours of the journey. You’ll be based in the upper-class carriage, but we encourage you to hop across to the canteen cart where you can chat to locals, pick up some snacks and experience true Vietnamese living. Once you’ve arrived in charming Hoi An, spend the late afternoon being guided to some of this slow-paced city’s icons. A combination of Asian, European and Arabic influences can be felt here and you’ll enjoy the rich architecture of the Old Quarter, Jinshang Temple and more.

After a relaxing evening, you’ll be ready for a day of cycling through Hoi An’s scenic countryside. Pedal past rice fields and swaying palm trees before taking a boat ride across the Thu Bon River to Cam Kim, an isle known for its tranquility and authenticity. Here you’ll take a break from cycling at a noodle workshop. Watch as local craftspeople prepare a noodle that’s unique to Hoi An and taste this key Vietnamese ingredient fresh from the pot. Later you’ll be treated to an internationally acclaimed ‘bamboo circus’ performance at the Lune Centre, through which Vietnamese cultural stories are brought to life in the most evocative of ways.

Enjoy a day of free time in Hoi An, losing yourself in the winding alleys that thrum with market stalls and charming cafes. This evening you’ll be treated to a unique cooking experience with local legend Mr Tu. Having worked for many years in the Hoi An Centre for Cultural Heritage, he’s something of a local expert and has fascinating insights to share about how tourism has brought a better life for the people of the town. As well as enjoying a sumptuous home-cooked meal, you’ll be given a lesson on how to make family favourites such as tofu and rice paper (for spring rolls), then Mr Tu and his friend will show off their guitar skills with some Vietnamese classics. 

The calm of Hoi An will feel a world away as you arrive in Ho Chi Minh and journey through the vibrant streets of Vietnam’s largest city. Enjoy some free time together at your hotel before a real highlight of your Vietnam trip begins: a local food tour by vintage Vespa. This Vespa food safari will first take you on a ride past the city’s most significant monuments, before introducing you to the foodie haunts revered by local connoisseurs. The places you visit have been carefully selected by our contacts on the ground – places they have frequented for decades and whose flavours evoke special memories of their childhoods in the city.

On your last day you’ll be taking to the waters of the Mekong; island hopping a part of the delta that has remained true to a traditional way of life. From island to island you’ll visit workshops and pass through villages frozen in time, before meeting a local family on their working farm. Join them in the home they built themselves and dig into another authentic feast. Post-lunch, you’ll get a chance to go deeper into the hidden waterways of the Mekong on a private sampan boat ride.  Before your final night dinner of yet more delicious Vietnamese food (this time with a modern twist), it’s on to the best rooftop bar in Ho Chi Minh. Partake in a sunset cocktail and make a toast to your adventures as you overlook the sprawling cityscape. 

We hate to say it, but the end of your group adventure has arrived. We’ll help you organise your transfer to the airport, or can give you some handy tips if you’d like to stay a bit longer. You’re a Southeast Asia travel pro now, after all.