Day 1 Tuesday
After meeting and greeting your flight leader and the other students joining the Faces & Places of Vietnam, we’re off to Asia! This is an easy, non-stop ride across the Pacific – and most students find that after dinner and a movie or so, they’re able to manage dozing off to sleep for a while. So sit back, have a chat with your new friends, and enjoy the flight!

Day 2 Wednesday
This day is ‘lost’ as you cross the International Date Line. But worry not – you’ll get it back when returning home!

Day 3 Thurday
Arriving into Ho Chi Minh City, we will transfer to the hotel, where you will have the chance to wash up, catch up, and relax a bit from the long journey. This evening we will check out some of the street markets in District 1, and you will have your first taste of traditional Vietnamese food. This first day you will have some time to acclimatize yourself to Southeast Asia, and prepare for the upcoming two week adventure, so it will be an early night at the hote

Day 4 Friday
Waking up, we will head south out of the city on a 3 hour ride to the mouth of the Mekong Delta, where will spend the next two days traveling into some of the farther reaches and smaller villEdad of southern Vietnam. The Mekong Delta is largely unexplored and untouched, and you will have the chance to dive deep into the heart of this southern jungle and see the real sights. Traveling by boat, we will explore the floating markets, beautiful countryside, and meet the villagers that live along the shores of the Mekong. Heading upriver all day, we will spend the night in a remote village tucked deep into the countryside, a truly unique experience.

Day 5 Saturday
After eating breakfast with the villagers, we will begin our journey back down through the Mekong, stopping along the way to catch many more of the wonderful sights of the delta. This two day river adventure opens up the world of the Vietnamese living along the shores of the mighty Mekong, and their unique and beautiful way of life will astound you. Once we reach the mouth of the delta, we will hop a bus back to Saigon, and once arriving we will feast on Vietnamese Pho, and check out some of the great shopping sites of the city before heading back to the hotel for a good nights rest.

Day 6 Sunday
Today we will explore the many facets of the city of Saigon. From the giant Binh Than bazaar, to the startling museums and cathedrals, to the small and intimate river districts where so many of the Vietnamese have lived for centuries The various districts of Saigon are so unique and different from one another, each passing hour will leave you more and more astonished at the complex beauty of the city. You will have a chance to buy tons of traditional Vietnamese gifts, sample the endless flavors of the foods, and see the smiling faces from one end of the city to another. In the evening, enjoy a cyclo ride through the bustling streets, soaking up the cities vibrations as the sun sets in Ho Chi Minh City. After a full day of sightseeing, we will head back to the hotel for a rest, and possibly a massage

Day 7 Monday
Heading north, we will venture up to the district of Chu Chi, an area saturated with the history of the Vietnam War. Here we will explore the famous Chu Chi tunnels, a vast intricate web of underground passEdad used by the Vietnamese during the war. You will have the chance to climb through these underground passEdad, carved by hand deep beneath the surface of the earth, which have stood from hundreds of years. We will also visit the wondrous Cao Dai temple, one of the most beautiful and famous temples in the entire country. Its unique beauty and fusion of religions makes it a truly spectacular sight. Heading back to Saigon, we will spend a final night in the city getting massEdad and enjoying a grand farewell banquet.

Day 8 Tuesday
Arriving at the airport, we will catch a quick flight up to the central Vietnamese city of Hue. Hue lies on the 17 parallel of the country, directly in the center of Vietnam. Nestled along the giant Perfume River, this cities modern beauty and astonishing history make it the gem of Central Vietnam. Today you will explore many of the oldest ruins in the country. The Imperial Palace and the Citadel, located in the heart of the city, are two majestic sites that represent a different era of Vietnamese culture, and are truly a wonder to explore. Lying in the middle of the city, their vast ruins spread far and wide, and wandering through them takes you back hundreds of years into Vietnamese history. Heading back to the hotel, grab a quick shower and relax for a bit before we head out to enjoy an evening cruise along the Perfume River, enjoying the sounds of live traditional Vietnamese music as we cruise the waters under the light of the setting sun. Stepping back on land, you will enjoy a great dinner and a good nights rest.

Day 9 Wednesday
Waking up early, we will head out of Hue and into the central highlands, where we will visit many of the most famous sites of the Vietnamese war. Starting with the Tam Moc Tunnels, a vast serious of underground passEdad and living quarters which housed an entire village for 6 years of the war, we will again descend underground to explore their magnificent and vast passEdad and living quarters. Form there it is into the jungle, where we will see the battle sights of Khe Sanh, Hamburger Hill, and The Rockpile, all infamous for their role in the War, and all located along the DMZ. Heading back into Hue, you will enjoy a traditional central Vietnamese dinner, and then rest up for the evening.

Day 10 Thursday
After an early morning trip to the airport, we will fly to the northern capital of Hanoi, where we will check into the hotel in time for lunch. The afternoon will be spent walking the ancient streets of Old Town, the shores of the famous Huan Kiem Lake, and visiting the markets and bazaars. The fusion of French and Vietnamese architecture, combined with the myriad of pagodas and temples, small cobbled streets, and smiling faces at every turn make Hanoi a breathtaking destination. Finishing up the day, we will spend the evening watching a traditional water puppet show before heading back to the hotel.

Day 11 Friday
After a traditional breakfast of Pho, you will travel out into the countryside, where we will visit the ancient capital of Vietnam, located at the foot of the “razor” mountains. These unique mountains are made up of razor sharp limestone peaks overlooking the rice fields, and stretch all the way to the Chinese border, offering breathtaking views from the top. The ancient Vietnamese capital has been converted to a Buddhist monastery, and its tranquil beauty is truly a sight to be seen. Our next stop will be a boat tour through the inland river of Tam Coc, which snakes its way through the limestone cliffs and caves, some of the most unique landscapes in the entire country. Heading back to Hanoi, we will grab our bags from the hotel and catch a night train through the western hills and up into the mountain town of SaPa.

Day 12 Saturday
Arriving into SaPa for breakfast, you will check into the hotel and have some time to freshen up before we head out into the countryside. The small hill tribe village of Bac Ha is a 2 hour ride from SaPa, and is tucked into the rolling rice fields and towering peaks of the region. Home to many of the Black Hmong people, one of the largest minority groups in Vietnam, we will spend the afternoon exploring this magical village. The markets are filled with handmade clothing and handicrafts, huge arrays of fruits and vegetables, and the shopping here is one of a kind. This unique village has remained largely untouched by outsiders, and you will have the opportunity to see a real authentic village setting. Heading back into SaPa in time to watch the sun set behind Mount Fansipan - the largest peak in Vietnam - we will feast in this small city and head off to bed.

Day 13 Sunday
Getting an early start today, we will grab some breakfast at the hotel, and head out into the country side for a full day of trekking. The beautiful terraced ricefields, breathtaking peaks, and smiling faces of the hilltribe people will be welcoming us at every turn while we hike through the day. Trekking through the highlands is an awe inspiring experience, as we traverse the rice paddies, capture the beauty of the landscapes, and make friends with the locals along the way, you will feel the true essence of leaving the beaten path. After making our way back into SaPa, we will enjoy an authentic Highland dinner, and rest our tired feet for the night.

Day 14 Monday
After breakfast, we will head back down through the highlands by train, taking the day to view the majestic countryside as we head back to Hanoi. The train ride will take most of the day, and we will arrive into Hanoi in time for dinner. After dinner, we will take a walk around beautiful Huan Kiem Lake, and then head off to the hotel for the night

Day 15 Tuesday
After breakfast in Hanoi, we will head out of the city on a 3 hour bus ride to Ha Long Bay. Once arriving at the coast, we will board our own teak wood ship, and spend the day cruising through the islands. Ha Long is possibly the most breathtaking scenery in the entire country, with its hundreds of green limestone islands jutting form the crystal waters. We will enjoy sailing through this magical wonderland, swimming in the warm ocean water, sea kayaking between the islands and into secluded lagoons, and hiking some of the highest peaks in the region. As the sun sets over Ha Long, our ship will anchor in for the night, and after a freshly caught seafood banquet that will leave you stuffed, enjoy the gentle waves rocking you to sleep under the stars of this magical location.

Day 16 Wednesday
Waking up off the shores of this wonderland, we will hop into our sea kayaks once more, and paddle into one of the most secluded and breathtaking lagoons in all of Ha Long Bay. Boarding our ship again, we will begin the journey back through the islands. A few more dips into the pristine waters, another great meal of freshly caught seafood, and some final lasting looks at this beautiful landscape before heading back to Hanoi. Arriving into the city, we will enjoy a final night in Vietnam. Shopping, laughing, reflecting, and dining like royalty, we will say farewell to this beautiful country, and the great friends made along the way.

Day 17 Thursday
After breakfast and packing, we will head to the airport and depart. Saying your final goodbyes, you will either be heading home, or connecting to another Rustic Pathways trip.

For more information on any aspect of this program, please email Jamie Spates at jamie@rusticpathways.com

An Important Note about Schedule Changes :
Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the daily itinerary for this trip at any time. Changes can be made for various reasons including changes in flight or program schedules, changes in the schedules of various external tours incorporated in our trips, the addition of new activities into a trip, or the substitution of an old activity for a new activity. The itinerary shown here provides a good outline of the anticipated daily schedule for this program. As with any travel program, some changes may occur.

What do I need to do for a visa to Vietnam?
Students traveling to Vietnam must apply for a visa prior to their arrival. Here is some info you may need when applying for the visa:

Dates: The Vietnam visa asks for specific dates of entry / exit. Always use the entire program dates for the dates, just to be safe.

Multiple Entry: If a student is doing 1 program that will enter Vietnam, they only need a single entry visa. If they are doing 2 different trips to Vietnam (Faces and Places, Wonders and Riches, The Overland Trip, Conical Hats and Safron Robes), please apply for a multiple entry visa.

Price: The price of the visa is the more expensive of the 2 options. For Vietnam, its the $65 option.

Contacts: You can put this hotel down for your place of stay or contact:

Continental Vietnam Hotel
132-134 Dong Khoi St., Dist. 1,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Tel: (84. 8 299 201