Join Gemma's Unforgettable Vietnam Expedition

DAY ONE

DEPARTURE

When arriving in Hanoi, we will transfer to our hotel, the Chalcedony Hotel, which is in the Old Quarter and central to exploring the city.

I walked around the city and visited Tran Quoc Pagoda, one of the oldest Pagodas in Vietnam. The city is bustling, and the amount of motorbikes on the road is crazy; the first challenge for us was working out how to cross a road! It's like taking your life into your own hands, but we crossed with a local who happened to be crossing simultaneously, and they made it look easy. You step out and hold your hand up to the traffic as you are walking, and they stop and let you pass or drive around you.

Later that afternoon, we met our CEO (Chief Experience Officer), our tour guide for the trip. He introduced himself, as did we, and explained the itinerary and what we would do. He also gave us hints and tips for the country and local areas, such as what to avoid.

We then headed out for dinner at a local restaurant within walking distance of our hotel. Our guide recommended the place and came along and had dinner with us. We ordered a Vietnamese set menu for the table to try some of everything, as we were keen to try the local food.

DAY TWO

Hạ LONG BAY

We took our tour bus to the infamous Hạ Long Bay, where we stayed a night on a Traditional Junk boat. We were all given cabins, which were very spacious with little porthole windows, air conditioning and ensuite facilities. I was very impressed with the standard. We had Lunch onboard and then headed out to explore the Island's caves, which were impressive and well worth visiting. We visited another island with a beach where you could swim and relax; there was a café for refreshments. There was also the opportunity to climb 400 steps up to the top of the Island and a 360-degree viewing platform for photo opportunities.

DAY THREE

Hạ LONG BAY TO HANOI

First, we were able to explore the natural beauty of Hạ long Bay close-up on our Kayaks. It was a genuine pinch-me moment. The sunshine came out, and the green of the Islands and the water set against the blue sky was magical.

We took our kayaks to quieter islands where no other tourists were around. It was peaceful, and we could genuinely soak up the natural beauty of our surroundings. We collected rubbish that had washed up around the islands. We wanted to make a slight difference by keeping the area clean and litter-free. This issue arises in areas of interest for tourism.

We head back to our junk boat for a shower and change, and we have our Lunch onboard before disembarking and heading back to Hanoi.

We spent the afternoon in Hanoi. A great way to see the city and learn more about its culture and food is the foodie tour in the Old Quarter, where we experienced the local street food culture.

We even tried the coffee made with eggs, a local speciality. It was surprisingly delicious and sweet, like a dessert.

DAY FOUR

HOE

We caught an overnight sleeper train from Hanoi to Hoe, once the ancient Capital of Vietnam. We visited the Imperial Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Tien Mu Pagoda. Our local guide was very knowledgeable and gave us an insight into the area's history.

Lunch was at a local Monastery, where local monks prepared and served our food. It was delicious, and the location was peaceful and beautiful.

After Lunch, we went on a bike tour to explore the town that afternoon. Our experienced drivers were terrific, and I would highly recommend this activity. The whole group enjoyed it. Dinner was at a local restaurant in the evening, and then we took part in some Karaoke, hugely popular in Vietnam.

DAY FIVE

HOI AN

We took our tour bus to Hoi An, where I am currently. We drove through the stunning Vietnamese countryside and stopped along the way, filling our day with more unforgettable and unique experiences.

We visited the City of Ghosts, learning about the buried culture and the richly decorated tombs. We also visited a fishing lake close to the mountain pass between Hoa and Da Nang. We took a traditional fishing boat and shown the local fishing methods, including oysters, fish, squid, and other seafood. We had Lunch on the lake with a local family on their fishing platform, set in beautiful surroundings.

After Lunch, we drove over the Hai Van pass, where, from a height, you can view Da Nang from one side and Hoe from the other. There are still some old French Bunkers up there from the war. The views from here are breathtaking. Having a local experienced guide with G- adventures means we have money cannot buy experiences—memories of a lifetime.

We arrived in Hoi An to another ideally located hotel close to the old town. That evening, we walked into the old town to see the evening markets and had dinner in a local restaurant recommended by our G guide. We saw the boats on the river with all the colourful lanterns for which Hoi An is known. We stayed in Hoi An for three nights, allowing us to explore the area before moving to Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY SIX

HOI AN

We had an early start as we had opted to take part in a cycling tour of Hoi An, and it's better when it's quieter and cooler in the morning. I highly recommend this as you explore areas you ordinarily wouldn't see. Cycling through the villages and rice fields immerses you in the culture. We stopped to taste and see how you make rice wine, a local drink, but only one shot as we didn't want to be drinking and driving.

We stop at the river for a quick refreshment before boarding some small traditional basket boats, paddle up the river along the coconut plantation, and watch the locals dancing in the boats.

In the afternoon, we make our noodles at STREETS International Oodles of Noodles, a G partner for good. A give back to the community initiative. STREETS helps Vietnamese orphans and disadvantaged children, teaching them life skills such as cooking, hospitality, and English to assist them in seeking employment and providing a good life for themselves. The initiative has a 100% success rate with getting students into employment. They provide medical insurance so they can get medical care.

Some students took our cooking class and taught us how to make noodles. In the afternoon, we had some free time to relax. We were ready for some downtime before heading out for dinner and exploring the night market in Hoi An. Be prepared to haggle; many stalls and street vendors are ready to bargain. At night, Hoi An is beautiful; there is a photo opportunity everywhere you turn. There are lanterns everywhere, traditional boats on the river and the quaint old town with its traditional charm. I have genuinely fallen in love with Hoi An.

DAY SEVEN

HOI AN

It was the last day in Hoi An, and today, we had some free time in the morning after breakfast. Some of the group chose to walk into the old town to see some of the historical sites and grab a coffee in a local shop.

After we get picked up from our hotel, we go lantern-making. Lanterns are a big part of Hoi culture, so we can't come here without trying our hand at making one. It was a wet morning, so this activity was perfect until the sun came back out. We get to keep our lamps to take home as a keepsake.

Extra excursions to add to your guided tour are always booked and paid for locally. After Lunch, we treat ourselves to a spa; Vietnam is well known for its spa treatments, such as massages, facials and other pampering treatments. We went to a spa recommended by our tour guide, Rocky, and as there are so many to choose from, it is great to have local knowledge. I had a full body massage and a manicure for 550,000 Dong, approximately £16. It was probably the best massage I've had! After our spa, we returned to the hotel to freshen up before heading out for dinner in beautiful Hoi An; we headed to a recommended restaurant by our G Adventures guide. We are pinching ourselves daily as this trip gets better and better.

DAY EIGHT

HO CHI MINH CITY

Today, we left Hoi An and took our internal Vietnam Airlines flight to Ho Chi Minh City, our last stop on our tour. Arriving in Ho Chi Minh, we expected it to be busy as it has 12 million residents, the biggest city in Vietnam even though Hanoi is the Capital. Once named Saigon, the city changed its name in 1975 after the Vietnam War. Most of the younger generation want to live and work in Ho Chi Minh City because it's a more developed, modern and cosmopolitan city with more career prospects. As we drove through the city, we could see the difference between the cities; Ho Chi Minh felt more vibrant, with a mix of old traditional and new skyscrapers and shopping malls. The one thing you can't fail to notice in the big cities is the traffic, and all the motorbikes blow your mind, but it's all part of the culture here.

Our tour bus took us straight from the airport to the Cu Chi Tunnels; there was a specialist local guide to meet us and explain the Vietnam War and what part the Tunnels played in helping them win the war. This part of the trip was so interesting to me. I enjoyed listening to the history of Vietnam's struggle to win their independence.

We arrived at the Golden Hotel for two nights, another one of Gadventures' preferred central hotels. It is just around the corner from Ben Thanh Market Saigon, where you can find everything from cooked foods, souvenirs, clothes, fresh fruit, meat, fish, and pots and pans. All the locals shop here; it's a bit bizarre. There are lots of restaurants, shops, bars, and spas nearby.

Our G Adventures Guide gave us some recommendations for places to eat our dinner that evening; we headed for the Street Food Market, which is foodie heaven with its hustle and bustle and the smell of incredible fresh food everywhere. We also tried the cocktails.

DAY NINE

MEKONG DELTA RIVER

It was the final day of the tour, and we chose to add a trip to the Mekong Delta River. Our tour bus took us to the Mekong River, where we boarded a traditional Vietnamese wooden boat and headed out onto the famous Mekong River. We went to four small islands in the Mekong. These islands are named after sacred animals (Unicorns, Turtles, Dragons, and phoenixes). They are different sizes, with more residents on some than others.

We transferred to smaller boats to take us through the narrow waters of the water coconut farm. A pinch-me moment, I felt truly immersed in the destination. Afterwards, we headed onto Turtle Island to see how they make chocolate from cocoa beans and try some for ourselves. We also were shown the many uses of coconuts, which they grow locally. They use all the coconut and even craft door mats from the green casing around the coconut.

They also make beauty products, cooking oils, sweets, utensils, and other valuable objects from the hard shell. We visited a fruit farm and tasted the many tropical fruits produced locally, such as dragon fruit, mango, pineapple, and guava. We stopped to try some bee pollen and honey tea with cumquat, and it's delicious. The locals make and sell the produce from the bee honey and pollen. As we sit and have tea, some of the group hold a bee Hive, and the bees fly freely around us. Strange not to run or try and swat them away, but they are friendly and don't harm you, so everyone is at ease. We take a tuc tuc around the Island, a form of transport I wanted to tick off being in Vietnam. They use the Tuc Tuc less in Vietnam as technology has advanced. They have moved onto more efficient modes of transport, so it's great to have the authentic experience on the little untouched Island on the Mekong.