Asian Trails - Vietnam

Vietnam is a country filled with captivating natural beauty and tranquil village life. Its highlands and rainforest regions, far from being devastated, continue to yield new species and team with exotic wildlife. Its islands and beaches are among the finest in all of Southeast Asia, and its cuisine is very possibly the most delicious you will ever find.

Topographically, Vietnam is a verdant tapestry of soaring mountains, fertile deltas, primeval forests inhabited by exotic fauna, sinuous rivers, mysterious caves, otherworldly rock formations, and heavenly waterfalls and beaches. Beyond nature, the curious and open-minded visitor will find in Vietnam a feast of culture and history.

For convenience, the country can be thought of as comprising three unique areas: north, central, and south. The north is known for its alpine peaks, the Red River Delta, the plains of Cao Bang and Vinh Yen, enchanting Halong Bay, and historic Hanoi, as well as for the diversity of its ethno linguistic minorities.

Central Vietnam, also home to many ethnic minorities, is characterised by high temperate plateaus rich in volcanic soil and by spectacular beaches, dunes, and lagoons. It is also the location of the ancient imperial city of Hue. In the South, visitors encounter modern life in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) and the fertile alluvial delta of the Mekong River. Vietnam’s territory also encompasses a large continental shelf and thousands of archipelagic islands.

Today, this gracious and graceful country is an outstanding travel destination.

• Sapa:
  A hill station established by French since 1922 and home of some ethnic minorities as H’mong, Dzao, Tay, who live in traditional ways, Sapa is dream destination for explorers thanks to its colorful hill-tribe markets and trekking trails to local villages or to Fasipan nicknamed “Tonkinese Alps”
• Hanoi:
  The capital of Vietnam and one of the hidden gems of South East Asia, Hanoi retains an elegance and charm not often found in this part of the world.
• Halong Bay:
  Ha Long Bay has twice been recognised by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Area for its exceptional scenic beauty and outstanding geological and geomorphic values. The beautiful bay consists of more than 3000 islets shaped magically and many limestone grottos.
• Hue:
  Once the Imperial capital and sitting on the banks of the delightfully named Perfume River you will find amazing citadels, fabulous palaces and royal tombs.
• Hoian:
  the town was once one of the most important trading ports in the region and today makes a delightful place to explore with many parts seemingly untouched by history. There is an unmistakable Chinese influence, you will find a whole host of tailors, art galleries and silk merchants.
• Ho Chi Minh City:
  Formerly known as Saigon, this bustling bright and lively city stands as a proud reminder of the determination of the Vietnamese. Now thrusting its way into the 21st century, this delightful city of tree lined boulevards, Chinese shop houses and dramatic colonial architecture is truly enchanting.
• Mekong Delta:
  ​​​​​​​Known as “rice basket” of Vietnam, Mekong Delta is a rich, idyllic landscape painted with variety of greens and snaky canals. Experience the local way of living in a homestay or on board of a traditional boat, cycle on rural paths, sample exotic fruits from orchard or traders at floating markets…there are multiple ways to get yourself opened to another world.

Trekking to local villages:
Stretch your foot on village trails, the housing, way of living, costumes, handicraft of each ethnic minority is inviting your curiosity to delightful cultural encounters.

Discover Hanoi’s Old Quarter by cyclo:
This part of the city retains the essence of the traditional life in Vietnam and the cyclo is the unique mean of transport of this country. The combination of both makes you feel like you were in the colonial times.

A cruise in Halong Bay: you can make a one day visit or sleep on the cruise, during your time in Halong you will be able to see its thousands of islets, explore its limestone grottos, swim in the sea and try the delicious fresh seafood.

Welcome the day with a tai chi lesson: there is no better way to say hello to a new day than welcoming it with a tai chi lesson. Choose a venue (a temple, by a lake, on board a wooden junk, a public park, etc) and we will arrange everything for you.

Wander in the streets of Hoian in search of the perfect souvenir for their loved ones or buy a tailer made suit/dress for a very reasonable price.

Feel like a real Viet Cong in Cu Chi tunnels: Cu Chi used to be known as “iron land” because of the bomb, landmine and cartridge shot by American force during Vietnam war to kill Viet Cong. Viet Cong troops found their shelter, hospital, food and weapon store underground, along the levels of the tunnel. It is an incredible construction where you can find how patient & skilled the troops were to dig the tunnel and live, fight and even give bearing there

Explore Cai Rang floating market: Rowing leisurely through river island or enjoying an exciting boat ride on large Mekong river to floating market, you are turning back time to a different world, a world surrounded by water, simple yet generous and hospitable.

Lying on the eastern part of the Indochinese peninsula, Vietnam is a strip of land shaped like the letter “S”. China borders it to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, the East Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the east and south. The country’s total length from north to south is 1,650 km, its width 600 km – with a coastline of 3,260 kms. What makes this country so amazing? The northern part of the country consists mostly of highlands and the Red River Delta. The south is divided into coastal lowlands, Annamite Chain peaks and extensive forests. The Mekong delta, covering about 40,000 sqm, is a low-level plain no more than 3 meters above sea level at any point and criss-crossed by a maze of canals and rivers.