Cultures and Geology of Northern Vietnam with New Scientist

On arrival, transfer to your hotel in the city. This evening meet with the rest of the group for a welcome dinner and a briefing from your guide on the adventures ahead.

An early start today to join the locals as they exercise on the shores of Hoan Kiem Lake. Observe or join in with groups practicing Tai Chi and aerobics. Visit Ngoc Son Temple, located in the middle of the lake before sampling local coffee and street food. Explore Hanoi’s Old Quarter on foot soaking up the French architecture of St. Joseph’s Cathedral and Hoa Lo Prison before viewing the wreck of a B-52 at Huu Tiep Lake. Lunch on local specialities before visiting the Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam’s first university. Lastly, explore Hanoi’s railway where beautiful houses are located just metres from the tracks, before joining locals for a freshly brewed beer. Later this evening observe the closing flag ceremony in Ba Dinh Square.

Spend the morning at leisure before driving to Cuc Phuong National Park to check into your guesthouse. Early evening transfer by electric car to the Save Vietnam Centre to meet conservation staff and observe how they protect and feed pangolins, civets and otters. This rescue centre is one part of the worldwide effort to save endangered primates from extinction through poaching and loss of habitat. The entry fee (included) helps fund their work which includes rehabilitation, reintroduction, research and conservation education. Enjoy a late dinner this evening.

After breakfast travel by electric car to the Endangered Primates Rescue Centre. Experts on the conservation of gibbons and langur will accompany you as you see how they are cared for, how their behaviour is studied in semi-wild conditions and how they are prepared for full release into the wild. Travel to Ninh Binh town for a traditional lunch before boarding a river cruise. Glide among rice paddies and karst limestone mountains before visiting Tam Coc grottoes, part of an exquisite cave system eroded through the limestone hills, with ceilings just two metres high. This afternoon visit Mua Cave whose main attraction is two karst mountains, each with 500 steps leading to amazing views of the Ninh Binh landscape.

This morning transfer to Halong City wharf to board your cruise. Lunch will be served as you slowly cruise through the bay which is characterised by thousands of towering limestone islands, rising dramatically out of the sea. Mid-afternoon head to Vung Vieng fishing village to learn about the lives of the inhabitants – choose to explore by local rowing boat or kayak. This evening experience a Vietnamese cuisine cooking demonstration before dining on the food cooked. Relax and soak up the beautiful scenery from the top deck as the sun sets.

The best time to observe Halong Bay is in the early morning. Tai Chi will be conducted on the upper deck and is a terrific way to feel as one with the peaceful surroundings. After breakfast visit the Thien Canh Son cave, one of the most stunning of 59 caves in the bay – it has distinctive geomorphology and is strewn with stalactites and stalagmites. After brunch onboard transfer back to Halong City wharf and onto Hanoi airport for your flight to Phong Nha where you will check into your hotel.

An early start for the one and a half hour journey past jungles, fields and over the historic Da Deo pass to Tan Hoa. Reach the start of today’s trail and once fully equipped, begin the six kilometre trek to Hang Tien cave. Walking mainly through forest, the last kilometre is very rocky. Stop for a barbecue lunch before entering the cave. Hang Tien is two gigantic caves, one of which is over three kilometres long – you will cover approximately one and a half kilometres. Unusual formations create an otherworldly feel with layers of rock and stalagmites resembling terraced rice fields. On the return, stop for a dip in a natural jungle swimming pool before heading back to your hotel and a well earned restful evening.

Today, explore key sites from the Vietnam war. Begin with a visit to the Vinh Moc tunnel complex which sheltered sixty families from intensive bombing without any loss of life. Onto the Hien Luong Bridge over the Ben Hai River -this river was the only true physical demarcation between North and South Vietnam during the war. Visit the old Citadel at Quang Tri – a military bastion and an administrative head office of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1809 to 1945. In 1972 the Citadel came under intense attack from American forces for 81 days but managed to remain in Vietnamese hands. Later, transfer to Hue and check into your hotel.

Today, experience Hue with guides and locals who have grown up here. Hear stories of their family history and their childhood during the war. If available, receive a blessing from the monks at Thien Mu before travelling along the Perfume River by boat. Experience the famous bronze factories of Phuong Duc and have a local lunch by the walls of the citadel. End today with a private audience at the home of descendants of the Royal Court – sample authentic royal dishes and learn about the family’s past.

This morning, travel approximately one and a half hours south to Lang Co lagoon. Embark on a local boat journey to enjoy idyllic watery views, overlooked by the jungle covered Annamite Cordillera mountains. Also known as Heaven’s Door, these mountains form an important habitat for rare species such as the Annamite rabbit, the antelope-like saola and the douc langur. Stop at a fishing post for a demonstration of the local fishing technique before continuing to visit a family-run oyster farm to learn how local life is intertwined with the lagoon. After lunch in an authentic stilt house enjoy swimming and snorkelling in the crystal-clear lagoon. Later, transfer to the city of Hoi An and check into your hotel.

After a leisurely morning, transfer to Danang airport for your onwards journey.