Vietnam | Bottoms Up

Vibrant, energetic, crazy & chaotic, Saigon is a buzzing metropolis of hi-octane traffic, teeming markets & ancient pagodas. A city where crossing the road is an art form & people watching a main attraction; Saigon is an experience like no other.

Start your Adventure with a group welcome dinner followed by a night tour of bustling backpacker district Pham Ngu Lao. Then end (or begin) your night with a few drinks as we explore the endless number of bars & nightclubs that fill this backpacker haven.

The following morning your Adventure Leader will take you on a tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels; an immense network of underground passageways used to combat enemy forces during the Vietnam War. A local guide will describe how the tunnels were used as a base of operations, supply route & even a hospital. Those who dare can squeeze their way through a small part of the tunnels to catch a real glimpse of life inside this underground maze.

Then, checkout some of the gruesome homemade traps used by the Vietcong to snare & dismember enemies during the war. Finally, you can test your shooting ability with a variety of Vietnam War era weapons at the local shooting range. With supervision, of course!

Use your free day wisely and visit the War Remnants Museum, wander through Bến Thanh Market or taking a cyclo tour of the city. You have the option to spend a day exploring on your own or join your Adventure Leader as he/she traverses the main hotspots of Saigon City.

Notes:

• Accommodation Type: Hotel
• Highlights: Cu Chi Tunnels Tour, Vietnam War Museum Tour, Backpacking District Party Tour

Next stop Dalat. A quick flight the next day will have you in this sleepy town infamous for its extreme activities. At 5000m above sea level Dalat is considerably chillier than hot & sticky Saigon.  But the weather is perfect for an extreme canyoning experience like no other! Spend a half-day rock-climbing, cliff jumping, sliding & abseiling through Dalats amazing waterfalls on an Adventure not for the faint of heart. At night, join your Adventure leader on an expedition of the towns endless night markets & oddly outrageous nightlife.

Spend a free day mountain biking, shopping, eating, trekking & exploring beautiful Dalat. But, no visit is complete without flying downhill at ridiculous speeds on the mountainside rollercoaster, or a journey to Dalat’s ‘Crazy House’.

Notes:

• Accommodation: Homestay
• Highlights: Extreme Canyoning Adventure
• Transport: Plane

Hoi An is If you like to shop, eat,

The following day you are free to explore everything Hoi Anh has to offer, no strings attached. Discover old town on foot, spend your day shopping, visit the clothing tailors or line your stomach with delicious local food. True beach bums can take an easy 4km bike ride to Cua Dai Beach, where you can hire deckchairs and get served fresh pineapple & delicious cocktails (omnomnom). After dark meet up for a group dinner & some more late night shenanigans.

Notes:

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Highlights: Free Time & Hoi An Old Town Tour
• Transport: Plane

A MyGapYear favourite, Hanoi is the nations capital and the cultural heart of Vietnam. A fascinating blend of east & west supported by French Architecture with Chinese influences gives this city a charming feel. With old town shopping districts, plenty of cultural attractions, a buzzing nightlife, and arguably the best Vietnamese Pho (Noodle Soup) anywhere in the country this is one city that will not disappoint.

Did we mention that Hanoi has a chocolate buffet? Everything is made of chocolate…EVERYTHING!!!

After surviving the overnight train; check in to your accommodation and freshen up before a short tour of the nations capital. Follow your Adventure Leader on an orientation walk through the always lively Old Quarter; which comprises nearly 40 streets packed with shops selling all kinds of goodies, with each street named for its primary good or service.
We are only here for 24 hours, but don’t fret, we’ll be back in a couple days and will have plenty of time for you to discover all that Hanoi has to offer.

Notes:

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Highlights: Hanoi City Tour

The following morning will begin with a bus journey through the countryside and industrial towns of the north, to the coast where you board the traditional wooden Junk that will serve as your overnight home as you cruise the spectacular Halong Bay.

All meals are included during the cruise with opportunities to feast on some of the freshest local seafood available. Optional activities during the cruise include kayaking through caves, swimming & visiting a floating fishing village. The overnight accommodation is a truly amazing experience as you sleep on the boat surrounded by beautiful limestone cliffs. All cabins are double or twin share with air conditioning and en suite bathroom. Plus there are sun-beds on the top deck and a full dining room on the boat.
After a few more hours cruising the beautiful Halong Bay we grab a transfer back to Hanoi for an afternoon of free time before a night out exploring some delicious local food & some even more tasty drinks.

Notes:

• Accommodation: Guesthouse
• Highlights: Ha Long Bay Boat Cruise
• Meals Included: L, D, B

After returing to Hanoi, spend the next couple days volunteering at an ongoing community project: helping hand to a community rebuild project, or teaching English to those less fortunate. In the days ahead you will work alongside fellow Volunteers on projects including: teaching English, planting trees or building schools, among others.
The final full day is yours to explore all that Hanoi has to offer. Why not stop in for the infamous chocolate buffet, watch a traditional water puppet show or head to Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum to check out Uncle Ho in a quiet, and somewhat scary, tribute to the countries revolutionary leader.

Notes:

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Highlights: Community Build Project & Free Time

Final farewells and last minute shopping before your flight departs.

Notes:

• Transfer to airport included