Vietnam and Cambodia Women-only Tour

Vietnam Tour for Women

Number of days: 14 (not including Cambodia add-on)

Itinerary dates: March 23 – April 5, 2014

* Register now to save on flights and to be matched with another participant to avoid single supplement!

**PLUS – if you and one or more friends book one of our international tours on or before May 15, you’ll both receive a 5% discount on land costs. See details and restrictions here.

WanderTours Giving Program – A portion of your tour cost will go to supporting One Degree Forward, a non-profit that supports educational opportunities for children in Cambodia. You will have a chance to visit and learn more about the program during the tour.

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Highlights
* Overnight on a traditional wood junk houseboat in Halong Bay
* Take a batik class taught by a Hmong woman
* Explore Hanoi’s street food with a local, passionate foodie guide
* Visit hilltribe villages in Vietnam’s northern mountains
* Take a hands-on Vietnamese cooking class in Hoi an
* Explore Saigon on the back of a Vespa scooter!

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Register now via PayPal by clicking on the Register Now button. You do not need a PayPal account.

Itinerary

Day 1
March 23, 2014 – Arrival in Hanoi (Meal: D)
Upon arrival in Hanoi, a tour guide and driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Depending upon your arrival time (and many flights DO arrive late at night), you may have a welcome dinner at a fine local restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi at Chalcedony Hotel or similar.

Day 2
March 24, 2014 – Hanoi (Meals: B, L)
On this first full day in Vietnam, you’ll have the morning free to sleep in, relax, or wander the streets of Hanoi.

You’ll then meet with the group and have lunch at a French/Vietnamese restaurant, Hoa Sua, a training place for Vietnamese disadvantaged youth. The food is wonderful and the service delightful.

Afterward, you’ll go to Hanoi’s Old Quarter, also known as the ‘36 streets.’ Here, you’ll enjoy a walking tour through charming Hang Be Market and around Hoan Kiem Lake. This bustling area of narrow streets and alleys is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. It’s a great place to explore with plenty of photo opportunities!

You’ll then continue to the Temple of Literature, built in 1076 and Vietnam’s first national university. If time (and the lines) permit, you’ll also visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and his house on stilts (where he lived until 1969) as well as the One Pillar Pagoda. Overnight in Hanoi at Chalcedony Hotel or similar.

HIGHLIGHT! Hanoi is a dynamic and cosmopolitan city that’s very different than Saigon. Wide tree-lined streets and coffee shops can be found throughout. While it lacks the entrepreneurship that permeates Saigon, it’s quite charming.

Day 3
March 25, 2014 – Hanoi – Halong Bay (Meals: B, L, D)
Following breakfast, you’ll depart for the 3.5-hour drive to Halong Bay, including a stop for refreshments.

Upon arrival, you’ll check in at the boat and get ready for your overnight journey. Lunch will be served on board as you cruise throughout Halong Bay. You’ll see rock formations with such names as Sail, Dog, and Dinh Huong (incense pot). Toward the end of the day, you’ll anchor for the night as the sun sets and then have a cooking demonstration and dinner on board the boat. Overnight on Pelican Boat.

HIGHLIGHT! Halong Bay is a beautiful, peaceful respite from Vietnam’s cities. You’ll enjoy a freshly prepared dinner under the stars and have a chance to really unplug.

Day 4
March 26, 2014 – Halong Bay – Hanoi (Meals: B, L)
Today you’ll wake up early and have the chance to take a Tai Chi lesson on deck. You’ll then have a light breakfast before heading out to visit the Surprise Cave, which will be a short hike to one of widest grottoes in Halong Bay. So large is it that the Viet Cong used this as a hiding place during the American-Vietnam War. You’ll then board the boat and, on the way back to the dock, have brunch as your boat weaves through the magnificent rock formations. Upon disembarkation, your driver will meet you for the transfer back to Hanoi. After check-in at your hotel, you’ll have free time in the afternoon and dinner will be on your own to explore the many restaurants in Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi at Chalcedony Hotel or similar.

Day 5
March 27, 2014 – Hanoi – Lao Cai (Meals: B, D)
This morning, you’ll take a walking street food tour including Hanoi’s best culinary spots. A local hospitality industry insider with an enormous passion for his country’s food and culture, will be your guide. His many hours of trawling the street stalls and markets have made him a genuine, local authority on Hanoi ‘s food scene.

The tour will take you through the Old Quarter, by the Thanh Ha market, onward through the streets of the Old Quarter and to Dong Xuan – all while you are sampling local treats such as pho tiu and bun dau. The tour finishes up with cake stalls and Vietnamese coffee.

After this “lunch” of samples, you’ll go to the fascinating 54 Traditions gallery where you’ll learn how to batik your own crafts! The afternoon will be spent here with a Hmong woman and you’ll have a chance to ask questions about her way of life (and share your own).

In the early evening (7:30 p.m.) after dinner, you’ll transfer to the Hanoi Train Station for the overnight train ride to Lao Cai. Overnight on the train in a comfortable sleeper compartment.

HIGHLIGHT! Learn Hmong batik craftwork in a 2-hour batik session. You’ll be shown how to create splendid and colorful patterns on clothes that you can take home as a reminder of this memorable day. This half day visit is a rare opportunity to befriend a Hmong!

Day 6
March 28, 2014 – Lao Cai – Sapa – Lao Chai – Sa Seng (Meals: B, L)
Upon arrival in the border town of Lao Cai, you’ll go to the former hill station of Sapa.

After departing the train, you’ll drive about 5 miles to Lao Chai to visit a local family. They will teach you the process of spinning hemp from bark into yarn, weaving cloth on a loom, and dying cloth using natural, traditional methods. You can try your hand at “waterproofing” and shining cloth using the traditional method of honeycomb “stones.”

Afterward, you’ll drive about 30 minutes to Hang Da, the starting point for a hike to Sa Seng. This walk is mostly downhill and takes you along a dirt road set in a narrow valley lush with greenery and a sparkling river.

Black H’mong homes are clustered along the way and you will see families working their fields. Along the way, your guide will show you medicinal and fragrant herbs that grow freely. You’ll then enjoy a prepared picnic lunch by the river.

In the mid-afternoon, a vehicle will meet you to transport you back to Sapa.

In the late afternoon, you’ll have some free time to enjoy the town of Sapa. Overnight in Sapa at Sunny Mountain Lodge or similar.

HIGHLIGHT! In the Sapa region, you’ll be entranced by the ethnic-minority groups that still maintain a traditional way of life, including speaking their own language and wearing intricately embroidered, colorful clothing. Flashes of shining silver jewelery from the necks and wrists of indigo-clad Hmong and the scarlet hues of the turbans worn by the Red Dao can be seen.

Day 7
March 29, 2014 – Sapa – Hanoi (Meals: B, L)
On this day, you’ll have breakfast before driving to visit the local market at Can Cau. You’ll see mostly Flower Hmong, however Phu La, Black Dao, Tay, and Nung hilltribe groups also gather here. The market offers a variety of local products not be found in other areas – this includes an interesting animal market where pot-bellied pigs, cows, and buffaloes can be seen.

Continue your tour with a short walk to a hilltribe village. Here you’ll have the opportunity to visit some local homes to understand more about the daily life of these tribes as well as their culture and traditions. In the late afternoon, transfer back to Lao Cai before taking the night train to Hanoi. In Lao Cai you’ll have use of a hotel room so you can freshen up before the overnight train trip.

Overnight on the train in a comfortable sleeper compartment.

Day 8
March 30, 2014 – Hanoi – Danang – Hoi An – (Meals: B, L)
You’ll arrive early in Hanoi where a hotel will be available to freshen up before you transfer to the airport for your flight to Danang.

Upon arrival, you’ll transfer directly to the small town of Hoi An and check in at your hotel. You’ll have the morning to relax and freshen up after your long journey.

Lunch will be at a local restaurant and in the afternoon you’ll enjoy Hoi An with a walking tour. Discover the charming, old-world trading port of narrow streets, traditional houses, former merchants’ homes, the town’s iconic 400-year old Japanese Covered Bridge, and the colorful market where an array of fresh ingredients are on offer.

Dinner is on your own (with plenty of options) and overnight in Hoi An at the historic Hoi An Historic Hotel or similar.

Day 9
March 31, 2014 – Hoi An (Meal: B)
Become more familiar with the art of Vietnamese cooking with a start to finish cooking course at Morning Glory Restaurant. This 4-hour class includes a market tour, an overview of ingredients common in Vietnamese food, and a hands-on cooking class that ends with each participant making their own multi-course meal. It is a great way to see all the nooks and crannies of a Vietnamese market and understand the secrets behind Vietnamese cooking.

In the afternoon, you’ll experience a special tour with the Lifestart Foundation and enjoy a fun, interactive workshop learning traditional Vietnamese painting and lantern making. Lifestart Foundation is a registered, non-profit charity organization helping the disadvantaged create a community, learn life skills, and obtain vocational livelihoods through handicrafts.

Overnight in Hoi An at the his Hoi An Historic Hotel or similar.

Day 10
April 1, 2014 – Hoi An (Meal: B)
Today, prepare yourself for a fun and unusual experience… working in a rice field! Your guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel (in a vehicle), and take you to the trailhead where you’ll take a short bicycle ride through rice paddies into the countryside (a vehicle can be arranged for those preferring not to cycle). You’ll arrive at a farm where you’ll visit with the owners and learn about steps of rice cultivation. You’ll then don traditional farming clothes and conical hats for sun protection. As part of the adventure, you’ll ride a water buffalo and learn the how to plough, rake, carry water into the rice field, sow, pull up the rice seedlings, transplant rice, etc. Afterward, return to the house and learn how to make pancakes that you will be able to enjoy.  You’ll also learn how to cook rice in the traditional way. Enjoy lunch with the host family with an early afternoon return.

You’ll have the afternoon free. There are plenty of things to see and do around Hoi An (like have clothes tailored or rent a bicycle) OR, you can simply relax.

Overnight in Hoi An at the Hoi An Historic Hotel or similar.

Day 11
April 2, 2014 – Hoi An – Saigon (Meals: B, L, D)
In the morning, you’ll transfer to Danang Airport for the short flight to bustling Saigon (officially called Ho Chi Minh City but many still call it Saigon). You’ll start your full-day city tour in Cholon, the Chinatown district, to discover the area’s markets, shops, and the Cantonese Thien Hau Pagoda.

Next, you’ll visit Vietnam’s first traditional medicine museum, the FITO Museum, which displays an amazing collection of 3,000 items pertinent to traditional Vietnamese medicine including implements used to prepare indigenous herbal remedies.

You’ll then head back to the city center to visit Ben Thanh Market, where an incredible display of fresh produce is offered as well as meats, souvenirs, clothes, and other goods.

In the afternoon, you’ll visit the History Museum and the former Presidential Palace. Depending on time, you might see other major sights including: the Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street, the Continental Hotel, the Opera House, and City Hall.

In the evening, you’ll experience the night life of Saigon the way locals do, from the back of a vintage Vespa scooter! Throughout the tour, you’ll stop to taste some of Saigon’s best authentic street food and even stop at a traditional “bia hoi” (beer bar) for dinner and drinks. You’ll end the night with a visit to a Vietnamese-style coffee shop and then stop in at one of the many local clubs, where the new generation of Vietnamese unwind and flaunt their unique style. (This night adventure ends at about 10:00 p.m.)

Overnight in Saigon at Au Lac 2 Hotel or similar.

HIGHLIGHT! Saigon is filled with young, active people who developed this into the financial and entrepreneurial capital of the country. Soak up the energy or just relax with a fantastic cup of local coffee at an outdoor cafe.

Day 12
April 3, 2014 – Saigon (Meals: B, L)
After breakfast, you’ll head off for a short drive to a vibrant flower market. Open day and night, this market sells flowers from all over Vietnam. You’ll have a chance to walk through small alleys and meander through countless flower stalls for some great photos.

Next, you’ll leave the quiet freshness of the flower market and delve into a bustling local market. You’ll discover different types of local products such as vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, rice, clothes, and jewelry, giving you a glimpse into daily Saigonese life.

In the late morning, you’ll visit the home of two experts in traditional Vietnamese music. You’ll learn about the unique and interesting instruments they use and they’ll then give a short performance.

After lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll continue the afternoon with a one-hour drive to Binh Duong Province where your first stop will be the Hoi Khanh Pagoda. This is the oldest pagoda in the province and it has a long, interesting history from its demolition during colonization to its recent, most beautiful attraction – a 52-meter long laying Buddha that is the longest statue in Vietnam. You’ll then visit Dai Hung pottery village to see how they make clay pots according. Afterward, it is back to the vehicle for the last stop at Lang Tre Phu An, an eco-bamboo center where you will learn about the different kinds of bamboo in Vietnam and how local people use it. Overnight in Saigon at Au Lac 2 Hotel or similar.

Day 13
April 4, 2014 – Saigon – Mekong Delta (Meals: B, L, D)
This morning, you’ll leave Saigon for the 2-hour drive to the delta town of Cai Be. Upon arrival, you’ll board your overnight boat for a cruise. Start at the Cai Be floating market, where traders work the river and some have been living on these waters for generations. After visiting the market, continue cruising the rivers of the delta where lunch will be served en-route, along the way admiring the scenery and the daily life of the local villagers. Dinner and overnight on board your boat on the Mekong Delta.

Day 14
April 5, 2014 – Mekong Delta – Saigon – Flight home (or onward to Siem Reap) (Meal: B)
Crossing the Mekong on the way to Cai Rang Floating Market, you’ll take in traditional sights such as rice barges, wooden ship building yards, and even fruit drying along the Mekong’s banks. After paying a visit to the colorful floating market, check-out and disembark before the return to Saigon.

You’ll have free time until you transfer to the airport for a return back home (late check out is approximately $50) OR onward to Siem Reap, Cambodia. If you are going onward to Cambodia, the add-on includes overnight in Siem Reap on Day 14.

Add-on Option: Siem Reap, Cambodia

Cambodia add-on cost includes 4 nights in Siem Reap.

Day 14
April 5, 2014
Upon arrival in Siem Reap, you’ll be greeted at the airport by your guide and transferred to the hotel. Overnight in Siem Reap at Casa Angkor Hotel or similar.

Day 15
April 6, 2014 – Siem Reap (Meals: B, L)
After breakfast, the group will head out to the early-Angkor era temples of the Roluos Group, about 10 miles outside of Siem Reap. The beautiful surrounding countryside with its paddy fields and sugar palm trees is very typical for Cambodia – enjoy the beauty on a cow cart ride to Roluos Pagoda, a great and fun way to get in touch with rural Cambodia and its friendly people. Here, in a small contemporary pagoda, Buddhist monks will organize a private blessing ceremony for you, wishing you health and a safe journey – a very special experience!

Continue for an interesting boat trip on Tonlé Sap Lake. This lake is Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake with its size varying greatly depending on the season. You’ll board a local boat and visit Kompong Phluck, a village where you will see houses on stilts that are submerged when Tonlé Sap Lake swells. Enjoy a tasty picnic lunch served in a floating house and enjoy the views as the local community goes about its daily life.

Relax a little after lunch before returning to Siem Reap. In the afternoon, you’ll be pampered with a deeply relaxing spa treatment at Bodia Spa.

Overnight in Siem Reap at Casa Angkor Hotel or similar.

Day 16
April 7, 2014 – Siem Reap (Meal: B)
On this morning, you’ll continue your exploration of the temples with a visit to Bayon. This 12th century masterpiece is a study in grandeur and is well-known for its 54 towers with enigmatic faces representing the 54 provinces of the Great Khmer Empire.

You’ll explore Ta Prohm Temple, unique in that it has been left largely as it was found: overgrown by jungle trees and vines, with many parts of the temple crumbling to the ground. This makes Ta Prohm one of the most picturesque and memorable of the Angkor temples.

To avoid the heat of the day, you’ll take a break for lunch (on your own) back at the hotel or in town and rest before heading out for the afternoon.

After your break, you’ll visit famous Angkor Wat. Built during the early 12th century, the walls are covered with stone carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythology. Moreover, Angkor Wat is well known for the more than 2,000 Apsara dancers decorating the temple. Construction is thought to have taken around thirty years of intensive labor.

After a wonderful tour at Angkor Wat, you’ll take an Angkor Gondola paddle boat at the moat of the Angkor Thom compound, while watching a spectacular sunset at Prasat Chroung Temple. Cocktails, champagne, canapés and soft drinks will be available on the boat, as your boat paddles slowly along the ancient moat.

Overnight in Siem Reap at Casa Angkor Hotel or similar.

Day 17
April 8, 2014 – Siem Reap (Meals: B, L)
Today, you’ll discover the secrets of authentic Khmer cuisine in a half-day cooking class at Cassia Restaurant. Begin with a guided trip to the local market where you will learn about Cambodian vegetables, herbs, and other ingredients before returning to the classroom for a hands-on culinary experience.

After your lunch of Khmer food, you’ll head off to visit the gem of the Angkor area, the pretty temple of Banteay Srei. The so-called “Citadel of the Women” remains the best preserved temple in Cambodia. It displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art as this small temple is noted for its truly remarkable fine bas-reliefs.

Afterward, you’ll visit the Golden Silk Farm where you can witness the entire process of high quality silk creation. On the way back to Siem Reap, you’ll have a chance to stop at communities where your guide will help you interact with the locals to learn about their way of life. Seize the opportunity to taste palm wine, palm sugar, and other popular local produce.

Overnight in Siem Reap at Casa Angkor Hotel or similar.

Day 18
April 9, 2014 – Siem Reap – Depart (Meal: B)
On this, your last day of the tour, spend the morning exploring Siem Reap’s colorful markets. Visit Artisans d’Angkor, established in 1992 in order to support Cambodian arts and crafts and to help young people find work in their local villages by helping them continue the practice of traditional arts. Discover how wood and stone carvings, lacquering, gilding, and silk paintings are created.

You’ll visit a number of artists’ studios including those of expat and Cambodian artists who are keeping traditional arts and crafts alive (including painting, lacquerware and fine sculptures) in the the country.

You’ll then return to Siem Reap where you can enjoy some time at leisure until your transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

** Itinerary subject to change without notice.

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* Register now to save on flights and to be matched with another participant to avoid single supplement!

**PLUS – if you and one or more friends book one of our international tours on or before May 15, you’ll both receive a 5% discount on land costs. See details and restrictions here.

Vietnam Costs:
Land costs: $3,135
Single supplement: $680

Optional Siem Reap, Cambodia add-on land costs: $808
Siem Reap single supplement: $95

Interested in sharing? We do our best to pair up same-sex travelers so as to avoid the single supplement. However, priority is given to the first deposits received. If you’re interested in sharing – PLEASE send in deposit as soon as possible in order to take advantage of this benefit. (Why a single supplement charge? See this FAQ page for an explanation.)

Final payment due no later than January 23, 2014.

Main Tour Price includes: 9 nights accommodation in lovely 3 – 4-star hotels, 2 nights on board train in a sleeper compartment, 2 nights on board boat, in-country flights, all ground transportation, in-country train and boat rides within Vietnam, sightseeing entrance fees, English-speaking guides and 27 meals.

Siem Reap Add-on Price includes: 4 nights in lovely 3 – 4-star hotel, flight from Vietnam to Cambodia, all ground transportation, sightseeing entrance fees, English-speaking guides, and 6 meals.

Prices do not include: international flights to Hanoi/from Ho Chi Minh (or Siem Reap), visas, evacuation insurance (highly recommended), some meals, souvenirs, personal purchases (such as books and snacks), beverages, and tips (suggested for all guides and drivers).

We recommend World Nomads for travel and/or evacuation insurance.

This trip is limited to 12 women and requires an $800 deposit to secure your spot.
Minimum required: 6 people

Read Booking Terms & Conditions

Registration Form Vietnam and Cambodia Tour 2014 (PDF)

For deposit and payments, please make payable and mail check to:

WanderTours
PO Box 16102
Seattle, WA 98116

For questions, please contact Beth at:
info (at) wandertours (dot) com
888-818-9918

It’s easy to register by making your deposit of $800! Simply click on the Register Now button below and you’ll be taken to PayPal where you add your debit or credit card information. You do not need a PayPal account. Subsequent payments may be made through PayPal by sending to: beth (at) wandertours (dot) com.

Vietnam Packing List: Provided upon registration

Vietnam Tour 2014 Itinerary (coming soon)

Tour Leader: TBD

Related links:
Vietnam Holiday and Vacation Tips
Vietnam FAQs
Vietnam and Cambodia Photo Gallery

Photo Credit:
Woman near Sapa: Jeremy Weate
Junk boat: courtesy of Jewel of the Bay website
All other photos: Beth Whitman