.
Please contact us if you’d like to be contacted about any future tours to Vietnam!
WanderTours Giving Program – A portion of your tour cost will go to supporting the Lifestart Foundation in Hoi An. This non-profit helps Vietnamese people, especially women, by providing ways for which they can earn a living. You will have a chance to visit and learn more about the program during the tour.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
HIGHLIGHTS of the Vietnam and Cambodia Tour for Women
* 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!
* Take the Cambodia add-on and experience the temples of Angkor Wat
* Returning WanderTours participants receive a 5% discount on the land costs
* New for 2016 – tips for in-country guides and drivers included in price
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Register now via PayPal by clicking on the Register Now button. You do not need a PayPal account.
Vietnam Women-Only Tour Itinerary
Day 1
Sunday, March 20, 2016 – Arrival in Hanoi
Meal: Dinner
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
Monday, March 21, 2016 – Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
On our first full day in Vietnam, you’ll have the morning free to sleep in, relax or wander the streets of Hanoi. 
We’ll meet up as a 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, we’ll go to Hanoi’s Old Quarter, also known as the “36 Streets.” Here, we’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!
We’ll then continue to the Temple of Literature, built in 1076 and Vietnam’s first national university. If time (and the lines) permit, we’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 from 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
Tuesday, March 22, 2016 – Hanoi – Halong Bay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Following breakfast, we’ll depart for the 3.5-hour drive to Halong Bay, including a stop for refreshments.
Upon arrival, we’ll check in at the boat and get ready for our overnight journey. Lunch will be served on board as we cruise throughout Halong Bay. We’ll see rock formations with such names as Sail, Dog and Dinh Huong (incense pot). Toward the end of the day, we’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
Wednesday, March 23, 2016 – Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
We’ll wake up early and have the chance to take a Tai Chi lesson on deck followed by a light breakfast before heading out to visit the Surprise Cave. To get to Surprise Cave, we’ll take a short hike. This is 
one of the widest grottoes in Halong Bay, so large that the Viet Cong used this as a hiding place during the American-Vietnam War. We’ll then board the boat and, on the way back to the dock, have brunch while the boat weaves through the magnificent rock formations. Upon disembarkation, our driver will meet us for the transfer back to Hanoi.
After check-in at the 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
Thursday, March 24, 2016 – Hanoi – Lao Cai
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
We’ll take a walking street food tour to Hanoi’s best culinary spots. A local hospitality industry insider with an enormous passion for his country’s food and culture will be our guide. His many hours of trawling the street stalls and markets have made him a local authority on Hanoi ‘s food scene.
The tour will take us through the Old Quarter, by the Thanh Ha market, through the streets of the Old Quarter and to Dong Xuan – all while we sample local treats such as pho tiu and bun dau. The tour finishes up with cake stalls and Vietnamese coffee.
After this “lunch” of samples, we’ll go to the fascinating 54 Traditions gallery where we’ll learn how to create batiks! 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).
After dinner, we’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 two-hour 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
Friday, March 25, 2016 – Lao Cai – Sapa – Lao Chai – Sa Seng
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Upon arrival in the border town of Lao Cai, we’ll go to the former hill station of Sapa.
After departing the train, we’ll drive about five miles to Lao Chai to visit a local family. They will teach us 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, we’ll drive about 30 minutes to Hang Da, the starting point for a hike to Sa Seng. This walk is mostly downhill along a dirt road set in a narrow valley, lush with greenery and a sparkling river.
Black Hmong homes are clustered along the way and we will see families working their fields. Our guide will show us medicinal and fragrant herbs that grow freely in the area. We’ll then enjoy a prepared picnic lunch by the river.
In the mid-afternoon, a vehicle will meet us to transport us back to Sapa.
Overnight in Sapa at Sunny Mountain Hotel 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 jewelry 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
Saturday, March 26, 2016 – Sapa – Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
We’ll have breakfast before driving to visit the local market at Can Cau. We’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 found in other areas, including an interesting animal market where pot-bellied pigs, cows and buffaloes are sold.
After lunch, you’ll drive back to Hanoi along the highway that’s recently opened. Although this will be a long drive (about six hours), it will give you a chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery and is a nice alternative to the overnight train.
Overnight in Hanoi at Chalcedony Hotel or similar.
Day 8
Sunday, March 27, 2016 – Hanoi – Danang – Hoi An
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
We’ll arrive early in Hanoi where a hotel will be available to freshen up before we transfer to the airport for the 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 after your long journey.
Lunch will be at a local restaurant and in the afternoon we’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 Hoi An Historic Hotel or similar.
Day 9
Monday, March 28, 2016 – Hoi An
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Become more familiar with the art of Vietnamese cooking with a start-to-finish cooking course at Morning Glory Restaurant. This four-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 her 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, we’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 helping the disadvantaged create a community, learn life skills and obtain vocational livelihoods through handicrafts.
Overnight in Hoi An at the Hoi An Historic Hotel or similar.
HIGHLIGHT! As part of the WanderTours Giving Program, we’ll visit Lifestart Foundation and learn about how this organization is helping Vietnamese people, especially women, learn sustainable skills so they can make a living on their own. A donation will be made on behalf of the group.
Day 10
Tuesday, March 29, 2016 – Hoi An
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today, prepare yourself for a fun and unusual experience…working in a rice field! Our guide and driver will pick us up at the hotel, and take us to the trailhead where we’ll take a short bicycle ride 
through rice paddies into the countryside (a vehicle can be arranged for those preferring not to cycle). We’ll arrive at a farm where we’ll visit with the owners and learn about the steps of rice cultivation. We’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 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. We’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
Wednesday, March 30, 2016 – Hoi An – Saigon
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning, we’ll transfer to Danang Airport for the short flight to bustling Saigon (officially called Ho Chi Minh City, but many still call it Saigon). We’ll start our full-day city tour in Cholon, the Chinatown district, to discover the area’s markets, shops and the Cantonese Thien Hau Pagoda.
Next, we’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.
We’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, we’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, we’ll experience the night life of Saigon the way locals do, from the back of a vintage Vespa scooter! Throughout the tour, we’ll stop to taste some of Saigon’s best street food and even stop at a traditional “bia hoi” (beer bar) for dinner and drinks. We’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 Saigon 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
Thursday, March 31, 2016 – Saigon
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, we’ll head off for a short drive to a vibrant flower market. Open day and night, this market sells flowers from all over Vietnam. We’ll have a chance to walk through small alleys and meander through countless flower stalls for some great photos.
Next, we’ll leave the quiet freshness of the flower market and delve into a bustling local market filled with different types of local products such as vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, rice, clothes and jewelry, offering a glimpse into daily Saigonese life.
In the late morning, we’ll visit the home of two experts in traditional Vietnamese music. We’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 have the afternoon to yourself to discover Saigon on your own – an easy city in which to walk.
Overnight in Saigon at Saigon Hotel or similar.
Day 13
Friday, April 1, 2016 – Saigon – Mekong Delta
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, we’ll leave Saigon for the delta town of Can Tho where we’ll board an overnight boat for a cruise. Once on board, we’ll head upstream on the Hau River and transfer to longboats in order to get to the village of Thot Not where we’ll explore by foot.
While cruising the rivers of the delta, we’ll be able to admire the scenery and the daily life of the local villagers.
We’ll return to the boat by dusk, in time for a lovely sunset. We’ll then head to Can Tho and have a peaceful overnight stay on the river.
Dinner and overnight on board Bassac Cruise boat on the Mekong Delta.
Day 14
Saturday, April 2, 2016 – Mekong Delta – Saigon – flight home (or onward to Siem Reap)
Meal: Breakfast
Crossing the Mekong on the way to Cai Rang Floating Market, we’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.
If you’re flying home from Saigon, schedule your flight for no earlier than late afternoon to provide sufficient time to check in.
If you are traveling onward to Cambodia, you’ll have free time until you transfer to the airport for the flight to Siem Reap. 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 four nights in Siem Reap.
Day 14
Saturday, April 2, 2016 – Mekong Delta – Saigon – flight to Siem Reap
Meal: Breakfast
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 La Residence Blanc d’Angkor or similar.
Day 15
Sunday, April 3, 2016 – Siem Reap
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
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 surrounding countryside with its paddy fields and sugar palm trees is very typical for Cambodia – we’ll 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!
After lunch, we’ll continue sightseeing with a tour of Tonlé Sap Lake. This lake is Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake with its size varying greatly depending on the season. We’ll then board a local boat and visit Mechrey village, where we’ll pass floating villages and impressive flooded forests, giving us a glimpse into life on the water. We cruise to Phnom Krom, about 1.5 hours away.
Relax a little after lunch before returning to Siem Reap. In the afternoon, we’ll be pampered with a deeply relaxing spa treatment at Bodia Spa.
Overnight in Siem Reap at La Residence Blanc d’Angkor or similar.
Day 16
Monday, April 4, 2016 – Siem Reap
Meal: Breakfast
We’ll continue our 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.
We’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, we’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 our break, we’ll regroup to 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 30 years of intensive labor.
After a tour at Angkor Wat, we’ll take an Angkor Gondola paddleboat 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.
Overnight in Siem Reap at La Residence Blanc d’Angkor or similar.
Day 17
Tuesday, April 5, 2016 – Siem Reap
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today, we’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 we will learn about Cambodian vegetables, herbs and other ingredients before returning to the classroom for a hands-on culinary experience.
After our lunch of Khmer food, we’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 bas-reliefs.
Next, we’ll visit the Golden Silk Farm where we’ll witness the entire process of silk creation. On the way back to Siem Reap, we’ll have a chance to stop at communities where our guide will help us all 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 La Residence Blanc d’Angkor or similar.
Day 18
Wednesday, April 6, 2016 – Siem Reap – Depart
Meal: Breakfast
On our 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. Discover how wood and stone carvings, lacquering, gilding and silk paintings are created.
We’ll visit a number of artists’ studios including those of expat and Cambodian artists who are keeping traditional arts and crafts alive (such as painting, lacquerware and fine sculptures) in 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.
__________________________________________________________________
Please contact us if you’d like to be contacted about any future tours to Vietnam!
Vietnam costs:
Land only:
Single supplement:
Optional Siem Reap, Cambodia add-on costs:
Land only:
Single supplement:
Interested in sharing the cost with another traveler? We do our best to pair up 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 your 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 20, 2016.
Main Tour Price includes: 9 nights accommodation in lovely 3- to 4- star hotels, 1 night on board a train in a sleeper compartment, 2 nights on board a boat, in-country flights, all ground transportation, in-country train and boat rides within Vietnam, tips for in-country guides and drivers, sightseeing entrance fees, English-speaking guides and 29 meals.
Siem Reap Add-on Price includes: 4 nights in lovely 3- to 4- star hotels, 6 meals, flight from Vietnam to Cambodia, all ground transportation, tips for in-country guides and drivers, sightseeing entrance fees and English-speaking guides.
Prices do not include: International flights to Hanoi/from Saigon (or Siem Reap), visas, evacuation insurance (highly recommended), some meals, souvenirs, personal purchases (such as books and snacks) and beverages (other than water).
We recommend Insure My Trip for travel and/or evacuation insurance.
This trip is limited to 15 women and requires an $800 deposit to secure your spot.
Minimum bookings required: 6 people (minimum reached)
Read our Booking Terms & Conditions
Vietnam and Cambodia 2016 Tour Registration Form (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:
beth (at) wandertours (dot) com
206-317-1860
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 to do this. Subsequent payments may be made through PayPal by sending to: beth (at) wandertours (dot) com.
Vietnam and Cambodia 2016 Tour Itinerary (PDF)
Tour Leader:
About Patricia Andersson
Patricia’s love affair with travel began when she donned a backpack and headed to Europe for three months after college. Since then, she has traveled to over 35 countries and lived abroad for six years. Also a certified Life Coach, Patricia has been leading women’s groups since 1996 and began combining these two interests in 2010 by taking women travelers to unusual international destinations. Having led groups to Africa, Asia, and Latin American, Patricia is thrilled to join the Wanderlust team with this trip to Vietnam. She looks forward to meeting you for this fun and interesting journey!
When not traveling, Patricia spends her time in Portland, OR, where she is an avid dancer, gardener and animal lover (a trait her dog Milo and cat ZsaZsa are very happy about). She is deeply involved in helping to bring positive change to women living in poverty around the world.
Related links:
Vietnam Holiday and Vacation Tips
Vietnam FAQs
Vietnam and Cambodia Photo Gallery
Useful Vietnamese Phrases for Travelers
Photo Credit:
Woman near Sapa: Jeremy Weate
Junk boat: courtesy of Jewel of the Bay website
All other photos: Beth Whitman
