Moderate to hard - need to have a reasonable level of fitness to enjoy this tour.

This trip involves up to 2-6 hours of activity a day, with some free days for sightseeing or relaxation. Activities may take you off the beaten track. We suggest preparation of at least 30 minutes of aerobic type exercise, 3 times a week for 2 months prior to the tour.

Note: Please bring your own cycle helmet with you

You don’t have to be an adrenalin junkie to enjoy this trip – a love for the great outdoors and a reasonable level of fitness is enough to enjoy this multi-adventure trip. Vietnam is a country of diverse landscapes and incredible natural beauty – this trip offers a unique way to soak up the many splendours of this land.

Meet local villagers as you cycle through northern Vietnam; explore undiscovered bays and caves as you kayak through Ha Long Bay; experience unique ethnic minority customs as you trek through hilltribes and stay overnight in their traditional huts.

This itinerary takes you off the beaten track to discover the real Vietnam and the real culture – unaffected by mass tourism and still unique in natural beauty and local customs. Travelling by bike, kayak and on foot will immerse you into the culture in ways that a bus or car tour cannot. Create your own pace and make your own discoveries!

If you are an early riser, do not miss the opportunity to take a walk around the lake first thing where you will witness Vietnamese people of all ages carrying out their regular exercise routines. Tai Chi, badminton, power walking or jogging are some of the activities on show. If you have the energy, why not join in.

We will spend the morning in Hanoi visiting some of the city’s highlights;  Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Temple of Literature and the Museum of Ethnology. Hanoi’s history dates back almost a thousand years, and during this time it has seen a host of emperors come and go, and at one time even lost its status as the nation’s capital. The city’s temples and pagodas reflect a strong Chinese influence, but with the coming of the French at the end of the 19th century, Hanoi gained a new lease of life and the European influence can be seen in the elegant colonial buildings lining the broad tree-lined boulevards. Although Hanoi’s population is today nearing 4 million, it still has the feeling of a small town, particularly in and around the Old Quarter.

Following lunch we drive 14 km to the Ho Chi Minh Trail museum. While we are visiting the museum our bikes will be unloaded from the support vehicle in preparation for our ride to Hoa Binh. Arriving in Hoa Binh, we will check into our hotel and have some free time to either explore the town or visit one of South East Asia’s largest dams.

The province of Hoa Binh is located in the mountainous region to the south of Hanoi in north central Vietnam. Elevation rarely exceeds 700m, but the climate is hot & humid with high levels of precipitation during the rainy season.  (B,L,D)

After breakfast, we bid our hosts farewell and cycle 25kms to the White Thai village of Sa Linh. From here we leave our bikes with the support vehicle and commence our 3-hour trek to the village of Hang Kia. Our hosts for this evening will be the H’mong minority people. Whilst enjoying their hospitality, we will discover a little more about their lives and culture and enjoy some fantastic home-cooking. Hang Kia village is situated in a picturesque valley of peach orchards.

The H’Mong (Mong) are concentrated in Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Lai Chau, Son La, Cao Bang and Nghe An provinces.

Each lineage lives within a group setting. The head of the village assumes the common affairs for the lineage. Young Mong men and women are free to choose their partners. Marriages are absolutely forbidden between men and women of the same lineage. Matrimonial life of the Mong is very harmonious and divorce is very rare. The Mong make their clothes from linen. Women's attire consists of a skirt, a blouse that opens at the front and has embroidery on the back, an apron to cover the skirt at the front, and leggings. The Mong live mainly on slash-and-burn cultivation. They also grow rice and corn on terraced fields. Their principal food plants are corn, rice, and rye. Apart from these crops, they also grow medicinal plants and linen plants to supply the fibres for cloth weaving. 

We cycle for approximately 25kms and trek for approximately 3 hours today.  (B,L,D)

Following breakfast, we will trek for two hours (approx 6kms) to Sam Khoe where we meet with our supporting crew for another bike ride. We will ride to Poong Con Village (23kms – approx 2 hours), stopping along the way at a local school, and then commencing our downhill descent through thick forests, returning to the valley floor. Arriving at our destination around lunchtime we will have time to freshen up, before exploring the local area. Following the evening meal we will be entertained by the local people as they perform traditional song and dance, but be warned, you will be expected to perform a song from your homeland! (B,L,D)

We depart from the capital for Halong Bay, approximately three hours away. En route we have a short stop at the Sao Dao center run for and by handicapped children. Upon arrival at Halong Bay (approx. midday) we will transfer to our traditional junk boat. Once we have settled in we begin our cruise around majestic Halong Bay accompanied by a delicious seafood lunch. After lunch we have the chance to explore some of the limestone caves dotted around the bay. Then our captain will find a secluded spot where we can swim in the clear water of the bay, soak up the sun on the top deck or try our hand at some kayaking. After we have finished exploring for the day we retire to the junk, for sunbathing, reading or a refreshing drink from the bar. In the evening our cook will prepare a splendid meal of fresh seafood and traditional Vietnamese fare as we weigh anchor in the heart of the bay. For those that are interested - there is the opportunity to do a spot of night fishing from the boat.

Halong Bay was designated a World Heritage Site in 1994, and covers an area of 1,500 square kms. Halong Bay, in the Gulf of Tonkin, has more than a thousand limestone peaks rising up from its emerald waters, and this area is viewed as one of the natural wonders of Vietnam. Because of their precipitous nature, most of the islands are uninhabited and unaffected by a human presence. The site's outstanding scenic beauty is complemented by its great biological interest. (B,L,D)

Please note that depending on the size of our group, there may be people from other tours sharing the junk boat with us.

Halong Bay – Hanoi

This morning we continue to cruise around the bay. At midday we will return to the main harbor before transferring to our waiting vehicle for a 3-hour journey back to Hanoi. We should be back in the capital at around 3pm.

The rest of the afternoon is free at leisure. This evening we will go out for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)

45 Nguyen Trong To St

Hanoi, Vietnam

Tel: +84 4 37164126

Fax: +84 4 37164917

The Pre-Departure meeting is held at 6pm THE DAY of the scheduled departure date. The pre-departure meeting is held to discuss the tour itinerary in more detail, meet your crew and fellow passengers.

In each departure city we have named a joining hotel from where the tour will leave. It is your responsibility to make your way to this hotel. Your Tour Leader will leave a notice at reception on the first day of departure with information as to where he/she can be contacted and you should inform him/her that you have arrived.

PLEASE ADVISE KUMUKA OR YOUR AGENT IF YOU WILL BE ARRIVING LATE AND ARE THEREFORE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE PRE-DEPARTURE MEETING.

In addition the crew will check that all passengers have the necessary travel documents, insurance and immunization certificates for the tour. It is IMPORTANT that you attend this meeting. Please advise KUMUKA or your AGENT if you CANNOT attend this meeting.

All passengers MUST bring:
1. Passport.
2. Vaccination Certificate.
3. Travel Voucher.
4. Travel Insurance Policy.

In most of the hotels in Asia you may be required to deposit your passport at Reception. This is a perfectly normal practice and nothing to be concerned about. Just make sure that you retrieve it before when you check out of the hotel.

Your passport is a valuable document and you should exercise extreme care in keeping it safe. We recommend that you keep your passport on you at all times, preferably in a money belt that is worn under your clothing. We advise that you take copies of relevant pages in your passport and any visas that you may purchase in case of loss or damage. Your tour leader will require your passport details at the pre-departure meeting. Again, we recommend that you have a photocopy of all passport details, kept separate. Your passport must be valid for six months after the END of your tour, and must have one blank page for each country to be visited.

Vietnam – Departure Taxes are now generally included in airfares.

Please note that these taxes are subject to change.

• Do not take unnecessary valuables with you.
• A money belt, or something similar, worn close to your body is the best way to carry passports, airline tickets and money.
• DO NOT leave any valuables in ANY hotel room in Asia, please use SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES. Items are left at the individuals’ risk.
• Pickpockets operate everywhere, particularly in tourist areas and in crowded markets; you must always exercise care.
• Be aware that anything left lying around will also be liable to theft.

Tipping is not expected in South East Asia, but salaries are very low and any gratuities for good service will be gratefully accepted. Bargaining is the rule in markets, when hiring vehicles and sometimes even when taking a room, but in most countries you won't need to be as forceful as you would in Thailand or Vietnam.

We suggest that you take into account the time of year you will be travelling, and pack accordingly to the season. Quick drying clothes are recommended, and at many hotels there are laundry facilities. Your tour leader will advise where laundry facilities are available.

Personal Effects:
Camera & film, Spare passport photos, Water bottle, Money belt, Torch, Sewing kit, Sunhat/ Sunglasses, Music cassettes /CDs, Books, Wet Ones, Soap to wash clothes, Writing materials, Swiss Army knife, Calculator, Personal toiletries, including tampons, Contraceptives, Insect Repellent, Sunscreen.

NOTE: If you wear glasses, it is advisable to bring a spare pair since opticians are uncommon. If you wear contact lenses you may find that climatic changes and dust can create visual irritation, therefore, it is advisable to bring a pair of glasses.

The Vietnamese Lunar New Year

The most important and widely celebrated public holiday of the year is Tet, the Lunar New Year, which coincides with the cycle of the moon. This public holiday usually takes place in late January or early February and lasts officially for three days, although many businesses are closed the entire week.

There is no more colourful time to be in Vietnam than during the days leading up to Tet Nguyen Dan, the most important festival of the year for Vietnam's Kinh ethnic majority. Since the first day of lunar year is thought to set the tone for the next 12 months, everyone strives to plan the perfect Tet. In Hanoi, the narrow lanes of the Old Quarter buzz with activity. Everyone is in a rush to get a haircut, buy new clothes, spruce up their homes, visit friends, settle outstanding debts, and stock up on traditional Tet delicacies.

Businesses hang festive red banners which read "Chuc mung nam moi"(Happy New Year) and city streets are festooned with coloured light. Stalls spring up all over town to sell nothing but cone -shaped kumquat bushes. Others sell flowering peach trees, symbols of life and good fortune which people bring in to their homes to celebrate the coming of spring. As vendors pour into the city with peach trees strapped to their bicycles, the streets look like moving pink forests.

In the south, people bring yellow mai (apricot) branches into their homes and place a coconut, a papaya, a mango and a custard apple on the family altar. Spoken in the southern dialect, the names of these fruit form a prayer for success and fulfillment.

Three crucial meetings are said to take place on Tet. The first meeting is between three family deities: Tien su, the deity responsible for introducing the family to its traditional career; Tho Cong, who oversees the land where the family lives; and Tao Quan, the Kitchen God, who cares for the family's food. The second meeting takes place between the dead and the living. People place offerings of food and drinks on their ancestral altars, light incense, and invite their ancestors to join the family's Tet celebrations. The third meeting involves the immediate family. On New Year's Eve, family members gather for a dinner of traditional food like banh chung (a square cake made of sticky rice stuffed with beans and pork), mang (a soup of boiled bamboo shoots and fried pork) and xoi gac (orange sticky rice). This is followed by a visit to the local pagoda and perhaps an outing to see the town's fireworks.

Please note that for tours which coincide with the Tet festival, many shops may be closed. and it may be necessary to amend the itinerary at short notice. We will, however, endeavour to try to ensure that all included sights are still visited.

Vietnam's elongated shape includes tropical and subtropical zones and is responsible for the varied climate in the country.

The South (from Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet) - The south is hot year round and has two seasons: one wet the other dry. The wet season lasts from May to October and you can expect daily downpours. These are usually brief and easy to predict. The dry season from November to April is generally sunny and humid.

The Centre (from Nha Trang to Hue) - For most of the year Nha Trang is bathed in beautiful sunshine but between November and December the area can have heavy rain. Dalat, at an altitude of 1,500m is cooler than the coastal area, particularly from November through to March. Danang and Hue both experience typhoon activity from mid October to mid December when the climate becomes cooler, more overcast and wet.

The North (from Hanoi to Sapa) - Summer in the north lasts from May to October where temperatures range between 30-35 degrees Celsius with the occasional burst of heavy rain. The temperature varies from 10-15 degrees in winter (December to March). February and March can be damp with drizzle and overcast skies.

Food is one of the highlights of any trip.

Vietnam has one of the most sophisticated and exciting cuisines in the world. Its historical influences and geographical gifts have created a cuisine rich in variety and vibrant in colour and freshness. Vietnam's culinary heritage combines elements from three of the world's most celebrated cuisines - French, Chinese and Indian. Paired with an acute sense of aesthetics and presentation, these influences give Vietnamese cooking a tremendous edible tapestry of flavours, textures and colours, which is sure to offer something that everyone will appreciate.

Most Vietnamese dishes are served accompanied with chilli sauce, fish sauce and soy sauce. The traditional Vietnamese breakfast is Pho - a large bowl of rice noodles flavoured with sliced beef or chicken and fragrant broth, and garnished with fresh coriander and bean sprouts. Vietnam has 3 main regions, the North, the Centre and the South, and each has a distinct cuisine. Generally the North is best known for its noodle soups and meats and seafood stir-fries. The Central region, especially around Hue has more elaborate dishes. In the South, where there is a greater abundance of spices, the food tends to be somewhat hotter. With over 3000kms of coastline, the seafood is delicious and varied. Crabs, prawns, crayfish and squid are in plentiful supply, as well as hundreds of varieties of fish.

Vegetarians, or those with special dietary needs can also be catered for, however in some places the type of food may be limited. Please let the Reservations team know your special requirements as soon as possible so we can do all possible to assist your needs.

The variety of food will differ, as you may be visiting a number of different countries. We try to ensure that you get the most experience from your Kumuka trip and one of the ways to do this is by trying local cuisine.

We have put a lot of thought and effort into locating the most appropriate type of accommodation for each tour. It will always be clean, comfortable and of a high standard. All accommodation is mainly in comfortable tourist class accommodation. This ranges from overnight train sleeper or cruise boat through to delightful lodges and excellent hotels (generally 3 star plus). Whilst trekking and cycling, accommodation will be more basic as we stay in local village houses. Matresses and pillows will be provided but we suggest that you bring your own sleeping sheet. Silk sleep sheets can be purchased easily and cheaply in Hanoi. Although there will be plenty of water for washing, facilities will be basic.

If you wish to spend a few additional days in your start city before the departure of your tour, then we can arrange accommodation for you. If you would like to book accommodation to stay additional nights after the tour ends, we will be more than happy to arrange this for you as well. All our accommodation is carefully chosen, conveniently located, clean and comfortable.

In most of the hotels in Asia you may be required to deposit your passport at Reception. This is a perfectly normal practice and nothing to be concerned about. Just make sure that you retrieve it when you check out of the hotel.

Kumuka endeavors to advertise a compliment of optional activities available locally during tours with selected ground handlers to make your tour more enjoyable. These ground handlers and activity partners are selected for their standards in quality, professional ability and reputation. Although Kumuka has developed a travel insurance policy to cover all activities offered during your journey, Kumuka cannot be held responsible for injuries or claims arising from adventurous activities by a third party.

Details and prices of optional activities will be advised by your tour leader.

Whilst on tour you will probably want to stay in touch with family and friends. There are several ways of doing this:

Mobile Phone – Before departing your home country check with your phone supplier to see if it compatible with the mobile phone networks in the countries that you are traveling to, and how much will it cost to use abroad.

Email – Internet Cafes are very cheap and popular, and you are sure to come across several during your tour. If you haven’t done so already, set up a free Google Mail, Hotmail, or Yahoo email account which you can then access from any computer. Internet Cafes will charge a nominal fee for using their computers. Within Europe some hotels charge a wifi connection fee and we cannot guarantee a wifi connection at all hotels we use.

Twitter – A method of communication that is rapidly gaining in popularity on the Internet especially amongst travelers. Twitter allows you to send short messages and update your friends and family with where you are on tour and what you are doing. Create your free account at http://twitter.com. Visit Kumuka’s page on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kumuka

Facebook – Very popular website that allows you to upload stories, get in touch with fellow travellers before and after your Kumuka tour, upload photos and videos to share with other travellers, your family and friends. To create a free account, go to www.facebook.com and then become a fan of Kumuka’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Kumuka-Worldwide/26617121087?ref=ts

Postcards – The good ol’ fashioned postcard. But you will probably get home before the postcard does!

KUMUKA WORLDWIDE

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3000 Hillswood Drive Chertsey KT16 0RS
Tel: 020 7937 8855 Fax: 020 7937 6664
Email: sales@kumuka.com
www.kumuka.com

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