Geology, conservation and culture: Vietnam
11 April 2026 - 13 days
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Discover the geology and stunning landscapes of Vietnam in this fascinating tour from Hanoi to Hoi An. Experience tropical jungles, limestone caves, blissful villages and amazing feats of underground engineering. Immerse yourself in local culture and sample Vietnamese cuisine, ranging from street food to dining like royalty.
The geology of Vietnam, particularly from Hanoi to Hoi An, presents a striking array of landscapes shaped by millions of years of tectonic activity, erosion, and sedimentation. The journey showcases some of Southeast Asia's most intriguing geological features, from the limestone karsts of the north to the coastal plains and mountain ranges in the central regions.
Unearth Vietnam's rich biodiversity and geological wonders, visit Cuc Phuong National Park's Save Vietnam Center, where conservation efforts protect endangered species like pangolins and civets. Explore the Ninh Binh valley’s unique limestone karsts and the Tam Coc grottoes, cruise through Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site shaped by 300 million years of geological processes, including stunning cave formations like Thien Canh Son.
This tour is a perfect introduction to this vibrant country and is suited for those with an interest in geology, wildlife and culture.
In partnership with Intrepid Travel.
DAY 1: ARRIVE IN HANOI
Welcome to Vietnam! Check into the Leah Silk Hotel. Hanoi is famous for its beautiful lakes, shaded boulevards, verdant public parks and its thriving Old Quarter. The latter is a veritable architectural museum piece, with blocks of ochre buildings retaining the air of a 1930s provincial French town.
Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at at your hotel, followed by a group dinner at KOTO restaurant – this organisation is dedicated to developing the hospitality careers of disadvantaged youth. If you arrive early, perhaps head to the city’s colourful old quarter and explore the charming jumble of shops and cafés, or check out the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum, showcasing ancient through to contemporary Vietnamese art. You could book the Hanoi Street Food Experience with Urban Adventures and sample some delicious Vietnamese cuisine like a true local, or chill by Hoan Kiem Lake.
DAY 2: CUC PHUONG NATIONAL PARK AND SAVE VIETNAM CENTER FOR ENDANGERED WILDLIFE
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, you will head to Cuc Phuong National Park, about a 3-hour drive away. Here, you will visit the Endangered Primate Rescue Center, where they focus on the conservation of gibbons and langurs. You will have a chance to see how the staff feed them, study their behaviour and prepare them for full release into the wild.
After checking into the Cuc Phuong Resort, you will transfer by car to the Save Vietnam Center 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 in the tour price) helps fund their work, which includes rehabilitation, reintroduction, research and conservation education. This is followed by a late dinner just inside the national park’s gates.
DAY 3: TAM COC GROTTOES AND STUNNING LANDSCAPE OF NINH BINH
After waking to the sounds of the jungle you will take a short guided trek in the forest, then drive to the town of Ninh Binh. You will take lunch in a traditional Vietnamese restaurant, then transfer to Tam Coc pier where you will take a boat up the river. While gliding along the Ngo Dong river among the rice paddies and karst limestone mountains, you will visit the Tam Coc grottoes, part of an exquisite cave system with ceilings just 2 metres high, eroded through the limestone hills.
In the late afternoon, when it is a little cooler, you will visit the misnamed Mua cave whose main attraction is two karst mountains with 500 steps each that afford amazing views of the Ninh Binh landscape of beautiful, forested limestone pillars, calm river, pristine rice fields and local villages.
Overnight you will stay at the luxurious Ninh Binh Hidden Charm Hotel & Resort.
DAY 4: CRUISING HA LONG BAY
In the morning you will transfer to Ha Long City wharf, where your cruise will begin at midday aboard the small but luxurious Athena Luxury Cruise ship.
Ha Long bay was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 and according to geologists, the Ha long Bay you see now has been in the making for 300 million years. Centuries of erosion from the rain and sea have shaped the karsts, valleys and caves that make this incredible landscape. The cruise stops at “Bo Nau” cave (Pelican Cave), the core area of the world’s natural heritage. Transferring by tender to “Sung Sot” Cave (Surprising cave) – the biggest and the most beautiful cave in Halong Bay. Leaving Surprising cave, keep moving by tender to the Titov island was named by Uncle Ho, after Gherman Stepanovich Titov – the Soviet astronaut who visited in 1962. Time for swimming, relaxing on the beach or climbing the steps of the Rock to the top of the island.
In the evening, a fusion set menu will be served to warm up your stomach after a long active day. Evenings are beautiful on Halong Bay, and just because the sun goes down, it doesn’t mean the night is over. Relax on the top deck or join the squid fishing.
Please note the itinerary is subject to change due to the weather, tide level and operating conditions without prior notice.
DAY 5: CRUISE TO THEN EXPLORE THE OLD QUARTER OF HANOI
Enjoy a Tai Chi session on the sundeck in the morning with a light breakfast of tea, coffee and pastries. Afterwards, visit Sung Sot cave – The most beautiful and largest cave in Halong Bay. Let your imagination run wide with stalactites and stalagmites at various shapes and sizes. At the end of the way out, you can have an amazing panoramic view from the viewpoint.
You will then get back on the boat and enjoy brunch while the cruise passes by Thien Cung and Dau Go Cave. Soak up the scenery of Halong Bay from your floating accommodation and take in those turquoise water views one last time before hitting the road toward Hanoi. Travel to Hanoi by private minibus (approximately 3 hours).
The leader will pick you up in the early evening. You will have a walk through the Old Quarter and then stop at the local restaurant for ‘Bún Chả’ – Hanoi’s specialty. After a long day, you will finish with evening beers at famous Bia Hoi Corner, where you will taste local freshly brewed beer.
DAY 6: HANOI TO PHONG NHA
This morning, the leader will pick you up at the hotel and let’s get insights of Hanoi capital. It is common in Vietnam to wake up very early and start the morning with some exercise, and you will see several groups of people practicing tai chi and aerobics. Be part of Vietnam and join the locals in their morning routine!
Begin with a visit to Huu Tiep Lake, better known as ‘B-52 lake’, where US B-52 bomber wreckage can be seen. Then onto the Temple of Literature, built in 1076. Vietnam’s first university was established within this temple to educate Vietnam's royalty, mandarins and members of the elite.
You will then take a short flight to Dong Hoi on the north coast, followed by a short drive to the Phong Nha Lake House Resort. The area is renowned for its enormous caves, karsts and jungle-clad mountains leading to an extraordinary ambiance.
DAY 7: THIEN DUONG CAVE DISCOVERY
After a very early morning pick-up, you will head to Tan Hoa, located 70 kilometres away. The drive is beautiful, passing alongside jungle, fields and over the historic Da Deo Pass.
Head to Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park. You will take the boat trip along Son river to reach Tien Son Cave that normally called as the Dry Cave. Discovered in 1935 by a local inhabitant by accident, Tien Son Cave is one the of most spectacular caves in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park. Then you will go back on the boat to admire Phong Nha Cave AKA Water Cave. Phong Nha has been The World Heritage Sites of Quang Binh province since 2003. The cave is well-known for its fame as the oldest Karst Mountain in Asia which formed around 400 million years ago with the longest underground river system of 8km length and 50 meters height. After lunch, continue exploring Paradise Cave which was discovered by a local man in 2005 and the first 5 kilometres of this cave was explored by explorers from British Cave Research Association in 2005, the whole 31 kilometres was explored and publicly announced by the British cave explorers. This cave is 31 kilometres long, longer than Phong Nha Cave which had been considered the longest cave in this national park.
Afterwards, head back to Phong Nha for a well-earned rest after this amazing day.
DAY 8: DAY AT LEISURE IN PHONG NHA
Today you will have the day to relax or explore at leisure.
For those seeking a bit more adventure, there is an alternative activity (additional fee required) to join the Tu Lan experience where you will enjoy an action-packed day to discover the magnificent caves of the Tu Lan cave system, including trekking, climbing, swimming and picnic lunch by a waterfall. Drive to the Oxalis Adventure office in Tan Hoa, located 70 kilometres from Phong Nha. Here you will have a tour safety briefing, sign the release form and receive the required equipment for the tour. The trek starts after the briefing with a flat path past peanut fields and grazing buffalo and cows. A river crossing leads to a 60 metres rocky uphill section. Here you will visit Little Rat Cave with numerous unique challenges and opportunities to capture wonderful photos await. Pass through the cave exit and drop downhill into the Rat Waterfall, where you will have lunch, and lots of time to swim in the wilderness.
DAY 9: KEY SITES OF THE VIETNAM WAR
The day starts with the Vinh Moc tunnel complex that sheltered 60 families from intensive bombing in the Vietnam war without any loss of life. Be guided through the tunnels and gain insight into this feat of engineering and human resilience.
Then it is onto the Hien Luong Bridge over the Ben Hai river in the middle of the DMZ (demilitarized zone). The river was the only true physical demarcation between North and South Vietnam during the Vietnam war.
After midday, you will visit the Quang Tri Citadel, a military bastion and an administrative head office of Nguyen Dynasty in Quang Tri province 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.
After lunch near the Citadel, you will transfer to Hue and check into the Pilgrimage Village Hotel for two nights.
DAY 10: DISCOVER HUE THE AUTHENTIC WAY
Delve further into the fascinating former capital today. Your first visit is the Imperial Citadel, which is the best-preserved remnant of a large citadel and Royal centre that once existed on this fortified site. The unique fortifications are fascinating, even though much of this place has sadly been destroyed by war. The foliage-covered ruins make for an interesting couple of hours of exploring. Then continue explore the Forbidden Purple City, which was almost totally wiped out during the Tet Offensive in 1968. The gaping holes left by bombs give an idea of the shocking destruction wreaked upon the country during the war.
Then visit Thuy Xuan village which is the largest incense-making village known for hundreds of year in Hue. In the village, you will have a chance not only to make sticks of incense yourself, but also to understand more about their daily local life.
For lunch, savour a vegetarian feast in a nunnery.
Continue at the lakeside royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc before heading back to town.
DAY 11: LANG CO LAGOON AND HOI AN
This morning, we will visit An Bang Cemetery, often referred to as the "City of Ghosts," is a fascinating and unique destination located about 35 kilometers East of Hue City. This cemetery is renowned for its vibrant and intricate architectural tombs, which resemble miniature houses and showcase a blend of styles, including Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, Islam, and European influences. It's a remarkable place to explore Vietnam's cultural traditions and artistic expressions.
Afterwards, transfer to Hoi An via the Lang Co lagoon. Travel through the Hai Van Pass which has been described as a giant dragon lying on the border between Hue and Da Nang, stretching from the Truong Son range to the sea. If the weather is favourable, as you pass through the clouds you’ll have a chance to witness the breathtaking views of Lang Co Bay.
On arrival in Hoi An, we will be settle in the hotel for freshen up and the rest of the evening is free time.
DAY 12: EXPLORE HOI AN
Recently declared a World Heritage site, Hoi An was a major international trading port during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Today, parts of the beautifully preserved town retain the feel of centuries past. It's also a shopping mecca, famous for its plethora of tailors.
Your tour leader will take you on a sightseeing walk through the Old Town to visit a handful of the city's major attractions.
The rest of your time is left free to relax in this beautiful area. Hoi An is one of the best places to shop for souvenirs, especially if you’re looking for t-shirts, paintings or ceramics. For those interested in getting clothes tailored, this is definitely the place to shop. You might also like to speak to your leader about arranging a cooking lesson and learn about the many layers of fresh herbs and flavours that can be found in Vietnam's fresh and tasty cuisine.
In the evening there will be a final farewell dinner with the group.
DAY 13: DEPART HOI AN
After breakfast at the hotel, you will say goodbye to Hoi An. There will be a group transfer to the airport.
Alternatively, there is the option to extend your time in Vietnam if you wish, please speak to the Intrepid Travel team for suggestions.
