Vietnam

Introduction to the Vietnam expedition

Vietnam stretches down the eastern side of the Indochinese Peninsula and borders Laos, China and Cambodia. Visitors are often amazed by the outstanding beauty of Vietnam’s landscape; the rice paddies which cover the coastal lowlands in stark contrast to the forest-covered mountains that run almost the entire length of Vietnam along its borders with Laos and Cambodia. Three-quarters of Vietnam consists of mountains and hills, the highest of which are in the far north-west of the country, whilst the 3451km of coastline include countless stretches of unspoiled beaches and a number of stunning lagoons.

Expedition summary for Vietnam   Location: Vietnam, South East Asia Duration: 14 to 28 days Ideal for: An unrivalled cultural experience, fantastic jungle trekking. Highlights: Cultural interaction, sightseeing opportunities throughout stunning Vietnam including Hué and Hoi An.

In recent years, Vietnam has thrown off the shackles of post-war bureaucracy and has begun to open itself up to tourism. Despite embracing the dramatic economic and social changes this new era has brought, Vietnam still retains its quaint charm and provides an unrivalled cultural experience.

Vietnam expeditions are divided into Northern or Southern itineraries. Both halves of Vietnam offer wonderful opportunities for trekking and cultural interaction. The central region of Vietnam, which includes cultural attractions of Hué and Hoi An, is accessible to both Northern and Southern itineraries.

Some possible Vietnam expedition objectives are given below, please note these may alter between now and your expedition. The Expedition Program Manager for Vietnam will design an expedition itinerary for you to best match the abilities and aspirations of your team.

North
Teams fly in and out of Hanoi, Vietnam’s political capital, which still retains much of the beautiful architecture and influences of French colonization. There is much to do around and about Hanoi, and some good acclimatization trekking can be enjoyed by visiting any one of a handful of National Parks within a day’s drive of the capital.

The main trekking phase will be out of Sapa (1600m), a hill station in one of the most idyllic mountain settings imaginable. The village sits up in the clouds in the far north of Vietnam, close to the Chinese border, and the itinerary is likely to involve trekking between the many hill-tribe villages in the surrounding mountains and valleys.

South
Teams fly in and out of Ho Chi Minh City, also still known as Saigon, Vietnam’s economic capital which offers all the excitement and bustle of a big developing city. Some good acclimatization trekking includes the jungle of Cat Tien National Park and the remote forests on Buon Ma Thuot near the Cambodian Border.

The main trekking phase will be out of Dalat in the cool climate and picturesque mountain scenery of the Central Highlands region which is covered by jungle and pine forests.

Projects (both Northern & Southern itineraries)
The majority of projects in Vietnam are community based and involve taking part in construction and renovation projects at care homes and orphanages for disadvantaged children. Challengers may well become totally immersed in a very friendly Vietnamese community, assisting with some informal English teaching and playing games with the local children

Rest and relaxation
In the North, teams can visit the spectacular World Heritage Site of Halong Bay, including over 3000 tiny islands dotted with beaches and grottoes. The South offers teams the chance to relax on one of the many beaches of the east coast, or to explore the Mekong Delta region.