Day 1
Airport Pick Up
Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City and welcome to Vietnam! These 10 days are going to change your life, we promise you that and the gateway to it all starts by looking out for a big sign with your name on it in arrivals. No dramas with taxis or public transport, no lost in translation directions. Just sit back and relax as we whisk you away to our Ho Chi Minh hotel and to meet the rest of your TruFam (that’s what we call our tour groups, you’ll soon understand why) and your TruNinja for the trip (that’s what we call our tour guides, because they are very special peeps). Dinner, drinks and introductions tonight, for tomorrow at all begins in earnest.
Day 2
CITY ORIENTATION & WAR MUSEUM
There’s just no way you can travel to Vietnam without immersing yourself in the country’s rich, unique and sometimes startling history. When we think of Vietnam, it’s easy to think of Robin Williams’ early morning radio show, Huey helicopters and “the smell of Napalm in the morning”, but the reality for the people who suffered through the Vietnam War cannot be ignored. The War Museum welcomes over half a million visitors a year and with some jaw-dropping remnants of what happened less than 50 years ago. We’ll also go exploring on a walking tour taking in the sights, smells (constantly delicious) and sounds of Vietnam’s largest city including the gorgeous Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, Saigon Botanical Gardens and markets. That evening we travel to Mui Ne by private van as things are about to get really pretty...
City Orientation & visit war museum
Day 3
MUI NE
Let’s go to the beach, beach! Mui He is a gorgeous coastal town that the TruCrew immediately fell for on our first visit, many moons ago. We knew we had to include it as part of a tour through Vietnam, not least because of the monster fun to be had one the monster sand dunes! Ever been sandboarding before? If that sounds to you like surfing the dunes on boogie boards, then you’d be exactly right! If you haven’t watched it yet, you need to see this shit in action and you can here. After you’ve gathered yourself from all the sliding and laughing on the dunes we’ll explore Mui He’s Fairy Stream, a painfully pretty geological formation full of vibrant reds, white, oranges and pinks. You’ll want to get your camera out for this one, trust us! That night we’ll give Mui He’s nightlife a good solid shake, meeting tons of backpacker types along the way. You won’t believe it’s only Day Three, or how cheap this rum is.
Sand dunes & fairy stream
Day 4
Explore Mui Ne
We’re a friendly bunch, so here’s a lie-in opportunity if you need one. Alternatively you can do some more exploring and reminisce about which of your TruFam got a bit too tipsy the night before and fell into a ditch. Should you be said ditch-faller, you can hide your indignity by the pool, or by the sea. Mui He is such a nice please to be, so soak it in as this afternoon we’re back on the road, heading north for Nha Trang for some night markets, some more ridiculous food and possibly a straightener by the beach.
Day 5
FINDING PARADISE AT NINHVANA
Now, we promised you something a bit special at Ninhvana and that is exactly what the next two days will be. Ninhvana is an idyllic, tropical haven that juts out from Vietnam’s east coast a bit like the boot of Italy. It’s only an hour from Nha Trang too. This dreamy spot can be enjoyed so many different ways. You can go kayaking off the coast, try some cliff jumping like a nutter or you can get super Zen with yoga, massages, gentle paddle boarding. This is your adventure so let our TruNinja give you several hundred billion things to do (Disclaimer: This is an estimate) and you do you, baby!
Kayaking, trekking, yoga & paddle boarding, massages
Day 6
ninhvana beach hideaway
Now if it’s us, you’ll find us awake for sunrise and some early morning yoga to get the blood gently flowing followed by heavy duty tanning. You are now in paradise, so whatever you imagine you would do while in paradise, is what you’ll likely do today (within reason!). There are treks to trek, bikes to tour with, the kayaks we mentioned or if you need some drinking forfeits for later on that night there’s even volleyball and basketball courts for bragging rights. Your adventure, your rules. But please take all the pictures, ok? Ninhvana is a pretty romantic spot too, just saying...
Kayaking, trekking, yoga & paddle boarding, massages
Day 7
TRAVEL DAY
Today we’ve gotta move, so we say goodbye to perfect Ninhvana (what happens there stays there, if necessary!) and back to Nha Trang in the late afternoon for a night bus north to the last stop of our Vietnam South tour, and probably the most famous - Hoi An.
Day 8
hoi an
There’s a good chance you’ll be a little groggy after the 500km journey from Nha Trang, which is why we’ll get you checked-in with minimal fuss and have a major breakfast ready for you on arrival. Take some time to stretch, yawn and wake up fully because you are now walking around inside a UNESCO World Heritage Site. No, like the entire town! Hoi An is probably most famous for the Vietnamese lanterns that give the town a surreal, tranquil glow each night. You want one don’t you? Let’s go one better and teach you how to make one! Choose your silk, and learn from the locals on how to turn one of these iconic lanterns into your own one. Don’t worry if you’re shit at arts and crafts, you can always leave the lantern in the dark to hide your shame. The rest of the day is yours to explore the markets, maybe get yourself a new suit or six, and enjoy one of the coolest little towns you will ever visit.
Day 9
BAMBOO BASKET BOAT TRIP
If you think that headline sounds good, we’re probably not even doing it justice. Today we’re up and out early with a bike tour around Hoi An. That’ll get you nice and hungry for a culinary experience and a half because we’re cooking with a local family for lunch! After a week of traditional Vietnamese food you’ll probably denounce McDonald’s, Dominos and all their blandness forever (this really does happen). This afternoon we’re going crab fishing in traditional bamboo basket boats which are absolutely wild! That evening as dusk rolls in explore the boardwalk of Hoi An surrounded by lanterns to cap off our last full day together. We’re not gonna lie, this nearly always gets emotional but in a “where have you been all my life” kind of way. Your TruFam is now for keeps.
bike ride & basket boat trip
Day 10
Chilled checkout
Time to, say goodbye *boats ‘n’ hoes*. This may be the end of your Vietnam South adventure but maybe you’re not quite finished with Southeast Asia yet. if not our TruNinjas know Southeast Asia like the back of their metaphorical sword and can advise you on what and where to next. If it is time to depart this part of the world then allow yourself to be sad about it, but promise us you’ll come back for more? It’s a very easy promise to keep in truth. You’re now a lifelong member of the TruFam and by now, you’ll know how big a deal that is. This isn’t a real goodbye, it’s see you soon!
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Indonesia | 10 days
