Vietnam Gap Year Programme

Your journey starts in the lively city of Hanoi, located on the banks of the Red River. It is a great entry point as it sets the scene for Vietnam's melting-pot history, especially reflected in its architecture, which is a stunning mix of Chinese shops, golden temples, and ornate Vietnamese houses.

Your base will be at a family-run guest house in the old quarter from which you will explore whilst you sample the local delights, such as their famous beef noodles, papaya spring-rolls and egg coffee “Vietnamese cappuccino”. Delicious, whilst learning to dodge the chaos of tuk tuks and bicycles.

Your first couple of days will be spent getting your bearings whilst visiting the spectacular Hoan Kiem Lake, St. Joseph's Cathedral and the famous Dong Xuan wholesale markets, before hopping on a bike and heading out of town to reach a pretty village on the outskirts of the city.Here you’ll meet a local family who’ll combine a private cooking demonstration, giving you the chance to make your own authentic Vietnamese dishes. After lunch you’ll visit the Lien Mac flower village, which is famous for flowers and vegetables.

Accommodation

You will be stay in a local family homestay such as Maih Boutique Homestay: https://www.facebook.com/Miah-Boutique-Homestay-198820990132717/

Food

3 meals a day. Usually set menus – expect breakfast to be more continental/omelette style, lunch and dinner more rice/noodle based.

Hikes, bikes and projects. Your next phase will take you to Moc Chau, a village in the mountains about 190km (five hours’ drive) west of Hanoi, near the border of Laos. Here you’ll stay with a local family for a full-on cultural hit as you explore the surrounding paddy fields, tea plantations, hill tribes, and waterfalls by hikes and bikes before helping the community by painting the school yard and classrooms, helping set up a library, teaching English, sports and games.

Interwoven into your time here will be a gentle hike through the pine hills to visit the Hmong minority people at Loong Luong village, a day out to visit the Moc Chau tea plantations at Tan Lap village which is famous for their “Heart-shape” tea plantations, and to picnic by the Dai Yem waterfall.

Accommodation

Homestay, rustic, basic but clean and tidy.

Food

3 meals per day cooked by your homestay host – expect rice and noodles.

Phase 3 of your adventure will be a restful phase as you head to the iconic Ha Long Bay - a World Heritage area of outstanding natural beauty, to board a local junk style boat.

You will sail off for 2 nights, 3 days to explore the stunning scenery, which is made up karst rocks, islets, tunnels, lagoons, crystal waters and secluded beaches. It is utterly beautiful, and you will have time to head off on paddle boards and boats to reach the beaches and secret lagoons.

In the evening, you will be able to night fish, have a sundowner on the rooftop, watch an Indochina film, or treat yourself to a massage and spot of Tai Chi.

Accommodation

Cozy cabins on the Oriental Sails junk boat - Oriental Sails Cruise

Food

3 meals per day from the set menu

Cuc Phuong is the oldest National Park in Vietnam. It is utterly stunning due to the magnificent limestone mountains which rise majestically from the rice-terraces and home to the Muong hill-tribe.

Conservation at Save Vietnam’s Wildlife (SVW)
Your first 5 days will be spent helping out at SVW, set up to save animals from illegal trade. While you are here you will be involved with the rehabilitation of confiscated animals, especially the pangolin, helping with the feeding, cleaning the cages, and with site maintenance.

On the other days you will explore the National Park (by bike) to find the Botanical Gardena and Cave of Prehistoric Man, before heading out to visit the former capital of Hoa Lu. Here you’ll visit the Dinh & Le Kings’ Temples and climb Buddha’s Palm Mountain for the stunning views of mountains and pagodas.

Accommodation

At SVW you will stay in the park, at the National Park tourist centre. You’ll have a bed, with mozzi net supplied and western style bathroom. Laundry can be done here for a small fee.

Food

3 meals per day from the canteen or Thao Linh Restaurant, offering different choices. Meals are based around rice, meat, and vegetables. However, on the days exploring the National Park lunches will out and about, at an extra cost.

Your final week is all about exploring - by bike, boat, and foot and having some down time, after all your hard work.

Hoi An is one of the “must see places” famous for its lanterns, meandering streets, cool cafes, amazing tailors (this is the place to get a suit made) and sundowners on An Bang Beach.

You’ll arrive by overnight train and throughout your time here you will explore the Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese Assembly Hall, and the local market before cycling out to Duy Hai fishing hamlet - the most isolated and colourful fishing villages nearby Hoi An.

You’ll also board the local ferry to reach Duy Hai fishing hub which is filled with boats and sampans. Not many travellers venture here, so expect plenty of attention from the locals. On another day you’ll be taken to the coconut forest to explore in a bamboo basket boat, whilst learning about the history of this unique area.

Accommodation

Local family run guesthouse called Vinci Villa in Hoi An - https://vincivilla.com/

Food

3 meals included until the last 4 days when only breakfast is included so you can choose where to have lunch and supper.