Xin chao! Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you have all these details to provide to your leader. Afterwards there will be an optional welcome dinner, a great chance to bond with your fellow travellers.

In the morning, visit one of the most important sites in Ho Chi Minh City, the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. These complex tunnels were used by the Viet Cong in the long war against the Americans and were instrumental to the Vietnamese victory. You will be amazed at the ingenuity of these dangerous tunnels. You will also visit a local home in this area. Later, in the afternoon, enjoy a Ho Chi Minh City tour. This stops in at the War Museum, Cathedral, GPO and Ben Thanh market. Don't miss the chance to try some delicious street food at the market.

Head to Da Lat by bus today (approximately 7 hours). Although it's a long travel day, some of the scenery is delightful – take the opportunity to sit back and soak it up. You'll have free time on arrival to spend as you please. Explore this pleasant region and all it has to offer – lakes, palaces, flower gardens, pagodas and churches. You'll soon discover this is one of Vietnam's most beautiful cities.

Embark on a city tour today. This takes you into Bao Dai's Summer Palace, the gorgeous 1930s villa built for the last king of the Vietnam feudal court. Explore its two storeys and some of its 25 rooms, including the impressive bedroom and balcony upstairs. You will also visit the vibrant Dalat Market, whose upper level is a great place to get a cheap and tasty bite of the local food. In the afternoon you will have free time to explore as you please. Perhaps take the train to Trai Mat Village and enjoy its peaceful ambience and fresh air spiked with the smell of pine trees.

Take a bus to Ban Me Thuot (approximately 5 hours). Be sure to try the coffee here, as this region grows what is arguably the best in the country. In the afternoon, visit the quality Ethnographic Museum to learn more about the Dak Lak province, which is very informative on the subject of ethnic cultures, war history, and everything in between. Its displays include stone artefacts, photography, musical instruments and quirky taxidermy.

Transfer by bus to the starting point of your trek, around 90 kilometres away. From here your walk starts with a three-kilometre stretch, bringing you to the village of Rai, home to the Ede people, an ethnic minority group. Your accommodation is a traditional long house built on stilts of wood and bamboo. It's simple yet clean and comfortable. Enjoy a home-cooked meal lovingly prepared by your hosts. Make the most of this opportunity to interact with the Ede, for whom music plays a key role in cultural life. Special Information

Embark on a full day of trekking (approximately 18 kilometres). You will pass through evergreen forest, enjoying a relatively temperate climate, and end up at Buon Triet lake. Firstly though you will climb to the top of Namka Hill (approximately 2 kilometres). Then you will head through a variety of different forest environments, occasionally crossing a stream. Greet minority village folk along the way, and keep and eye out for local wildlife and birds. Arrive at Buon Triet lake, where you'll be picked up by a paddle boat and enjoy a peaceful cruise across the water. There is the chance for a swim along the way. Spend the evening in Jatu village with friendly M’Nong hosts.

In the morning, travel by bus to Lak Lake. Take in views of the idyllic countryside – little villages, rice fields, cows, and softly flowing streams. Stop in and visit Jun Village, where you can walk around and greet the locals. This is a nice insight into daily village life in the Central Highlands. Afterwards, return to central Buon Ma Thuot. Transfer to the airport for a mid-afternoon flight to Da Nang (approximately 1 hour). From here, take a bus to lovely Hoi An.

Discover Hoi An, a standout destination in Vietnam. Enjoy a guided walk around the Old Town this morning. Declared a World Heritage site, the old town is beautifully preserved and exudes a tranquil atmosphere. It's perfect for strolling around at a leisurely pace, with many beautiful Japanese houses and Chinese temples lining the narrow lanes. Parts of Hoi An look exactly as they did more than a century ago. Your afternoon is free to explore the town at your leisure – or perhaps head to the nearby beach on a rented bicycle if the weather's fine.

Your trip comes to an end today and you are free to depart at any time.