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Vietnam

Walking Vietnam: Paths of Wonder from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City

Program No. 22552RJ
Enjoy comfortable walking adventures throughout Vietnam, beginning in the capital city of Hanoi and ending in Ho Chi Minh City — Saigon. Explore villages, citadels, bays and more!

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Protecting the Environment

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Feb 15 - Mar 2, 2024
Starting at
3,299
Filling Fast!
Feb 22 - Mar 9, 2024
Starting at
3,299
Oct 3 - Oct 19, 2024
Starting at
3,299
Oct 31 - Nov 16, 2024
Starting at
3,299
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Feb 15 - Mar 2, 2024
Starting at
3,999
Feb 22 - Mar 9, 2024
Starting at
3,999
Filling Fast!
Oct 3 - Oct 19, 2024
Starting at
3,999
Filling Fast!
Oct 31 - Nov 16, 2024
Starting at
3,999

At a Glance

Footpaths through lush, green valleys that wind their way to tranquil villages. Bustling sidewalks through energetic marketplaces. Pathways to historic citadels, pagodas and tombs where past Emperors now lie in rest. There is no shortage of roads to walk throughout Vietnam — and they each lead to something fascinating! Join us for a walking adventure that begins in the capital of Hanoi and ends in Ho Chi Minh City — Saigon — for an up-close look at the places and people that inhabit this exotic nation.

Extend Your Adventure

This program offers an optional program extension.

Extension: Ancient Temples of Angkor

Continue your learning adventure with a four-day extension to Cambodia. Visit four ancient temples of Angkor and learn about their significance for the Khmer people.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Spirited
Walking up to 3.5 miles (up to 3 hours) per day over varied terrain.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Spend a night on the emerald waters of Ha Long Bay and journey past towering limestone islands.
  • Create your own Vietnamese cuisine in a hands-on cooking class that begins in the markets and ends with a delicious meal.
  • Walk along the streets of Ho Chi Minh City — Saigon — to explore its Opera House and Cathedral, and watch as locals practice tai chi in Tao Dan Park.

General Notes

Looking to extend your stay? This program has a post-extension, "Extension: Ancient Temples of Angkor" (#22617).
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
The Quiet American
by Graham Greene
A classic, this is the most famous Western work of fiction on Vietnam. Greene writes of a love triangle between a war correspondent, his Vietnamese consort and an optimistic young American during the last days of French rule.
The River's Tale, A Year on the Mekong
by Edward Gargan
A personal, probing chronicle of a 3,000 mile journey on the river from its source in China through Tibet, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia to the Mekong Delta in Vietnam.
Communion, A Culinary Journey Through Vietnam
by Kim Fay
Fay recounts in savory detail a five-week journey with two friends from Hanoi to Saigon in search of the traditions, rituals and pleasures of food from local markets and street foods to haute cuisine.
Vietnam, Rising Dragon
by Bill Hayton
The veteran BBC newsman covers the tangled politics, rapidly changing economy, culture, history and people of Vietnam with great insight in this timely portrait of a nation in transition.
Arts of Southeast Asia
by Fiona Kerlogue
A handsome guide to the art, architecture, textiles and crafts of Southeast Asia.
Lonely Planet Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos & the Greater Mekong
by Nick Ray
This compact practical guide covers the entire Mekong from the heights of Yunnan to Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
Eyewitness Guide Vietnam and Angkor Wat
by Eyewitness Guides
Featuring innovative site diagrams, local maps and hundreds of color photographs, this handy companion introduces the culture, history and attractions of Vietnam.
Vietnam Journeys
by Charles Fields
Photographer and traveler Charles Fields portrays the cultures and landscapes of Vietnam from the World Heritage Site of Hue and the Phung Hiep floating market to its forests and coastline in stunning color photographs.
The Mekong, Turbulent Past, Uncertain Future
by Milton Osborne
A cultural history of the great river from prehistory to European exploration, colonial tensions and modern challenges. It's an engaging introduction to the history of Southeast Asia.
The Road of Lost Innocence
by Somaly Mam
Sold into servitude by her grandfather, Mam recounts the experiences of her early life, her awakening as an activist -- and work to rescue thousands of women and children in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos.
The Eaves of Heaven, A Life in Three Wars
by Andrew X. Pham
Pham recounts the story of his father's life during the French occupation, Japanese invasion and the American War, weaving such momentous events with anecdotes from his childhood and details of family, friends, food and daily life.
A Dragon Apparent, Travels in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam
by Norman Lewis
A classic account of travels and adventure during the last years of French Indochina, strong on atmosphere and including wonderfully detailed descriptions of local cultures and archaeological treasures. First published in 1951.
A Traveller's History of Southeast Asia
by J.M. Barwise, Nicholas J. White
A compact history of the region, including the Khmer and the various ancient kingdoms that produced Borobudur, Angkor and other architectural marvels.
Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia Map
by Nelles
A convenient, double-sided map of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam at a scale of 1:1,500,000, with city maps of Hanoi, Vientiane, Ho Chi Minh City, Luang Prabang, and Phnom Penh. Includes the eastern portion of Thailand and Bangkok.
Fire in the Lake
by Frances FitzGerald
A classic historical, political and cultural portrait of the Vietnam War, seen through the eyes of the Vietnamese. Winner of both the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, FitzGerald, a staff writer at the New Yorker and a reporter in Vietnam, presents a vivid image of a revolution and a clear-sighted case for why the U.S offensive was doomed from the start.
Birds of Southeast Asia
by Craig Robson
This authoritative, masterfully illustrated guide, featuring 140 color plates covering 1,270 species throughout the region, also includes Malaysia, Burma, Borneo and Indonesia.
Vietnam, A Traveler's Literary Companion
by John Balaban, Nguyen Qui Duc
From rain forest and rural countryside to the cities, these 17 stories from Vietnam's finest writers explore its landscapes, myths and changing traditions.





Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.