When 2026 (date to be confirmed)
Where Trekking Vietnam
Who Anyone looking for a new challenge
How much £395 deposit + fundraising
We have now filled spaces for Trek Vietnam – to register your interest for our next adventure (details to be confirmed) please see below.
Meet the Trek Vietnam 2025 Team!
Andy
Andy and his wife, Lynda will be doing the trek together. Andy spent 30 years in the police and now works part time transporting patients for the ambulance service. When asked what attracted him to Trek Vietnam, Andy said:
“To visit a country I have always been fascinated by, in a way that is not just going to the “capital” city. Also, seeing the diversity of the country and raise funds for Rennie Grove Peace.”
Andy will be preparing for Trek Vietnam by walking as much as possible and using an exercise bike regularly.
Cat
Last year Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care supported Cat’s husband, Martin, at the end of his life.
“When I saw Trek Vietnam advertised, I just knew I wanted to sign up. I love hiking and having the chance to take on this trek while raising money to make sure other families can benefit from the same care we received, is an opportunity I couldn’t miss.”
Cat will be training with her friends and taking part in organised hiking events over the coming year. Cat has signed up to Trek Vietnam on her own and is really looking forward to meeting other people in the group.
Dominic
Dominic is married with two adult children, after spending 25 years working for himself mainly in classic cars and property rentals Dominic is now semi retired and undertaking a Law Degree with the OU. Dominic’s main hobbies include running, weights and walking/hiking and this year he will be walking in the Majorcan mountains as well as going to Glastonbury later in the year.
“My mother died 3 years ago of dementia and I am wanting to give a little back to the community… (I’ve) always wanted to go to Vietnam, love hiking and want to help others and raise money for charity.”
Emma
After Emma’s Mum discovered her illness 6 years ago Rennie Grove cared for her at home before she went into the hospice. Emma now works for Rennie Grove Peace as the Events Manager and is looking forward to going on this trip and raising as much money as she can for Rennie Grove Peace in memory of her Mum and many others.
“I know first hand through mum and also now working for the charity the amazing work our nurses do every day to help people in our community. Rennie Grove Peace could not offer these services in our local community without the generosity of people like you.”
George
A systems analyst working for a digital information company, George (who previously was a music journalist and travelled all over the UK managing a band) enjoys walking his dog, spending time with his partner and kickboxing. George will be taking on this challenge in memory of his Dad, Simon.
“Rennie Grove provided my Dad with the upmost dignity and respect during his final days. They also provided mental health support for our whole family after his short and devastating battle with cancer. I’ve been looking to do something for the charity that would push me both physically and mentally. Traveling Asia is on my bucket list and I spent an extended period of time in school learning about Vietnams history in the 60s. I couldn’t pass up on the opportunity to visit the country and also make a difference whilst I’m there.”
John
John, a retired medical service engineer, enjoys dog walking, arts and crafts and watching sport. John will be fundraising in memory of his wife, Kerry who passed away recently and was cared for by Rennie Grove Peace in her final days at home.
“I love walking and this unique challenge will give me the opportunity to give back for the kindness received from Rennie Grove Peace. I have never been to Vietnam, but it is a country and a culture that I am fascinated by.”
To prepare for the trek, John is doing Chilterns 3 Peaks Challenge in September – he also will be walking his dogs and doing daily core workouts.
June
A retired teacher from Wendover, June has spent the last 20 years working internationally. Since June retired she has got back into walking and keeping fit at the local gym, she also enjoys sewing and craft work and spends some of her time helping out with minding her grandchildren and walking friend’s dogs.
“Rennie Grove has always been a part of Wendover and I have friends who have had amazing support during their final days. My daughter’s friend lost her mum a week before her wedding. I was so touched by the care she received in her final days that I decided then I would do what I could to help fundraise one day.”
Katie
Katie is currently retraining to be a nurse and is excited to embark on a new career. In her spare time Katie loves crafting and art as well as hiking, gardening and when she’s not studying is an avid reader.
“I first came across Rennie Grove Peace when I did the Chiltern Three Peaks challenge with my kids in 2022. However, in 2023 whilst based out with a community nursing team on placement I got to see first-hand the support that Rennie Grove Peace offers with their hospice at home service. I met the most incredible family, who we were supporting alongside the charity. Having provided palliative care for people at the end of their life in hospital, I value how important the work that Rennie Grove Peace does.”
Kelly
Since losing her Mum in 2007 and more recently her Dad in 2019, Kelly has supported Rennie Grove Peace after the support and care they both received.
“Our family will be forever grateful for the support and care we received. They gave us the emotional strength and practical help we needed to be able to fulfil Mum and Dad’s wish for a peaceful death at home.”
Kelly loves spending time with family and friends, theatre trips, live music and comedy. She stays active by enjoying walks along the coast or canal, swimming and strength training. She also enjoys spa days, gin and tonic and Ferrero Rocher!
Kevin
Kevin is a service engineer, specialising in liquid & gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy. Outside of work Kevin enjoys gardening, especially in his vegetable plot and loves hiking in the countryside. Married for 28 years, Kevin has two adult children. Kevin is fundraising in memory of his father, Allan.
“Simply put, you helped my dad (and us) in his last days, and I would now like to return this favour and help you. He deteriorated very quickly, but you provided full hospital bed and various pieces of equipment at home, to make him more comfortable.”
Louise
Louise has been involved with Rennie Grove for many years, helping out with marshalling for various events throughout the year. When Louise lost her husband nearly 7 years ago they were supported by the Rennie Grove nurses towards the end of his life.
“I’m one of those people whom never has any aspirations about holidays, just wait to see where, when and what happens with a very open mind. I think I am looking forward to seeing how the hospices work in another country and of course the amazing scenery we will encounter on this fabulous trip.”
Lynda
Lynda and her husband Andy will be doing the trek together. Lynda has been a palliative care nurse for over 20 years, prior to that she was a despatcher in a police control room. Lynda currently works for Rennie Grove Peace in the Coordination Centre and the Palliative Response Team.
“I am looking forward to the chance to visit Vietnam in a different way, and in a group, as well as raising money. I’m doing something I have never done before!”
Maurice
Maurice runs his own company providing Project Management services and most recently, has been working across Singapore, Beijing & Hong Kong. When Rennie Grove Peace provided support during his late wife Nicky’s last few days at home Maurice felt it was only right to give something back.
“Looking after my 3 (nearly grown-up) Muppets keeps me pretty busy, but also enjoy watching rugby and socialising – I’m hoping the trek will kickstart my fitness regime, which has suffered from too many long haul flights and hotel dinners…”
Natalie
Natalie describes herself as a daydreamer, an optimist, psychotherapist and writer. Mother, daughter, friend and sugar addict. She enjoys yoga, swimming and walking in the woods and loves everything about London, especially going to the theatre. After losing two very close friends last year, Natalie wanted to take on this challenge to raise awareness of hospice care and help others. When asked what attracted her to Trek Vietnam, Natalie said:
“In all honesty, I would’ve gone wherever the challenge was taking place! I’ve never visited Vietnam before, so I think that there’s an element of intrigue there for me. I also felt touched by the idea of staying in the homes of Vietnamese people and having the benefit of an authentic glimpse into their lives and culture.”
Sam
Sam, a nurse specialising in wound care is married with an 8 year old son, Oliver and two dogs, Marsey and Sidney. As a family they enjoy camping, walks and spending time together. Sam has a close connection with the charity, from initially supporting families at home as a community nurse, to both her father and father in law being cared for by Rennie Grove.
“The team supported my amazing Dad at home following the devastating diagnosis of cancer. This was 15 years ago and not a day goes by I do not think of my Dad. Recently they have been there again with my wonderful father in law. The Rennie Grove nurses supported him and the family in his final days, ensuring he had a peaceful and dignified death at home with his family surrounding him. This is why I want to support this charity in the name of two very strong, brave, and greatly missed family members.”
To prepare for the trek, Sam is doing Chilterns 3 Peaks Challenge in September – her 3rd time doing so!
Join us on our next adventure!!
Register your interest for our 2026 adventure!
FAQs
We’ve got the answers to the commonly asked questions – but if you have a question not covered below – please get in touch!
Interested in the tour itinerary? Scroll down to view.
Information Evening
Check out the recording from the evening below.
Or view the slides, here.
If you have any more questions or need more details – please feel free to get in touch!
No problem! For more information about the trek you can book in a Teams call with our Event Manager, Emma or fill out your details and someone will get in touch with you.
General information about Trek Vietnam
The trek is graded moderate to challenging. You will be trekking for 5 consecutive days, over varying and sometimes challenging terrain. You will cover approximately 15-20km per day which will take around 6-7 hours.
The terrain will vary throughout the 5 days but in general, it is mostly flat and on established routes through villages and jungle, and occasionally along short sections of road. There are some steep sections to contend with, but your guides will support you all the way. The route offers an interesting variety of scenery as you pass through rice terraces, cross shallow rivers, ascend into cloudy forests and enter remote villages. Underfoot the terrain will vary each day but may be quite stony, on roads, grass, over large natural limestone slabs, and depending on the weather, potentially very muddy trails. The itinerary is subject to change depending on the weather and, particularly, rainfall.
The food served throughout the trip will be traditional Vietnamese with some Western dishes too. The food is freshly prepared and plentiful. Vietnamese food isn’t spicy but if you like your food with a kick, chilli or chilli sauce is often available if you ask. You will have breakfast and dinner at the stilt house you are staying in or local restaurants when you are staying at hotels. Lunch will be eaten at local homes along the way.
You must be 18+ to join this trek. It may be possible for you to participate if you are 16 or 17 years old if accompanied by a parent or guardian. There is no upper age limit.
An ideal candidate for the trek would be someone who enjoys being out of their comfort zone and trying something new.
You are strongly advised to train to a good fitness level before departure to ensure fast recovery from each day’s walk. The distances covered may not be great, but you must be prepared for, and be capable of, trekking for many hours a day on steep, rough terrain while carrying a daypack of around 6-8kg in weight. If you attempt to complete the trek without training, it will be unnecessarily challenging and will hinder your experience, and the experience of your teammates.
We have partnered with the Different Travel Company to bring this trip of a lifetime. The Different Travel Company is an ATOL-bonded tour operator that specialises in overseas charity challenges and adventure holidays. They offer a full pre-departure package which includes specialist advice on what to pack for your trip, practical support such as visa tips and much more. They can also offer a range of post-trip extension options for those who wish to stay on and do some further exploring. As a licensed ATOL bonded travel tour operator, you can also rest assured that your booking will be protected.
Preparation
If you do not already regularly exercise it is advised that you start training (including plenty of hills) as soon as you book to ensure your best chance of enjoyment on the trip. This could include speed walking, hill walking, swimming, running, cycling, gym workouts, team sports, boot camps, yoga etc. You can download several free apps, which will help you train and track your progress. E.g. iMapMyRide (for cyclists), C25K (couch to 5k run), and MyFitnessPal (for a variety of sports).
We have three options to choose from
- Charity Sponsorship: you pay a small registration fee (of £395) and do lots of fundraising (to raise a minimum of £3,995) and we cover the cost of your challenge place!
- Mixed Funding: You pay a small registration fee (of £395) and £500 of the challenge costs, fundraise a bit less (minimum of £3,495) and we cover the balance of your challenge place.
- Self Funding: You pay a small registration fee (of £395) and the full cost of the challenge (£1,995). You pledge to fundraise a minimum of £1,995 to help fund the services of Rennie Grove Peace.
We recommend that you set up an online donation page using Just Giving. It is easy to do, and if you need any help with this we can help you out. You can share your page link with friends, family and colleagues via email or social media, and the funds you raise come straight to Rennie Grove Peace. Over the coming months we will talk about ways to help you reach your pledged sponsorship and will always be on hand to help. If you would like a downloadable sponsor form we can also provide this for you.
Sign up/Get in touch
Fill in our short enquiry form and we’ll be in touch with more details of the trip and can answer any questions you might have before booking. We can then provide you with the sign-up link to reserve your place.
Fill in our enquiry form to share your contact details and we can give you a call back, send a WhatsApp or email you.
You can also use Calendly to book in a quick 30 mins Teams Call with Emma, our events manager. Click here to book a Teams call.
Join an amazing team of individuals, embark on a unique adventure and create memories to last a lifetime.
This is a once in a lifetime experience which also includes the opportunity to volunteer at a local hospice in Vietnam.
Day 1: Depart for an overnight flight to Hanoi.
Flying from a London airport
Get set for adventure!
Day 2: Arrive in Hanoi and transfer to a central hotel
Leisure day
Settle in and explore independently. Gather for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant in the evening
Day 3: Hanoi to Mai Chau
After breakfast you will depart Hanoi for Mai Chau (approx 4 hours)
The village and project site where you are staying is a further 25km from Mai Chau town and is our base for the next two nights.
In the afternoon you will have an introduction to the community project.
The local hospital in Mai Chau has a small palliative care unit where we will work alongside the local team to improve facilities. Tasks could include activities such as repainting, gardening, decorating and other hands-on refurbishment type tasks. After completing the day’s tasks we will enjoy a hearty dinner and spend the night in a local guesthouse.
Day 4: Mai Chau
You will continue with the project
Completing the tasks you started the day before
Celebratory evening with the villagers
After a hard day's work - you and your team will celebrate your achievements in the evening with the villagers.
Day 5: Mai Chau to Hang Village
After breakfast, depart for a short, scenic drive to Pu Luong Natural Reserve, where the trek starts.
Passing through local villages and farms, over undulating terrain.
You will stop for the night in Hang Village, home to a Thai ethnic minority
Spend the night with local Thai families in their traditional stilted houses and have the chance to stroll around the village before dinner.
Day 6: Hang Village to Kho Muong
6 hour jungle trek
You will trek for around 6 hours on a path which runs mostly through the jungle. Stopping for lunch in a small village along the way before setting off again this afternoon passing several Thai villages.
You will stay the night in Kho Muong village.
Kho Muong is a Muong minority village - you will stay overnight in a traditional stilt house.
Day 7: Kho Muong to Cao Hoong
Uphill trek into the Pù Luông range
You will trek uphill into the Pù Luông range, passing through several small hamlets and minority villages en route. After 3 hours of gentle ascent, you will then descend to the village of Cao Hoong, a village of Thai ethnic minority people where you will stay overnight in local homes.
Day 8: Cao Hoong to Cao
Trek through the countryside
Today’s will take around 6 hours. The trek path runs uphill and downhill through forest, rice terraces and scenic villages. On the trek, you'll see farmers working on rice paddies and children going to school. We spend the night in the Thai village of Cao in a traditional stilt house
Day 9: Pho Doan to Hanoi
Riverside trek
A 2-hour trek to Pho Doan, where you will visit the local market. Continuing along the Ma River, you'll enjoy lovely views of the river, paddies and a waterwheel.
Back to Hanoi
At the end of the day you will be picked up and transferred to Hanoi, to enjoy a celebratory farewell dinner.
Day 10: Hanoi to London
Final day in Hanoi
Explore Hanoi at your leisure before your flight back to London.
Arrive home
Touch back down in the UK with a heart that is full from the experience, culture and friendships that you’ve made!