Treasures of Vietnam

Welcome to Vietnam. You will be met at Ho Chi Minh City airport and transferred to your hotel in the heart of the city. Spend the day at leisure until our welcome meeting at 5pm.

This morning we drive to Cai Be (approx 2.5 hours) to explore the beautiful Mekong Delta. Often referred to as the ‘rice bowl' of Vietnam, the fertile Mekong Delta is famous for its abundant harvests of tropical fruits, flowers and rice, as well as its picturesque canals. Taking a sampan from Cai Be we cruise through the maze of waterways watching the hubbub of daily life on the river.

Passing colourful trading boats, house boats and children swimming we stop to visit some of the local cottage industries that produce popcorn, coco candies and paper along the way. Lunch is served in a traditional wooden home on Dong Hoa Hiep Island and later this afternoon we return to Ho Chi Minh City. (B/L)

We start the day with a visit to the sobering War Remnants Museum, before getting off the beaten track to explore lesser visited parts of Ho Chi Minh City and gain an insight into local life. Heading to District 3 we visit the oldest cafe in town and stop for a refreshment, before taking a walk through a large street-market, easing our way through a sea of conical hats and mobile street food sellers.

We stroll through the heart of city's working-class district, which has remained largely unchanged since the 1960s, then head into the Ho Thi Ky quarter with its spectacular flower market and maze of quiet narrow streets. This area is also famous for its Khmer delicacies and we sample some of these traditional snacks.

After our tour of the city we transfer to the airport and board a flight to Da Nang. From Da Nang its a 30-minute drive to Hoi An, where we'll spend the next three nights. (B)

We take a leisurely bike ride through the countryside to Tra Que village this morning. Here, we learn about age old farming practices and traditional medicine. It's a fun, hands-on experience where you can don a conical hat, assist with tending the fields and cooking a tasty lunch!

After lunch we cycle back to town for a walking tour of enchanting Hoi An, with its cobbled streets, traditional homes and tiny shop houses. We visit the Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Hall, 200-year-old Tam Ky house, former merchants' homes and the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge. (B/L)

Spend the day at leisure in heavenly Hoi An, relaxing by the hotel pool or taking a stroll around the town. Boutique restaurants, hip cafes along the waterfront, delightful craft shops and artisans, including some of Asia's best bespoke tailors, can all be found here. (B)

It's an early start this morning to catch the first flight from Danang to Hanoi and transfer to beautiful Halong Bay. We then embark on a deluxe overnight cruise around the limestone peaks and emerald waters of Halong Bay. Onboard the boat we're served a delicious seafood-based lunch, while the surrounding limestone outcrops make for a truly magical setting.

This afternoon, we visit picturesque Cat Ba Island and take a leisurely bike ride to Viet Hai village - a small village nestled in the heart of Cat Ba National Park. Returning to the cruise you can participate in a cooking or fruit carving demonstration on the sundeck. Then sit back, relax and watch an incredible sunset over enchanting Halong Bay before dinner is served. (B/L/D)

Early birds can start the day with a Tai Chi session on the sundeck, while tea and coffee are served as the sun rises and illuminates the surrounding seascape. We then continue our exploration of the bay and end with a light brunch while cruising back to the pier, where we disembark and transfer to Hanoi.

Arriving into Hanoi mid-afternoon we take a stroll around the ‘36 streets of the old quarter', named after the numerous guilds that once set up shop on a particular street, from silk tailors to traditional medicine shops. Then we check in to our luxury hotel and spend rest of day at leisure in Vietnam's charming capital. (B)

Today we explore the capital. First stop is the infamous Hanoi Hilton (or Hoa Lo Prison as it is locally known). Here we have some time to explore this fascinating building, which was home to former US Senator and military officer John McCain, who was shot down over Hanoi in 1967 and held here during his five and half years as a prisoner of war. Then we visit Temple of Literature, which was Vietnam's first university.

In the afternoon we head to Huu Tiep lake and see the wreckage of a B52 bomber which was shot down in 1972. Then we stroll through the tiny alleys of Ngoc Ha Village, passing an ancient communal temple and typical Hanoi tube houses to reach the famous Ho Chi Minh complex. Here we visit Ho Chi Minh's house and learn all about the great man himself, who is regarded as the father of the nation.

After a photo stop at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum we head to Tran Quoc pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Hanoi. Weather permitting, we can enjoy a spectacular sunset at West Lake before returning to the hotel. (B)

Our tour comes to an end today, with an included transfer to Hanoi airport. (B)