Chao mung! Welcome to Vietnam and its beautiful ancient capital, Hanoi.

On arrival at Hanoi airport, make your way to your luxury 5-star hotel located in the heart of the city.  Take some time to relax and, depending on your arrival time, enjoy the afternoon or evening at your leisure.

Alternatively, you can pre book a private arrival transfer where a representative will meet you on arrival and transfer you to the hotel. Further details can be found under the ‘Upgrade Options’.

We’ll be rising early today to board our coach and depart for the quiet mountainous town of Sapa. Located in northwestern Vietnam, close to the Chinese border, Sapa is home to a variety of different ethnic tribal groups. Upon arrival in Sapa in the early afternoon, you will transfer to a homestay run by a local family where you'll enjoy a refreshing change from the usual hotel scene. Here, you will have the unique opportunity to immerse yourself fully in the local culture and assist your family in preparing this evening’s dinner.

Sapa is a very popular trekking base, due to its location nestled among the Hoang Lien Son mountain range. The day will begin at 8.30am, we will enjoy some trekking around the village and experience some spectacular vistas overlooking the terraced rice paddies that line the surrounding steep valley walls. After lunch, you will transfer to a hotel where we will spend our second night in Sapa. The rest of the afternoon and evening are yours to spend at leisure.

Please note the walk is approximately 6-10km.

This morning we say farewell to Sapa and begin our return trip to Hanoi, firstly by road transfer southwards and up the Den Thang mountain. Here we leave the vehicle for an easy walk to explore the Hang Da village of the Black Hmong people. We then follow the large village path downhill along the stunning valley of Sa Seng, passing several small settlements along the way. We finish our walk after paying a visit to Sa Pa, another hamlet of the Hmong located near the former site of the Sapa traditional market. Here we will be picked up and transferred to Lao Cai, where we will check in for our bus journey back to Hanoi. 

*To complete this walk, you will require to walk a staircase of approximately 400 steps.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before you head off on a full day exploration of this charming city.

This morning we will visit Van Mieu, otherwise known as The Temple of Literature. The Confucian temple dates back to 1070, and features peaceful walled courtyards and graceful gateways and is one of the best examples of traditional Vietnamese architecture. Following this, we continue on and visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex from the outside; an impressive mausoleum that houses the embalmed body of President Ho Chi Minh.

This afternoon we head to the charming Old Quarter where we’ll enjoy a walking tour through Hanoi’s most historic and picturesque neighbourhood.  The Old Quarter is the oldest continuously developed area of Vietnam, highlighting more than 1,000 years of history. Explore the network of narrow alleyways known as 'The 36 Streets'. This is a wonderful place to soak up local life, and peruse market items from fabrics to crafts and exotic medicines. Each street was named to reflect the specialised trade of the merchants who had shops there, such as silk traders or jewellers. 

Return to your hotel in the late afternoon for an evening of leisure, or you may want to join an optional evening tour to explore the city’s incredible food culture.

This morning we depart for a leisurely drive to Tuan Chau Port. Upon arrival at this port city we will board our luxury Halong Bay cruise.

Onboard, enjoy a complimentary drink and take a seat in the lounge before a short welcome briefing with fellow guests. You’ll be shown to your luxury cabin where you can enjoy rich oak interiors, with high windows and private balconies to make the most of the incredible views during your cruise. Enjoy a decadent lunch onboard made from fresh local ingredients you cruise by the beautiful and quaint villages.

Early in the afternoon we arrive at Surprise Cave - one of the most spectacular and largest grottoes of Halong Bay. The mouth of the grotto is reached by ascending about a hundred stone steps.

Enjoy dinner on board of local Vietnamese specialties before retiring for the evening.  Alternately, you may wish to enjoy the ship’s evening activities including squid fishing on the boat with help from the crew.

Start your morning by enjoying sunrise Tai Chi class upon the sundeck as day breaks on the calm lagoon. You will be then transferred by tender to the Titov Island. Spend time on the island, allowing time to climb to the peak for a breathtaking 360 degree view of the Bay (there is also an expansive viewing deck half way up). After the climb, there is time left to relax on the beach and have a swim.

Once back on board, enjoy a full breakfast and relax in the dining room and lounge or on the deck enjoying your last views of the bay before disembarking at midday. From here, we drive to Hanoi Airport (approximately 3.5 hrs drive) for our included flight south to Hue and transfer to your luxury resort for the next two nights. 

Your 5-star resort is ideally located in the quiet countryside in a rustic village setting surrounded by lush tranquil gardensand embodies the subtle and unique connection of treasured traditional style and Vietnamese modern art vibrancy.

Once checked in, the rest of the afternoon and evening is at leisure. Enjoy the resort facilities or simply relax and take in the soothing natural environment and local culture. 

Enjoy a delicious breakfast before boarding a local dragon boat for a tranquil cruise along the famous Perfume River. The river borne the name “Huong” (Perfume) for over a century as a result of flowers from upstream orchards dropping into the water during the autumn giving it a strong floral sent.We take the cruise to the iconic Thien Mu Pagoda and then take a road transfer to visit to the Imperial City. Established as the capital of unified Vietnam in 1802 CE this historic city is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Centre and retains many architectural works, temples, and palaces.

Following this, we visit the nearby village of Thuy Bieu well-known for its rustic ancient houses and gardens before returning to our luxury resort for an afternoon of leisure and relaxation. 

Enjoy breakfast at the resort before transferring by road to the beautiful heritage town of Hoi An. En route we stop by the picturesque  Lap An Lagoon for some amazing photo opportunities as well as the famous Hai Van Pass.

On arrival into Hoi An, we check into our luxury 5-star resort perfectly located only a short walk from the ancient town. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure to relax and make the most of the hotel’s beautiful facilities or take a short walk and wander the ancient streets and canals of this well preserved town.

This evening enjoy an Inspiring Taste as you join a cooking class and learn to make one of  Hoi An's traditional dishes: the white rose dumpling. Following your class, enjoy a delicious dinner before returning to the hotel.

This morning enjoy a guided walking tour through the narrow cobblestone streets of the Old Quarter and spend time mingling with local vendors at the Hoi An Market. Previously known as Faifo, Hoi An was once the most important trading port in the region. Now designated a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the city is one of the best places to discover well-preserved Vietnamese architecture.  

The rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy as you please. As the sun goes down the city lights up with a sea of colourful lanterns, giving Hoi An the moniker 'City of Lanterns' and making for a thoroughly photogenic and romantic atmosphere.

Enjoy breakfast before we transfer to the airport for our included flight Ho Chi Minh City, commonly known as Saigon. On arrival, you are transferred to your luxury 5-star hotel located in the heart of this exciting city.

This afternoon, enjoy a guided tour where we visit some of the city’s most visit of Ho Chi Minh City, including; Dong Khoi Street, the city's major thoroughfare connecting French colonial architecture with modern skyscrapers,the beautiful and iconic Saigon Central Post Office with its perfect combination of Neo-classical European architecture and Asian influences,and the War Remnant’s Museum which holds 20,000 documents, artefacts, and films around the brutal truth of the Vietnam War and its long-lasting traumatic consequences.

Return to the hotel where the rest of the evening is at leisure.

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart bustle of Ho Chi Minh City and head to Ben Tre Ben, a beautiful tranquil province in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam known for its lush green landscapes, winding rivers, and friendly locals. On arrival, we board a boat and cruise along the mighty Mekong taking in scenic canals, islands, floating villages and seeing locals going about their daily lives. The cruise will stop at a local bricks factory and a coconut workshop before disembarking to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

Following lunch, we return to Ho Chi Minh City where the rest of the afternoon and evening is at leisure.

Your tour concludes at the hotel after breakfast. At the appropriate time make your own way to the airport for your onward flight.  

A private departure transfer to the airport can be booked at an additional charge.  Further details can be found under the ‘Upgrade Options’.