Day 1: Ha Noi

Welcome to Hanoi and the start of your holiday! Upon arrival you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the city, with its picturesque tree-lined avenues, scenic lakes, ancient pagodas and bustling old town, all which are easily accessible by foot.

Day 2: Junk boat cruising, Halong Bay

Hanoi – Halong Bay. Take a moment to picture in your mind some two thousand rugged karst islands dappled with lush vegetation seeming to float on top of pristine emerald coloured waters and you have the natural wonder that is Halong Bay. This morning a scenic drive will take us to this beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site where we will enjoy a junk boat cruise. Based on traditional designs, these wonderful vessels combine oriental style with modern luxury. Soak up the panoramic views from the sundeck as the boat gently plies its course, opt for a swim in the divine waters or hop in a row boat and visit 'Dark & Bright Lagoon'. Tonight, there's a Vietnamese cooking demonstration held on the sundeck before an impressive seafood dinner is served – delicious for even the pickiest of eaters!

Day 3: Hidden grottoes, Halong Bay

Halong Bay - Hanoi - Hue. Wake up to the peaceful serenity of Halong Bay this morning, followed by a calming Tai Chi class on the sundeck or a traditional Vietnamese massage. After exploring a hidden grotto beneath towering cliffs, we will sail to the port for our journey back to Hanoi. Arriving back in the capital we will enjoy a cyclo (rickshaw) ride through the famous Old Quarter, made up of an complex maze of intertwining alleyways and backstreets lined with small houses, handicraft workshops and street food vendors, for a quintessential Vietnamese experience. Later its back to the hotel for some time to refresh and relax before heading to the trains station in the evening to board our overnight journey (4 berth sleeper cabin, basic standard) to Hue on the Express railway line.

Day 4: Imperial Hue

Upon arrival in Hue we will set out on a guided sightseeing tour of this fascinating imperial city. Once the capital of the Nguyen emperors, the last ruling family of Vietnam, UNESCO-listed Hue is full of palaces, pagodas and temples. Two of the main highlights here are the Thien Mu Pagoda, home to the oldest monastery in the city, and the Citadel. Within the walls of the latter is the Imperial Purple Palace – an exact replica of the famed Forbidden City in Beijing, with impressive ramparts, formal moats and imperial palaces, some of which lay in ruin. Outside of the city we will visit the Royal Tombs of the erstwhile Nguyen kings, including the extravagant mausoleums of the two emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. In the evening there will be the chance to opt for a peaceful long boat cruise along the Perfume River as the sun sets and the river banks become illuminated by the dark of nightfall.

Day 5: Delightful Hoi An

Hue - Road of the Ocean Clouds - Hoi An. Today we will travel on to the laidback riverside town of Hoi An, travelling through the picturesque Hai Van Pass – nicknamed the Road of the Ocean Clouds, with beaches on one side and verdant hills on the other. We will break up our journey with a stop at China Beach, an expansive sandy beach made famous by the film ‘Apocalypse Now’. Here there will be the chance to opt for a swim in its warm waters before continuing our journey south along the coast. Radiating age-old charm with grand colonial architecture, Hoi An is one of Vietnam's most delightful destinations. The Old Town, recognised as an UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an immaculately preserved example of an Asian trading port with covered bridges, pagodas, temples and merchant houses. The town's beguiling riverside setting adds to the overall picturesque appeal of Hoi An with women in conical hats rowing their wooden vessels downstream and the glow of red lanterns in the evenings reflected on the water's iridescent surface. A short walking tour will take us to a bygone era, with a visit to the Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Hall, a 200-year-old Tam Ky house, former merchants’ homes and the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge.

Day 6: Village Life

For a taste of provincial life, today we will take a bicycle ride out of Hoi An to Tra Que village, famed for its traditional farming practises and rural atmosphere. Here enjoy a hands-on day for all the family, tending to the fields and gardens, before taking a lesson in preparation of traditional Vietnamese cuisine. Later enjoy your culinary masterpiece while soaking up the clean air and country views.

Day 7: Hoi An - at leisure

oday is free for you to spend as you choose. You may wish to head to the beach for a day of relaxation or hit the town for some serious shopping - the streets of Hoi An are overflowing with tailor shops where you can get your own silk suit made exclusively! Hoi An is also something of a culinary mecca with classy restaurants for those who prefer their food served to them and local cooking schools for those who enjoy getting their hands dirty. Alternatively, those seeking a little more culture or history can opt to visit My Son – one of Vietnam’s holiest and most evocative Cham sites, or Quang Ngai – the site of the My Lai massacre memorial.

Day 8: Saigon

Hoi An - Saigon. An early morning flight will take us to Saigon today. Once called the ‘Pearl of the Orient’, old and new collide in this modern city as gleaming sky scrapers, glamorous restaurants and designer shops stand side-by-side with colonial era landmarks and post-war remnants. Here we will enjoy a walking tour of the city taking in some of Saigon’s most famous landmarks, including the impressive red-brick Neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral, the central Post Office and the sobering War Remnants Museum. Spend the remainder of the evening at your own leisure – Saigon has plenty of fun to offer all ages!

Day 9: Saigon

This morning is free for you to do some last minute shopping or sightseeing before your departure transfer to the airport in the afternoon. Why not opt for a relaxing foot massage, bargain for goods at Ben Thanh Market or visit the grand Independence Palace. Alternatively, those with a bit more time to spare can extend their stay and opt to join us on a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels, where there will be the chance to explore a vast network of underground tunnels and hideouts that were used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. Learn about booby traps, climb through trap doors, or even test your skills with an AK 47 at the firing range!