Halong, Hoi An & the Mekong - 9 Days

After clearing immigration and collecting your luggage, you meet your driver and continue into the city centre. Your hotel sits on the western side of the Old Quarter, a quieter and more traditional part of Hanoi. Rooms are available from 14.00, though an early check-in can be arranged at a surcharge. Settle in, refresh and take some time to rest.

In the late afternoon we meet our guide in the hotel lobby and take a short walk to a nearby bia hoi, one of Hanoi’s informal pavement pubs, to sample a glass of the city’s beloved fresh beer. Dinner and the rest of the evening are at leisure.

This morning we set out from the hotel for a varied and engaging look at the capital. A short transfer brings us to Hoan Kiem Lake, where we board an electric buggy for an original ride around the Old Quarter and the lake area. We pass landmarks including the Opera House, the Cathedral and one of the last remaining city gates before ending at Dong Xuan Market for a brief wander.

We then continue on foot along Phan Dinh Phung, one of Hanoi’s most elegant avenues, shaded by old trees and lined with handsome villas. We pause for a coffee or juice and carry on past the Northern Gate of the Citadel and Cua Bac Church, which together add a useful historical thread to the walk.

Our stroll concludes at a traditional rice restaurant where we sit down to a simple but authentic family-style meal.

After lunch we transfer to the Temple of Literature. Here our guide leads us through the courtyards of Vietnam’s first national university and explains the country’s long-standing relationship with Confucian values.

As we leave the temple, you choose how to spend the rest of the afternoon. You may join another urban walk through narrow alleys, a lively street market and a stretch of railway-side neighbourhoods, stopping for a drink at an old khu tap the, one of Hanoi’s classic working-class blocks. Or you may head instead to the Ho Chi Minh complex to see the grounds surrounding the Mausoleum, the simple wooden house on stilts and the One-Pillar Pagoda, followed by a glass of fresh bia hoi.

We return to the hotel around late afternoon, with the remainder of the day at leisure

Hanoi - Halong Bay. Be ready to depart from the hotel lobby between 8.20 and 9.00 for a shared transfer to Ha Long City.

On arrival we complete check-in formalities and board our overnight boat. A welcome drink is served before we begin cruising into the limestone-studded waters of the bay while lunch is served on board.

During the afternoon we reach a quieter corner of the archipelago and have time to relax, sunbathe or explore, depending on the season and the weather. As evening approaches, we gather on deck for sunset, perhaps with an aperitif or by joining a cooking demonstration before dinner.

Halong Bay - Hue. Early risers may join a Tai Chi session on deck as dawn lights the bay. We continue exploring with a visit to one of the caves before returning to the boat, checking out of cabins and enjoying a generous brunch as the cruise makes its way back to the wharf.

Late morning we disembark and join the shared transfer back to Hanoi. On arrival we continue without a guide to the airport for the flight south to Hue.

In Hue we are met and transferred to our hotel, located inside the historic Citadel.

Hue - Hoi An. This morning we walk through the Purple Forbidden City, once home to Vietnam’s emperors. Over roughly an hour we gain a clearer picture of royal life during the Nguyen dynasty, entering through the southern gate and exiting at the northern one. We pause at a small café for a refreshing drink.

We then continue with a traditional rickshaw ride through the wider Imperial City. Although many think only of the inner Forbidden City, the surrounding citadel encloses an entire town with lakes, avenues, residences and local shops. We sit back as daily life unfolds around us, then ride on towards Kim Long village, once home to mandarins who served the court.

Around midday we visit a long-running family eatery to try Hue’s famous banh dishes, delicate steamed dumplings that are a hallmark of the region.

After lunch we begin the drive to Hoi An, following the scenic Hai Van Pass, often cited as one of the world’s most beautiful coastal roads.

We start the morning with an orientation walk through Hoi An’s old town, following our guide along photogenic streets lined with ochre buildings. Reaching the market, we meet the chef who leads our upcoming cooking class. Together we explore the lively stalls to learn about the herbs and spices that shape Vietnamese cuisine.

Leaving the market we board a boat for a short cruise to a small farm on an island in the Thu Bon River. Here we enjoy a hands-on cookery session and sit down to the dishes we have prepared. Afterwards we return to the hotel by boat.

The rest of the day is at leisure, whether you choose the beach or the ancient town.

Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh. We transfer without a guide to Danang Airport for a midday flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival we are welcomed and transferred towards District 1. Your luggage continues to the hotel by vehicle, while you may hop off earlier for a guided 2 km walk to see key colonial-era buildings such as the Central Post Office, the Continental Hotel, the Opera House and City Hall.

The walk concludes at the hotel. Check in, settle into your room and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Known as Vietnam’s rice bowl, the Mekong Delta is a fertile region shaped by waterways, rice fields and a rich rural culture. We leave the city at 8.00 and, after about two and a half hours, reach a quieter, less visited area roughly 30 km from the river’s mouth.

Here we board a private boat to explore. Throughout the day we meet local residents, learn about their livelihoods and travel through peaceful delta scenery. After visiting a small factory we continue to a little island for lunch at a family-run guesthouse.

In the afternoon we stop at a honey-bee farm before cycling narrow island paths. A visit to a local farm allows us to learn the secret of Sâm jelly and sample it. We then drift through a section of thick mangrove by sampan before meeting our driver for the return to Ho Chi Minh City.

We meet our guide at 8.00 for an original look at several of Saigon’s most characterful districts. Beginning in District 3, we visit the city’s oldest café, opened in 1938, for a drink before stepping into the bustle of a huge street market. We follow the crowds past food carts and vendors to reach Chung Cu, a cluster of old residential blocks that reflect everyday life little changed since the 1960s.

From here we move into the Ho Thi Ky area, famous for its flower market and its narrow lanes, as well as its Khmer snacks that gained popularity in the 1990s. After tasting a local treat we continue into District 10, where every corner reveals another slice of city life. Our morning ends on one of Saigon’s most famous street-food streets, where we stop for lunch.

We then transfer to the airport and say our goodbyes.