Meet & greet: Upon arrival at Hanoi airport you will be welcomed to Vietnam by your private English speaking guide, and then transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day will be free at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Sofitel Metropole Hotel (Premium Room)

Morning tour of Hanoi: Today's tour of Hanoi starts with a visit to the 900 year old Temple of Literature, Vietnam's principal Confucian sanctuary and its historical centre of learning. Continue to the Soviet style Ba Dinh Square where Ho Chi Minh read out the declaration of the nation's independence in 1945. Visit the museum dedicated to Ho Chi Minh before passing through the mausoleum. 

Afternoon at leisure in Hanoi: This afternoon you have some time at leisure to explore the Vietnamese capital independently. Stroll around the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake, take in a water puppet show, go shopping in the Old Quarter, or sample some of Hanoi’s many culinary delights.

Special Dinner: This evening you will be taken for dinner at the charming Green Tangerine Restaurant which serves French fusion cuisine. The restaurant is set in a restored French colonial style building that dates from 1928, and is somewhat of an oasis in the heart of the chaotic Old Quarter. Green Tangerine specializes in modern French fare with a Vietnamese twist, so you can expect stylishly presented dishes bursting with flavour.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Sofitel Metropole Hotel (Premium Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Seaplane transfer & scenic flight: This morning you will be transferred to the airport to board a 12 seater Cessna seaplane for the short flight to Halong Bay, which includes a 15 minute scenic flight around the offshore islands.

Private Halong Bay Cruise on the L'Amour Junk: Board your private boat the l'Amour Junk in time for lunch, and set sail across the bay. Cruise to the famous islands of Halong Bay and onto Bai Tu Long Bay. Here there are opportunities to visit caves, swim and explore the beautiful area by kayak. Return to your private boat in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Stay tonight on board the private L'Amour Junk

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Private Halong Bay Cruise on the l'Amour Junk: After breakfast, transfer with a small private crew to the comfortable day-trip boat to cruise to the bay's most untouched areas. Enjoy swimming in deliciously cool, emerald-green water; basking on quiet beaches and exploring tunnels and caves cut into the rock. Soak up the vibrant atmosphere as you cruise around fishing villages, or take in things at your own pace in a kayak. Lunch will be served on board by your private chef before you return to the Halong Princess for the night.

Accommodation: Stay tonight on board the private L'Amour Junk

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Halong Bay cruise: After some morning activities enjoy brunch on board. Disembark the Princess Junk late morning.

Road journey from Halong Bay to Hanoi: Upon arrival at the quay you will be met by your private guide and transferred back to Hanoi. En-route you will stop off at the Phu Lang ‘ceramic village' where the villagers have been practicing this traditional craft for generations. Continue to Hanoi airport in time to catch your onward flight.

Flight: VN1545 Hanoi - Hue 18.30 - 19.40

Private transfer: On arrival in Hue, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel to check in.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Azerai La Residence Hue (Deluxe Riverview Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Morning visit to Dong Ba market and the Imperial Citadel: This morning, stroll around the hectic Dong Ba Market with your guide. The market is best explored in the morning when a sea of conical hats, colourful fabrics, produce of every description and an array of vendors offering delights for the senses await you. Continue to the Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City nearby. Modelled on the Forbidden City in Beijing by the Nguyen emperors in the early 19th century, the city was badly damaged during the war but the imposing city walls, surrounded by a large moat, afford good views of Hué. The palace retains a feeling of its past scale and importance, with detailed stonework and pavilions and it is at the moment in the process of being restored to its former magnificence.

Afternoon tour of the Royal Mausoleums, Thien Mu Pagoda & Perfume River sunset cruise: This afternoon visit the Royal Mausoleums, the final resting places of the Nguyen Emperors, which are dotted around the hills surrounding the south bank of the Perfume River. Continue to Thien Mu Pagoda, sitting on the riverbank outside the city, this octagonal seven tier stupa has long been regarded as the symbol of Hué and was founded in 1601. It is still a site of Buddhist worship and its huge bell is said to be audible from the city. In the late afternoon, enjoy a cruise downstream to watch the sunset on the Perfume River, named after the tree resins and blossoms it carries on its way to the Pacific.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Azerai La Residence Hue (Deluxe Riverview Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Hue to Hoi An: You will be driven south, along Highway 1, to Hoi An, a journey of approximately 3 hours. Soon the highway meets the Hai Van Pass (meaning Pass of the Ocean Clouds). There are some spectacular vista points and photo opportunities en-route as the Truong Son mountain range cuts across the narrow centre of the country. The mountain range has created a barrier to the cold airstreams from the north which often results in thick cloudbanks over the peaks. The pass has been a strategic military focal point during Vietnam's turbulent history and from the top there are views of the curve of Danang Bay. En route pass through the port city of Danang with the option of stopping to see the famous 'Danang Beach' before continuing south to Hoi An where you will check-in to your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Anantara Hoi An Resort (Deluxe Garden View Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Days at leisure: You have time to relax. Alternatively, there are opportunities to visit the beach, cycle in some beautiful countryside, visit the ruins at My Son, discover the artists of Hoi An or see a tailor to get some clothes made. 

Accommodation: Stay these nights at the Anantara Hoi An Resort (Deluxe Garden View Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Private transfer: After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to Danang airport for your flight to Nha Trang.

Flight: VN1943 Danang - Nha Trang 13.15 - 14.25

Private Transfer: You will be met at the airport and transferred to the boat jetty by private car.

Shared boat transfer: Join a shared speedboat transfer to the Six Senses Ninh Van Bay. On arrival check into your villa and enjoy the rest of the day to relax by the beach.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Six Senses Hideaway Resort Ninh Van Bay (Beach Pool Villa)

Meals: Breakfast

Days at leisure: Free days to relax in the Six Senses Hideaway. Activities can be arranged through you hotel including a variety of watersports such as scuba diving.

Accommodation: Stay these nights at the Six Senses Hideaway Resort Ninh Van Bay (Beach Pool Villa)

Meals: Breakfast

Shared boat transfer: After a leisurely morning join a shared speedboat transfer this afternoon to the boat jetty at Nha Trang.

Private Transfer: Upon arrival at the jetty transfer to Nha Trang airport in time for your flight to London, via Saigon.

Flight: VN1562 Nha Trang - Hanoi 19.55 - 21.45 

Meals: Breakfast