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.

Afternoon cyclo tour of the Old Quarter: The best way to explore the picturesque area of the Old Quarter is by "cyclo" (a three-wheeled bicycle taxi). Also known as the "36 Streets District", it was once the thriving commercial centre of the city. Each of the 36 short lanes used to specialise in a particular trade represented by one of the guilds. This is still reflected in the names of certain streets: like Silk Street, Gold Street and Fish Street. Among the ancient homes and attractive temples there is a multitude of tantalising souvenir shops.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Hotel de l’Opera (Deluxe Room)

Morning tour of Hanoi: After breakfast, start your tour of Hanoi with a visit to the 900 year old Temple of Literature, Vietnam's principal Confucian sanctuary and its historical centre of learning. Made up of five courtyards, this is one of the few remnants of the original city. Continue to the Soviet style Ba Dinh Square where Ho Chi Minh read out the declaration of the nation's independence in 1945. After a look around the square your guide will take you through the Museum there, which is dedicated to Ho Chi Minh. After your excursion you will be taken to ‘Pho Thin', one of the oldest and most atmospheric ‘Pho' Restaurants in Vietnam where you will enjoy a traditional lunch of beef noodle soup (Pho).

Afternoon at leisure: 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 Hotel de l’Opera (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Road journey from Hanoi to Halong Bay: This morning you will be met at your hotel and driven for approximately 3 hours through the Red River Delta to the coast and the Gulf of Tonkin, where the waters of Halong Bay are found.

Halong Bay Cruise: On arrival in Halong board the Halong Violet in time for lunch, and set sail across the bay. After lunch take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay. There will also be the opportunity for swimming on a quiet beach or sunbathing on the sundeck of the Halong Violet. In the late afternoon there will be an excursion to a local fishing village, and a water tunnel. Return to the boat in time for a pre-dinner drink as the sun is setting.

Accommodation: Stay tonight on board the Halong Violet Cruise (Deluxe Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Halong Bay Cruise: Enjoy an early breakfast and then visit Luon Cave on a small bamboo boat. Afterwards return to the junk and this morning's cruise takes you to Man's Head Island and Tortoise Island. After seeing these amazing rock formations return to the quay in Halong City around midday.

Road journey to Hanoi Airport: 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: VN181 Hanoi – Danang 16.30 - 17.50

Private transfer: On arrival at Danang airport you will be met by your private guide and driver and transferred to your hotel in Hoi An to check in.

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

Meals: Brunch

Full day cycling tour: After breakfast you will be picked up at your hotel for a full day's exploration of Hoi An's indigenous culture by bicycle. Visit the market which is noisy and bustling in the morning with lots of vendors arriving from the jetty with their goods. Continue the cycling tour through village roads and past paddy fields. Cycling gives you a good chance to see local houses on the way and witness local daily life. You will learn how the rural people earn their living looking after animals such as buffalo, cows, pigs, and poultry. Lunch will be taken at a local restaurant. After lunch board a boat with the bicycles and head back to Hoi An. This short boat ride takes you through small hamlets on the banks of the river which produce traditional local products such as woodwork, pottery, silk and fish sauce. End the day with an optional drink at a riverside café, after which you will return to your hotel.

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

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 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 tonight at the Anantara Hoi An Resort (Deluxe Garden View Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Private transfer: After a leisurely start this morning your guide and driver will transfer you to the airport.

Flight: VN1943 Danang – Nha Trang 13.15 - 14.25

Private transfer: On arrival in Nha Trang airport you will be met at the airport and taken to the l’Alyana lounge in Nha Trang City (around an hour away). From here, you will take a shared speedboat ride of around 20 minutes to the secluded resort in Ninh Van Bay.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the l’Alyana Ninh Van Bay (Hill Rock Villa)

Meals: Breakfast

Days at leisure: You have a couple of days free at leisure to relax by the beach at your hotel in the secluded Ninh Van Bay. Nha Trang City is just a short boat ride across the bay.

Accommodation: Stay at the l’Alyana Ninh Van Bay (Hill Rock Villa)

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel transfer: At the appropriate time you will be transferred by boat and road from your hotel to the airport for your flight to Saigon.

Flight: VN1351 Nha Trang - Saigon 12.15 - 13.10

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

Afternoon at leisure in Ho Chi Minh City: This afternoon you have time at leisure in this bustling Asian metropolis. Relax at your hotel, or explore independently. Great shopping opportunities can be found in busy Ben Thanh market as well as numerous glitzy modern malls, while great food can be found on every corner either on the street or in a number of fantastic upmarket restaurants.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Caravelle Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Morning tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels: After breakfast travel out of the city to the Cu Chi Tunnels. This vast network of tunnels, stretching for over 150 kilometres, was built by the Viet Cong in the battles for the South. The tunnels are a sobering insight into the dedication of the Viet Cong who virtually lived in the narrow and claustrophobic tunnels whilst the war raged. Nearby, a chilling demonstration of the traps and weapons that were used against the Americans is given. The Cu Chi tunnels have been widened in places for visitors, however they can still be dark, hot and claustrophobic inside so please bear this in mind if you do not like enclosed spaces.

Lunch at Quan An Ngon Restaurant: For an authentic Vietnamese dining experience you will have lunch at the Quan An Ngon restaurant. Quan An Ngon has become a Saigon institution, and is always packed with both locals and tourists. The atmosphere is chaotic: a cacophony of laughing, chattering guests, shouting waiters, and clanging pots and pans. Seating is a mix of regular table dining in the central courtyard, or on the balcony. The main building is surrounded by cooking stations, each serving a regional specialty.

Afternoon tour of Saigon: This afternoon, you will visit some of Saigon's historic landmarks including the 1880's General Post Office and the former Presidential Palace which was once headquarters for the Saigon Government during the "American War". Next visit the late 19th century Notre Dame Cathedral, located in a peaceful part of the city, and the War Remnants Museum.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Caravelle Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Private transfer to your cruise boat: This morning you will be transferred to the Song Xanh Sampan in Cai Be, about 2 hours drive from Ho Chi Minh City.

Mekong Delta Cruise: Upon arrival in Cai Be you will embark the private Sampan boat and settle in to your cabin. Set off to Cai Be's colourful floating market where you will cruise alongside local barges full of fruit and vegetables. Later this morning a shore excursion is made to an ancient mandarin house dating from 1890, and some local home factories where you will observe how rice paste and other local specialties are made. Proceed to the picturesque setting of Phu An village where a delicious lunch will await you at a riverside Indochinese villa surrounded by a lush tropical gardens. After lunch return to your sampan and cruise to Sa Dec along the Tien Giang River which is one of the two main arteries of the Mekong. Travel past evergreen Mekong islands and networks of meandering rivers, and continue through a small canal through water jacinth plantations. Here there is the opportunity to take a small rowing boat along a narrow canal passing by small villages and fruit plantations. As you continue down the river dark smoke in the sky will lead you to one of the largest artisan brick and tile factories.

Accommodation: Stay tonight on board the Song Xanh Sampan (Private Cruise)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Mekong Delta Cruise: Breakfast will be served on board as you approach Cai Rang, the largest floating market on the Mekong. The seemingly chaotic gathering is mostly large boats wholesaling vegetables and fruit, but there are also local traders selling groceries to the larger boats. Weave around the vessels and observe the frenzied trading. At around 10 am your cruise ends at Ninh Kieu pier where you will be met by your guide and driver.

Road journey to Ho Chi Minh City: This afternoon you will return to Ho Chi Minh City by road, a journey of around 2-3 hours.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Caravelle Hotel (Deluxe Room).

Meals: Breakfast

Day at leisure: Today you have a full day at leisure in Ho Chi Minh City to catch up on some last minute sightseeing or souvenir shopping.

Private transfer: At the appropriate time today you will be collected from your hotel by your guide, and transferred to Ho Chi Minh City Airport in time for your onward flight.

Meals: Breakfast