French architecture and tree-lined boulevards contrast with age-old traditions and a fast-paced lifestyle in Hanoi.

Sail around the limestone karsts and explore stalactite-encrusted caves, before sharing a hearty seafood lunch on deck. Spend one night at sea, then head to jungle-clad Cat Ba, one of the few inhabited islands in Halong Bay. Discover fishing villages, trek through a national park or sip a beer on the beach.

Take a river boat to the isolated mountain village of Hua Shan. Visit a huge cliff-face fresco painted by the ancestors of the Zhuang people some 2,000 years ago.

Nestled on the banks of the Willow River, Liuzhou features peaceful parks and the impressive Baota Shan seven-storey pagodas.

Stop to admire the waterwheels that lazily flood the paddy fields surrounding the village. Explore the area using the exquisite Dong 'wind and rain' bridges that cross many of the waterways in Chengyang.

Soaring high into the sky, the Longji rice terraces are an awesome sight. Hike along the tiny stone paths that connect the remote villages of the Zhuang and Yao people. The terraces change with the seasons, from lush green in spring to white and frosty in winter.

Cycle through landscapes straight out of a classic Chinese painting. Ancient villages, delicate bridges, local markets and dramatic countryside make Yangshuo a real trip highlight.

Energetic Hong Kong is an exhilarating fusion of east and west. Cruise the harbour, shop at Stanley Market or admire the skyscrapers from above at Victoria Peak.