Transferring in from the airport we check in and look forward to our forthcoming trip.

We start with a full-day city sightseeing tour of Hanoi taking in the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, the Temple of Literature, Museum of Ethnology, Ngoc Son Temple, band a fascinating one hour cyclo tour through the Old Quarter.

Later we take night train to start our journey to Sapa; our accommodation for tonight is a soft sleeper berth night train to Lao Cai.

Today we start with a trek to the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat, Ta Van and Cau May. As we walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa we will no doubt meet some of the local ethnic minority people on their way to and from Sapa. These minority people, including the Red Zao, Hmong and Tay people, walk to Sapa to trade at the markets.

Today our morning exercise involves climbing up Ham Rong Mountain for a panoramic view of Sapa and its environs. After lunch time we drive out of town and commence an hour-long walk to Ta Phin, home to the distinctive Dao (pronounced Zao) community. Later return to Lao Cai station for night-train back to Hanoi.

We arrive early from Sapa, head to our hotel and after freshening up set off for Ninh Binh for an exploration of its famous sites. We spend an hour visiting the Dinh and Le sanctuaries and then move on to Tam Coc for a boat trip along the Boi River before returning to the ancient capital of Hoa Lu for the night.

After checking out we drive to Halong Bayand board our traditional junk. We enjoy lunch on deck as we set sail around the magnificent scenery of the bay, its limestone karst scenery spellbinding. Today is about relaxation – swimming and sunbathing and enjoying a cold drink as you chill out.

This morning we continue to cruise the bay finding secluded areas to either swim or kayak with the junk near us at all times serving as a base. At around midday we return to the main harbour before transferring to our waiting vehicle for the 3-hour journey back to Hanoi. We should be back in the capital at around 4pm.

We have a free day in the city today. You can walk, shop in and around the Old Quarter or visit a local market to see more of daily life. In the late afternoon there will be a transfer to the airport for our flight to Hue.

We begin with a trip to the ancient walled Citadel, closely modelled along the lines of the Forbidden City in Beijing anf which contains the former Imperial Palace. Following a tour of the Emperor's residence we make a trip into the surrounding countryside to see the final resting place of the Emperors by visiting two of the most impressive Royal NguyenTombs then, in the late afternoon, we have a cruise on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda.

This morning we set off south travelling over the dramatic Hai Van Pass to Hoi An. En route we visit Danang’s Cham Museum to see relics from this important period in Vietnam’s history.

In Hoi An after lunch our guide will take us on a walk through the narrow winding streets of the old quarter visiting the various assembly halls, ancestral homes, the Japanese Covered Bridge and well-preserved pagodas that make Hoi An such a fascinating town.

Located 60 km from Danang, and do-able from Hoi An My Son is considered one of the best-preserved Cham sites in Vietnam. This site is a must-see for those who are interested in the architecture of ancient civilizations being one of five World Heritage Sites in Vietnam.

A free day to explore further. You can wander the town, head down to the market, explore neighbouring villages by local ferry boat and bike or head to Cua Dai ‘China’ beach – with a long stretch of sandy beach and the warm sun you can easily spend the whole day relaxing, enjoying the seafood restaurants that can be found all along the coast.

Today we head south to the beachside town of Nha Trang. There’s a great stretch of sand here and many off-shore islands dot the coast making it a draw for local tourists as well as overseas visitors.

We head out from our hotel heading for Cau Da, Nha Trang’s colourful port. Setting off by boat we first visit Nguyen Aquarium on Mieu Island to see some of the many marine species of the Nha Trang coast. Heading to Mun Island we quickly find it’s the best place for snorkelling with lots of vibrant corals and fishes. A visit to a fishing village is also on our to-do list along with a fresh lunch. On our way back to the port we’ll be able to see the caves in which the sea swallows make their nest.

Nha Trang is famous for its glorious beach and this morning we have time to enjoy it before we fly south to the capital.

This morning we set out to explore the Mekong Delta starting first with the visit to Cai Be floating market. Next we visit some cottage industries to see such crafts as rice-paste making, rice popcorn, coco candies and the longan drying process. Continue our cruise along the Mekong’s canals we arrive in Dong Hoa Hiep, an island located between Vinh Long and Cai Be before we arrive in Can Tho for our overnight stay in the watery Delta region.

Rising early to the sounds of the Delta coming to life for another day we enjoy breakfast before boarding our boat to visit Cai Rang floating market and fruit gardens of Can Tho. Following this we meet with our vehicle for the return drive to Saigon.

Today we head out of the city once again, this time heading for the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. Before entering the tunnels we watch a short introductory video showing how the tunnels were constructed and used by the Viet Cong forces who made amazing underground communities on the very doorstep of the south Vietnamese forces. We then spend the next hour exploring the maze of tunnels.

Back to Saigon we have free time till in the evening when our guide takes brings you out to see Saigon by night, a look at traditional and modern Saigon and a visit to one of the most popular restaurants among Saigon’s trendy locals and expatriates.

From the restaurant we continue to Si Hoang, a famous tea-salon that presents the creations of a Vietnamese fashion designer. Si-Hoang is known for inventing the “modern” Vietnamese ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress), by making it more suitable to modern life, without removing its traditional gracefulness. In an unforgettable atmosphere, enjoy floral scented tea, traditional music and a fashion show of Vietnamese ao dai and ethnic costumes, all designed or restored by Si Hoang.

The Ao Dai show finishes at about 22:00; you can either chose to drive back for a peaceful rest or head to the lively Mylano lounge. Here you can relax in the comfortable sofas while enjoying a live band playing the latest jazz and pop songs – another side of Saigon!

Having found our feet over the last few days today has been left free for personal exploration. We recommend a visit to Cholon, Saigon’s Chinatown and home to many markets and Chinese temples.

We will say goodbye after breakfast and you have time to do your last shopping before we check out and transfer to airport for the flight home.