Vietnam: From Emerald Bays to Ancient Towns

Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport and transfer privately to your hotel in the atmospheric Old Quarter. After freshening up, step out into Hanoi's extraordinary street life — vendors balancing bamboo poles laden with fruit, motorbikes weaving past century-old shophouses, and the aroma of grilled pork and fresh herbs wafting from every corner.

Welcome dinner at a renowned Hanoi restaurant. Taste the city's signature dishes — phở bò (beef noodle soup), bún chả (grilled pork with noodles), and bánh mì — washed down with a cold Bia Hà Nội. Afterwards, enjoy an atmospheric cyclo ride through the lantern-lit Old Quarter streets.

Guided tour of Hanoi's cultural landmarks — the serene Temple of Literature (Vietnam's first university, founded in 1070), the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, the One Pillar Pagoda, and the elegant Presidential Palace surrounded by gardens.

Explore Hoan Kiem Lake and the charming Ngoc Son Temple, reached by a graceful red bridge. Visit the vibrant Dong Xuan Market — a sensory overload of spices, fabrics, and local delicacies. Stop for egg coffee (cà phê trứng) at a legendary Hanoi café — a unique local invention.

Attend a traditional water puppet show — a uniquely Vietnamese art form dating back to the 11th century, featuring wooden puppets performing on a water stage. Dinner at a fine-dining restaurant blending modern Vietnamese and French colonial influences.

Depart Hanoi and drive east through the Red River Delta — lush rice paddies, water buffalo, and conical-hatted farmers. Arrive at Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site of nearly 2,000 limestone islands and islets rising from emerald waters.

Board your luxury junk boat and set sail. Cruise past towering karsts draped in greenery, through hidden lagoons, and past floating fishing villages. Kayak through sea caves, swim in secluded bays, or simply recline on deck as the scenery unfolds.

Watch the sunset paint the limestone formations in shades of gold and rose. Enjoy a seafood dinner on board — prawns, squid, crab, and fresh fish — as the boat anchors in a tranquil cove under a sky thick with stars.

Rise early for tai chi on the sundeck as mist swirls around the karsts — a profoundly peaceful start to the day. Enjoy breakfast on board, then visit a pearl farm and explore Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave, one of the largest and most spectacular grottoes in the bay.

Disembark and transfer to Hanoi's airport for a short domestic flight to Da Nang, on Vietnam's central coast. Drive to Hoi An, a beautifully preserved UNESCO Ancient Town of lantern-lit lanes, Japanese bridges, Chinese assembly halls, and French-colonial shophouses.

Stroll the lantern-lit streets of Hoi An's riverside old town. Release a floating lantern on the Thu Bon River for good luck, and enjoy dinner at a riverside restaurant — try cao lầu (Hoi An's signature noodle dish) and white rose dumplings.

Join a hands-on Vietnamese cooking class — visit the vibrant morning market to select fresh herbs, vegetables, and spices, then learn to prepare classic dishes: fresh spring rolls, bánh xèo (sizzling pancakes), and Hoi An's own cao lầu. Enjoy your creations for lunch.

Guided walking tour of Hoi An's Ancient Town — the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge, centuries-old Chinese assembly halls, the Phung Hung merchant house, and local craft workshops. Hoi An is also famous for its tailors — have a custom suit, dress, or shoes made to measure (often ready within 24 hours).

Free evening to explore at leisure. Take a sunset bicycle ride through rice paddies to the nearby beach, or enjoy cocktails on a rooftop bar overlooking the river.

A final morning in Hoi An — sunrise on An Bang Beach, a last café sữa đá (Vietnamese iced coffee), or a quick visit to collect your custom tailoring. Transfer to Da Nang for your flight south to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon).

Arrive in the energetic southern metropolis. Explore the French-colonial landmarks — the Central Post Office (designed by Gustave Eiffel's firm), Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, and the grand Reunification Palace. Visit the sobering War Remnants Museum for a moving perspective on Vietnam's turbulent 20th century.

Dinner at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the glittering Saigon skyline. Sample southern Vietnamese cuisine — broken rice with grilled pork (cơm tấm), bánh khọt (mini savoury pancakes), and fresh tropical fruits. Afterwards, explore the buzzing night market on Bui Vien Walking Street.

Enjoy a final Vietnamese breakfast — a steaming bowl of phở or a crispy bánh mì from a street-side vendor. Depending on your flight time, browse the bustling Ben Thanh Market for last-minute gifts — lacquerware, silk, coffee beans, and spices — or take a Vespa tour through Cholon, Saigon's atmospheric Chinatown.

Private transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your homeward flight. Depart with memories of emerald bays, lantern-lit lanes, extraordinary flavours, and the warmest smiles in Southeast Asia.