Flavours of Vietnam

Touch down in Hanoi and meet the rest of your group over a traditional Vietnamese meal. The next day, set out exploring the city with your guide, who will take you to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Temple of Literature and the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. Later on, you’ll join a local family to see how they make papier-mâché masks, and have the chance to make your own, before spending the evening sampling the city’s delicious street food.

Leaving Hanoi behind, you’ll head to Ninh Binh, famous for its spectacular karst scenery, rice fields and forested cliffsides. Here, you’ll take a boat trip through the Van Long Nature Reserve, where you can admire the beautiful countryside and surrounding hills. Next, you’ll enjoy a cooking demonstration and tuck into a delicious lunch with a local family, before having a free afternoon to explore Ninh Binh at your own pace.

Travel east towards Halong Bay, where you’ll hop on board a traditional paddle steamer, your home for the night. You’ll set sail for Sung Sot Grotto, and enjoy a delicious meal, served on board. Awake to the sounds of the waves lapping against the sides of the boat. You’ll have a free morning to explore – perhaps go kayaking or, if the weather is warm enough, take a refreshing dip in the cool emerald waters. Later, catch your flight to Hue.

After landing in Hue you’ll have a free morning to explore the royal tombs and the garden houses. You’ll enjoy a relaxing boat trip on the Perfume River and visit the tombs of Emperors Minh Mang and Khai Dinh, whose tomb is reached by a whopping 143 steps. In the evening, you’ll join your group for a delicious meal at the Tha Om Garden House, built in the 19th century and owned by a local historian. The following morning, you’ll call in at the Cham Museum before leaving for Hoi An.

Immerse yourself in a bygone era and admire the splendid architecture in Hoi An, a graceful old-world trading port with cobbled streets, traditional homes and tiny shop houses. Join your guide for a walking tour of Hoi An’s pretty streets, before hopping on board a boat for a cruise along the Thu Bon River. In the evening, you’ll sample the delicious local street food. The next day, you’ll learn how to make coloured silk lanterns at the Lifestart Foundation, a local social enterprise.

Fly on to your final stop, Ho Chi Minh City, where you’ll head to the Opera House to catch the A O Show, a fusion of Vietnamese culture and performance art. The next day, you’ll take a cyclo tour of Chinatown, including the Cha Tam Church and the Chua Ong Pagoda. You’ll call in at a traditional herbal medicine street before visiting the Reunification Palace and tucking in to more tasty local food. The next day will be spent at the Cu Chi Tunnels, before your final farewell dinner of delicious street food.