Halong Beach & Beyond

Hanoi – Halong Bay - Hoi An. On day 3 we take a scenic drive leading us to the stunningly beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay. Boarding our traditional wooden junk boat we cruise the emerald waters soaking up the panoramic vista of the thousand or so karst limestone islands that stud the bay.

Later opt for a refreshing swim in one of the many sheltered coves before taking row boats to the pristine waterway known as 'Dark & Bright Lagoon'. Tonight, there's a Vietnamese cooking demonstration held on the sundeck before an impressive seafood dinner is served.

Start day 4 with a Tai Chi class on the sundeck or a traditional massage. After exploring a lofty grotto hidden beneath towering cliffs, we sail back to port. we travel back to Hanoi to board a flight to Danang where we continue our journey to Hoi An.

We spend the next two days in the picturesque riverside town of Hoi An with its cobbled streets, beautiful architecture and tailors galore! After a short walking tour of this enchanting historical town the rest of the day is free to explore, shop or relax by the pool.

On day 6 a bike ride into the countryside takes us to Tra Que village. Here, we discover age old farming practises and learn about traditional medicine. It's a hands on experience where we'll assist with tending the fields and cooking a tasty Vietnamese lunch.

Hoi An - Saigon. This morning we travel to Danang to catch a flight to the vibrant and bustling city of Saigon. We explore the city on a guided tour, taking in key sites such as the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum.

This morning we head south to Ben Tre where we enjoy a rickshaw ride through rural villages and lush countryside before boarding a boat to explore the canals of the Mekong Delta, stopping to visit local cottage industries en route. Then we take a bike ride through Mekong villages to visit a boat building household. We also meet a sticky rice maker as well as a former Viet Cong soldier who survived two years fighting the Khmer Rouge. We continue on our bikes to a riverside restaurant for a tasty lunch, before returning to Saigon.

On day 9 we travel by road to Mui Ne, one of southern Vietnam's most beautiful beaches, where we spend the next three days at leisure. Sunbathe on the beautiful beach, swim in the warm water or perhaps enjoy some of the activities on offer in the area such as golfing, fishing or even sand-sledding on Phan Thiet's famous red and white sand dunes.

Today we bid farewell to Mui Ne and make our way back to Saigon. The remainder of day 12 is at leisure