Having been introduced to your guide upon arrival in Hanoi, your first day is at leisure until the sun sets, when you’ll meet with your guide again for a hearty tour of the city’s famous north Vietnamese cuisine. Weave through the streets, trying local delicacies such as bánh cuốn rice rolls and cha ca spiced fish and, of course, tucking into some of the best pho you’ll ever eat. Stop at one of the bia hoi bars on Ta Hien Street for a locally-brewed beer, and stroll to Quan Su for strong Vietnamese coffee and live jazz.

Start the day away from the city centre bustle with a cycle around the perimeter of West Lake. Spend time in the shade of Tran Quoc pagoda’s elegant tower, or watch the world go by from a lakeside café as you sip something cool. As midday approaches, look into Hanoi’s past with a visit to the atmospheric halls of the Temple of Literature, on the site of Vietnam’s first university. Tuck into a Vietnamese-style fast lunch on the famous Trang Tien Street, where you can feast on pho and sweet treats among the locals, with the grand Opera House just around the corner. Dip your toes into Hanoi’s contemporary culture at the Manzi Art Cafe, before heading back in time with a stroll past workshops and pagodas in the narrow Old Quarter streets. Grab a beer and keep exploring, or head back to enjoy some R&R; in your hotel.

Early morning departure for Halong Bay. Once there, you’ll be welcomed aboard your chosen private junk boat, each with its own individual route, to begin your cruise around the bay’s rocky islands and hidden caves. Visit Bai Tu Long Bay, passing the waterside towns of Hon Gai and Cam Pha, and teardrop-shaped Oan Lagoon, Mat Quy (Monster Head) and Am Tich (Teapot) islets. Stop off at Vung Vieng fishing village, where you will transfer to a rowing boat to explore the narrow channels, before returning to your junk to enjoy a sumptuous supper in the dining cabin.

Wake to the sound of sea birds nesting in the thick vegetation covering the karsts, and start your day with a Tai Chi class on deck. After brunch on board, your junk will turn back to the mainland, passing Sung Sot Cave along the way. Once you’ve disembarked, return to Hanoi where your day will be at leisure until the evening, when, riding pillion on a Vespa, you’ll be taken to savour more examples of vibrant Vietnamese cuisine, and hang out where the locals do, witnessing the sombre changing of the guard at Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum and taking in the twinkle of Hanoi by night.

Fly to Hoi An, Dinner at a local restaurant

Spend today at leisure, perhaps delving deeper into the city’s historic sights - or if you fancy a change of scene, head to the popular Cua Dai beach to dip your toes in the warm waters and eat fresh seafood from the stalls along the shore.

After breakfast, fly to Ho Chi Minh City where your guide will meet you and take you to your chosen hotel. Your afternoon is at leisure to settle in and start to absorb the atmosphere, before meeting with your guide to explore the city as evening falls. Though Hoi An is frequently named as the foodie hub of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City also boasts a burgeoning restaurant scene, offering everything from European fine dining to Pan-Asian fusion and home-cooked authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Enjoy dinner at one of our top recommended restaurants from an ever-growing list! Your guide will show you there in perfect time for your reservation, and be on hand to advise you about where to head afterwards for a nightcap.

Visit your pick of Ho Chi Minh City’s highlights on a personalised tour with your guide, taking in everything from grand palaces, to French neoclassical architecture, to bustling side streets. Start with an early morning meander through the alleys and markets of District 1 - a densely populated, and architecturally interesting area, full of aromatic markets and small businesses, that few visitors know exists, let alone see for themselves. We recommend you incorporate the impressive Reunification Palace, and the beautiful Saigon Central Post Office - designed by Gustave Eiffel – and bear witness to the violence of the country’s recent past with a visit to a secret resistance weapon store used during the Vietnam war. Immerse yourself in the micro-culture of Cho Lon, HCMC’s Chinatown, and end with a visit to the top of the Bitexco Tower for a sundowner and panoramic cityscape views.

Head out early to Cai Be, where you’ll board your private sampan: a type of boat that has been used on Vietnamese waters for centuries. Enjoy tea and seasonal fruit as you depart on your cruise with your crew of a boat-driver, deckhand, and a local guide. Observe life playing out along the shore, before disembarking at Sa Dec town to stroll between the beautiful old French houses, Chinese temples and a central market. Return to your sampan to cruise towards Can Tho, going along picturesque narrow canals and under several wooden 'monkey bridges'. The last stop before sunset is at a traditional Nha Co house from the early 19th century, where you’ll be welcomed by the owner before enjoying a candlelight dinner. Return to your sampan and let the boat’s gentle motion lull you to sleep.

Enjoy breakfast as your sampan glides between the boats at Cai Rang floating market. You’ll have time to look around, and perhaps even practise your bartering, before transferring to Con Dao. Take time to settle into your own slice of paradise at your resort, before exploring the picture-perfect coast. During the summer months you might be lucky enough to spot turtles in the shallows whilst snorkelling, or even as they make their way up the beach to lay their eggs.

Your days will be at leisure to relax on the beach and make the most of the hotel's facilities.

Transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh City and connecting onward flight.