On arriving at Noi Bai Airport, you will be picked up and transferred to the hotel in the city centre. Hotel check-in is available at 2 pm. Free time to discover the Old Quarter. Night at the hotel.

Starting the day trip with a visit to Tran Quoc Pagoda. The pagoda, now nearly 1,500 years old, is located on a small peninsula on the east side of West Lake, situated among lush greenery. It was the centre of Buddhism in the imperial city of Thang Long (former name of Ha Noi) during the Ly Dynasty and the Tran Dynasty (11th - 15th centuries). We will then visit the Temple of Literature, constructed in 1070 to worship Confucius, which also served as the first Royal National University in Vietnam. There are 82 stone steles, carried by tortoises, engraved with names, birthdates, and birthplaces of honoured doctorates from 1442 to 1779. Local people believed that touching the head of these tortoises would bring luck. 
Our afternoon exploration begins with the Museum of Ethnology (closed on Mondays, the alternative on this day being the History Museum). The museum offers a wide range of informative and well-documented displays of the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam, including colourful hill tribe costumes. The outdoor display is an impressive collection of traditional houses of various minorities from the north to the central Highlands. 
Drive back to the Old Quarter for a 1.5-hour walking tour, specially designed for a deeper insight into Hanoian daily life. We will also visit the Ngoc Son temple (Temple of the Jade Mountain) which sits on a green islet in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake, connected to the lakeside by a graceful scarlet bridge named The Huc (meaning the early sunlight welcoming place). The temple is dedicated to Tran Hung Dao - the General who defeated the Mongols in the 13th century and Van Xuong De Quan - the patron of literature and examinations. Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake are frequently visited by tourists and locals.
In the evening, transfer to Hanoi station for an overnight train to Sa Pa. Overnight in sharing cabin with soft berths.

We arrive in Lao Cai by train at around 6 a.m. We will take a 35km drive on a mountainous road to get to Sapa, a town established by the French during colonial times as a mountain retreat. 
The day is dedicated to a beautiful hike through the amazing scenery of Sapa valley. On the descent, your eyes will be treated to the view of rice terraces hidden behind morning fog, a truly awe-inspiring sight. 
Following a small track and crossing the Muong Hoa River to Lao Chai Village of Black Hmong people, we will pass by well-tended paddy fields. We continue walking through the beautiful terraces to reach Ta Van Giay village, trekking along the river until there is a small suspension bridge. Here you can discover a captivating rock carving collection of unknown origin. The rock surfaces are engraved with different patterns including images of people, stilt houses, flowers and undecipherable letter-like symbols. We stop to have lunch at a local home in the village. In the afternoon we continue hiking through a bamboo forest to Giang Ta Chai - the village of the Red Dao. After taking a rest next to a waterfall to refresh, we start climbing uphill to the main road where the car is waiting to take you back to Sapa for the night. 

Taking place every Sunday, Bac Ha Market is where tribal people from surrounding villages flock to exchange their goods. Most still use horses to carry their loads, which means they have to depart early to get to the market in time. If you visit Bac Ha on a spring weekend, you will meet locals in their most beautiful and colourful costumes heading to the market, as it’s the best time of the year for youngsters seeking a partner to marry. Despite the low temperatures, spring is a joyful time because it’s the season of courting, dating and weddings. Nature also contributes to the atmosphere with vibrant red and white flowers blooming everywhere. It all makes for a wholly unique setting. After lunch, you will leave the colourful market behind, to follow a snaking road along the mountain to visit Ban Pho 1 and Ban Pho 2 villages, inhabited by the Flower H’Mong people. The car takes us to Lao Cai train station in the late afternoon. Night on the train.

Our car and guide will pick you up in the morning for the two-hour drive to Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh province - the former feudal capital of Vietnam at the end of the 10th century. You will visit two ancient temples dedicated to Dinh Tien Hoang - the founder of the Dinh Dynasty (968-980) and Le Dai Hanh - the founder of Early Le Dynasty (980 - 1009). 
In the afternoon, you will board a rowing boat in Tam Coc (three grottoes) for a peaceful navigation along Ngo Dong River, cruising among limestone mountains, between rice fields and through three beautiful limestone caves. We will spend the rest of the day riding bicycles, getting lost on winding roads passing lotus ponds, temples, and cottages, typical of Vietnamese countryside. We will visit the Bich Dong pagoda complex, which dates back to the 15th century, hiding among the jungle on a lush hillside. There are three humble, yet interesting pagodas connected by stone steps. The reward for reaching the highest pagoda is the precious panoramic view of the valley below. Overnight at the hotel.

Following the breakfast, enjoy a scenic drive to Hai Phong, where you will board the cruise on an enchanting journey throughout the beautiful Lan Ha Bay. On arrival, the welcome drinks, cruise briefing and safety instructions are delivered by the cruise manger followed by your cabin check in. The uniquely designed itinerary allows you to experience the less travelled routes that other cruises simply don’t reach. 
Apart from exploring the natural beauty of many islets in a leisure pace, the today program also includes more activities such as swimming or kayaking on the vast sea, cooking class onboard to challenge your skills in preparing a very famous Vietnamese dish (activities depend on weather, season and the specific cruise). All fresh seafood meals are on-house as well.

Nothing can be compared to waking up to a serene morning surrounded by karsts. You can have an early morning dip and then breakfast on board. We will continue to sail through the bay during the morning to explore hidden areas. The junk will stay close at all times serving as a backup vessel for those who need it. Around midday we will return to the main harbour and drive back to Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi. Flight to Hue City. Overnight at the hotel in Hue City.

Start the morning with a boat trip on the poetic Perfume River. Our first visit is to Thien Mu Pagoda (Celestial Lady pagoda) built in 1601 on the Northern bank of the river. With its seven-storey Phuoc Duyen tower, Thien Mu Pagoda became the symbol of the ancient capital and has often been mentioned in folk rhymes about Hue.
We continue cruising toward Thuy Bieu, a laid-back village settled on the banks of the Perfume River. The village is famous for its green Thanh Tra (a small kind of pomelo) orchards. Then you have a peaceful walk through the village, visiting communal houses, ancient temples, and the garden houses - a typical and unique feature of Hue. You will be treated to a foot bath in medicinal herb water, followed by a soothing massage from the skilled hands of a blind therapist to recharge. 
Join the cooking class to prepare Hue’s signature dishes under our chef’s instruction and enjoy your delicious freshly made food in the open-air riverside restaurant. 
In the ultimate royal city of Vietnam, we will have a chance to see beautiful structures including the Flag Tower, Nine Holy Cannons, Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, Nine Dynastic Urns and the Forbidden Purple City or Tu Cam Thanh. Continue on to visit the Tomb of Tu Duc designed by the Emperor himself before his death. The Tomb includes 50 monuments arranged asymmetrically and highlights the perfect harmony of buildings and nature. Take time to soak in its tranquil and relaxing setting. 
Head back to the city centre and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast we hop in the car and take the Mandarin Road from Hue to Hoi An. The scenic journey offers views of seemingly endless stunning beach landscapes and dense tropical forest. Along the road we can stop to take photos of Da Nang Beach. We will visit the Marble Mountains and the Cham Museum before arriving in Hoi An. We will have a lunch of typical local dishes at an ancient town restaurant.
We spend the afternoon wandering this UNESCO-recognised world heritage site and its highlights: the Japanese Covered Bridge (built by the Japanese then living in Hoi An to connect their quarter to the Chinese’s one), old Phung Hung house, Hoi An’s market and ancient port. We make a special stop at the Reaching Out tea house - a tranquil oasis in the bustling centre of Hoi An. 
Remark: On the 1st and 15th of every lunar month, all the streetlights will be turned off and the whole town will be illuminated with the warm glow of multi-coloured lanterns. 

After having breakfast, our guide and car will pick you up at your hotel and take you to My Son Sanctuary - once the capital city of the Champa Kingdom. The Sanctuary is considered one of the foremost Hindu temple complexes in Southeast Asia, with more than 70 architectural works built between the 4th and 14th centuries. The complex exhibits not only the mysterious building technique used in the construction, but also the sophisticated art of sculpture in brick and stone with vivid images of gods, monks, dancers, flowers, animals and sacrifices of the Cham people. 
In the afternoon, depart for Thanh Ha Pottery Village where you can take part in the daily life of villagers who have been making pottery here for over 500 years. Here, we will learn about the process of crafting pottery products such as vases, pots, and kettles. For more stories of the pottery founders and the progression of their craft we will visit Thanh Ha Terra Cotta Park Museum. We will then take a 30-minute boat ride on Thu Bon River to Kim Bong Village. The Kim Bong style of carpentry is believed to be the finest mix of Cham, Chinese, and Japanese influence, along with the talented hands of Vietnamese artisans. There are three main groups of craftsmen: shipbuilders, ancient architectural construction workers and carpenters of household items. 

Free time to explore Hoi An or enjoy the beaches at about 5 km from the city. In the afternoon, take the car to Da Nang airport (no guide) to catch the flight to Ho Chi Minh City. You will be picked up and transferred to the hotel in the city centre. Night spent in the busy and colourful city.

This morning we leave the hotel at 8 am and drive to Ben Tre Province in the Mekong Delta. 
Upon arrival at Hung Vuong Pier (90km from Ho Chi Minh City), we get on a boat and cruise along the Ben Tre River. The boat stops at an artisanal brick factory for you to explore its imposing ovens. A sweet break is planned at a coconut candies workshop where you will watch how coconut flesh is used and processed. A short tuk-tuk bike ride on the winding small road of the countryside will take you deeper into the village and we will stop at a family braiding mats. The local restaurant prepares typical dishes of the Mekong Delta for your lunch. Following, we board on a rowing boat to join the maze of canals and return to the landing stage. Stop at Mr. Sau Khanh's house, a very hospitable villager to see his antique collection. He will happily show you the special technique of climbing coconut palms. Overnight in the homestay.

Start the morning with breakfast prepared by the family, then traverse a branch of the Mekong River by sampan. Later, you will journey by bike through the local countryside to see first-hand, daily life on the Mekong Delta. The winding path meanders between charming traditional houses. Back on board the sampan, several stops are made along a canal for a chance to see coconuts being worked. You will disembark near the town of Cho Thom, say goodbye to your crew and travel by road to Can Tho. In the afternoon, the exploration continues with a stopover at Binh Thuy's old house, the site of the 1992 film adaptation of Marguerite Duras' novel L' Amant. You are then free to discover the shops around the port for the rest of the afternoon. Night at the hotel.

Today we will be the early birds taking the morning boat trip to Cai Rang floating market, the largest in the region, where boats bursting with fruit and vegetables gather every day. After joining in at the busy market, you will take a walk in Mr. Ba Cong’s orchard to taste fresh tropical fruits. The following visit is to a workshop where you will see how the local (canna indica) vermicelli is made. Get back to the mainland by boat and then we will drive back to Ho Chi Minh City.
In the afternoon, you will visit the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica of Ho Chi Minh City, constructed between 1877 and 1880 by the French. Only a few steps from the Cathedral is the General Post Office. People come here not for sending postcards or letters, but mostly to admire its interior with the arched roof and curved windows, reminiscent of early European railway stations. The Ho Chi Minh City city tour then continues along Dong Khoi Street heading to see the Opera House and the Peoples’ Committee building, built in 1897 by French architect Ferret Eugene. The 800 seat Opera House served as the home of the Lower House Assembly of South Vietnam after 1956. Night at the hotel.

Free time to discover HCM City then transfer to the airport for your departure flight. End of our services.