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. You will have free time to take a rest after a long flight or head out to get a first impression of the city.

Starting the day trip with a visit to the Tran Quoc Pagoda. It was the centre of Buddhism in the imperial city of Thang Long (former name of Hanoi) 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 Ngọc 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.

Our car and guide will pick you up in the morning for the two-hour drive to 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 for a peaceful navigation along Ngo Dong River, cruising among limestone mountains, between rice fields and through caves. We will spend the rest of the day riding a bicycle and get lost on winding roads passing lotus ponds, temples, and cottages. We will visit Bich Dong pagoda, which hides among the trees on a lush hillside. 
Overnight at the hotel.

Going to east area through the rich farmland of the Red River Delta to Cat Hai Island in Hai Phong City, where your cruise anchors. On arrival, you are welcomed onboard a ship. Settle into a private comfortable cabin and unpack for a three days cruise around Lan Ha Bay. Along the way to the less visited and untouched areas, enjoy a huge lunch served on board and admire the picturesque scenery of islands. These limestone karst formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. Break your trip with a leisure swim in a secluded cove or an enjoyable kayak in the crystal clear waters of the bay before taking part in onboard traditional cooking class. Enjoy delicious local food prepared and served by your wonderful onboard catering staff. 

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 to Hanoi train station. Night train to Dong Hoi City. Overnight in 4-soft-berth cabin. 

This morning, we head to Paradise Cave (or Dong Thien Duong), in the Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. Discovered by local man; Ho Khanh in 2005, Paradise Cave is a 31.4km long cave, but only the first kilometre has been opened to tourists (since 2010). You will have the chance to see one of the largest and most impressive accessible caves in the area. After climbing the 524 steps, you will be welcomed generously by cool breezes blowing from the small open door of the cave. In the afternoon, we will take a cruise along the Son River to visit Phong Nha cave (the most famous in the national park). Phong Nha Cave is regarded by the British Cave Research Association as the top cave in the world due to its four records: the highest and longest cave, the longest underground river, broadest and most beautiful fine sand beaches inside the caves, and the most spectacular stalagmites and stalactites. Overnight at the hotel. 

After breakfast at the hotel, we will drive to Hue via Quang Tri. There will be some visits and short breaks en route. The first visit is to the DMZ, where some of the bloodiest battles took place during the War against America. In the late morning, we will take the impressive tour of the Vinh Moc tunnels, preserved as a monument to the determination of the Vietnamese to continue living in their traditional village areas. The whole village was moved below ground and the people lived in these subterraneous tunnels and caverns. Our next stop is to visit Hien Luong bridge and Ben Hai River, two "historical witnesses" who carried the pain of being the point of separation between North and South Vietnam for more than 21 years. The nearby museums tell a hard story of the resistance war against the US, full of sacrifice and hardship for the Vietnamese army and people. Lunch is served at a local restaurant in Dong Ha town. We continue driving to Hue with a stop at a small church still bearing the scars of a mortar attack in the area. On arrival, check in to your hotel.

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 laidback village settled on the bank of 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 well treated with a foot bath in medicinal herb water, followed by an excellent massage by blind therapist.
Join the cooking class to prepare Hue’s signature dishes with our chef’s instruction and enjoy your delicious recently made food in the open-air riverside restaurant. 
After having lunch, we drive to visit Hue Imperial City. 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 to visit the Tomb of Tu Duc designed by the Emperor himself before his death. The Tomb includes 50 monuments arranged unsymmetrically and shows the perfect harmony of buildings and nature. Take time to soak in its tranquil and relaxing setting. 
Head back to the city centre and night at the hotel.

In the morning, take the car to Phu Bai airport to catch the flight to Ho Chi Minh City. 
Afternoon, you will visit the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, 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 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. Visit the Reunification Palace, formerly known as the Presidential Palace, which was the residence of the president of South Vietnam until the end of April 1975. 

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 Sai Gon), 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 by sampan. Later, you will journey by bike through the local countryside to see first-hand, daily life on the Mekong. 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 back to Ho Chi Minh City. 

Free time to discover Ho Chi Minh City then transfer to the airport for your departure flight.