Vietnam Premium Discovery

An airport transfer is included to the tour start hotel. Arrive in Hanoi, Vietnam’s culture–rich capital, and take a leisurely stroll along broad, tree–lined boulevards – perhaps pausing for an excellent coffee poured from a doorway café.

Around 6pm we meet our tour leader and fellow travellers to get acquainted and hear about the journey ahead. We then sit down to a generous Vietnamese welcome dinner at Com Viet Heritage, a refined restaurant specialising in northern cuisine.

Embark on a morning sightseeing tour of Hanoi as we visit the Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house and the One Pillar Pagoda, designed to resemble a lotus blossom.

For lunch we head to a local spot famed for bun cha – a Hanoian classic of noodles, broth and grilled meat with fresh greens. We then browse Dong Xuan Market, the city’s largest, to shop for souvenirs and sample street food. There may also be time for you to wander around Hoan Kiem Lake and take in the view from a lakeside café.

Our day begins with a transfer of about two hours to Hoa Lu in Ninh Binh, capital during the Dinh Dynasty (968–980) and early Le Dynasty (980–1009). Here we visit the Dinh and Le king temples, among the most sacred structures in the district and dedicated to the founders of these dynasties.

We continue to Tam Coc, part of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, and board row boats for a tranquil 1–1.5 hours on the Ngo Dong River, gliding through caves and by local villages with limestone karsts towering above.

After breakfast we take a one–hour transfer to Save Vietnam’s Wildlife, a non–profit dedicated to conserving wildlife and ecosystems. With an SVW co–ordinator we tour the centre to learn about their work and the endangered species in their care, meet some rescued animals and visit a half–wilderness area to see how they adapt before release.

We then continue to Cuc Phuong National Park, where you can choose your own adventure – perhaps explore the Cave of Prehistoric Man, visit the Endangered Primate Rescue Center or enjoy a leisurely jungle walk.

We make an early start for the 130km journey to Lan Ha Bay, where incredible karst islands and limestone outcrops mirror those of nearby – and busier – Ha Long Bay. On arrival we board our premium boat and spend the afternoon cruising the emerald waters. In a tender we visit the Dark and Bright caves, either by kayak or in a bamboo boat, before sunset drinks back on board – a relaxed finale to a day of spectacular scenery.

We greet the day with tai chi on deck, then take a last unhurried look at the bay as we sail back to harbour and enjoy lunch. We transfer to Cat Ba Island for a tour of Trung Trang Cave to admire its limestone formations and hear about its wartime role as a military base and command post.

This afternoon we drive around 2 hrs 30 mins to Hanoi Airport for a flight of approximately 1 hr 15 mins to Hue (included), then transfer to our accommodation for the next two nights.

After breakfast we visit Thanh Tien village, famed for crafting paper flowers for more than 300 years, then enjoy a Hue–style tea tasting at Tra Dinh Vu Di teahouse, learning from our host about the benefits of royal tea and how to prepare it.

This afternoon we explore the royal tomb of Emperor Minh Mang – part of a World Heritage site – offering a poignant peek into Vietnam’s imperial past and the Nguyen Dynasty’s rule.

This morning we visit the Imperial Citadel, Hue’s standout sight. Enclosed within 10km of walls lie the palaces and mandarin halls, and the remains of the Forbidden Purple City, where only the emperor, eunuchs and concubines once entered. Much was destroyed during the Tet Offensive, yet the foliage–covered ruins remain atmospheric – the bomb craters a stark reminder of the conflict.

We then drive 130km to Hoi An, passing the lovely Lang Co peninsula between lagoon and sea, and over the Hai Van Pass with its sweeping views. In the afternoon we take a walking tour of Hoi An, including the town temple, and meander among merchant houses, pagoda–style temples and the riverside market, with time to shop for silk. If you wish, you can join an optional Vietnamese paper mask workshop for an additional local cost.

We take a 20–minute transfer to the tranquil village of Duy Xuyen, renowned for traditional weaving. We step into basket boats for a 30–minute glide through coconut wetlands, visit a family of mat weavers who have practised the craft for generations, then call at a local house to see rice wine being distilled – with a chance to taste it – before enjoying a set menu in their green garden. We return to the hotel in the early afternoon.

Today is free for you to enjoy Hoi An. You might visit My Son, spiritual heart of the Cham civilisation, where kings were buried as far back as the fourth century; although bombing damaged much of the site, several evocative stone towers and sanctuaries remain.

Alternatively, you can join a cooking class – including a market visit to shop for ingredients – and learn the intricacies of Vietnamese cuisine. For a change of pace, you could cycle through the countryside past markets, schools and villages to Cua Dai beach, around 3 miles – 5km – away.

We drive to Da Nang in about 45 minutes and fly around 1 hr 30 mins to Ho Chi Minh City (included), a dynamic metropolis where scooters throng the streets and temples sit beside gleaming towers. After arrival we take a short bus ride to the Reunification Palace, former presidential residence and workplace during the Vietnam War, and the site where the fall of Saigon in 1975 was sealed.

In the morning we transfer for about two hours to Cai Be in the Mekong Delta – often called Vietnam’s rice bowl – a region of lush coconut groves, beguiling scenery and rich culture. We take a boat along the intricate waterways of the Mekong, passing orchards and friendly locals travelling by river. We step ashore to visit an orchard and sample tropical fruit, then continue to a selection of cottage industries to experience riverside life and local businesses up close.

Tonight we stay at Mekong Lodge, a tranquil property amid river greenery – an excellent chance for us to enjoy Delta hospitality, meet local people and savour Mekong cuisine.

Today we drive back to Ho Chi Minh City in around two hours, and the afternoon is free for you to explore. You may wish to browse Ben Thanh Market or visit the War Remnants Museum, which holds a powerful photographic record of the Vietnam War – please note some images are very graphic.

This evening we reunite for a final special meal at HUM Garden and Restaurant, one of the world’s leading vegetarian venues, housed in an elegant villa and serving Vietnamese–inspired cuisine with produce sourced directly from local farmers.

Our cultural adventure ends after breakfast, with free transfers to Ho Chi Minh City Airport from the end hotel. If you’d like to continue exploring, you can arrange to extend your stay.