Best of Vietnam Private Journey

Once you have arrived at Noi Bai International Airport, a private transfer takes you to your accommodation in central Hanoi, a journey of around an hour.

Vietnam's capital blends centuries of history with a character all its own. With the rest of the day free, you might wander the Old Quarter's narrow streets or stroll the shores of Hoan Kiem Lake before settling in for the night.

Please note: The maximum waiting time for your airport transfer is 30 minutes.

This afternoon, a driver and guide collect you from your accommodation in a restored Soviet-era army jeep for a small-group tour of Hanoi's backstreets, running from 12:30 pm to 5 pm.

Away from the main sights, you weave through narrow alleyways, local markets and residential streets to see how Hanoi's residents live, work and play, before continuing past the city's major landmarks: the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the thousand-year-old Buddhist and Taoist Tran Quoc Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, a historic training track, the French Quarter, the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake, the Hanoi Opera House and Long Bien Bridge.

The afternoon finishes with a taste of authentic Hanoi cooking, including family recipes and local delicacies, at Hidden Gem Cafe, with vegan and vegetarian options available.

This morning, a private car collects you at 8 am for the drive to Halong Bay, arriving after around three hours. At Tuan Chau Harbour, you board your cruise ship for a two-day, one-night voyage through Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Lan Ha Bay.

After a welcome drink and a safety briefing from the Cruise Manager, you check into your cabin before lunch is served as the ship sails into Lan Ha Bay, a quieter extension of Halong Bay, passing Finger Islet, Candle Islet and countless limestone towers and islands.

In the afternoon, you explore Lan Ha Bay's Dark and Bright Cave, known for its natural beauty and the play of light on the water, with the chance to take a bamboo boat or swim in the bay's clear green water. Back on board, you can join a sunset party on deck, and you also have the option to join a cooking class to learn to make Vietnamese spring rolls, before dinner is served once the ship anchors in a quiet spot for the night.

In the evening, you can relax at the bar, watch a film, book a spa treatment, or join in with squid fishing or karaoke on board. You stay overnight on the cruise.

Please note: A shuttle bus or private transfer between Hanoi and the Halong Bay harbour can be arranged on request; it is not included as standard for this cruise.

Please note: The onboard schedule may change depending on weather and tide conditions, with exact activity times confirmed by your guide on the day.

Please note: Any dietary requirements should be advised at the time of booking, as the onboard menu cannot be changed once you are on board.

Please note: Bring your original passport or ID card, as this is required for cabin check-in.

An early start today to greet the sunrise and join an optional Tai-chi session on the sundeck at 6 am, refreshing body and mind before the day begins.

A light breakfast is served as the ship continues past dramatic karst towers, before you go kayaking and swimming in the Tra Bau area of Quang Ninh, a filming location for Kong Skull Island in 2018. Back on board, you check out of your cabin and lunch is served as the ship sails back towards the harbour, where you disembark and say farewell to the crew.

From here, a private car takes you on the three-hour drive to Hanoi Airport for your 7:45 pm flight to Hue with Vietnam Airlines, arriving into Phu Bai Airport at 9 pm. A private transfer, where you are welcomed by a representative, brings you to your accommodation in Hue city centre.

Please note: Your transfer from Phu Bai Airport allows a maximum waiting time of 90 minutes.

This morning, you are collected from your accommodation for a private half-day tour of Hue with a guide and driver, running from 8 am to 12:30 pm. The tour begins at Dong Ba Market, the largest and most significant market in Hue and central Vietnam, before a boat trip along the Perfume River to the seven-storey Thien Mu Pagoda, set on a hillside above the water and regarded as the symbol of the city.

From here, you continue to the Imperial Citadel, the former seat of the Nguyen Dynasty, built between 1804 and 1833 across 52 square kilometres and once guarded by 80 bunkers and a 40-metre-deep trench, with ten gates connected by a bridge. The tour ends with a visit to the Hue Royal Antiques Museum before returning to your accommodation.

In the afternoon, a private car takes you on the three-hour drive to Hoi An, where you check into your accommodation for a three-night stay.

In the afternoon, a private car collects you from your accommodation for a guided tour of Hoi An's ancient town, running from 2 pm to 5:30 pm.

On foot with your guide, you visit the Chinese Communal House, Tan Ky House and the Japanese Covered Bridge, and browse Hoi An Market, learning about the daily life of the town's residents along the way. Hoi An's old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was once one of south-east Asia's largest trading ports.

The tour ends with a return to your accommodation.

Today is free for you to spend as you wish in Hoi An. You could wander the ancient town's streets again in daylight, hire a bicycle to explore the surrounding countryside and rice paddies, or simply relax at your accommodation.

This morning, a private transfer collects you from your accommodation at 7 am for the drive to Danang Airport.

From here, you take a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City with Vietnam Airlines, departing at 10 am and arriving at 11:30 am. On arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, you are welcomed by a representative and transferred to your accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City's central districts for a three-night stay.

Please note: The maximum waiting time for your transfer to Danang Airport is 30 minutes.

At 8 am, you are collected from your accommodation for a four-hour Vespa tour of Ho Chi Minh City with a driver and guide.

Riding through the city's streets, you stop for photos at the Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral and a monument commemorating the self-immolation of a Buddhist monk, and visit a secret bunker once used by North Vietnamese forces during the 1968 Tet Offensive.

The tour also takes in the city's oldest local coffee house, a wholesale flower market, an old apartment block and a heritage temple, riding past local markets selling motorbike parts, fabric, cigarettes, fruit and ornamental fish along the way.

Lunch at a local restaurant is included, giving you the chance to try authentic Vietnamese food, before the tour returns you to your accommodation.

This is a free day in Ho Chi Minh City, yours to spend as you like. You might visit the Reunification Palace or take a stroll along the Saigon River.

At 6 am, a private transfer collects you from your accommodation for the drive to Tan Son Nhat Airport, in time for your onward flight home.