Vietnam, Hanoi to the Mekong

Arrive at Noi Bai International, about 45 minutes by road into the city and transfer privately to your base. Time today to walk the Old Quarter lanes and around Hoan Kiem lake in the evening.

• Private transfer via Noi Bai International
• Walk the Old Quarter lanes and around Hoan Kiem lake in the evening
• Time to settle in before dinner

The 36 guild streets on foot or by cyclo, the Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo prison and the Opera House quarter, with a water puppet show in the evening.

• Old Quarter guild streets
• Temple of Literature
• Water puppet theatre

The mausoleum and stilt house, the One Pillar Pagoda and the Ethnology Museum, with a guided street food walk covering phở, bún chả and egg coffee.

• Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex (closed Mondays and Fridays)
• Museum of Ethnology
• Street food and egg coffee walk

Drive from Hanoi to Ha Long or Lan Ha and transfer to your vessel. On arrival, board your boat and sail out among the limestone islands.

• Drive from Hanoi to Ha Long or Lan Ha and transfer to your vessel
• Board your boat and sail out among the limestone islands
• Timings reconfirmed locally the day before

Sailing among nearly 2,000 limestone islands, with kayaking into a lagoon, a cave visit and swimming from the boat. Lan Ha Bay is quieter than the main Ha Long route. Sailings are cancelled in storms.

• Kayaking among the karsts
• Sung Sot or Dark and Bright cave
• Sunset from the sun deck

A tender to Cat Ba island's national park or the floating fishing villages of Lan Ha, with time to swim and cycle.

• Cat Ba National Park or Viet Hai village
• Floating fishing village
• Bay swim

Fly into Da Nang or take the coastal train over the Hai Van Pass. On arrival, walk the lantern-lit old town after the traffic ban starts in the evening.

• Fly into Da Nang or take the coastal train over the Hai Van Pass
• Walk the lantern-lit old town after the traffic ban starts in the evening
• Timings reconfirmed locally the day before

The UNESCO-listed trading port on foot: the Japanese covered bridge, Chinese assembly halls, merchant houses and the riverside, with a ticket covering five heritage sites.

• Japanese Covered Bridge
• Tan Ky merchant house and assembly halls
• Lantern-lit riverside in the evening

Fly south or arrive by the Reunification Express from the centre of the country. On arrival, walk Dong Khoi and the riverfront, and eat at a street kitchen.

• Fly south or arrive by the Reunification Express from the centre of the country
• Walk Dong Khoi and the riverfront, and eat at a street kitchen
• Timings reconfirmed locally the day before

The War Remnants Museum, the Reunification Palace preserved as it was in 1975, the Central Post Office and Notre-Dame Cathedral exterior.

• War Remnants Museum
• Reunification Palace
• Central Post Office and Ben Thanh market

A last Vietnamese coffee before the drive to the airport. Private transfer to Tan Son Nhat International in good time for your onward flight.

• A last Vietnamese coffee before the drive to the airport
• Late check-out arranged where the hotel allows it
• Private departure transfer