BEST OF VIETNAM WITH BEACH LEISURE – 18 DAYS

Xin chào! Welcome to Hanoi. On arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for refreshment (standard check-in time 2:00 PM), with the rest of the day free to explore the city at your own pace.

This morning, take an in-depth tour of Hanoi’s most notable sights: the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his former residence, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Ethnology Museum, the Temple of Literature and Ngoc Son Temple, followed by a walking tour of the Old Quarter and an hour-long water puppet performance. Overnight in Hanoi.

Note: the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed on Mondays, Fridays, all afternoons, and throughout October and November for maintenance — during closures it can only be viewed from outside. The Ethnology Museum is closed on Mondays and will be replaced with a visit to Hoa Lo Prison or the Museum of Vietnamese Women.

Please note: cruise programmes may be amended without prior notice according to weather, tide levels and instructions from the local authorities. Spa treatments and drinks on board are not included.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and check out of your room. At approximately 08:30 you are collected and driven to Ha Long Bay along the expressway, passing paddy fields and rural villages along the way.

Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. On arrival at the harbour you board a traditional junk and set sail among the limestone islands. A seafood lunch is served on board, with vegetarian dishes available on request, followed by a sampan ride through a traditional floating fishing village. Back on board, join a short cooking demonstration, then relax on the sun deck as the sun sets over the bay before dinner is served.

The remainder of the evening is at your leisure. You may play cards, try your hand at squid fishing, watch a film, or simply enjoy a drink and good conversation at the bar. Overnight on board.

Rise early for Tai Chi on the top deck and a light breakfast, then disembark to explore a nearby cave. Return to the boat, check out of your cabin, and enjoy brunch while sailing back to shore, where your guide and driver transfer you to Ninh Binh, capital of Vietnam under the Dinh and early Le Dynasties. Visit two ancient temples dedicated to the kings of that era.

Continue with a two-hour boat trip through the Van Long Wetland, exploring its limestone mountains, caves and birdlife, before checking in to your hotel. Overnight in Ninh Binh.

This morning, take a short bike ride to Ngoa Long Mountain and climb approximately 400 steps at Mua Cave for a panoramic view over Ninh Binh and Tam Coc.

Continue to explore the Trang An World Heritage landscape by traditional rowing boat among the limestone mountains, including the Light and Dark Caves, followed by a visit to Bich Dong Pagoda. In the evening, transfer to Hanoi for the overnight train to Lao Cai, in a shared soft-berth cabin of four (dinner at own expense).

On arrival, enjoy breakfast at the train station before continuing to Muong Hoa Valley, home to some of the largest terraced rice paddies in the Sapa area, for an approximately two-hour walk from Lao Chai village, home to the Black Hmong, to Ta Van village, home to the Giay community.

The Black Hmong are among the largest minority groups in the Sapa area, known for their distinctive indigo-dyed traditional clothing, while the Giay, a smaller community of some 38,000 people, are known for wooden and bamboo houses with clay floors and traditional dress in purple, blue or green. Return to Sapa by car.

After breakfast, take the cable car and a short walk to the summit of Fansipan, the highest peak in Indochina, for sweeping views over the surrounding mountains.

Return to Sapa town for a hike up to the Cloudy Yard of Ham Rong Mountain for a further panoramic viewpoint. In the afternoon, transfer to Lao Cai station for the overnight train back to Hanoi, in a shared soft-berth cabin of four.

Optional, at extra charge: the Dragon Glass Bridge, an infinity pool, or the local hill-tribe markets (held on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays).

On arrival at Hanoi station, enjoy a breakfast box before transferring to the airport for your flight to Hue. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel to rest, before an afternoon visit to the Hue Citadel, home to the Imperial City and the Purple Forbidden City, and to Thien Mu Pagoda. Overnight in Hue.

Visit the tomb of Emperor Minh Mang, then travel toward Hoi An along the coastal road, crossing the Hai Van Pass with a stop to explore old French bunkers and enjoy views over Da Nang Bay, continuing via Nam O Bridge and Red Beach.

Visit the Museum of Cham Sculpture before continuing to Hoi An via Marble Mountain, with its cave temples and panoramic viewpoint. Check in to your hotel, with the rest of the day free.

Drive through the countryside to My Son Sanctuary, transferring by electric cart to the ruins for time to explore and enjoy a traditional Cham performance.

Return to Hoi An for an in-depth walking tour of the historic centre, including the Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese Assembly Halls, Tan Ky Ancient House and the local market. Overnight in Hoi An.

Optional: this evening you may attend the large-scale Hoi An Memories Show (surcharge US$30 per ticket).

Free time until your transfer to Da Nang Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Today’s experiences include the Cu Chi Tunnels — a remarkable underground network hand-dug during the Vietnam War, with a walk along a section and a tasting of the tea and steamed cassava that sustained the guerrilla fighters — followed by the War Remnants Museum and free time for shopping or independent exploration. Return to your hotel, with the rest of the day free.

Depart Ho Chi Minh City for Ben Tre, boarding a boat to cruise the Ham Luong River and cross to Long Thanh Island to visit a coconut-charcoal workshop, then continue to Mo Cay to see a coconut-processing workshop.

Travel by xe lam (motorised cart) to a bamboo-broom workshop, then row by sampan along the canals to a local home for fruit tasting and a short walk through the village, followed by a home-cooked lunch of local specialities.

In the afternoon, continue to Can Tho for overnight.

Depart early to catch the sunrise, then board a sampan to visit Cai Rang floating market, orchards and cottage workshops. Return by boat for breakfast and some rest.

Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City, stopping en route at Vinh Trang Pagoda, one of the most beautiful pagodas in the Mekong Delta. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and check out of your room. At 09:00 you are collected for the four-hour drive to Mui Ne. On arrival, check in at your resort, with the rest of the day free. Overnight in Mui Ne.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. You are then collected for the four-hour drive to Ho Chi Minh City Airport for your onward flight. End of our services.