Highlights of Vietnam

Premium airport lounge access will serve as a perfect way to relax ahead of your overnight flight. You’ll arrive in Hanoi and begin your luxury holiday on day two.

Arriving into Hanoi, a private transfer will bring you to the colonial splendour of your French Quarter hotel. The city's endearing bustle will give you an early feel for life in the capital, while a deeper discernment will come from your private tour of the city. Absorb the history of the ‘Hanoi Hilton’ where the French imprisoned Vietnamese, before being used to imprison American POWs.

Your experience of Hanoi will cross-cross a thousand-year period as you explore the Temple of Confucius, Ho Chi Minh’s stilted house and splendid Beaux-Arts architecture. To complete the Hanoi immersion, hop on a cyclo and take a thrilling ride through the Old Quarter to become a part of Vietnam’s beating heart itself.

After an included private transfer, you’ll be greeted aboard your luxury junk ship by welcome drinks, polished-timber elegance and your marbled suite’s private balcony. Taking in the views from the pool deck, you’ll set off among the spectacular islands of Ha Long Bay, heading towards Lan Ha – a lesser-visited part where few ships are granted permits. Along the way, you’ll stop off at century-old French lighthouses and remote villages, which you’ll explore on cycle rides and school visits.

In among it all there are spa treatments along with the superb included full-board fine dining, served up from an open kitchen. You’ll even be treated to a cooking class and a spot of squid fishing.

Stay: Ginger boat (Signature Suite cabin)

You’ll awake to gorgeous sunrise views, freshly baked pastries and a Tai Chi session, held on the sun deck. Then, among the bay’s tree-topped islands, you’ll have some time to explore under your own steam, with a swim or kayak paddle, before your flight down to Hoi An. Bookended by private transfers, you'll arrive at one of the country's finest hotels – a French-colonial jewel complete with private-balcony river views, spa treatments and yoga classes.

You'll have plenty of time to explore Hoi An's UNESCO-listed charms, with everything from its Japanese bridges and Chinese temples to its century-old warren of merchant houses showcased on an included private walking tour. The visit to a silk lantern workshop is a special highlight. You may also decide to venture out on an optional, half-day Vespa tour through the nearby countryside, in which you'll zig-zag between rice paddies, learn about the art of local coffee roasting and enjoy a delicious lunch while gaining a fascinating insight into rural life in this part of Vietnam. 

Vietnamese food has become an established part of the restaurant scene in the UK in recent years and for a very good reason. Fragrant, tender and healthy, the cuisine is influenced by French, Chinese, Angkor and Champa cooking philosophies, and there’s no better way to understand than to take a cookery class.

Afterwards, an ideal reward comes in the form of the arresting coastal scenery on your private transfer to Hue. Here, you've got the option of joining an evening food tour by cyclo, visiting street stalls, restaurants and bars showcasing the best and most authentic local delicacies, while also learning some handy Vietnamese phrases as you go.

A private transfer brings you the short distance to Hue, whose former status as imperial capital of Vietnam has left behind a majestic moat-ringed palace and fortress complex. Exploring this imposing site on a private tour is a pleasure, as is the even-older Thien Mu Pagoda: one of the key icons of Vietnam and a beautiful example of the country’s Buddhist heritage. From here, embark on a leisurely cyclo ride to Kim Long village to immerse into the greenery of a so-called 'Garden City'.

Then, a short flight and a private transfer will see you to your luxury hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, more commonly known by its former name, Saigon.

Stay: Park Hyatt Saigon

Following an included guided transfer, a private speedboat will see you out of the city to the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels – used by the Viet Cong in the Tet offensive. After a full guided exploration of this underground labyrinth, you'll be treated to an included lunch on the riverside before your return speedboat leg back to Ho Chi Minh City. Here, a private guide will bring its rich history to life, taking in the poignant War Remnants Museum and the majestic Reunification Palace, a Beaux-Arts jewel once besieged by tanks and kamikaze planes.

You'll also marvel at the city's French-colonial architecture and the chic boutiques of Dong Khoi Street.

Stay: Park Hyatt Saigon

If cities are the heartbeat of Vietnam, the Mekong is the lifeblood on which it depends. Life along the river is gentle-paced, and we’ve included a cruise on board a traditional sampan boat for a unique insight into the culture along its banks. You'll also pause to cycle among the delta's narrow village lanes, local cottage industries and fruit orchards, stopping for tastings and the chance to meet the local residents.

It's all bookended by private transfers, seeing you back to your luxury hotel.

Stay: Park Hyatt Saigon

On your last day in Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll be picked up by private transfer and taken to the airport for your flight home.