Classic Winter Vietnam

Welcome to Hanoi! You'll be met at the airport after your flight and driven into the city to check into your hotel for your first two nights. The rest of your day is yours to relax, acclimatise, and settle in after your journey. You can simply take it easy at your hotel, enjoying the pool and gardens, or head out to explore the town at your own pace, soaking up its local markets and getting your first taste of the street food. We can include guaranteed early check-in for early arrivals. 

This morning, you’ll be picked up by your private guide and taken on a fascinating tour around Hanoi. With your local guide leading you, you'll explore the higlights as well as plenty of hidden, local treasures. Stops will be made at the Temple of Literature, a peaceful oasis and Vietnam’s first university, founded in 1076, as well as the Vietnam Women’s Museum, which celebrates the vital role of women in Vietnamese society. Your tour will finish with a wander through the vibrant Old Quarter.

Your day starts with a private transfer to Halong today. When you arrive at the pier, you’ll be checked in for your overnight cruise. After a warm welcome and cabin check-in, enjoy lunch as your boat begins its gentle cruise into the bay. The afternoon offers time for kayaking, squid fishing, Tai Chi, or simply marvelling at the natural beauty and dramatic limestone karsts. As evening falls, you'll drop anchor in a quiet cove to enjoy a delicious dinner as the sun sets. After toasting your adventure, retire to your cabin for a peaceful night on the water.

After the magical experience of waking up on the bay this morning, enjoy your onboard breakfast with views over the spectacular rock formations. Disembark and meet with your guide for the transfer back to Hanoi airport for your short flight south to Hoi An. Hoi An is one of our favourite spots in Vietnam, with its lantern-lit streets, riverside charm, and timeless architecture all ready to welcome you. We recommend staying in the Old Town for your two-night stop.

We've included a full-day culinary experience for you today. You’ll shop where the locals shop and can select local produce from an authentic market, picking up fresh herbs, spices and seafood. Once the shopping has been done, you’ll board a boat for a scenic cruise along the Thu Bon River to the renowned Red Bridge Cooking School. The expert chefs will then lead a hands-on cooking class where you’ll be taught traditional Vietnamese techniques for creating a range of delicious dishes which you’ll tuck into for lunch. 

You'll be picked up this morning and transferred to Hoi An Airport for a quick flight to vibrant Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). The modern skyscrapers and endless stream of scooters offer quite the contrast to the laid-back atmosphere in Hoi An. Discover the city’s rich history, lively markets, and mouthwatering cuisine on arrival – but be careful when crossing the road, there’s definitely a knack to it!

Today, you'll head off on an insightful excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels, just outside Saigon. Discover this vast underground network used during the Vietnam War, where you’ll learn about its history and strategic significance. Explore the tunnels (not for the claustrophobic!), hidden traps, and exhibits, offering a fascinating glimpse into Vietnam’s wartime resilience.

You'll leave Ho Chi Minh City for a scenic 3.5-hour drive to Can Tho this morning. When you arrive, you’ll have a warm welcome on board your Bassac boat, ahead of your one-night overnight cruise on the delta. You’ll have the opportunity to learn about the fascinating way of life on the banks of the river, whilst enjoying the charming Vietnamese hospitality aboard your boat. This is a brilliant opportunity to experience authentic Vietnamese life in the countryside. We hugely recommend it.

After waking up on the Mekong, you'll disembark, wave goodbye to your crew and be whisked off to the airport for a short flight to reach Phu Quoc island. This island paradise sits just 45km from the southern coast of Cambodia, but it still retains its Vietnamese charm. The island offers a whole host of accommodation options and we'll be able to help you decide which would be best suited to you.

The next few days are yours to enjoy at your own pace on the idyllic island of Phu Quoc. Relax on the island’s pristine beaches, take a dip in the warm, turquoise waters and unwind with a cocktail in hand beneath swaying palms. If you can tear yourself away from sunbathing by the pool, you could explore some of the island’s local markets, visit a pepper farm or arrange a boat trip via your hotel.

It’s time to begin your journey back to the UK today. You’ll take a short regional flight back up to Saigon, ahead of your overnight flight to the UK.