Vietnam Highlights

Fly overnight to Saigon, Vietnam's most evocative and largest city. Depending on your time of arrival the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.

Seamlessly blending past and present, Saigon is both a treasure trove of cultural sights and the city that is driving Vietnam towards a brighter future. See Notre Dame Cathedral and visit the Central Post Office, both legacies of a colonial past. Spend time at the Reunification Palace and the chilling War Remnants Museum. Finish up by browsing for bargains in the lively Ben Thanh Market.

Journey to Vinh Long province to take a cruise on the mighty Mekong. This area is known as the ‘Rice Basket of Vietnam’, the rich and fertile lands producing a plethora of rice, coconuts, vegetables and tropical fruits. Spend the night in the vibrant Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.

Continue your explorations, departing Can Tho to cruise through the Cai Rang Floating Market, where you'll see boats piled high with the colourful produce of the delta. Return to Saigon.

This morning, contemplate the horrors of guerrilla warfare at the astonishing Cu Chi Tunnels. Transfer to the airport and fly to Nha Trang, Vietnam's beach capital.

Take to the turquoise waters for a cruise around the many little islands off Nha Trang's coast. There'll also be a visit to a local fishing village.

Fly to Danang and transfer to the beautiful UNESCO-listed town of Hoi An.

Drive out into the countryside to Tra Que, a small farming community where you can enjoy the lush green countryside and stroll through the gardens to see the farmers at work. Later, take a walking tour of Hoi An, visiting the elaborate Japanese Bridge, a Chinese temple and the Reaching Out Arts & Crafts workshop.

Explore the enchanting Cham ruins of My Son. Built in the 4th century, the temples aren’t in perfect condition but the site is intimate and swallowed up by lush jungle, which adds to the sense of adventure. Return to Hoi An.

Spend the morning at leisure in Hoi An, before travelling the scenic route to Hue over the Hai Van Pass. The epitome of Vietnam’s dynastic past, Hue is a dignified and scholarly city. On arrival, embark on a scenic cruise of the Perfume River and visit the magnificent Thien Mu Pagoda.

The river banks outside of Hue are dotted with UNESCO-listed imperial tombs – visit those of Khai Dinh and Minh Mang. Learn the traditional art of 'truc chi' and a workshop before visiting the imposing Imperial Citadel, and Forbidden Purple City.

Fly to Hanoi. Bringing together all of the charms of a colonial past with a modern buzz in one fast-paced yet graceful city, Hanoi is the perfect combination of old Asia and new. Start exploring with a visit to the Confucian Temple of Literature and a thrilling cyclo tour of the Old Quarter's atmospheric tangle of streets. Stop off for a 'ca phe trung' or egg coffee, a Hanoi speciality.

Sightseeing today includes a wander through the Ho Chi Minh Quarter, where you’ll pass Ho Chi Minh’s monumental mausoleum and Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House. Also, visit One Pillar Pagoda and the Museum of Ethnology. The afternoon is at leisure.

Duong Lam is well known for its wonderfully preserved historic houses. Visit Mia Pagoda and observe the daily life of the locals in traditional village surroundings. Enjoy lunch at the home of a local family before returning to Hanoi. In the evening see a performance of the famous water puppets.

Spend the day cruising amongst spectacular seascapes, fringed by jagged karst formations jutting from emerald waters. Halong Bay, with its 1,600 islands and islets, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 and is a vision of awe-inspiring beauty. You'll even explore one of the bay's many caves. Spend a night onboard before returning to Hanoi the next day. On your last evening, attend The Quintessence of Tonkin show, a spectacular open-air performance celebrating the rich history of northern Vietnam.

Fly to the UK, arriving home the same or following day.