Meet & greet: Upon arrival at Hanoi airport, you will be welcomed to Vietnam by your private English speaking guide, and then transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day will be free at leisure for you to settle into your hotel, rest after your journey, and begin exploring Vietnam’s capital independently.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the La Siesta Premium Hang Be  (Junior Suite)

Morning tour of Hanoi: Start your morning tour of Hanoi with a visit to the 900 year old Temple of Literature, Vietnam's principal Confucian sanctuary and its historical centre of learning. Continue to the Soviet style Ba Dinh Square where Ho Chi Minh read out the declaration of the nation's independence in 1945. Visit the museum dedicated to Ho Chi Minh before passing through the mausoleum.

Afternoon at leisure in Hanoi: You have an afternoon at leisure to explore the Vietnamese capital independently. Stroll around the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake, take in a water puppet show, go shopping in the Old Quarter, or sample some of Hanoi’s many culinary delights.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the La Siesta Premium Hang Be  (Junior Suite)

Meals: Breakfast

Private transfer: After breakfast, your guide and driver will transfer you to the airport in time for your onward flight to Dien Bien Phu.

Flight: VN8202 Hanoi - Dien Bien Phu 11.00 - 12.15

Private transfer: On arrival, you will be met at the airport by your guide & driver and transferred to your hotel to check in. After checking in, you have the rest of the day free to explore the town.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Muong Thanh (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Morning tour of Dien Bien Phu: This morning, make a short visit to the town's central market before visiting the Revolutionary Heroes' Cemetery, Dien Bien Phu Museum, the notorious hill A-1 battlefield, the former French command post, Old Muong Thanh Bridge and the Nan Rom River.

Road journey from Dien Bien Phu to Lai Chau: Depart Dien Bien Phu later this morning, for the road journey to Lai Chau, stopping at Muong Ang and the Muong Lay Valley en route. The journey takes approximately 4-5 hours. Upon arrival, the rest of the day is free to explore the town.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Lan Anh 1 (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Lai Chau to Sapa: This morning set off on the drive from Lai Chau to Sapa on a good road which takes in some of the best scenery in North Vietnam, including spectacular views of Mount Fansipan. There will be stops en route at the villages of Phong Tho and Paso to see local markets and Thai, Tay, Nung and H'mong minorities. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. The journey time is approximately six hours, depending on traffic conditions.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Topas Ecolodge (Deluxe Bungalow)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch 

Full day minority village trek: This morning, set off on a trek around the valleys and minority villages around Sapa. Start on the road leading west from Sapa which winds through hilly terrain and past terraced paddy fields to Cat Cat village, just 2km from the town. Take a walk through the ancient village to see the traditional customs and practices of the ethnic Black H'mong. Continue to a nearby waterfall and the vestige of a hydroelectric power station constructed by the French during the colonial era. From here follow a dirt trail which sneaks between mountains along a narrow river until you reach Muong Hoa Valley, a stunning spot with the largest rice terraces in Sapa. Visits between May and October coincide with the planting and harvesting season, a chance to see local farmers in action. The trek then takes you from the Black H'mong Lao Chai village to Ta Van village of the Giay minority, with a stop at the local Catholic Church. You will then be met by your driver and taken back to the Topas Ecolodge.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Topas Ecolodge (Deluxe Bungalow)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Morning at leisure: You have a morning at leisure in Sapa. You may wish to have a root around the busy market, or take a short trek to some of the nearby villages. Further excursions can be arranged through your guide.

Private transfer: This afternoon your guide and driver will transfer you to the railway station in Lao Cai for the overnight sleeper train to Hanoi.

Overnight train: This evening you will board the King Express in a private cabin. The train will depart from Lao Cai at around 19.30.

The comfortable King Express and Livitrains carriages will take you on your overnight journeys between Hanoi and Lao Cai (for Sapa). Cabins can be booked in a private or shared capacity with soft-sleeping berths and air-con/heating to accommodate the varying weather conditions. Bathrooms, both Western and Vietnamese style, are found on board as well as simple but clean washrooms.

Meals: Breakfast

Freshen up: Upon arrival in Hanoi early this morning you will be met and transferred to a local hotel, where you will have the use of a room for freshening up, and have breakfast.

Road journey from Hanoi to Halong Bay: After breakfast you will be driven for approximately three hours through the Red River delta to the coast and the Gulf of Tonkin, where the waters of Halong Bay are found.

Overnight Halong Bay Cruise on the Indochina Sails:  Board your Indochina Sails boat in time for lunch, and set sail across the bay. All activities arranged by the cruise are on a shared basis. After lunch take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay. There will also be the opportunity for swimming on a quiet beach or sunbathing on the sundeck. In the late afternoon there will be an excursion to a local fishing village, and a water tunnel. Return to the boat in time for a pre-dinner drink as the sun is setting.

Accommodation: Stay tonight on board the Indochina Sails (Deluxe Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Halong Bay cruise: After some morning activities, enjoy brunch on board. Disembark the Indochina Sails late morning.

Road journey: Upon arrival at the quay, you will be met by your private guide and transferred back to Hanoi. En route you will stop off at the Phu Lang ‘ceramic village’ where the villagers have been practicing this traditional craft for generations. Continue to Hanoi airport in time to catch your onward flight.

Flight: VN181 Hanoi - Danang 16.30 - 17.50

Private transfer: Upon arrival at Danang Airport, you will be met by a guide and transferred to your hotel in Hoi An, a drive of around 45 minutes.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Ha An Hotel (Garden View Room)

Meals: Brunch

Day at leisure: You have time to relax. Alternatively there are opportunities to visit the beach, cycle in some beautiful countryside, visit the ruins at My Son, discover the artists of Hoi An or see a tailor to get some clothes made.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Ha An Hotel (Garden View Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Private transfer: At the appropriate time today, you will be transferred to Danang Airport for your onward flight.

Flight: VN1911 Danang - Buon Ma Thuot 15.50 - 17.10

Private transfer: Upon arrival in Buon Ma Thuot, you will be welcomed by your guide, and transferred to the boat pier in Lak Lake for the short boat ride to Lak Tented Camp. Lak Lake is Vietnam’s Central Highland’s largest natural freshwater lake surrounded by vast and tranquil forested hills. On arrival, check-in to the camp and have the rest of the evening to relax.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Lak Lake Tented Camp

Meals: Breakfast

Full day guided tour in the Central Highlands: After breakfast, transfer to Yang Tao Village, located at the foot of Chu Yang Sin National Park. Follow the trails for a short 2km trek under the jungle canopy to a hidden waterfall. Upon arrival, enjoy a picnic lunch by the waterfall and you have the chance to swim in the fresh natural pool if weather permits. In the afternoon, continue back to Yang Tao Village. Here you have the opportunity to meet some of the villagers and learn about the traditional handicrafts which have been produced in the area for decades, such as pottery & bamboo weaving. Buon Me Thuot is also famous for being home to some of the biggest cacao and coffee plantations in Vietnam. You can see how the coffee trees are grown and harvested, and taste some of the local products. Return to the Camp in the afternoon, and take part in a mini tour around an organic farm followed by a cooking demonstration or small session to learn how to make a refreshing drink from garden herbs.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Lak Lake Tented Camp  

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Time at leisure: Today you have some time at leisure in the Central Highlands. You can relax at the camp and enjoy the scenery, explore some of the surrounding area independently, or arrange further excursions through your guide.

Private transfer: At the appropriate time today, you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight to Saigon.

Flight: VN1415 Buon Ma Thuot - Ho Chi Minh City 19.45 - 20.40

Private transfer: Upon arrival at Ho Chi Minh City airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in a private chauffeur driven car.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Northern Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day at leisure: Today you have a full day at leisure in this bustling Asian metropolis. Relax at your hotel, or explore independently. Great shopping opportunities can be found in busy Ben Thanh market as well as numerous glitzy modern malls, while great food can be found on every corner either on the street or in a number of fantastic upmarket restaurants.

Private transfer: This evening you will be collected from your hotel by your guide, and transferred to Ho Chi Minh City Airport in time for your return flight. 

Meals: Breakfast