Experience Hanoi's Old Quarter on a cyclo tour, Cruise majestic Halong Bay, Find a poem hat in imperial Hue, Discover the Perfume River on a dragon boat, Meet local kids in Hoi An, Relax on the beach at Nha Trang, Beat the heat at Dam Sen Water Park

what's included?

Days 1-2 Hanoi

• Enjoy breakfast at KOTO, a restaurant helping Hanoi's disadvantaged youth. Jump on board a cyclo and take a ride through the Old Quarter where vendors trade painted t-shirts, watches and shoes. Then it's off to an evening water puppet show, a type of traditional Vietnamese entertainment that started in rice fields centuries ago.

Days 3-4 Halong Bay

• Cruise the warm waters of Halong Bay with its towering limestone peaks and stalactite-filled caves.

Days 5-6 Hue

• A former imperial capital and important Buddhist centre, Hue is filled with ancient sites. Discover the Imperial Citadel and the lovely octagonal Thien Mu Pagoda. Explore the lively Dong Ba Market and search for 'poem hats' between the fruit, vegetable and fish stalls. These hats have shadowy scenes of everyday life which can only be seen when held up to the light. Later, swap the bustle of the markets for the tranquility of the Perfume River with a cruise on a dragon boat.

Days 7-9 Hoi An

• Discover the quaint backstreets of Hoi An and meet the local kids on a school visit, sample local cuisine, get clothes tailor-made in rich silks or head down to the beach on a bicycle.

Days 10-12 Nha Trang

• Leave urban life behind and make for the fine beaches of this coastal town. Cruise the turquoise waters among nearby islands, before visiting an outdoor aquarium and lazing on a private beach.

Days 13-15 Ho Chi Minh City

• There's so much to do in Vietnam's capital. Scoot off on cyclos to the lively Chinatown area, have a local-style lunch in the Ben Thanh Market or do some temple-hopping - the choices are endless.