Our holiday starts at the group hotel in Hanoi. A single timed airport transfer is provided. This afternoon we have a cyclo tour of Hanoi's 'Old Quarter'. Here we sit on a three wheeler bicycle and enjoy the sights as the professional bicyclist gives us a tour through the bewildering maze of narrow streets telling the fascinating story of Hanoi where past meets present. Later in the afternoon we watch a performance of Vietnam's unique water puppetry. This art is traditionally practiced by rice farmers in flooded paddy fields in the Red River Delta. The puppeteers are hidden behind a bamboo screen and depict Vietnamese folk tales, complete with special effects. This evening we have a welcome dinner in one of Hanoi's traditional restaurants where we can sample typical North Vietnamese cuisine.

Early this morning we leave Hanoi for the peaceful countryside of the Mai Chau Valley. Quickly leaving the hustle and bustle of the big city behind we begin to see the landscape transform into lush green rice fields, farmlands and villages nestled in the hills. The mountainous region of Mai Chau, approximately 4hrs drive from Hanoi, is home to the Muong hill tribe, some of whom still live in stilt houses. We have a traditional lunch in one of their houses on arrival. In the afternoon we enjoy an easy cycle ride. The Vietnamese love cycling and we take some bikes out for 1 - 2hrs to see the area and authentic country life. The villages here are rural and away from the main stream of tourists. We pass rice plantations, bamboo forest and family vegetable plots. We pass the villages Chieng Sai, Cha, Long Cha, Na Tang, Tong Dau, where people still live like their ancestors did 100 years ago. In the evening we watch a traditional dance show and can try 'Ruou Can' the local rice wine! Tonight we stay with families in a homestay. Everyone is so smiley and welcoming here it is a pleasure to be with them.

Breakfast with our charming hosts will be a joy as we discover the traditional Vietnamese morning foods. We say our farewells and have a short transfer in our vehicle to the start of our walk in the village of Na Meo. There is a little ascent and descent as we walk through further bamboo forest, past small farms with lush fruit gardens and local houses on stilts. It is likely that the villagers will come out and say hello to us and we can learn about their lives and traditional customs. At lunchtime we leave the mountains and drive back to Hanoi. Here we have the rest of the afternoon to relax at the hotel or the city.

After breakfast we set off early, driving through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta, watching scenes of everyday Vietnamese village life, figures in conical hats tending rice fields and water buffalo. After approximately 3-4 hours we arrive at Halong Bay, where we board a traditional junk boat for a cruise among the 3,000 spectacular limestone islands that make up this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The captain and crew welcome us on board as we excitedly find our en-suite cabins. We set sail and enjoy a delicious lunch which usually consists of fresh seafood. It is very relaxing on-board and we can relax on the loungers on the sun deck and watch the specular scenery go by. We can also go kayaking, which is highly recommended. It's very peaceful to be on the water line and enjoy an easy paddle past caves and islets some named for the shapes they resemble such as 'Tortoise', and 'Man's Head'. A scrumptious dinner is served as the sun sets on the horizon and the skies turn golden reds. Finally we are gently rocked to sleep on the calm waters of the bay in our comfortable cabins.

As the sun comes up the bay is beautiful in its still quiet before the bustle of the day starts. We visit the huge stalactite cave Hang Sung Sot, which consists of three large caverns. The imposing stalactite formations are beautifully lit and very inspiring. A well-secured path leads us from cavern to cavern. At the exit, our junk is already waiting for us and brings us slowly back to the harbour. We say goodbye to our crew and drive back to Hanoi (3-4hrs). We stop along the way at a craft workshop, where we can see some very beautiful, colourful pictures and sculptures being made. We have lunch here. Depending on our return time into Hanoi can relax and have drink in one of the many nice cafes. Who wants to taste an open cool coconut or a delicious smoothie made from fresh fruits? We have dinner in a restaurant before we are taken to the train station. Our next adventure begins, our overnight train to Danang. The journey is 15 hours and we leave at 1930. As there is no dining car and snacks to buy on the train, it is important to buy drinks and some food before leaving and our guide will help us with this. Each compartment has 4 beds (2 bunk beds) with clean linen. We climb into our bunks the train sets off south and we fall asleep in our bays.

We arrive into Danang at 1130 and our vehicle and guide meets us to take us to the hotel in Hoi An (approx. 1 hr). This afternoon we visit the local colourful market. There are long rows of delicious fruit, vegetables, fish, meat and spices. We buy some ingredients together for our cooking and make our way to the restaurant on a boat trip along the river for 25 mins. On arrival we chat through the recipe and then we chop, grate, slice and roll with our chef to make a delicious traditional Vietnamese meal. We overnight in Hoi An for the next 3 nights.

This morning we have no rush as we enjoy a leisurely bike ride. This is certainly the best way to explore beautiful Hoi An and the surrounding area. We start in the old town and cross the river with a small ferry. On the other side we cycle through different villages which are characterised by different crafts. It's very interesting. Woodwork is a central theme and we can see the delicate sculptures and boats that are being made. In the afternoon we visit the old town of Hoi An, which is free of motorised vehicles, and the street cafe culture almost has a Mediterranean feel. It is hard to believe that 300 years ago this place was one of the most important port cities in Southeast Asia. We visit the 200 year old house of Tan Ky, the Tran family home and chapel, the Japanese Bridge and Fu Kien Temple, as well as Hoi An's traditional handicrafts centre where we can see live silkworms in all stages of their growth to provide the silk thread for the many tailors in the neighbourhood. Our last stop is a lantern making workshop. Here we can all have an attempt at making these pretty little mini lanterns which we can take home at the end of our workshop. After this we return to the hotel to enjoy the bar and swimming pool!

Today we have a well-deserved relaxation day. The hotel is well located and very pleasant to relax at for a few hours. Swimming for the kids and maybe just some reading for the Mums & Dads. If we do want to go out and about this morning we can arrange a fun 'Fish & Chip' tour. From the hotel we bike ride for approximately 1-2 hr to the Cam An wharf. We then have a short boat trip to the Cam Thanh village famed for its water coconuts. Here we get on our basket boats among the coconut forests in the river and the fishermen will show us how to cast our nets and catch the crabs. We then bike back to our hotel and relax for the rest of the afternoon.

After breakfast we transfer to the airport (approximately 1 hr) for the morning flight to Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) city. On arrival we drive to the magnificent Mekong Delta, formed by nine tributaries of the Mekong River and often referred to as the 'rice bowl' of Vietnam. Arriving in Cai Be, we board a boat and cruise on the river towards An Hoa Village. The scenery here is completely different from that we've encountered further north. We explore the orchards on foot or bike in the afternoon and visit the Phu Chau Pagoda and Ba Kiet house, one of the nine oldest, and preserved houses in the Mekong Delta. We also enjoy some exotic fruit sampling, which is great fun as we experience the different tastes and textures of these tropical delights! Tonight we are in a marvellous lodge on the Delta. These are comfortable bungalows, set in beautiful gardens, right on the side of the river.

After an early breakfast, we check out of the Mekong Lodge and board a boat. This boat is handled expertly by women with long oars allowing us to glide gentle through the waters. We pass the once colourful Cai Be floating market area (most traders have moved to the land now) and continue to a nearby candy (sweet) factory! Here we watch as they make the sweets. The treats include coconut, caramelized nuts and rice. In the afternoon we drive into Saigon and have a short sightseeing tour including the Ben Thanh market and the impressive central post office. Overnight in Saigon.

After breakfast we visit the famous Cu Chi tunnels (approx. 1 hr drive one-way). During the Vietnam War these tunnels enabled the Viet Cong to withstand American bombing raids and control a large rural area around Ho Chi Minh City. The Cu Chi complex consisted of more than 250 km of tunnels on three levels. Some of the tunnels have been left in their original condition while others have been excavated to allow easy public access. There is also an interesting museum dedicated to the conflict. After a picnic lunch we say goodbye to our guide and begin the drive to our seaside resort at Phan Thiet. The drive takes approximately 5 hours and we should arrive in the late afternoon. The hotel staff will look after your needs and they will be able to book any optional excursions for you if required. We overnight here for 3 nights.

This comfortable resort is just a few yards from the sea and has a swimming pool and hammocks throughout the gardens. You can also have a massage, or join water sports or yoga on the beach. The hotel has two restaurants, a beach bar and a tennis table area. We have two full days to relax and enjoy the resort.

A second day to relax and enjoy the activities or peacefully read your book.

We transfer, the approximate, 5 hours to Ho Chi Minh City Airport (Saigon) where your holiday ends.