Many people start their Vietnam holiday in Hanoi, but not many spend their first morning with a water puppetry master. Watch a performance where the puppets seem to dance on the water, then paint your own in bright, shiny colours. It's a fun and unusual way to gain an insight into traditional Vietnamese culture, and Mr Liem is a passionate expert. In the afternoon, you'll head out for a walking tour of the Old Quarter, wandering down alleys barely one person wide, and stopping at a teashop to hear stories of life in old Hanoi. Kids can also roll up their sleeves and try some pottery in Bat Trang village, known for their pottery production. We find traditional city tours a bit history-heavy for families, but this lively, hands-on pair of tours will bring Hanoian culture to life in a way that all ages can enjoy.

You’ve seen the city, now it’s time to get into the countryside. With a totally different character and topography, your next stop is Ninh Binh. This dramatic karst landscape is an adventurer’s wonderland, with endless opportunities for leisurely sampan boat rides, and cycle trips to city ruins dating back over a millennium. Visit Van Long nature reserve, passing through wetlands, lotus ponds and limestone peaks. Don a conical hat and try your hand at traditional farming methods and fishing with a basket trap.

Load up the Jurassic Park theme tune and sail into Lan Ha Bay: a monumental landscape of sheer-sided pinnacles that feels like a Land Before Time. Though we can’t promise dinosaurs, we can guarantee some of the best views on the planet – and there’s no end of activities for those who like a bit of excitement with their scenery. Find hidden coves by kayak, go squid fishing off the back of the boat, stop off to visit floating markets and pearl farms, or join in t’ai chi lessons on the deck. The activities may vary, but there’s never a shortage of fun to be had – and there’s plenty of time to relax on deck with a cocktail, too. This is an experience you can’t have anywhere else in the world.

Hoi An is best-known for its lantern festival and busy town centre, but in the rural outskirts, life is quiet, slow, and seductively simple. Get to know its rhythms with a cookery class designed for kids, where you'll face challenges such as a spring roll showdown and a juice mixologist workshop. Then, head back into the town itself to see the Hoi An of picture postcards, and engage in some friendly competition with a treasure hunt through the local market. You'll be staying in a beautiful resort right on the beach, so you’ll have plenty of time to relax too and pretend you never have to go home.