Hanoi isn’t known for its peace and quiet, but there are pockets of calm to be found amid the hustle and bustle. Witness the city waking up as you head to Long Bien market at dawn, then join the locals for t’ai chi on the banks of Hoan Kiem Lake. With cool temperatures and few crowds, this is the pleasantest time of day to be up and about — as any Hanoian will attest! Breakfast on sweet, iced coffee and pho piled high with herbs, then spend the rest of the day exploring with your guide. Highlights are sure to include the thousand-year-old Temple of Literature and the 36 streets of the Old Quarter — filled with fragrant steam, sizzling street-food and music long into the night.

Cruise out amongst the magnificent, forested peaks of Bai Tu Long Bay and you’ll soon discover that Halong’s quieter twin is more than a match for its famous sibling. Your waterborne home is one of the most luxurious boats on the bay, where you can kick-start body and soul with t’ai chi (plus coffee and pastries!) on the sundeck at dawn, then tend to the mind with informative on-board lectures and classic film screenings. For the rest, enjoy your cruise as you see fit — lunching on deck as you drift past towering limestone karsts, indulging in the onboard spa, squid fishing under the stars, or joining excursions to jungle-clad islands, floating villages, and hidden coves.

With its 15th century merchant houses and lush countryside surroundings, there could be few prettier settings for rest and relaxation than Hoi An. Start with a morning with a nutritionist at an organic farm for a lesson in Vietnamese cooking — among the healthiest cuisines in the world. You'll also spend time with a herbalist, learning about the varying uses of fresh herbs before sitting for a meditation session in the gardens. Next, it’s time to really dive into the local culture with a full day countryside tour. Travelling by boat, bike and foot, you’ll stop in at a fish sauce workshop, try your hand at sedge weaving, and enjoy a home-cooked lunch at a local house.

Wind between sea and mountain as you cross the spectacular Hai Van Pass to arrive at Alba Wellness Valley, where the next two days are packed with activities designed to boost your health and wellbeing. After a personal wellness assessment, you’ll plan your stay around your needs and preferences – whether that means throwing yourself into everything from ziplining to aqua yoga, or simply relaxing in the natural hot spring baths and enjoying daily spa treatments. Optional excursions include hikes, bike rides and visits to the local pagoda, but however you choose to spend your time, expect super-healthy Hue cuisine, beautiful bungalow accommodation, and stunning natural surroundings.

The next two days are about contrast. Dip into Saigon’s heritage with an afternoon tour of its French-colonial and war-era history, then head out for a full day on the lush and fertile Mekong Delta. Travelling on a converted rice barge, wind through a maze of waterways, past coconut groves, rice paddies and fruit farms. Stop to visit cottage industries that have barely changed in centuries, such as brick-making and coconut processing, then cycle to local homes to watch crispy rice paper being made, or to enjoy tropical fruits and honey tea with the family. This slow-paced, rural life couldn’t be more different from the buzz of the city — as you’ll find when you return this evening.

For us, a truly indulgent Vietnam holiday needs a few days on the beach and, true to this trip’s aim, you’ll end on Con Son (the main island of the Con Dao Islands), where the palm-fringed beaches, forested hills and brilliant blue waters of this national park combine natural beauty with time to pause. Simply being here feels like a reset.