Your Vietnam adventure starts in Hanoi, the capital and cultural heartland for over a thousand years. This will be a visit of two themes, on two contrasting guided tours. In the morning, you’ll walk through Vietnam’s storied history, visiting an 11th-century university, one of Vietnam’s most iconic temples, and you’ll turn to modern life as you get a locals-eye view of the city watching t’ai chi sessions around Hoan Kiem Lake and the small businesses of the Old Quarter's 36 streets. Balancing out past and present, it’s a fantastic introduction to a city layered with history and tradition. As the sun sets, we'll take you for a night out, weaving through the commuting motorbikes for a grilled turmeric fish and ice cold bia hoi.

Travelling north, it’s time to slow the pace and soak up one of the natural wonders of the world. In terms dramatic karst scenery, Lan Ha Bay is identical to its more famous neighbour, Halong Bay, and yet it sees a fraction of the tourist traffic, making for a far more isolated experience. When it's clear, sheer-sided limestone pinnacles stretch out as far as the eye can see. When it’s overcast, densely forested islands loom atmospherically out of the mist, with their heads lost in the clouds. It’s a truly incredible landscape, and the best way to experience it is on an overnight cruise – eating your meals on deck, kayaking to secret beaches, and visiting floating villages and pearl farms.

With its canary-yellow merchant houses and Japanese covered bridge, the 15th-century port of Hoi An is easily the most picturesque town in Vietnam. Take a full day to sample its white rose dumplings and coconut curries, haggle for a made-to-measure suit at one of its many tailors’ shops, or head to An Bang beach for some sun, sea and sand. Then, discover a different side of the region with a visit to an organic cookery school who are helping to preserve traditional, rural life via sustainable agriculture and ecotourism. Your guide will also introduce you to a family who combines Qigong, Tai Chi and a traditional Vietnamese martial art called Vo into a healing technique. In the evening, Hoi An’s riverside cafés alight with multicoloured lanterns: one of our favourite sights in Vietnam.

Cross spectacular Hai Van Pass to Hue, the capital of Vietnam’s last royal dynasty. Vietnam lived under imperial rule for centuries, and it's the best place in the country to learn about life and culture under the Nguyen Emperors. A cyclo (trishaw) ride is our favourite way to see the sights, and your local guide will help you bring history to life. Highlights include the Imperial Citadel, pockmarked with artillery scars and modelled on Beijing’s Forbidden City, a 21-metre pagoda overlooking the Perfume River, and the magnificent tombs of some of Vietnam’s most important rulers. Hue also boasts some of the best cuisine in Vietnam, so don’t forget to stop by Dong Ba Market for some snacks!

In contrast to Hanoi’s proud traditionalism, Vietnam’s biggest city is all youth and vigour. Understanding the rivalry and cultural differences between the two is a big part of understanding Vietnam, so we’ve packed your stay here with experiences to help you do just that — with a guide on hand to demystify the nuances of the local culture (and show you where to find the best iced coffee). Get a sense of the French colonial period as you wander broad, leafy boulevards lined with grandiose hotels, and learn about the impact of the war with a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels, where the Viet Cong hid out and laid booby traps for American troops. HCMC is complex, dynamic, and never, ever boring.

After hectic Saigon, there’s no better way to wind down than a cruise on the Mekong Delta. Lodging on a converted rice barge, you’ll drift along canals and waterways, dining on deck as you pass tropical orchards, paddy fields and boat-builders’ yards. In contrast to the dramatic scenery of Lan Ha Bay, the Delta is lush, tropical, and humming with life. There’s always something to see on the banks of the waterways, whether it’s the snake-like roots of mangrove forests, kids splashing about off stilt-village jetties, or laden sampans selling everything from noodle soup to lottery tickets at the thronging floating markets. For a taste of life on the water, there’s simply nowhere else like it. Return to the city for a final night before departing Vietnam.