Before you head into the remote north, it’s time to hit the city – and in our book, there are few cities more exciting than Hanoi. For us, the best way to get beneath the skin of the capital is via its food culture, so we’ve included a half-day culinary tour to get you acquainted with the ins and outs of Vietnamese cuisine. Head out into the streets to sample spring rolls and crispy pancakes for breakfast, rounding off with a sweet iced coffee in the Old Quarter. The rest of your time in the city is for you to spend as you choose – and we’ll have plenty of suggestions in your Info-Pack to keep you busy.

It’s a seven-hour journey from Hanoi up to Hoang Su Phi, along a main road route that passes through small towns and villages. Businesses and homes line the roadside. Along the way, you could spot anything from fruit sellers beneath gazebos to photocopy shops that offers haircuts, too...

Hoang Su Phi is home to minority communities that have called these mountains home for generations. On your first day in the deep north you’ll head out on a full day hike, visiting the village of Phin Ho, where residents are famous for their herbal teas, before continuing through the terraced farmland populated with Red and Black Dao villages.

After a two-hour morning drive, passing terraced rice paddies and thatched homes along the way, you'll arrive at Thon Tha. Stop here for a short hike before continuing your route to the village of Nam Dam, where you’ll meet members of the Red Dao community. Next, you’ll visit Lung Tham, a small village where a Hmong cooperative is working to keep traditional brocade weaving alive and fair for the local community.

Today you’ll visit the Dong Van Karst Plateau, a UNESCO World Heritage Geopark known for its geological heritage, biodiversity, and cultural richness – and home to 17 ethnic minority groups. The landscapes here are some of Vietnam's most dramatic: tree-coated karst mountains, deep valley gorges, and plenty of viewpoints for you to stop for photos. You’ll visit the Hmong Kings Palace, which explains the history of the largest minority community based in the area. After lunch, hike the ‘Sky Path’, a nickname given to a mountain pass that scales the cliff's edge - one for the thrill seekers.

If you’re in Dong Van on a Sunday, we recommend setting your alarm early to visit the weekly market. A part trade, part social opportunity for locals, here you can pick up anything from street food to SIM cards.

Today, you'll continue back through the Mi Pi Leng Pass, stopping along the way for a one-hour boat trip along the Nho Que River. Take a look up and you'll see the mountain passes you were travelling along only yesterday. You'll arrive in Ha Giang in the afternoon.

It’s back to Hanoi for a night to reacclimatise to city life – and perhaps an evening out on the town. After seven days on the road, you’ll then swap wheels for water as you take to Lan Ha Bay: the lesser-known (but no less spectacular, and quieter) sibling of Halong Bay. With two days and two nights on the water, you’ll have plenty of time to do a bit of on-deck t’ai chi, try your hand at squid fishing, and make excursions into the dramatic karst scenery by sampan boat or kayak. Alternatively, you might choose just to relax on deck and watch the karsts drift by, drink in hand.