Sweet Vietnam Honeymoon – 11 Days

Begin at Ba Dinh Square, where the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, the leader who won Vietnam’s independence from France, stands at the heart of the city. Stroll through the gardens to the One Pillar Pagoda, rising from its pond like a lotus flower, and the yellow Presidential Palace, with the simple stilt house where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked nearby. Continue to the Temple of Literature, home to Vietnam’s first university.

Head out to the Museum of Ethnology, where homes, costumes and everyday objects tell the story of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. Back in the centre, sit back in a cyclo for a ride through the Old Quarter, where families still trade in the same streets their ancestors did.

End the day with a cocktail as the sun sets over West Lake.

Travel east through the green farmland of the Red River Delta to Cat Hai Island in Hai Phong, where your cruise is waiting. Step aboard, settle into your private cabin and unpack.

Lunch is served on board as the boat sails into Lan Ha Bay, away from the busier routes, past karst islands dotted with beaches, grottoes and caves.

Swim in a secluded cove or paddle a kayak across the clear water, then join a traditional cooking class on board.

Dinner is served by the crew in an intimate setting, a lovely first night on the water for a honeymoon.

Rise early for tai chi on the top deck, or simply watch the sun rise over the towering islands. Coffee, tea and pastries are served in the dining room with views across the bay.

Transfer to a day boat and cycle along the village path at Viet Hai, through forest, past rice fields and through a dark tunnel in the rock.

After lunch, cruise on to a lagoon ringed by sheer cliffs, where you can kayak and swim in the clear blue water. Later, watch the sun set over the Gulf of Tonkin.

Dinner is served on board, and the rest of the evening is yours to enjoy the bay under the stars.

Join one more tai chi session on the sun deck and see the bay at its best in the morning light.

After breakfast, head out to explore the area around Ao Ech, kayaking among the hidden corners of Lan Ha Bay. Back on board, check out and enjoy brunch as the boat returns to the quay.

Say goodbye to the crew and transfer to the airport for your flight to Da Nang, central Vietnam’s largest city and a major port. Your guide meets you on arrival for the drive of about 30 kilometres to Hoi An.

Check in to your hotel and unwind.

Enjoy a lie-in, then set off with your guide into the ancient town on the banks of the Thu Bon River. From the 16th century, it was one of the great trading ports of Southeast Asia, where merchants from China, Japan and Europe came to trade, and their mark is still everywhere. Cross the Japanese Covered Bridge, step into the ornate Chinese Assembly Hall and the incense-filled Chua Ong Pagoda, visit the Tan Ky ancestral house and admire the colonial facades along the way.

The afternoon is yours. Have something made to measure by one of the town’s tailors, or take a cooking class to learn the secrets behind the dishes you have been enjoying.

Relax on the beach, linger over coffee by the river or explore the old town once more. If you would like to fill the day, our consultants can suggest and arrange activities, from cycling through the rice fields to a cooking class.

Leave Hoi An for Da Nang airport and take the short flight to Can Tho, the largest city in the Mekong Delta, on the south bank of the Hau River. It is known for its floating market, orchards, traditional villages and picturesque canals.

After checking in, visit the Binh Thuy Ancient House, one of the most beautiful old houses in the delta, built in the late 19th century and used as a setting for Jean-Jacques Annaud’s film L’Amant. Then visit Binh Thuy Temple to learn about the spiritual life of the region.

The highlight of the day is a dinner cruise aboard the Mekong Princess. Enjoy the chef’s menu as the river comes alive in the dark, with fishermen preparing their nets for a night’s work.

Board a motorboat for Cai Rang, a traditional river market where traders come from across the region to sell from their boats, piled high with pumpkins, pineapples and melons, with samples hung from tall poles so buyers can spot them from afar.

Return to your hotel to check out and enjoy lunch.

Drive to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s business capital, and check in to your hotel to unwind.

Visit the War Remnants Museum, a sobering account of the war told through Vietnamese eyes, and the Reunification Palace, where the war came to an end in 1975.

Continue to the neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral and the grand Central Post Office across the square, then browse for souvenirs at the busy Ben Thanh Market.

Return to your hotel for a relaxing spa treatment of your choice.

Enjoy a final breakfast and a last morning at leisure.

At the agreed time, transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your flight home.