Vietnam

2 Day, 1 Night Lan Ha & Ha Long Bay Cruise — Infinity Pool & Private Balcony

Our own pick, and the one we book for clients without hesitation. This 6-star small-ship cruise runs a route through Lan Ha Bay away from the crowded main Ha Long channel, with every cabin opening onto a private balcony and an infinity pool on deck for the karst views. The ship carries very few guests relative to its size — more crew than passengers looking after you — with fine dining on board rather than a buffet line. It's the difference between a cruise and a private charter that happens to have other guests on it.

Sunrise Tai Chi & Kayaking

A quiet start on deck before the karsts fill with day-boats, followed by a kayak out to the smaller grottoes only reachable at low tide.

Tuan Chau Marina Departure

Most private cruises depart from Tuan Chau — roughly two and a half hours by private car from central Hanoi, with a coffee stop en route.

Old Quarter Walk

The 36 streets, each once dedicated to a single trade — silk, silver, paper — still loosely organised the same way today.

Egg coffee at Cafe Giảng, where it was invented in the 1940s; Note Coffee, walled floor to ceiling in visitors' handwritten notes; a cup at one of the Train Street cafés timed to a passing train; and Hidden Gem Coffee, tucked up an unmarked staircase in the Old Quarter.

The unassuming bun cha spot where Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain shared a table and a Hanoi beer in 2016 — order the "Combo Obama," and the original table is now kept behind glass.

A residential lane so narrow the train passes within arm's reach of the cafés lining it — check locally for the current daily schedule before you go, and keep well back of the marked line.

Top of Hanoi & the City's Street Art

The observation deck on the 65th floor of Lotte Center for a full skyline view, then back at street level: Phùng Hưng's stretch of large-scale murals under the old railway arches, and the Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural — Guinness-recognised as the world's largest ceramic mosaic.

A sampan through Trang An's river caves and karst peaks, often called "Halong Bay on land" — easily done as a day trip from Hanoi, or built into a longer itinerary (see below).

A private introduction to Bibi, one of Hoi An's most trusted tailoring houses — suits, dresses and shirts cut and fitted within a day or two, with a second fitting built into your stay.

My Son Sanctuary — Early Access

Fourth-century Cham temple ruins deep in a jungle valley — a dawn departure gets you there before the tour buses and the heat of the day.

Full Moon Lantern Festival

On the fourteenth night of the lunar month, the Ancient Town switches off its electric lights entirely — silk lanterns and candlelit boats on the Thu Bon River instead.

Ba Na Hills & the Golden Bridge

A cable car climbs into the mist above Da Nang to a French-colonial-style hill station and the famous stone hands cradling the Golden Bridge — go early or late to avoid the midday crowds.

My Khe Beach

A wide, white-sand stretch fronting central Da Nang — a good half-day between the mountains and the airport.

Marble Mountains

Five limestone hills threaded with Buddhist grottoes and pagodas — a short stop between Da Nang and Hoi An, best combined with a sculptor's workshop at the base.

Private Boat to the An Thoi Islands

A snorkelling day trip out to Phu Quoc's quieter southern archipelago — coral reefs, empty coves, and lunch cooked on board.

Sunset Dinner, Dinh Cau Night Market

Grilled seafood at a beachfront table, feet in the sand — the most relaxed evening on the whole itinerary.

The world's longest three-rope cable car over open sea, connecting Phu Quoc to Hon Thom island — a scenic half-day even without stepping off at the other end.

Cu Chi Tunnels — Private Half-Day

A private guide and driver for the wartime tunnel network, best done in the cooler morning hours before the midday heat.

Rooftop Bar Circuit, District 1

A curated route through the city's best rooftop bars, timed to the sunset over the Saigon River.

Cai Rang Floating Market, Mekong Delta

Boats stacked with produce trading before sunrise on the river outside Can Tho — a private boat and an early start make the difference between spectacle and traffic jam.