Xin chào and welcome to Vietnam. Touch down at Hanoi International Airport (HAN), where your transfer awaits to take you into the heart of the capital. Settle into the elegant Hotel de L’Opera Hanoi, a boutique property that captures the city’s French-colonial heritage with a modern edge. Take time to rest or wander the boulevards nearby, where tree-lined streets hum with scooters and the scent of street-side pho stalls.

This evening, gather with your fellow travellers for a 5pm welcome meeting led by your expert local guide. Afterwards, share your first taste of Vietnam over a welcome dinner at Café Lautrec, the hotel’s refined dining room, where French culinary influences meet local ingredients. It’s the perfect beginning to your insider-curated journey.

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your group for a guided exploration of Hanoi. Wander through the city’s intriguing Old Quarter, where colonial architecture frames streets alive with scooters, steaming bowls of pho, and vendors balancing baskets of fresh herbs. Visit the historic One Pillar Pagoda, built in 1049, and pause at Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, which offers a glimpse into the humble lifestyle of Vietnam’s late president. Along the way, learn from your local guide about the subtle differences between northern and southern pho, the art of drinking coffee Hanoi-style, and the delicate layering of flavours in bánh cuốn rice rolls — with tastings to match.

Insider Experience: Michelin-starred dining at Tầm Vị

For lunch, sit down at Tầm Vī teahouse, a Michelin-starred restaurant handpicked by Gary and Matt. Specialising in northern Vietnamese dishes, this intimate venue serves crab soup, escargot with fresh herbs and vermicelli noodles, and delicate side plates accompanied by tea, local beer, or fresh juice.

Insider Experience: Hanoi street food tour

At dusk, dive into the maze-like laneways of the Old Quarter on a guided street food walk. Follow your local guide to hidden stalls serving steaming bowls of pho, the pork broth laced with cinnamon, cardamom, and star anise. Taste bún đậu — silky vermicelli paired with golden tofu, fresh herbs, and pungent shrimp paste for a true umami punch. As Matt enthuses, “Hanoi is one of the best street food locations in the world,” a claim you’ll taste for yourself.

Begin your morning with the option to join your guide for a sunrise walk around Hoàn Kiếm Lake, where locals gather for tai chi as the city wakes. Pause for bún chả — smoky grilled pork with herbs and rice noodles — at a local restaurant famed for this Hanoi classic. For those preferring a slower start, enjoy breakfast at the hotel before regrouping at 9:15am for today’s culinary immersion.

Insider Experience: KOTO Cooking Class

Step into the kitchens of KOTO (Know One, Teach One), a pioneering social enterprise handpicked by Matt and Gary. Guided by chefs, you’ll learn to master three quintessential Vietnamese dishes while supporting a program that has transformed more than 1,500 young lives through hospitality training.

After your cooking class, continue to the Temple of Literature, founded in the 11th century as Vietnam’s first university and a lasting symbol of Confucian learning. Explore its courtyards and pavilions before returning to your hotel to refresh ahead of tonight’s fine dining.

Insider Experience: Dinner at GIA

This evening, dine at GIA, one of Hanoi’s most acclaimed restaurants. Led by Sam Trần — the first Vietnamese woman to receive a Michelin star — GIA transforms traditional Vietnamese flavours into elegant, contemporary creations. A fitting conclusion to your time in the capital, this Michelin-starred experience sets the tone for the indulgent journey ahead.

This morning, leave the bustle of Hanoi behind and drive through the Vietnamese countryside to Tuần Châu Marina, gateway to Ha Long Bay. Here, step aboard the Lyra Grandeur, part of the Lyra Cruise Collection, for a one-night voyage across these UNESCO-listed waters. After a warm welcome from the captain and crew, settle in as lunch is served and the ship glides into the emerald bay.

With just 33 suites, each framed by floor-to-ceiling windows and a private balcony or terrace, the Lyra Grandeur blends contemporary Indochine style with intimate luxury. As jungle-topped limestone karsts rise dramatically from the water, enjoy the ship’s five-star amenities — whether relaxing by the infinity pool, joining a traditional tea ceremony, or trying your hand at a Vietnamese cooking class.

As the sun sinks behind the cliffs, anchor in a sheltered cove for an unforgettable evening. Share a refined dinner onboard, paired with panoramic views of the bay, before retiring to your suite for a peaceful sleep on the waves.

Rise early to watch dawn drift across Ha Long Bay from the sundeck, with freshly brewed tea and coffee in hand. Join a tai chi class as the first light touches the limestone cliffs, a tranquil farewell to your time on the water. After breakfast, return to Tuần Châu Marina and travel by coach to Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) for your onward flight to Da Nang. From here, transfer to Hoi An, where your accommodation awaits.

Check in at the Hotel Royal Hoi An Gallery, blending artful design with a riverside setting. Take time to unwind, enjoy your included 60-minute massage, or settle into the rhythm of this charming town. Each evening, you’ll also enjoy an hour of free-flow drinks at The Deck or River Bar, the perfect prelude to dinner. Tonight, dine at your hotel’s Faifo Café, with the option to explore Hoi An’s atmospheric streets afterwards — where colonial shopfronts, lantern-lit alleys, and riverside markets capture the spirit of this UNESCO-listed town.

Your package includes:

• Daily lunch or dinner at Faifo Cafe
• One 60-minute massage per adult
• Nightly hour of free-flow drinks at The Deck or River Bar

Begin the day with breakfast at Faifo Café before enjoying a leisurely morning to explore Hoi An at your own pace. Wander the riverside streets, browse lantern shops, or simply relax by the water. For those keen to discover more, an optional tour is available to Mỹ Sơn Holyland (surcharge applies), where a UNESCO-listed complex of Cham temples dating back to the 4th century reveals Vietnam’s ancient spiritual history. Return to Hoi An for your included lunch.

This afternoon, join your expert local guide for a walking tour through the Old Town, once a thriving trade hub along the Silk Road. Step inside beautifully preserved Japanese merchant houses and Vietnamese trading warehouses, admire the grand Confucian temples, and cross the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge, which has stood since the 16th century. Continue to the Museum of Sa Huỳnh Culture, where a rare collection of Iron Age artefacts — including ornate burial jars — sheds light on the region’s earliest history.

Later, accompany your guide on an aromatic culinary experience that dives into Hoi An’s thriving food culture. Meet chefs and small business owners who uphold sustainable practices, taste the fragrant herbs and bold flavours the city is known for, and experience the hum of markets and kitchens that give Hoi An its culinary soul.

Today is yours to enjoy at leisure in Hoi An. Take advantage of your included 60-minute massage at Woosah Spa (advance booking recommended), or spend a slow morning relaxing by one of the hotel’s two swimming pools. If you prefer to explore further, join an optional full-day tour to Bà Nà Hills (surcharge applies), where a replica French village, sweeping mountain views, and the dazzling Golden Bridge await. Back at the hotel, ascend to the eighth floor for tapas and tipples at The Attic, a speakeasy-inspired cocktail bar, where your stay includes an hour of free-flow cocktails each evening.

As the sun sets, gather with your fellow travellers for a memorable dinner in Hoi An’s Ancient Town. Morning Glory Signature, nestled among colonial shopfronts and lantern-lit streets, is celebrated for authentic Vietnamese cuisine served in a stylish yet relaxed setting. The flavours, atmosphere, and riverside breeze combine for an evening that captures the essence of Hoi An.

After breakfast, meet your fellow travellers and transfer by coach to Da Nang for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival, check in to the Caravelle Hotel Saigon, a landmark property that has welcomed guests since the 1950s. Take time to settle into your surroundings and refresh before tonight’s introduction to the city.

As evening falls, ascend to the Saigon Rooftop Bar, the hotel’s most storied vantage point. Open since 1959, this atmospheric venue once drew diplomats and war correspondents, with historic photographs of the city’s fall captured from its terrace. Raise a glass during two hours of free-flow drinks and canapés, while the neon buzz and motorbike hum of modern Saigon unfolds below.

After breakfast, set out on a day shaped by the culinary expertise of Matt and Gary and brought to life by your expert local guide. Begin with an introduction to Vietnam’s iconic bánh mì — how the French baguette evolved into a southern staple layered with meats, pickles, herbs, and chilli — before venturing through the city’s historic districts in search of the best sandwiches.

Insider Experience: Bahn Mi tour, handpicked by Matt & Gary

Set out to discover the city’s best bánh mì. Begin with an introduction to Vietnam’s iconic baguette, its varieties and fillings, and why it’s especially popular in the south, before continuing on a tour through the city’s historic districts.

Depending on your group, you’ll visit one or two of the city’s most iconic shops in the morning, followed by the remaining top three after a sightseeing tour. From Ho Chi Minh City’s very first bánh mì stall to a pushcart featured on Netflix’s Street Food and a takeaway-only institution boasting a 30-year-old family recipe, Matt and Gary’s picks promise that you’ll sample the city’s best offerings.

Between tastings, take in the city’s highlights with your guide. Pause at the grand Saigon Central Post Office and the French-inspired Opera House, before finishing at Garden Coffee, set just behind Independence Palace — a symbolic site of the Fall of Saigon and the end of the conflict.

After breakfast at the hotel, begin the day with a guided visit to one of Ho Chi Minh City’s bustling local markets. Walk among colourful produce stalls, fragrant herbs, and vendors selling everything from spices to tropical fruit, gaining insight into how locals shop for daily meals.

Insider Experience: Market-to-Table Cooking Class, handpicked by Matt & Gary

Join the chefs of Hoa Túc for an immersive cooking class in a beautifully restored colonial building. After selecting fresh ingredients from the market, you’ll learn to prepare signature southern Vietnamese dishes under expert guidance. The experience blends technique with storytelling, offering a deeper connection to the flavours that define the region.

Insider Experience: Michelin-Starred Dinner at Anan, handpicked by Matt & Gary

This evening, your journey culminates with a Michelin-starred finale at Anan, one of Vietnam’s most innovative restaurants. Chef Peter Cuong Franklin reimagines traditional street food with contemporary flair, creating dishes that celebrate both heritage and innovation. Gather with your fellow travellers for a farewell toast in this acclaimed setting, a fitting conclusion to your Insider Series tour through Vietnam’s culinary heart.

Bid farewell to your fellow travellers as your Vietnamese journey comes to an end. After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) for your onwards journey.