On arrival in Hanoi you are met and transferred to your hotel. You meet your tour leader here who will organise a pre-trip briefing, where you meet the other members of your group, before heading out for an optional group dinner. Until your meeting we encourage you to get out and discover the delights that Hanoi has to offer. Vietnam's capital is a quiet, contradiction of its southern counterpart, Saigon. Its relaxed ambience is a joy, with exploration best on foot or bicycle. The shopping is fun and the many lakes and parks provide enjoyable escapes. A walk around Hoan Kiem Lake is a great way of seeing how a great deal of the life of this city revolves around this pretty body of water. Visit Ngoc Son Temple and learn about the legend of the giant golden tortoise, which had once inhabited the lake. Make sure that you take a hotel business card so that you will be able to find your way back to the hotel. Please note that your tour leader will collect your travel insurance details at the meeting, so please bring them with you. The meeting is generally followed by an optional group meal out at one of Hanoi's fantastic eating spots.

We can leave some luggage behind at our hotel before heading southwest of Hanoi to Hoa Binh province. This area is home to many hill tribe people whom we have a chance to meet. We also have the chance to walk though some of the countryside, which is quite spectacular. The walking is not too strenuous; however, some physical preparation will enable you to appreciate it a bit more, as the terrain can be a bit hilly. Anyone of reasonable fitness should have no problems. After a short walk in the afternoon we arrive in the hill tribe village near Mai Chau, where we will stay overnight in a local longhouse. The accommodation is simple and dormitory-style, but friendly and communal, with basic washing and toilet facilities provided.

After breakfast, we take a short drive before setting off on a full day's trek from Sam Khoe village through bamboo forests, undulating hillsides and paddy fields. We will pass through villages, home to various ethnic minorities, all friendly and welcoming. As we return to our longhouse accommodation of the previous night, we need only carry a daypack and camera for the walk.

We bid farewell to our friends in Mai Chau and drive back to Hanoi, where we enjoy lunch at the KOTO café – an amazing project aimed at providing vocational training and experience in the hospitality industry for underprivileged young people. All the staff you meet at this café have come from poor backgrounds. After lunch we take a guided half-day tour of Hanoi, visiting the major sights, including the Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda, and paying homage to Vietnam's most famous revolutionary - Ho Chi Minh.

We continue by road to the coast, where we are confronted by craggy and spectacularly formed islands. Halong Bay is truly one of Vietnam's most impressive scenic sights. Views of sailing junks navigating past over 3000 limestone islands and rocky outcrops jutting out of the bay are nothing short of spectacular. We board a boat for an exploration of the bay, enjoying a seafood lunch and dinner (non-seafood also available) as well as spending a night on board. We visit one cave in the area and, in the warmer months, there is a chance to enjoy a swim. Conditions may be somewhat more communal compared to staying in a hotel, however it is a wonderful experience to be spending a night on a boat in the bay – weather permitting, the views at sunset are incredible. There are only limited amounts of cabins on each boat, so the Single Supplement does not apply on the Halong Bay cruise, as all accommodation on the Halong Bay cruise is on a twin-share basis. All boats used by Peregrine have twin-share cabins with en suite facilities and air-conditioning. There may also be the chance to do some kayaking (optional and extra cost involved) on Halong Bay.

In the morning we disembark from our boat and drive back to Hanoi, where we enjoy a free afternoon  in the nations capital. Your tour leader will be there to go through some optional activities otherwise just take a stroll through the old quarter of Hanoi. and soak up the atmosphere of a bygone era. A walk around Hoan Kiem Lake is a great way of seeing how a great deal of the life of this city revolves around this pretty body of water. Visit Ngoc Son Temple and learn about the legend of the giant golden tortoise, which had once inhabited the lake. Perhaps afterwards, afternoon tea at the Metropole Hotel? In the evening there is an option to enjoy a performance of the unique Water Puppets.The tour ends after breakfast the following morning. A transfer to the airport is not included; however, your tour leader will be on hand to advise you as to the options available.