Pho Real.

Private transfer from the airport to your hotel in the heart of the city. Tonight we gather for a welcome dinner at one of Hanoi’s finest vegan restaurants — a serene, atmospheric spot serving beautifully plated Vietnamese plant-based dishes. The perfect place to meet fellow travelers and ease into the rhythms of Vietnam.

Early risers can walk or run around Hoan Kiem Lake — locals are out at dawn doing Tai Chi and aerobics. Our guided tour visits the Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and the Old Quarter’s historic alleys. Afternoon free for spa, shopping, or wandering. Evening: a vegan food tour with a local guide.

A two-hour drive into a region of misty rice paddies, limestone cliffs, and hidden temples. Today’s highlight: a heartwarming visit to the Bear Sanctuary Ninh Binh, run by FOUR PAWS — a peaceful haven for bears rescued from bile farms. Prefer to stay in Hanoi? That’s perfectly fine too.

Set off for a slow, scenic escape into one of Vietnam’s most breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Step aboard for a three-day cruise through the emerald waters and towering limestone karsts of Halong and Lan Ha Bay. Sunset cocktails, gorgeous landscapes, and a New Year’s Eve to remember on the water.

Cruise deeper into Lan Ha Bay and explore Viet Hai Village by bicycle or electric cart, where jungle-framed roads lead to a rustic, unhurried village. Later, glide through hidden coves by kayak and dive into pristine waters. Days don’t get much better than this.

Begin with sunrise Tai Chi on deck, a light breakfast, and a final cruise through dreamlike bay scenery. Back at port, transfer to the airport for a short flight to Huế. Check in, explore on foot in the evening, and don’t miss a stroll along the Perfume River after dark.

Once the capital of the Nguyễn Dynasty, Huế is Vietnam’s most regal city. Visit the Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Purple City, take a dragon boat ride down the Perfume River, and explore Thien Mu Pagoda and the royal tombs of emperors Khai Dinh, Minh Mang, and Tu Duc.

The drive from Huế crosses the spectacular Hai Van Pass — ocean views on every side on a clear day. Arrive in Hội An, drop your bags, explore before dinner. Tonight: veganized Cao Lầu, the local noodle specialty with its uniquely chewy, lye-water texture. Laundry included today.

Morning at a nearby farm for a vegan cooking class with a guided garden tour — then sit down to enjoy the Vietnamese lunch you just made. Afternoon free to wander Hội An’s Ancient Town, with its preserved architecture, colourful markets, and artisan shops. Evening on your own.

Fly to our final destination: Ho Chi Minh City — formerly Saigon, population 14 million, and Vietnam’s most vegan-friendly city. We dive straight in with a full-city vegan food tour, taking you to the best plant-based spots in the city. No better way to arrive.

A guided city tour of HCMC’s most iconic sites: the War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica, and Ben Thanh Market. Colonial architecture beside gleaming towers, motorbikes weaving everywhere — old and new Vietnam at full speed. Afternoon free to explore on your own.

Crawl through the Cu Chi Tunnels — 250km of underground passages used during the Vietnam War (dress for getting dirty). Then explore the Mekong Delta by boat — floating markets, river villages, and the warmth of delta life. Final group dinner tonight, rooftop drinks highly likely.

Breakfast at your own pace before your transfer to Ho Chi Minh City Airport (SGN). You’ll leave with a heart full of memories, a suitcase scented with lemongrass, and maybe a few new recipes to bring your journey to life again and again.