SAMPANS & LONGTAIL BOATS

Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, a showcase of colonial buildings, temples and colourful food markets, while the opera house and galleries are a testament to its vibrant arts scene. The Old Quarter is simply beautiful, with historic shops selling colourful handicrafts. Take it all in on a half-day city tour, and enjoy learning about the ancient art of water puppetry with a local artisan: this enchanting tradition, which dates from the 11^th century, began when the puppets were used to tell age-old stories on the rice paddies. The Sofitel Legend Metropole is conveniently located in the heart of Hanoi, near many of its attractions, with a pool to cool off in and a fantastic restaurant.

Enjoy a memorable cruise around the beautiful Halong Bay, where limestone karsts rise up from the emerald waters. Your home for two nights will be the luxurious Halong Legend, on which you’ll enjoy a private cruise and have the chance to tailor-make your journey, visiting secluded islands with jungle trails and pristine beaches, swimming in tranquil, shallow waters that are ideal for children, kayaking around hidden coves, visiting caves full of stalactites and stalagmites, and exploring floating villages where you can watch the fishermen bringing in the day’s catch. Onboard, relax on deck while your private butler and chef cater to your every need.

It’s on to Saigon, a history and culture-rich city where you can enjoy a morning visit to the markets and sample the tasty street food (considered to be among the world’s best) with a local guide, and take in sights such as the Independence Palace, the Notre-Dame cathedral and ornate pagodas on a half-day tour. The Park Hyatt is in the centre of Saigon, with the sights on the doorstep, and you can relax in the pool after a day’s sightseeing.

Today, you’ll fly to Cambodia, where you’ll stay at the Sala Lodges, a collection of traditional stilted houses perfectly placed for exploring the great Angkor Wat and other Siem Reap highlights. Once you’ve seen the world wonder of Angkor Wat, a crumbling complex of temples that form the largest religious monument ever constructed, you’ll be taken on a tour to visit the walled city of Angkor Thom, which served as the capital of the Khmer Empire in the 12^th century. For the Tomb Raider types, this will be right up their alley, while those who are more like Indiana Jones, will just love the next adventure – where you’ll be taken into the forest to fly through the trees on a thrilling zipline tour and sky bridge walk. With three nights here, you’ll have plenty of leisure time, where you can grab some bikes or a tuk tuk and explore the peaceful villages surrounding the lodge or walk to the nearby paddy fields to see the gorgeous botanical gardens and spot the superb resident bird life.

From Siem Reap, you and family will head to Thailand and Krabi, where you’ll take a private speedboat to the five-star Rayavadee resort. Located in the spectacular Phra Nang Peninsula, this luxurious resort, by the shores of the white sand beaches and beautiful waters of the Andaman Sea, is set in tropical gardens and coconut groves, and is surrounded by pristine jungle and incredible limestone cliffs. Some of the gorgeous pavilions have Jacuzzis and plunge pools, and you can enjoy barbecues on your private terrace or dine in the atmospheric limestone cavern. Daily children’s activities include Thai cooking or traditional arts and crafts. Visit Krabi’s caves and morning markets, or take a boat to the idyllic Phi Phi islands. Take the holiday down a notch by relaxing on the beach, occasionally dashing to the sea to cool off or by simply taking a dip in the lagoon-style pool and drying off with a few hours soaking up the sun.