Hanoi is one of the oldest and most charming cities in Asia, and apart from its traditional Vietnamese architecture, there is a French quarter with grand French colonial villas and broad boulevards lined with sandalwood trees and coffee houses. The tour includes highlights such as Ngoc Son Temple inside Lake Hoan Kiem, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (opened every morning except Friday & Monday), One-Pillared Pagoda, the History Museum, the Temple of Literature, the old quarters and a downtown pedicab ride (1 hour).

Villages in the vicinity of Hanoi are the cradle of skilled crafts, folk arts and traditional festivals. Sightseeing includes the pottery village of Bat Trang, the traditional painting village of Dong Ho and the 13th-century pagoda of But Thap. Strolling about and observing the local at work at the wood-carving village of Dong Giao, cycling (4km) across paddy fields and having lunch of country dishes will be a memorable experience for visitors.

This excursion combines Mong Phu village, graced by ancient houses made of red laterite and rammed soil, and Tay Phuong Pagoda, famous for its 79 wooden lacquer statues, with the idyllic surroundings of quaint old villages in the Red River Delta. For full enjoyment, the tour should be scheduled to coincide with the monthly full-moon rites at the pagoda where devout pilgrims gather for prayer. The Van Phuc silk-weaving village en route is also worth visiting.

Ninh Binh, some 100km south of Hanoi, offers a world of natural and cultural heritage to explore. Stop by Hoa Lu, the capital of Vietnam in the 10th century, known to travelers as Vietnam’s “inland Halong Bay”. After visiting two temples in commemoration of King Dinh Tien Hoang and King Le Dai Hanh in the ancient capital, take a leisurely sampan cruise on a creek crossing three large stretches of rice field, divided by three magnificent grottoes with huge stalactites, then move onwards to the Bich Dong cave pagodas on limestone mountain side dating from the 17th century.