Witness a mesmerizing performance of the renowned AO show, a captivating portrayal of Vietnam’s societal transformation from idyllic rural landscapes to the vibrant energy of city life

Should you feel inspired to find out more about the town’s distinctive culinary traditions, sign up for our highly recommended cookery classes, staged in one of Hoi An’s most famous restaurants. The day begins with a guided shopping trip around the fresh produce market to source ingredients, such as saw-tooth coriander and local mint, then moves on to sessions in an al fresco kitchen where you’ll learn how to prepare a number of different dishes in a suitably exotic setting.

Hanoi’s five stars don’t have a monopoly on fine dining. In fact, some of the most authentic and delicious dishes in the city are served in the open-air kitchens of the old quarter and Hom Market, the biggest and most popular market in Hanoi. Join our popular ‘Street Food Tour’ for a trip around the district’s hidden culinary hotspots, led by local expert foodies. Set off on a morning tour, and you’ll be able to sample the quintessential Hanoi breakfast of hot pho – a fragrant beef noodle soup served from large, steaming cauldrons to punters perched on low stools.

Among numerous other dishes another local favourite is banh cuon, silky streamed rice pancakes of pork mince and black mushrooms, topped with crunchy caramelised shallots and a twist of lime. At lunchtime, braziers belch clouds of aromatic smoke from skewers of squid or spicy pork. Cult cafés also feature prominently on the tour where you can sample that rarest and most exotic of all Vietnam’s brews: chon, a smokey, chocolately and utterly delicious coffee made with beans harvested from the droppings of civet cats!

There are stops at cafés, street food stalls, and bars (where you’ll join up with your guide who is following from behind) as well as the option to sample all manner of local dishes

Drying clothes are carried inside, children ushered indoors, and bikes pulled to the side of the road just before the train speeds past, with a couple feet of clearance at most on each side. In some places the train is mere inches from the buildings.

The street’s residents press tight to the walls or duck into nearby doorways with a startling nonchalance and go right back to walking across or sitting on the tracks as soon as the train has passed.

The railroad tracks take up nearly the entirety of the “train street,” as it’s been dubbed by the increasing trickle of tourists that come to glimpse the startling sight. The train passes the narrow road early in the route that connects Vietnam’s capital to Ho Chi Minh city in the south.

Hill-tribe market is the go-to spot for stocking up on brocade products, handicrafts, fresh fruit and vegetables, and spices. Here, vendors in embroidery-embellished tribal wear come from the hills to sell their wares. Should time allow, head to the markets that embody the culture of the people living there.

The volume of traffic in Ho Chi Minh City is overwhelming, so it is relieved that the night-time Vespa tour takes you from the crowded District 1 to the city’s quieter outer reaches. With just a crash helmet, a sense of trust, and an appetite for adventure, it is prepared for an exhilarating ride that did not disappoint.