A Broadsheet writer got to explore Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Hoi An on an Intrepid Travel trip with a knowledgeable tour leader. Along the way, they joined a hidden tea ceremony, marvelled at “floating” limestone islands, sipped custard-like egg coffee and enjoyed banh mi, banh cuon, bun cha and more on an evening street-food crawl.

What he discovered is this: whether it’s navigating the city’s hectic street life or finding moments of pause and reflection while cruising the bay, a trip through Vietnam will see you take part in a range of different experiences.