Warm welcomes and big smiles from all wind directions reach you as a short walk brings us to the village communal house the village pagoda – fine examples of Northern Vietnam architecture. Nothing beats a locally sourced, traditionally made lunch at one of the residences, the home of a family that calls Duong Lam their home for generations

We leave the rustic countryside of Vietnam behind us as we move back to the Vietnamese capital, where we stop at the Temple of Literature. This is a peaceful series of walled courtyards and graceful alleys, and one of the best surviving examples of traditional Vietnamese architecture. Founded in 1070 during the Ly Dynasty and dedicated to Confucius, this was also the site of Vietnam's first university.

We end our day with something uniquely Vietnamese – a traditional Water Puppet Show performance. This tradition dates back to the 11th century and has its origin in the villages of Northern Vietnam. The show's theme is rural and has a reference to Vietnamese tales where performers stand waist-deep in water and tell their story via this preserved form of art. After this performance, it is time to head back to your hotel and depending on traffic and the location of your overnight address; you should arrive around 5 pm, well ahead to explore the city after sunset.