Vietnam & Cambodia: Heritage & Horizons

Xin Chào and welcome to Vietnam! Upon arrival in Hanoi, you’ll be greeted by your private guide and driver, then transferred to your hotel in the Old Quarter. Take the afternoon to rest or gently explore your surroundings. In the evening, enjoy a short tour briefing followed by a meaningful welcome dinner at KOTO, a social enterprise helping disadvantaged youth.

Discover the capital’s rich history with visits to the Ho Chi Minh Complex, One Pillar Pagoda, and the charming House on Stilts. Stroll local lanes to the B52 crash site and explore the fascinating Museum of Ethnology.

After a signature Cha Ca lunch, explore the Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison, and enjoy a cyclo ride through the French Quarter. Later, sip a traditional egg coffee overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake before heading into the Old Quarter for a guided street food tour – from papaya salad and bánh mì to the famous bún chả and bia hơi.

Travel through the Red River Delta to the emerald waters of Halong Bay. Board a traditional Vietnamese junk and begin your cruise past limestone islands. Visit Sung Sot Cave, sunbathe on deck, or swim in secluded bays. As evening falls, enjoy a cooking class, sunset cocktails, and a gourmet dinner before optional squid fishing under the stars.

Start your morning with Tai Chi on deck, then choose between kayaking, swimming, or exploring Dark & Bright Cave. After brunch, disembark and visit Yen Duc village for a puppet show and cultural encounter. Later, fly south to Hue, the former imperial capital. The evening is yours to relax.

Explore the Imperial Citadel, the former seat of Nguyen emperors, followed by the iconic Thien Mu Pagoda. Enjoy a vegetarian lunch at a local nunnery, then visit the tombs of Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. In the afternoon, try your hand at bamboo paper art at Truc Chi Garden before ending at Dong Ba Market with a steaming bowl of bún bò Huế.

Drive along the spectacular Hai Van Pass, stopping at Marble Mountain and the Cham Museum. In Hoi An, check in and take a walking tour through its Ancient Town, visiting the Japanese Bridge, Tan Ky House, and local pagodas. Create your own lantern at a craftsman’s workshop, then dive into Hoi An’s lively street food scene with your guide.

Cycle through rice paddies and rural paths to a fishing village and Cam Thanh water coconut forest, where you’ll try rowing a basket boat. Continue to Tra Que vegetable village for a farming demonstration, foot massage, and a traditional family lunch. Return to Hoi An for a free evening.

Enjoy a full day at your own pace. Relax on the beach, explore the town’s tailors and shops, or join a cooking class to learn the secrets of Vietnamese cuisine.

Fly to Ho Chi Minh City and head straight to the legendary Cu Chi Tunnels, a vast underground network used during the war. Sample wartime cassava and tea before returning to the city. Evening free to explore Ben Thanh Market and southern street food.

Visit the Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, and stroll Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office. Enjoy a southern Vietnamese lunch, then explore the Fito Museum, Jade Emperor Pagoda, and the former US Embassy. End your day with sweeping sunset views from the Bitexco Tower Skydeck.

Travel to Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta. Cruise along coconut-lined canals, visit cottage industries, try tropical fruits, and ride a sampan boat through palm-fringed waterways. After lunch, transfer back for your flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Evening free.

Start at Ta Prohm, the “Tomb Raider” temple wrapped in banyan roots. Explore the grand city of Angkor Thom, entering via the South Gate and visiting Bayon Temple with its 54 smiling faces. Later, visit Banteay Kdei, Sra Srang, and the Terraces of the Elephants & Leper King. End the day with a gondola ride along Angkor Thom’s moat and a Khmer home-hosted dinner.

Watch the sun rise over Angkor Wat before exploring its vast galleries and carvings. Continue to Banteay Srei, famed for pink sandstone and intricate details, then hike to Kbal Spean, the River of 1000 Lingas. Stop at the Landmine Museum before returning to Siem Reap. In the evening, enjoy the dazzling Phare Circus, blending acrobatics, dance, and Khmer storytelling.

After breakfast, your driver will transfer you to the airport for your onward flight.