Welcome to Vietnam! Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport (HAN), meet your driver and transfer to your Hanoi hotel, where you’ll be provided with your welcome packet containing all the information you’ll need on tour.
Vietnam’s electric capital offers layers of Chinese and French influence, gaggles of scooters and a wealth of world-class restaurants. Among the busy comings and goings of this thriving metropolis, you can spend the rest of your day at leisure.
Meet your tour director this morning and set off for a day hitting the streets in Hanoi. Visit the grounds of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and view the preserved body of Ho Chi Minh in its glass case (excluding Mondays, when the Mausoleum is closed). Wander through the park to its historic Presidential Palace, then stop by Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, the leader’s historic private residence which still stands just as it did over 50 years ago.
In the afternoon, enjoy an in-depth guided experience through the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, built in the 11th century. At the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, delve into the cultural heritage of the country’s 54 recognised ethnic groups, then venture across the vermilion Huc Bridge for a visit to the 18th-century Ngoc Son Temple on Hoan Kiem Lake. From here, you can view the recognisable Turtle Tower, one of Vietnam’s most enduring architectural symbols.
Today, drive through the countryside to the Tuan Chau Marina where you’ll embark on an overnight cruise through Ha Long Bay.
After a brief meet-and-greet with the captain and his crew, enjoy a tea or coffee before lunch is served as you set sail through striking emerald waters. Witness the majesty of the bay’s jungle-topped limestone islands and anchor late this evening for an unforgettable night floating between Ha Long’s towering cliffs.
Enjoy dawn on the expansive sundeck with fresh tea and coffee. Connect breath to movement as you energise your body and soul during a tranquil tai chi class, watching the sun rise over the bay.
Continue your morning cruising among the jutting, tree-trimmed cliffs of Ha Long Bay’s Natural Preservation Zone. You’ll have the opportunity to admire the crystal blue waters as you sail through this pristine environment before packing up your things and preparing to disembark. Once the vessel arrives back at Tuan Chau Marina, rejoin your coach for the ride from Ha Long back to Hanoi Airport (HAN) and a flight onward to Da Nang (DAD).
Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in the charming coastal city of Hoi An for an evening at leisure.
Rise and shine for a half day of leisure before your guided tour of the town in the evening. You may wish to fill your morning or afternoon with an optional activity (surcharges apply).
Once a bustling trading port, Hoi An is still a powerful melange of cultures, influences, and traditions. Beautifully preserved Japanese merchant houses and historic Vietnamese trading warehouses rub shoulders with grand Confucian temples and modern offices to form a colourful tapestry.
Follow your guide as you visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, first constructed in the 16th century and surviving even the imported French fascination with automobiles. Nearby, pay a visit to the Museum of Sa Huynh Culture and unearth the region’s Iron Age-history with a collection of local artefacts, including an impressive exhibit of burial jars.
Discover the Chinese- and Japanese-influenced architecture of the Tran Family Chapel, a 200-year-old ancestral hall that houses important relics. Conclude your tour with a stop at the traditional Fujian Assembly Hall, constructed in the 17th century and later repurposed as a temple for worshipping Thien Hau, a powerful Chinese sea goddess.
As you wander the charming streets of Hoi An, follow your guide’s expert advice as you sample fragrant local dishes, from hearty cao lau noodle soup to fresh banh mi and invigorating Vietnamese coffee. Taste Hoi An’s best culinary offerings and enjoy an included cold beer before returning to your hotel.
Note: Guests may only choose one of two optional half-day tours, and not all. Surcharges apply.
Take breakfast at your hotel, then the rest of the day is yours to spend freely. Every street in this peaceful port town is a treasure, but you’ll find the best of all if you take the chance to explore Hoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed district that brilliantly preserves the synthesis of cultures that led this city to flourish. Perhaps choose to visit the masterfully maintained merchant residence Tan Ky House, filled with antiques and eye-catching architecture, or check out the vibrant Hoi An Night Market.
After breakfast, enjoy a final hour or two exploring Hoi An before being transferred back to Da Nang Airport (DAD) for your return flight to Ho Chi Minh City, historically known as Saigon. On arrival, you will be taken to your hotel for an evening at your leisure.
Wake to the sounds of Vietnam’s dazzling southern metropolis, a sprawling series of streets and thoroughfares where traffic runs loud and fast. Dotted with myriad markets for haggling over local wares and fresh Vietnamese produce, adventure is just a step from your hotel.
Join your director in the hotel lobby and set off for your Saigon street tour, uncovering the stories of the city’s many temples and landmark buildings, such as the confronting War Remnants Museum, the soaring Notre Dame Cathedral, Ho Chi Minh City Opera House and the impressive City Hall. Gaze upon the beautiful ceilings and intricate detail of Saigon Central Post Office, then learn about the tumultuous history of the Reunification Palace, where a convoy of tanks broke through in 1975.
The rest of your day is yours to explore at leisure. Consider a trip to the colonial-era Fine Arts Museum, the incense-filled and delicately carved Jade Emperor Pagoda, or simply settle in at one of the city’s many cafes and enjoy a traditional Vietnamese coffee.
Wake up bright and early and head towards Cu Chi, just 60 kilometres south of Ho Chi Minh City. Considered a powerful remnant of the conflict that once threatened Vietnam, this city is legendary for its seemingly endless serpentine tunnels beneath the earth. Glimpse beyond the rice paddies, ducks and water buffaloes to uncover the city beneath a city, a place of solemn pilgrimage for socialists and schoolkids alike, and an extraordinary testament to the Viet Cong’s ingenuity.
After your tour around this historic site, return to Ho Chi Minh City.
This evening, travellers who book a Superior Upgrade will enjoy a special dinner at ST25 by KOTO, where locally sourced, seasonal ingredients are transformed into a flavourful feast sure to stay with you.
Your time in Vietnam has come to an end today, as you rise early and cross the Moc Bai Border with the assistance of your tour director, making your way toward Phnom Penh, your first stop in Cambodia.
The country’s cultural epicentre, riverside Phnom Penh is home to ornate temples, fascinating museums and fragrant cuisine, all waiting to be uncovered. After your arrival, the day is spent visiting the city’s legendary temples, abandoned centuries ago by the ancient Khmer kingdom. Witness sobering reminders of the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge throughout the city, then retire to your hotel for the evening.
After breakfast, you’ll have another full day to catch the sights and sounds of Phnom Penh at your leisure.
You may choose to discover Cambodia’s tragic past on a tour of the Killing Fields. Begin in the solemn halls of Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, once operated as a prison by the Khmer Rouge regime, before travelling to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. This poignant memorial sits where over a million people are thought to have been executed during the Khmer Rouge rule. Take the time to reflect on these devastating horrors.
Today, soak up the scenery as you journey north to Siem Reap, gateway to the great Angkor Wat. Ancient history sits side-by-side with contemporary culture, from Siem Reap’s chic hotels to top-notch dining. On arrival, checking into your hotel and relax in preparation for a full day of exploration tomorrow.
Today, Siem Reap’s famous temple complex awaits – a bucket-list attraction for travellers across the world.
Begin with the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Angkor Wat. Rising majestically from the jungle, this 12th-century Buddhist temple complex spans 400 acres and is rich in archaeological treasures. Widely held to be one of the great wonders of the world, this incredibly well-preserved site is an architectural triumph.
Continue to Angkor Thom, the last city of the Khmer Empire, whose 12th-century temples and statues are a fascinating remnant of the Cambodian Middle Ages. Study the intricate carvings of the Terrace of the Elephants and the dense stone statues of the Terrace of the Leper Kings. Explore Bayon Temple, with its collection of smiling stone faces, and explore the hauntingly beautiful remains of Ta Prohm, a Buddhist temple reclaimed by nature, with thick vines weaving around its crumbling walls.
To finish the day, climb to the upper terraces of one of the ancient buildings and view a spectacular sunset.
Your adventure comes to an end this morning as you enjoy one last breakfast and take your transfer to Siem Reap International Airport (SAI) for your flight home.