Touch down in the colourful, heritage hub of Vietnam – Hanoi. On arrival, you will be met by your tour representative and transferred to your five-star French colonial hotel, the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi.
Savour breakfast at your hotel before setting off to explore, beginning with a visit to the former home of Ho Chi Minh. After lunch, meet a Vietcong veteran at the infamous ‘Hanoi Hilton’, a prison where American POWs were once confined, and learn of their first-hand experiences. Take a moment of contemplation as you travel like a local by cyclo rickshaw through the streets of the city’s charming Old Quarter, before gathering with your tour group for a welcome dinner.
Today your group will make their way to the Gulf of Tonkin to board the extravagant ‘Orchid’ for an overnight cruise through the otherwordly Ha Long and Lan Ha bays. This marvel of a vessel boasts stunning, modern Vietnamese interiors, generous windows for breathtaking views of the bay, an onboard spa and a pool on the deck. While onboard, watch countless islets pass by, rising dramatically frpm of the misty waters. Stop at Cat Ba Island and uncover the intricate rock formations of the Trung Trang Cave. Savour an intimate dinner as the sun sinks below the horizon.
Watch the sunrise during a tai chi class on the deck this morning before setting out on a kayak excursion through striking limestone pinnacles. Return to the ship for brunch and savour your last moments aboard as ‘Orchid’ sails home to port. Back on land, visit to Hang Kenh Temple in Hai Phong for a local water puppet show. This evening, catch your domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh City, and settle in to your lavish Saigon stay.
Enjoy a full day of exploration in Ho Chi Minh City, a bustling metropolis alive with art and culture. Start your exploration with an A&K exclusive morning cyclo ride through the waking streets, followed by a walk through Tao Dan Park and a stop for Vietnamese coffee at a local cafe. Discover a concealed war-era bunker on Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street and breakfast like a local with fragrant pho at a popular eatery.
Enjoy some leisure time at your hotel before a Chef’s Table cooking class, where you can learn to make delicious banh xeo (crispy Vietnamese pancakes). Spend your evening marvelling at colonial heritage at Reunification Palace and the Central Post Office and connect to Vietnam’s spirituality at a Cao Dai temple. Conclude with a memorable dinner at a local favourite.
Venture out of metropolitan Ho Chi Minh City today to the Cu Chi Tunnels, where you’ll learn how a clandestine fighting force was concealed in this underground labyrinth.
This afternoon, you choose how you’d like to explore with one included Design Your Day activity. Choose to Visit the War Remnants Museum to view photographs from Bunyo Ishikawa, a Vietnam War photojournalist, followed by a walking tour of a historic neighbourhood. Alternatively, you could explore the city’s vibrant culinary scene, sampling traditional dishes prepared by local street-food vendors, or cycle the countryside around the Cu Chi Tunnels, passing through local villages to observe daily life.
Afterward, return to your hotel for an evening at your leisure.
Bid goodbye to Vietnam this morning as you fly to Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat. Start your immersion into Cambodia’s ancient culture with a visit to Ta Prohm, an ancient stone temple that has been partially reclaimed by the forest. Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure.
Today you will be visiting a lesser-known temple, Banteay Srei, also known as the ‘Citadel of Women’. Then, make a stop at the Cambodia Clean Water Project, an Abercrombie & Kent philanthropy initiative that builds wells in rural communities. Next up, visit the last capital of the Khmer Empire, Angkor Thom. Continue to Bayon Temple to exchange smiles with the faces of gods and mythological figures carved into the towering stone walls. As night falls, cruise along the Angkor Thom moat in a traditional gondola, drink in hand, for a perfectly unique sundowner.
Wake early today to witness the ethereal, simmering orange sun rise over Angkor Wat. A temple expert will guide you through the vast complex, as you explore the rich heritage of this wonder of the world. Return to your hotel for breakfast and time to relax. After lunch at a local restaurant, fly to Luang Prabang, Laos.
Take a step back in time as you stroll the charming streets of Luang Prabang. Visit the National Museum, a former royal palace steeped in history. Trace quiet alleys to the Heuan Chan Heritage House. Sip tea in the gardens before continuing to Wat Xieng Thong, a Buddhist temple renowned for its captivating ‘Tree of Life’ wall mosaic, and stop by the temple of Wat Khili. Later, join fellow travellers on a leisurely sunset cruise along the tranquil Mekong River before dinner.
Rise with the sun this morning to experience a local cultural ritual of giving alms to Buddhist monks. Back at your hotel, relax, pack and enjoy lunch, before joining locals in their home for a baci ceremony — a good-luck ritual for a safe journey — before flying to bustling Bangkok.
Enjoy a full day to explore Thailand’s vibrant capital today. Begin with a visit to the Grand Palace, the historic Siamese court. This sprawling complex is home to Thailand’s most important shrine, the green-jade Emerald Buddha. Continue by tuk-tuk to take in the impressive 46-metre reclining Buddha at Wat Pho.
Enjoy an afternoon at leisure in this thriving metropolis. Perhaps peruse the colourful floating markets on the Chao Phraya river, or opt for a healing Thai massage. Tonight, gather with your fellow guests for a farewell dinner of Thai specialties.
After breakfast, it is time to say farewell to Southeast Asia. After you bid goodbye to your fellow travellers, you will be transferred to the airport for your onward journey.