Sua s’dei and welcome to Cambodia! Your once-in-a-lifetime journey begins in Siem Reap, gateway to the ancient temples of Angkor and home to a thriving culinary scene where traditional Khmer flavours are boldly reinvented by hard-hitting young chefs. This is a country where lemongrass, galangal and kaffir lime leaves perfume every dish, where fish amok (a delicate curry steamed in banana leaves) is considered a national treasure and where Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan have uncovered the country’s finest eats.
On arrival at Siem Reap International Airport (SAI), you’ll be transferred to your accommodation, the magnificent Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor.
Signature Accommodation: Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor
Since opening its doors in 1932, the five-star Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor has been the accommodation of choice for royalty, writers and explorers drawn to Siem Reap’s legendary temples. Today it stands as one of Southeast Asia’s most storied properties, where French elegance meets Khmer architectural splendour beneath soaring ceilings and glittering chandeliers. The hotel’s lush tropical gardens, shaded by towering palms and frangipani trees, offer a tranquil sanctuary after days exploring ancient ruins. Head to The Conservatory for refined afternoon tea in a glass-walled pavilion overlooking the gardens or retreat to the Elephant Bar, Siem Reap’s most celebrated watering hole, where guests once arrived by elephant and now gather to sip the signature Airavata cocktail. The hotel’s Raffles Spa, inspired by traditional Khmer healing rituals, provides the perfect conclusion to any day spent discovering the wonders of Angkor.
Signature Highlight: Welcome event exclusive dinner at Prasat Kravan
This evening, experience an exclusive temple dinner at Prasat Kravan, an elegant 10th-century brick sanctuary famed for its intricate bas-reliefs of Vishnu, offering a fascinating glimpse into the artistry of the early Angkor period. Upon arrival at this ancient Hindu sanctuary – lit by torches beneath the moonlight – take your seat and marvel at the intricacy of the temple’s five brick towers.
Tonight across a four-course menu you’ll be introduced to the traditional flavours of Cambodia – fresh herbs, citrus tang, rich coconut and a deep, savoury richness. As traditional apsara dancers twirl, enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail and three hours of free-flow soft drinks, juices, Angkor beer, house wines and spirits throughout your evening. Tonight’s celebrations make an extraordinary welcome to Siem Reap.
Signature Highlight: Private temple dinner at Prasat Kravan with Matt and Gary
Wake before dawn this morning and make a short trip from your hotel to one of the world’s most spectacular sights: sunrise at Angkor Wat, the crown jewel of the ancient Khmer Empire and the largest religious monument on earth. This magnificent temple was built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century; historians believe that many of the fascinating bas-reliefs and stone carvings immortalise the mighty king’s wars, while images of nearly 2,000 apsara (traditional dancers) grace the walls and galleries and the temple’s five towers symbolise the peaks of Mount Meru, the sacred centre of the universe according to ancient Hindu cosmology.
Your guide will lead you to a serene vantage point where you can witness the dramatic sunrise as the first rays of the day illuminate the magnificent temple. Enjoy ample time to explore the temple’s surrounds before enjoying a boxed breakfast in the early rays of dawn before continuing to the mysterious Bayon Temple.
In this temple, one of the most popular and compelling in Angkor, explore galleries of beautifully preserved bas-reliefs before ascending narrow stairs to reach the central sanctuary. Here, 216 giant stone faces smile down from 54 towers, gazing in every direction – a breathtaking sight that has captivated visitors for centuries.
Return to Raffles for an afternoon of leisure before your tuk-tuk tour of Siem Reap.
Signature Highlight: Street food tour by tuk-tuk with Matt & Gary
Discover the vibrant flavours of Khmer cuisine on an evening street food adventure alongside Matt and Gary. Travel by tuk-tuk through the city’s bustling streets, stopping at Psar Chaa (Old Market) and local restaurants to savour quintessential Cambodian dishes, including famous street foods at local restaurants, a visit to the local night market and a seafood feast spiced generously with the local kampot pepper. Finish with a cocktail at a local beer garden.
A highlight of the tour is the chance to sample num pang, Cambodia’s answer to the banh mi. As Gary explains, “My love affair with Vietnam’s banh mi is now a matter of public record, but Cambodia’s num pang is a similar concept – bread, meat, pickles, pate are all there – but it is revolutionary on the palate. Cassava flour means the bread is lighter, but chewier; prahok, the aromatic freshwater fish paste central to Cambodian cuisine, is generously smeared inside, bringing funky notes of gorgonzola and Vegemite that perfectly balance the charcoal-grilled pork.” Matt and Gary share their culinary insights and stories about the food, culture and history that define Siem Reap’s street food scene.
Signature Highlight: Street food tour by tuk-tuk with Matt & Gary
This morning’s pace is up to you: sleep in or rise before sunrise to join an optional expedition to Ta Prohm, with undisturbed views away from the bustling crowds. Built in the late 12th century by King Jayavarman VII as a monastery dedicated to his mother, Ta Prohm once housed thousands of monks, students and staff. When French archaeologists rediscovered it centuries later, they made a remarkable decision to leave it largely as they found it, preserving its majesty as a fusion of nature and civilisation. It’s here that the temple scenes of Angelina Jolie’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider were filmed.
Your guide will lead you through narrow corridors draped in vegetation, past carved devatas (minor goddesses) and intricate bas-reliefs slowly being reclaimed by the jungle. In the early morning stillness, with golden light filtering through the canopy and few other visitors present, you’ll understand why this ‘lost city’ remains one of Southeast Asia’s most evocative archaeological wonders. Return to Raffles for breakfast and a small amount of leisure time.
Signature Highlight: Cambodian cooking class at Lum Orng Garden with Matt and Gary
Start your morning at Siem Reap’s bustling market, where the vibrant sights, scents, and colours come alive before you meet your chef for an immersive cooking class. Your lesson won’t start in the kitchen – first, you’ll wander through aisles where baskets overflow with bright bunches of herbs, twisted galangal root, fiery red chillies and plump tropical fruits. You’ll be introduced to essential Khmer ingredients that make up the building blocks of Cambodian cuisine, a delicate balance of sweet, sour, salty and herbal notes defined by gentle complexity rather than heat.
From the market, transfer to Lum Orng Garden and join Matt and Gary for your interactive cooking class. With this true farm-to-table experience, you’re welcomed with refreshing drinks and cold towels before exploring the property’s organic herb and spice garden. Led by your chef, discover how each ingredient is grown and harvested, from turmeric and galangal to lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves and Thai basil before it reaches your cooking station.
Explore the herb and spice garden with your chef, learning how each ingredient is grown and harvested before it reaches your cooking station. Then, as aromas of toasted spices and fresh herbs fill the air, your chef will guide you step-by-step through preparing kroeung – the foundational spice paste at the heart of Cambodian cooking, made with turmeric, garlic, shallots, galangal and fresh lime leaves.
Once you’ve finished cooking your meal, sit down to enjoy the fruits of your labour alongside your fellow travellers. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure before enjoy a night on the town.
Signature Experience: Dinner at one of Siem Reap’s finest restaurants
This evening, Matt and Gary have handpicked three of Siem Reap’s most celebrated fine-dining restaurants for your dinner. For an intimate and ultra-exclusive experience, travellers will be split into groups for tonight’s meal. Choose one of the following:
- Dinner at Dounta: Drive 30 minutes west of Siem Reap where the city falls away – replaced by sweeping lakes, lazy palm trees and rice fields as far as the eye can see – for dinner at Dounta. This sophisticated restaurant celebrates seasonal Cambodian ingredients through a seven-course tasting menu served slowly and deliberately in a traditional two-storey home. The interior is modern yet unmistakably Cambodian – concrete and Copenhagen-inspired on the ground floor, with hand-lashed bamboo and gently whirring fans on the second. Expect dishes like translucent snails in turmeric broth, nhom krok (coconut pancakes) and banana blossom salad that bridge Khmer cookery with New Nordic cuisine.
- Dinner at Malis: Chef Luu Meng reimagines traditional dishes with modern flair at this elegant riverside restaurant housed in a restored Indochina-era villa. Located just minutes from Angkor Wat, dining here feels like you’ve travelled through time. Chef Meng’s mission to elevate Cambodian food to the world stage shines through in every beautifully plated course, from grilled frogs stuffed with pork and aromatics to delicate fish amok steamed in banana leaves. Gary says, “The surprises are endless: the grilled frogs I enjoyed at the Old Market have returned, now stuffed with pork, herbs and aromatics.”
- Dinner at Embassy: Twin chefs Kimsan Pol and Kimsan Sok (known as the ‘Kimsan Twins’ despite not being related) bring dual perspectives to Khmer cuisine at this all-female operation in a beautifully restored villa. White tablecloths and flashy modern art set the scene for dishes from their childhood served with extraordinary precision – think borbor kroeung (duck congee topped with fragrant herbs), river fish pounded with lime juice and vegetables and a ‘chef’s childhood soup’ with tomato broth, octopus and tamarind.
Signature Highlight: Cambodian cooking class at Lum Orng Garden with Matt and Gary
After breakfast, meet your fellow travellers and transfer by coach to Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI) for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival, check in to the Caravelle Hotel Saigon, a landmark property that has welcomed guests since the 1950s – and became the favourite haunt of journalists and photographers during the Vietnam War. Take time to settle into your surroundings and refresh before tonight’s introduction to the city.
Signature Highlight: Dinner at Anan with Matt and Gary
With Ho Chi Minh City’s first Michelin Star and a place on the coveted Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list for 2024, Anan Saigon is indisputably the city’s finest restaurant. Anan translates to ‘eat, eat’, and the restaurant’s tasting menu, taking you from Vietnam’s north to south, leaves none hungry. Farm-to-chopstick ingredients, timeless French tradition and a pinch of molecular gastronomy guarantee you’re in for an unforgettable feast. Naturally, you’ll be joined by Matt or Gary – they wouldn’t miss this for the world.
Tour scheduling note for Days 4 & 5:
The group will be split across both evenings. Half the group will enjoy Anan on Day 4 and the Vespa tour on Day 5, while the other half will experience the Vespa tour on Day 4 and Anan on Day 5.
Travel time: Flight – approx. 70 minutes
Signature Highlight: Dinner at Anan with Matt and Gary
After breakfast, set out to uncover the secrets of Vietnam’s iconic banh mi. Begin with an introduction from your celebrity hosts about the different types and fillings utilised and why it’s especially popular in the country’s south, before embarking on a tour of the city’s historic districts in search of the best sandwiches – a true fusion born of history and creativity.
Signature Highlight: Bahn mi tour with Matt & Gary
Today, you’re tasked to embark on a mission discovering the city’s best banh mis. Begin with an intimate history of Vietnam’s tour de force between the bread, including the different types and fillings utilised and why it’s eaten in the country’s south, before embarking on a tour of the city’s historic districts.
Depending on your group, you’ll visit one or two of the city’s most iconic shops in the morning, followed by the remaining three after a sightseeing tour. You’ll be met by Matt or Gary, eager to introduce you to their favourites:
- Banh Mi Chao Hoa Ma: Renowned as Ho Chi Minh City’s very first banh mi stall, this family-owned shop has served up some of the city’s best baguettes daily since opening almost six decades ago.
- Banh Mi Bay Ho: Open since 1930, this humble pushcart was featured on Netflix’s Street Food and its 90-year-old recipe contends for the title of ‘city’s best sandwich’.
- Banh Mi Huynh Hoa: This takeaway-only sandwich shop is built on a foundational, 30-year-old family recipe, with particular emphasis placed on an overload of cold pork cuts, lightly pickled, ultra-fresh vegetables, fresh-baked bread and a delicious spread of French-style butter.
Between tastings, take in the city’s highlights with your guide. Pause at the grand Saigon Central Post Office and the French-inspired Opera House, before finishing at Garden Coffee, set just behind Independence Palace – a symbolic site of the Fall of Saigon and the end of the conflict.
Signature Experience: Vespa Street Food Tour
Tonight, buckle your helmet and see Ho Chi Minh City’s renowned street food at its finest hour. Travelling by vintage vespa – and seated behind an accomplished, professional driver-guide – this is your chance to see the city like a Saigonese. Beginning with lubrication at a local rooftop bar, you’ll glide towards a historic eatery serving shrimp-stuffed banh xeo crepes, fresh seafood done up streetside, a late-night coffee shop and a live music venue brimming with the spirit of modern Saigon.
Tour scheduling note for Days 4 & 5:
The group will be split across both evenings. Half the group will enjoy Anan on Day 4 and the Vespa tour on Day 5, while the other half will experience the Vespa tour on Day 4 and Anan on Day 5.
Signature Highlight: Bahn mi tour with Matt & Gary
After breakfast, meet your fellow travellers in the lobby for your flight to Da Nang (DAD), where on arrival you’ll transfer to historic Hoi An. After a little over an hour in the sky – the perfect time to go through photos you’ve taken so far – transfer to your next accommodation in the historic town of Hoi An (approximately a 45-minute drive).
Signature Accommodation: Hotel Royal Hoi An Danang
Some hotels are themselves works of art. Inspired by Hoi An’s vibrant melange of historic influence, Hotel Royal Hoi An Danang offers a timelessly elegant stay in the heart of one of Vietnam’s most cherished cities. With an Art Noveau facade, romantic views over Thu Bon River and traditional French and Japanese flourishes, every corner of this hotel has been masterfully designed to take your breath away. Sample high-end sushi and yakitori at onsite restaurant Wakaku, head to The Deck – Hoi An’s highest rooftop bar – for inventive cocktails and unbeatable views or laze by the hotel’s magnificent mosaiced pool.
Your package includes:
- Two lunches and one dinner per person at Faifo Café
- One 60-minute massage per adult
- Nightly hour of free-flow drinks at The Deck or River Bar
This afternoon, join your expert local guide for a walking tour through the Old Town, once a thriving trade hub along the Silk Road. Step inside beautifully preserved Japanese merchant houses and Vietnamese trading warehouses, admire the grand Confucian temples, and cross the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge, which has stood since the 16th century. Continue to the Museum of Sa Huỳnh Culture, where a rare collection of Iron Age artefacts – including ornate burial jars – sheds light on the region’s earliest history.
Signature Highlight: Hoi An Food Tour with Matt & Gary
Later, accompany your expert guide – and Matt and Gary – on an aromatic culinary experience that dives into Hoi An’s thriving food culture. Meet chefs and small business owners who uphold sustainable practices, taste the fragrant herbs and bold flavours the city is known for, and experience the hum of markets and kitchens that give Hoi An its culinary soul.
Please note that with the food tastings included, the Hoi An Food Tour counts as Dinner. Further meals will be at the traveller’s own expense.
Travel time:
Flying – approx. 70 minutes
Driving – approx. 45 minutes
Signature Highlight: Hoi An Food Street Tour with Matt & Gary
With a full day in Hoi An at leisure, now’s the chance to slow down, relax and take it easy.
Alternatively, spend the day by either of your hotel’s two swimming pools, or ascend to the eighth floor for tapas and tipples at The Attic, the hotel’s speakeasy-inspired cocktail bar. Your package includes an hour of free-flow cocktails, and what better place to enjoy them?
Please note: Matt and Gary will rejoin the tour on Day 9 in Hanoi to ensure you experience the very best of Vietnam’s capital alongside them.
After a delicious breakfast at the hotel’s all-day restaurant, Faifo Cafe, the morning is yours. Every street in this peaceful port town is a treasure, but you’ll find the best exploring Hoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed district that preserves the synthesis of cultures that led this city to flourish. It’s a 15-minute walk there from the hotel, and the way offers countless chances to sample iced coffee, sticky rice and more.
Once a bustling trading port, the city is still a powerful melange of influences and traditions. Marvellously preserved, ancient Japanese merchant houses and historic Vietnamese trading warehouses rub shoulders with grand Confucian temples and modern offices to form a colourful tapestry.
Alternatively, relax at the hotel. This is the perfect place to rest and recoup as Hotel Royal Hoi An Danang facilities are among the best in the country, and your package here includes lunch today.
Signature Experience: Dinner at Morning Glory Signature
As the sun sets, gather with your fellow travellers for a memorable dinner in Hoi An’s Ancient Town. Morning Glory Signature, nestled among historic shopfronts and lantern-lit streets, is celebrated for authentic Vietnamese cuisine served in a stylish yet relaxed setting. The flavours, atmosphere, and riverside breeze combine for an evening that captures the essence of Hoi An.
After breakfast and leisure time, transfer to Da Nang International Airport (DAD) for your flight to Hanoi. On arrival at Noi Bai International Airport (HAN), you’ll be whisked to the legendary Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, where you’ll spend the next three nights immersed in French-inspired elegance and Vietnamese hospitality.
Signature Accommodation: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
Some hotels transcend luxury to become living monuments. Since 1901, the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi has stood as Hanoi’s most storied address, a French colonial jewel that has welcomed iconic figures from Charlie Chaplin and Graham Greene to heads of state and modern-day travellers seeking romance and refinement. Divided between the historic Heritage Wing and the neo-classical Opera Wing, the hotel exudes timeless elegance at every turn. Savour exquisite French cuisine at Le Beaulieu, discover refined Vietnamese flavours at Spice Garden or unwind with a cocktail at the legendary Bamboo Bar, where history whispers through every corner of this iconic retreat.
Enjoy the afternoon at leisure before heading out in the evening to become acquainted with Hanoi.
Signature Highlight: Hanoi street food tour with Matt or Gary
Guided by a local food blogger with years of divining Hanoi’s magical dishes, seek out all things delicious during this insider investigation into the city’s market culture. Strolling through the Old Quarter, try a bowl of steaming pho: the hallmark pork broth here is spiced with cinnamon, cardamom and star anise. You’ll also tuck into a plate of bun dau – vermicelli noodles, tofu, fresh herbs and umami-soaked shrimp paste plated individually to form a rustic dish beloved by locals. Explore Hang Than Street, where ceremonial cakes are proudly displayed; Hang Cot Street, renowned for its fruit; and Phung Hung Street, where painted scenes of the modernisation of the city are harmoniously woven with its longstanding commercial tradition. Finish with a visit to a popular coffee shop.
Please note that the Street Food Tour itinerary is subject to change.
Tour Scheduling: The group with be split across both evenings. Half the group will enjoy the Hanoi street food tour on Day 9 and Tam Vi on Day 10, while the other half will experience Tam Vi on Day 9 and the Hanoi street food tour on Day 10.
Signature Highlight: Hanoi street food tour with Matt or Gary
Venture to the city’s intriguing Old Quarter, a spellbinding blend of ancient ochre stonework, traditional Vietnamese architecture, hidden alleyways and cosy-cool coffee shops. Originally partitioned into 36 guild streets – each dedicated to a particular industry or craft – the district still thrums with the spirit of Old Hanoi. Stops include the historic One Pillar Pagoda, built in 1049 and regarded as one of the country’s most iconic temples, and Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, offering a unique insight into the life of Vietnam’s beloved late president. Between stops, you’ll gain insight about the differences between Northern and Southern pho, the preferred fashion of drinking local coffee (iced and with a splash of condensed milk) and all about banh cuon, or rice paper rolls, with stops to sample each.
Signature Highlight: Dinner at Tam Vi
This evening, step through the traditional wooden doors of Tam Vi, a local favourite celebrated for its devotion to Northern Vietnamese home cooking. With interiors that hark back to a bygone era of Hanoi – think patterned tiles, wooden shutters and antique crockery – the restaurant feels like dining in a well-loved family home. The menu showcases time-honoured recipes and seasonal ingredients, from caramelised claypot fish to fragrant stir-fried greens, each dish prepared with quiet precision – a talent that’s led to the restaurant being awarded a coveted Michelin star. Includes two drinks per person (local beer, soft drinks, herbal water or mineral water).
Tour Scheduling: The group with be split across both evenings. Half the group will enjoy the Hanoi street food tour on Day 9 and Tam Vi on Day 10, while the other half will experience Tam Vi on Day 9 and the Hanoi street food tour on Day 10.
Signature Highlight: Dinner at Tam Vi with Matt and Gary
After breakfast, head out for a hands-on introduction to Vietnamese cuisine.
Signature Highlight: Cooking Class at KOTO with Matt & Gary
‘Know One, Teach One’ – this is the creed of all that Vietnamese-Australian chef, Jimmy Pham, strives for. Vietnam’s first social enterprise, KOTO, has worked tirelessly for more than two decades to give over 1,200 at-risk and disadvantaged youth fundamental skills in hospitality, transforming their lives. Learn how to cook three quintessential Vietnamese dishes while uncovering his country’s vibrant history and culture through its cuisine. Matt or Gary will be cheffing alongside you, so be sure to listen in for their hints and tips.
After turning in your apron, visit Hanoi’s Temple of Literature, established in the 11th century as Vietnam’s first university. As you wander through the carefully manicured courtyards, scholars’ gardens and open pavilions, it’s easy to imagine a time when hundreds of young students – aspiring to the ranks of the Dai Viet bureaucracy – gathered in these solemn halls for strict examination.
Signature Highlight: Farewell Dinner at Backstage, Capella Hanoi with Matt & Gary
This evening, say farewell to Matt and Gary at Backstage, Capella Hanoi’s centrepiece dining experience, for a dinner unlike anything other. Dripping with theatrical flair, this opera-inspired restaurant pays bold homage to North Vietnamese flavours while delivering a masterclass in modern gastronomy – plus two hours of free-flow beer, wine and soft drinks included. Wherever you’re seated, the restaurant’s central open kitchen takes centre stage. As you watch the chefs work, listen closely to orders being called and the roar of the Josper grill – it is culinary theatre at its finest. Hear modern Vietnamese cuisine sing within this Michelin-listed mise-en-scene.
Signature Highlight: Cooking Class at KOTO with Matt & Gary
Signature Highlight: Farewell Dinner at Backstage, Capella Hanoi with Matt & Gary
After an early breakfast, meet in the hotel lobby to depart for Ha Long Bay. Travelling by coach, the journey to Vietnam’s lush coastline takes approximately two and a half hours – but there will be a chance to stop and stretch your legs at a local charity-run souvenir shop. Continue on to Tuan Chau Marina, where you’ll board your luxury vessel to embark on a two-night cruise across Ha Long Bay.
After a welcome drink and a brief meet-and-greet with the captain and crew, lunch is served as you cruise into the emerald waters aboard Lyra Cruise Collection’s Lyra Grandeur.
Signature Accommodation: Lyra Grandeur
Contemporary design meets Indochine charm across the ship’s 33 spacious suites, each with floor-to-ceiling windows and a private balcony or terrace. As jungle-topped limestone islands slip by, take advantage of the ship’s five-star features – from a sparkling infinity pool and bay-facing waterslide to traditional tea ceremonies and hands-on cooking classes. Explore Ha Long’s hidden caves, stop by a floating farm or unwind on the beach, then return to the sundeck for uninterrupted views of the bay.
Anchor late this evening for an unforgettable night of sumptuous food, all the while floating in luxury between Ha Long’s towering cliffs.
Please note: Matt and Gary will not be on the tour Day 12-14.
Rise early and take in the crisp morning air of Ha Long Bay. Start your day with tai chi on the sundeck; the rest of the day is spent adventuring through Ha Long’s dazzling waters and verdant islands, returning with abundant time to recline in style on your luxury cruiser.
As evening falls, the ship will drop anchor in a sheltered part of the bay. Don’t forget to look up – so far removed from the city lights, the stargazing here is considered some of the best in Vietnam.
Enjoy one final morning onboard the Lyra Grandeur before your once-in-a-lifetime Vietnamese journey comes to an end. After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Hanoi city for your onward journey.
Please Note: Cruise check-out time is 10:30AM. Please book your return flight for after 5pm.