Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll arrive in Hanoi and get transferred to your hotel in the city center. The rest of the day is open for you to settle in, rest, or wander around the neighborhood at your own pace.
- Day 2
Hanoi
This morning you'll start early with a full day city tour led by your guide. You'll visit Vietnam's oldest pagoda, check out historic temples and a mausoleum, then head to a traditional pottery village. Later you'll spend time at Hoan Kiem Lake and its lakeside architecture. Breakfast and lunch are included.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant in Hanoi Old Quarter)
Included Activities
- Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake, the oldest pagoda in Vietnam
- Explore Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum
- Visit Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts
- See One-Pillar Pagoda founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049
- Visit Bat Trang Pottery Village
- Tour Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university constructed in 1070
- Visit Ngoc Son Temple at Hoan Kiem Lake
- Sightseeing around Hoan Kiem Lake to view Vietnamese and French architecture
Optional Activities
- Water Puppet Show (15:30-16:15)
- Sightseeing by Electric Car around Old Quarter (15:30-16:15)
- Sightseeing by Cyclo around Old Quarter (15:30-16:15)
Landmarks/POIs Tran Quoc Pagoda Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum One-Pillar Pagoda Bat Trang Pottery Village Temple of Literature Ngoc Son Temple Hoan Kiem Lake - Day 3
Hanoi to Halong Bay
You'll travel through the Vietnamese countryside heading toward Halong Bay, where you'll board your cruise. After settling in, you'll explore Surprising Cave and visit Titop Island to swim, snorkel, or trek. There's a sunset party on deck later, followed by dinner and onboard activities for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Typical local lunch in the dining room or outdoor dining area), Dinner (Authentic Vietnamese menu)
Included Activities
- Travel through Red River delta countryside
- Welcome aboard cruise at Tuan Chau marina with welcome drink and crew briefing
- Check into cabin
- Explore Surprising Cave (Hang Sung Sot)
- Visit Titop Island for swimming, snorkeling, or short trek to island top for Halong Bay overview
- Sunset party on sundeck
- Onboard activities including book reading, games, movies, and squid fishing
Landmarks/POIs Surprising Cave Titop Island Halong Bay - Day 4
Halong Bay
Optional tai chi is available on the sundeck before breakfast. From there you'll sail through emerald waters to Luon Cave and explore by kayak or bamboo boat. After checking out of your cabin, you'll participate in a cooking class learning to make spring rolls. Early lunch happens before you disembark and transfer back to Hanoi for an evening train journey to Da Nang.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Local breakfast), Lunch (Early lunch)
Included Activities
- Optional Tai Chi session on sundeck at 06:30
- Local breakfast
- Sail through Halong Bay scenic highlights
- Explore Luon Cave by kayak or bamboo boat
- Cooking demonstration: how to make spring rolls
- Transfer from cruise to Hanoi
Landmarks/POIs Luon Cave - Day 5
Da Nang to Hoi An
You'll arrive at Da Nang train station and get transferred to Hoi An Town. After dropping your luggage at the hotel, you can explore the ancient town and discover the Japanese Bridge, lantern-lit streets, traditional tailor shops, and local food specialties. There's an optional sunset visit to Cua Dai Beach if you'd like.
Included Activities
- Transfer from Da Nang train station to Hoi An
- Explore Hoi An ancient town
Optional Activities
- Visit Japanese Bridge
- Explore lantern road
- Visit traditional tailor shops
- Enjoy local specialties and dining
- View sunset at Cua Dai Beach
Landmarks/POIs Japanese Bridge Cua Dai Beach - Day 6
Hoi An
You'll visit My Son, a UNESCO world cultural heritage site, where you'll spend about 2 hours exploring and watching Champa traditional performances. Next, you'll learn traditional ricepaper making at a local house, have lunch in the countryside, then take a scenic boat trip down the Thu Bon River back to Hoi An.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a local house with cold herbal tea)
Included Activities
- Visit My Son holy land, UNESCO world cultural heritage site
- Walking tour throughout My Son landscape
- Learn about history from local English speaking guide
- Enjoy Champa traditional performances
- Learn how to make ricepaper at a local house
- Boat trip down Thu Bon River to Hoi An
Landmarks/POIs My Son Thu Bon River - Day 7
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast, you'll have free time until your afternoon flight to Ho Chi Minh City. A private car will transfer you to your hotel in downtown Ho Chi Minh City.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 8
Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi Tunnels
You'll travel 60km to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a historic district with over 220km of tunnel system used during the war. Along the way you'll see rural rice paddies and learn about the history of this battlefield. If interested, you can try firing an AK-47 rifle. You'll return to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Cu Chi Tunnels
- Experience tunnel system and wartime history
Optional Activities
- Fire an AK-47 rifle
Landmarks/POIs Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 9
Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta
You'll head to My Tho to experience the Mekong Delta by boat cruise through fishing ports and past unicorn, dragon, and phoenix islets. You'll explore the 'Garden-Pond-Cage' agricultural model, visit a coconut candy mill, and have honey tea. Later there's a peaceful rowing boat through coconut palm-shaded canals. Lunch happens in an orchard garden with tropical fruit and traditional Southern Vietnamese folk music. Vinh Trang Pagoda is visited on the way back.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch served in the heart of the orchard garden)
Included Activities
- Coach bus transfer to My Tho City
- Motorized boat trip on Tien River to Lan (Unicorn) Islet
- View fishing port, stilt houses, and boat-building workshops
- Visit Dragon, Phoenix and Unicorn Islets
- Cruise through Bao Dinh canal to Ben Tre province
- Experience 'Garden-Pond-Cage' typical agricultural model
- Visit coconut candy mill
- Enjoy honey tea
- Rowing boat trip on small canals covered by water coconut tree shadow
- Walk into village
- Visit fruit garden and enjoy tropical fruit
- Experience daily activities of local people
- Final boat trip back to My Tho on Tan Thach natural canal
- Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
Landmarks/POIs My Tho Tien River Ben Tre Province Vinh Trang Pagoda - Day 10
Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh
You'll leave your hotel early in the morning and take a bus journey to Phnom Penh. When you arrive, your tour guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 11
Phnom Penh
You'll explore Cambodia's capital starting with visits to the bustling Central Market, Independence Monument, and Wat Ounalom temple. In the afternoon you'll visit the Tuol Sleng Prison Museum and Killing Fields of Choeung Ek to learn about the Khmer Rouge era, then tour the Royal Palace and its Silver Pagoda featuring a floor of 5,000 silver tiles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Explore Central Market
- Visit Independence Monument
- Visit Wat Ounalom temple
- Tour Tuol Sleng Prison Museum
- Visit Killing Fields of Choeung Ek
- Tour Royal Palace
- Visit Silver Pagoda with 5,000 silver tiled floor
Landmarks/POIs Central Market Independence Monument Wat Ounalom Tuol Sleng Prison Museum Killing Fields of Choeung Ek Royal Palace Silver Pagoda - Day 12
Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
You'll take a public bus 314km through three provinces (Kandal, Kampung Cham, and Kompung Thom) heading to Siem Reap. Once you arrive, your tour guide will meet you and transfer you to the hotel. Late lunch happens at a local restaurant, with free time in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Late lunch at local restaurant)
- Day 13
Angkor Temples
You'll spend a full day exploring Angkor's temples. You'll visit the south gate of Angkor Thom with its demon and god statues, check out Bayon temple's forest of stone heads, explore the Terrace of Elephant and Terrace of Leper King, then see Ta Prohm with its massive kapok trees. Pre Rup temple, Eastern Mebon, Ta Som, the ancient hospital Neak Pean, and Preah Khan round out your day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit south gate of Angkor Thom with rows of demon and god statues
- Tour Bayon temple built in late 12th century by King Jayavarman VI
- Visit Terrace of Elephant, former base for king's grand audience hall
- Visit Terrace of Leper King
- Explore Ta Prohm temple with kapok trees
- Visit Pre Rup temple
- Visit Eastern Mebon
- Visit Ta Som
- Visit Neak Pean ancient hospital built during reign of King Jayavarman VI (1181-1220)
- Visit Preah Khan temple built on site of battle, former university
Landmarks/POIs Angkor Thom South Gate Bayon Temple Terrace of Elephant Terrace of Leper King Ta Prohm Temple Pre Rup Temple Eastern Mebon Ta Som Neak Pean Preah Khan - Day 14
Departure
After breakfast, you'll have free time to do as you please until your airport transfer. You'll depart Siem Reap.
- Meals
- Breakfast
