Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Hanoi
You'll arrive in Hanoi whenever your flight gets in. If you land early, there's time to walk through the Old Quarter's narrow lanes and grab some local street food. Later, you'll meet your tour leader at the hotel at 6pm, and there's an optional dinner afterwards if you want. Otherwise, the day's yours to settle in.
Optional Activities
- Explore Hanoi's Old Quarter and its maze of narrow artisan lanes
- Sample local street food including steaming noodles, snacks and stir-fried delights
- Dinner with tour group (for those attending the 6pm welcome meeting)
Landmarks/POIs Hanoi Old Quarter - Day 2
Hanoi Sightseeing and Water Puppets
This morning you'll join a guided tour hitting the One-Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literatures, and Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum. Your afternoon opens up to check out the French Quarter on your own or sign up for an optional cooking class. After that, head to a traditional water puppet performance in the evening on a flooded stage.
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Hanoi
- Visit to One-Pillar Pagoda
- Visit to Temple of Literatures
- Visit to Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh
- Traditional water puppet performance
Optional Activities
- Cookery class in Hanoi
- Explore Hanoi's elegant French Quarter on foot
Landmarks/POIs One-Pillar Pagoda Temple of Literatures Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh French Quarter, Hanoi - Day 3
Hanoi to Ha Long Bay Overnight Cruise
After breakfast, you'll travel by bus along the new expressway toward Ha Long Bay, which takes about 2.5 hours. In the afternoon you'll board an overnight junk cruise boat. From there, row out to Vung Vieng fishing village by rowing boat or kayak, then explore limestone islands and caves. Fresh seafood and regional dishes come with lunch and dinner served on the boat. You'll anchor overnight in Bai Tu Long Bay.
- Meals
- Lunch (Served onboard junk cruise shortly after embarkation), Dinner (Fresh seafood and regional dishes served onboard)
Included Activities
- Bus transfer from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay
- Visit to Vung Vieng fishing village by rowing boat or kayak
- Exploration of Ha Long Bay's limestone islands, caves and grottoes
- Overnight stay on junk cruise boat in Bai Tu Long Bay
Landmarks/POIs Ha Long Bay Vung Vieng Fishing Village Bai Tu Long Bay - Day 4
Ha Long Bay Sunrise, Caves and Return to Hanoi
Early risers can catch the sunrise over the bay around 6:30am if weather cooperates. Light pastries and tea or coffee follow for breakfast. Then you'll visit Thien Canh Son caves to see stalactite and stalagmite formations. Brunch happens onboard before you head back to Hon Gai harbour. The drive to Hanoi takes the afternoon, which is free. Two day-use hotel rooms are available if needed. Later, you'll board a sleeper train to Hue.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Light pastries, tea and coffee), Brunch (Served onboard after cave visit)
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing over Ha Long Bay (optional, 6:30am)
- Light breakfast of pastries, tea and coffee
- Visit to Thien Canh Son caves
- Brunch served onboard
- Return cruise to Hon Gai harbour
- Bus transfer from Ha Long Bay to Hanoi
- Overnight train travel to Hue in soft sleeper compartments
Optional Activities
- Day-use hotel rooms in Hanoi (two rooms available for the group)
Landmarks/POIs Thien Canh Son Caves Hon Gai Harbour - Day 5
Royal Palace, Thien Mu Pagoda and Kite Making
You'll arrive in Hue this morning and head out to see the city's highlights. The Royal Palace, guarded by Terracotta Warriors, and the iconic Thien Mu Pagoda with its oldest monastery are on the agenda. After that, you'll learn traditional Vietnamese kite making at a national champion kite flier's place, then fly your creations on the Citadel grounds near the Imperial City.
Included Activities
- Visit to Royal Palace
- Visit to Thien Mu Pagoda
- Traditional Vietnamese kite making class
- Kite flying at Citadel grounds near Imperial City
Landmarks/POIs Royal Palace, Hue Thien Mu Pagoda Citadel of Hue - Day 6
Perfume River, Villages and Martial Arts
You'll travel to Trieu Son village on the Perfume River and learn traditional wood painting at Sinh village. Then cycle roughly 6km through countryside to Thanh Tien village, which is known for its paper flowers. Keep cycling through paddy fields to Tien Non village and board a cruise boat back to Hue. Later there's a martial arts demonstration of Vietnamese Kinh Van at a martial arts school. Finally, you'll cross the Truong Son Mountains through the Hai Van Pass to reach Hoi An.
Included Activities
- Masterclass in traditional wood painting at Sinh village
- Leisurely cycle ride through local countryside lanes (approximately 6km)
- Visit to Thanh Tien village (paper flowers)
- Visit to Tien Non village
- Cruise boat from Tien Non village back to Hue
- Martial arts demonstration at Vietnamese Kinh Van school
- Transfer over Truong Son Mountains and Hai Van Pass to Hoi An
Landmarks/POIs Trieu Son Village Sinh Village Thanh Tien Village Perfume River Hai Van Pass - Day 7
Hoi An UNESCO World Heritage Site
You have the morning free to explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site and former Southeast Asian trading outpost. Hit the fish market early for photos and local interactions, check out the Japanese Bridge, wander through traditional wooden houses and Chinese temples. The afternoon opens up for cycling through surrounding countryside, taking a river cruise, visiting the beach, or browsing Hoi An's tailor shops.
Optional Activities
- Early morning visit to Hoi An fish market
- Visit to famous Japanese Bridge
- Wander through traditional wooden houses
- Explore Chinese temples
- Hire bicycles to explore surrounding countryside
- Gentle river cruise
- Visit to the beach
- Browse famous tailor shops
Landmarks/POIs Hoi An Ancient Town Hoi An Fish Market Japanese Bridge, Hoi An - Day 8
Marble Mountains, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City
You'll travel from Hoi An past the five Marble Mountains, which represent the five elements, and reach Danang. From there, catch a morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Once there, explore District 3 by cyclo (cycle carriage) and then on foot through narrow streets past shops, markets, houses, churches and schools. Stop at a local stall for traditional Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk and a Banh Mi. You'll also visit a secret bunker, a 'tube house' with a trap door that once hid rifles, grenades and ammunition used as the Viet Cong Team 5 base during the 1968 TET Offensive.
Included Activities
- Visit to Marble Mountains
- Flight from Danang to Ho Chi Minh City
- Exploration of District 3 by cyclo
- Walking tour through narrow streets of District 3
- Local market visit
- Traditional Vietnamese coffee and Banh Mi tasting at local stall
- Visit to secret weapons bunker and former Viet Cong Team 5 base
Landmarks/POIs Marble Mountains District 3, Ho Chi Minh City Secret Weapons Bunker (Viet Cong Team 5 Base) - Day 9
Cu Chi Tunnels
After breakfast, you'll head to the Cu Chi tunnels, a vast underground command base built during the French colonial war and later used by 10,000 Viet Cong troops during the Vietnam War. The afternoon is free to explore on your own pace around Ho Chi Minh City.
Included Activities
- Visit to Cu Chi tunnels
Optional Activities
- Afternoon exploration at own pace
Landmarks/POIs Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 10
Mekong Delta Cycling and Homestay
You'll travel to the Mekong Delta and board a boat to start a cycle ride. You'll cycle roughly 10 to 12 kilometres along the flat Cai Thai village path through shaded routes around tributaries. Stop at Mrs Nani's place to learn traditional rice paper making and Mrs Chin's home for refreshments, including famous Banh Tieu doughnuts. Then back to the boat for lunch before sailing to a garden homestay. Early evening brings a Vietnamese cooking lesson followed by a homecooked dinner.
- Meals
- Lunch (Served onboard boat), Dinner (Homecooked meal at homestay following Vietnamese cooking lesson)
Included Activities
- Boat transfer to cycling start point
- Cycle ride through Mekong Delta (approximately 10-12km)
- Visit to Mrs Nani's home for traditional rice paper making
- Visit to Mr and Mrs Chin's home for refreshments
- Lunch onboard boat
- Transfer to homestay by sampan (traditional boat)
- Vietnamese cooking lesson
- Homecooked dinner
Landmarks/POIs Mekong Delta Cai Thai Village - Day 11
Cai Be Floating Market and Tra Su Cajeput Forest
You'll cruise through the Mekong Delta to the Cai Be Floating Market, one of the area's most colorful spots. Spend time cruising through the market, taking in the atmosphere of this unique trading place. Later, you'll drive to Chau Doc on the Vietnam-Cambodia border, passing through the emerald green wetlands of Tra Su. A boat trip through Tra Su Cajeput Forest rounds out the day.
Included Activities
- Cruise to Cai Be Floating Market
- Time exploring Cai Be Floating Market
- Drive through Tra Su wetlands
- Boat trip through Tra Su Cajeput Forest
Landmarks/POIs Cai Be Floating Market Tra Su Cajeput Forest Tra Su Wetlands - Day 12
Cambodia
You'll board an early morning boat from Chau Doc and travel up the Hau Giang River into Cambodia, a four-and-a-half-hour river journey to Phnom Penh. Once there, spend the afternoon discovering Cambodia's capital. You'll visit the National Museum of Arts and the grand French-built Royal Palace with its distinctive pagoda-style structure. Later, head to Wat Phnom, the hilltop sanctuary and monument the city takes its name from.
Included Activities
- River boat transfer from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh
- Visit to National Museum of Arts
- Visit to Royal Palace
- Visit to Wat Phnom hilltop sanctuary
Landmarks/POIs National Museum of Arts, Phnom Penh Royal Palace, Phnom Penh Wat Phnom - Day 13
Phnom Penh to Siem Reap and Roluos Temples
You'll drive from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, roughly 5 hours with stops along the way, arriving around lunchtime. Check in at your hotel for two nights. In the afternoon, visit the Roluos group of temples from the 9th-10th centuries, some of the earliest permanent structures built by the Khmer. You'll explore three main temples: Preah Ko with its sacred bull theme, Bakong featuring mythical beings, and the ornately carved Lolei Temples.
Included Activities
- Drive from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (approximately 5 hours with stops)
- Visit to Roluos temple group
- Visit to Preah Ko temple
- Visit to Bakong temple
- Visit to Lolei Temples
Landmarks/POIs Roluos Temple Group Preah Ko Bakong Lolei Temples - Day 14
Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm and Angkor Wat
You'll travel by local tuk-tuk to three famous temple sites. First up is Angkor Thom, a formidable 12th-century fortified city with 8-metre walls, towering gates, and a crocodile-filled moat. Then explore the atmospheric ruins of Ta Prohm, made famous in the Tomb Raider film. Finish by viewing Angkor Wat, the most impressive jungle temple in the region.
Included Activities
- Travel by local tuk-tuk
- Visit to Angkor Thom
- Visit to Ta Prohm temple
- Visit to Angkor Wat
Landmarks/POIs Angkor Thom Ta Prohm Angkor Wat - Day 15
Departure from Siem Reap
The tour ends after breakfast at your hotel in Siem Reap. You can depart at any time. Luggage storage is available at the hotel if your flight leaves later in the day.
Optional Activities
- Luggage storage at hotel (if departing later in the day)
