Itinerary
- Day 1
Bangkok
You'll arrive in Bangkok and get settled at your hotel. Your tour leader meets you at 6 pm for a welcome meeting, then you'll head out together for dinner to try some of the city's food scene.
Optional Activities
- Beach extension to Koh Samet (arrive early to add this optional extension)
Landmarks/POIs Suvarnabhumi Airport - Day 2
Bangkok
Start with a long-tail boat cruise through Bangkok's klongs, passing stilted houses, riverside markets, and temples. The afternoon is yours to explore on your own. You can visit the Grand Palace and Wat Pho with its Reclining Buddha, or rent a bike to wander Bangkok's backstreets.
Included Activities
- Long-tail boat cruise through Bangkok's klongs (canals)
Optional Activities
- Grand Palace visit (entrance fee only - US$17)
- Wat Pho visit (entrance fee only - US$3.50)
- Bicycle rental to explore Bangkok's backstreets
Landmarks/POIs Grand Palace Wat Pho - Day 3
Bangkok to Siem Reap
Early start for the coach journey to Siem Reap heading toward Angkor's temples. You'll cross the border between Thailand and Cambodia at Aranyaprathet/Poipet, where you'll say goodbye to your Thai tour leader and meet your Cambodian one. The full travel day takes about seven hours plus border procedures.
- Day 4
Angkor Temples
Wake early to watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat, seeing the 12th-century temple glow in the morning light. Explore its galleries with intricate carvings, then head to Angkor Thom with its five grand gates. You'll visit the Bayon Temple with its 200+ giant stone faces, then explore Ta Prohm where tree roots and jungle weave through crumbling walls.
Included Activities
- Sunrise visit to Angkor Wat
- Exploration of Angkor Wat temple galleries and carvings
- Visit to Angkor Thom and its five grand gates
- Bayon Temple visit
- Ta Prohm temple visit
Landmarks/POIs Angkor Wat Angkor Thom Bayon Temple Ta Prohm - Day 5
Siem Reap
Take a short walk to Les Artisans d'Angkor to watch skilled artisans sculpting stone, carving wood, painting silk, and creating lacquerware. The afternoon is free to explore Siem Reap on your own or visit optional sites like Banteay Srei's pink sandstone carvings, Pre Rup Temple for sunset, the HeroRAT Museum, or the Phare Circus.
Included Activities
- Visit to Les Artisans d'Angkor social enterprise
Optional Activities
- Optional tour to Banteay Srei and Pre Rup Temple (US$48)
- HeroRAT Museum visit (US$5)
- Phare Cambodian Circus performance (price not specified)
Landmarks/POIs Les Artisans d'Angkor Banteay Srei Pre Rup - Day 6
Siem Reap to Battambang
Drive through scenic Cambodian countryside to Battambang, a charming colonial town. Stop at Angkor Silk Farm to see the silk-making process from silkworms to weaving. In the afternoon, explore the outskirts visiting the Killing Cave, Wat Ek Phnom with its stone carvings, and the Bat Cave where thousands of bats take flight at dusk.
Included Activities
- Stop at Angkor Silk Farm with silk-making process demonstration
- Visit to Killing Cave
- Visit to Wat Ek Phnom
- Visit to Bat Cave for sunset bat flight viewing
Landmarks/POIs Angkor Silk Farm Killing Cave Wat Ek Phnom Bat Cave - Day 7
Battambang to Phnom Penh
Start at Battambang Market to pick up fresh local fruits and snacks before heading to Phnom Penh. Stop to explore Tonle Sap Lake, Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake with floating villages, then visit a traditional pottery village. The drive takes about five hours, and you'll arrive in Phnom Penh in the late afternoon.
Included Activities
- Battambang Market visit
- Stop at Tonle Sap Lake to explore floating villages
- Visit to traditional pottery village
Landmarks/POIs Battambang Market Tonle Sap Lake - Day 8
Phnom Penh
Start with a walking tour through Phnom Penh, discovering both vibrant energy and quieter corners. Receive a blessing from resident monks at a local temple, then head to the striking Art Deco Central Market to browse stalls and grab lunch with authentic Cambodian dishes. The afternoon is free to explore the Killing Fields, Tuol Sleng Museum, the Royal Palace, or take a sunset cruise on the Mekong River.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at Central Market food stalls - authentic Cambodian dishes)
Included Activities
- Walking tour through Phnom Penh Old Town
- Local temple visit with blessing ceremony from monks
- Visit to Central Market (Art Deco landmark)
- Lunch at Central Market food stalls
Optional Activities
- Visit to Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) (US$15)
- Royal Palace visit (US$7)
- National Museum visit (US$3)
- Private blessing ceremony (US$34)
- Private cooking class (US$36)
- Koh Dach Island visit (US$78)
- Sunset cruise on Mekong River
Landmarks/POIs Central Market Killing Fields Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum Royal Palace Silver Pagoda Mekong River - Day 9
Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City
Begin your overland journey to Ho Chi Minh City early, driving about seven hours through Cambodian countryside. You'll cross the border at Bavet and Moc Bai to reach Vietnam's largest city. Depending on arrival time, you'll get a short walking tour seeing highlights like the Hotel de Ville, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the colonial-era Central Post Office.
Included Activities
- Short walking tour of Ho Chi Minh City (if time permits)
Landmarks/POIs Hotel de Ville Notre Dame Cathedral Central Post Office Saigon River - Day 10
Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An
Meet your new travel companions and take a short flight to Danang, then continue to Hoi An. Since you may arrive before hotel check-in, you'll store your bags and start exploring this 16th-century trading port on foot. Walk through lantern-lined streets, visit the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, cross the legendary 400-year-old Japanese Bridge, and explore the riverside market.
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Hoi An Old Town
- Visit to Phuc Kien Assembly Hall
- Japanese Bridge crossing
- Riverside market visit
Optional Activities
- Tailor shop browsing
- Sampling of local delicacies
Landmarks/POIs Hoi An Old Town Phuc Kien Assembly Hall Japanese Bridge Riverside Market - Day 11
Hoi An
Spend the day enjoying Hoi An at your own pace. Wander through Old Town streets, visit the early morning fish market, or hire a bicycle to explore nearby countryside and villages. Within a few kilometers you'll find a sandy beach or local villages. If food interests you, try a cooking class to learn behind Vietnam's cuisine. Your tour leader is available for optional suggestions.
Optional Activities
- Early morning fish market visit
- Bicycle hire for countryside exploration (approximately US$5)
- Beach visit (a few kilometers from town)
- Cycling to local villages
- Half day cooking class (US$52)
- Half day walking tour (US$24)
- Full day walking tour and boat trip (US$35)
- Marble Mountain entrance fee (US$3)
- Entrance to Hoi An Old Town (US$7)
- Martial arts show (US$70)
Landmarks/POIs Hoi An Old Town - Day 12
Hoi An to Hue
Travel along Vietnam's coastal road over the dramatic Hai Van Pass where turquoise seas meet lush mountains, arriving in Hue, the imperial city and Vietnam's culinary capital. Spend the afternoon exploring at your own pace: wander the Old Town and 19th-century citadel, visit a vibrant local market, and sample local specialties like bun bo Hue and banh khoai.
Included Activities
- Travel over Hai Van Pass
Optional Activities
- Old Town exploration
- 19th-century citadel visit
- Local market browsing
- Sampling of local cuisine
Landmarks/POIs Hai Van Pass Perfume River - Day 13
Hue to Hanoi (overnight train)
Start your morning exploring Hue at your own pace. Visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, the city's oldest monastery with Buddhist statues and courtyards, explore the Old Citadel as a replica of Beijing's Forbidden City, or cycle through forested Perfume Valley to see the Royal Tombs. In the afternoon, head to the railway station to board the overnight train to Hanoi in your soft-sleeper cabin.
Included Activities
- Overnight train journey to Hanoi (soft-sleeper cabin)
Optional Activities
- Thien Mu Pagoda visit
- Old Citadel exploration
- Cycling through Perfume Valley
- Royal Tombs of Hue visit (entrance fees US$5)
- Citadel visit (US$6)
- Full day Perfume River cruise, Imperial Citadel, Dong Ba market and Emperor's tombs (US$38)
- Half day Perfume River cruise, Imperial Citadel and Dong Ba Market (US$18)
- Half day Emperors tombs visit (US$22)
- Traditional kite making (US$30)
Landmarks/POIs Thien Mu Pagoda Hue Citadel Perfume Valley Royal Tombs of Hue - Day 14
Hanoi to Cat Ba Island
Arrive in Hanoi early morning and drive northeast to Cat Ba Island, the largest island in the bay and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with limestone cliffs and dense forests. After checking in, take a short forested walk to Trung Trang Cave, a striking limestone cavern, then visit Hospital Cave where Viet Cong shelters remain. End at Cannon Fort for panoramic views across the bay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Transfer to Cat Ba Island
- Forested walk to Trung Trang Cave
- Visit to Hospital Cave (Viet Cong wartime shelter)
- Visit to Cannon Fort
Landmarks/POIs Cat Ba Island Trung Trang Cave Hospital Cave Cannon Fort - Day 15
Lan Ha Bay
Set out by boat to explore Lan Ha Bay, the quieter alternative to Halong Bay with magnificent limestone karsts and emerald-green waters. Glide past secluded beaches and hidden lagoons with time to swim and kayak through tranquil coves. After early lunch on board, drive back to Hanoi, then enjoy a guided walk through the Old Quarter maze of narrow streets with shops and food stalls.
- Meals
- Lunch (Early lunch on boat)
Included Activities
- Boat exploration of Lan Ha Bay
- Swimming and kayaking time
- Early lunch on boat
- Guided walk through Hanoi's Old Quarter
Optional Activities
- Limestone cave exploration
Landmarks/POIs Lan Ha Bay Hanoi Old Quarter - Day 16
Hanoi
Your final day is free to explore Hanoi at your own pace. Visit the One-Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, and Ho Chi Minh's modest stilt house, or explore the French Quarter's grand colonial buildings. Take a peaceful stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake. Join an optional guided food tour sampling bun cha and banh mi, or experience traditional water puppet theatre, an 11th-century art form.
Optional Activities
- One-Pillar Pagoda visit
- Temple of Literature visit
- Presidential Palace visit
- Ho Chi Minh's stilt house (US$1.50)
- Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and museum visit
- Museum of Vietnamese Revolution visit (US$1.50)
- Vietnam Military History Museum visit (US$1.50)
- French Quarter exploration
- Hoan Kiem Lake stroll
- Guided food tour through Hanoi's street food culture (price not specified)
- Water Puppets show (from US$6)
- Cyclo tour of Old Quarter (US$6)
- Half day Hanoi city tour (US$18)
- Full day Hanoi city tour (US$43)
- Half day cooking class (US$74)
- Train Street visit
Landmarks/POIs One-Pillar Pagoda Temple of Literature Presidential Palace Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Museum of Vietnamese Revolution Vietnam Military History Museum Hoan Kiem Lake Train Street - Day 17
Hanoi (Departure)
Your tour ends after breakfast at the hotel. You're free to depart from Hanoi at any time. If your flight leaves later in the day, luggage storage is available at the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks/POIs Noi Bai International Airport
