Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll arrive in Hanoi and get settled at your hotel. There's a welcome meeting at 6pm if you want to join, plus optional dinner with the group. If you get in early, head over to Hoan Kiem Lake and spend some time walking around the peaceful shores at your own pace.
Optional Activities
- Walk around the peaceful shores of Hoan Kiem Lake
- Dinner with tour group (optional)
Landmarks/POIs Hoan Kiem Lake Noi Bai International Airport - Day 2
Hanoi
A guided tour takes you through Hanoi's main spots, including the One-Pillar Pagoda and Presidential Palace. You'll see Ho Chi Minh's modest stilt house and learn the history behind it. After lunch, the afternoon is yours to wander the Old Quarter's narrow lanes and tube shops with a map from your tour leader.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Hanoi main sights including One-Pillar Pagoda
- Visit to Presidential Palace
- Self-guided exploration of Old Quarter with map and instructions
Landmarks/POIs One-Pillar Pagoda Presidential Palace Old Quarter - Day 3
Hanoi to Halong Bay
This morning is free, so check out the museums or Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum if that interests you. Then you'll drive to Halong Bay, where thousands of jagged limestone islands rise from jade-green waters. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site that's quite something to see in person.
Included Activities
- Drive to Halong Bay
Optional Activities
- Visit museums in Hanoi
- Visit Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum
Landmarks/POIs Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Halong Bay - Day 4
Halong Bay to Hue
You'll cruise among Halong Bay's limestone islands, visiting a grotto and possibly stopping at a beach. Seafood lunch happens on board the boat. Later, you head back to Hanoi to clean up before boarding the Reunification Express overnight train heading to Hue.
- Meals
- Lunch (Seafood lunch on board the boat)
Included Activities
- Scenic cruise amongst Halong Bay islands
- Stop at grotto beneath towering cliffs
- Visit to beach
- Seafood lunch on board boat
- Overnight train journey to Hue
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay - Day 5
Hue
You arrive in Hue, a culturally important center in Vietnam with a quieter feel than Hanoi. In the afternoon, take a boat trip along the Perfume River to reach Thien Mu Pagoda. It's the oldest temple in the city and holds real significance for locals.
Included Activities
- Boat trip along Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda
Landmarks/POIs Perfume River Thien Mu Pagoda - Day 6
Hue
Start the day at the Imperial Citadel, built by the Nguyen dynasty. The outer walls and west wing are still impressive despite damage from the 1968 Tet Offensive. The afternoon gives you time to explore the Tombs of the Emperors on your own if you choose.
Included Activities
- Visit to Imperial Citadel
Optional Activities
- Explore outlying Tombs of the Emperors
Landmarks/POIs Imperial Citadel - Day 7
Hue to Hoi An
You'll drive over Hai Van Pass with sweeping sea views and rural countryside scenes. Then check out the Marble Mountains and their Buddhist sanctuaries. Spend time on the white sand of My Khe Beach before continuing to Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage town.
Included Activities
- Scenic drive over Hai Van Pass
- Explore Marble Mountains with Buddhist sanctuaries
- Stop at My Khe Beach
Landmarks/POIs Hai Van Pass Marble Mountains My Khe Beach - Day 8
Hoi An
Hoi An is yours to explore at your own pace. Walk through the medieval merchant town, see the Japanese Bridge and Chinese temples, shop around, or sit in riverside cafes. Optional activities include the My Lai memorial, cast net fishing, or a basket boat experience.
Optional Activities
- Visit Japanese Bridge
- Explore Chinese temples and meeting halls
- Shopping and dining in Old Town
- Excursion to My Lai village massacre memorial
- Fishing trip to Thu Bon River Delta with traditional cast net fishing and basket boat experience
- Relax in riverside cafés
Landmarks/POIs Japanese Bridge Hoi An Old Town My Lai Memorial Thu Bon River Delta - Day 9
Hoi An
Head out to My Son, one of Vietnam's holiest Cham sites with temple groupings set in wooded hills. The afternoon is free, so consider taking a cookery class, lantern-making workshop, visiting the beach, or booking a river boat trip as the sun sets.
Included Activities
- Excursion to My Son Cham temple site
Optional Activities
- Cookery class at Hoi An restaurant
- Lantern-making workshop
- Beach visit
- Boat trip on river
Landmarks/POIs My Son - Day 10
Ho Chi Minh City - Ben Tre
Early flight from Danang to Ho Chi Minh City, then you'll drive south to Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta. Take a local ferry to a nearby village and explore by trishaw, then board sampans for a canal cruise. Have lunch at a local house and stay overnight in Ben Tre.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at a local house)
Included Activities
- Flight to Ho Chi Minh City
- Local ferry to nearby village
- Trishaw exploration of village
- Sampan cruise along narrow canals of Mekong River
Landmarks/POIs Mekong Delta Ben Tre - Day 11
Ben Tre to Ho Chi Minh City
Continue exploring the Mekong Delta canals in the morning. You'll get to meet locals and see coconut processing trade up close. Walk or cycle along the canals, then drive back to Ho Chi Minh City by afternoon.
Included Activities
- Explore canals of Mekong Delta
- Witness coconut processing trade
Optional Activities
- Walk along canals
- Cycle along canals
Landmarks/POIs Mekong Delta - Day 12
Ho Chi Minh City
In Old Saigon, your tour leader shows you Notre Dame Cathedral, the GPO building, and French Colonial hotels like The Rex. Visit Independence Palace and the War Remnants Museum. Later, wander through back alleys and local markets, grab traditional Vietnamese coffee and Banh Mi, then explore the Secret Weapons Bunker hidden under a tube house.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Old Saigon sights including Notre Dame Cathedral and GPO building
- Visit to Independence Palace (Reunification Hall)
- Visit to War Remnants Museum
- Walking tour through Old Saigon back alleys and local markets
- Visit to Secret Weapons Bunker
Optional Activities
- Stop at local stall for traditional Vietnamese coffee and Banh Mi
Landmarks/POIs Notre Dame Cathedral GPO Building The Rex Hotel Independence Palace (Reunification Hall) War Remnants Museum Secret Weapons Bunker - Day 13
Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh
Drive out to Cu Chi Tunnels, the underground command base for 10,000 Viet Cong troops during the 1968 Tet Offensive. You can crawl through a specially adapted section if you're willing. Then continue driving to Phnom Penh, crossing the border at Moc Boi/Bavet (about 5 hours total).
Included Activities
- Visit to Cu Chi Tunnels
- Option to crawl through specially adapted tunnel section
Landmarks/POIs Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 14
Phnom Penh
Explore Cambodia's capital with a local guide. Visit the National Museum with its preserved Angkor carvings, the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, and Wat Phnom temple. In the afternoon, visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek memorial.
Included Activities
- Guided visit to National Museum
- Visit to Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda
- Visit to Wat Phnom temple
- Visit to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
- Visit to Killing Fields of Choeung Ek
Landmarks/POIs National Museum Royal Palace Silver Pagoda Wat Phnom Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum Killing Fields of Choeung Ek - Day 15
Phnom Penh
You have the day free in Phnom Penh. Take a boat trip to Silk Island to see traditional silk weaving, visit Chiso Mountain for temple ruins and views across paddy fields, or explore the historic Royal City of Oudong if you prefer.
Optional Activities
- Silk Island (Koh Dach) boat trip with traditional silk weaving experience
- Chiso Mountain (380 meters) with 11th-century Khmer Brahmanic Temple ruins
- Oudong Royal City exploration with historic temples and stupas
Landmarks/POIs Silk Island (Koh Dach) Chiso Mountain Oudong - Day 16
Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
Early start for the drive to Siem Reap with a lunch break along the way. Later in the day, head to Tonle Sap Lake and board a charter boat to cruise through the floating village of Chong Kneas. You'll see stilt houses, floating markets, and various local boats.
Included Activities
- Drive to Siem Reap
- Charter boat cruise through floating village of Chong Kneas
Landmarks/POIs Tonle Sap Lake Chong Kneas - Day 17
Angkor
You'll explore the Angkor complex, a series of cities built between the 9th-13th centuries by Khmer kings. The day covers the Rolous group temples, Banteay Srei, East Mebon, and Pre Rup temple, finishing at sunset. Your tour leader may adjust things to skip the crowds.
Included Activities
- Visit Rolous group temples
- Visit Banteay Srei
- Visit East Mebon
- Visit Pre Rup temple with sunset viewing
Landmarks/POIs Angkor Complex Rolous Group Banteay Srei East Mebon Pre Rup - Day 18
Angkor
Continue in Angkor focusing on temples built by King Jayavarman VII. Visit Angkor Thom with its five monumental gates, then see The Bayon temple with its iconic towers. Also check out the Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King, Baphuon, Phimeanakas, and surrounding temples.
Included Activities
- Visit Angkor Thom fortified city
- Visit The Bayon temple
- Visit Terrace of the Elephants
- Visit Terrace of the Leper King
- Visit Baphuon
- Visit Phimeanakas
- Visit Preah Khan and surrounding temples
Landmarks/POIs Angkor Thom The Bayon Terrace of the Elephants Terrace of the Leper King Baphuon Phimeanakas Preah Khan - Day 19
Angkor
Visit the second Angkor capital and see Prasat Kravan, Banteay Kdei, and Takeo temples. Explore Ta Prohm, famous from Tomb Raider and covered in jungle growth. Finish at Angkor Wat, staying until sunset on your final adventure night.
Included Activities
- Visit Prasat Kravan
- Visit Banteay Kdei
- Visit Takeo
- Visit Ta Prohm temple
- Visit Angkor Wat with sunset viewing
Landmarks/POIs Prasat Kravan Banteay Kdei Takeo Ta Prohm Angkor Wat - Day 20
Siem Reap
The tour wraps up after breakfast at your hotel in Siem Reap. You can depart whenever suits your flight time. Luggage storage is available if you're leaving later. Optional last-minute activities include shopping at the old market, a fish spa visit, or afternoon tea at The Foreign Correspondent's Club.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Browse old market for last-minute bargains
- Visit fish spa
- Afternoon tea at The Foreign Correspondent's Club
