Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll arrive in Hanoi and have the afternoon to walk around the city on your own before meeting your group and local leader at 6 pm. It's a good chance to get oriented and maybe grab some fresh bia hoi beer at a local brew hall with your new travel companions.
Optional Activities
- Explore Hanoi on foot
- Sample fresh bia hoi beer at local brew hall
Landmarks/POIs Hanoi - Day 2
Hanoi to Chien Village
Head out from Hanoi to Chien Village, which is home to around 70 Muong families known for their ancient tangerines, honey, and citrus. After lunch you'll hike through the Vietnamese highlands visiting local villages and ethnic Muong settlements. By evening, you'll enjoy traditional dancing with the villagers.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Home-cooked meal)
Included Activities
- Hilltribe hike through Vietnamese highlands
- Visit local villages and meet ethnic Muong tribe members
- Traditional dancing with local villagers
- Home-cooked meal at homestay
Landmarks/POIs Chien Village - Day 3
Chien Village to Hanoi
Start your morning helping local farmers with planting, weeding, and crop care at an organic farm where you'll also pick fresh vegetables. Then you'll join locals to prepare lunch using traditional bamboo cooking techniques and drink fresh tea brewed in bamboo tubes. Later you'll drive back to Hanoi for an evening water puppet show.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch prepared together with locals using fresh picked vegetables), Dinner
Included Activities
- Farming experience with local farmers
- Organic farm visit and vegetable picking
- Bamboo cooking experience with locals
- Water puppet show in Hanoi
Landmarks/POIs Hanoi - Day 4
Hanoi to Cat Ba Island
You'll visit the Blue Dragon Children's Foundation, a community project supporting underprivileged children, then catch a bus to Cat Ba Island with a break along the way. After your ferry arrives, you'll cruise Lan Ha Bay among giant limestone karsts, kayaking after lunch. The night is yours to relax on Cat Ba Island's beaches.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch on board boat), Dinner
Included Activities
- Blue Dragon Children's Foundation visit
- Boat trip on Lan Ha Bay
- Lunch on board boat
- Kayaking among limestone karsts
Optional Activities
- Beach swimming at Cat Ba Island
Landmarks/POIs Lan Ha Bay Cat Ba Island - Day 5
Cat Ba Island to Hanoi
Get back to Hanoi this morning and take a city tour seeing Southeast Asian, Chinese, and French-influenced architecture including the One Pillar Pagoda and Temple of Literature. You'll have time to shop on Hang Gai Street or hunt for street food, with shared day rooms available to freshen up. Meet at your hotel lobby at 9 pm for transfer to the overnight train.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hanoi city tour
- One Pillar Pagoda visit
- Temple of Literature visit
Optional Activities
- Shopping on Hang Gai Street
- Street food exploration
Landmarks/POIs One Pillar Pagoda Temple of Literature Hang Gai Street - Day 6
Hue
You'll arrive in Hue, the former imperial capital, this morning with the rest of the day free to relax or explore at your own pace. Try a classic Hue breakfast of bun bo if you'd like. After lunch, head to the Imperial Citadel to see its temples, pavilions, moats, and gates, then browse Dong Ba Market for locally-made goods and street food.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Imperial Citadel visit with Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace and Ancestral Altars
Optional Activities
- Hue breakfast of bun bo at local restaurant
- Dong Ba Market visit for local goods and street food
Landmarks/POIs Imperial Citadel of Hue Ngo Mon Gate Thai Hoa Palace Dong Ba Market - Day 7
Hue
Explore Hue by motorbike with your own driver, riding around the Imperial Citadel including the Forbidden Purple City, which still bears marks from the Tet Offensive but now stands with foliage reclaiming its structures. You'll enjoy vegetarian lunch at a convent or Buddhist monastery and visit Emperor Tu Duc's royal tomb set on a lake with frangipani bushes and pine trees. Ask your leader about the best Imperial Street specialties to try in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Vegetarian feast at convent or Buddhist monastery), Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorbike tour around Imperial Citadel including Forbidden Purple City
- Vegetarian lunch at convent or Buddhist monastery
- Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc visit
Optional Activities
- Imperial Street specialties dining in evening
Landmarks/POIs Forbidden Purple City Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc - Day 8
Hue to Hoi An
Travel by bus south through coastal rice paddies with a stop at Lang Co Beach. You'll traverse the dramatic Hai Van Pass with scenic views back to Lang Co before arriving in Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site beautifully preserved from its days as a major Southeast Asian port. Take a walking tour of the Old Town including a historic trader's house, Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese assembly hall, and museum.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Lang Co Beach stop
- Hoi An Old Town walking tour
- Historic trader's house visit
- Japanese Covered Bridge visit
- Chinese assembly hall visit
- Museum visit
Landmarks/POIs Hai Van Pass Lang Co Beach Hoi An Old Town Japanese Covered Bridge Marble Mountains - Day 9
Hoi An
You have a free day in Hoi An to structure however you'd like. Hire a bicycle to tour the surrounding countryside and experience rural Vietnam, or optionally visit My Son, a UNESCO World Heritage temple complex. You could also cruise the Thu Bon River, explore the Central Market with its paintings and woodwork, or visit the talented local tailors who can make custom items within hours.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Bicycle tour of surrounding countryside
- My Son Cham temple complex visit
- Thu Bon River cruise
- Central Market exploration
- Custom tailoring services
Landmarks/POIs My Son Cham Thu Bon River Central Market - Day 10
Hoi An to Quy Nhon
Drive through central Vietnam to the seaside city of Quy Nhon and visit Bich Hoa Tam Thanh village, famous for its colorful murals showing a different side of Vietnamese country life. You'll arrive early afternoon and take an orientation walk with your leader, leaving the rest of the day free to explore at your own pace and relax by the sea.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bich Hoa Tam Thanh village visit
Optional Activities
- Afternoon exploration of Quy Nhon
Landmarks/POIs Bich Hoa Tam Thanh Quy Nhon - Day 11
Quy Nhon
Meet a local family that has practiced martial arts for three generations, learning their secrets, watching a demonstration, and trying your moves under the master's guidance. Later you'll visit the ancient citadel of Do Ban, the last capital of the Champa Kingdom. Head back to Quy Nhon to freshen up before your overnight train departure tonight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Martial arts master visit and demonstration
- Do Ban ancient citadel visit
Landmarks/POIs Do Ban ancient citadel - Day 12
Ho Chi Minh City
You'll arrive in Ho Chi Minh City early morning and can use shared hotel day rooms to refresh before a guided city tour. See the blend of old and new with the GPO, Reunification Palace, and Opera House showcasing French influence. Visit the War Remnants Museum and Notre Dame Cathedral, then have your evening free to explore Ben Thanh Market for snacks, cooking utensils, or gifts.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Ho Chi Minh City city tour
- War Remnants Museum visit
- Notre Dame Cathedral visit
Optional Activities
- Ben Thanh Market exploration
Landmarks/POIs General Post Office Reunification Palace Opera House War Remnants Museum Notre Dame Cathedral Ben Thanh Market - Day 13
Mekong Delta
Travel south to explore the Mekong Delta, Vietnam's rice bowl, boarding a boat to cruise the intricate waterways. You'll visit Ben Tre to see a local candy factory and take a tuk-tuk around the remote village, stopping for tropical fruit and honey farm samples. Try regional specialties like elephant-ear fish for lunch, then paddle sampans along canals under water coconut trees before staying overnight at a riverside guesthouse.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Regional specialties including famous elephant-ear fish at restaurant in heart of delta), Dinner (Guesthouse dinner)
Included Activities
- Mekong Delta boat cruise
- Ben Tre candy industry visit
- Tuk-tuk village tour
- Tropical fruit sampling
- Honey farm visit
- Lunch at delta restaurant
- Sampan paddling along canals
Landmarks/POIs Mekong Delta Ben Tre - Day 14
Ho Chi Minh City
Return to Ho Chi Minh City by bus and enjoy a free afternoon to explore any sights you missed or try foods you haven't yet sampled. Celebrate your Vietnam adventure with a bowl of pho with your new friends to mark the end of this part of your journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Optional Activities
- Ho Chi Minh City exploration
- Pho dinner celebration with fellow travellers
Landmarks/POIs Ho Chi Minh City - Day 15
Ho Chi Minh City
You have a free day in Ho Chi Minh City to explore at your own pace or optionally join an Urban Adventures tour to the Cu Chi tunnels, an underground network used during the war where you can climb down and experience what life was like during the conflict. Return at 6 pm to meet new travellers joining for the Cambodia leg, then join an optional group dinner afterwards.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Urban Adventures tour to Cu Chi tunnels
- Cu Chi tunnel exploration and climbing
- Group dinner with new and existing travellers
Landmarks/POIs Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 16
Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh
Travel by public bus across the border through rural Vietnam and Cambodia to Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital set at the junction of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. The city features fine French-inspired architecture. Head to a rooftop mojito bar or shop at the art-deco Psar Thmei (Central Market) or Psar Tuol Tom Pong (Russian Market) for local souvenirs.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Rooftop mojito bar visit
- Psar Thmei (Central Market) shopping
- Psar Tuol Tom Pong (Russian Market) shopping
Landmarks/POIs Psar Thmei (Central Market) Psar Tuol Tom Pong (Russian Market) - Day 17
Phnom Penh
Take a guided tour confronting Cambodia's tragic past at Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21), a former school that served as a Khmer Rouge torture center. Visit the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek with its stupa made of approximately 8,000 human skulls. Optionally explore the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Wat Phnom, or National Museum, or take a cyclo tour through Central Market and the Mekong riverfront.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) guided tour
- Killing Fields of Choeung Ek visit
Optional Activities
- Royal Palace visit
- Silver Pagoda visit
- Wat Phnom visit
- National Museum visit
- Cyclo tour of city sites
Landmarks/POIs Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum Killing Fields of Choeung Ek Royal Palace Silver Pagoda Wat Phnom National Museum - Day 18
Phnom Penh to Battambang
Travel by private minibus to Battambang with a stop at Kampong Chhnang to visit local pottery workshops and learn about pottery making. Arrive at Battambang, Cambodia's second-largest city, a pretty riverside town with French colonial architecture and friendly Khmer people. Join an optional cooking class if you'd like to learn local dishes like amok and Khmer curry.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Kampong Chhnang pottery village visit
Optional Activities
- Battambang cooking class
Landmarks/POIs Kampong Chhnang Battambang - Day 19
Battambang to Siem Reap
Spend your morning cycling around Battambang's countryside, visiting rural villages and local families producing rice paper, dried bananas, and bamboo sticky rice the traditional way. Stop at Khmer houses to relax, enjoy coconut water, and chat with residents about their lives. By afternoon you'll travel by private minibus to Siem Reap, arriving in the evening with time to hunt for street food for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Battambang countryside bicycle tour
- Rural village visits
- Local family visits
- Traditional agriculture product observation
Optional Activities
- Street food for dinner in Siem Reap
Landmarks/POIs Battambang countryside Siem Reap - Day 20
Angkor Wat
Head to Angkor Wat in the early morning to watch the sunrise over this UNESCO World Heritage site, then temple-hop with your local guide through the world-famous complex dating back to the 9th century. You'll see intricately carved bas-reliefs and architectural designs across approximately 160 square km, visiting the main cluster including Angkor Wat, Bayon, and jungle-covered Ta Prohm.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Angkor Wat sunrise viewing
- Three day Angkor Pass
- Angkor temples guided tour
- Angkor Wat visit
- Bayon temple visit
- Ta Prohm temple visit
Landmarks/POIs Angkor Wat Bayon Ta Prohm - Day 21
Tonle Sap Lake
Continue exploring the Angkor complex this morning, then in the afternoon take a private local boat to discover the floating villages and daily lives at Chhong Kneas, a trading port for agricultural products on the edge of Tonle Sap Lake, also known as the Great Lake of Cambodia.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Angkor complex continuation
- Chhong Kneas floating village visit
- Tonle Sap Lake boat tour
Landmarks/POIs Chhong Kneas Tonle Sap Lake - Day 22
Siem Reap to Bangkok
Begin a long drive by private minibus from Siem Reap to Bangkok, Thailand's bustling capital. You'll arrive and experience an exciting world of tuk tuks, khlong boats, and street vendors serving delicious Thai food. Sample local specialties as a final farewell with your fellow travellers.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Optional Activities
- Local Thai food specialties sampling
Landmarks/POIs Bangkok - Day 23
Bangkok
Your trip ends this morning with no further activities planned. Bangkok has plenty to explore if you'd like to stay longer, including the Grand Palace, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and Jim Thompson Museum. Talk to your booking agent if you're interested in extending your stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Grand Palace visit
- Temple of the Emerald Buddha visit
- Jim Thompson Museum visit
Landmarks/POIs Grand Palace Temple of the Emerald Buddha Jim Thompson Museum
