Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll land at Noi Bai airport and get transferred into Hanoi city center. Check-in starts at 2pm, so you'll have the afternoon and evening to settle in. After dropping your bags, head out to see the Old Quarter and its 36 Guilds area if you're up for it. The narrow streets here are packed with small shops selling everything from silk to spices, each street historically dedicated to a particular trade. It's a good way to get a feel for the city's rhythm without too much structure.
Optional Activities
- Explore the Quarter of the 36 Guilds - artisan stalls, tinsmiths, jewellers, calligraphers, carpenters, leather/rattan goods, fans, lacquer ware, silk, and more
- Day 2
Hanoi to Ha Long Bay
Your hotel pickup happens early so you can start the drive toward Ha Long Bay. You'll pass through the Red River Delta, which gives you a good sense of rural Vietnam's landscape. After arriving at Tuan Chau Marina, you'll check in and board your cruise (either LE JOURNEY or LA CASTA). Lunch is served onboard, then you'll explore Sung Sot Cave with its limestone formations. Later, Ti Top Island is on the agenda for swimming or just taking in the views. The evening brings happy hour or a cooking class on deck, followed by dinner and some entertainment.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Served on board while cruising past limestone karst formations), Dinner (Sumptuous dinner with delicious local food prepared by onboard catering staff)
Included Activities
- Visit Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave) - exploration of one of the biggest and most beautiful caves in Ha Long Bay
- Visit Ti Top Island - scenic viewpoint over Gulf of Tonkin or swimming in emerald waters
- Happy Hour or Cooking Class on sundeck
- Evening activities including karaoke and squid fishing
Optional Activities
- Spa treatment on La Casta Cruise (5-star option)
- Kayaking in Ba Trai Dao area and natural lagoon of Lan Ha Bay (5-star option)
- Bamboo boat sightseeing (alternative in adverse weather conditions)
Landmarks/POIs Ha Long Bay Sung Sot Cave Ti Top Island Lan Ha Bay Ba Trai Dao - Day 3
Ha Long Bay to Hanoi
Rise early to catch the sunrise and maybe join the optional Tai Chi session if you're on a 5-star cruise. Breakfast happens while you're still watching the bay. From here, the day splits depending on your cruise level. On 3 and 4-star cruises, you'll kayak through Luon Cave where you might spot monkeys, then head back to port and return to Hanoi by afternoon. If you're on the 5-star option, kayaking happens at Tra Bau instead, with swimming time included, then brunch before disembarking.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on board), Lunch (Early lunch at restaurant on 2nd floor (3 & 4-star)), Brunch (Fantastic cruise brunch (5-star))
Included Activities
- Kayaking to explore Luon Cave (3 & 4-star option)
- Tai Chi session on sundeck with sunrise viewing (5-star option)
- Breakfast on board
Optional Activities
- Swimming in emerald waters (5-star option)
- Kayaking and landscape exploration at Tra Bau (5-star option)
Landmarks/POIs Luon Cave Tra Bau - Day 4
Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City
You'll have breakfast at your hotel, then some free time before heading to Noi Bai airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Once you land and check into your accommodation, the rest of the day is open. Ho Chi Minh City moves faster than Hanoi and has a different energy. You can wander the streets, grab dinner somewhere local, or just rest after the travel day depending on how you're feeling.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Dinner on cruise along Saigon River - experience Saigon's nightlife, Vietnamese cuisine, illuminated city sights, folk music and dance entertainment (18:45 pickup, 21:30 finish) - 55 USD/person
- Day 5
Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi Tunnels
An early pickup takes you about 45km to Cu Chi, which is famous for its tunnel network that stretches over 220km. This is a significant historical site from the war, and you'll see remnants of battles and damage from bombing. Walking through the tunnels gives you a real sense of what conditions were like. You're back in Ho Chi Minh City by early afternoon, leaving you free to do whatever you want for the rest of the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour to Cu Chi Tunnels - exploration of original tunnel system with over 220km network, war remnants, and historical evidence from the anti-American war period
Landmarks/POIs Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 6
Ben Tre)
You'll leave early for My Tho in the Mekong Delta region. First, you'll visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, which dates to the late 1800s and shows some French colonial influence in its architecture. Then you board a sampan to cruise around four islands named after animals: Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Tortoise. You'll stop on Unicorn Island to walk through country roads and see fruit orchards, where you can try local tropical fruits and listen to folk music. The day also includes stops at family businesses, honey farms, and coconut candy places. After lunch, you can either cycle around Tan Thach village or relax in a hammock. You're back in Ho Chi Minh City by early evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda - exploration of late 19th century pagoda
- Sampan cruise around four islands - Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Tortoise islands
- Stop at Unicorn Island - walking tour around country lanes, orchards, tropical fruits tasting, folk song music performance
- Visit family businesses and honey-bee farm - honey tea and coconut candy workshop experience
- Cycling around Tan Thach village and meeting local villagers to experience daily life
Optional Activities
- Hammock relaxing for those unable to join cycling trip
Landmarks/POIs Vinh Trang Pagoda Unicorn Island Dragon Island Phoenix Island Tortoise Island Tan Thach Village Thoi Son Canal - Day 7
Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh
You'll spend about 7 hours on a bus heading to Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital. Once you check into your hotel, the rest of the day is yours to explore. Phnom Penh has a complex history and combines that past with modern energy. You'll see temples, markets, side streets, and newer developments all mixed together as you walk around.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Phnom Penh Full Day City Tour - visiting Killing Fields, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, and Russian Market - 90 USD/person
Landmarks/POIs Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum Killing Fields of Choeung Ek - Day 8
Phnom Penh
This day is completely free. You can take a guided tour if you want to learn more about Phnom Penh's history and what the city went through. The markets are worth checking out if you're interested in local goods and food. If you prefer something quieter, a boat cruise on the Mekong River is a nice way to spend a few hours. It's your choice how active or relaxed you want to be.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Killing Field tour - Visit Tuol Sleng Prison Museum and Choeung Ek Killing Fields for deep insight into the Khmer Rouge period, includes lunch at local restaurant, afternoon exploration of Psar Toul Tom Pong (Russian Market), and one hour Mekong River boat cruise
Landmarks/POIs Tuol Sleng Prison Museum Choeung Ek Killing Fields Psar Toul Tom Pong (Russian Market) Mekong River - Day 9
Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
You'll take a bus for roughly 6 hours from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. After checking in to your hotel, you have the rest of the day to decompress. Siem Reap is known primarily for its temples, but it's also become a cultural hub with a growing arts scene and Cambodia's top circus. There's plenty to explore beyond just the ancient sites.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 10
Angkor Temple Complex
After breakfast, you're diving into a full day at Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat Temple. This means visiting multiple temples in one go: Bayon with its famous stone faces, Baphuon, Phimean Akas, Elephants Terrace, Leper King Terrace, and the old Royal Palace area. You'll also check out the men's and women's ponds, then explore Ta Prom, which is the temple covered in jungle vines and roots. The day finishes at Bakheng Hill. This is one of the world's most significant architectural sites and requires some solid walking and climbing, so wear comfortable shoes.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided tour to Angkor Thom Area including South Gate, Bayon Temple, Baphuon Temple, Phimean Akas Temple, Elephants Terrace, Leper King Terrace, Royal Palace, Woman and Man Pond
- Visit Ta Prom Temple
- Visit Angkor Wat Temple - one of the seven greatest architectural wonders of the world built between 9th-13th century
- Visit Bakheng Hill
Landmarks/POIs Angkor Thom Bayon Temple Baphuon Temple Phimean Akas Temple Elephants Terrace Leper King Terrace Ta Prom Temple Angkor Wat Bakheng Hill - Day 11
Siem Reap
Breakfast at your hotel, then the whole day is free. If you want to do something, there's an optional tour combining Tonle Sap Lake's floating villages, a local art school, a silk farm, and market visits. Or you could spend the day resting or exploring Siem Reap's town center at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Tonle Sap Lake tour - Boat trip to floating village, visit Les Artisan D' Angkor Art School (traditional stone carving, woodcarving, lacquer and silk weaving educational center), lunch at local restaurant, visit Angkor Silk Farm, and local market exploration
Landmarks/POIs Tonle Sap Lake Les Artisan D' Angkor Angkor Silk Farm - Day 12
Siem Reap
You'll have breakfast at your hotel and some time to pack up. Check out by noon, then get transferred to Siem Reap Angkor International Airport for your onward flight. That's where the tour ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast
