Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Hanoi
You'll arrive in Hanoi and head to your hotel to settle in. After getting situated, the rest of the day is yours to wander around at your own pace. You can take in the mix of French colonial buildings, old temples, and modern cafes scattered throughout Vietnam's busy capital.
Optional Activities
- Explore the Old Quarter and street food scene
- Visit local cafes and temples
- Wander historic boulevards
Landmarks/POIs Old Quarter - Day 2
Hanoi
Start your morning in Hanoi's Old Quarter near Ba Dinh Square and the Temple of Literature. Walk through narrow lanes filled with incense and gold-leafed pagodas, then grab some local street food like pho and banh mi. Later, head to a rooftop cafe overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake, and by evening you'll have dinner with other travelers at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant with fellow travelers)
Included Activities
- Visit Ba Dinh Square
- Visit Temple of Literature
- Explore Old Quarter
- Rooftop cafe experience overlooking Hoàn Kiếm Lake
Landmarks/POIs Ba Dinh Square Temple of Literature Hoàn Kiếm Lake - Day 3
Hanoi
You'll visit Hoa Lo Prison to learn about French colonial and Vietnam War history, and you'll have the chance to meet with a local veteran who can share firsthand stories from that time. The afternoon is free for you to see more of the city, or you can catch Hanoi's water puppet theater in the evening if that interests you. Dinner features local Vietnamese cuisine.
- Meals
- Dinner (Local cuisine)
Included Activities
- Visit Hoa Lo Prison
- Meet with local veteran
Optional Activities
- Water puppet theater performance
- Explore the city independently
Landmarks/POIs Hoa Lo Prison - Day 4
Hanoi to Ha Long Bay
Head out from Hanoi toward Ha Long Bay and board a traditional junk boat. You'll sail through thousands of limestone karsts rising from the water, check out hidden caves and secluded beaches, and have fresh Vietnamese lunch on the boat. By evening you'll watch the sunset from the water before settling in for the night on board.
- Meals
- Lunch (Fresh Vietnamese dishes prepared from local seafood, served aboard junk boat)
Included Activities
- Board traditional junk boat
- Ha Long Bay sightseeing
- Explore limestone caves and islets
- Overnight stay on junk boat
Landmarks/POIs Ha Long Bay - Day 5
Ha Long Bay to Hoi An
After breakfast on the junk boat, you'll head into Sung Sot Cave to see its limestone formations. Later you depart Ha Long Bay and fly to Da Nang, then drive along the coast to Hoi An. This ancient port city has centuries-old architecture and streets that still show its merchant heritage.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast aboard junk boat)
Included Activities
- Visit Sung Sot Cave
- Breakfast aboard junk boat
Landmarks/POIs Sung Sot Cave - Day 6
Hoi An
Spend the day walking through Hoi An's historic lanes starting with Phuc Kien Assembly Hall and its ornate Chinese details. Cross the famous Japanese Bridge, browse the Thu Bon River market, and visit the tailoring area to watch skilled craftspeople work. In the afternoon, check out art galleries and the cultural museum at your own speed, then have dinner under glowing lanterns.
- Meals
- Dinner (Local delicacies with fellow travelers under glowing lanterns)
Included Activities
- Visit Phuc Kien Assembly Hall
- Cross Japanese Bridge
- Visit Thu Bon River market
- Tailoring lesson
- Explore Ancient Town
Optional Activities
- Visit art galleries
- Explore cultural museum
- Shop for mementos
Landmarks/POIs Phuc Kien Assembly Hall Japanese Bridge Thu Bon River market - Day 7
Hoi An
Get into a traditional bamboo basket boat and learn how to cast fishing nets from local fishermen. Then you'll grind rice and cook four local specialties in an open-air kitchen, including cao lau noodles and white rose dumplings. You'll eat what you've made for lunch, and spend the afternoon wandering Hoi An's historic streets on your own.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch featuring cao lau noodles, white rose dumplings, and other local specialties prepared during cooking class)
Included Activities
- Basket boat ride
- Learn net casting
- Cooking class - four local specialties
- Lunch featuring prepared dishes
Optional Activities
- Explore Hoi An independently in the afternoon
- Day 8
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
Leave Hoi An and travel to Ho Chi Minh City, where old French colonial buildings sit next to modern energy. You'll see the Central Post Office with its iron details and arches, Notre Dame Cathedral with its red-brick spires, and the Reunification Palace. Later check out the Old Market's stalls full of spices, silk, and lacquerware.
Included Activities
- Visit Central Post Office
- Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
- Visit Reunification Palace
- Explore Old Market
Landmarks/POIs Central Post Office Notre Dame Cathedral Reunification Palace Old Market - Day 9
Mekong Delta
Head into the Mekong Delta by boat to see waterways and floating markets where people still live like they have for generations. Visit a traditional candy workshop to watch how coconut milk turns into silky caramel, then check out a palm sugar market where old techniques are still used. You'll have a meal of southern specialties like caramelized fish and river prawns before heading back to Ho Chi Minh City.
- Meals
- Lunch (Feast of southern delicacies including caramelized fish in clay pots, river prawns, and elephant ear fish wrapped in rice paper with fresh herbs)
Included Activities
- Mekong Delta boat tour
- Visit traditional candy workshop
- Visit palm sugar market
- Lunch with regional specialties
Landmarks/POIs Mekong Delta - Day 10
Cu Chi Tunnels
You'll tour the Cu Chi Tunnel complex, an underground network that once stretched over 120 miles. See concealed trapdoors, hidden kitchens with special smoke systems, and rooms that worked as hospitals and meeting spaces. After looking at preserved tunnel sections above ground, you'll return to Ho Chi Minh City for dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Cu Chi Tunnels tour
Landmarks/POIs Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 11
Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap
Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap in Cambodia, where French colonial buildings mix with Chinese shop houses and modern cafes. Once you're settled, you'll have dinner with apsara dancers performing in gilded headdresses. The performances tell stories from Khmer traditions, and you'll eat local dishes like fish amok and fragrant Khmer curry.
- Meals
- Dinner (Traditional Khmer dinner with fish amok steamed in banana leaves and fragrant Khmer curry, accompanied by apsara dancer performance)
Included Activities
- Apsara dancer performance
- Traditional Khmer dinner
Landmarks/POIs Siem Reap - Day 12
Angkor Archaeological Park
Wake up early to see the sunrise at Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious site. The iconic spires emerge from shadow as light spreads through the ancient corridors showing intricate carved details. You'll visit Ta Prohm where massive tree roots wrap around stone walls, then explore Angkor Thom's gates, the Terrace of the Leper King, Baphuon, and the Bayon with its 216 serene faces on 54 towers.
Included Activities
- Angkor Wat sunrise viewing
- Angkor Wat temple exploration
- Ta Prohm temple visit
- Angkor Thom exploration
- Terrace of the Leper King
- Baphuon temple
- Bayon temple
Landmarks/POIs Angkor Wat Ta Prohm Angkor Thom Bayon Terrace of the Leper King Baphuon - Day 13
Siem Reap Cultural Experiences
Start at APOPO's Visitor Center watching African giant pouched rats show how they detect landmines. Head to Preah Dak village to see noodle-making for traditional breakfast soup, then visit the palm sugar market watching how sap becomes golden caramel. End the day at Les Chantiers Ecoles where apprentices practice wood carvings, stone sculpting, and traditional painting to keep Cambodian arts alive.
Included Activities
- APOPO landmine detection rats demonstration
- Rice noodles demonstration
- Palm sugar market visit
- Les Chantiers Ecoles artisan workshops
Landmarks/POIs APOPO Preah Dak village Les Chantiers Ecoles - Day 14
Siem Reap to Bangkok
Fly into Bangkok, Thailand's energetic center where golden temples stand among modern high-rises. As evening falls, board a longtail boat for a final celebration along Bangkok's historic klongs. You'll glide past illuminated temples and wooden homes while having Thai food like tom yum soup, green curry, and grilled river prawns.
- Meals
- Dinner (Thai cuisine dinner cruise on Chao Phraya River including tom yum, green curry, and grilled river prawns)
Included Activities
- Chao Phraya River cruise on longtail boat
- Evening dinner cruise
Landmarks/POIs Chao Phraya River - Day 15
Bangkok
Start your day at the legendary Pak Khlong Talat flower market in morning light. Ride through narrow lanes in a tuk-tuk to Wat Pho to see the massive 150-foot reclining Buddha. Visit the Grand Palace with its golden spires and the sacred Emerald Buddha. After lunch, take a longtail boat through the klongs where life moves slowly, ending at Wat Arun's sparkling spires for a final dinner celebration.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local flavors at lunch), Dinner (Dinner celebration with fellow travelers)
Included Activities
- Pak Khlong Talat flower market visit
- Wat Pho temple and reclining Buddha
- Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha
- Klongs longtail boat tour
- Wat Arun temple
Landmarks/POIs Pak Khlong Talat Wat Pho Grand Palace Emerald Buddha Wat Arun - Day 16
Departure
Transfer to the airport and head home with memories of your time in Southeast Asia.
