Day 1: Siem Reap arrival
Upon arrival in Siem Reap, you will be met and transferred to your hotel
Day 2: Siem Reap Full Day Temple Tour
In the morning visit the magnificent Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument and best-preserved temple in the complex. This visually spectacular massive three-tired pyramid has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its flag. Admire the grandeur of its architecture and its extensive decoration of bas-relief friezes.
After lunch visit Bayon, a richly decorated temple. Its most distinctive feature is the hundreds of smiling faces that grace the towers. Impressive bas-reliefs tell stories of daily life and of the great battles that were fought between the Khmers and ancient Thais.
Continue to Ta Prohm, one of Cambodia’s most beloved temples. Unusually, Ta Prohm is in much the same condition in which it was found. The combination of large trees growing out of the ruins and the surrounding jungle give the temple a truly magical feel.
Day 3: Banteay Srei, Banteay Samre and Kbal Spean
In the morning, drive to Banteay Samré, a temple in eastern Angkor. Built in the early 12th century, it is a Hindu temple in the Angkor Wat style. Continue on to Banteay Srei temple, known as the ‘citadel of women,’ perhaps for its smaller size. Built largely of red sandstone, the temple boasts intricate carvings on almost every surface. The remarkable preservation of these ornamental decorations and its unusual scale has earned the temple recognition as the “jewel of Khmer art,” which should not be missed.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant nearby before exploring again. Next visit Kbal Spean, an archeological site from the Angkorian era. Described as a “spectacularly carved riverbed,” the site boasts a series of stone rock relief carvings in the sandstone riverbeds. Walk for approximately half an houruphill along a two-kilometer jungle path to the point where the carvings begin. At this point, the path splits with one direction heading to a waterfall and the other towards the river carvings. Work your way along the riverbeds before returning to the waterfall and making your way back down the path.
Day 4: Siem Reap - Phnom Kulen Mountain and a 1000 lingas tour
Considered the birthplace of the Khmer Empire, Phnom Kulen is a mountain range about a two-hour drive from Siem Reap. The mountain is considered sacred, the site where King Jayavarman proclaimed independence from Java in 802 and where the cult of the linga began. The mountain is also a favorite of locals who come to admire the waterfalls and swim in the cool pools. Visit the river of 1,000 Lingas and a reclining Buddha built in the 16th century. Take a break for a picnic lunch and a chance to swim at the waterfall. On the way back to Siem Reap, stop at a local village to admire the picturesque rice paddies and traditional houses.
Day 5: Siem Reap, Tonle Sap lake half day - fly to Ho Chi Minh City
Take a short 15-kilometer drive to Tonle Sap Lake, located south of Siem Reap. Here embark on a cruise to Kompong Phluk, an isolated Khmer community of three villages built on stilts. The community has about 3,000 residents who farm fish and vegetables on the floating platforms. Admire the floating village with a Buddhist monastery right in the middle.The cruise will also take you through the flooded forests that surround the village, a unique ecosystem where millions of fish come to spawn each season, attracting a myriad of water birds. Enjoy the views and keep an eye out for wildlife, especially birds and crab-eating macaques.
In the afternoon fly to Ho Chi Minh city. Check in your hotel and relax. Rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 6: Ho Chi Minh City Full Day Cu Chi Tunnel and City Tour
Begin your journey to the Cu Chi Tunnels by departing at around 8am from your hotel and travel through the countryside which was once a stronghold of the Viet Cong. Upon arrival, watch a short video about what life was like for soldiers who lived there during the war. The cramped tunnels were central to a few of the war’s strategic operations, including the famous 1968 Tet Offensive, and they didn’t escape damage. American B52 bombers dropped hundreds of missiles leaving huge tell-tale craters behind. The tunnels served not only as living quarters, but as supply routes and hospitals for thousands of guerilla fighters. Many died there from malaria and other diseases, and a few were also born or married. Today they are viewed by some as a testimony to the Vietnamese people’s resiliency.
In the afternoon enjoy a half day walking tour of Saigon. Start your Story of Saigon with a visit to the War Remnants Museum. Here, your guide will tell the story of the city’s darkest and most tragic hours during the Vietnam War. The museum contains displays of military aircraft, weaponry and many photographs - some that are quite graphic in nature. Although many of Vietnam’s 90 million people are now too young to remember the war, its legacy is still felt strongly across Vietnamese society. Next, visit the Reunification Palace, once a symbol of the South Vietnamese Government. It was here on 30 April 1975, that the war ended when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gates. See the war room, the banquet hall and the presidential office with the unusual gifts which have been received. Then, continue to the Central Post Office, designed and constructed by the renowned architect Gustave Eiffel, and take a moment to send a postcard! Just behind the post office is the Notre Dame Cathedral, an iconic Saigon landmark built in neo-Romanesque style by the French between 1863 and 1880. Today it’s a favoured backdrop for Vietnamese wedding photographs.Next, stroll down follow Dong Khoi Street, which figured prominently in Graham Greene’s famous Vietnam novel, The Quiet American, as Rue Catinat. The walk ends at the Saigon Opera House. From a bomb shelter to housing the parliamentary Lower House, the Opera House has had an interesting history.
Day 7: Mekong Delta Full Day Tour
Depart from your hotel at 8am and drive about 2 hours from Saigon to the township of Cai Be to board the Cai Be Princess. The crew welcomes you aboard with cold towels and are freshing drink as the Cai Be Princess Sampan sets off for its leisurely cruise on the busy waterways of the Mekong Delta. On the river, all sorts of boats ply the water, from small fishing boats to cargo barges loaded with fruit and vegetables. Observe a little of river life as it plays out on the banks - noting the people and the stunning landscapes - while your attentive crew serves you tea and seasonal fruit. At Tan Phong Islet board a little rowing boat to explore the canal’s hidden mangroves. Return to yoursampan to visit an ancient house built in the 19th century. Make stops along the way to provide glimpses of local cottage industries, including factories for the production of coconut candy and puffed rice (the local equivalent of popcorn), products that provide a living for the river people. Your cruise ends at Le Longanier Restaurant. Lunch is served in this exquisite colonial-style villaset in a lush tropical garden by the river, surrounded by fruit trees, giving you a sense of life during the Indochina of yesteryear. After lunch, take a short walk along a small canal, towards the Ba Bon Bridge where your personal vehicle awaits to drive you to Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City - Hoi An - half day street food tour
Set off on a culinary adventure in Hoi An to discover the flavours and dishes that make this coastal town unique. Alongside an expert local guide, your journey introduces you to the stories behind Hoi An’s most iconic dishes at the town’s most famous eateries. Start your tour at a local restaurant famous for white rose dumplings, found exclusively in Hoi An. Enjoy these delicacies while marveling at the work that goes into them. The staff churn out up to 6000 of these dumplings every day and each one is as beautiful as the last. Your visit here includes a chance to try making a few of your own dumplings too! Continue on to find another local specialty: banh can. These crackers are served with quail eggs, pork and a tasty salad and are a Hoi An street food favourite. Pull up a small street side stool and enjoy with your guide. Alternative is banh mi “Vietnamese baguette”. Continue onward to sample grilled pork satay and visit the central market on way. Finally, the famous Cao Lau noodles or equally popular chicken rice. Wrap up the tour with a local Vietnamese coffee- the perfect ending to any meal.
Day 9: Hoi An Full Day Tour with Cam Thanh Boat Trip
Begin your story of Hoi An, a former port that welcomed Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab merchants between the 16th to 18th centuries. Today it is renowned for its old quarter lined with two-storey Chinese shops, with elaborate carved wooden facades and terracotta tile roofs. And not forgetting expert tailor shops and delicious food! The tour includes stops at several famous landmarks. The first is Chua Ong Pagoda, dating back to 1653 and built in honor of the Chinese general Quan Cong, who is worshipped by many as a symbol of loyalty and justice. Next, pop into Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, to see the Jinshan Temple which is dedicated to the goddess of the sea and the protector of sailors. From there it’s a short walk to Tam Ky House, a 200 year old ancestral house and finally, stroll across the often photographed 17th century covered bridge built by Japanese craftsmen. The beautifully built bridge doubles as a temple and is a major landmark of Hoi An. After a Vietnamese lunch, take a short boat trip down the river and visit a craft village where local artisans make ceramics. End your afternoon with a visit to the docks and see traditional fishing boats and the unusual round basket boats that ply the water.
Day 10: Hoi An - drive to Hue
Day 12: Siem Reap - Tonle Sap Lake Tour
Free morning in Hoi An.
Today you will be transferred to Hue over the scenic Hai Van Pass, probably the most scenic stretch of coastal road in Vietnam.You will visit Cham museum which houses the largest exhibition of Cham sculpture in the world with almost 300 terracotta and stone works of art ranging from the 7th to the 15th centuries.
The tour continues with a visit to the Marble Mountains which are a group of five limestone and marble hills in Ngu Hanh Son District. The mountains sheer porous limestone is punctuated by caves and tunnels which are fitted with spectacular Buddhist and Hindu shrines.Upon arrival in Hue check in your hotel and relax.
Day 11: Hue Full Day Tour
Day 12: Siem Reap - Tonle Sap Lake Tour
Start your tour with the ancient walled Citadel, which was closely modelled along the lines of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Then visit Khai Dinh tomb, admire the unusual combination of architecture that blends a traditional Chinese past with a modern Western future. Khai Dinh was the Nguyen Dynasty’s most eccentric and unusual king, who reportedly embraced French colonialism. Much like his father, Khai Dinh favoured imported luxuries, spent huge sums of money on his tomb, and was the subject of ridicule by nationalist leaders.Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.In afternoon you’ll have a tour of Thien Mu pagoda, one of iconic sights in Hue and An Hien garden house.An Hien garden house contains many large and small architectures built according to the traditional architecture style of Vietnam in general and Hue in particular. The garden house is strongly influenced by fengshui. The main architecture of An Hien garden house is a 3-room 2-gable house with wooden structure and beautifully sculpted patterns. Over a century of existence, An Hien remains almost intact both in landscape and architecture
Day 12: Hue fly to Hanoi, afternoon city tour with cyclo ride and water puppet show
Today fly to Hanoi. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
In the afternoon enjoy a half day city tour.Start with the Museum of Ethnology that is widely acknowledged as the best in the country, with an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minority people. Take a breezy cyclo ride through the Old Quarter’s 36 streets, named for the products that were sold from their shops. Today, vendors on Tin and Bamboo Streets still sell the same wares. Next, sip a strong Vietnamese coffee in a café overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake - an important symbol in Vietnamese folklore. End your day with a delightful water puppet show, a traditional art that is still being performed today.
Day 13: Hanoi Cooking Class
For your authentic culinary experience, we partner with Rose Kitchen, the no.1 cooking class provider in Hanoi. Today you will be picked up at your hotel by shared transfer. Head straight to a local market to purchase ingredients for the class and learn about produce integral to Vietnamese cuisine. Learn to cook in a local luxurious villa of 500m2 with a local chef. In the kitchen, you’ll prepare and cook authentic dishes, such as spring rolls, a salad of banana flowers, and barbecue pork with noodles and fish sauce.
Once you’ve finished cooking, you’ll sit down to feast on the fruit of your labors, accompanied by free and unlimited local wine tasting. You will then be dropped off at your hotel.
Day 14: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay - Lan Ha Bay
Depart from Hanoi and travel by road to the Tuan Chau Island pier in Halong Bay.
Set off on Heritage Cruise, where you’ll be pampered in style and comfort whilst meandering through the towering limestone cliffs and emerald green waters of Ha long Bay. Stop in Tra Bau, a secret hideaway in Lan Ha Bay that has beaches, caves and coves.
You can try kayaking or simply swim in the clear waters of the bay. Back to your boat, enjoy life aboard the vessel or in your suite, and with cocktail in hand watch the sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin.In late afternoon part in a professional cooking demonstration before indulging in a luxurious dinner in the dining hall. Spend the rest of the evening as you’d like: watch a movie in the dining area, relax on the deck with a cocktail, or go squid fishing under the cover of night.
Day 15: Ha Long Bay - Hanoi - fly to Luang Prabang
Rise with the sun and practice Vivonam on the sundeck while taking in majestic views of the surrounding bay and the cool sea breeze.Wrap up your experience with a bamboo boat trip to visit Dark and Bright Cave before cruising back to Tuan Chau Marina. Your guide and driver will take you to Hanoi airport for your flight to Luang Prabang.Upon arrival in Luang Prabang, you are met and transferred to your hotel.
Day 16: Luang Prabang Half Day City Tour
Enjoy a half-day tour around the town of Luang Prabang. Visit Wat Xieng Thong, one of Luang Prabang’s most impressive monasteries and one of the highest symbols of Buddhism in Laos. Continue on to the National Museum, the former Royal Palace, where relics from Laos’ royal past remain. Then climb the 328 steps up Phousi Hill for panoramic views of Luang Prabang city. Note: The National Museum is closed every Tuesday.
Day 17: Alm Giving and Kuang Si Water Fall
Rise early to the sound of the temple gong to witness Luang Prabang’s mystical ritual. Walk downtown to watch the daily procession of about three hundred young monks who silently walk and collect sticky rice and other food in their bronze bowls. The ritual is linked to a Buddhist tradition where monks beg for their daily food as a way to demonstrate humility. If you would like to be involved in the offering of food, your guide will be more than happy to show you the respectful way to interact with monks. Feel free to take photos, however please use discretion and refrain from using your flash. Enjoy the rest of your morning with a stroll through Luang Prabang’s morning market where you will see the locals haggling for fresh meat, fruit, and vegetables.
From here, travel south to the Kuang Si Waterfall. Admire the crystal water cascading into idyllic turquoise pools. Bring a bathing suit if you would like to swim. Return back to Luang Prabang in the early afternoon. Note: Kuang Si Waterfall has less water from February to May.
Day 18: Half Day Join in Living Land Tour
Travel from Luang Prabang to the Living Land Farm, a community project in Pong Van Village. In response to the destructive use of chemicals and pesticides, several farming families combined their land and adopted alternative methods to grow organic rice, vegetable, and herbs.
The farm now sells their produce to restaurants and hotels, and also supports the local community through a range of projects, including education for underprivileged children.Spend the morning in the beautiful rice fields where farmers plough, plant, and harvest without the aid of machinery. Get knee deep in the mud to help plant rice and to help steer a water buffalo to plough the field. Pick fragrant herbs and colorful vegetables and learn to husk rice the traditional way. There is plenty to do on a farm, so the local farmers always appreciate the help.
However, it is not compulsory to join in the fields. If you would prefer, relax on the veranda and watch from afar.The farm is also home to a basket-weaving workshop, a blacksmith, and a traditional wooden sugar cane juicer. Watch these crafts while sipping on a refreshing drink before heading to the farm’s restaurant. Enjoy a delicious lunch, reaping the benefits of the day’s hard work, and taste a selection of fresh Lao dishes.
Day 19: Luang Prabang Departure
At leisure until you are transferred to the airport for your departure flight.
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