Treasures of Vietnam & Cambodia

You will be met at Ho Chi Minh City airport and transferred to our hotel in the heart of the city. Bustling Ho Chi Minh City, aka Saigon, is the largest city of Vietnam. It's the economic capital and cultural trendsetter of the country, yet it still maintains the timeless traditions of an ancient culture. Sleek sky scrapers, gourmet restaurants and designer malls are scattered between ancient pagodas, colonial era landmarks and lively street markets. Spend the day at leisure until our welcome meeting at 5pm.

This morning we drive to Cai Be (approx 2.5 hours) to explore the beautiful Mekong Delta. Often referred to as the ‘rice bowl’ of Vietnam, the fertile Mekong Delta is famous for its abundant harvests of tropical fruits, flowers and rice, as well as its picturesque canals. Taking a sampan from Cai Be we cruise through the maze of waterways watching the hubbub of daily life on the river. Passing colourful trading boats, house boats and children swimming we stop to visit some of the local cottage industries that produce popcorn, coco candies and paper along the way. Lunch is served in a traditional wooden home on Dong Hoa Hiep Island and later this afternoon we return to Ho Chi Minh City.

Ho Chi Minh City - Hoi An. We start the day with a visit to the sobering War Remnants Museum, before getting off the beaten track to explore lesser visited parts of Ho Chi Minh City and gain an insight into local life. Heading to District 3 we visit the oldest cafe in town and stop for a refreshment, before taking a walk through a large street-market, easing our way through a sea of conical hats and mobile street food sellers. We stroll through the heart of city's working-class district, which has remained largely unchanged since the 1960s, then head into the Ho Thi Ky quarter with its spectacular flower market and maze of quiet narrow streets. This area is also famous for its Khmer delicacies and we sample some of these traditional snacks.

After our tour of the city we transfer to the airport and board a flight to Da Nang. From Da Nang its a 30-minute drive to Hoi An, where we'll spend the next three nights.

This morning we take a leisurely bike ride through the countryside to Tra Que village. Here, we learn about age old farming practices and traditional medicine (we can arrange alternative transportation at no extra cost for those who don't wish to cycle). It’s a fun, hands-on experience where you can don a conical hat, assist with tending the fields and cooking a tasty lunch!

After lunch we cycle back to town for a walking tour of enchanting Hoi An, with its cobbled streets, traditional homes and tiny shop houses. We visit the Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Hall, 200-year-old Tam Ky house, former merchants’ homes and the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge.

Spend the day at leisure in heavenly Hoi An, relaxing by the hotel pool or taking a stroll around the town. Boutique restaurants, hip cafes along the waterfront, delightful craft shops and artisans, including some of Asia’s best bespoke tailors, can all be found here.

Hoi An - Halong Bay. It's an early start this morning to catch the first flight from Danang to Hanoi and then transfer to beautiful Halong Bay. We then embark on a deluxe overnight cruise around the limestone peaks and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay.

Onboard the boat we're served a delicious seafood-based lunch, while the surrounding limestone outcrops make for a truly magical setting. This afternoon, we visit picturesque Cat Ba Island and take a leisurely bike ride to Viet Hai village - a small village nestled in the heart of Cat Ba National Park. Returning to the cruise you can participate in a cooking or fruit carving demonstration on the sundeck. Then sit back, relax and watch an incredible sunset over enchanting Halong Bay before dinner is served.

Early birds can start the day with a Tai Chi session on the sundeck, while tea and coffee are served as the sun rises and illuminates the surrounding seascape. We then continue our exploration of the bay and end with a light brunch while cruising back to the pier, where we disembark and transfer to Hanoi.

Arriving into Hanoi mid-afternoon we take a stroll around the ‘36 streets of the old quarter’, named after the numerous guilds that once set up shop on a particular street, from silk tailors to traditional medicine shops. Then we check in to our beautiful hotel and spend rest of day at leisure in Vietnam's charming capital.

On day 8 we explore the capital. First stop is the infamous Hanoi Hilton (or Hoa Lo Prison as it is locally known). Here we have some time to explore this fascinating building, which was home to former US Senator and military officer John McCain, who was shot down over Hanoi in 1967 and held here during his five and half years as a prisoner of war. Then we visit Temple of Literature, which was Vietnam's first university.

In the afternoon we visit Huu Tiep lake to see the wreckage of a B52 bomber which was shot down in 1972. Then we stroll through the tiny alleys of Ngoc Ha Village, passing an ancient communal temple and typical Hanoi tube houses to reach the famous Ho Chi Minh complex. Here we visit Ho Chi Minh's house and learn all about the great man himself, who is regarded as the father of the nation. After a photo stop at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum we head to Tran Quoc pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Hanoi. Weather permitting, we can enjoy a spectacular sunset at West Lake before returning to our hotel.

The next day is free for you to spend at leisure. Head out to explore more of the capital or simply relax by the pool and enjoy the facilities at the hotel.

Hanoi - Phnom Penh (Cambodia). We bid farewell to Vietnam today and fly to Phnom Penh, the capital of neighbouring Cambodia. Upon arrival you'll be met and transferred to our hotel. Enjoy free time before a group dinner this evening.

Today we enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Phnom Penh, starting at the National Museum of Fine Arts, which houses the world’s finest collection of Khmer sculptures. We continue to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, famed for its lavish decorations. The floors are paved with silver tiles and statues of Buddha encrusted with thousands of diamonds.

Later, come face to face with the horrors of the Pol Pot regime as we visit Tuol Sleng (Security Prison - S21), a school that was gruesomely transformed into a torture chamber under the Khmer Rouge. Continue to the notorious Killing Fields, where over 10,000 people were executed.

Phnom Penh - Siem Reap. This morning we fly to Siem Reap. Upon arrival we visit the Angkor National Museum (if open), for an introduction to Khmer civilization. This archaeological museum is dedicated to the preservation and presentation of Angkorian artefacts found locally dating from the 9th - 14th centuries. Next we visit the mother of all temples – legendary Angkor Wat, which is believed to be the largest religious building in the world, containing thousands of exquisitely crafted wall carvings and bas-reliefs.

Early this morning there's an optional excursion to see Angkor Wat bathed in the spectacular golden light at sunrise (book and pay locally). Our included touring today starts when we drive out to visit the well-preserved temples of Banteay Srei, stopping at an exotic butterfly sanctuary, and the village of Preak Dak where you have the opportunity to plant a tree sapling as part of a local initiative to help low income farmers.

Returning to the Angkor Temple Complex we explore the ancient city of Angkor Thom. The last capital of the Great Khmer Empire, it is home to the fascinating Bayon Temple, the Baphuon royal enclosure and the Terraces of the Elephants and Leper King. We continue on to Tra Prohm Temple, which unlike the other temples here has been left in the same ruined state that it was first discovered, with a tangle of trees growing out of its ruins. Tonight we attend the remarkable Phare NGO circus project which teaches children living on the streets how to become circus artists. Enjoy circus tricks and their interpretations of modern life and issues in Cambodian society in this popular show.

This morning we drive to Kampong Phluk, a cluster of three villages of stilt houses built within the floodplain of Tonle Sap Lake about 16 km southeast of Siem Reap. After a boat trip on the lake we return to Siem Reap for some free time. Pick up some last minute souvenirs at the central market or head down to lively Pub Street.

Saturday. After breakfast and hotel check-out, an included departure transfer takes you to the airport.