DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City

Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon), where you will be met and transferred to your hotel in this thriving metropolis situated on the Mekong Delta.

Day 2: City Tour

Today enjoy a guided city tour to help you understand Vietnam’s recent history.

You will visit the former Presidential Palace and the Vietnam War Remnants Museum, as well as Pho Binh, a private house where the Viet Cong Commanders gathered to plan the infamous Tet Offensive in 1968. Also see a restored opium factory, which played an important role in Vietnam’s power struggles during the first half of the 20th century.

Note: If you add an extra day, you can visit the underground Cu Chi Tunnels used so effectively by the Viet Cong during the Vietnamese War, as well as the Mekong Delta.

Day 3: Fly to Hue

After the skyscrapers and car horns of Ho Chi Minh City, this morning fly to Hue which is located on the banks of the Perfume River.

Women in conical hats tend market stalls laden with tropical fruit, students pour over textbooks in cafes and Buddhist monks and nuns gather to pray in the pagodas.

Day 4: Explore Hue

Hop in a cyclo (3 wheeled taxi) for a full day tour, exploring this Imperial City that was once the seat of the Nguyen dynasty.

Vietnam’s last emperor, Khai Dinh, built a beautiful palace just outside the city, which you will visit with a knowledgeable guide. You will also see the tombs of eunuchs who lived in the Royal Court.

In the afternoon discover Hue’s garden houses, once home to members of the Royal Court and designed to create harmony between architecture and nature.

Day 5: Transfer to Hoi An

Take the scenic high road today, driving 2.5 hours through the ‘Pass of Clouds’ to Hoi An.

Hoi An is known for its mouthwatering cuisine, backstreet tailors, gondolas and tea shops, but it is its well-preserved 15th century Old Town that makes it so special.

On arrival enjoy a walking tour with a conservation expert, to find out how these Japanese merchant houses and Chinese temples have been preserved. He’ll also explain some of the difficulties Hoi An currently faces, including annual flooding, urbanisation and overcrowding. You will also get a glimpse into the preservation work of a 300 year old mansion.

Day 6: At Leisure

Today is at leisure. You can spend the day on An Bang beach, have a suit made-to-measure or simply soak up the restaurant scene beneath hundreds of coloured lanterns.

Day 7: Fly to Hanoi

This morning transfer to Danang airport for your flight to Hanoi, which is Vietnam’s capital city. Life plays out on the streets here with haircuts on street corners, pho noodle stalls at every turn and whole families balancing on the back of scooters.

On arrival enjoy a half day tour with a local guide, starting with the Temple of Literature built in 1076. You’ll also see Ho Chi Minh’s simple house on stilts, where he lived from 1958 to 1969, and pass by his final resting place – an imposing Soviet-style mausoleum.

As dusk falls stop at West Lake to admire the 6th century Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi located on a small island in the lake.

Day 8: Lan Ha Bay

Transfer this morning for 2.5 hours to Lan Ha Bay, which is just as beautiful but not as crowded as Ha Long Bay. Here you will board a traditional junk boat and set sail for a day and night.

Soak up the incredible scenery, as you cruise on an emerald sea and through the islets of tranquil Lan Ha Bay, where hundreds of limestone outcrops topped by rainforests rise vertically from the water like dragon’s teeth. Watch the scenery drift past from your balcony, or try your hand at some of the activities on offer, such as kayaking or squid fishing. Learn how to make spring rolls, join in tai chi on the top deck or take a trip to one of the islets to swim off the snow white beach.

Day 9: Return to Hanoi

After 24 hours at sea, retrace your steps back to Hanoi where you will spend another night.

Day 10: Fly to Luang Prabang

This morning transfer to Hanoi airport for your flight to Luang Prabang, the spiritual centre of Laos.

Day 11: Cycle Tour

Buddhism is the heartbeat of daily life here, as you’ll discover on a gentle cycle tour around the Old Town, which is filled with temples, monasteries and saffron-robed monks who collect alms every morning.

You’ll visit the former Royal Palace, the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre, as well as Ock Pop Tok, a non-profit centre for traditional Lao weaving.

Day 12: At Leisure

Today is at leisure to explore more of this small town independently and wander along the banks of the Mekong River.

If you climb the 300 steps to the top of Phousi Hill, you will be rewarded with a bird’s eye view of the Old Town, which is bordered on one side by the Mekong and on the other by the Nam Khan River. This is a great spot to see the sun set over the Mekong River.

Day 13: Fly to Siem Reap

Today fly to Siem Reap in Cambodia, the gateway to the stunning ruins of Angkor, the most magnificent ancient city in Asia.

Day 14: Angkor Thom

Angkor Thom was the seat of the Khmer Kingdom from the 9th to 15th centuries and its vast complex of intricate stone buildings includes Angkor Wat, the famous main temple that is pictured on Cambodia’s flag.

Each monument has a different flavour, from vine-tangled Ta Prohm and the enigmatic stone faces of Bayon Temple, to Angkor Wat which is serenely reflected in the lily pond beneath. An expert guide will bring the archaeology to life, pointing out intricate details in the rock carvings and tell you stories about these sun-worshipping kings.

At the end of the day enjoy a private gondola ride on the Angkor Thom moat, as the sun sets over these magnificent ruins.

Day 15: At Leisure

Today is free to relax and explore Siem Reap independently.

You can explore the local markets, shop for crafts and try ‘amok’, the national curry. Siem Reap also has a vibrant night life, centred around Pub Street.

Day 16: Fly Home

Transfer to Siem Reap airport for your flight home.

Note: If you wish to learn more about the dark history of the Khmer Rouge regime that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, you can add on an extra night or two in Phnom Penh to visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek.

You can also add on a beach extension to relax on one of Cambodia’s incredible islands.

PRICING

Price is based on two adults sharing en-suite accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, with full board on the overnight cruise on Lan Ha Bay. Four internal flights and all local transfers are included, as well as sightseeing as stated. International flights are not included and will be quoted separately.

We offer a choice of hotels at different prices, so please discuss your requirements with us. All hotels are subject to availability.

It is essential that you have personal holiday insurance. The FCO should also be consulted.