Essential Vietnam and Cambodia 17 days

Morning

Upon arrival at Hanoi Airport, meet your guide at the designated meeting point and receive a brief introduction to the itinerary. You will then transfer to your hotel in Hanoi for check-in and time to settle in.

The remainder of the day is free for rest or independent exploration. For a more local introduction to Hanoi, optional experiences in the Old Quarter are available:

Please contact our travel consultant if you are interested in any of these optional experiences. Our team is available 24/7 to assist with arrangements.

NOTE: Standard hotel check-in is at 14:00. Early check-in may be arranged at an additional charge, subject to room availability.

Morning

After breakfast, explore some of Hanoi’s most significant cultural landmarks:

Visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, known for its traditional architecture and historic atmosphere. See One Pillar Pagoda, an iconic Buddhist landmark with its distinctive lotus-inspired design.

Pass by the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and his traditional stilt house (viewed from outside; closed on Mondays, Fridays and from June to August).

Take a peaceful walk around West Lake and visit the Tran Quoc Pagoda, one of Hanoi’s oldest Buddhist temples.

Enjoy lunch at a local Vietnamese restaurant before departing for Sapa.

Afternoon

Board a comfortable bus from Hanoi to Sapa, with a journey of approximately 6 hours through the scenic mountains and valleys of northern Vietnam. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel, check in and enjoy some time to relax. 

After breakfast, meet your local guide and begin a scenic trek through the Muong Hoa Valley:

• Trek to Y Linh Ho Village, following the Muong Hoa River and passing terraced rice fields while observing the daily life of the Black H’Mong community.
• Continue to Ta Van Village, situated at around 1,200 m above sea level, to experience the traditional lifestyle of the Zay people and the peaceful mountain setting.

Enjoy a picnic lunch along the way before returning to Sapa by car. The remainder of the day is free for you to relax or explore the town at your own pace.

NOTE: Early check-in in Sapa may be available depending on room availability, with an additional charge.

Morning

After breakfast, check out and meet your guide at around 09:00. Walk downhill from Sapa to Cat Cat Village, a traditional Black H’Mong settlement surrounded by mountain scenery and terraced fields.

Explore the village, see its scenic waterfall and remnants of a French-built hydroelectric station, then enjoy a picnic lunch beside the river.

Afternoon

Continue trekking for around 3 km to Sin Chai Village, located at the foot of Fansipan Mountain, known as the “Roof of Indochina”. Take in the surrounding mountain landscapes before returning to the main road by jeep and continuing to Sapa town.

From Sapa, board a shared limousine for the journey back to Hanoi. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Morning

After breakfast, depart Hanoi at around 08:00 - 08:30 for the approximately 2.5-hour transfer to Halong Bay. Arrive at the cruise port around noon, complete the check-in formalities and board your overnight cruise.

After a safety briefing, settle in and enjoy a freshly prepared seafood lunch while cruising through the bay’s striking limestone scenery.

Afternoon

Spend the afternoon discovering Halong Bay at a relaxed pace, with activities such as visiting a cave, kayaking or swimming, depending on your cruise itinerary. Return to the boat for dinner, followed by a peaceful evening on board with optional activities such as squid fishing or card games.

NOTE: The cruise program may change depending on the cruise you choose.

Morning

Rise early for a Tai Chi session on the sundeck, or simply enjoy the sunrise over the bay from your cabin balcony. After breakfast, continue exploring Halong Bay with a visit to a cave or local fishing village, depending on the cruise itinerary.

Return to the cruise to collect your belongings and check out, then enjoy brunch as the boat cruises back towards the main dock. Around noon, disembark and transfer to the airport for your flight to Da Nang. 

Evening

Upon arrival in Da Nang, continue by road to Hoi An and check in at your hotel. The rest of the evening is free for you to relax and unwind. 

Morning

Begin your exploration at Hoi An Market, where lively stalls offer a glimpse into the town’s everyday life. Continue to the Fujian Assembly Hall, admired for its colourful architecture and traditional ancestor-worship practices.

Visit Phung Hung Ancient House and Tan Ky Ancient House to discover Hoi An’s rich merchant heritage, then explore the Museum of Folk Culture, housed in a historic merchant building. Continue to the Hoi An Traditional Performing Arts House for a short cultural performance before visiting the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge.

If time permits, browse local handicraft shops and art galleries or wander through the quieter lanes around the old town.

Afternoon

Enjoy free time to explore Hoi An at your own pace, whether strolling through the historic streets, browsing local shops or simply soaking up the relaxed atmosphere.

Morning

After breakfast, depart Hoi An by private road transfer to Hue. The journey offers scenic views along central Vietnam’s coastline and countryside as you travel towards the former imperial capital.

Upon arrival in Hue, check in at your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, with time to relax or explore the surroundings independently.

After breakfast, begin a half-day city tour of Hue at around 08:00. Visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the city’s most iconic Buddhist landmarks, peacefully set along the Perfume River.

Continue to the Imperial Citadel, a historic complex of temples, palaces and royal courtyards. Explore highlights including the Flag Tower, the main gate and the King’s Palace before visiting Dong Ba Market, where you can experience the atmosphere of a traditional local market and browse for souvenirs.

Return to your hotel after the tour and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Morning

After breakfast, check out and transfer to Hue Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Enjoy a comfortable flight as you travel from central to southern Vietnam.

Afternoon

Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, meet your driver and transfer to your hotel in the city centre. After check-in, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, with time to relax or explore Ho Chi Minh City independently.

Morning

After breakfast, depart at around 08:00 for the Cu Chi Tunnels, located about 70 km from Ho Chi Minh City.

Explore sections of the underground tunnel network and learn about life during the Vietnam War, with an optional shooting experience available at an additional charge.

Taste wartime staples such as tea and boiled cassava before enjoying a light lunch at a local restaurant on the way back to the city.

Afternoon

Continue exploring Ho Chi Minh City with a visit to the War Remnants Museum, where you can see exhibits on war crimes and listen to the story of the brutal American War in horrific detail

Pass by the Reunification Palace to learn more about Vietnam's history and witness its architectural grandeur, which used to be the office of South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu

Explore the Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral (currently under renovation) and the Old Post Office, symbols of French architecture in Sai Gon with a luxurious amalgam of Gothic, Renaissance and French colonial design

Stop at a local market where you can practice your bargaining skills while shopping for souvenirs as well as discover local life and culture.

Finish with a stop at a local market, where you can browse for souvenirs and experience the lively rhythm of everyday Saigon. Return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. 

Morning

After breakfast, check out and depart at around 08:00 for the peaceful waterways of the Mekong Delta. Travel by boat through a network of rivers and canals, passing villages and waterways that shape daily life in the region.

Continue by sampan through the countryside, with opportunities to see fish farms, fruit orchards, paddy fields and swamplands while taking in the slower rhythm of life along the Mekong.

Afternoon

Continue to Can Tho and check in at your hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of the Mekong Delta.

Morning

Rise early for a visit to the Cai Rang Floating Market, one of the Mekong Delta’s most lively local markets. Cruise along the river and smaller canals by motorboat and sampan, passing beneath water coconut trees and watching boats filled with fresh produce.

Continue through the countryside with a chance to taste seasonal fruits, meet local people and experience the vibrant rhythm of life on the water.

Afternoon

Around 13:30, leave Can Tho by road for Chau Doc. Upon arrival, check in at your hotel and enjoy a relaxed evening in this peaceful riverside town.

Morning /Afternoon

After breakfast, head to the boat station at around 08:00 and board a speedboat to Phnom Penh. Enjoy the scenic journey along the waterways as you cross from Vietnam into Cambodia.

Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, meet your local guide and transfer to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free to relax or explore the Cambodian capital at your own pace.

Morning

After breakfast, meet your guide at 08:00 for a half-day city tour of Phnom Penh. Visit the Independence Monument, Royal Palace Compound and Silver Pagoda, admiring the city’s distinctive Khmer architecture and royal heritage.

Continue to the National Museum to discover Cambodia’s rich artistic and cultural history, followed by Wat Phnom, a hilltop temple offering a different perspective of the capital.

Afternoon

Around 13:30, transfer to the Mekong Bus Station for your journey to Siem Reap. The road journey takes approximately 6 hours, with a stop along the way for refreshments or a meal at your own expense.

Upon arrival, meet your local guide at Borei Seang Nam station and transfer to your hotel. The evening is free to explore Siem Reap’s night markets, cafés and local atmosphere, or simply relax ahead of tomorrow’s Angkor adventure.

NOTE: Your guide will not accompany you on the bus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap and will meet you upon arrival.

Morning

After breakfast, begin your full-day exploration of the Angkor complex at around 08:00. Start at Ta Prohm Temple, where ancient stone structures are intertwined with towering tree roots, creating one of Angkor’s most atmospheric settings.

Continue to Angkor Thom, entering through the South Gate and discovering the impressive Bayon Temple, known for its serene stone faces. Explore other highlights including Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King.

Afternoon

Around 13:30, visit Angkor Wat, the magnificent centrepiece of the Angkor complex. Take time to admire its vast galleries, intricate carvings and grand architectural details before enjoying the surrounding scenery and, where possible, the sunset.

Evening

For a deeper taste of Cambodian culture, an optional dinner at a local restaurant offers authentic Khmer cuisine accompanied by a traditional Apsara dance performance, with music and storytelling inspired by Cambodia’s cultural heritage.  

Enjoy some free time in Siem Reap for a final stroll, last-minute shopping or a relaxed morning before your driver arrives for the transfer to the airport. Bid farewell to Cambodia as your journey through Vietnam and Cambodia comes to an end.