Vietnam & Cambodia Heritage Journey 15 days

Welcome to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel in the city for check-in.

The remainder of the day is free at leisure. You may choose to relax after your flight or begin exploring the city independently.

Optional Experiences:

Notes:

• If you are unable to locate your guide at the airport, please contact your travel consultant for assistance.
• Standard hotel check-in time is 14:00. Early check-in may be available at an additional cost.

Morning/ Afternoon

Discover some of Hanoi’s most significant cultural and historical landmarks during a half-day city tour.

Visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national university, founded in the 11th century and dedicated to Confucius. The complex offers insight into the country’s educational traditions and architectural heritage.

Continue to the One Pillar Pagoda, a distinctive Buddhist temple designed to resemble a lotus flower emerging from the water.

Explore the area surrounding the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, an important historical site dedicated to Vietnam’s former leader, President Ho Chi Minh.

Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Vietnam, situated on a small island along the shores of West Lake.

Enjoy the peaceful scenery of West Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Hanoi, before having lunch at a local restaurant.

After the tour, the remainder of the day is free at leisure.

NOTE: The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays and typically undergoes annual maintenance from June to August.

Morning

After breakfast, depart Hanoi for Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its limestone islands and scenic landscapes.

Between 08:00 and 08:30, you will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the cruise port, a journey of approximately 2.5-3 hours. Upon arrival, complete the check-in before boarding your cruise.

Around noon, receive a welcome briefing and safety introduction. Lunch will be served as the cruise begins its journey through the bay, offering views of the surrounding limestone formations and emerald waters.

Afternoon

After some time to relax, participate in the cruise’s scheduled activities. Depending on the selected vessel and itinerary, activities may include kayaking, swimming, rowing boat excursions, cycling, cave visits, or sightseeing.

Return to the cruise in the late afternoon and enjoy the changing scenery as the sun sets over the bay. Some cruises also offer a Vietnamese cooking demonstration or Happy Hour programme.

Evening

Dinner is served onboard, featuring a selection of local and international dishes.

After dinner, you may join optional evening activities such as squid fishing, board games, film screenings, or simply relax on the sundeck and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the bay.

NOTE: The activities of the Halong Bay cruise tour depend on each cruise’s itinerary.

Morning

Start the day with an optional Tai Chi session on the sundeck while enjoying the peaceful morning atmosphere of Halong Bay.

After breakfast, continue exploring the bay according to your cruise itinerary. Depending on the selected cruise, activities may include visiting Trung Trang Cave, exploring other limestone caves, or climbing Titop Island for panoramic views of the surrounding seascape.

Return to the cruise for check-out procedures. Enjoy brunch onboard as the vessel sails back toward the harbour.

Disembark at noon and transfer back to the mainland.

Afternoon

Meet your driver and transfer directly to the airport for your flight from Hanoi to Da Nang.

Upon arrival at Da Nang International Airport, meet your driver and continue to Hoi An for hotel check-in.

Discover the cultural heritage and architectural character of Hoi An Ancient Town on a guided walking tour.

Begin at Hoi An Market, where local vendors offer fresh produce, regional specialties, and handcrafted goods, providing insight into daily life in the town.

Continue to the Phuc Kien Chinese Assembly Hall, a well-preserved community hall known for its ornate gates, decorative carvings, and traditional Chinese architecture.

Visit Phung Hung Ancient House and Tan Ky Ancient House, two historic residences that have been preserved for more than two centuries and reflect the multicultural influences that shaped Hoi An’s trading history.

Explore the Museum of Folk Culture, housed in a traditional merchant residence, where exhibits highlight local customs, crafts, and community life throughout the centuries.

Depending on the schedule, enjoy a performance at the Hoi An Traditional Performing Arts House, showcasing traditional music and dance.

Continue to the Japanese Covered Bridge, one of Hoi An’s most recognisable landmarks and an enduring symbol of the town’s cultural connections.

Conclude the tour with time to stroll through the narrow lanes of the Ancient Town, browsing local craft shops, galleries, and artisan workshops.

Today is free for you to explore Hoi An at your own pace. You may choose to relax, discover the town’s historic streets, sample local cuisine, visit nearby cafés, or browse many artisan shops and boutiques.

For those wishing to experience more of the region’s culture and countryside, several optional tours are available.

Optional Experiences:

Morning

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel in Hoi An, then transfer to Da Nang Airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City (approximately 1.5 hours).

Upon arrival, meet your driver and transfer directly to your hotel for check-in.

Afternoon

The remainder of the day is free at leisure. You may choose to rest at the hotel or explore Ho Chi Minh City independently at your own pace.

Morning/ Afternoon

Explore some of the most notable landmarks in Ho Chi Minh City on a half-day guided tour.

Visit the Reunification Palace, a historic building that once served as the residence of the President of the former Republic of Vietnam.

Continue to Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, a well-known religious landmark featuring neo-Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles, located in the city centre.

NOTE: The Notre Dame Cathedral is currently being renovated.

Next, explore the Central Post Office, a French-colonial building designed in the 19th century, known for its distinctive European architecture.

Visit the War Remnants Museum, which presents exhibitions related to the Vietnam War through photographs, documents, and historical artefacts.

After the sightseeing tour, visit a local market where you may explore local goods and practice bargaining.

Optional Experiences for the Afternoon/Evening:

Begin your journey with a morning transfer from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho, a gateway to the Mekong Delta region.

On arrival, visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, a well-known Buddhist temple featuring a distinctive blend of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Khmer architectural influences.

Continue with a motorized boat trip along the Mekong River toward Tortoise Island, passing fish farms, stilt houses, and local riverside communities. Learn about the traditional “Garden - Pond - Cage” agricultural system used in the region.

Stop to enjoy local specialties such as coconut candy and honey tea, served in a traditional setting along the river.

At midday, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant featuring regional Mekong Delta cuisine.

In the afternoon, continue exploring fruit orchards and experience traditional Southern Vietnamese folk music performed by local artists.

Later in the day, transfer to Can Tho for hotel check-in and overnight stay.

NOTE: Bicycles are available for free at the lunch stop if you’d like to take a short ride around the area. Please stay close by to avoid getting lost.

After breakfast, transfer to the pier and board a traditional wooden boat to visit Cai Rang Floating Market, one of the largest and most active floating markets in the Mekong Delta.

Experience the vibrant river scene where local traders sell fruits, vegetables, and daily essentials directly from their boats. Observe the unique trading culture that defines life along the Mekong waterways.

Continue the journey with a stop at a local rice noodle workshop, where traditional noodle-making techniques are demonstrated. Enjoy fresh tropical fruit tasting during the visit.

Return to the hotel for check-out, then travel back to Ho Chi Minh City. A lunch stop will be served, featuring Vietnamese cuisine.

Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon, marking the end of the Mekong Delta experience.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. If time permits, you may relax or explore nearby areas in Ho Chi Minh City, such as Ben Thanh Market or local cafes at your own pace.

At the scheduled time, transfer to the airport for your international flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia, the gateway to the Angkor temple complex.

Upon arrival, meet your local guide and transfer to your hotel for check-in.

The evening is free at leisure. You may explore the Siem Reap Night Market, enjoy a local Khmer dinner, or simply rest and prepare for the upcoming temple visits.

Morning

After breakfast, begin a full-day exploration of the Angkor Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the historic heart of the Khmer Empire.

Start at Angkor Thom (12th century), entering through the South Gate, known for its stone figures representing the Churning of the Ocean of Milk.

Continue to Bayon Temple, recognised for its 54 towers decorated with more than 200 carved smiling faces of Avalokitesvara.

Proceed to explore the surrounding structures, including Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephant Terrace, and the Terrace of the Leper King, each reflecting the scale and artistry of Khmer civilisation.

Stop for lunch and a short rest.

Afternoon

Visit Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world and a defining symbol of Cambodia. Built in the 12th century, the complex spans 81 hectares and features five central towers representing Mount Meru in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology. Surrounded by a wide moat and detailed bas-relief galleries, it showcases the height of classical Khmer architecture.

After the visit, return to the hotel for leisure time.

Morning

After breakfast, depart on a scenic drive of approximately 35 kilometres northeast of Siem Reap to visit Banteay Srei, one of the most exquisite temples in the Angkor region.

Built under the guidance of Yajnavaraha, a royal scholar and advisor to King Jayavarman V, Banteay Srei is renowned for its finely detailed carvings and distinctive pink sandstone architecture. Unlike most Angkor temples constructed from volcanic laterite, this material allowed for exceptionally intricate and delicate stonework, making it a masterpiece of Khmer art.

On the return journey, stop at Pradark Village, a local community known for traditional palm sugar production. This visit offers insight into rural Cambodian life and long-standing artisanal practices.

Return to the hotel around midday for leisure time.

Today is free for you to explore Siem Reap at your own pace. You may relax at your hotel, explore local markets, enjoy authentic Khmer street food, try a traditional massage, or join a cooking class to experience Cambodian cuisine.

For those who prefer guided experiences, several optional tours are available:

Optional Experiences:

After breakfast, enjoy some free time to pack your luggage and complete check-out at the hotel.

At the scheduled time, transfer to Siem Reap International Airport for your onward flight. This marks the end of your journey through Cambodia.