Vietnam & Cambodia Discovery

This morning we’ll visit the impressive, marble-clad Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the picturesque pagoda complex of the Temple of Literature. After lunch, we’ll take to three wheels (that is, traditional Vietnamese cyclos) and embark on a leisurely tour of the French colonial architecture in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. And this afternoon? We’ll meet a family that produces traditional papier-mâché masks and hear of their efforts to preserve their colourful craft for future generations to enjoy. After transferring back to the hotel, the evening will be yours to spend as you please.

• Meals
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

After one more breakfast at our hotel in Hanoi, we’ll make tracks to one of Vietnam’s most unforgettable World Heritage centres: the spectacular Halong Bay, where a traditional junk boat cruise awaits us. From towering limestone karsts topped with rainforest to intricate caves brimming with stalagmites and stalactites, the day will see us exploring some of the bay’s most picturesque nooks and crannies.* Later on, we’ll round off the evening in style: with a dinner under the stars on board the boat. *Please note: Our exact cruise itinerary is subject to change depending on season and weather conditions.

• Meals
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Tea, coffee and pastries will be available to snack on before we begin the day’s activities. After seeing some more of Halong Bay’s enchanting sights, we’ll make our way to Halong City, where we’ll transfer to the airport for the next leg of our tour. After a brief stop in Da Nang, we’ll move on to the final destination of the day: the beguiling city of Hoi An.

• Meals
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

This morning will be yours to spend at your leisure before we gather together for a walking tour of Hoi An’s atmospheric Old Town. After exploring the area’s Japanese Covered Bridge, fascinating museums and historic assembly halls, we’ll take some time to try the local street food – including Vietnamese baguettes, cao lau noodles and a Hoi An specialty: chicken rice. Be sure to save some room though; you won’t want to miss out on tonight’s included dinner.

• Meals
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Today our journey will take us to vibrant Ho Chi Minh City, where we’ll hit the ground running on an afternoon tour of the largest Chinatown district in Vietnam. After stopping off at the Central Post Office, Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Independence Palace, we’ll visit a craft beer brewery – where, following a tour, we’ll have the chance to raise a glass (or two). Thirsts quenched, we’ll return to the hotel for some well-earned rest and relaxation time.

• Meals
  • Breakfast

After breakfast, it’s time to roll up your sleeves: a cooking class at KOTO restaurant is on the agenda! During the class, a talented local chef will let us in on the secrets behind some authentic local recipes before encouraging us to try them out for ourselves. This afternoon, you’ll have some free time to explore the city or unwind at the hotel before tomorrow’s flight to Cambodia.

• Meals
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

Mesmerising Phnom Penh is next. After touching down in Cambodia’s bustling capital, we’ll transfer to our hotel on the edge of the city’s vibrant art district – where you’ll be free to pull up a sun lounger at the pool or savour a glass of wine at the rooftop bar.

• Meals
  • Breakfast

After tucking into breakfast, our first order of business will be a Phnom Penh city tour. We’ll pay a morning visit to the magnificent Royal Palace and extravagant Silver Pagoda before moving on to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields: a sobering and poignant reminder of the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge. We’ll then stop off at the Art Deco-styled Central Market before transferring back to the hotel for an afternoon of leisure time.

• Meals
  • Breakfast

After a short drive to the edge of Tonlé Sap Lake (the largest lake in Southeast Asia), we’ll continue our journey to Siem Reap: the gateway to Cambodia’s world-famous Angkor Wat temple complex.

• Meals
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

Prepare to make some lifelong memories today: we’re off to explore the otherworldly temples of Angkor Wat with a leading stone conservation expert, who’ll uncover the mysteries behind how the site’s remarkable religious structures were carved and designed. After lunch, we’ll move on to the delightfully overgrown Ta Prohm temple – an atmospheric ruin filled with crumbling towers and wayward jungle tree roots. Our final evening together in this bewitching area will be spent aboard a magical sunset cruise along the moat of Angkor Thom, the last great capital of the Khmer empire.

• Meals
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

After breakfast, we will say farewell and go our separate ways.

• Meals
  • Breakfast