All of our arrangements have been specially designed to incorporate a reason to travel and, for ease of choice, these have been categorised under the titles shown below.
12 nights from
£2395
On this 13-day trip, you’ll start in bustling capital Hanoi, where French colonial influences meet more than a thousand years of history, with options to explore the streets by cyclo (a three-wheeled cycle rickshaw), take part in a morning cooking class or explore the spectacular Tam Coc caves by boat.
From here, you’ll travel to the UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay for an overnight cruise exploring these magical, island-dotted waters, before two nights in the enchanting town of Hoi An. Cycle to a local family home on an optional excursion and join the farmers at work before a traditional Vietnamese dinner, or visit My Son, once the holy land of the historic Champa people.
Fly to Siem Reap in Cambodia to take in the awe-inspiring temples of the 12th-century Angkor Wat complex, before returning to Vietnam for your final few days. Explore Ben Tre, a rural town on the Mekong Delta, and end in Ho Chi Minh City – Vietnam’s main metropolis and an intriguing fusion of old and new, where shiny skyscrapers rise between historic alleys, and lively food markets spill onto the streets.
This itinerary contains some visits on foot over uneven surfaces and inclines.
Bhaya Cruises is the largest and most reputed cruise operator in Halong Bay. Established in 2007, it is the first company to introduce the overnight cruise service with innovative ships and unsurpassed customer service.
Bhaya Classic vessels are being the very first overnight cruise in Halong Bay since 2007 with an amazing mix of oriental style with contemporary design. Four wooden boats with 14-20 deluxe cabins incorporate modern state-of-the-art facilities to serve passengers to the most comfort while bringing about mystery feeling of featured oriental culture. The vessels offer a dining room, authentic Vietnamese cuisine, bar, spa and spacious sundeck. Cabins are air-conditioned with private facilities, Panoramic window, hairdryer and mini-bar.
Kongkear Angkor is a unique Khmer tradition boat service in Siem Reap-Angkor archaeological park. Participants will enjoy cruising along the great wall of Angkor Thom, Royal Secret Path and City Guard Post. Participants can also enjoy a beautiful sunset at Great wall of Angkor Thom.
Ta Prohm is one of the most beautiful and famous temples in the area, as it have been (almost) untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Then Preah Khan, similar in ground plan to Ta Prohm but great attention was paid to the approaches: one of the avenues is lined with carved-stone boundary posts. Continue to Neak Pean temple, is one of the temples that make one dream of the olden days of luxury and beauty. It was built in second half of the 12th century by king Jayavarman VII, dedicated to Buddhist, with following to Prasat Bayon art style.
Visit Angkor National Museum. The one and only world-class museum in Siem Reap that enhances the cultural heritage of the Golden Era of Khmer Kingdom during 11-14 B.C through amassed collection of invaluable artifacts and through state-of-the-art multimedia technology exhibition to provide visitors a full picturesque story of the legend in an easy understanding way. Continue to visit Senteurs d’ Angkor and end by Les Artisans d’ Angkor.
Dive to Cu Chi (75km northwest of Saigon) visit an amazing complex of underground tunnels used during the American war.
Visit the Temple of Literature, 1 hour panoramic cyclo tour then walking followed by a visit of Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake.
Your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel and drive about 100 kilometres south to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of the Dinh and Le dynasties dating back to the 11th century. Not much of the capital remains, but fortunately some of its ruins and tombs have survived for a millennium; the scenery is spectacular.
After lunch in a local restaurant, you will continue to nearby Tam Coc or Three Caves, an area of natural beauty that is often referred to as Ha Long Bay on land. Board a small boat and meander lazily down the river to the ancient caves. See limestone karsts jetting skywards out of electric green rice paddies - you won’t be able to stop taking photos! Returning back to the pier where your vehicle will be waiting to take you back to Hanoi, arriving late afternoon.
Enjoy Vietnamese tea served as welcomed drink on arrival and listen to the chef's short briefing about KOTO’s mission, local market, Vietnamese cuisine and cooking menu. After, the chef will take you to the local market for a tour, with a tour guide to explain the sights, sounds and how to use various unfamiliar ingredients and produce.
Back at the restaurant, the KOTO chef will guide you to prepare and cook items, step by step whilst KOTO staff and trainees will also assist whilst you cook at the stations. Everyone will have their own recipes and ingredients at the station to use; two parties could interact and gain cooking experience together. Enjoy the lunch prepared before heading back to the hotel.
You will be met at your hotel for your 1.5 hr drive to My Son; the former holy land of the Champa people and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. The Cham people occupied this area of Vietnam from the 2nd to the 17th century, and at My Son you will find some amazing religious monuments built during the Champa dynasty, though unfortunately war and years of neglect has seen many of the structures fall in to ruin. About 80,000 Cham people still live in various parts of Vietnam and are religiously and culturally distinct.
Spend a leisurely day cycling though the scenic countryside of Vietnam, the noise of the city a distant memory. After passing through town and along quiet roads, you will come to Tra Que vegetable village. At Tra Que village you will be warmly welcomed by a local family and after your welcome drink you can stroll through the village and meet local people who work in the garden. The local farmers will teach you their cultivation methods, and how to protect developing vegetables from the insects. You will also join the farmers in gardening activities such as raking the ground, sowing, watering greens, transplanting, and tending greens. After working on the farm, you can relax a traditional therapeutic foot bath with medicinal herbs. Your next adventure is to prepare dinner with a local family. You will learn how to make 'Tam Huu' spring roll and 'Banh Xeo' pancake, which you will then be able to enjoy along with other local Vietnamese delicacies. After dinner, cycle back to your hotel.
Note: cycling distance approx. 10km - there is no back up vehicle so make sure you have the ability to complete the full cycle ride.
Air travel and taxes, transfers, 12 nights' accommodation, breakfast daily, 2 lunches, 3 dinners, itinerary as described, services of guides and local representatives. If our specially negotiated airfares are unavailable at the time of booking, a supplement may apply.
Travel insurance, visa procurement, optional excursions, tipping, any government taxes or compulsory charges introduced after publication.
Grand Tour of Indochina
Discover old Saigon, cruise on the Mekong River and mystical Ha Long Bay, see the temples in Hue, Hoi An, Hanoi and ancient Angkor, and explore Laos home to luxuriant landscapes and intriguing cultural customs; and Cambodia encapsulates Indo-Chinese heritage in ancient Angkor
Classical Tour of Vietnam
From busy cities to blissful scenery and beguiling Buddhist temples, this classic tour takes you from buzzing Ho Chi Minh City to Hue, Hoi An, the capital, Hanoi, and Ninh Binh; via cruises on the Mekong River and Ha Long Bay, and sampan sailing into karst rock caves
The Original Mekong Cruise
An exotic cruise on the Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake, this journey teams city sights in old Saigon and Phnom Penh, with rural riverbank towns, remote, romantic pagodas, rarely-visited villages, and the Siem Reap gateway to Angkor’s exquisite temple enclave
Ha Long Bay & the Red River
From Ha Long Bay to Hanoi and the Highlands, this serene journey sails on a luxury small ship of the renowned Pandaw fleet, cruising the Red River and its tributaries to caves, craft villages, karst rock cones, and the cultural landmarks of Northern Vietnam
Treasures of Indochina
From the streets of Saigon to a sail on the Mekong Delta, from the temples of Angkor to the long-hidden town of Luang Prabang, from a cruise of Ha Long Bay to cultural history in Hanoi, this tour is a revealing treasure trove, gathered into just two weeks away
