Highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia

Fly overnight direct from London to Hanoi.

You’ll arrive in Hanoi in the morning and be transferred to the 4-star The Ann Hanoi Hotel & Spa for early check-in and breakfast. Afterwards, embark on a half-day city tour, visiting the city’s key highlights. Stops include the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, which explores the country’s many ethnic groups; Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum Complex, home to the leader’s monumental marble mausoleum as well as his former residence; and the 11th- century Taoist Quan Thanh Temple, a major religious landmark. Enjoy the afternoon relaxing
at the hotel or exploring independently. If you want to delve deeper still, an optional tour is available in the afternoon(pre-bookable), a one-hour scenic ride on a cyclo followed by visits to the Temple of Literature, Ngoc Son Temple and the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake. (B, D)

Today is yours to enjoy at leisure, with optional half or full-day tours available (pre- bookable). Choose a morning cooking class, where you’ll be guided around a local market with a chef, before preparing (and tucking into) traditional Vietnamese dishes at the nearby KOTO restaurant. Alternatively, venture out on an optional full-day tour that starts in Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of the Dinh and Le dynasties, set amid spectacular scenery. Stop at a local restaurant for lunch before enjoying a river boat trip to see Tam Coc – a series of ancient caves and dramatic limestone karsts that rise above a sweep of lush, emerald rice
paddies, nicknamed ‘Ha Long Bay on Land’. (B)

Travel to Ha Long Bay this morning for an overnight cruise exploring this impressive, UNESCO-listed marvel, where 3,000 limestone islands rise majestically above the sea. Enjoy a welcome seafood lunch on board, before sailing to some of the islets as you take in this extraordinary landscape. In the evening, relax on board and enjoy an included dinner.
(B, L,D)

Wake up to panoramic views of the bay this morning and take part in an optional Tai Chi class on the sundeck. Continue cruising the bay as you visit more of the islands, then enjoy a late breakfast before disembarking. Transfer to Hanoi airport for your flight to Da Nang, where you’ll be met at the airport for your transfer to Hoi An. Your home for the next two nights is the 4-star The Saga Hotel Hoi An. (B)

Explore the ancient, enchanting town of Hoi An on a guided tour this morning, visiting a historic Vietnamese house, the Hoi An Museum and the elaborate Japanese Covered Bridge, among other highlights. Relax with an afternoon at leisure or choose from two optional tours (pre-bookable); the first will take you to My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site considered the holy land of the ancient Champa kingdom, which occupied the area from the second to the 17th centuries. Learn more about its history and the culture of the Cham people (around 80,000 of which still live in Vietnam), as you explore itsmonumental ruins. Alternatively, spend a leisurely afternoon cycling through the countryside to reach Tra Que, a small village known for its vegetable gardens, where you’ll be welcomed by a local family before a chance to join in with the farmers. Afterwards, you’ll enjoy a traditional therapeutic foot bath with medicinal herbs, before learning how to make local specialities like tam huu spring rolls and banh xeo pancakes. Enjoy your creations and other traditional Vietnamese dishes before cycling back to the hotel. (B)

Explore Hoi An at leisure or relax at the hotel today, before heading to Da Nang to fly to Cambodia. Your guide will meet you on arrival in Siem Reap; you’ll be transferred to the 3-star Hotel Somadevi Angkor Resort & Spa for three nights. (B)

Enjoy a guided tour this morning to see some of the highlights of the Angkor Archaeological Park, including the South Gate of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer Empire; the Bayon Temple and its imposing stone faces; the elaborate Royal Enclosure Temple; and the Terrace of the Elephants. In the afternoon, explore the spectacular centrepiece – the temple of Angkor Wat, which rises in a three-tiered pyramid with its legendary, beehive-shaped towers. To see Angkor from an alternative perspective, you can also choose an optional, one-hour boat trip on the Angkor Gondola (or Kongkear Angkor) (pre-bookable), cruising along the wall of Angkor Thom; this can be booked for any time, but we recommend the sunset trip for especially cinematic views. (B)

Today is free to enjoy as you wish. An optional half-day tour can take you to visit the Angkor National Museum (pre-bookable), which explores the history of the ancient Khmer Kingdom, with an extensive collection of artefacts and interactive, multimedia exhibits. Afterwards, stop by Senteurs d’ Angkor and Artisans Angkor to browse traditional crafts. Alternatively, take a half-day tour (pre-bookable) to explore more of Siem Reap’s temples: Ta Prohm, Preah Khan and Neak Pean, set on its own island. (B)

Relax with another free morning, before transferring to Siem Reap airport in the afternoon to fly to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival, you’ll be transferred to the 4-star SILA Urban Living for two nights. (B)

Venture to the rural Mekong town of Ben Tre this morning for a glimpse into life on the Delta. You’ll see how grass mats, bricks and other materials are made using traditional techniques, learn how coconuts are used for different products, and taste exotic fruits and home-made delicacies such as rice paper and coconut sweets. Take in the scenic riverside setting and listen to the hum of passing boats as you explore its palm-dotted trails and enjoy an included lunch. Return to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon. (B, L)

Enjoy a guided tour of Ho Chi Minh this morning, visiting key sights like the Reunification Palace – the home of South Vietnam’s president during the war and the moving War Remnants Museum, which explores the US invasion of Vietnam. An optional afternoon excursion (pre-bookable) is also available if you want to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels – the network of underground passageways used as hideouts by the Viet Cong during the war, which makes for a fascinating, insightful visit. After an included dinner and late check-out, depart your hotel for an overnight flight home. (B, D)

Arrival in London.