Authentic Vietnam & Cambodia 18 days

Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam’s bustling former colonial capital. Upon arrival, your driver and guide will meet you outside the baggage claim area at Noi Bai International Airport and transfer you to your hotel in the city center.

In the afternoon, enjoy an orientation walk to discover some of Hanoi’s main attractions, including the Hanoi Opera House, the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, and Ngoc Son Temple.

In the evening, savor a welcome dinner featuring authentic Vietnamese cuisine at one of Hanoi’s finest restaurants.

Meals: D

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

With its wide, tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes, and ancient Oriental pagodas, Hanoi is an eclectic city with something to offer everyone.

This morning, visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, including Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and stilt house, followed by the nearby One Pillar Pagoda and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.

After lunch at a local restaurant, depart Hanoi for Sapa on a journey of approximately five hours along Vietnam’s longest and most modern highway, which opened to the public in September 2014.

Upon arrival, check into your hotel and enjoy an overnight stay in Sapa Town.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel while breathing in the fresh mountain air.

At 10:00 a.m., depart Sapa by car for Lao Cai City. After a 3 km drive, ascend a hill to reach Sa Seng, a remote ethnic minority village where you can observe the daily life of the Black Hmong people. This community has only recently transitioned from a migratory lifestyle. Look for traces of former settlements, including stone wall foundations that were once used for seasonal dwellings.

Enjoy lunch in Sa Seng before trekking uphill along the slopes of Den Thang Mountain. After approximately one hour, arrive at Hang Da Village, situated at an elevation of 1,800 meters. Take in the breathtaking views of Muong Hoa Valley. The next 30 minutes involve a relatively level walk before descending through Hau Chu Ngai Village.

Continue downhill to Hong Den Hamlet, where just a few homes are scattered across a rocky promontory. Pause to enjoy some of the area's most spectacular scenery before continuing along the trail to Hau Thao Village. Cross the suspension bridge to Ta Van Village, where you will spend the night in a homestay with a local Dzay family.

Your efforts throughout the day will be rewarded with a delicious home-cooked dinner this evening!

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: Homestay in Ta Van Village

After breakfast featuring pancakes with honey and bananas, coffee, and tea, say farewell to your local host and continue trekking from Ta Van to Lao Chai Village, following trails through scenic rice paddies. Along the way, visit several Hmong homes and a local school.

The trek ends at Lao Chai Bridge, where you will meet your driver for the transfer back to Sapa. Enjoy a couple of hours in town to shower and have lunch before driving back to Hanoi.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Your guide and driver will meet you in the lobby of your hotel before setting off on a 3- to 4-hour drive to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Spend 24 hours aboard a traditional junk cruise in this spectacular bay, a natural wonderland of towering limestone islands and sparkling turquoise waters. Arrive at the dock around noon and board your junk boat. Enjoy a gourmet lunch featuring fresh seafood onboard as you sail into the enchanting bay.

In the afternoon, cruise among some of Ha Long Bay’s many islands, including Dinh Huong and Ga Choi. Along the way, visit one of the bay’s three largest caves: Thien Cung, Dau Go, or Sung Sot. Stop at an island cove with a sheltered white-sand beach and take a dip in the warm waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, weather permitting. Spend the night aboard your junk boat, gently lulled to sleep by the rocking of the calm waters.

Note: The itinerary below is subject to change without prior notice, depending on weather conditions. It is a sample itinerary for our standard 3-star junk cruise service. Different programs are available through our luxury cruise options aboard the Violet, Jasmine, Ginger, or Paradise. Please contact us for more details.

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: Cruise on the bay

Wake up early to participate in a Tai Chi session on the sundeck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands. Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea before setting out to explore the nearby islands by rowboat.

Return to the junk boat for brunch, then take advantage of the sundeck to admire the remarkable rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay as you cruise back to Ha Long City. Upon arrival, your driver will meet you at the dock and transfer you to Ninh Binh, a journey of approximately four hours.

On arrival, board a sampan for a late-afternoon excursion through Tam Coc, a stunning river landscape dotted with caves, pagodas, and jagged limestone formations. Arriving later in the day allows you to enjoy the scenery after the crowds of excursion groups have dispersed. As your boat glides gently through the water, admire the limestone karsts rising dramatically above the vivid green rice paddies. The beautiful sunset provides countless opportunities for memorable photos.

Return to your hotel for dinner and enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Ninh Binh

After breakfast, bid farewell to Ninh Binh and travel to Quang Binh, a province on Vietnam’s North Central Coast.

Check into Sun Spa Resort, located along the pristine white sands of Bao Ninh Beach and on the banks of the legendary Nhat Le River. Spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beach.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Quang Binh

Discovered by local resident Ho Khanh in 2005, Paradise Cave was subsequently explored by members of the British Cave Research Association (BCRA), who gave it the name “Paradise.” The cave is 31.4 km long, although only the first kilometer has been opened to tourists.

This morning, visit Paradise Cave (Dong Thien Duong) in Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park, a UNESCO-recognized World Natural Heritage Site. Opened to the public in 2010, the cave is one of the largest and most impressive accessible caves in the area. After climbing 524 steps, you will reach its grand entrance. Descend into the cave along a wooden walkway designed to protect its fragile formations. The walkway extends for 1 km through the enormous, well-lit cavern.

Next, follow a trail through dense forest alongside the sparkling waters of the Chay River and Nuoc Mooc Spring. The river originates from an underground cave, and its water is a striking light blue, with a constant temperature of 19°C. Along the way, you may spot birds, butterflies, dragonflies, and endangered monkeys. You will also have the opportunity to cool off at a pleasant swimming area.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant overlooking a nearby lake and pine forest. Afterwards, take a short drive along the historic Ho Chi Minh Trail and learn about the wars in Vietnam from your local guide before returning to your hotel.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel in Quang Binh

After breakfast, depart for Hue via Quang Tri, with several sightseeing stops and short breaks along the way. Travel through the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), where some of the bloodiest battles of the American War were fought.

In the late morning, take a fascinating tour of the Vinh Moc Tunnels, preserved as a monument to the determination of the Vietnamese people to continue living in their traditional villages during the war. Entire communities moved underground, living in these tunnels and caverns. Continue to Hien Luong Bridge and visit the museums displaying photographs and war memorials. Then cross the Ben Hai River, which once marked the division between North and South Vietnam.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Dong Ha Town before continuing to Hue, stopping along the way at a small church that still bears the marks of mortar attacks. Upon arrival, check into your hotel.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Start the day with a visit to the Imperial Citadel, home to the Imperial City and the Forbidden Purple City, once the emperor’s private residence. Built in the 19th century, the Imperial City was modeled on Beijing’s Forbidden City. Within its walls, the Imperial Enclosure houses numerous palaces and temples. Continue your tour with visits to the Imperial Museum, Tu Hieu Pagoda, and the vibrant Dong Ba riverside market.

Later, depart Hue for a scenic drive through the mountains to Hoi An. Stop at the fishing village of Lang Co for a refreshing drink, then continue to the spectacular Hai Van Pass, which marks a climatic divide between northern and southern Vietnam. Take in the breathtaking views before continuing to the tranquil riverside town of Hoi An. Arrive in the late afternoon, check into your hotel, and enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Enjoy some time to relax and immerse yourself in the tranquility and charm of this picturesque riverside town. From the 16th to the 18th centuries, Hoi An was a thriving international port frequented by Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese, and Arab traders who came to trade in the high-quality silk still produced in the region.

Today, Hoi An is a popular tourist destination known for its eclectic architecture, skilled tailors, and numerous cafés. Take a half-day walking tour through the narrow, winding streets of the ancient town, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year-old Tan Ky Ancient House, and the famous Japanese Bridge.

In the afternoon, enjoy free time to shop, explore the town, or relax on Cua Dai Beach.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for your flight to Saigon, Vietnam’s modern metropolis. Arrive in the late morning and enjoy an orientation drive through the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City en route to your hotel.

Have lunch at a downtown restaurant of your choice before setting out on a guided city tour. This afternoon, visit some of the city’s key attractions, including the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, and Ben Thanh Market.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

After breakfast, depart Saigon and travel to the Mekong Delta. Arrive in Cai Be at around 11:00 a.m. and begin your exploration of the delta with a private boat cruise to visit Cai Be Floating Market, passing a beautiful cathedral along the way.

Continue to local cottage industries and family-run workshops to see how rice paper, rice crackers, and coconut candies are made, as well as how longan fruit is dried. Cruise along the Mekong’s countless branches and creeks, visit local orchards, and explore an ancient house dating back more than 170 years, built during the French colonial period.

Next, cross the Tien Giang River, one of the two main branches of the Mekong, by motorboat to visit some of its islands and explore the countryside by bicycle. Your driver will be waiting on the other side of the river to take you on a 45-minute drive to Can Tho, the largest city in the Mekong Delta. This bustling city features a lively waterfront and a colorful mix of narrow backstreets that invite further exploration.

Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: On Cruise in Can Tho

Wake up early and leave the hotel to visit the famous Cai Rang Floating Market by motorboat. Experience daily life in the Mekong Delta as vendors from across the region gather to sell fresh fruits, local delicacies, and handmade goods.

Continue to the Xa Xia (Ha Tien) border crossing to leave Vietnam and enter Cambodia. On the Cambodian side, at Prek Chak, meet your Cambodian tour guide and driver before continuing on a 45-minute drive to Kep, a coastal town known for its numerous small, tranquil beaches.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Kep

After breakfast, enjoy some leisure time at the beach before your transfer to Phnom Penh. The journey takes approximately 3 hours (170 km).

Meals: B

Accommodation: Phnom Penh

After breakfast, visit the Tuol Sleng Prison Museum and the notorious Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. These visits provide deep insight into the painful and bloody rule of the Khmer Rouge.

Your driver will then transfer you to the airport for a short flight to Siem Reap, the gateway to the ancient temples of Angkor. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or enjoy a stroll around town.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Enjoy an entire day discovering the mysterious temples of Angkor. Wake up before dawn and take a tuk-tuk ride to visit the magnificent Angkor Wat, the largest Khmer temple and a finest example of Angkorian art and architecture.

Return to the hotel for breakfast, then set out again to visit Ta Prohm, the temple entwined with jungle vegetation. From there, proceed to the imposing South Gate of Angkor Thom, topped with four serenely smiling faces of Avalokiteshvara. Next, visit Bayon Temple, the Elephant Terrace, and the Terrace of the Leper King.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

This morning, take a short walk through a tranquil Siem Reap neighborhood to learn about the local way of life before driving to Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, whose size varies greatly depending on the season. A boat trip on the lake offers a glimpse into rural Cambodian life shaped by seasonal floods, with floating and stilted villages where communities live in close connection with the water.

Return to Siem Reap for lunch, then drive to the airport for your departure flight.

Safe travels, and we hope to see you again!

Meals: B

Accommodation: