Arrive in Hanoi where you will be met by your drive and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to settle in and explore the day at leisure.

Flower Garden Hotel or similar

This morning, your guide will meet you at your hotel and your tour will depart after breakfast. First stop is the popular Hoan Kiem Lake, located in the heart of Hanoi city and Dong Xuan market, a bustling three-story market selling local goods and street food. Your next stop is the Ho Chi Minh residence made up of Ba Dinh Square, Presidential palace for a photo opportunity and his private residence from 1954 to 1969. Enjoy the peacfeful gardens that surround the wooden ethnic minority style house built on stilts. You will find the One Pillar Pagoda in the same complex, founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049, an important symbol for the people of Hanoi.

After your own lunch, continue your Hanoi sightseeing with a visit to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university. Dating back to 1070, this historic site features peaceful gardens, traditional Vietnamese architecture and beautifully preserved courtyards, providing an insight into the country’s long-standing academic and cultural traditions.

From here, make your way to Hoa Lo Prison, also known as the ‘Hanoi Hilton’ during the American War. The former prison offers an opportunity to discover more about this important period in Vietnam’s history. Continue to St Joseph’s Cathedral, a striking historic landmark in the heart of Hanoi.

Your afternoon sightseeing concludes with a visit to the Hanoi Opera House before heading into the lively Old Quarter. Wander through the atmospheric streets, taking in the sights and sounds of everyday Hanoi, before stopping at a local street-side café. Relax with a traditional Vietnamese coffee, or try the city’s famous egg coffee, whilst watching the world pass by.

Following your time in the Old Quarter, return to your hotel.

Flower Garden Hotel or similar

Breakfast

After breakfast, meet your driver at your hotel at 7:30am for a shuttle bus transfer from Hanoi to Halong City, the gateway to the spectacular Halong Bay. Upon arrival, board your well-appointed junk boat and settle in for your cruise through this UNESCO-listed seascape.

Enjoy a delicious lunch on board as you begin sailing among the thousands of limestone islands and islets that rise dramatically from the emerald waters. With its striking scenery and peaceful surroundings, the journey offers plenty of opportunities to relax and take in the views.

As evening approaches, unwind in the comfort of your private cabin, or head to the main deck or bar to enjoy the atmosphere and watch the scenery change as the sun sets over Halong Bay.

Victory Star Cruise or similar

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Enjoy a sunrise Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck before brunch on the boat. Cruise back to port to disembark, then travel back to Hanoi by shuttle bus to meet your driver, who will transfer you to the airport. Take a short flight to Hue, where on arrival you will be transferred to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Alba Spa Hotel or similar

Breakfast

This morning you will have a guided tour of Hue. Start by visiting the tomb of the fourth emporer of the Nguyen Dynasty Tu Duc folllowed by the impressive home of the Nguyen Dynasty emporers – the Citadel. Much of the Citadel was destroyed during the Tet Offensive in 1968 but is gradually being resorted and in 1993 was certified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Finish your tour with a short drive to the Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the most iconic religious sites in Hue. Once your tour has finished you will leave Hue and travel to Hoi An.

The guide and driver will take you over the beautiful Hai Van Pass – Vietnam’s geographical and psychological boundary between north and south. The peak of the pass lies perpetually shrouded in clouds. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel for check-in. This evening is free for you to explore Hoi An at leisure.

Hoi An Central Boutique Hotel or similar

Breakfast

In the morning, you will begin your walking tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hoi An was once Vietnam’s most active trading centre, welcoming merchants from across Asia and Europe between the 15th and 19th centuries, and over many centuries the Old Town has been largely preserved. The architecture of the city reflects the influence of Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, French and British traders, giving Hoi An a unique blend of styles found nowhere else in Vietnam. Hoi An is also the town where French missionary Alexandre de Rhodes helped develop the Romanised script that would become the standard Vietnamese writing system, known as Quoc Ngu.

You will visit a traditional ancient house, the Hoi An Museum, a Chinese Assembly Hall, Chau Ong pagoda and the Japanese Covered Bridge. The tour will end in Hoi An Ancient Town where you can enjoy more time at your leisure.

Hoi An Central Boutique Hotel or similar

Breakfast

Enjoy breakfast in your hotel before taking a short drive to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh. Upon arrival at Ho Chi Minhairport your driver and private car will collect you and being your journey to the Cu Chi Tunnels.

On arrival, a short documentary will introduce you to the remarkable history behind this underground network, first dug by hand in the late 1940s during the resistance against French colonial forces, before being vastly expanded in the 1960s to counter American troops. Your guide will then lead you through sections of the tunnels once used by Viet Cong guerrillas throughout the Vietnam War.

Stretching more than 250 kilometres and reaching three levels underground, the network offered far more than hiding spots – it housed makeshift hospitals, kitchens, weapons stores, sleeping quarters and command posts, allowing fighters to live, plan and move largely undetected for years. Ingenious design features, including camouflaged trapdoors and narrow passageways built to suit smaller frames, made the tunnels notoriously difficult for enemy soldiers to navigate or even locate. Walking through them today offers a powerful sense of the resourcefulness and endurance required to survive underground warfare.

While much of the network has since been widened and reconstructed for visitors above ground, those wanting a closer look at the original conditions can opt to crawl through a preserved underground section for a firsthand taste of life below the surface.

Afterwards, return to Ho Chi Minh and check in at your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore the city’s lively streets, markets and landmarks at your own pace.

Paragon Hotel or similar

Breakfast

This morning you will be met at your hotel for a full day tour which begins by travelling south from Ho Chi Minh City to the small town of Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta. Often referred to as Vietnam’s ‘rice bowl’, the Mekong Delta is the country’s most fertile region, producing roughly half of Vietnam’s rice and a significant share of its tropical fruit. Formed by the Mekong River as it fans out into numerous tributaries before reaching the sea, the Delta is home to over 17 million people, many of whom still live a rhythm of life shaped by the water.

Board a boat to explore the river and its narrow canals, offering a close-up view of daily life along the water. Visit a local workshop to see bricks being hand-made using a traditional kiln method passed down through generations, then stop at a riverside coconut processing site before visiting a local family home where mats are woven by hand from natural materials sourced from the Delta itself.

Climb aboard a pedicab for a short ride to lunch, where you’ll sample regional specialities such as elephant ear fish, a dish unique to the Mekong. On the return journey, stop briefly at a Cao Dai temple, home to a distinctly Vietnamese religion founded in the 1920s that blends elements of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam into a single faith.

You’ll arrive back at your hotel in the late afternoon, where the day’s touring ends. This evening, reconvene with your group in Ho Chi Minh for a farewell dinner at HOME Vietnamese Sai Gon, a well-regarded local restaurant serving authentic Vietnamese cuisine.

Paragon Hotel or similar

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning, your guide will meet you at your hotel for a walking tour through the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, taking in some of its most iconic landmarks. Highlights include Dong Khoi Street, once known as Rue Catinat during French colonial rule; the historic Rex Hotel, famous for hosting daily press briefings for war correspondents during the Vietnam War; the Municipal Theatre and Hotel de Ville, both fine examples of French colonial architecture; Nguyen Hue Boulevard; the Central Post Office, designed in part by Gustave Eiffel’s company; Notre Dame Cathedral; and the Reunification Palace (viewed from outside only), the site where North Vietnamese tanks famously broke through the gates in 1975, marking the end of the war.

You will then continue by vehicle to the site of the former US Embassy, now home to the US Consulate, before visiting the War Remnants Museum, one of Vietnam’s most visited museums and a powerful, sobering insight into the impact of the war.

Later, travel to Binh Thanh District to explore Ba Chieu, a bustling local wholesale market on the eastern edge of the city, before visiting Ngoc Hoang Pagoda, also known as the Jade Emperor Pagoda. Built by the local Cantonese community over a century ago, this richly decorated pagoda is renowned for its intricate woodcarvings and sculptures depicting figures from both Taoist and Buddhist traditions.

Return to your hotel after your tour ends. Spend your final moments in Ho Chi Ming at your leisure before your guide transfers you to the airport for your onward journey to Phnom Penh. On arrival in Phnom Penh, transfer to your hotel and enjoy some free time to settle in and unwind. Later, meet your fellow travellers over welcome drinks, where your Tour Leader will run through key details and logistics for the journey ahead.

Luxcity Hotel & Apartment or similar

Breakfast

Discover Phnom Penh from the seat of a cyclo (bicycle rickshaw), taking in the chaotic energy and fascinating streets of Cambodia’s capital. Your tour begins at Wat Phnom, the hilltop temple said to mark the very birthplace of the city, and from which Phnom Penh takes its name.

From there, visit the Royal Palace, official residence of King Norodom Sihamoni, home to the dazzling Silver Pagoda, so named for the thousands of solid silver tiles that line its floor. A short walk away is the National Museum, housed in a striking terracotta building and home to one of the world’s largest collections of Khmer art and artefacts, spanning centuries of Cambodian history.

No visit would be complete without exploring Phnom Penh’s Central Market, a sprawling maze of stalls selling everything from DVDs and silk to jewellery, crafts and everyday household goods.

In the afternoon, travel by vehicle to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. Once a secondary school, the site was repurposed by the Khmer Rouge regime as Security Prison 21 (S-21), becoming one of the most notorious interrogation and torture facilities of the Cambodian genocide. Today it stands as a museum and memorial, offering a sobering yet important insight into this chapter of Cambodia’s history.

Luxcity Hotel & Apartment or similar

Breakfast

After breakfast depart your hotel and take an overland transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. Make a stop en route at the infamous spider and insect market in Skun, as well as the stone mason village near Santuk.

In the morning, enjoy an overland transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. Along the way, we will make stops at the infamous spider and insect market in Skun, as well as the stone mason village near Santuk. Before reaching Siem Reap city, visit the floating village of Kampong Phluk. This isolated community consists of three villages built on stilts, providing a unique and scenic experience. The villages are flooded for approximately half of the year (August/September – February), allowing for visits by local boats and contributing to the local community’s income. If the water level of the lake permits, we will take a small rowing boat through the flooded mangrove forests. This exceptional ecosystem thrives in the wet soil for half of the year, supporting a diverse range of wildlife. Afterwards, return by boat and continue the journey by vehicle to Siem Reap, where you will check in at your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Angkor Paradise Hotel or similar

Breakfast

Today starts early so you can make your way to Angkor Wat to witness the breathtaking sunrise, the largest religious monument in the world and the crown jewel of the Angkor Archaeological Park. Once the sun has risen, explore the temple’s intricate bas-reliefs and central complex while the early morning quiet still lingers, before enjoying breakfast at a local restaurant near the temple grounds.

From here, continue to the southern gate of Angkor Thom, meaning ‘Great City’, the last and most enduring capital of the Khmer Empire. This area is home to many of the finest temples built under King Jayavarman VII, who ruled from 1181 to 1220 and was responsible for much of Angkor’s most ambitious architecture. Look out for the towering stone faces of Avalokiteshvara, standing roughly 75 feet high – a sight so striking it later featured in the film Tomb Raider.

At the heart of this ancient citadel lies Bayon, the state temple built at the end of the 12th century and famous for its 200-plus gigantic stone faces gazing out in every direction. Nearby, explore the Terrace of the Elephants, once used as a giant viewing platform for public ceremonies, and the Terrace of the Leper King, known for its detailed carvings.

Later, discover two of Angkor’s earlier 11th-century temples, Baphuon and Phimeanakas, before continuing to Ta Prohm. Left largely unrestored, Ta Prohm is famous for the massive silk-cotton and strangler fig trees whose roots have grown around and through the temple’s stone walls, creating one of Angkor’s most photographed and atmospheric sights. The day concludes with your return to Siem Reap.

Angkor Paradise Hotel or similar

Breakfast

It’s time to say goodbye to Cambodia. A transfer will take you to the airport for your onward travel to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival Luang Prabang meet your laotian tour guide and drive to the hotel for check-in. Enjoy a welcome drink and chose to relax or explore nearby sights on your leisure time.

Sala Prabang or similar

Breakfast

Discover the charm of Luang Prabang with a walk through its old quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site set on a narrow peninsula where the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers converge. First inhabited over a thousand years ago and once the royal capital of the Kingdom of Laos, the historic centre stretches along a finger of land roughly one kilometre long, lined with traditional wooden Lao houses and French colonial villas that reflect the town’s rich and layered past. With minimal traffic and a relaxed pace of life, the area is best explored entirely on foot.

Begin at the morning market, before wandering the town’s charming main street and visiting the National Museum, once the Royal Palace and home to Laos’s last reigning monarchs. From there, visit Wat Xieng Thong, widely regarded as the most beautiful temple in Laos and a masterpiece of traditional Lao architecture, dating back to 1560.

End the day with a scenic boat ride along the Mekong River, taking in a memorable sunset from the water.

Sala Prabang or similar

Breakfast

Today will begin with a short drive to the outskirts of Luang Prabang brings you to the multi-tiered, turquoise Kuang Si Waterfall, often regarded as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Southeast Asia. Its striking blue-green colour comes from natural limestone deposits in the water, and the falls cascade down through a series of tiered pools, some of which are open for swimming. Nearby, visit the Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre, home to rescued Asiatic black bears (also known as moon bears), many of whom were saved from poachers and the illegal wildlife trade.

On the way back, discover the fascinating world of Lao textiles at Ock Pop Tok Weaving Centre, where traditional techniques passed down through generations are kept alive through hand-weaving and natural dyeing methods.

Tip: Stop at Luang Prabang Buffalo Dairy for ice cream made from real buffalo milk, a local speciality and one of the town’s most talked-about treats.

In the evening, enjoy a bamboo dance performance paired with dinner, followed by a traditional Baci ceremony, an ancient Lao ritual believed to bind the soul’s spirits and bring good fortune, held at Bamboo Experience.”

Sala Prabang or similar

Breakfast and Dinner

Continuing the journey you will leave Luang Prabang and drive up into the mountains of north-central Lao PDR to visit Hmong villages on our way to Vang Vieng. The Hmong are an ethnic group native to the mountainous regions of Laos and are considered one of the many sub-groups of the broader Miao ethnicity found in southern China. Known for their distinctive textiles, silver jewellery and animist-influenced beliefs, many Hmong communities in Laos have preserved traditions that date back generations. Their gradual migration southward began in the 18th century, driven by political unrest and a shortage of arable land in their original homelands.

We end our journey in the small town of Vang Vieng, nestled among towering limestone karsts. Once a quiet backpacker stop, Vang Vieng has become known in recent years for its blend of adventure tourism and striking scenery, with the Nam Song River winding gently through the valley beneath dramatic, jungle-clad peaks.

Saksiri or similar

Breakfast

After a short stop in Vang Vieng you will continue on to Vientiane, the capital and largest city in Laos, known for its laid-back atmosphere, a refreshing contrast to the hustle and bustle typical of many Southeast Asian capitals. As the world’s smallest capital by population among Southeast Asian nations, Vientiane retains a distinctly relaxed charm. Its historic old French colonial quarter is dotted with glittering temples and statues, unhurried tuk-tuk drivers, wandering Buddhist monks, and boulevards lined with fragrant frangipani trees.

Explore the charming capital, starting with a tuk-tuk ride from your hotel to the iconic Patuxai Monument, Vientiane’s answer to the Arc de Triomphe, built in the 1960s using cement partly donated by the United States for an airport runway that was never completed. Walk down Lane Xang Avenue, stopping at the Morning Market and the Cooperative Orthotic & Prosthetic Enterprise (COPE), a centre supporting survivors of unexploded ordnance, a legacy of the Vietnam War-era bombing campaign.

Visit Wat Si Muang, believed to house the city’s guardian spirit, and Wat Sisaket, home to thousands of miniature Buddha statues and one of the oldest surviving temples in Vientiane, before stopping at the Presidential Palace. Recharge with a Lao coffee and croissant at Anouvong Park, overlooking the Mekong River, before visiting a series of further temples on the way to the riverbanks.

The day concludes with a farewell dinner, a fitting close to celebrate the memories and shared moments of the journey.

Grand Hotel Vientiane or similar

Breakfast and Dinner

It’s time to say goodbye, but just think of all the wonderful stories you’ll take home. We will ensure a smooth transfer to the airport for your departure, allowing you to board your flight in comfort as you bid farewell to this remarkable destination and continue your journey home or on to your next adventure.

Flower Garden Hotel or similar