Skyscrapers & Temples of South East Asia

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the Hong Kong International airport for a flight to Vietnam. Arrival at Noi Bai international airport in Hanoi, meet your guide and transfer to the hotel.

Hanoi is a city characterised by centuries-old architecture and vibrant Southeast Asian culture, located in the heart of Vietnam. It offers a variety of unique experiences, from its impressive temples and lively culture, to its busy markets and world-renowned cuisine. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to begin discovering this fascinating city. Overnight stay in Hanoi.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, enjoy an action-packed city tour of Hanoi. Stop at Huu Tiep Lake, home to the famous downed US B-52 bomber and wander through the lively local market. Next, visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (viewed from the outside on Monday & Friday due to closure), and the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of the city.

Continue to Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam, the Temple of Literature and Vietnam’s first university, dating from the 11^th century. Explore, on foot, Hanoi’s Old Quarter streets to see local people trading and going about their daily lives. Take a relaxing seat at a local café for a refreshing cup of coffee or green tea. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon and the rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight stay in Hanoi.

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a day at your leisure in Hanoi today, experiencing the hustle and bustle of Vietnam's busiest and most vibrant city! We recommend an optional excursion to the beautiful natural area of Ninh Binh* or a half-day jeep ride to the countryside with a visit to an ancient ceramic village**. Overnight stay in Hanoi.

* Optional excursion to Ninh Binh (full-day with lunch): Begin in the morning and along the way take the time to enjoy discovering the unusual landscapes you will encounter on route. Arrive in the province of Ninh Binh at your first destination, Tam Coc, and embark on a small rowboat to journey through unforgettable scenery.

Come across local villages, spectacular caves and endless panoramas that you will remember forever. Next, visit the Bich Dong pagoda, just 2 km from Tam Coc, a place that received the nickname of "The second most beautiful cave in Vietnam" by an ancient king.  Lunch at a local restaurant. Later, head by road to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam until 1010, when it was transferred to Thang Long-Hanoi, leaving in their past the temples to the kings Dinh & Le. 

** Optional Jeep ride to the countryside & 1000-year-old ceramic village (half-day with lunch): Meet your knowledgeable guide prior to your departure, who will provide you with a brief overview of the day ahead to ensure you get the most out of this excursion. Begin your adventure today driving along the Red River dike, passing through guava and vegetable gardens, which are one of Hanoi's main sources of food, to the ceramic village of Bat Trang.

Stop at the village, where your guide will lead you through the zigzagging maze of alleyways to learn about villagers' daily lives. Spend some time away from Hanoi's hustle and bustle while learning about Vietnamese agriculture and farming, how rural life has changed as a result of the urbanization and modernization process, local life and the history of Bat Trang Ceramic Village, which dates back thousands of years.

Your guide will stop at a ceramic workshop during the walking tour to explain the process of manufacturing ceramics and give you the chance to design your own ceramic bowl or teacup. Lunch included in the countryside.

Please note: You can only choose one of this optional excursions on this day. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart by road to Ha Long Bay, a World Heritage area of outstanding natural beauty known for its limestone islands and glistening waters. Travel through the rich farmlands of the delta and witness the daily life of the Vietnamese villages. Arrive in Ha Long and board a traditional junk boat, to begin your cruise on the bay with a welcome drink. Lunch on board. The cruise passes by many fascinating islets and may stop for a while to visit local fishing villages, caves and limestone islands. Relax at your leisure on the sun deck. Dinner and overnight on board.

Halong Bay Cruise: The cruise operator will choose ONE itinerary to either Halong Bay or Lan Ha Bay. Itinerary is subject to change without prior notice according to weather conditions or local administration regulations. There will be no guide on board.

Early risers are invited to participate in a Tai Chi demonstration on the upper bridge. Afterwards a light breakfast will be served, and later, a splendid brunch aboard the boat as you continue to navigate through the myriad of islands and islets, paying a visit to the most notable of them.

By midday, we bid farewell to the fascinating panorama of Halong Bay and head back to Hanoi. The rest of the day is at your leisure to soak up the atmosphere, do some souvenir shopping or continue discovering the city at your own pace. Overnight stay in Hanoi.

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, say goodbye to Hanoi as you transfer to the airport to take your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. This vibrant city is described as the ‘Pearl of the Far East’, because of the beautiful heritage buildings, friendly locals and exciting atmosphere! Arrival at Tan Son Nhat International airport where the tour guide & driver will be waiting for you.

The rest of the day is your leisure time to discover this fascinating city at your own pace, or, why not take part in our optional half-day excursion to the underground city of Cu Chi* perfect, for history enthusiasts. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

* Optional excursion to Cu Chi (half-day, without lunch): This memorable half-day excursion will give another insight into the history of the country. During the visit, explore the famous Cu Chi tunnels, located 70 kilometers northwest of Ho Chi Minh City (an hour and a half by car). This is an underground city, built in 1948 by the Viet Minh to fight the French, you will find living rooms, kitchen, warehouses, armories, hospitals, command centers.

During the War against the United States, the entire Cu Chi area was declared one of the battlefields and heavily bombed. It is such an interesting place and a must visit for those who are interested in learning about the history of the Vietnamese during such difficult times.

Breakfast at the hotel. Embark on a Full-Day Tour to soak up the rich tapestry of history and culture in Ho Chi Minh City. Visits Dong Khoi Street, home to many of the city's most important sites from the French colonial period, when the city became known as the 'Paris of the Orient'. 

Appreciate the restored Opera House, based on the Petit Palace in Paris and visit the Grand Hotel de Ville, now formally re-branded as the People's Committee Hall. Be amazed by the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the impressive Central Post Office, designed by the architect Gustav Eiffel.

In District 5 visit China Town and the iconic Thien Hau Temple, built in honour of the goddess of the sea. Conclude your day discovery at the bustling Ben Thanh market. Return to the hotel. Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh City.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, you have the day to explore at your leisure, or, why not take part in our optional excursion to discover the magical Mekong Delta.* Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh City.

* Optional Mekong Delta Excursion: Depart to Ben Tre province crossing Rach Mieu bridge. On arrival in Hung Vuong Pier, hop on a motorized boat on the Ben Tre River, one of the tributes of Mekong River while witnessing the lively activities of local life along the way. Stop at a brick kiln and visit one of the many coconut processing workshops located along the canal. Take a motorised cart or bicycle along the shady paths and pass by green rice fields and vegetable plains to discover everyday life on the river. Take a rowing-boat along a beautiful water palm creek before you return to the pier. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Today you say goodbye to Vietnam and head by road to Cambodia! After breakfast, depart from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh on the Mekong Express and Giant Ibis bus*. The journey takes you through the country, so sit back and enjoy the ride. Arrive in Phnom Penh in the evening, transfer to your hotel for check-in and take the rest of the evening to familiarize yourself with your new surroundings. Overnight stay in Phnom Penh.

* The Giant Ibis/Mekong Express bus ride from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh is 230 km long and will take approximately 5 hours. Alternatively, you can take an optional flight (approximately 1-hour flight time). This can be purchased in the next step of the booking process.

Note: We recommend arranging the Cambodian e-visa in advance to avoid going through the immigration office at the border. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, set off on a poignant excursion to The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, for a moving insight into the bloody rule of the Khmer Rouge. Realise the horror and tragedy of this period in Cambodian history at the Tuol Sleng Prison Museum and visit the notorious Killing Fields. 

The rest of the day is at your leisure. We recommend an optional city tour to get to know Phnom Penh's most emblematic sights*. Overnight stay in Phnom Penh. 

* Optional Phnom Penh City Tour: Explore Cambodia’s capital and its major landmarks including the fascinating Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda. We then will take one hour boat cruise on the Mekong River.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, catch the Giant Ibis/Mekong Express bus* from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. On arrival, meet your driver and transfer to your hotel in Siem Reap for check-in. Enjoy exploring this vibrant city at your own pace as the rest of the day is your free time at leisure. We recommend heading out to discover the well-known night market and Pub Street. Overnight stay in Siem Reap.

* The Giant Ibis/Mekong Express bus ride from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap is 320 km long and will take approximately 6 hours. Alternatively, you can take an optional flight from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap with Cambodia Angkor Air (approximately 1-hour flight time). This can be purchased in the next step of the booking process.

Breakfast at the hotel. Embark on a captivating journey this morning. We will explore the mystical world of ancient temples. We will start our adventure towards Angkor Thom. Discover the Bayon temple. It is a masterpiece adorned with 54 towers. They bear 200 serene faces of Avolokitesvara, evoking a sense of divine calm. Journey onward to the Baphuon temple. It is a testament to the grandeur of Jayavarman I's reign. It has an imposing structure and intricate design.

Explore the Phimeanakas. Tales of royalty echo through time there. Wander the terraces of the leper king and elephants. History and intrigue steep each spot. Our next stop is Ta Prohm. The temple is mesmerizing and wrapped in nature's embrace. Ancient stones mix with towering roots to keep its enigmatic allure.

In the afternoon, we unveil the crown jewel of Angkor: the revered Angkor Wat. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's famous for its great architecture and spiritual meaning. As the day ends, bask in the sunset's ethereal glow over Angkor Wat. It's a moment of awe and introspection.

We arrive back at our sanctuary in Siem Reap. The echoes of Cambodia's past linger in the twilight. They promise memories to treasure as we rest and get ready for another day of discovery. Settle into the hotel for an overnight stay in Siem Reap.

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a day at your leisure, soaking up the ambience of Siem Reap, or perhaps exploring the sights at your own pace. We recommend an optional excursion to Phnom Kulen Mountain, a sacred pilgrimage site home to remote temples.* Overnight stay in Siem Reap.

* Optional Half-Day Phnom Kulen Mountain Excursion: Phnom Kulen National Park or Kulen Mountain is considered by Khmers to be the most sacred mountain in Cambodia. Located 25 miles northeast of Siem Reap City, Phnom Kulen is a holy mountain which serves as a place of pilgrimage on weekends and special occasions. It stretches over a vast area covered by a chain of small mountain plateaus.

Reach the mountain top and visit a modern style pagoda that offers stunning views over the Angkor area. Visit the 26-foot statue of a reclining Buddha and wash your hands at the Linga statue to purify your mind and body. Continue to visit the River of One Thousand Lingas and the magnificent waterfall close to it. Take a refreshing swim in the stream and pool of the waterfall.

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day at your leisure, exploring the lively city center. We recommend enjoying an optional excursion to a Blessing Ceremony at the pagoda and visit to Tonle Sap Lake* and an optional Tuk-Tuk Street Food tour**. In the afternoon enjoy a visit to the Old Market (at the time those who took the first excursion return from the Lake). Overnight stay in Siem Reap.

* Optional Excursion to a Blessing Ceremony at the pagoda and visit to Tonle Sap Lake: Located in the heart of the city of Siem Reap, Wat Damnak is one of the most beautiful pagodas with French colonial architecture and a garden full of large statues. Bring candles and incense sticks to the pagoda to participate in a private blessing ceremony, conducted by the local monks living in the pagoda.

Sit on the mat while the monks sing the blessings and pour holy water on you – a traditional practice by which the gods are believed to bring you good luck. Then, the monks will put a sacred thread around your wrist to protect you from evil spirits. Before continuing your journey, you will receive a small souvenir from the monks to remember this special moment.

Next, journey to the outskirts of Siem Reap where you will take a boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, that can grow by ten fold during the rainy season. Sail along the lake until you reach the floating village, witness floating pig farms, schools, gardens and spirit houses.

** Optional Tuk-Tuk Street Food tour (night tour): Enjoy an exciting ride on a Tuk Tuk to a local night market and immerse yourself in local culture. Look out for all the different types of local street food, snacks, fruits, knickknacks and clothes.

Stroll around the market, why not be brave and try some of the Cambodian-specialty fried snacks, like grasshoppers, spiders, cockroaches, crickets and baby frogs... These are all Cambodian favorites! To end this exciting excursion, head to a local restaurant to enjoy a traditional dinner, cooked by locals in true Cambodian style.