The Best of Vietnam & Cambodia 14 days

Explore the charming city of Hanoi, often referred to as the ‘Paris of the East’, with its yellow ochre colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and scenic lakes 

Start by visiting Ho Chi Minh's House, a simple wooden house in a tranquil setting where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked. Some of his belongings are on display and visitors can walk up the steps to see his bedroom. Continue to the 6th century Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Hanoi, located on a small island in West Lake. Then visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national university built in the late 11th century. The picturesque temple is an example of well-preserved traditional Vietnamese architecture and is featured on the back of the 100,000 Vietnamese dong banknote In the afternoon, visit the Museum of Ethnology and then drive back to central Hanoi for a 45-min cyclo tour through the famed Old Quarter known for its ‘36 streets of 36 wares’ named after the original 36 artisan guilds that date as far back as the 13th century. Then stop at vintage coffee shop, where you sit on very small chairs as is the special style of Hanoi, to start a day by tasting a cup of Vietnamese coffee. This also offers a perfect opportunity for people-watching, to get a better idea of the daily activities of the locals. Conclude the day by watching an entertaining water puppet performance, a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form said to have originated in the flooded rice fields of the Red River Delta. The show uses colourful wooden puppets to depict scenes of rural life and episodes of national history set to music.

Depart Hanoi for a 2hr drive to the Tho Ha Village in Nho Quan to begin a leisurely 5-15km (3-10mi) biking trip passing by sleepy villages and picturesque countryside landscapes. Continue to Dong Tam Hamlet to participate in some engaging agricultural activities such as catching crabs, fishing and transplanting and watering vegetables. After an hour or so, return to the hamlet in time for a cooking class and lunch with a local family where sweet potato cakes and grilled fish are on the menu. After lunch, board a rowboat at the Nha Le Pier and enjoy a trip to the 900m (2,953ft)-deep Galaxy Grotto, so named for the sea of stalactites growing from the ceiling above, like so many stars. The grotto is also home to a large bat colony which nests near the end of the grotto. Return to Hanoi in the late afternoon. Overnight in Hanoi.

Today, depart from Hanoi for a 2.5-hour drive to Tuan Chau harbour via the new highway. You will be welcomed aboard and set sail through the bay while lunch is served. You will pass through the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons' teeth. After lunch, you will take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay dotted with golden sails, and then go swimming on a quiet beach or sunbathing on the sundeck. Later in the afternoon, you will visit an interesting fishing village with the opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. Back on board, you can enjoy cocktails while watching the sunset. Later, you will unwind ata lavish dinner before an overnight stay on the deluxe junk. Overnight on cruise.

Greet the day with a morning tai chi session, with an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, you will visit a beautiful limestone grotto and then go back to the boat for a final glimpse of Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock. Checkout is at 11:45 am and the boat arrives at the harbor by noon for the drive back to Hanoi airport for your onward flight to Danang. Upon on arrival, you will be picked up and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Danang.

08:30AM Our local guide will meet you at the hotel lobby. Transfer by Ecar to the pier and then take a boat to estuary. Experience the daily fishing activity of the local fishermen, try to cast the net with their assistant. Move deep into the water coconut forest in Cam Thanh Village by locally handmade bamboo basket boat. Listen to a brief introduction Cua Dai about the history of this unique area.  Fishermen will show you how to catch the crabs and make origami with water coconut leaf. Split into smaller groups for a short basket boat racing. Then, visit to a local bamboo craftsman’s house; get an insight to their daily life and the different stages of preparing & making a proper bamboo furniture or bamboo house.  Enjoy the lunch at a local restaurant.  Transfer back to the hotel by E-car after the meal.

Free at leisure to explore Hoi An Ancient town. Overnight in Hoi An.

Free at leisure until transfer to airport for flight to Hochiminh. Upon arrival, our driver will pick you up at airport and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hochiminh.

The program will start with a quick visit of Cai Be. Then, we’ll come to Tân Phong island for biking / walking on village paths to see the local daily life: orchard, school, church, pagoda, traditional houses... On the way, we can make some stops to see how they wave the dried water-hyacinth to make many products: baskets, bags, hats, wallets, shoes... stop at local garden enjoy some cups of tea when listening to the traditional music . Then, the rowing boat will take you deeper into the countryside on smaller canals to enjoy the peaceful time. Back to our boat to go across one of the longest rivers in the world, Mekong River, to come to An Bình Island. Travel on a handmade canal to Ut Trinh home & have an optional lunch. After lunch, we can walk in the local village to visit the local workshop to see how to make rice paper, coconut candy, pop-rice... Enjoy some sweets with a cup of hot tea.   Visit the brick kilns where you can see how the local people create beautiful potteries from clay. The cruise will end at Vinh Long city. You will transfer back to Saigon. Overnight in Saigon.

Our Vespa tour of modern-day Ho Chi Minh City will give you a view of the city unlike anything on a package tour, and much more than you could find on your own. We know Saigon, and exactly how to take in the must-see landmarks while getting you off the crowded tourist trail. Take a peek at the history, the streets and the sights that most visitors never even hear about or see. We’ll take you through the Chinese district of Saigon, stop to see a sweet smelling flower market, & visit a breathtaking yet hidden Buddhist pagoda. Also, see the must-see landmarks such as the famous Saigon Cathedral & Post Office which were designed by Gustave Eiffel. Then get a brief history lesson in front of the Reunification Palace. Depending on the time of day you wish to take the tour, we will begin or end with a lunch at Café Zoom. Overnight in Hochiminh.

Free at leisure until transfer to Hochiminh airport for flight to Siemreap. Upon arrival at Siemreap airport, our driver will pick you up and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Siemreap. 

Start your sightseeing tour of Angkor area we spend a full day exploring the wondrous ancient ruins with the South Gate of Angkor Thom, which is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone, the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and the largest as well as the most complete temple of Angkor Wat. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares. We stroll around this massive edifice, seeing the many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple and the jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm is an incredible sight. There are enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers which embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of man's creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature. Enjoy the sunset view from Bakeng Hill then transfer back to the hotel.

Early in the morning we transfer to the plateau of Phnom Kulen. With its numerous sacred places Phnom Kulen is Cambodia’s most revered mountain. It was here that Jayavarman ll was proclaimed god-king and the first capital of the Angkor-era that was to follow was founded. On our tour through the lush jungle and remote villages we explore Phnom Kulen’s treasures: the riverbed carvings of One Thousand Lingas, a spectacular 30-metre high waterfall with a natural swimming pool, a mountain pagoda housing a large reclining Buddha hewn out from the natural Kulen sandstone. You will also visit the mysterious animal sculptures hidden in the dense forest. The way there is partly by motor taxi and on foot through the forest. You will have time for lunch and time for a refreshing swim at the waterfall. Overnight in Siemreap.

Free at leisure until transfer Siem Reap International Airport for your departure.