MARCH 2024
AUGUST 2024
14 DAYS | 13 NIGHTS | VIETNAM
Vietnam & Angkor
Vietnam & Angkor
Immerse yourself in incredible experiences on this expertly led cultural adventure from Hanoi in northern Vietnam to Siem Reap in Cambodia. You’ll explore limestone cliffs and enjoy sundowners on deck as you cruise Ha Long Bay; discover culture and history in Hoi An; witness street life in vibrant Ho Chi Minh City; and slow down on the serene waterways of the Mekong Delta. Finally, you’ll journey to Siem Reap, staying at the intimate Lynnaya Urban River Resort & Spa – the perfect base to visit one of the great surviving archaeological wonders, the mesmerising temple complex of Angkor.
You will be directed to our partner site for booking your plan
You will be directed to our partner site for booking your plan
14 days 13 nights
Lynnaya UrbanRiver Resort
Mekong Delta
Angkor Wat
VietnameseCooking Class
Syrena Cruise
TRIP
Itinerary
SCROLL FOR MORE
DAY 01: HANOI
Xin chào
Hanoi!
The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, is ready to welcome you when you arrive. Get acclimatised and familiarise yourself with the city by wandering the tree-lined avenues.There will be a group welcome meeting this evening with your expert leader followed by an included welcome dinner at KOTO (Know One, Teach One), a well-established training restaurant for disadvantaged youths where you’ll be served a blend of Vietnamese and Southeast Asian foods.
Accommodation: The Q Hotel (four-star)
Meals included: Dinner
DAY 02: HANOI
Hanoi
City Tour
This morning, enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city that includes a visit to the Temple of Literature, the site of the oldest university in Vietnam; Hoa Lo Prison; and the Old Quarter. For lunch, we’ll visit the much-loved restaurant, Bun Cha Huong Lien, to try their bun cha (a local speciality of noodles, broth and meat served with greens).The afternoon is then free for you to wander around the Hoan Kiem Lake and perhaps enjoy the view from a lakeside cafe.
Accommodation: The Q Hotel (four-star)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 03: HA LONG BAY
Overnight
Cruise
We make an early start for the approximate four-hour journey to Ha Long Bay, one of the most stunning sights in Southeast Asia with some 3,000 limestone peaks rising directly from the emerald sea. We cruise among this striking karst scenery, stopping to swim and kayak, allowing us to get to places inaccessible by boat (weather permitting), and enjoy a seafood lunch on board. Later in the afternoon, join your expert leader and group for a drink or two on the top deck while watching the sunset before spending the night in twin-share cabins.
Accommodation: Syrena Cruises (join-in basis)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 04: HANOI
Ha Long
Women's Association
We continue to cruise around Ha Long Bay this morning before returning to port.Your leader will then introduce your group to the Ha Long Women’s Association in the Hon Gai township, a local sustainable initiative committed to cleaning waste in Ha Long Bay and upcycling it, where possible, into items of value. Here you’ll meet the local women and witness how they upcycle trash into beautiful, handcrafted products. You may also get the chance to try upcycling too.We then drive back to Hanoi for a free evening to explore or relax. There may be an option of seeing a Water Puppets performance, which your leader can arrange if you wish (subject to availability).
Accommodation: The Q Hotel (four-star)
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 05: HOI AN
Transfer To
Hoi An
After breakfast, we transfer to Hanoi Airport for a flight to Da Nang. In Da Nang, we climb Marble Mountain where we explore the large caves used by the Viet Cong as a hospital base during the war. There are wonderful views from the mountain peak over My Khe Beach and the surrounding countryside which leads on to the captivating town of Hoi An, our next destination (approximately one-hour transfer).This evening, the group will dine at a local restaurant while enjoying views of the atmospheric Thu Bon River.
Accommodation: Hoi An Blue Sky Boutique Hotel & Spa (four-star)
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 06: HOI AN
Hanoi
Walking Tour
This morning will include a walking tour of Hoi An, the original European trading port in Vietnam dating back to the mid-16th century. It is now a living museum, with attractive wooden merchant houses and pagoda-style temples with Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and European architectural influences. It is also a marvellous place to wander around, dipping into the thriving riverside market and shopping for silk clothing.After lunch at a local eatery, the afternoon is free to enjoy a town that has become a favourite for so many travellers to Vietnam. Options include a trip to My Son (the spiritual home of the Cham civilisation) where Cham kings were buried as long ago as the fourth century. Although bombing has destroyed much of the site, there are several interesting stone towers and sanctuaries.
Accommodation: Hoi An Blue Sky Boutique Hotel & Spa (four-star)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 07: HOI AN
Thu Bon
River Cruise
We spend the morning at the wonderful Red Bridge restaurant, on the bank of the Thu Bon River. Visiting the colourful local market first, we shop for ingredients before taking a boat to the restaurant. Here we learn the intricacies of Vietnamese cooking. Under the supervision of an English-speaking Vietnamese chef, you create your own dishes. You don’t need to be a proficient cook to enjoy this activity – but be warned, you eat your creations at the end of the morning! You can choose to stay and enjoy the idyllic restaurant garden, return to Hoi An town for an afternoon at leisure, or jump on a bike (optional) for a ride through the countryside, passing markets, schools and villages before continuing to Cua Dai beach (3mi/5km).
Accommodation: Hoi An Blue Sky Boutique Hotel & Spa (four-star)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 08: HO CHI MINH CITY
Ho Chi Minh
City Tour
This morning we transfer to Da Nang Airport for the flight (approximately 1hr 25min) to Ho Chi Minh City (formally Saigon). This is an exciting, absorbing city where scooters pack the streets and temples stand alongside modern developments. Devastated by the Vietnam War, it is now a bustling free-market city where anything goes. The Saigon River and Ben Thanh market are within walking distance and are highly recommended.After arrival, your group will dine at a Ho Chi Minh City institution, Pho Hoa on Pasteur, which has been in operation for more than 50 years. Here you will enjoy a tasty lunch of southern-style Vietnamese noodles and spring rolls.An afternoon city tour will include a visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum. The museum has an interesting photographic record of the Vietnam/American War. Please be aware, some images at the museum are very graphic.
DAY 09: HO CHI MINH CITY
Cu Chi Tunnel
Morning Visit
Today we leave the city and head north to visit the Cu Chi tunnels. Used by the Viet Cong during the war, the network covers three levels and incorporates around 150mi (240km) of tunnels. Traditionally, these were very narrow, but some areas have been widened to allow tourists to explore the system. Claustrophobes may prefer to stay outside in the sunshine.In the afternoon, we return to Ho Chi Minh City and the rest of the day is free for individual exploration.
Accommodation: Sila Urban Living, (four-star)
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 10: CAN THO
Mekong Delta
Cruise
In the morning, we drive to Cai Be in the Mekong Delta (approximately 2hr 30min), known as the rice bowl of Vietnam. This region produces most of Vietnam’s fruit, sugar cane and coconuts. We take a boat trip on the mighty Mekong River, passing many orchards and friendly locals also travelling by boat. Recently, Cai Be floating market has become less crowded and smaller as fruit trading is mostly now done by trucks. However, this is still a great opportunity to see a local market and traditional trade on a smaller scale. We stop to see small cottage industries, such as rice paper and coconut candy, getting a chance to sample the produce before enjoying the local speciality, elephant ear fish, for lunch.After, we continue by boat to Vinh Long where our private transport takes us to Can Tho. This evening, the group will dine and enjoy local Mekong specialties.
Accommodation: TTC Hotel (four-star)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 11: HO CHI MINH CITY
Ho Chi Minh City
Floating Market
This morning, we take a boat trip to Cai Rang floating market, the biggest and most lively floating market in the Delta, with great photo opportunities. It is a maze of hundreds of boats packed with fruits, vegetables and plants, where samples are hung from the tops of long poles so buyers can see from a distance what is for sale.After, we drive back to Ho Chi Minh City where the remainder of the afternoon is free. This evening, you’ll meet your leader and group for a final traditional meal in a Vietnamese-style house-restaurant in the heart of the city.
Accommodation: Sila Urban Living (four-star)
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 12: SIEM REAP
Sur Sday
Cambodia!
Today we transfer to Ho Chi Minh City Airport for the flight to Siem Reap in Cambodia.On arrival, the group will be met by our Cambodian expert tour leader. Here the group will spend the next two nights at the intimate Lynnaya Urban River Resort & Spa – the perfect base to explore Angkor.This evening, we enjoy a welcome dinner in the local village of Lum Orng at the first farm-to-table restaurant in Cambodia where we feast on authentic Khmer cuisine made with many ingredients from the organic garden.We may also have the opportunity to see the sunset at the temple-complex this evening (flight time dependent). If not, we enjoy this marvel tomorrow.
Accommodation: Lynnaya Urban River Resort & Spa (four-star)
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
TRIP
Itinerary
SCROLL FOR MORE
DAY 01: HANOI
Xin chào
Hanoi!
The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, is ready to welcome you when you arrive. Get acclimatised and familiarise yourself with the city by wandering the tree-lined avenues.There will be a group welcome meeting this evening with your expert leader followed by an included welcome dinner at KOTO (Know One, Teach One), a well-established training restaurant for disadvantaged youths where you’ll be served a blend of Vietnamese and Southeast Asian foods.
Accommodation: The Q Hotel (four-star)
Meals included: Dinner
DAY 02: HANOI
Hanoi
City Tour
This morning, enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city that includes a visit to the Temple of Literature, the site of the oldest university in Vietnam; Hoa Lo Prison; and the Old Quarter. For lunch, we’ll visit the much-loved restaurant, Bun Cha Huong Lien, to try their bun cha (a local speciality of noodles, broth and meat served with greens).The afternoon is then free for you to wander around the Hoan Kiem Lake and perhaps enjoy the view from a lakeside cafe.
Accommodation: The Q Hotel (four-star)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 03: HA LONG BAY
Overnight
Cruise
We make an early start for the approximate four-hour journey to Ha Long Bay, one of the most stunning sights in Southeast Asia with some 3,000 limestone peaks rising directly from the emerald sea. We cruise among this striking karst scenery, stopping to swim and kayak, allowing us to get to places inaccessible by boat (weather permitting), and enjoy a seafood lunch on board. Later in the afternoon, join your expert leader and group for a drink or two on the top deck while watching the sunset before spending the night in twin-share cabins.
Accommodation: Syrena Cruises (join-in basis)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 04: HANOI
Ha Long
Women's Association
We continue to cruise around Ha Long Bay this morning before returning to port.Your leader will then introduce your group to the Ha Long Women’s Association in the Hon Gai township, a local sustainable initiative committed to cleaning waste in Ha Long Bay and upcycling it, where possible, into items of value. Here you’ll meet the local women and witness how they upcycle trash into beautiful, handcrafted products. You may also get the chance to try upcycling too.We then drive back to Hanoi for a free evening to explore or relax. There may be an option of seeing a Water Puppets performance, which your leader can arrange if you wish (subject to availability).
Accommodation: The Q Hotel (four-star)
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 05: HOI AN
Transfer To
Hoi An
After breakfast, we transfer to Hanoi Airport for a flight to Da Nang. In Da Nang, we climb Marble Mountain where we explore the large caves used by the Viet Cong as a hospital base during the war. There are wonderful views from the mountain peak over My Khe Beach and the surrounding countryside which leads on to the captivating town of Hoi An, our next destination (approximately one-hour transfer).This evening, the group will dine at a local restaurant while enjoying views of the atmospheric Thu Bon River.
Accommodation: Hoi An Blue Sky Boutique Hotel & Spa (four-star)
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 06: HOI AN
Hanoi
Walking Tour
This morning will include a walking tour of Hoi An, the original European trading port in Vietnam dating back to the mid-16th century. It is now a living museum, with attractive wooden merchant houses and pagoda-style temples with Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and European architectural influences. It is also a marvellous place to wander around, dipping into the thriving riverside market and shopping for silk clothing.After lunch at a local eatery, the afternoon is free to enjoy a town that has become a favourite for so many travellers to Vietnam. Options include a trip to My Son (the spiritual home of the Cham civilisation) where Cham kings were buried as long ago as the fourth century. Although bombing has destroyed much of the site, there are several interesting stone towers and sanctuaries.
Accommodation: Hoi An Blue Sky Boutique Hotel & Spa (four-star)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 07: HOI AN
Thu Bon
River Cruise
We spend the morning at the wonderful Red Bridge restaurant, on the bank of the Thu Bon River. Visiting the colourful local market first, we shop for ingredients before taking a boat to the restaurant. Here we learn the intricacies of Vietnamese cooking. Under the supervision of an English-speaking Vietnamese chef, you create your own dishes. You don’t need to be a proficient cook to enjoy this activity – but be warned, you eat your creations at the end of the morning! You can choose to stay and enjoy the idyllic restaurant garden, return to Hoi An town for an afternoon at leisure, or jump on a bike (optional) for a ride through the countryside, passing markets, schools and villages before continuing to Cua Dai beach (3mi/5km).
Accommodation: Hoi An Blue Sky Boutique Hotel & Spa (four-star)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 08: HO CHI MINH CITY
Ho Chi Minh
City Tour
This morning we transfer to Da Nang Airport for the flight (approximately 1hr 25min) to Ho Chi Minh City (formally Saigon). This is an exciting, absorbing city where scooters pack the streets and temples stand alongside modern developments. Devastated by the Vietnam War, it is now a bustling free-market city where anything goes. The Saigon River and Ben Thanh market are within walking distance and are highly recommended.After arrival, your group will dine at a Ho Chi Minh City institution, Pho Hoa on Pasteur, which has been in operation for more than 50 years. Here you will enjoy a tasty lunch of southern-style Vietnamese noodles and spring rolls.An afternoon city tour will include a visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum. The museum has an interesting photographic record of the Vietnam/American War. Please be aware, some images at the museum are very graphic.
DAY 09: HO CHI MINH CITY
Cu Chi Tunnel
Morning Visit
Today we leave the city and head north to visit the Cu Chi tunnels. Used by the Viet Cong during the war, the network covers three levels and incorporates around 150mi (240km) of tunnels. Traditionally, these were very narrow, but some areas have been widened to allow tourists to explore the system. Claustrophobes may prefer to stay outside in the sunshine.In the afternoon, we return to Ho Chi Minh City and the rest of the day is free for individual exploration.
Accommodation: Sila Urban Living, (four-star)
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 10: CAN THO
Mekong Delta
Cruise
In the morning, we drive to Cai Be in the Mekong Delta (approximately 2hr 30min), known as the rice bowl of Vietnam. This region produces most of Vietnam’s fruit, sugar cane and coconuts. We take a boat trip on the mighty Mekong River, passing many orchards and friendly locals also travelling by boat. Recently, Cai Be floating market has become less crowded and smaller as fruit trading is mostly now done by trucks. However, this is still a great opportunity to see a local market and traditional trade on a smaller scale. We stop to see small cottage industries, such as rice paper and coconut candy, getting a chance to sample the produce before enjoying the local speciality, elephant ear fish, for lunch.After, we continue by boat to Vinh Long where our private transport takes us to Can Tho. This evening, the group will dine and enjoy local Mekong specialties.
Accommodation: TTC Hotel (four-star)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 11: HO CHI MINH CITY
Ho Chi Minh City
Floating Market
This morning, we take a boat trip to Cai Rang floating market, the biggest and most lively floating market in the Delta, with great photo opportunities. It is a maze of hundreds of boats packed with fruits, vegetables and plants, where samples are hung from the tops of long poles so buyers can see from a distance what is for sale.After, we drive back to Ho Chi Minh City where the remainder of the afternoon is free. This evening, you’ll meet your leader and group for a final traditional meal in a Vietnamese-style house-restaurant in the heart of the city.
Accommodation: Sila Urban Living (four-star)
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 12: SIEM REAP
Sur Sday
Cambodia!
Today we transfer to Ho Chi Minh City Airport for the flight to Siem Reap in Cambodia.On arrival, the group will be met by our Cambodian expert tour leader. Here the group will spend the next two nights at the intimate Lynnaya Urban River Resort & Spa – the perfect base to explore Angkor.This evening, we enjoy a welcome dinner in the local village of Lum Orng at the first farm-to-table restaurant in Cambodia where we feast on authentic Khmer cuisine made with many ingredients from the organic garden.We may also have the opportunity to see the sunset at the temple-complex this evening (flight time dependent). If not, we enjoy this marvel tomorrow.
Accommodation: Lynnaya Urban River Resort & Spa (four-star)
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Pricing
Inquire for Pricing
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You will be directed to our partner site for booking your plan
What's
Included
All breakfasts, seven lunches and seven dinners
All accommodation
Named tour leader, chosen for their experience and great customer feedback
Tips for local staff
All specialist equipment
All transport and listed activities
What's not
Included
Tip for the leader
Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request)
Visa or vaccinations
