Vietnam & Angkor Temples: Culture, Cuisine and Hidden Gems (12 Days)

Points of Interest : Hanoi

Upon arrival at Hanoi airport you are welcomed and transferred to your hotel for check-in. Your room is available from 1:30 pm, allowing you time to rest after your journey or start exploring the surroundings independently.
Lunch and dinner are at your own expense, giving you the freedom to sample Hanoi’s street food or nearby restaurants.

• Meals included : No meals included
• Accommodation : Overnight in a 3* hotel in Hanoi

Points of Interest : Hanoi

In the morning you begin a full-day discovery of Vietnam’s capital with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, an important symbol of the country’s modern history.
In the afternoon you continue to the Temple of Literature, located on the site of Vietnam’s first university, and learn about the country’s Confucian heritage. Later you attend a traditional water puppet show, an art form created over a thousand years ago by farmers of the Red River Delta and later refined for royal entertainment during the Ly and Tran dynasties.
You return to your hotel for the evening at leisure.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Overnight in a 3* hotel in Hanoi

Points of Interest : Ha Long

In the morning you leave Hanoi and drive through the Red River Delta towards Halong Bay, arriving around midday. You board a modern wooden junk built in traditional style and begin your cruise among towering limestone karsts and emerald waters, one of Southeast Asia’s most impressive natural attractions.
On board you are served lunch and later dinner, featuring fresh local seafood and regional dishes, while you relax and enjoy the scenery from the deck.
You spend the night on the junk, benefiting from a non-private, English-speaking guide on board.

• Meals included : Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Accommodation : Overnight on a non-private wooden junk in Halong Bay

Points of Interest : Hội An

Early risers are rewarded with superb views of Halong Bay and its calm waters in the soft morning light. After breakfast the junk continues to glide past dramatic sandstone formations and more remote corners of the bay, dotted with unique islets.
Around 10:30 am you check out of your cabin and return to Halong harbor. From there you drive back to Hanoi and transfer to Noi Bai airport for your flight to Danang (VN191 18:40 – 20:10). Upon arrival in Danang you are welcomed and driven onward to your hotel in Hoi An, where the evening is at leisure.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Overnight in a 3* hotel in Hoi An

Points of Interest : Hội An

In the morning you cycle through a peaceful lagoon landscape to the small village of Tra Que, renowned for its organic vegetable gardens. Here you can assist local farmers with simple tasks in the fields and help harvest herbs such as mint and basil, which you then use in a hands-on introduction to Tra Que village cuisine.
After preparing typical dishes, you sit down to enjoy the delicacies you have cooked.
In the afternoon you explore Hoi An’s charming old town on foot. Its well-preserved streets, merchants’ houses and assembly halls have earned UNESCO World Heritage status. The rest of the day is free; dinner is at your own expense.

• Meals included : Breakfast, lunch
• Accommodation : Overnight in a 3* hotel in Hoi An

Points of Interest : Huế

In the morning you leave Hoi An and drive north towards Hue, crossing the scenic Hai Van Pass. From the top you enjoy sweeping views over Vietnam’s dramatic coastline and mountains.
On arrival in Hue you begin exploring the former imperial capital. You first visit the tomb of Emperor Minh Mang, set in serene landscaped grounds, followed by the historic Thien Mu Pagoda overlooking the Perfume River. Later in the afternoon you discover the imposing imperial citadel, with its palaces, gates and courtyards that once formed the heart of the Nguyen dynasty.
You then return to your hotel for the evening.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Overnight in a 4* hotel in Hue

Points of Interest : Ho-Chi-Minh-Stadt

Early in the morning you are transferred to Hue airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City (VN1369 07:50 – 09:40). After arrival you are welcomed and driven into the city center to start a guided tour of Saigon’s main historical landmarks.
You visit the elegant Central Post Office, the red-brick Notre-Dame Cathedral and the War Remnants Museum, which offers a powerful insight into the country’s recent history. You also stroll along Dong Khoi Street, once known as Rue Catinat, lined with boutiques and colonial-era buildings.
The rest of the day is free at leisure.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Overnight in a 3* hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Points of Interest : Cái Bè

After reaching Cai Be in the Mekong Delta you board a boat and cruise along tranquil waterways, observing daily life along the riverbanks. On Tan Phong Island you leave the boat to walk or cycle along lush village paths and visit some local families to see traditional crafts and rural life.
You then continue by boat towards An Binh Island, where you enjoy charming traditional music and a refreshing cup of tea in a local garden setting.
In the afternoon you visit a local brick kiln before disembarking in Vinh Long and returning by road to Ho Chi Minh City. The evening is at leisure.

• Meals included : Breakfast, lunch
• Accommodation : Overnight in a 3* hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Points of Interest : Siem Reap

You have free time in Ho Chi Minh City until your transfer to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap (VN813 SGN SAI 16:20 – 17:30). Your hotel room in Ho Chi Minh City is available until midday.
On arrival in Siem Reap you are welcomed at the airport and transferred into town to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or start exploring the city on your own. No guiding services are provided today.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Overnight in a 3* hotel in Siem Reap

Points of Interest : Siem Reap

In the morning you travel along a road shaded by centuries-old, towering trees until you suddenly come face to face with a monumental stone gate – the entrance to Angkor Thom. Inside the ancient city you first visit the Bayon Temple, famous for its many serene stone faces, then continue to Baphuon, an 11th-century temple mountain currently restored to its former grandeur.
You admire the 350-meter-long Elephant Terrace, once used for royal ceremonies, before heading to the Terrace of the Leper King, built in the 12th century and richly decorated with beautiful Apsara carvings.
In the afternoon you visit the most iconic temple of all: Angkor Wat, whose soaring towers and bas-reliefs are among the masterpieces of Khmer architecture.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Overnight in a 3* hotel in Siem Reap

Points of Interest : Siem Reap

Today in Siem Reap is entirely at your disposal to follow your own interests. You might choose to revisit certain temples, explore lesser-known sites, go shopping for handicrafts, or simply relax in town.
Lunch and dinner are not included, allowing you to discover local restaurants at your own pace. No guiding or transfer services are provided today.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Overnight in a 3* hotel in Siem Reap

Points of Interest : Siem Reap

You have further free time in Siem Reap to relax or do some last-minute sightseeing or shopping. Hotel rooms are available until 12:00 pm (noon).
At the appropriate time you are transferred without a guide to the airport for your return or onward flight.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Last day : Transfer without guide to Siem Reap airport for your departure flight