Vietnam & Cambodia Scenic Journey – 23 Days

After breakfast, explore Hanoi’s cultural landmarks at the Ho Chi Minh Complex, including the Mausoleum, stilt house, Presidential Palace, and One Pillar Pagoda. Visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, founded in 1070. After lunch, tour the Museum of Ethnology, showcasing Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. Take a 1-hour cyclo ride through the vibrant Old Quarter’s 36 streets, then visit Long Bien Bridge and Tran Phu train track. Conclude with a traditional water puppet show, a quintessential Hanoi experience. Overnight in Hanoi.

After breakfast, drive to Halong Bay, stopping briefly in Hai Duong Province. Arrive at Hon Gai Pier around noon, board a luxurious cruise, and enjoy welcome drinks and a safety briefing. Savor a set-menu lunch while cruising through Halong Bay’s stunning limestone karsts. Visit Thien Son Canh Cave in Bai Tu Long Bay, marveling at its stalactites and stalagmites. Enjoy a tea break, then kayak or relax on the sundeck. Participate in a spring roll cooking class as the cruise anchors at Cong Do for the night. Dinner is served onboard. Overnight on the cruise.

Begin with a Tai Chi session on the sundeck and breakfast. Cruise to Cap La Geological Park, kayaking among thousands of islets for panoramic views of Bai Tu Long Bay. Relax on a private beach or continue kayaking. Enjoy lunch in a romantic bay setting, then visit Vung Vieng, the largest floating village in Bai Tu Long, by bamboo rowing boat. Join another spring roll cooking class as the cruise returns to Cong Do. Savor dinner and relax. Overnight on the cruise.

Watch the sunrise during breakfast, then kayak in the Cong Do and Be Ong Dau areas or relax onboard. Capture photos of Halong Bay’s iconic scenery. The cruise returns to Hon Gai Pier, where you disembark after a farewell lunch. Drive back to Hanoi, arriving in the early afternoon. Check into your hotel and enjoy free time for shopping or exploring. Overnight in Hanoi.

After breakfast, travel to Pu Luong Nature Reserve, a haven for nature lovers with its mountain ranges, rivers, waterfalls, and terraced rice fields. Trek through a scenic valley, passing tumbling rice terraces to Uoi Village, nestled at the base of a towering mountain. Cycle around Lan Village, optionally visiting a family to learn about traditional brocade weaving (time permitting). Enjoy a BBQ dinner at the Eco Garden – Mountain Retreat, surrounded by a cool, tranquil atmosphere. Overnight in Pu Luong.

After breakfast, soak in the retreat’s breathtaking views. Trek 6 km through terraced rice fields to Kho Muong Village, learning about local life. Explore Doi Cave (Bat Cave), Pu Luong’s largest, weather permitting. Return to the retreat for lunch and free time to relax or stroll the village. In the afternoon, drive to Ninh Binh, check into a retreat, and enjoy dinner. Overnight in Ninh Binh.

After breakfast, cycle through limestone karsts to Hoa Lu, the 10th-century ancient capital. Visit the temples of Emperors Dinh and Le, then hike Ma Yen Mountain to see a king’s tomb and panoramic views. Stop at a local home to share tea and observe daily life. After lunch, take a boat trip through Trang An’s serene karst landscapes. Return to Hanoi by bus, check into your hotel, and relax. Overnight in Hanoi.

After breakfast, fly to Hue, Vietnam’s former imperial capital. Upon arrival, your guide and driver escort you to your hotel. Explore the UNESCO-listed Hue Imperial Citadel, the political center of the Nguyen Dynasty, and the Forbidden Purple City. Visit the Hue Imperial Tombs along the Perfume River, then stroll through Dong Ba Market, Hue’s largest, to experience local life and sample street food. Return to your hotel for the evening. Overnight in Hue.

Option 1: Thuy Bieu Eco-Village After breakfast, drive to Toa Kham wharf for a Perfume River cruise to Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue’s iconic riverside landmark. Stop at Dong Ba Market to gather ingredients for a cooking class, then cruise to Thuy Bieu village. Walk or bike through the village, visiting gardens, ancestral temples, and families crafting incense and joss paper. Join a paper-painting family to view local art. Participate in a cooking class at Thuy Bieu restaurant, enjoying traditional Hue dishes. Relax with a medicinal herb foot soak and massage by visually impaired therapists before returning to your hotel.

Option 2: Thanh Toan Village Cycle to Thanh Toan Bridge, a Chinese-style covered bridge, passing verdant fields and villages. Visit the Thanh Toan Agricultural Museum to learn about local farming traditions. Explore the bridge’s history and the nearby market, observing daily life and local products. Continue to handicraft villages crafting conical hats (non la). Pedal back to Hue, exploring the city before returning to your hotel. Overnight in Hue.

After breakfast, take a dragon boat along the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, enjoying poetic views of Hue. Visit the historic tombs of Kings Khai Dinh and Tu Duc. Board a train to Danang along scenic Highway 1A, stopping to admire Lang Co Beach and Danang’s coastline. In Danang, visit the Cham Museum, home to extensive Cham artifacts, China Beach, and Marble Mountains, symbolizing the five elements. Drive to Hoi An and relax for the evening. Overnight in Hoi An.

Begin with a Farming & Fishing Eco Tour at Tra Que Village, assisting farmers with sowing, fertilizing, and watering using traditional methods. Cycle through the countryside, observing rural life. Board an eco-tour boat to meet local fishermen, try traditional net fishing, and race a bamboo basket boat through coconut palm-lined waterways. Enjoy lunch with vegetables from Tra Que. In the afternoon, take a walking tour of Hoi An’s ancient town, visiting the Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky Old House, Pottery Museum, Cantonese Congregation, silk street, and Chinese-style temples. Overnight in Hoi An.

Enjoy a free day to explore Hoi An’s ancient streets, relax on the beach, or visit local shops and cafés. Overnight in Hoi An.

After breakfast, enjoy free time until your transfer to Danang Airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, your guide and driver escort you to a centrally located hotel. Spend the evening at leisure, exploring Saigon’s vibrant streets. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast, drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels, known as the “Iron Triangle,” to explore the underground network used during the Vietnam War (weather permitting). Watch an introductory video, view mantraps, bomb craters, and remnants of an American tank. Return to Ho Chi Minh City for lunch. Visit the Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Saigon Central Post Office, admiring French-colonial architecture. Conclude at Ben Thanh Market, a bustling hub of local commerce. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Depart at 8:00 AM for Vinh Long, cruising to Cai Be Floating Market to observe vibrant trade. Visit workshops crafting rice paste, coconut candy, and pop-rice, or explore a handicraft village producing rice-nets, fish sauce, and coconut-leaf roofs. Row through narrow canals, passing traditional wooden houses and observing local life. Enjoy lunch at a local family’s home, tasting fresh fruits and traditional music. Cycle along village paths, seeing farms and ancestral fruit-picking methods. Drive to Can Tho and check into your hotel. Overnight in Can Tho.

Rise early for a boat trip to Cai Rang Floating Market, the Mekong Delta’s largest, where vendors trade from boats. Return to the hotel for breakfast and relaxation. At noon, drive to Chau Doc and visit Tra Su Cajuput Forest, a serene ecosystem with boat rides through flooded forests. Check into your hotel in Chau Doc. Overnight in Chau Doc.

After breakfast, board a speedboat to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Upon arrival, your guide and driver transfer you to your hotel. In the afternoon, tour the National Museum and Royal Palace, including the Silver Pagoda with its Italian marble steps and 500+ silver blocks. Visit the Throne Hall, Royal Treasury Hall, and Napoleon III Villa. In the evening, take a cyclo excursion along the Mekong Riverfront, passing Wat Phnom, a significant city landmark. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

After breakfast, drive 15 km to Beoung Cheoung Ek Memorial (Killing Fields) and watch a documentary on the Khmer Rouge regime. Visit Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21), a former prison, and the memorial stupa honoring victims. Transfer to the airport for a flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, your guide and driver escort you to your hotel. Overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, drive 70 km to Kulen Mountain. Climb to visit a grand waterfall, ancient stream with carved lingams, and a reclining Buddha statue on a giant rock. Swim at the waterfall and enjoy a picnic lunch. Descend and visit Beng Mealea, a jungle-swallowed temple offering an untouched glimpse of Khmer ruins. Return to Siem Reap. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Explore the Angkor Complex by tuk-tuk, entering Angkor Thom through the Southern Gate, flanked by gods and demons. Visit the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, Elephant Terrace, and Terrace of the Leper King. Admire Bayon’s stone face carvings and Ta Prohm’s moss-covered ruins. In the afternoon, tour Angkor Wat, a Khmer architectural masterpiece. Capture a stunning sunset from Pre Rup temple. Overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, drive 30 minutes to Banteay Srei, the “Citadel of Women,” known for its pink sandstone and intricate carvings. Visit the Angkor National Museum for insights into the Khmer Kingdom. Take a wooden boat to Kampong Phluck floating village, observing fishermen’s daily lives and optionally trying fishing. Visit Le Artisans d’Angkor, a fine arts school. Fly to Ho Chi Minh City, check into a hotel near the airport, and explore Saigon at night. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Enjoy free time until your transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your departure flight, concluding a remarkable 23-day journey through Vietnam and Cambodia.