Depart from San Francisco or Los Angeles on Singapore Airlines or major airlines to Hanoi, Vietnam
Arrival in Hanoi
Upon clearing Customs and Immigration, your guide will present you with a welcome packet including all necessary documentation and vouchers and all contact information of your guide and local offices.
Transfer by air conditioned vehicle
Overnight in in Hanoi
Breakfast at hotel
Sightseeing in Hanoi Full Day
Today we check in to the Hanoi Hilton. Unfortunately not the luxury hotel - instead the notorious Hoa Lo Prison used for Vietnamese political prisoners, and later for US prisoners of war. Nothing can really prepare us for how creepy this place is! There's war relics, photographs, shackles, even the original guillotine.
Through the windows we can view Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House, while the man himself lies embalmed nearby in an austere mausoleum.
At Hoan Kiem Lake, we can collect our thoughts over a cup of Vietnamese coffee in a local cafe.
Today's Highlights: Hoa Lo Prison, Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex, One Pillar Pagoda, Vietnam Military Museum, Hoan Kiem Lake (9 hours)
Breakfast at hotel
Transfer from Hanoi to Halong Bay (160 kms)
Aboard the traditional cruise through Halong Bay without guide
Depart from Hanoi to Halong Bay; en route take a short stop for a break. Transfer with a tender to the comfortable cruise and enjoy a welcome drink aboard. Begin the cruise through majestic Halong Bay while lunch is served. Enjoy the magical bay where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragon's teeth. The cruise continues cruising through a fishing village on the bay and passes the spectacular limestone caves dotted around the bay. Soak up the sun on the top deck with optional on-board activities: sunbathing, and photo opportunities. In the evening the chef will prepare a splendid meal comprised of fresh seafood dishes and other traditional dishes. Overnight on-board.
Overnight on cruise
Breakfast at cruise
Aboard the traditional cruise through Halong Bay
Greet the day with a morning Tai Chi exercise that offer a perfect opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, visit a beautiful limestone grotto then back to the boat for a final glimpse of the Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock. Check out luggage and bid tidings to beautiful Halong Bay.
Transfer from Halong to Noi Bai Airport (160 kms)
Arrival in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)
Transfer from airport to hotel
Overnight in Saigon
Breakfast at the hotel
Sightseeing in Saigon Full Day
Ever-vibrant, ever-changing - this is the buzzing city of Saigon, where sleek skyscrapers loom over incense-infused temples and motorcycles rule the roads. There's classic European-style landmarks such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Opera House, the ornate City Hall and the art-deco Post Office. Reminders of a recent past can be seen in the Reunification Palace, famously stormed by tanks in 1975. We'll head out to Cholon, the historic Chinatown district to discover colonial-era gems, Chinese temples and vivacious street life. Make sure you save some energy for browsing the stalls in the bustling Ben Thanh Market. We'll also get to try a cup of Vietnamese coffee - strong and flavourful, and often made with yoghurt or eggs! Today's Highlights: Rue Catinat, Reunification Palace, Emperor of Jade Pagoda, Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, Ben Thanh Market, Cholon (8 hours)
Overnight in Saigon
Breakfast at the cruise
Mekong Delta Full Day
A boat is our first mode of transport from Ben Tre. We'll sail down narrow canals to rustic workshops to see locals at work making bricks, rush mattresses and processing coconuts. We'll cycle on bumpy paths through the rice paddies and farms. Stops will be made to see how local cakes and coconut candy are made. We'll also visit the local market and the unique Cao Dai Temple.
Today's Highlights: Boat ride, bicycle, cottage industries, market, Cao Dai Temple (6.5 hours)
Overnight in Saigon
Breakfast at the hotel
Excursion to Cu Chi Tunnels
We're going underground - deep into the Cu Chi Tunnels! These hand-dug tunnels changed the course of the Vietnam War. The well-camouflaged entrance holes lead into a network of incredibly narrow tunnels that stretch for over 200 kilometres connecting command posts, hospitals and shelters. We'll learn about the life of the Vietcong and venture into some of the tunnels. The deadly, bamboo-spiked booby traps are another must-see.
Transfer from hotel to airport
Arrival in Siem Reap
Upon clearing Customs and Immigration, your guide will present you with a welcome packet including all necessary documentation and vouchers and all contact information of your guide and local offices.
Transfer from airport to hotel
Overnight in Siem Reap
Breakfast at the hotel
Sightseeing in Angkor Full Day
Be prepared to be overwhelmed as today is all about Angkor. No doubt you've seen photos of the epic Angkor Wat, the largest and most important of the Angkor Temples, full of courtyards and carvings. Then there's the mysterious Bayon Temple with its giant smiling stone faces. And let's not forget the haunting beauty of Ta Phrom - left to the clutches of the jungle, bound by the roots of massive trees. But nothing can prepare you for the sheer scale and the spiritual atmosphere that you will experience when seeing these ancient monuments in real life. We will of course, visit all the above, plus many more renowned and lesser known temples. To end a perfect day, we'll climb to the upper terraces of one of the ancient temples to view the sunset. Today's Highlights: Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom (Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper Kings, Baphuon, Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, Bayon Temple), Ta Prohm, sunset view from an ancient temple. (9 hours)
Overnight in Siem Reap
Breakfast at the hotel
Boat trip around Kampong Kleang (4 hours)
All you need to do today is sit back on a boat, relax and enjoy the views of Kampong Kleang, a fishing community on the edge of the Tonle Sap Lake. We'll cruise past wooden houses built on towering stilts, submerged forests and fish farms.
Overnight in Siem Reap
From FEB-JUL: clients will visit Kampong Kleang without boat
Breakfast at hotel
Transfer to airport for your flight to next destination