Arrive in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).
Xin chao! Welcome to Ho Chi Minh city. You will be greeted by your guide and driver at Tan Son Nhat International airport for your transfer to the hotel.
Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City, is the largest city of Vietnam. It is the bustling economic capital and cultural trendsetter of the country, yet holds the timeless traditions of an ancient culture.
Overnight at the hotel in Saigon
After breakfast at the hotel, head out to discover the city. At the Reunification Palace, the former residence of the President of South Vietnam you can visit the “War Room” from where the South Vietnamese forces were controlled, and the room where the North Vietnamese army finally took control in the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975.
Next visit is the War Remnants Museum, established in September 1975, it was previously known as the “Museum of American War Crimes” and contains countless artefacts and photographs documenting said crimes – the killing of civilians, spreading of chemicals, torturing of prisoners, and the effects of the war on the north. Planes, tanks, bombs, and helicopters are on display, and outside the museum are some rooms displaying cultural products of Vietnam.
Then head to Notre Dame Cathedral, which was built between 1877 and 1883, with most materials imported from France. Neo-Romanesque in form, it is a major centre of Catholicism in modern Vietnam, and one of the city’s major landmarks.
Rest of the afternoon is free at your leisure.
Overnight at the hotel in Saigon
Breakfast is served at the hotel.
The day is free at your leisure until transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your flight to Ha Noi in the morning.
Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam! Hanoi is one of Asia’s most enchanting cities, full of culture, history and the engaging contradictions of a rapidly developing and deeply traditional society. You will be greeted by your guide and driver at Noi Bai International Airport for your transfer to the hotel.
In the afternoon, head out to the Temple of Literature. Dedicated to Confucius, it was built in the 11th century. It was the first university in Vietnam and students still come here to burn incense. We then walk along the beautiful Hung Vuong Avenue and its colonial houses, to the Presidential Palace (formerly Palace of the Governor-General of French Indochina). Visit Ho Chi Minh’s house-on-stilts and the nearby One Pillar Pagoda. Complete your adventure with a true Hanoian slice of life: a fresh beer in a local bia hoi. Afterwards, return to the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi
After breakfast at the hotel, pick up at the hotel lobby and transfer to Ha Long by shuttle bus of cruise.
We drive across the Red River delta and reach the coast a little before noon. We then embark on a beautifully crafted junk for an overnight cruise in the legendary seascape of Ha Long Bay.
Once on board, we are served a delicious seafood-based lunch, while the surrounding limestone outcrops make for a truly magical setting. In the afternoon, we reach a less travelled area where we will devote ourselves to pure relaxation.
The program is not fixed and depends on the time of the year and weather, but there will be an opportunity to visit a cave as well as explore a floating village, or do a little bit of kayaking over the course of these 2 days.
We end the day on the sundeck as the sun sets on this magical seascape. Enjoy an aperitif or attend a cooking demonstration before dinner. Overnight in a comfortable private cabin with an en-suite bathroom.
Note: Cruise itinerary and schedule are subject to change due to weather, tide levels and operating conditions. Swimming or kayaking excursions may be cancelled due to poor weather.
No private guide for Ha Noi – Ha Long – Ha Noi, only English-speaking guide in-house onboard the cruise.
For those early birds, start the day with a proposed Tai Chi session, while tea and coffee are served as the sun rises and illuminates the surrounding seascape. We then continue our exploration of the bay.
Upon returning to the boat, check-out of your cabin and enjoy a light brunch while cruising back to the pier. We disembark and transfer back to your hotel in Hanoi by shuttle bus of cruise.
Overnight at the hotel in Ha Noi
You will be met in the lobby of your hotel for a 30-minute drive to the airport. Embark on your flight to the ancient town of Luang Prabang.
Welcome to Laos! Go through immigration and you will be greeted upon your exit of the airport and thereafter driven to your hotel.
Overnight at the hotel Luang Prabang
Breakfast is served at the hotel.
Half-day Luang Prabang City Highlights Tour on Vintage Tuk-tuk
Today, enjoy a cool way to explore the ancient town of Luang Prabang on our vintage tuk-tuk, from the historical site to the cultural ones as well as the authentic local’s dining.
After breakfast at your hotel, hop on a vintage tuk-tuk vehicle and get ready to see Luang Prabang like no one else. Along the way, let the guide point out the different things to see and tell you more about the history and daily life of the people living in this old town peninsula. Stop at the most reputed and beautiful temple of the city, Wat Xieng Thong – Luang Prabang’s largest and most splendid temple, best known for its impressive Tree of Life mural depicting the Buddhist story.
Continue to the National Museum, housed in the former Royal Palace, which showcases many treasures of Laos’ royal past and features the Prabang, the sacred Buddha image for which Luang Prabang was named. Nearby, Wat Mai is the largest and most richly decorated temple in town. The monastery served as a temple for the royal family and is the residence of the Pra Sangkharat, the highest Laotian Buddhist dignitary
Our next stop is The Traditional Arts & Ethnology Center, which displays a collection of clothing, textiles and ritual objects from over 30 distinct ethnic groups.
Enjoy a healthy lunch with the “Introduction to Laos Cuisine” menu at Tamarind Restaurant. This is no doubt an excellent place to discover Laotian cuisine, with authentic recipes and staff that are always willing to show diners the proper way to eat everything.
Rest of the afternoon is free at your leisure.
Overnight in at the hotel in Luang Prabang
Breakfast is served at the hotel.
You will be met in the lobby of the hotel for a short drive to the airport. Embark on your flight to Siem Reap, where your temples adventure awaits.
Welcome to Cambodia! Go through immigration and you will be greeted upon your exit of the airport and thereafter driven to your hotel.
Rest of the day is free at your leisure.
Overnight in at the hotel in Siem Reap
Breakfast is served at the hotel.
Visit Angkor Wat – Ta Prohm – Angkor Thom Full Day Tour
Today is dedicated to the discovery of the essentials of the Angkor temples. Let’s first explore Angkor Wat, easily the most famous and best-preserved of all temples within the Angkor complex. It is a massive three-tiered structure crowned by five lotus-like towers rising 65-metres from ground level.
Next, visit the ancient walled city of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. Bayon Temple, Baphuon, the royal enclosure, and the Terraces of the Elephants and the Leper King are the main elements of this 12th century masterpiece. A lunch break will be arranged in a local restaurant, at your own expense.
Continue to Ta Prohm Temple, which, unlike most of other Angkor temples, has been left just as it was when rediscovered: a photogenic and atmospheric maze of trees growing out of the ruins. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Note: Appropriate attire when visiting Angkor temples is long pants (covering the knee) and shirts that cover shoulders. Skirts, small shorts, tank tops, and other items of revealing clothing are not allowed within temple grounds. Visitors can and are frequently turned away from temples when wearing revealing clothing.
Overnight at the hotel Siem Reap
Breakfast is served at the hotel.
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight home.
