On arrival in Siem Reap or Phnom Penh International airport, you will be met by an English-speaking representative and transfer to your hotel. Please note: Early check in is not included. If your flight arrives in the morning and you wish to arrange this, please speak to your reservations consultant. An informal Welcome Dinner will be held on Day 1. If you miss this due to your arrival time, all information will be provided to you at breakfast the following morning. Additional night's before and after your tour can be arranged.

This morning, explore the less-visited Beng Mealea (Khmer: ‘lotus pond’), a mysterious sandstone temple reclaimed by the Cambodian jungle. Dating back some nine centuries and built originally as a Hindu temple to Vishnu, its ruins are wreathed in vines and colossal tree roots now swallow its stones. Explore on foot via the wooden walkways and bridges around the site. Continue on to Tonle Sap. This afternoon’s excursions are seasonal: In the high-water season, you will travel to Kompong Khleang, a unique village on stilts, while in the low-water season you will visit Chong Kneas floating village. Return to Siem Reap via a Cambodian artistry assembly, Artisan D’Angkor, a community workshop which teaches local youths the traditional arts of Cambodia. This evening, enjoy a traditional Apsara dance performance at dinner.

Spanning from the 9th to 15th century, the Angkor complex was the capital of the thriving Khmer Empire, and home to over 1,000 temples. Begin at the city of Angkor Thom, built by Jayavarman VII. Here, sights include the enigmatic Bayon, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. One of the most evocative ruins here is to the temple of Ta Prohm, enveloped in a labyrinth of jungle. This afternoon is devoted to the fascinating and awe-inspiring Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world and nationally considered to be Cambodia’s spiritual heart. Later, relax on board a boat and view the sunset on Angkor Thom’s moat. Please note: Your group will drive approximately 6km out of town to the main entrance gate to get your entrance passes, which you must carry with you. Please be aware that the Central Tower of the Wat complex is closed on Buddhist holidays, and on all other days has a limited number of visitors allowed at any given time, under UNESCO regulations. If you wish to visit this tower, you will be required to wait in the queue alongside all other visitors. The ability to do this will be determined upon the groups’ schedule. If you choose to climb at any site, you must be able to climb and descend without assistance.

Depart Siem Reap and fly 1 hour to Phnom Penh, a city of attractive boulevards. Visit the Cambodian Royal Palace and the opulent Silver Pagoda before travelli ng to the National Museum, home to an extensive number of artefacts. Sightseeing today will involve approximately 3 hours on foot.

Visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum for a harrowing insight into Cambodia’s tumultuous past. This sombre museum was the site of the Khmer Rouge Security Prison 21, a torture and execution centre built within a former secondary school during the regime of Pol Pot. It now stands as a museum, commemorating the atrocities that occurred here. Many people find it quite confronting and emotional; you will be given time to explore on your own. Later, continue to the hilltop temple of Wat Phnom at the heart of the city before your 1-hour flight to Ho Chi Minh City （Saigon）, where you will meet your Vietnamese National Escort.

Confront the reality of guerrilla warfare at the Cu Chi Tunnels. The cramped tunnels were central to a few of the war’s strategic operations, including the famous 1968 Tet Offensive, and they did not escape damage. American B52 bombers dropped hundreds of missiles leaving huge tell-tale craters behind. The Cu Chi experience can be emotional for some visitors, but it offers a fascinating window into the hardship and traumas of war. Sightseeing here involves two hours on foot on uneven mud paths through the bush and, if you choose, crawling through some of the tunnels. Continue the day with further insights at the Reunification Palace and the chilling War Remnants Museum, before finishing at Ben Thanh Market.

Drive two and a half hours down to the picturesque province of Ben Tre, situated along the mighty Mekong. This area is known as the ‘rice basket of Vietnam’, because its rich and fertile lands produce huge amounts of rice, coconuts, vegetables and tropical fruit. Spend the day exploring, travelling by motorboat between the islands and changing to smaller paddleboats in the canals. Sightseeing involves hopping on and off these boats, often on unsteady and slippery surfaces, sometimes without handrails or assistance. Return to Saigon this afternoon.

Explore modern-day Saigon, with its heady mix of local culture and colonial influences. See Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office and the beautiful Thien Hau Pagoda. Transfer to the airport for your 1h20 flight to Da Nang Airport. From here, transfer 45 minutes to your hotel in Hoi An and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

This morning, visit Tra Que Village, a local farming project just outside of Hoi An. Here, the community has come together to create a large vegetable farm. Learn the traditional methods used by the farmers, then try your hand at raking the ground and sowing seeds. This afternoon, enjoy a walking tour of Hoi An’s narrow ancient streets. We will visit one of the town’s oldest homes, built by a merchant family over 200 years ago and still occupied by their descendants. We will also visit the traditional Hoi An Market, the Quan Cong Chinese Temple and the Japanese Covered Bridge. Stop at the Reaching Out Arts and Crafts Workshop to see the social enterprise work happening here.

Today, drive approximately 4 hours to Hue via the scenic Hai Van Pass. Hue is the physical embodiment of Vietnam’s dynamic past and considered a scholarly city. Here, visit the seven-storey Thien Mu Pagoda and take a cruise on the Perfume River. The next day morning, visit the tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh, an unusual architectural combination that blends a traditional Chinese past with a modern Western future. Continue to Minh Mang Tomb to explore the opulent and exotic resting place laid out in formal Chinese style. Afterwards, move on to a beautiful old maison that has been transformed to Truc Chi – an art space and workshop – by a team of enthusiastic young artists. Learn more about Truc Chi and have the chance to buy their hand-made products (passport covers, fans or candle boxes made from bamboo pulp). After lunch, visit the imposing Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Purple City.

After breakfast, fly 1 hour and 20 minutes to the charming capital city of Hanoi. This afternoon, take a cyclo tour of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Each cyclo takes one passenger and is operated by a cycle driver behind the carriage. Wrap up your ride with a strong Vietnamese coffee at a café overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake – an important symbol of Vietnamese folklore.

Drive around 2 and a half hours today from Hanoi to Halong, where you will take an overnight cruise to the far-most corners of the bay by boat. There is usually a crowd of boats at the docks; however, the cruise itself will be scenic and relaxing. Boarding your boat could involve navigating your way over and through other boats, moored between it and the dock, sometimes without handrails, ladders or assistance from staff. The boats have an enclosed dining area and an open area on the upper deck. Enjoy lunch onboard as you cruise out into the bay, stopping to anchor for an afternoon of activities (which are subject to change due to cruise selection and weather conditions). Sightseeing includes visiting underground caves on the islands, which require climbing up and down steps inside and outside of the caves. End the day on deck with a drink in hand to watch the sunset over the bay followed by a freshly prepared dinner, before retiring to your cabin for the night. You will need to pack a smaller overnight bag for your trip to Halong Bay. Main luggage will be left in safe storage at the hotel in Hanoi and picked up your return. Please note: Weather conditions such as mist, fog, wind, rain and storms may delay the departure time of your cruise, or in some cases your cruise may be cancelled. Notifications of any delays or cancellations may not be known until your group’s arrival in Halong Bay. If your cruise is cancelled after your arrival in Halong Bay, you will have lunch in Halong City and return to Hanoi. If notification of the cruise cancellation is given prior to your departure for Halong Bay an alternative day trip will be arranged to Hoa Lu and Tam Coc or ‘Halong Bay on Land’, an area located approximately 2 hours from Hanoi. Our guides will make every effort to inform the group at the earliest possible moment should there be any itinerary changes. The next day, spend the morning sailing through Halong Bay. After an early lunch （or brunch meal） disembark your cruise and return to Hanoi. This evening, attend The Quintessence of Tonkin show, an artistic open-air performance celebrating the rich history of northern Vietnam.

Discover the sights of Hanoi today. First stop will be Ba Dinh Square, then the Ho Chi Minh Quarter and pass Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, followed by the Humble House on Stilts and the One Pillar Pagoda. Next, drive to the serene Temple of Literature, Hanoi’s first university.

Any time before your flight is at leisure and breakfast will be included. You will be transferred from your hotel for approximately 1 hour to Noi Bai International Airport, according to the departure time of your international flight. Late check-out is not included. Additional night's before and after your tour can be arranged.