Classic Indochina

Xin Chao and welcome to the traditional and cultural heart of Vietnam. Upon arrival to Hanoi, our representative will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel for check-in and refreshment.

Enjoy an afternoon tour to get your bearings by walkin around Hoan Kiem Lake. Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the Hanoi city center by visiting Ngọc Sơn Temple and viewing the “Turtle Tower”.

Continuing on, travel by cyclo through the labyrinth of streets dubbed the “Old Quarter”, famous to international guests and locals alike due to its propensity for its chaotic but photogenic and charming nature.

Meals: No meals

Accommodation: Peridot Grand Hotel & Spa

Start your morning by diving into the history of Hanoi by visiting Vietnam’s first university, Quoc Tu Giam, otherwise known as the Temple of Literature. The grounds offer a quiet oasis in the center of Hanoi and will show you an interesting glimpse into the cultural elite’s past, dating back from 1076.

Afterwards, visit the iconic One Pillar Pagoda and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, a monument and tribute to Ho Chi Minh, the “uncle” of modern Vietnam. The mausoleum is closed every October and November, as well as every Monday and Friday throughout the year.

After lunch, enjoy a gentle stroll between West and Truc Bach Lake to the Taoist temple of Quan Thanh and Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda, before stopping at The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. All displays are clearly labeled in English, French, and Vietnamese, with guides available at the main entrance for those who want more in-depth information.  (Closed on Mondays)

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Peridot Grand Hotel & Spa

Following breakfast, head 2.5 hours east to Halong Bay. Established as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994 and newly nominated as one of the new 7 natural wonders of the world, Halong Bay’s otherworldly atmosphere and landscape of emerald green waters, sandy beaches, and thousands of towering limestone karst islands are sure to leave you speechless.

Check into your cabin as we embark on an overnight cruise to experience the bay in all her glory. Activities include cooking demonstrations, a visit to a floating fishing village, kayaking and swimming, depending on the boat’s itinerary and weather.

At the end of the day, the boat will anchor while guests enjoy the cocktail happy hour and fresh seafood dinner. Watch a film or stargaze before retiring to your cabin for a restful sleep.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Bhaya Classic Cruise

Good Morning Vietnam from Halong Bay! Start the morning with some tai chi on the sundeck as the sun rises, and munch on a light breakfast before participating in a cave visit.

Brunch will be served after the cave tour, which gives you time to savor the views as the boat gently glides through the incredible rock formations towards the dock.

Transfer to Noi Bai Airport for a short 80-minute flight to the charming city of Hoi An.

Check into your hotel and enjoy a free evening in this charming city.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Lasenta Boutique Hotel Hoi An

After breakfast, explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hoi An Ancient Town. Hoi An is a very cute and well-preserved town, known for its importance in Vietnam’s history as a major port city from the 15th to 19th century. Take a walking tour through the ancient town, admiring the diverse architecture styles, ranging from wooden Chinese shops to grand French colonial houses, traditional Vietnamese “tube” houses and the iconic Japanese covered bridge. The city is also famous for its many brightly colored and delicately painted lanterns which hang in droves on many different shop walls and doors.

After lunch at a local restaurant, the afternoon is free for you to explore. Check out the wide variety of tailors available throughout the city, shop for ready-made clothing, shoes, bags, quilts, accessories and souvenirs, or sip tea in charming tea houses.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Lasenta Boutique Hotel Hoi An

Drive up the sun-drenched coastline of Vietnam along one of the country’s most famous roads, the Hải Vân – Ocean Cloud Pass to the ancient imperial capital of Hue, stopping along the way at Linh Ung Pagoda to admire the impressive panoramic views of cliffs, beaches, lagoons, and the sea.

Upon arrival to Hue, enjoy a delicious lunch and check into the hotel before visiting Thien Mu Pagoda and the tomb of Emperor Ming Mang, closely resembling that of Chinese architecture, sporting impressive buildings surrounded by picturesque landscape including lakes, gardens, flowers and trees.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Pilgrimage Village

Dive further into the history of Vietnam by visiting the ancient citadel plus two addition tombs of emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty, the last family to rule Vietnam before the French colonial takeover. Although the ancient citadel was badly damaged by the Vietnamese-American War, it is still possible to catch a glimpse of what used to exist here hundreds of years ago in the Forbidden Purple City.

Compare and contrast the tombs of Emperor Tu Duc and Emperor Khai Dinh, one constructed from 1864-1867 with a landscape dominated by a large lake and rustic architecture while the other designed as a hybrid of European and Vietnamese beauty standards.

Transfer to Hue Airport for a short evening flight of 1 hour and 30 minutes to the modern, cosmopolitan city of Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint Hotel

Drive 1.5 hours north of Ho Chi Minh City to experience one of the most powerful symbols of the city and its recent history, the Cu Chi Tunnels. Squeeze through this extensive network of underground tunnels built by the Viet Cong to combat the better-supplied American and South Vietnamese forces, remembering the recent tragedy of war in Vietnam and the hardships many locals faced in this time period.

After lunch, browse the exhibits of the War Remnants Museum and view the former Presidential Palace, which can be viewed from the outside only on certain days.
End the day by visiting colonial Saigon with stops at the photogenic Old Saigon Post Office, Ben Thanh Market, Dong Khoi Street (formerly known as Rue Catinat), the Continental House, City Hall, and of course, the Opera House.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint Hotel

Settle in for a 2-hour car ride this morning to the small town of Ben Tre where we will board our day- cruise to explore the Mekong River Delta, the rice bowl of Asia. Enjoy the landscapes of fertile fields showcasing Vietnam’s natural riches and resources of lush, bright green rice paddies on board the boat while snapping photos of the maze of rivers, mangroves, islands, and swamps.

End the Mekong discovery with a trip on a  sampan, a smaller traditional rowing boat, to better explore the narrow waterways of the Mekong tributaries.

Return to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City in the late afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint Hotel

Savor your last Vietnamese breakfast before checking out of your hotel and transferring to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for a quick 1-hour flight to the capital of the Kingdom of Wonder, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Stroll along the Sisowath Quay Riverwalk and enjoy the wide boulevards flanked by leafy palm trees on either side until we reach the Royal Palace, gleaming in all of its golden glory. See the Throne, Moonlight Pavilion, and of course, the Silver Pagoda, home to the Emerald Buddha and 90 kg solid gold Buddha encrusted with diamonds and jewels.

As the sun begins to set, board your riverboat for a stunning sunset dinner and cocktail cruise along the Mekong and Tonle Sap Rivers. Enjoy a different vantage point of the glittering Royal Palace as the boat gently glides by, and watch the twinkling Phnom Penh skyline as you savor delicious Khmer food and beverages.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Queen Grand Boutique Hotel and Spa

Take time to understand the tragedy of Cambodia’s recent history at one of the most infamous Killing Fields, Chuong Ek. Just one of the 20,000 mass grave sites found within the country, Chuong Ek is now a Buddhist memorial to the estimated 17,000 men, women, and children who were slaughtered here between 1975 and 1979.

After your visit finishes, stop at Tuol Sleng Prison, a former school-turned torture center and only 1 of the 150 execution centers used by the Khmer Rouge regime. Nowadays, it is a Genocide Museum dedicated to the victims and survivors and holds many artifacts kept by the Khmer Rouge such as photographs, clothing, preserved prison cells and other items.

After lunch, the rest of your day is free to discover the city on your own. For those that love history, the National Museum of Cambodia, which holds the world’s leading collection of Khmer art and sculptures and Wat Phnom, a Buddhist temple built in 1373 and the founding site of the city, are perfect ways to spend the afternoon while shoppers can visit the Russian Market or Phsar Thmei to peruse the local wares.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Queen Grand Boutique Hotel and Spa

After breakfast, transfer to Phnom Penh Airport for a short 40-min flight to Siem Reap, the gateway to the magnificent 8th wonder of the world, Angkor Wat.

Upon arrival to Siem Reap, the rest of the day is free for leisure as the town is home to many great restaurants, shopping opportunities, and spa treatments to indulge in.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Lynnaya Urban River Resort & Spa

Meet Cambodia’s epic past with a tour of the Angkor Archaeological Park. One of the most important historical sites in the entire region of Southeast Asia, the City of Temples will surely amaze and astound even the most experienced traveller.

Begin at Angkor Thom, famous for its carved faces pointing out in either direction on top of massive, 75 ft (23 m) towers.Within is the mysterious Bayon Temple, the Mona Lisa of Southeast Asia, located at the exact center of Angkor Thom, with a total of 216 carved faces.

Stops will also include the Elephant Terrace, the Leper Terrace, before moving on to the popular Ta Prohm, recognizable from the film Tomb Raider.

Lastly, in the hot afternoon sun, gaze at the magnificent Angkor Wat. This masterpiece is the largest city in the Angkor Park and is considered one of the best preserved ancient monuments in the world due to its perfect composition, balance and artistic design.

Behold the unsurpassed beauty as the sun slowly sets behind Angkor Wat, and then return to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Lynnaya Urban River Resort & Spa

Watch the morning sunlight bathe Banteay Srei, the citadel of women, in a soft glow. Constructed from pink sandstone and renowned for its details Khmer art carvings, Banteay Srei is unlike any other temple in the entire Angkor Archaeological Park.  Afterwards, pass by Banteay Samre to see the well-preserved libraries.

Return to the resort and have some downtime until the evening dinner buffet during a classical performance of the Cambodian ballet, the intricate Apsara dance.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Lynnaya Urban River Resort & Spa

Board a small boat and discover the largest freshwater lake in the entire region of Southeast Asia, the Tonle Sap. As the boat glides along, visit a floating fishing village and observe the daily local life before returning to Siem Reap for a 90-minute flight to Luang Prabang.

This beautiful town is famous for its blend of local and colonial culture and architecture. Surrounded by the mighty Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers, the city center is an easy place to stroll and admire the simple and classic beauty of both natural and man-made creations.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Mekong Riverview Hotel

Start the morning with a visit to some of the most important temples in Luang Prabang, most notably Wat Xieng Thong, a black and red temple with lavish gold stenciling dating back to the 16th century, Wat Visoun, the Melon Stupa and Wat Aham.

After the temple visits, take a scenic 1-hour drive south through dense forest to visit the magical Kuang Si Waterfalls and the Kuang Si Bear Sanctuary. Have a swim in the turquoise waters and snack on a delicious packed picnic lunch before returning to Luang Prabang.

Enroute, stop at a colourful ethnic Hmong Village to learn about one of the 49 recognized ethnic groups in the area.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Mekong Riverview Hotel

Learn why Laos is called the land of a million elephants with a trip to the Mandalao Elephant Conservation Center just outside of Luang Prabang. Throughout the day, get up close with the elephants as you feed, bathe, and play with them after a short training course from a Mahout. Enjoy a lunch at the camp before visiting Pak Ou Caves, a spiritual site with over 1000 Buddha images are kept.

Return to Luang Prabang by slow boat, stopping along the way to visit the Lao Whisky Village to see the process of how villagers make the potent Lau Lao, a special type of whiskey made from rice.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Mekong Riverview Hotel

Rise before the sun and take part in the iconic tradition of Luang Prabang, offering alms to a long line of monks in dusky saffron robes at Ban Vat Sean. Typical alms givings are usually of simple food such as rice or fruit so that the monks can have their one meal per day.

After the ceremony, return to the hotel for breakfast before checking out of the hotel and flying 40 minutes south to the capital of Laos, vibrant Vientiane.

Upon arrival to Vientiane, check into your cute boutique hotel and enjoy a free afternoon to explore the small city center.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Salana Boutique Hotel

Spend the day visiting the city’s most important temples, such as Vat Visaket with its thousands of small Buddhas, Haw Phra Kaew, the home of the emerald Buddha before it was stolen by the Thai, and the historic Wat Pha That Luang, glimmering in gold over 44 m high.

Admire Patuxai, an arch resembling the French Arc de Triomphe but decorated with a classic Lao twist. Then, take a leisurely drive out of town along the Mekong River to the quirky Buddha Park. Buddha Park is a meadow devoted to 200 religious sculptures, the most popular being a huge 40-m high reclining Buddha.

The rest of the day is free for your leisure. Laze the day away drinking coffee in chic colonial-styled cafes along the river or perhaps go for a romantic evening stroll to catch the sunset.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Salana Boutique Hotel

Enjoy a lazy morning with a delicious breakfast and then transfer to Vientiane Airport for your onward travel arrangements.

Meals: Breakfast