Days 1-3 – Flavours of Hanoi
Hanoi is a capital city crammed with character. Motorbikes zip through tangled streets, food hawkers serve up steaming bowls of pho and fruit stalls spill onto shady boulevards. You’ll stay in the heart of the atmospheric Old Quarter and during your stay you’ll embark on a culinary and cultural journey through Hanoi with your private guide. You’ll learn all about local legends, admire the ancient architecture and taste a range of delicacies from grilled pork to vermicelli dumplings as you wander the streets of the Old Quarter.
Days 3-4 – Drift between limestone peaks
This morning you’ll have an early start ready for your journey to the limestone islands of Bai Tu Long Bay. You’ll be picked up from your hotel by minibus and transferred to Hon Gai harbour which is about 4 hours outside of the city. A turquoise bay peppered with tropical outcrops, Bai Tu Long Bay is every bit as beautiful as neighbouring Halong, but with fewer crowds. Rich in stunning views, you’ll drift between emerald karst islets and laze on tiny beaches. You’ll stay aboard a traditional Chinese junk boat, rocked to sleep by the rhythm of the water.
Days 4-7 – Classic Hoi An
At the harbour you’ll board the minibus back to Hanoi. En route you’ll make a stop at a local farming village. Back in Hanoi you’ll catch a 90 minute flight down to Danang, from where we’ll arrange for a private transfer to take you the 45 minutes further on to Hoi An. Watch lanterns twinkle along the river and meet the local tailors in Hoi An, Vietnam’s most atmospheric town. A jumble of crumbling Chinese shop houses, artist studios and riverside restaurants, it’s crammed with charm. The pace is slow and the food is scrumptious. In recent years, Hoi An has become something of a national treasure with its day dreamy, timeless atmosphere. While there, you’ll join a small group for a cooking class, starting with a visit to the vibrant local market to pick up fresh ingredients. After learning to cook traditional Vietnamese dishes, you’ll enjoy a leisurely lunch of your creations, leaving the afternoon free for you to explore.
Days 7-8 – Scooting through Saigon
We’ll arrange for a private transfer to pick you up from your hotel and transfer you back to Danang airport. Here you’ll catch a flight on to Ho Chi Minh City where we’ll sort out your transfer to your hotel. Direct flights take roughly 90 minutes. Scoot through Saigon on a vintage Vespa, searching for hidden street food hotspots. Zip through the backstreets after dark, sample the best traditional snacks in the city and listen to live music as you sip on Vietnamese coffee. It’s a night tour and foodie adventure rolled into one. After all, Ho Chi Minh is a city that comes alive as night falls. You’ll stay in a comfy hotel near the central market.
Days 8-10 – Along the Mekong to Cambodia
Early this morning, your minibus will arrive to transfer you to the Mekong Delta, a road journey of roughly 2.5 hours, from where you’ll head out onto the water. Visit riverbank villages and riotous floating markets as you drift through the Mekong Delta into Cambodia. As you sail between small islands you’ll watch daily delta life unfold around you, and you’ll stay in two of the Mekong’s most important cities. En route, you’ll explore Tiger Island by rickshaw and watch some stunning Mekong sunsets. Before you know it, you’ll be in Cambodia, where the adventure continues.
Days 10-12 – Past and present in Phnom Penh
Next, you’ll travel for about 3 hours by speedboat to Cambodia, stopping at the border to buy your Cambodia visa. You’ll arrive into the harbour of Phnom Penh where you can take a tuk-tuk to your hotel. Explore Phnom Penh, a city that pulses with energy, history and survival. It’s a colourful riot of sights, sounds, monks, motorbikes and tangy aromas, packed with character. During this trip, you’ll visit the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng, both scenes of unthinkable atrocity that bring the horror of Cambodia’s past to life. You can also explore the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda as they sparkle in the sunshine.
Days 12-15 – Amazing Angkor!
We’ll arrange for a transfer to take you to the bus station where you’ll jump aboard the bus to Siem Reap. Today’s journey will take about 6 hours. Get lost amongst the overgrown jungle temples and giant carved reliefs of Angkor, one of the man-made wonders of the world. During this trip, you’ll spend three days exploring the temples of Angkor, using Siem Reap as your base. You’ll learn about the ruins with a friendly local guide, but there will also be plenty of time for you to clamber between jungle temples independently. We’ll arrange your transfer to the airport ready to catch your international flight back to the UK.
Accommodation
For this itinerary we offer the following options
Sapphire Seas and Towering Temples - In Style accommodation
For the locations included in this itinerary we have alternative options available in terms of comfort. Our In Style options can be more luxurious, offer something unique or offer a more comfortable transport option – all with that local flavour! If you would like to upgrade your itinerary select our In Style option below.