Xin chào! Welcome to Hanoi—a timeless tapestry of tree-lined boulevards, French-colonial facades and the humming lanes of the Old Quarter. On landing at Nội Bài International Airport (HAN), you’ll be warmly greeted by your local English-speaking guide and transferred to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is at leisure to shake off jet lag, wander serene Hoàn Kiếm Lake, or savour your first bowl of steaming phở as scooters whisper past and temple bells drift on the air.

As dusk washes the city in gold, lanterns bloom above narrow shopfronts and the scent of herbs, coffee and charcoal grills fills the streets. Whether you choose a gentle stroll to the Ngọc Sơn Temple causeway or a quiet cup of egg coffee in a tucked-away café, tonight sets the rhythm for your Hanoi chapter—authentic, atmospheric and unhurried.

Overnight: Hanoi.

After a hearty breakfast, dive into the soul of Hanoi with a guided journey through its most evocative landmarks. Begin at the Ho Chi Minh Complex on Ba Đình Square, where the sombre lines of Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum contrast with his simple stilt house set among lotus ponds and whispering frangipani. Nearby, pause at the iconic One Pillar Pagoda—a tiny wooden sanctuary rising from a stone column since 1049, symbolising purity and renewal.

Continue to tranquil Trấn Quốc Pagoda, the city’s oldest Buddhist temple, poised on a small islet in West Lake. Admire its vermilion stupa, ancient bodhi tree and lakeside serenity before the city beckons once more.

This afternoon, step into the scholarly hush of the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university (1070), where turtle stelae and cloistered courtyards honour centuries of learning. Your driver then drops you by scenic Hoàn Kiếm Lake: stroll the lakeside paths and slip into the Old Quarter—a living maze of 36 guild streets thrumming with traders, tailors, spices and silver. Tuck into a hidden café for a classic egg coffee before returning to your hotel. Evening at leisure.

Overnight: Hanoi — a full day of Hanoi sightseeing combining the Ho Chi Minh Complex, Temple of Literature, West Lake, Hoàn Kiếm Lake and the Old Quarter, with optional evening experiences to deepen your city immersion.

After breakfast and hotel check-out, leave the urban rhythm of Hanoi behind and trace a scenic course into the emerald folds of Pu Luong Nature Reserve, a hidden gem in Thanh Hóa province. The road unfurls past bamboo groves and stilt houses, through valleys bright with terraced rice fields and forests alive with birdsong—an ever-changing window into the land and lifeways of the Thai and Muong ethnic communities.

On arrival, freshen up before setting out for a gentle countryside discovery. A short drive brings you to Đông Điểng Village (~7 km /~20 minutes). From the drop-off point, begin your easy trek across a mosaic of terraces towards Khó Mường Village. With your local guide, learn to spot edible leaves and medicinal plants—many villagers can identify 20–30 common herbs (and some as many as 50) at a glance. In Khó Mường, visit a traditional Thai stilt house and see how foraged herbs are blended for a traditional herbal foot-bath, prized for its soothing, circulatory and skin-calming benefits. As the light turns honey-gold, pause for a sunset vantage over rippling paddies before returning to your retreat/homestay in the late afternoon. Overnight in Pu Luong.

This day blends a scenic drive from Hanoi to Pu Luong with an easy trek through terraced rice fields, immersion in Thai & Muong culture, and a hands-on look at traditional herbal remedies—capped by a golden sunset over the valleys.

After breakfast, depart Phong Nha for the storied landscapes of Vietnam’s Demilitarised Zone (DMZ)—a corridor where jungle-clad hills and quiet hamlets once framed some of the fiercest chapters of the war. Your first stop is the extraordinary Vinh Mốc Tunnels, a subterranean warren where entire communities lived, worked and gave birth beneath the earth to survive bombardment. Narrow passageways open to family alcoves, meeting chambers and ventilation shafts—a powerful testimony to endurance.

Continue to the Hiền Lương Bridge spanning the Bến Hải River—the former line that split North and South Vietnam. Wind along sections of the historic Hồ Chí Minh Trail, once the lifeline of supplies through dense forest, before reaching the Khe Sanh Combat Base. Now a museum, the red-dirt airstrip, rusting armour and sandbagged bunkers evoke a visceral sense of place against rolling highland scenery.

By late afternoon, the road bends south toward imperial Huế. Check in on arrival; the evening is yours—stroll the Perfume River promenade, sample fragrant bún bò Huế, or simply unwind at your hotel. Overnight in Huế.

A profound day tracing Vietnam DMZ history—from the Vinh Mốc Tunnels to Khe Sanh Combat Base—before arriving in imperial Hue, poised for citadel walls, royal cuisine and Perfume River evenings.

After breakfast and check-out, trade mountain mist for river sheen as you journey from Pu Luong to Ninh Binh (~128 km • ~3 hours). The road slips through patchwork valleys, beside bamboo hedgerows and village markets, before opening to a cinematic world of limestone karsts, serpentine rivers and emerald paddies—Vietnam’s famed “Hạ Long Bay on land.”

On arrival, check in to your hotel and enjoy the afternoon at leisure: wander sleepy lanes, hire a bicycle for an easy spin past mirror-still canals, or simply watch dusk pour honey light over the karst silhouettes. Overnight in Ninh Binh.

From Pu Luong’s mountains to Ninh Binh’s karst valleys, today blends a scenic transfer with time to explore or upgrade your experience on the Tam Coc boat tour and Mua Cave viewpoint—signature highlights of Ninh Binh, Vietnam.

After breakfast and hotel check-out, depart Ninh Binh for the eastward journey to the storied waters of Hạ Long Bay (~206 km, ~3 hours). Rice fields give way to fishing hamlets and a horizon pricked with limestone teeth as you approach the Gulf of Tonkin, where a galaxy of karsts rises from jade-green seas—recognised by UNESCO in 1994 and 2006 as a Natural World Heritage Site.

At the pier, board a tender to your Hạ Long / Lan Hạ Bay overnight cruise. Check in, drop your bags in a polished cabin, and step to the rail as the ship glides between odd-shaped limestone islets and wave-carved grottoes. A sumptuous lunch on board pairs regional flavours with breathtaking scenery—sheer cliffs veined with jungle, hidden coves and pearl farms drifting past at arm’s length.

After a short rest, join the afternoon’s cruise activities—slip into the warm water for a swim or take a kayak to nose along silent inlets where cliffs plunge straight into the sea. As the light softens, return to the sundeck for a convivial cooking demonstration, then savour a multi-course dinner. The evening is yours: try a spot of squid fishing, linger with a nightcap on the top deck, or simply listen to the tide breathe against the hull. Overnight on board.

Sail the UNESCO-listed Hạ Long / Lan Hạ Bay among limestone karsts and mirror-calm lagoons, with kayaking, cooking classes and an overnight cruise that captures the essence of northern Vietnam’s seascape.

Greet the day on deck as the Eastern Sea unfurls a rosy sunrise over the karst silhouettes. Your boat traces a gentle line through storied formations—Fisherman’s Head, Turtle, the Sail, Incense Burner, Sea Dog and the iconic Cockfighting Rocks—each islet a sculpted legend rising from jade-green water. A relaxed brunch is served on board while limestone towers drift past like a slow-motion gallery.

By late morning, the junk turns toward the harbour. Disembark at the pier and reunite with your driver for the road back to Hanoi. On arrival, there’s time to refresh and prepare for your rail journey south.

Today blends a serene Hạ Long / Lan Hạ Bay farewell with a seamless return to Hanoi and an evocative overnight train south to Đồng Hới—a classic overland link to Vietnam’s central wonders.

Wake as the train glides into Đồng Hới; a light breakfast is served on board before you step onto the platform. Meet your local English-speaking guide and driver for the countryside transfer to Phong Nha, gateway to the otherworldly caverns of the UNESCO-listed Phong Nha–Kẻ Bàng National Park. Check in to your hotel and enjoy the day at leisure—wander riverside lanes, taste rustic peanut candies and coffee, or simply watch long-tail boats fold across the emerald Son River. Overnight in Phong Nha.

This is an optional extra at additional cost and can be selected during the online booking process. It must be pre-booked and is subject to availability, typically based on a minimum of 2 people.

Embrace the contrast of tranquil Phong Nha riverside life and high-energy Dark Cave ziplining, then drift through the grandeur of Phong Nha Cave—a signature chapter of Central Vietnam’s cave country.

After breakfast, depart Phong Nha for the storied landscapes of Vietnam’s Demilitarised Zone (DMZ)—a corridor where jungle-clad hills and quiet hamlets once framed some of the fiercest chapters of the war. Your first stop is the extraordinary Vinh Mốc Tunnels, a subterranean warren where entire communities lived, worked and gave birth beneath the earth to survive bombardment. Narrow passageways open to family alcoves, meeting chambers and ventilation shafts—a powerful testimony to endurance.

Continue to the Hiền Lương Bridge spanning the Bến Hải River—the former line that split North and South Vietnam. Wind along sections of the historic Hồ Chí Minh Trail, once the lifeline of supplies through dense forest, before reaching the Khe Sanh Combat Base. Now a museum, the red-dirt airstrip, rusting armour and sandbagged bunkers evoke a visceral sense of place against rolling highland scenery.

By late afternoon, the road bends south toward imperial Huế. Check in on arrival; the evening is yours—stroll the Perfume River promenade, sample fragrant bún bò Huế, or simply unwind at your hotel. Overnight in Huế.

A profound day tracing Vietnam DMZ history—from the Vinh Mốc Tunnels to Khe Sanh Combat Base—before arriving in imperial Huế, poised for citadel walls, royal cuisine and Perfume River evenings.

After breakfast, step into the refined world of Vietnam’s last dynasty. Enter the Royal Citadel and Forbidden City of Huế, where vermilion halls and dragon-carved beams line tranquil courtyards. In the Huế Royal Museum, delicate lacquerware, court robes and imperial seals reveal the aesthetics and rituals of the Nguyễn Emperors. Continue to the serene Tomb of Emperor Tự Đức—among the best-preserved monuments of the 19th–early 20th centuries—admiring poetic pavilions mirrored in lotus lakes, a contemplative masterpiece blending architecture, philosophy and landscape design.

Late afternoon, drive to Tam Giang Pier and board a local boat to explore the Tam Giang Lagoon—a vast, glassy expanse famed as Vietnam’s most spectacular lagoon. Glide past stake nets and fish corrals as the light turns amber; meet fisherfolk tending traps and hear stories of tide and season. Continue to Rú Chá, a tiny mangrove islet within the lagoon, whose tangled roots and birdlife create an otherworldly scene at golden hour. Return to your hotel as dusk settles over the Perfume River. Overnight in Huế.

A perfectly balanced Huế day—Imperial City treasures by morning, the Tam Giang Lagoon at sunset, and an optional Royal Dinner to crown your cultural immersion.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before checking out. The coastal road from Huế to Hội An (~120 km, ~3 hours) rolls fishing lagoons, sandy spits and emerald foothills—a tranquil prelude to one of Vietnam’s most atmospheric towns. Recognised by UNESCO, Hội An Ancient Town is an exceptionally well-preserved South-East Asian trading port (15th–19th centuries), where tiled roofs, merchant halls and lantern-lit alleys whisper of spice routes and seafarers.

On arrival, set out on a guided walking tour. Cross the iconic, tile-roofed Japanese Covered Bridge, step into serene Chinese Assembly Halls, and explore timber-framed ancient houses, trading halls and pagodas. Drift through the market by the Thu Bồn River, where fruit pyramids and silk bolts form a kaleidoscope of colour. This is also the perfect place to shop for lanterns, soft/raw silk, or arrange tailor-made clothing—often ready within 24 hours. Return to your hotel by electric car. Overnight in Hội An.

The Huế to Hội An journey blends a peaceful coastal transfer with a richly textured Hội An Ancient Town exploration—capped, if you wish, by the spectacular Hội An Memories show under lantern-lit skies.

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and a day entirely at leisure in Hội An. Drift beneath lantern-lit alleys, sip a Vietnamese coffee by the Thu Bồn River, browse silk boutiques, or have garments tailored to fit. If you’d like to add more discovery, choose from our curated optional tours below—heritage in the morning, countryside crafts in the afternoon.

Balance an unhurried Hội An free day with world-class heritage at Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary and intimate craft encounters in the countryside—plus your own handmade lantern to light the way home.

At the appointed time, a private transfer whisks you from Hội An to Đà Nẵng Airport for your flight to Hồ Chí Minh City (Saigon). On arrival, meet your local English-speaking guide and driver and transfer into the city, where tree-lined boulevards and café aromas set a lively, cosmopolitan scene.

After check-in and a short freshen up, begin a curated stroll through Saigon’s layered history. Step inside the storied Reunification Palace, its period salons, war rooms and underground command bunker preserving pivotal moments in Vietnam’s modern era. Continue to the elegant Central Post Office, a gem of French colonial architecture with soaring ironwork and tiled halls—still very much a working landmark.

Then plunge into the colour and cadence of Ben Thanh Market and Yersin Market, where florals, spices and fabrics create a kaleidoscope of scent and sound. As late afternoon light softens, enjoy time at leisure—perhaps amble along Lê Công Kiều Street to browse antiques and curios, or settle into a pavement café to watch the city’s neon come alive. Overnight in Hồ Chí Minh City.

A seamless southbound link from Hội An to Saigon pairs flight convenience with an evocative introduction to the city’s modern history, colonial architecture and market life—the perfect first chapter to your Hồ Chí Minh City stay.

Rise early for the drive to Bến Tre, gateway to the Mekong Delta. At Hàm Luông dock, step aboard a motor-boat and cruise the broad, tea-coloured Hàm Luông River, a tributary of the mighty Mekong. A cool river breeze and palm-fringed islets set an unhurried rhythm as stilt houses, fish pens and coconut groves drift by.

Disembark to explore family-run workshops where age-old techniques turn coconuts into everyday essentials and art: activated charcoal, dried coconut products and hand-tied coconut-husk brooms. Watch coir (coconut fibre) spun and woven with practised hands, and learn how nothing is wasted in this coconut-rich province.

Rattle along village lanes by xe lôi (local motorised rickshaw) to a shaded canal, then slip into the waterways by kayak beneath arching nipa palms. Later, visit a fruit orchard to taste seasonal tropical fruit and, if time allows, enjoy a gentle cycle ride or unhurried country walk through hamlets and rice plots. Settle into a wooden sampan for a quiet row through narrow, natural canals—dragonflies skimming the surface, water coconuts rustling overhead—before returning to the main boat.

Re-embark and cruise back to the dock, then travel by road to Cần Thơ. Check in and enjoy the evening at leisure along the Hậu River promenade. Overnight in Cần Thơ.

Capture the essence of the Mekong Delta in a single day—coconut crafts, village life, kayaking and serene sampan channels—before settling into riverfront Cần Thơ for the night.

After a relaxed breakfast, check out and depart Cần Thơ for the river town of Châu Đốc (~124 km, ~2 hrs 15 mins). The road threads past canals and rice paddies where conical hats bob between sugar palms and stilted homes rise above lotus ponds.

By late morning/early afternoon, continue ~30 km to the ethereal Trà Sư Cajeput Forest. Board a local boat and drift across a jade-green carpet of duckweed beneath cathedral-like canopies of melaleuca. Kingfishers flash electric blue, egrets step delicately along submerged roots, and the air hums with wetland life. Walk a stretch of the panoramic bamboo walkway for wide-angle views of shimmering waterways and tangled mangroves before returning to shore.

As the heat softens, drive up Sam Mountain (Núi Sam) for a sweeping sunset over paddy mosaics and the distant Viet Nam–Cambodia border. Shrines glow in the last light, incense curls in the breeze, and the delta settles into evening calm. Descend to town, check in to your hotel and enjoy the night at leisure. Overnight in Châu Đốc.

From canal-side Mekong scenes to the mirror-still waters of Trà Sư and a burnished Sam Mountain sunset, today distils the Delta’s quiet beauty before a restful night in Châu Đốc.

Enjoy a relaxed morning at leisure before meeting your guide for the transfer to Châu Đốc harbour. Check in for the Mekong speedboat to Phnom Penh (suggested schedule: 07:30–13:30). Settle by the window as stilt villages, floating fish farms and palm-lined banks slip past in a living delta panorama. En route, you’ll complete border formalities at the riverside checkpoint before continuing upstream into Cambodia.

On arrival at Phnom Penh Port, meet your local English-speaking guide and driver and begin an afternoon discovery of the capital. Gleaming in gold leaf and tiered spires, the Royal Palace ranks among Phnom Penh’s most exquisite accomplishments; the soaring Throne Hall is crowned by a 59-metre tower of elegant, golden tiles. Adjacent lies the Silver Pagoda, its floor inlaid with some 5 tonnes of silver tiles, sheltering lavish Buddha images fashioned from
precious metals and gemstones.

Stroll the riverfront park at Chaktomuk—the storied confluence where the Mekong, Tonlé Sap and Bassac rivers meet—then, time permitting, browse the art-deco Central Market (Psar Thmei). Conclude with a hotel check-in and an evening to explore Phnom Penh’s cafés and riverside promenades at your own pace. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

From a Mekong River dash to Phnom Penh’s gilded spires, today marries cross-border adventure with the splendour of Cambodia’s Royal Palace and the shimmering Silver Pagoda.

Leave Phnom Penh behind for the scenic overland journey to Siem Reap (~318 km, ~5 hrs 15 mins, road conditions permitting). The highway unfurls through emerald rice fields, sugar palms pricked against a vast sky, and stilted villages where ox carts amble and morning markets glow with tropical colour.

En route, pause in lively Skuon—nicknamed “Spider Town”. Here, trays of crispy fried tarantulas, crickets and other crunchy snacks showcase Cambodia’s quirkier culinary traditions. Whether you sample a bite or simply wander the stalls, it’s a vivid snapshot of local life.

Arrive in Siem Reap, gateway to the Angkor temples. Check in, refresh and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure—perhaps an amble along the river, a café stop on leafy Sivatha Boulevard, or a browse of artisan boutiques. Overnight in Siem Reap.

A classic Cambodia overland: from capital boulevards to Angkor’s doorstep, with countryside colour, “Spider Town” curios and a shimmering Apsara evening to welcome you to Siem Reap.

Set out at first light in a local tuk tuk to explore the legendary Angkor Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where timeworn stone and jungle roots entwine. Enter the walled city of Angkor Thom via the South Gate, lined with towering devas and asuras, then step into the enigmatic realm of Bayon, its 54 towers etched with more than 200 serene faces watching every direction. Wander to the restored Baphuon—a symbolic Mount Meru—before tracing royal processions past the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the trunk-lined Elephant Terrace and the weathered Terrace of the Leper King.

As the morning softens, the jungle reclaims the stone at Ta Prohm. Here, silk-cotton and strangler fig trees pour roots over galleries and doorways—an iconic, cinematic vision made famous by Tomb Raider. Linger for photographs as light filters through vines and lichen.

This afternoon is devoted to the crown jewel: Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument. Traverse grand galleries of bas-reliefs narrating Hindu epics, step through shadowed libraries and pavilions, and mirror the temple’s lotus towers in reflective pools. In a
moment of quiet, receive a monk blessing—a red bracelet tied for good fortune and protection. Conclude atop Phnom Bakheng (subject to access) where sunset burnishes the plains and temple spires. Return to your hotel. Overnight in Siem Reap.

A day of Angkor highlights by tuk tuk—from the smiling faces of Bayon to the root-wrapped cloisters of Ta Prohm, crowned by an Angkor Wat blessing and (conditions permitting) sunset at Phnom Bakheng.

Enjoy a relaxed morning in Siem Reap with time for last-minute café stops, artisan boutiques, or a quiet walk along the river. At the appointed time, meet your driver for your transfer to Siem Reap International Airport for your onward flight. End of services.

Close your Siem Reap chapter with a calm morning or a soulful Tonlé Sap floating village cruise, then depart with memories of Angkor temples, Mekong waterways and warm Khmer hospitality.