Enjoy a full day tour of Hanoi; visiting some of the city’s classic sites alongside an introduction to Hanoi’s more contemporary side, interspersed with a handful of local experiences.

After breakfast, transfer the short distance to West Lake, also known as Tay Ho Lake, this large expanse of freshwater and its lakeside gardens attract locals looking for a quiet spot away from the busy streets of central Hanoi. Various historical places of interest are scattered around the perimeter including Vietnam’s oldest pagoda, Tran Quoc and Quan Thanh Temple, one of Vietnam’s four sacred temples.

Mid-morning, transfer by car to the Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam's first national university. Built in 1070, this complex of atmospheric halls, pavilions and courtyards is dedicated to Confucius and scholars. It's one of the few remaining examples of traditional Vietnamese architecture still standing in Hanoi: of special note are the 82 stone steles shaped like turtles which are elaborately carved with the names of candidates that sat the Royal examinations.

From here continue to Trang Tien Street near the Opera House where is popular with students and office workers, this narrow alley fills with street side stalls at lunchtime selling everything from pho and fried rice to sticky sweet treats.

Afternoon, we explore Hanoi’s contemporary culture. Throughout the capital there are rumblings of creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, a step away from traditionalism and the rise of fresh and fashionable places. Manzi Art Café is one of Hanoi’s increasingly popular part café, part art gallery

ventures. Set in a French Colonial villa in a relatively quiet Hanoi street, it’s the sort of place where you could easily while away a couple of hours drinking Vietnamese coffee and browsing the artwork. Sadly, you won’t have so much time to spare, but there will certainly be time for coffee before walking to the Old Quarter. A stroll through this historical area is an assault on the senses; its maze of narrow alleys is packed with scooters and street vendors, lined with restaurants, traditional workshops, souvenir shops and pagodas.

Overnight        : Hanoi

Meal               : Breakfast | Lunch

Hanoi – Halong: 3 – hour drive

After an early breakfast it’s a three-hour drive from the city to Halong Bay, passing through a number of typical North Vietnamese towns and villages. Upon arrival you will be welcomed aboard your traditional junk; the same style that have sailed the bay for 100’s of years.

A natural wonder of the world and one of Vietnam’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the creation of Halong Bay is shrouded in myth. Lunch is served as you depart port. You will soon leave the mainland far behind, navigating amongst the jagged limestone islands and karsts emerging from the emerald waters. Whilst some islands are no more than large rocks others are far more substantial in size. During your cruise there will be opportunities to disembark, often using smaller boats, or possibly kayaks, to venture into hidden grottos and caves. You will also make stops to explore points of interest such as floating fishing villages and picturesque lookout points.

Overnight        : on board

Meal               : Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Hanoi – Danang: 1 hour & 15 mins flight

For early risers, enjoy a sunrise over Halong, with a breakfast served shortly thereafter.  Enjoy dining while the vessel cruises slowly back towards port. Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi. Follow up with a transfer to Noi Bai Airport.

After a short flight, arrive to the central port city of Danang. Upon arrival to Danang, transfer 40 minutes to Hoi An, a major Asian trading port of the 17th and 18th centuries, whose architecture and relaxed lifestyle has changed little over the years.    

Overnight        : Hoian

Meal               : Breakfast | Brunch 

Biking distance: 10km

Morning, spend a day leisurely cycling though the scenic countryside of Vietnam, far from the traffic the motor scooters, and the noises the city. You will cross the islands on the Song Thu River delta using local transportation, including ferries and floating bridge...This tour will take you to discover how wooden river boats are made, learn the secret of weaving the colourful straw “Hoi An” sleeping mats. Try the renowned Vietnamese basket boats. You will spend the day with first- hand contact with one of the rural inhabitants of the region, far from the usual tourist circuits.

At lunchtime you will be invited into the home of a local Vietnamese family for a traditional Vietnamese meal, and learn their customs and traditions. After lunch, you will begin your return towards Hoi An, which will take about an hour.

Overnight        : Hoian

Meal               : Breakfast | Lunch

Spend a fun and interesting half day, learning about Vietnamese food and the Hoi An way of life. Already in its 18th year, this popular cooking class is listed in many of the major guidebooks and on Trip Advisor.

Take a boat trip from "Vy's Market Restaurant" to Hoi An's colourful central market. Tour of the market with an English-speaking guide followed by an interesting and informative tour of Vy's Market Restaurant, watching live cooking demonstrations with actual involvement and many food tastings. Two-hour hands-on cooking class, lunch, recipes a Vietnamese cooking utensil to take home.

The remainder, we walk to discover Hoian town, a place oozing with charm, and having largely escaped the destruction of successive wars, its streets and architecture are a delight to explore. Stroll past the many Chinese Assembly Halls, from the Cantonese Chinese Congregation with its impressive main altar, to the Hainan Chinese Congregation, which serves as a memorial to 107 merchants from Hainan Island who were mistaken for pirates and killed during the reign of Emperor Tu Duc. Visit Hoi An ancient town and explore its treasures: the Japanese Bridge, Phuc Kien Pagoda, Phung Hung Merchant House, and Quang Dong Assembly.

Overnight        : Hoi An

Meal               : Breakfast | Lunch

Hoi An - Danang – Hue: 3-hour drive 

Have breakfast at hotel and take the morning departure for Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. Its mesmerizing tombs and mausoleums of the last emperors of Vietnam reveal fascinating insights into the lives of the imperial families and their subjects.

We check in hotel on arrival and take a short break before our touring in the afternoon.

Get out from the hotel, we make our first visit at the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. From here take a cyclo through dai noi ‘Old City’ to Tinh Tam Lake where the Emperors used to come to relax.

After exploring the ruins of this wonderful monument, depart for Thien Mu (Celestial Lady) Pagoda overlooking the Perfume River. Constructed in 1601, the 21-meter tower is the centrepieces of the pagoda and represents seven reincarnations of Buddha. Continue to former emperor Minh Mang’s tomb located in a tranquil setting of gardens and ponds.

After all, we enjoy dinner at one of Hue’s most beautiful garden houses known locally as ‘nha vuon’.  These houses are traditional, privately owned, and set in large, attractive formal gardens. Some have connections with the old Royal Imperial Court and the house’s traditional architecture has long been associated with the natural environment and the ancient belief of ‘feng-shui’. Drive back hotel after dinner and stay your evening free till bedtime.

Overnight        : Hue

Meal               : Breakfast | Dinner

Hue – Saigon: 1 hour & 15 mins flight

Breakfast at hotel. Free at leisure till your next departure is to Ho Chi Minh (Saigon). On arrival, we wander around for sightseeing and learning about city people’s lives. We start by looking at the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Post Office. Built between 1877 and 1883 this is one of the best examples of classical French colonial architecture. Remarkably every stone used in its creation was shipped from France to Vietnam.

Then, we move on to see the Reunification Palace. Here on April 30th 1975 the ‘American War’ officially ended when tank number 843 of the North Vietnamese Army crashed through the gates of what was, at the time the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam. For more understanding about Vietnam’s History, we cannot miss War Remnants Museum. Formerly known as the Museum of American War Crimes, this is a poignant display of the futility of war. Some of the black and white photography in the ‘Requiem’ exhibit is particularly touching, dedicated to both foreign and Vietnamese journalists and photographers who perished during the conflict.

Tour ends and drive you to the selected hotel. Check in and the rest is free at leisure.

Overnight        : Saigon

Meal               : Breakfast

Saigon – Cai Be: 2 hours & 30 mins drive

Colorful floating markets, vast green rice fields and lush backwaters; these are the things that make Cai Be such an intriguing destination. Cruise the waterways of the Mekong Delta, passing by Cai Be’s nowadays quiet floating market, to a cottage factory where ‘pop-rice’, rice paper and coconut candies are made. Sail on to Dong Hoa Hiep island, admiring the scenery and observing the daily life of the local villagers. Lunch is Mekong specialties of the area. Return to Saigon late afternoon

Overnight        : Saigon

Meal               : Breakfast | Lunch

Saigon – Siem Reap: 1 hour flight

Your morning is at leisure until your transfer to the airport in time for your flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel.

Siem Reap is the base for exploring the fabled temples of Angkor, the ancient capital of the Khmer empire. Over 100 temples are spread over a vast area and the site easily lives up to its status as one of the seven wonders of the forgotten world.

After a short relaxing break, you will visit the famous Angkor Wat by tuktuk. Built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, it is constructed following the model of the temple mountain symbolizing the Mount Meru, home of the gods. Moreover, Angkor Wat is well known for the more than 2,000 Apsara dancers decorating the temple. During sunset time, Angkor Wat is less visited, and the Apsaras will shine in the most beautiful light…Return to your hotel, where you can enjoy the evening at leisure.

Overnight        : Siem Reap

Meal               : Breakfast

Get out the hotel in the morning to explore the highlights of the Small Circuit. Start your tour with a visit to Ta Prohm temple, built in the mid-12th to early 13th centuries. Ta Prohm is unique in that it has been left largely as it was found: overgrown by jungle trees and vines, with many parts of the temple crumbling to the ground.

Continue to the ancient city of Angkor Thom. Angkor Thom was the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. This city is surrounded by an 8 m high wall, drawing a perfect square. Enter the city through the ancient South Gate, an impressive stone gate carved with Elephants and four giant faces.

From here, continue to Bayon Temple in the exact center of the city. This 12th century masterpiece is a study in grandeur and is well-known for its 54 towers with enigmatic faces representing the 54 provinces of the Great Khmer Empire. The Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King are also must-visits as they are both known for their intricate bas-reliefs.

Your lunch will be arranged at HAVEN, a training restaurant for young adults (orphans, half-orphans and abandoned children), who have to leave orphanages when they come of age. HAVEN serves flavourful Asian and Western food – including some Swiss specialities and many fresh vegetarian tidbits – at the same time you are supporting a training programme and are thereby helping a young adult orphan to achieve a secure and independent future. 

Return to your hotel and the remainder is free to stroll city on your own.

Overnight        : Siem Reap

Meal               : Breakfast | Lunch

Your day today will be spent travelling through a number of relatively untouched villages and learning about the day-to-day lives of the local people. This is a world away from Siem Reap, and provides you with the perfect opportunity to get ‘off the beaten track’ and gain a better understanding of Cambodian rural life, along with an insight into traditional Khmer culture; something which few visitors are lucky enough to experience.

Your stop is the village of Krabei Real, where there is time to explore the local market and to purchase some supplies for your lunch. Continue on, this time without the benefit of air-conditioning, using a more typical method of transportation for this region. The (almost!) pollution free ox and cart is still widely used throughout Cambodia, and allows you to travel at a gentle, almost hypnotic pace along the narrow, sandy, village roads.

After around an hour, arrive at the home of a local family, there will be plenty of time to relax and chat with the family as they prepare lunch using the produce selected at the market. If you wish to assist then you are very welcome to do so, and this is also a fantastic opportunity to further your understanding of typical Khmer cuisine.

Having enjoyed your lunch, there is time to explore the village before returning to Siem Reap. The remainder of your day is at leisure.

Overnight        : Siem Reap

Meal               : Breakfast | Lunch

Your day is at leisure until your transfer to Siem Reap Airport for your departure home.

Meal               : Breakfast