Images of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos

We touch down early this morning and transfer straight to our hotel, where an early check in means we can drop our bags and freshen up. This afternoon is our first exploration of the country’s leafy, elegant capital. We’ll wander along the wide, tree-lined boulevards of the French Quarter, where colonial buildings sit side-by-side. We’ll visit the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum, before continuing to the peace and tranquillity of Ngoc Son Temple. This temple holds a charming location on a small island in the northern part of Hoan Kiem Lake. You’ll immediately feel relaxed as you breathe in the sweet incense-infused air. We’ll end the tour with a wander around the old quarter.

Excursions & visits:

City tour of Hanoi (afternoon)

We’ll visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and then his stilted house that stands in a peaceful lakeside setting, where we have a view of the interior from an outer staircase. As we walk back through the park we see the famous 12th-century One Pillar Pagoda. We continue to the Temple of Literature, and tread the paths once reserved for the Emperor and his mandarins. We conclude at West Lake for Quan Thanh Temple and Tran Quoc, one of the oldest Buddhist pagodas in Hanoi. The afternoon is at leisure before an interesting cultural experience at a water-puppet show in a local theatre.

Excursions & visits:

Tour of Hanoi, including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (morning)
Water-puppet show (evening)

This morning we travel to Halong Bay, where some 3,000 rugged limestone islands rise pinnacle-like out of the South China Sea. This is one of the great natural sights in the world and on our cruise we’ll weave in and out of the islands and around the caverns and grottoes, before heading back to Hanoi.

Excursions & visits:

Excursion to Halong Bay, including lunch cruise (all day)

This morning we transfer to Hanoi Airport for our short flight to the imperial city of Hue, once the economic, religious and cultural epicentre of Vietnam.

Our full-day tour takes us to the Imperial Citadel and then by boat along the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, an octagonal tower of seven tiers. The hills surrounding Hue are dotted with the tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty Emperors. This afternoon we visit Tu Duc and Khai Dinh Tomb before returning to our hotel.

Excursions & visits:

City tour of Hue (all day)

We head to one of the most ancient cities in Vietnam, Danang, and make a visit to the semi open-air Cham Museum. We’ll continue overland to Hoi An stopping en route to view the majestic Marble Mountains and Non Nuoc Beach. Hoi An is renowned for its ancient old town, a melting pot of different cultures and eras with its traditional Chinese shophouses, colourful French colonial architecture and iconic Japanese bridge. The canals running through the city give it a real romantic ambience. We’ll take a walking tour to soak it all up, cut off by destroyed rail lines and a silted river, the town has been left untouched by war and almost frozen in time. We’ll take a short boat ride on the Thu Bon River before checking into our hotel.

Excursions & visits:

Visit to Cham Museum (morning)
Walking tour of Hoi An and Thu Bon River cruise (afternoon)

Today you are at leisure to explore this relatively untouched town further, or simply relax at the poolside of your hotel.

We make our way to Danang Airport for our flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Today’s tour includes the Central Post Office, a stroll along Dong Khoi Street, the opera house, City Hall and a local museum. We’ll also visit bustling Ben Thanh market. This evening we enjoy a special dinner at a local restaurant.

Excursions & visits:

City tour of Ho Chi Minh City (afternoon)

This morning we head outside the city to the region of Cu Chi, where we visit the extensive underground tunnel system. Built originally to shelter the guerrillas from the French during the 1940s, the tunnels became the base of the Viet Cong during the American war. We return to the hotel for the afternoon.

Excursions & visits:

Visit to Cu Chi Tunnels (morning)

We make a visit to a Cao Dai temple, before continuing our journey south of the city to the Mekong River town of Cai Be, where we board a motorised boat for an introduction to the river's central focus on life. The river provides a lifelong flurry of activity and as we wend our way along one of the nine tributaries we can catch glimpses of the hard working locals in the rice fields. Later we board our coach to Can Tho.

Excursions & visits:

Visit to Cao Dai temple (morning)

Our early morning boat journey will enable us to visit a floating market. We return to the township of Can Tho to visit the Mekong Delta museum and local Khmer pagoda. This afternoon we drive to Chau Doc and take a boat ride to visit a traditional house boat and a nearby Cham community before viewing some of the temples characteristic to the region.

Excursions & visits:

Visit to floating market in Can Tho and Mekong Delta Museum (morning)
Mekong River cruise to Cham community (afternoon)

Today we board our boat and make our way to the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. We arrive and transfer to the hotel in the atmospheric French Quarter. Spend the afternoon at the central market and Wat Phnom monument.

This morning, we visit the Royal Palace, the beautiful Silver Pagoda and the National Museum. This afternoon, we continue to the Tuol Sleng Museum and the infamous Killing Fields. Late in the afternoon we take a boat ride on the Mekong River in time for sunset.

Excursions & visits:

City tour of Phnom Penh, including Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda (morning)
Visit to Tuol Sleng Museum and the Killing Fields (afternoon)
Phnom Penh sunset cruise (evening)

Today we journey to Siem Reap, gateway to an ancient world. We’ll check into our hotel with time at leisure to relax.

Today will be one to remember. We’ll explore the magnificent ancient ruins of Angkor Wat, an architectural masterpiece and the largest religious building in the world. This sprawling site is a pilgrimage for all Cambodians and a must-see for travellers to the region. We visit some of the local temples including the romantic Ta Prohm and, this afternoon, we have a boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake and visit one of the lake’s villages. We have dinner at a local restaurant this evening, accompanied by an Apsara show.

Excursions & visits:

Excursion to ruins of Angkor Wat (morning)
Tonle Sap Lake cruise (afternoon)

Our day begins with a visit to the most remote and exquisite ruins of Banteay Srei - The Citadel of Women - built in the 10th century and renowned for its superb decoration. Returning to Siem Reap, we’ll visit SATCHA Cambodian handicraft centre, where local artisans' are empowered to develop through knowledge of traditional and contemporary skills. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure.

Excursions & visits:

Visit to ruins of Banteay Srei (morning)
Visit SATCHA Cambodian handicraft centre (afternoon)

This morning our exploration begins at the South Gate of the colossal fortified city of Angkor Thom, and continues to the inspirational Bayon Temple. We then transfer to Siem Reap Airport for our flight to Laos and Luang Prabang. On arrival we are transferred to our hotel and the remainder of the day is free.

Excursions & visits:

Excursion to ruins of Angkor Thom (morning)

Visit the triple-tiered Kuang Si Waterfalls and take the opportunity to visit the bear sanctuary. This afternoon, continue to the most revered temple in Luang Prabang, Wat Xienthong, and the former royal palace, Wat Mai.

Excursions & visits:

Kuang Si Waterfalls (morning)
City tour of Luang Prabang (afternoon)

This morning we have a leisurely cruise along the mystical Mekong River in a traditional river boat, witnessing rural life and peaceful sceneries along the river’s banks. Pak Ou Caves show displays of sacred centuries-old Buddha images. We sail back to Luang Prabang.

Excursions & visits:

Cruise to Pak Ou Caves (morning)

We transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

Upon arrival, your vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.