Vietnam and Cambodia

In the morning, pick up at your hotel and transfer overland to Sapa. Stop to visit the border with China.

Upon arrival, check in at your hotel in Sapa.

Then, start trekking to Suoi Ho village, you can see tea plantations and cardamom gardens. Follow the buffalo trails; you visit the hospitable villages of the Black Hmong minority people in Ma Tra, a very small village hiding away from the civilisation. You will then continue your walk through rice paddy filds and spectacular scenery. During the day, you will also be able to visit a local school. We will reach the road where your driver is waiting to transport you back to Sa Pa.

Accommodation at U Sapa Hotel or similar, Superior room.

Breakfast at hotel.

A short journey of 20 minutes by car takes you to Muong Hoa valley, one of the most beautiful valleys in northwest Viet Nam. Descending into the valley by foot you will see the largest terraced rice paddy in the Sa Pa area (If you visit the valley between May and October, there is a chance to experience and observe how the locals plant and harvest rice). The walk takes you from Lao Chai village of the Black H’mong minority to Ta Van village of the Zay minority, providing the opportunity to see the different traditions and costumes of the two ethnic minority groups. Return to Sa Pa by car.

Accommodation at U Sapa Hotel or similar, Superior room.

Breakfast at hotel.

After breakfast, pick up at your hotel and transfer overland back to Hanoi.

Upon arrival, check in at your hotel in Hanoi. Rest of the day is at leisure.

Accommodation at Hilton Garden Inn Hotel or similar, Standard room.

Breakfast at hotel.

Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed on Monday, Friday and during the months of September and October) and his former residence (closed on Monday and Friday), One-Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature, known as the first university of Vietnam and built more than 1,000 years ago.

Continue the city tour to one of the following museums: Fine Arts Museum, Vietnam National Museum of History, War Museum, Museum of Ethnology, Hoa Lo Prison Museum.

After lunch, enjoy a leisurely one-hour cyclo tour through Hanoi. Visit the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. Hoan Kiem Lake was already considered the most beautiful lake in Hanoi when Ngoc Son Temple was built on an island in the 19th century. Initially, the temple was called Ngoc Son Pagoda and was later renamed Ngoc Son Temple, since temples are dedicated to saints. Saint Van Xuong, considered to be one of the brightest stars in Vietnam’s literary and intellectual circles, was worshipped there along with other National heroes.

Enjoy the evening with a performance of the famous water puppet show.

Accommodation at Hilton Garden Inn Hotel or similar, Standard room.

Breakfast at hotel, Dinner at a local Restaurant.

08:30 hrs: Pick up at your hotel in Hanoi and transfer to Halong City. Arriving in Halong by noon time and check in at the Bhaya Café on Tuan Chau Island.

12:45 hrs: Embark on Bhaya Classic with a welcome drink followed by an itinerary and safety briefing by the Cruise Manager. Lunch will be served (Vietnamese Buffet) while sailing towards the Southeast side of Halong Bay passing by the islets called “Chicken Rock”, “the Finger” and “the Frog”

The boat will be arriving at the “Dark and Bright Lagoon” by mid-afternoon. You will have one hour and a half to visit the area by rowboat or kayak (kayaks should be booked in advance at an extra cost) with chance to spot the Cat Ba Langur, one of the rarest species of primates in the world. Afterward return to the main boat. You may want to have some swimming around the area or just relaxing on the sundeck or indulging yourself with spa services (charges apply)

The Bar will open a happy hour “buy-one-get-one-free” from 17:00 hrs and a cooking demonstration will be available on the sundeck or in the restaurant subject to the weather condition. Set menu dinner will be served at 19:00 hrs.

After dinner, you may want to spend time watching a movie in the restaurant or joining crew in catching squids or watching the starry night on the deck or retiring to your comfortable cabin

Accommodation aboard Bhaya Classic or Similar, Deluxe cabin.

Breakfast at hotel, Lunch and Dinner onboard boat.

06:15 hrs: Early risers may start the day with Tai Chi on the sun deck while tea and coffee are available. Light breakfast will be served in the restaurant from 07:00 hrs.

Bhaya Classic then weighs anchor to cruise through the bay towards Hang Sung Sot (Surprise Cave). Visit the cave with large chambers full of beautiful stalactites and stalagmites that will, true to its name, take you by surprise.

Return to the main boat, pack your luggage for check-out and settle the bills.

09:30: hrs a buffet brunch will be served in the restaurant while cruising back to the harbour

10:30 hrs: Disembark at Tuan Chau Marina. Pick up and transfer back to Hanoi Airport for flight to Hue.

Upon arrival, pick up at airport and transfer to your hotel in Hue for check in. Rest of the day is at leisure.

Accommodation at Imperial Hotel or similar, Deluxe City View room.

Breakfast onboard boat

In the morning, take the boat for a scenic cruise to Thuy Bieu Village – famous for Thanh Tra fruit. Arrive at Thuy Bieu, have lunch at a local house with Hue traditional specialties. Relax by stepping your foot in medicinal herb water – a traditional therapeutic practice. Enjoy a nice bike ride around villages (weather permitting). Visit the garden – house, ancient ancestral temple and mingle with local people. Visit incense making family and discover the daily life of local people while they are working strenuously with joy and enthusiasm. Back to Hue for overnight stay.

Then, transfer to visit King Tu Duc’s tomb.

Accommodation at Imperial Hotel or similar, Deluxe City View room.

Breakfast at hotel and Lunch at a local house. 

In the morning, transfer to visit the iconic Thien Mu pagoda – the symbol of Hue city.

Explore the Imperial City of Hue. The first stop is the Hue Citadel. The Hue Citadel is situated on the Northern bank of the Perfume River and built by Emperor Gia Long it was designed for the exclusive use of the Emperor and his household. The Citadel is a square 2 km wall encompassing 3 walled enclosures; the Citadel, Kinh Thanh Hue, the Yellow Imperial city, Hoang Thanh and in the centre the Forbidden Purple city Tu Cam Thanh where the Emperor lived. The Hue royal complex has been officially recognized by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

After that, transfer overland to Hoi An with a short stop at Lang Co Beach.

In Danang, visit the Cham Museum which houses the finest collection of Champa sculptures; some may date back to as early as 7th century. Continue to visit Marble Mountains, a scenic spot with caves, temples, shrines, pagodas and a great view of the surrounding area. The caves can be reached by climbing steep steps or taking the elevator to the top (subject to surcharge).

Upon arrival in Hoi An, check in at your hotel and rest of the day is at leisure.

Accommodation at Ancient House Village Resort or similar, Superior room.

Breakfast at hotel.

My Son, located 69 km southwest of Danang, was an imperial city during the Cham dynasties, between the 4th and 12th centuries. My Son Sanctuary is a large complex of religious relics that comprises more than 70 architectural works. They include temples and towers that connect to each other with complicated red brick designs. The main component of the Cham architectural design is the tower, built to reflect the divinity of the king. On the way back, stop for a short visit to the Sa Huynh Champa Culture Museum in Tra Kieu.

The afternoon is free at leisure.

Accommodation at Ancient House Village Resort or similar, Superior room.

Breakfast at hotel.

In the morning, pick up at your hotel and transfer to Danang airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

Upon arrival, pick up at airport and transfer to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City for check in.

In the afternoon, your sightseeing tour includes visiting bustling Cholon (Chinatown), Thien Hau pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas of the Chinese in the area and colourful Ben Thanh Market. Notre Dame Cathedral inaugurated in 1880 became the spiritual and cultural crucible of the French presence in the Orient as was the Post office designed by Gustav Eiffel and resembling a grand railway station.
Photo stop at the former Presidential Palace, renowned for its symbolic role in the fall of Saigon in 1975 and continue to visit the War Remnants Museum.

In the evening, dinner cruise on Saigon River aboard “Lady Hau” a charming former rice barge. Enjoy breath-taking views of some of Saigon’s most famous landmarks & buildings in the city central area as well as the panoramic view from the river of the colourful and picturesque Saigon skyline while enjoying a quality dining experience.

Accommodation at Duxton Hotel or similar, Deluxe room.

Breakfast at hotel and Dinner cruise on Lady Hau.

Transfer to Cai Be, a 2.5 hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City. Embarkation on the Cai Be Princess boat, a comfortable sampan built in traditional style. The tour will begin with cruising through the floating market in Cai Be along the “Mighty Mekong”.

A delicious lunch will be served at Le Longanier, a superb Indochinese villa located in a lush tropical garden by the river.

After lunch, your sampan will proceed to Dong Hoa Phu canal, passing several islands famous for their fruit orchards. Stops on the way can be made at An Binh Ancient Church or at Tam Ho Bonsai Garden before returning to Ho Chi Minh City.

Accommodation at Duxton Hotel or similar, Deluxe room.

Breakfast at hotel and Lunch at le Longanier restaurant.

Visit Cu Chi Tunnels (70 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City), an amazing complex of underground tunnels used during the Vietnam War. There are more than 200 km of tunnels, comprising a main axis system with many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters and other tunnels. You have the chance to crawl through this amazing system of tunnels.

Then, transfer to Ho Chi Minh City / Tan Son Nhat International airport for flight to Siem Reap.

Upon arrival, pick up at airport and transfer to your hotel in Siem Reap for check in. Rest of the day is at leisure.

Accommodation at Prince d’Angkor Hotel or similar, Superior room.

Breakfast at hotel.

Early bird special:
Transfer to the archaeological site for sunrise at Angkor Wat. (We recommend to bring a torch)
Return to the hotel for breakfast
Visit the South Gate (with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk), the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century), Bayon temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), Baphuon (recently re-opened after years of restoration), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King and Ta Prohm, one of the area’s most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been left relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Its appeal lies in the fact that, unlike the other monuments of Angkor, it was abandoned and swallowed by the jungle, looking very much the ways most of the Angkor temples appeared when European explorers first stumbled upon them.

In the afternoon, visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat’s five towers symbolize Meru’s five peaks – the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond.

Accommodation at Prince d’Angkor Hotel or similar, Superior room.
Breakfast at hotel.

Morning, drive through the typical Khmer countryside to the holy Kulen Mountain range which provided some of the stones used to build the Angkor temples. With beautiful sceneries to admire on the way up, our vehicle will bring us on a steep dirt road to the top of the mountain. There we first will see the site of the Lingas carved in the riverbed by successive kings of the Angkor period and a walk further will bring us to the site of a huge natural rock with on top a big reclining Buddha carved in the rock. Our walk will also bring us to a waterfall, don’t forget your swimsuits and join the locals! More carvings in the riverbed can be discovered above the waterfall. This is also a very popular place for Khmer people to come and enjoy their weekend with a picnic.

Visit Banteay Srei temple (10th century), regarded as the jewel in the crown of classical Khmer Art. Stop at a local village to visit families who are producing palm sugar. Then visit Banteay Samre, one of the most complete complexes at Angkor due to restoration using the method of “anastylosis”. The name Samre refers to an ethnic group of mountain people, who inhabited the region at the base of Phnom Kulen and were probably related to the Khmers. No inscriptions have been found for this temple, but the style of most of the architecture is of the classic art of the middle period similar to Angkor Wat. The proportions of Banteay Samre are splendid. A unique feature is an interior moat with laterite paving, which when filled with water must have given an ethereal atmosphere to the temple. Sunset at Phnom Bakheng.

Accommodation at Prince d’Angkor Hotel or similar, Superior room.

Breakfast at hotel.

Enjoy your leisure time until pick up and transfer to Siem Reap International airport for flight to Australia.

Breakfast at hotel.

Return economy International flight with Singapore Airlines
Domestic airfare and taxes with Vietnam Airlines or similar
Includes comprehensive Travel Insurance (Excludes pre-existing medical conditions and surcharge for over 70 year old travellers
Current airline fuel levy (subject to change)
Meals as indicated
Accommodation in good quality hotels
All transportation, daily tours and admission fees
Professional English speaking guides
Airport transfers on the first and last day of your tour
Vietnam and Cambodia tourist visas

Excludes :
Personal expenditures such as laundry, phone calls, beverages etc
Tipping for guide, driver and porters