Upon arrival in Hanoi you'll be met by your guide who will transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day free & leisure.
Meals: N/A.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

Today you’ll have an entire day to explore the beautiful sites of Hanoi. Starting at the Ho Chi Minh Complex (home to the final resting place of Vietnam’s revered Uncle Ho & his former “house of stilts), moving on to the One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature & Presidential Palace and finally exploring the beautiful Quan Thanh Temple, Tran Quoc Pagoda & tranquil Tay Ho (West Lake) region, the day will be a fantastic overview of what the capital city has to offer. There will also be an option to visit either the Museum of Ethnology (giving guests a glimpse of the country’s various ethnic groups) or Vietnam’s Museum of History; based solely upon your interests. As you wander the tree-lined boulevards, soak in the charming French-style architecture and witness the area’s tranquil landscapes… you’ll be hard pressed to not fall in love with Hanoi!
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll be transported out to Halong Bay (3 hour ride). One of Vietnam’s most beautiful destinations, Halong Bay, or the Bay of Descending Dragons, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its limestone karsts and pristine waterways. Upon arrival into Halong Bay (around noon), you’ll be assigned to your traditional “junk” cruise ship where you’ll be spending the evening & following day.
Once on board, you’ll be served a delicious (and super-fresh) seafood lunch as the boat makes its way out into the mystical waters of the bay. In the early afternoon you will be brought to some of the region’s most famous sites including the Dinh Huong & Ga Choi Islands & Sung Sot Caves and a pristine white sand beach where you’ll have the chance to swim in the area’s placid waters (weather permitting). Back on board you’ll be able to catch an unforgettable sunset, enjoy another delicious local meal and watch the stars come out as they saturate the Halong night sky. Allow the lapping of water & the boat’s light rocking to soothe you to sleep in your private cabin.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Accommodation: On Cruise.

Wake up early to catch the Halong sunrise (not to be missed!) and enjoy some Tai Chi on the top deck of the cruise boat to kick off your Day 4. Enjoy a light beverage before heading out to explore some nearby islands via rowboat. After a brief morning tour you’ll return to the junk for breakfast and have the chance to soak in some last minute limestone karsts along Bai Tu Long Bay. Before you disembark, you’ll be treated to a lovely brunch before our transport picks you up and brings you back to Hanoi. Once arriving at Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport, you’ll board a quick flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Our guide will pick you up in the airport and transport you to your hotel.
Meals: Brunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap.

Start your day of exploration with a visit to the South Gate of Angkor Thom where statues of the gods of good and evil line the entrance. Your next stop is Bayon, known for the hundreds of smiling faces that grace its towers. The bas reliefs are quite impressive and tell stories of daily life and the great battles that were fought between the Khmers and ancient Thais. Move on to Phimeanakas, shaped a bit like a pyramid with two ponds in the rear. The ponds were once used for religious rituals but today serve as swimming pools for Khmer kids. Walk to the top of the temple for impressive views of the Angkor complex. See the rows of trunks that form the wall of the Terrace of the Elephants, a platform from which King Jayavarman surveyed his army. Close by is the Terrace of Leper Kings, which includes a statue depicting Yana, the Hindu god of death. Then it’s a short drive to one of the most loved temples of all - Ta Prohm. This small crumbling temple is held together by giant tree roots giving it a magical feel. Return to Siem Reap for lunch and to escape the hot sun. Later in the afternoon explore magnificent Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument. This visually spectacular temple is a massive three-tiered pyramid, rising 65 metres from the ground and crowned by five lotus towers. It’s the national symbol of Cambodia and proudly appears on the country’s flag.
Meals: B
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap.

Embrace your inner explorer as you discover the ancient ruins of Beng Melea, a forgotten and lost jungle temple on the outskirts of the Angkor Complex. It’s about a 2 hour drive to reach Beng Melea. The history of the temple remains a mystery, although it is thought to have been built in the 12th century. Completely overgrown by jungle, the temple has an eerie, abandoned feel. There are fantastic photo opportunities of trees sprouting out of the towers, walls covered in thick green moss and tree roots entwined in the crumbling structure. No restoration work has been carried out and some parts of the temple are inaccessible, however, a large boardwalk with viewing platforms wraps around the temple.
Meals: B
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap.

In the morning you are free & leisure in Siem Reap. Later check out and transfer via executive motorcoach to Kampong Cham, to embark on the beautiful Mekong River Cruise - your elegant home for the next 8 days / 7 nights and set sail on the beautiful Mekong.

Today is a celebration of Cambodia's bright future. You’ll meet young children at a local school and friendly villagers in their homes, and have a rare opportunity to receive a special water blessing from Buddhist monks.

Once considered the loveliest of Indochina’s French-built cities, Phnom Penh has somehow retained much of its charm despite all the political and cultural turmoil of the 20th century. See how this fascinating city is rediscovering itself with an insightful panoramic tour and time to explore on your own. Founded in the 15th century, Phnom Penh is the thriving capital of the kingdom of Cambodia. It stands at the juncture of three rivers and is divided into three distinct districts: the French colonial area, a handsome residential district and a rapidly changing Old Town.

Today’s featured excursion may be the most profound and memorable experience of your entire journey. You’ll learn about the infamous Killing Fields of the Khmer Rouge and visit a former school-turned-prison that is now a genocide museum.

You leave Cambodia behind and cross into Vietnam today, delving into a region where traditional and modern lifestyle elements mingle: Agriculture may still reign supreme, but TV satellite dishes dot rooftops of houses built on stilts. Thousands of boats ply the waters of the Mekong—wooden cargo boats, water taxis, dredges, fishing craft. Traditional and modern elements mingle in this region, but the river rules everything. More authentic encounters await you today, starting with a cruise through the canals to Evergreen Island. Stop at a temple devoted to Vietnam’s homegrown religion, and hop aboard a rickshaw for a ride to a factory that makes handwoven reed baskets. Later, take a sampan ride through the floating villages lining the banks of the great river.

Dip into Vietnam’s colorful and culturally eclectic past in Sa Dec—the former haunt of author Marguerite Duras—and the island of Gieng, which boasts a rather unexpected array of Catholic churches and monasteries.

Get set for an authentic slice of daily life along the Mekong with visits to two quintessentially Vietnamese locales, Vinh Long and Cai Be, which you’ll see by sampan. Meet village elders, experience the lively floating market and visit workshops creating products made from rice.

As Asia’s “comeback kid,” there’s something so invigorating about Ho Chi Minh City, a busting metropolis with a youthful and innovative energy—and no wonder, given that more than half the population is younger than 35. Embrace the dynamic spirit of the city formerly known as Saigon on today’s panoramic tour. History melds with the boisterous present in Vietnam’s largest city, where skyscrapers tower over ancient temples and motorbikes putter along picturesque alleys. It was founded in 1690; became the capital of French Cochinchina in the 1860s, when it was known as Saigon; and acquired its modern moniker in 1976, when it was named for Communist leader Ho Chi Minh.

Explore a fascinating aspect of Vietnam’s long struggle to free itself from Western control. Begun by the Viet Minh on the outskirts of Saigon in 1945, as shelter from French air raids, these tunnels were expanded in the 1960s by the Viet Cong, who extended them for many miles. A network of booby-trapped tunnels led to underground chambers where people lived-in considerable privation, generally - wounds were treated and children were taught. Only a small stretch of this network is open to the public, but if you’re venturesome, you may climb down into a tunnel for an up-close look (and we do mean close - don’t expect to stand upright).

Today you will be transferred to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your onward flight or continue your tour with an extraordinary optional extension program.