Vietnam & Angkor Wat

Passengers who purchase flights will depart 2 days before the tour starts and return on the same day as the tour ends.

For flight details, see Before You Depart.

Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City today, formerly known as Saigon. Upon arrival, continue to our hotel for check-in.

We'll begin our sightseeing today with a visit to the War Remnants Museum where collections of weapons, photographs, and memorabilia from two Indochina wars as well as an original French guillotine brought over in the early 20th century is housed. We'll continue outside the city to the legendary Cu Chi Tunnels which used to serve the former Communist Guerrillas. Enjoy lunch at a local organic agricultural farm in Cu Chi where the owner, a Vietnamese chef with 13 years of experience in Australia, has set up education goals for healthy foods. We'll learn from the chef how the food is made and where the ingredients come from. After lunch, we'll return to Ho Chi Minh City and enjoy the highlights of this vibrant city. See the Notre Dame Cathedral, the former US Embassy, Cholon, the buzzing Chinese quarter, and the lively Ben Thanh Market where an incredible array of goods are sold. This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner.

Today is free to explore Ho Chi Minh City independently or join an optional excursion! Consider a full-day optional tour to the charming delta town of Cai Be where we can visit the floating market and explore by cycle, visiting a local family, and enjoying a late lunch in a local house.

Today we'll fly to Danang where we'll visit the Cham Museum housing an exquisite collection of sandstone carvings and sculptures. Later, we'll visit China Beach, the renowned war-time R&R resort before we continue to Hoi An, one of Vietnam's most delightful and enchanting towns. This evening is free to explore Hoi An independently or consider an optional street food tour.

This morning we'll take a cyclo ride through the ancient town before we begin our walking tour of Hoi An. We'll visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, constructed in 1593 by the Japanese community to link the town with the Chinese quarters across the stream. Near the bridge is Sa Huynh Museum which houses exhibitions from the earliest period of Hoi An's history. Wander into the Tran Family Chapel, a 200-year-old house built for worshipping ancestors. Next, we'll visit Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall, a Chinese pagoda built around 1690, and enlarged in 1900. It is typical of Chinese clans in the Hoi An area and is dedicated to Thien Hau Thanh Mau, the Goddess of the Sea and Protector of Sailors and Fishermen. The rest of the day is free to explore Hoi An independently, or consider an optional excursion visiting a local community farming project!

This morning, we'll fly to Hanoi and upon arrival, we'll be transferred to our hotel. We'll spend some time today sightseeing around Hanoi city centre with electric cards and proceed through Quan Su Pagoda, Silk Road, Hanoi Rail Station, and then the Hanoi Opera House. Later, we'll visit the infamous former Hoa Lo Prison, nicknamed the "Hanoi Hilton".

Hanoi's rich history is closely tied to French colonialism as well as the Chinese era, evident in the city's architecture, cuisine, and culture. On today's sightseeing tour, explore the highlights of this fascinating city. View the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum then visit the One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature. Proceed to scenic Hoan Kiem Lake and enjoy a guided walk through the narrow lanes of the historic old quarter. We'll enjoy lunch at KOTO Hanoi, a community project with a mission to help disadvantaged and at-risk youth in Vietnam through their hospitality training program. This evening savor a thrilling performance of the unique Water Puppets!

This morning, we'll depart for Halong City with a refreshment break en route. On arrival, we'll embark on our overnight cruise to the far corners of Halong Bay. Halong Bay is widely considered as Vietnam's most spectacular natural attraction. It comprises over three thousand small jagged limestone islands rising out of the South China Sea and these dramatic formations are the backdrop of your idyllic cruise. Enjoy lunch on board as we cruise out into the bay, stopping to anchor for an afternoon of activities. As our day comes to an end, watch the sunset over the bay from the deck, followed by a freshly prepared dinner before retiring for the evening.

We'll spend our last morning here in Halong Bay soaking up the scenery before we board our flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia, the gateway to the world-famous temples of Angkor Wat, among the "Seven Wonders of the World.

This morning, travel to Kampong Kleang where you’ll enjoy a relaxing boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake. Visit the fascinating floating fishing villages and view submerged forests and fishing farms. Later return to Siem Reap to further explore with a local expert the “Angkor Conservation Complex.” The crowning jewel of Khmer architecture, Angkor Wat is the national symbol and the highlight of any visit to Cambodia. The largest, best-preserved, and most religiously significant of the Angkor temples, Angkor Wat impresses visitors both by its sheer scale and beautifully proportioned layout, as well as the delicate artistry of its carvings. To approach the temple, you’ll first cross the vast moat, continuing along a broad causeway lined with naga balustrades. As you enter the main building, you’ll ascend through a series of galleries and courtyards before reaching the central sanctuary, which offers beautiful views back over the causeway and across the surrounding countryside. On the way, stop to enjoy the intricate stone carvings that adorn nearly every surface, with some 1,700 Apsaras, or celestial dancers, sculpted into the walls. Along the outer gallery walls, run the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which narrates stories from Hindu mythology, including the famous Churning of the Ocean of Milk. You’ll also visit Preah Khan, a temple built by King Jayavarman VII with towered enclosures and shoulder-hugging corridors in a jungle setting. Continue to the Les Chantiers Ecoles, a vocational centre, to observe the artisans at work.

We'll begin our visit with the South Gate of Angkor Thom where statues of the gods of good and evil line the entrance. Our next stop is the Bayon, known for the hundreds of smiling faces that grace the 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, which were once used for religious rituals but today serve as swimming pools for Khmer kids. We'll 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. This evening, savor a farewell dinner and colorful cultural performance.

Our tour comes to an end after breakfast today. Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive program will transfer to the airport for our flight to Singapore where we'll connect for our flight back home.

Passengers who purchase flights will depart 2 days before the tour starts and return on the same day as the tour ends.

For flight details, see Before You Depart.

Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as—and often still called—Saigon. Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive program will be met and transferred to our centrally located hotel. This evening our tour director hosts a welcome dinner and orientation.

This morning we'll venture outside city limits to see one of the remnants of the Vietnam War, the legendary Cu Chi Tunnels. Connected to a larger network, these tunnels were used by Viet Cong soldiers both to hide and transport communications and supplies. Next, we'll visit an agricultural organic farm where the chef's goal is to educate others about healthy foods. We'll learn more about the ingredients here, how to prepare them, and of course, enjoy a delicious lunch. After lunch, we'll return to Ho Chi Minh City to explore this vibrant city's highlights including the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the former US Embassy, the buzzing Chinese quarter of Cholon, and the lively Ben Thanh Market.

Today is free to explore Ho Chi Minh City at our own pace or to relax and enjoy our hotel's amenities. We might also consider an optional excursion to the Mekong Delta to Cai Be's floating markets, a local temple, and a chance to learn more about Vietnamese cuisine!

This morning we'll board our flight to Danang where we'll explore the Cham Museum. This museum is home to an exquisite collection of carvings and sculptures made from a variety of materials including sandstone. The sculptures we can see here date as far back as the 5th century and depict deities, mythical animals, and more. Afterward, we'll visit China Beach, which was the wartime R&R resort for the American military. Later, we'll arrive in Hoi An, one of Vietnam's most enchanting towns. This port city is known as a melting pot and we'll see evidence of this in the town's architecture. This evening we might consider an optional street food tour.

This morning, we'll take a cyclo ride and walking tour through Hoi An's "Ancient Town"! We'll visit the Japanese Covered Bridge which links the town with the Chinese quarters. We'll also see Sa Huynh Museum, home to exhibitions from Hoi An's earliest history; wander the Tran Family Chapel, a 200-year-old house built for worshipping ancestors; and Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall, a Chinese pagoda dedicated to Thien Hau Thanh Mau, the Goddess of the Sea and Protector of Sailors and Fishermen. This afternoon, we'll visit the Streets Culinary Center where trainees introduce us to Vietnam's rich noodle culture. We'll learn about the different types of noodles, how to make them, and then give it a go ourselves! Afterward, we'll savor a dinner featuring Mi Quang, a special noodle dish from Central Vietnam.

Today, we'll return to Danang where we'll catch our afternoon flight to Hanoi, Vietnam's capital city whose rich culture and history are tied to French colonialism and Chinese influence as we'll see in the city's architecture, cuisine, and culture. Upon arrival, we'll transfer to our Hanoi hotel where we'll check in and enjoy some time to relax.

Today's highlights include a view of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where the Vietnamese revolutionary leader is interred; the One Pillar Pagoda, a Buddhist temple; and the Temple of Literature, a temple dedicated to Confucius. We'll visit Hoa Lo Prison, nicknamed "Hanoi Hilton" by American prisoners of war, before proceeding to the scenic Hoan Kiem Lake followed by a guided walk through the narrow lanes of the historic old quarter. Lunch is at KOTO, a non-profit social enterprise empowering at-risk and disadvantaged youth in Vietnam through the community project's holistic hospitality training program. This evening, we'll enjoy a distinctly Vietnamese traditional art form—a thrilling Water Puppet show!

This morning, we'll depart for Halong City with a refreshment break en route. On arrival, we'll embark on our overnight cruise to the far corners of Halong Bay. Halong Bay is widely considered to be Vietnam's most spectacular natural attraction. It comprises over three thousand small jagged limestone islands rising out of the South China Sea and these dramatic formations are the backdrop of your idyllic cruise. Enjoy lunch on board as we cruise out into the bay, stopping to anchor for an afternoon of activities. As our day comes to an end, watch the sunset over the bay from the deck, followed by a freshly prepared dinner before retiring for the evening.

Those of us that wish to participate can take a refreshing Tai Chi lesson as the sun rises over the bay. This beautiful art is said to rejuvenate the body and spirit, and when practiced regularly, can help treat a number of ailments. Later, we'll visit Sung Sot Cave. Astonished by the cave's size, the French nicknamed it "Surprise Grotto" and it's considered one of the most beautiful caves on Halong Bay. We'll enjoy the eye-catching rock formations enhanced with colorful lights before we return to our ship for brunch. Our cruise comes to an end as we disembark at the pier and return to Hanoi where we'll catch our flight to Siem Reap, the gateway to the world-famous temples of Angkor Wat, among the "Seven Wonders of the World."

This morning, we'll enjoy a relaxing boat ride on Tonle Sap Lake, visiting floating fishing villages, submerged forests, and fishing farms. Later, we'll explore Angkor Wat, the largest, best-preserved, and most religiously significant of the Angkor temples. We'll cross the vast moat, the causeway lined with naga balustrades, and ascend through galleries and courtyards to reach the central sanctuary which offers views over the causeway and countryside. Along the way, we'll see the delicate artistry of the carvings that adorn nearly every surface including the longest continuous bas-relief in the world which narrates stories from Hindu mythology. We'll also visit Preah Khan, located in the dense jungle with its towered enclosures and shoulder-hugging corridors before we continue to Les Chantiers Ecoles, a vocational center where we can see artisans at work.

Today we'll start at the South Gate of Angkor Thom where statues of the gods of good and evil line the entrance. We'll see Bayon's smiling faces and bas reliefs depicting daily life and the great battles fought between the Khmers and ancient Thais; and visit the pyramid-shaped Phimeanakas. We'll see the rows of trunks that form the Terrace of Elephants, and the Terrace of Leper Kings which includes a statue of the Hindu god of death, Yana. Next, we'll take a short drive to one of the most loved temples here—Ta Prohm. This small crumbling temple is held together by giant tree roots giving it a magical feel. This afternoon, we'll explore Angkor Wat before we end our day with sunset views over the jungle from the top of Pre Rup Temple. This evening, we'll savor a special dinner and colorful cultural performance.

Our tour comes to an end after breakfast this morning. Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive package will transfer to the airport for our return flight to the U.S.