Ho Chi Minh is Vietnam’s largest city. Upon arrival you’ll be me by your local guide and transferred downtown. The first thing you’ll become aware of is the sheer number of motorcyclists in seemingly constant motion around town. About 92% of commuters travel by shared motorbike, sometimes carrying three of more people. Always keep your camera on hand as the traffic mayhem tends to offer fantastic photo opportunities!

This morning your guide will present the historic overview of the city as you take in the main points of interest. It’s an energetic city and the architectural disorder gives you some idea of the rapid growth over the past decade. The past and present may be found on the same block; French colonial heritage buildings flanked by a flashy Louis Vuitton boutique. Architectural highlights include the Notre Dame Cathedral, built between 1877 and 1883. The stone used to create it was exported in its entirety from France. Next to the cathedral stands the Central Post Office, finished in 1891. It is another fine example of French architecture and is Vietnam’s largest post office. Continue to the Reunification Palace, the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until April 30, 1975. We end the architectural highlights with a stroll through the bustling Ben Thanh Market.

Cu Chi Tunnels option: It is possible to include a morning visit of the site, followed by an afternoon visit of Saigon. This network of tunnels, which stretched for over 200km, became legendary during the 1960s. The Cu Chi tunnels played a vital part in the U.S.-Vietnam War in that they allowed the Viet Cong to control a large rural area only 30 to 40 km from Saigon. At its height, the tunnel system stretched from Saigon to the Cambodian border. The network, parts of which were several levels deep, included innumerable trap doors, specifically constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command center and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a glimpse of the underground life and strategy during the war.

After breakfast, we set out on an excursion toward Vinh Long province (a two and a half-hour drive). We head for Cai Be in the Mekong Delta, the country’s ‘rice-basket’. The landscapes reveal a diversity of life and scenery from the sprawling Saigon city to the peaceful delta. On arrival in Cai Be, board a private wooden motorized boat to explore the river life and agriculture along her banks and waterways. We pass the bustling Cai Be floating market, where hundreds of boats filled with fruits, vegetables, and other products anchor alongside the riverbank for miles. Local traders live on the river and have done so for generations, living and trading out of their boat homes. Continue the cruise across large tributaries of the Mekong River then boat through narrow cannels (depending on water level) offering snapshots of local life. We disembark to walk through villages, past fruit gardens, and traditional homes. Stop at a local restaurant in a garden setting for lunch serving typical Mekong Delta specialties. After lunch, you might want to rest with a short power nap on a hammock, stroll around the orchards or try rowing a small sampan… Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City.

It’s effectively a transfer day today as we make our way to Cambodia. Your guide will announce your flight details and departure time the night before. You may have time for a final walk around Saigon before checkout and the transfer to the airport. Flight time to Siem Reap is just over an hour (1h20). Upon arrival you’ll clear immigration and customs and meet with your guide for the short transfer to your hotel downtown. The remainder of the day is free and leisurely. Siem Reap town is easy to navigate on foot or by tuk-tuk.

Optional: sunrise over Angkor Wat temple. Return to your hotel for a late breakfast. If you’re an early riser, consider catching the sunrise over Angkor Wat temple. It is certainly one of the most unique places in the world for sunrise but be forewarned, you won’t be alone! After breakfast, return to visit the intricately carved Khmer ruins at Angkor – one of the world’s most impressive heritage sites. The temple still holds fine examples of stone carvings and engravings from the rich Angkorian era. Look for Apsara’s or celestial angel figures dancing in intricate still life scenes on the bas-reliefs. In the afternoon, take a tuk-tuk ride from the Southgate of Angkor Thom to Bayon and explore the mysterious Royal city of Angkor Thom. Angkor Thom’s 50-tower temple is an inspiring sight. At first glance, it seems to be a shapeless mass of stone, but further scrutiny reveals a face, and then another and another until suddenly you are engulfed by the heavy, enigmatic and silent gaze through half-closed eyes. Enjoy sunset at one of the quieter temples.

We begin with a tuk-tuk transfer from your hotel via the Artisans d’Angkor, a local pagoda and a vegetable garden before we commence our cooking class at Sojourn Villa. Experience a Cambodian Cooking Class in the bamboo pavilion. Learn how to make three different Cambodian dishes with the head chef and enjoy your creation after the class. We’ll include a short visit to a local family to learn about food customs and beliefs within the village. After lunch, continue your tuk-tuk ride to visit the striking Ta Prohm. The temple was once reclaimed by the jungle and disappeared until a French explorer uncovered the ruins. It remains overgrown, an oddly haunting and powerful scene. The Ficus family embraces the ruins with their twisty, winding roots and branches, ever threatening to reclaim the temple.

We bid Cambodia goodbye and head for Luang Prabang in Laos today. The flight is just under two hours, upon arrival at the airport you will be met by your local guide and transferred to the hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure for you to rest or explore at your own will. Stretch your legs with a stroll through the night market downtown.

A highlight of any visit to Luang Prabang is to wake before the dawn and bear witness to an ancient morning ritual – the alms offering to the Buddhist monks. Hundreds of saffron-robed monks take to the streets in search of their daily food offered by the lay community. You are welcome to make an offering or simply be a witness to the humbled procession. This early morning ritual dates back generations in Laos and originated with the Buddha’s own ritual 2,500 years ago. Watch as the town comes to life and then return to your hotel for breakfast.

Note: With the Morning Alms Giving, if you do not wish to make an offering, please keep an appropriate distance and observe the ritual in silence. Dress appropriately – shoulder, chest and legs should be covered. After breakfast we will visit this sacred town of many temples.

We’ll include a visit to the National Museum (closed on Tue), the former Royal Palace housing a collection of valuables including the famous Prabang Buddha statue and numerous gifts from foreign dignitaries. Other must-see places include Wat Visoun, the 16th century temple that served as a small museum for religious artifacts; Wat Xiengthong, the 16th century temple said to be the most beautiful temple in town, epitomizing the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang’s architecture. In the late afternoon, visit Phousi Hill climbing up 328 steps to the summit that provides a superb panoramic view of the whole town. Luang Prabang is exceptional for both its rich architectural and artistic heritage that reflects the fusion of Lao traditional urban architecture with that of the colonial era. Its remarkably well-preserved townscape reflects the alliance of these two distinct cultural traditions. UNESCO Inscription, 1995.

Your morning is left open for packing or last-minute souvenir shopping. Then transfer to the airport for your flight to Ha Noi, Vietnam. Upon arrival at the airport you’ll be met your local guide and transferred to the hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is for you to explore or rest at your leisure.

This morning we have a 2.5-hour drive to reach one of the newly declared 7 New Wonders of the World – Ha Long Bay. Journey through the impressive countryside of the North, by now you’ll have a sense of how distinctly different each region of Vietnam is. Arrive at the pier by noon; board your luxury junk (flat-bottomed sailing vessel), which will be your accommodation for the nigh. Cruise through the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the water. Lunch is served on board. Drop anchor in a bay, disembark to visit spectacular limestone caves or trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the evocative bay. Choose to swim near a secluded beach, or simply lounge on deck soaking up the atmosphere. Visit a floating fishing village and meet third-generation fishermen to learn about their traditional way of life at sea. The day rounds off at sunset with sundowners before feasting on fresh seafood for dinner.

Catch an early sunrise this morning from the deck with a traditional Vietnamese coffee in hand. Breakfast will be served on board. Continue cruising through the Bay with its limestone formations and small islands. Small, uninhabited beaches and grottoes carved out by wind and water action provide an ever-changing backdrop for photography. Not to mention the images of distant junks, or round basket boats floating on shimmering waters. Drop off at the pier is around mid-day and then transfer back to your hotel in Ha Noi. In the late afternoon, we’ll enjoy a performance of water puppetry, an art form that developed in the rice paddies of northern Vietnam.

(All museums in Ha Noi are closed on Monday & Friday) This morning, we travel by rickshaw cyclo (traditional bike-propelled cart) and by foot along tree-lined boulevards and through the 1000-year-old “Old Quarter”. Other stops on your visit include Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum and the One Pillar Pagoda, the hallowed “Temple of Literature”– Van Mieu as it is known in Vietnamese – the country’s most renowned temple complex. A Confucian sanctuary and academy, the center once housed the country’s first university, founded in 1076. Take time to wander through the stone tablets and soak up a thousand years of learning with your local guide. After lunch at another of our favorite local spots, we leave you to enjoy the afternoon as you see fit. Depending on your interests, your tour guide will be happy to lead you to some of the city’s more interesting art galleries or take you on a shopping tour for silks and linens (this is perhaps the best place in Vietnam to pick up gifts for people back home). There are numerous historic sites to recommend or even a visit to the Museum of Ethnology to enhance your understanding of Vietnam’s diverse culture.

You will have a private transfer with your guide to the airport for your departure flight home. This takes us to the end of your stay with us. Safe onward travels.