Highlights
- See Vietnam's ancient landmarks on city tours in Hanoi
- Enjoy an overnight cruise on the emerald waters of Ha Long Bay
- Tour the former Saigon and immerse yourself in wartime history
- Visit the temples of Angkor, including Ta Prohm and Angkor Wat
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Hanoi (Vietnam), Self-Guided Tour | Hanoi |
| Day 2 | Full-Day Hanoi Sightseeing Tour | Hanoi |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Ha Long Bay, Overnight Cruise | Ha Long Bay |
| Day 4 | Morning Cruise, Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City | Ho Chi Minh City |
| Day 5 | Cu Chi Tunnels & Ho Chi Minh City Tour | Ho Chi Minh City |
| Day 6 | Day Trip to the Mekong Delta | Ho Chi Minh City |
| Day 7 | Fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia), Street Food Tour | Siem Reap |
| Day 8 | Day Trip to Angkor Temples | Siem Reap |
| Day 9 | Day Trip to Banteay Srei & Roluos Temples | Siem Reap |
| Day 10 | Depart Siem Reap |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi (Vietnam), Self-Guided Tour
Welcome to Vietnam! Few countries can match this Southeast Asian powerhouse for natural beauty and rich culture. You'll arrive in the capital of Hanoi, the best place to dive right into Vietnam's long history (dating back to around the third century BCE) and enjoy its renowned cuisine.
A driver will meet you at the airport terminal for the approximately one-hour ride to your hotel in Hanoi's historic Old Quarter. This is the best spot to venture out and hit the highlights. In fact, after checking in, you'll do precisely that on a self-guided tour.
Spend the rest of the day exploring the labyrinthine streets of the Old Quarter by foot or on a three-wheeled cyclo. For lunch, head to Bun Cha Huong Lien to try the city's beloved bun cha (noodle soup with grilled pork). This restaurant's interpretation of the dish is so famous that it's served guests like Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain. Later, enjoy a sundowner cocktail at the rooftop bar of the stately Pan Pacific Hotel amid premium views of Tay Ho (West Lake) and the city beyond.
Day 2: Full-Day Hanoi Sightseeing Tour
Leave the hotel early on a private, full-day tour of Hanoi's historic landmarks. It starts around 8 am in the Old Quarter at Hang Be Market, a centuries-old commercial hub in the city. This is where locals come to shop for fresh produce, meats, seafood, and other items. Vendors here sell prepared foods, and plenty of stalls serve up Vietnam's famous street eats, so bring your appetite. Then, head over to the Tran Quoc Pagoda. Dating to the Ly Nam De Dynasty of the sixth century, this is the oldest Buddhist shrine in Hanoi.
Next is the Museum of Ethnology, which preserves the cultural heritage of the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. After lunch, continue to the 11th-century Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first-ever national university. Then, visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the final resting place of revolutionary leader "Uncle Ho," who died in 1969. Other highlights include visiting the 11th-century One Pillar Pagoda, a Buddhist temple regarded as the most unique pagoda in Asia due to its lotus-flower design perched on a stone pillar rising out of a pond. Afterward, you'll return to the hotel.
Day 3: Transfer to Ha Long Bay, Overnight Cruise
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then meet your driver for the 2.5-hour ride north to the marina at Ha Long Bay. Located on the Gulf of Tonkin, over 1,000 karst islets rise above jade waters and resemble the spine of some mythological creature ("ha long" actually translates to "descending dragon"). The unique beauty of this region is unlike anywhere else and thus has been bestowed with UNESCO World Heritage status.
You'll spend the night cruising through this natural wonder aboard a comfortable ship. After settling into your cabin, participate in a cooking masterclass led by the onboard expert chef. During the workshop, you'll learn to make traditional specialties like nem (Vietnamese fried spring rolls) and enjoy them for dinner. Spend the remainder of the evening relaxing, or head out on a small boat for a bit of night fishing with the locals.
Day 4: Morning Cruise, Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City
Wake up early for a tai chi session on the ship's sundeck. With a newly healthy qi (life energy), enjoy breakfast onboard as you cruise around towering karst islets. Later, there will be one last stop to explore a magnificent sea cave before returning to Ha Long's port around noon. From there, you'll hop in a vehicle for the 3.5-hour ride back to Hanoi and the airport, where you'll catch a two-hour flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
Welcome to southern Vietnam! The heart of this region is Vietnam's largest metropolis, which was formerly known as Saigon until its fall in 1975. Since the end of the Vietnam War (known locally as the American War), Ho Chi Minh City has expanded and modernized while retaining its colonial charm. Upon arrival, you'll transfer to your hotel in the city and have the rest of the day to relax and unwind.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Cu Chi Tunnels & Ho Chi Minh City Tour
After breakfast, transfer two hours north of the city to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. This immense network of underground passages was constructed in 1948 to protect the Viet Cong guerrillas from French attacks. They also served as living quarters, communications hubs, and supply routes with storage areas and hospitals. A visit here reveals Vietnam's wartime history and the hardships faced by the thousands of soldiers who survived the French and American wars. You can even crawl through a section of the tunnels to experience their narrow dimensions.
Following lunch at the local restaurant, you'll return to Ho Chi Minh City for a highlights tour. First up is Reunification Palace, the Saigon government's headquarters during the American War. Follow that with visits to historic 19th-century landmarks like Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. You'll also stop at Ben Thanh, one of the largest municipal markets in the city.
Day 6: Day Trip to the Mekong Delta
Get an early start as you meet your driver and transfer south to the Mekong Delta. Known as Vietnam's rice bowl, this region is full of mangroves, sugar cane plantations, and water-logged paddies. Board a boat to sail the Ben Tre River, one of the tributaries of the Mekong. Along the way, you'll visit local businesses like a brick workshop and honey farm. Then, tour one of the region's famous coconut candy workshops to sample these tasty treats and learn how they're made.
Next, you'll stop at a small riverside village for tea with a family that makes hand-woven rush mats. Explore the village by bike or xe loi (motor cart) to observe daily life. You'll pass lime-green rice fields, vegetable farms, and tropical fruit orchards. Have lunch at a local restaurant on the banks of the river before trying your hand at rowing along a creek. Afterward, transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City and enjoy a free evening on your own.
Day 7: Fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia), Street Food Tour
In the morning, you'll transfer to the airport and catch a two-hour flight to Siem Reap. You're now in Cambodia! This resort town in the country's northwest sits on the shores of Tonlé Sap Lake and is the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor. These ruins were once the capital city of the Khmer Kingdom from the ninth to the 15th centuries. Upon arrival in Siem Reap, you'll transfer to your hotel and have the day free to relax.
When the sun goes down, hop in a tuk-tuk (auto rickshaw) and zip around the city, stopping to indulge in tasty Khmer dishes. This is a small-group culinary expedition led by an English-speaking guide that showcases Cambodian life and culture. Go off the tourist trail as you hit street street-side food stalls and browse busy municipal markets. As you go, you'll try highlights like fish amok (coconut milk-based curry with fish), lok lak (Cambodian stir fry with pepper beef), and exotic fruits like rambutan and dragon fruit. The tour ends at a local pub, where you'll finish the day with a few drinks.
Day 8: Day Trip to Angkor Temples
It's time to see the star of the show. After breakfast, meet your guide and head out to visit one of the most famous temples in the world: Angkor Wat. This 12th-century complex covers 200 acres (81 ha), and its five towers are so iconic they're actually emblazoned on the Cambodian flag. On this walking tour, you'll immerse yourself in the ruins as you stroll through its galleries, libraries, pavilions, and courtyards.
The tour continues in Angkor Thom (literally "Great City"), once the most impressive royal city of Cambodia's Angkor period. Looming over it is Bayon Temple. Comprised of 54 Gothic towers, King Jayavarman VII commissioned it in the 12th century, and his smiling face and glaring eyes are represented in its 216 stone sculptures. Other structures you'll visit include the Terrace of the Elephants (featuring sculptures and bas-reliefs of elephants), Phimeanakas (a three-tiered pyramid), and the Terrace of the Leper King, known for its carvings of demons and mythological figures.
Continue to Ta Prohm, a 12th-century Buddhist temple whose crumbling towers have been all but absorbed by the surrounding jungle. Hike up the lion-guarded staircases of the 10th-century temple of Pre Rup, where you'll end the day by watching a golden sunset over the forest canopy. Afterward, transfer back to your hotel.
Day 9: Day Trip to Banteay Srei & Roluos Temples
Enjoy another day of touring Angkor's showstopping temples. First up is Banteay Samré, a 12th-century Hindu temple built in the Khmer style. Then, head to Banteay Srei, a 10th-century temple devoted to Shiva, one of the principal deities in Hinduism. Constructed out of red sandstone, Banteay Srei is famous for its intricate carvings covering nearly every surface, earning it the nickname the "jewel of Khmer art."
In the afternoon, visit Roluos, an archaeological site once part of the ancient Khmer capital city, Hariharalaya. Here you'll find three temples from the ninth century, the beginning of the Khmer Empire. Start at Preah Ko, the first temple built on orders by King Indravarman I. Next, visit Bakong, a stepped pyramid, then finish at Lolei, a temple originally built on an island in a reservoir that has since dried up. Among the ancient temples in the area are two working Buddhist monasteries, symbolic of this site's lasting religious influence. At the end of the day, return to your hotel in Siem Reap.
Day 10: Depart Siem Reap
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