Vietnam – Cambodia Heritage Journey

Meet your guide at the hotel, and transfer to the center of Hanoi. Arrive in central Hanoi for an hour Cyclo tour through the Old Quarter to enjoy the bustling local life. This bustling area of narrow streets and alleys is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers.

Along with a passionate food guide, walk through the Old Quarter’s small lanes, winding backstreets, and hidden alleys where a multitude of vendors set up their stalls and stools along the roadside. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the city. Then pull up a stool at one of Hanoi’s best pho shops. Slurp up a bowl of the steaming noodle soup while the guide explains the secrets behind this national dish.

Having tantalized the taste buds, continue on the food trail to sample other local favourites. Try banh cuon, steamed rice paper stuffed with pork and mushrooms, nem chua ran, fried spring rolls, and other dishes. Then sit down for a lunch/ dinner of barbeque, dining on perfectly grilled meats and vegetables at a popular local shop.

Wrap up the tour with a beer at a bia hoi¸, a small shop selling draft beer, or a local cafe. Sip a cold beer/ or a cup of coffee while watching the vibrant street scenes.

Finish the day with a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show. Then back to your hotel for rest.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (or dinner)
Stay overnight in Hanoi

Our guide and driver will meet you at your hotel, then get on a journey of about 100 km to Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Ninh Binh province. Upon arrival, take the boat trip and meander lazily down the peaceful river while passing through a series of caves. The scenery of Trang An is a unique combination of deep turquoise river water, rising limestone mountains, water caves, and a clear blue sky. The sampan boat will be rowed by local people, lasting around 2 to 3 hours.

Afternoon, leave for Hoa Lu, the first capital of Vietnam, dating back to the 11th century. Built by the Dinh Dynasty not only as a capital but also as a stronghold against the Northern invaders, Hoa Lu was shortly later it was inherited by the Le Dynasty. Visit the two old temples, one dedicated to Dinh Tien Hoang, the only king of the Dinh Dynasty and also Vietnam’s first emperor and the other to the succeeding kings of the Le Dynasty. Though the temples are no longer intact, some precious antique carvings and sculptures of stone and wood are still preserved. Then, continue to visit Mua Cave.

The stairway leading up to Mua Cave starts up some 500 stone steps up Ngoa Long Mountain, with steep sections giving even seasoned trekkers a workout. Ornately carved dragons and phoenixes form balustrades in traditional style on either side of the staircase up to two main viewpoints. Dragon View: Take the left fork past the statue of the dragon, looking out over Tam Coc rice paddies, the winding Ngo Dong River, and distant karst peaks. Pagoda Viewpoint: A shorter climb to the right, offering a more secluded setting to envision the ancient valley and lotus ponds nearby.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Hanoi

Following breakfast, leave Hanoi for a 2.5-hour drive to Ha Long Bay, including a 20-minute stop on the way. Arrive at the jetty in Ha Long City towards noon and proceed with check-in formalities. Be welcomed onboard, and lunch will be served while cruising towards the bay itself. 

In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and/or activities (depending on each boat’s itinerary) or just spend some time relaxing on board. Towards the end of the day, the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is served on board.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight on Ha Long Bay Cruise

Enjoy the fresh morning in the middle of the bay, the sun rises on Ha Long in the morning and breakfast is served (brunch on some boats) while the vessels cruise slowly through the magnificent rock formations and back towards port. Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi and transfer to the airport directly for the next flight to Hue.

Our guide & driver pick up and transfer from Hue Airport to the hotel by air-conditioned vehicle

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (Or 1 brunch)
Stay overnight in Hue

Morning, our guide will pick you up at your hotel for a full-day tour of Hue City, the former Imperial Capital of Vietnam for the 1802-1945 period and the last refuge of Vietnamese feudalism. Begin with Hue Citadel, a well-known UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Site which is a 520-ha fortress-like grand complex built in the early 1800s and featuring three enclosures separated by heavy ramparts namely Kinh Thanh Hue (Civic City) as the outer, Hoang Thanh (Royal City) as the middle and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden City) as the inner. Next, move on to Khai Dinh Tomb, the burial site of Vietnam’s second-to-last king, and the most elaborate compared to other kings’ tombs. The tomb shows a vivid European influence in architecture despite its Asian style.

Afternoon, take a dragon boat cruise along the Perfume River to enjoy the open view of the river and the beautiful landscape along the banks. On the way, drop a visit to Thien Mu Pagoda, an active Buddhist monastery overlooking the river from a vantage point with its origin dating back to 1601. Then transfer by car to Minh Mang Tomb, where the 2nd Emperor of the Nguyen dynasty was buried. Last, stop for shopping at Dong Ba market, which is the city's traditional commercial center.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Hue

This unforgettable journey takes you from Hue's imperial grandeur to Hoi An's ancient charm, blending natural wonders and cultural gems. Highlights include a serene boat ride through Tam Giang Lagoon, where you'll witness local fishermen's daily lives against a backdrop of shimmering waters. The adventure continues along the legendary Hai Van Pass, offering breathtaking coastal panoramas from its winding mountain roads, with a refreshing stop at Lang Co Beach's powdery shores. As you descend into Hoi An, prepare to be enchanted by its lantern-lit alleys, historic merchant houses, and vibrant riverside atmosphere.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Hoi An

Meet our guide at your hotel and transfer out for a city tour. Once a bustling maritime commercial port of Asia between the 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, is now a peaceful town of exceptionally well-preserved architecture, lifestyles and traditions. The town exemplifies a fascinating fusion of cultures between Vietnam and the outside world, including China, Japan, Thailand and the Philippines. Your sightseeing will include the iconic 400-year-old Covered Bridge with a small temple attached to one side as a prominent example of Japanese architecture, the Museum of Trade Ceramics, which is an elegant Vietnamese-style wooden house built in 1858, showcasing antique ceramic artifacts. You will also visit the 200-year-old Tan Ky House, typifying an ancient Chinese merchant residence, Ong Temple, built in 1653 by Chinese settlers to worship Guan Yu, an ancient Chinese general whose character stands for loyalty, bravery and justice, and the local market is vibrant with colors and activities.

Start going to a lantern-making family for a half-day visit. Colorful lanterns are an unmistakable part of Hoi An’s visual identity as the craft of lantern-making has been passed down to present town dwellers from generations of their ancestors. Spend half a day observing and learning how to make lanterns in the traditional way under the guidance of friendly and skilled hosts. You will practice all production stages, including whittling bamboo into splints and bending them into a frame, cutting fabric to size and gluing it to the frame to complete a lantern. The meaningful souvenirs the host family will present to you when saying goodbye are just what you made with your own hands.

Meals: Breakfast
Overnigh at hotel in Hoi An

Morning meet our guide at your hotel and transfer out to a local market. A guide from the local cooking school will take you on a tour through the market to learn about the ingredients to be used in your recipes. After the market, board a boat to ride along the Hoi An river for about 25 minutes, watching local fishermen casting nets as part of their daily routine. Arrive at a small township and walk to the cooking school. The class starts in an open-air pavilion by the river under the instruction of an experienced chef. Observe, practice, sample and bring out a good lunch cooked in the local style to your own taste. Enjoy it yourself. 

Start cycling to Tra Que village which is located 3 km away from the center of Hoi An. Tra Que is well-known as the only freshest and cleanest vegetable supplier of Hoi An local foods. What makes vegetables here so special is that no chemical or toxins is used in the plant growing process to guarantee the best quality. Explore the vegetable garden, learn about the local produce grown there and hear the history of Tra Que.

Assist the farmers as they work in the garden. Depending on the time of year, this may include tilling the land, fertilising the garden with seaweed or picking ripe vegetables. Throughout the experience, learn more about their daily lives and the rich culture that exists in the Vietnamese countryside.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Stay overnight in Hoi An

Morning, departure for Ba Na Hills, or Chua Mount (Mount of Goddess), bypassing the seashore on Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, one of the most beautiful roads of Da Nang City and Red Beach. Ba Na Hills used to be a small French resort nestled in the mountains and has recently been turning into the most well-known amusement park in Vietnam thanks to its good location, formation and climate.

Arrive at the Cable car station at the foot of Ba Na Mountain. Enjoy the first leg Cable car, which achieves two Guinness World records as the longest non-stop cable car (5,042m) and the highest non-stop cable car (1,292m). The cable cars were built to feed the mountaintop of Ba Na Hills, but they’re also the perfect way to get spectacular views of Danang and the surrounding forests.

Upon reaching Ba Na Hills, start the trip with a visit to the Golden Bridge, which is designed to connect the cable car station with the main gardens of this mountaintop. It also provides a scenic overlook and a tourist attraction. The gold-coloured walkway is lined with purple Lobelia Chrysanthemums and is 150 meters long with two giant hands, constructed of fibreglass and wire mesh. These two hands appear like stone hands that support the structure.

After the Golden Bridge, we’ll continue to visit Le Jardin d’Amour, old wineries, remains of French Villas and Ling Ung Pagoda with a 27-meter high Buddha statue. We then leave the Le Jardin for the second cable car station to visit the top of the mountain, where there are remains of the old French villas. Start conquering the Peak of Chua Mount at a height of 1,487m, viewing the whole Da Nang city under a cluster of white clouds. After the Peak of Chua Mount, visit the trail of Dreaming Stream, Rainbow Waterfall, Suspension Bridge, Golden Valley, and ruined Opera House. Play with wild monkeys and take photos. Freely until time back to the Cable car Station to return to the foot of the Mountain. Transfer back to Hoi An. 

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Hoi An

Our guide & local driver pick up and transfer from Hoi An Hotel to Da Nang Airport for the next flight.

Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, meet up with a guide & local driver, transfer from Tan Son Nhat Airport to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Morning, take a half-day tour to Cu Chi Tunnels, 75 km Northwest of downtown Ho Chi Minh City, which were once a major underground hideout and resistance base of Viet Cong forces during the two wars against the French and later on Americans. The tunnels, entirely hand-dug, formed a highly intricate network of interlinked multilevel passageways at times stretched as far as the Cambodian border and totalling over 120 km in length. Its complexity was beyond imagination, containing meeting rooms, kitchens, wells, clinics, schools, depots, trenches and emergency exits all aimed for guerrilla warfare. The tunnels were deep and strong enough to withstand destructive bombings and self-contained enough to outlast prolonged sieges. Back to Ho Chi Minh City for the next destination.

Afternoon, travel around the city with a water bus to discover the city. This scenic half-day tour lets you explore Ho Chi Minh City from its iconic Saigon River, offering a fresh perspective on the bustling metropolis. Highlights include gliding past landmark skyscrapers, historic riverside sites, and local fishing communities aboard the modern Ho Chi Minh City Water Bus. Enjoy panoramic views of the skyline, including Bitexco Financial Tower and Thu Thiem Bridge, while learning about the city’s growth along its vital waterways. The tour includes a stop at a lively riverside market, where you can sample fresh tropical fruits or shop for souvenirs. Perfect for avoiding traffic while soaking in the urban and riverside culture, this quick yet immersive experience blends modern cityscapes with local river life.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

The program will start with a quick visit to Cai Be town & the ancient church from the boat. Then, we’ll come to Tân Phong island for the rowing boat. They will take you deeper into the countryside on smaller canals to enjoy a peaceful time under the shade of mangrove trees. Stop at the local garden to enjoy some fruits with hot tea while listening to traditional music.

Then, start the biking trip on village paths to see the local daily life: orchard, school, church, pagoda, traditional houses... On the way, we can make some stops to see how they weave the dried water hyacinth to make many products: baskets, bags, hats, wallets, shoes... (You can walk, but see less.)

Back to our boat to go across one of the longest rivers in the world, the Mekong River, to come to An Bình Island.

Have a biking trip or walk around the local village, stop at the local workshop to see how to make rice paper, coconut candy, pop-rice... Enjoy some sweets with a cup of hot tea.

Have a fresh shower before cooking some special dishes with the members of the local family. We’ll enjoy dinner & overnight at a homestay.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Stay overnight at Ut Trinh homestay

Have breakfast and go for a walk around the village to enjoy the fresh air in the morning. Check out and say goodbye to the Út Trinh family. Boat trip to visit the brick kilns, where you can see how the local people create beautiful potteries from clay. Our boat will go along the floating village. We will see how to farm catfish on the Mekong River.

Also, we can visit VinhLong market in the town. This is the best choice for you to take pictures of fish, shrimps, prawns, crabs, snakes, rice-field rats, tropical fruits, vegetables... The cruise will end at the new boat station in Vinh Long City around 10:00 AM

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh

Our tour guide will meet and pick you up at your hotel to transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Upon arrival at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, we are greeted by our friendly tour guide and transferred directly to the hotel (Check in time is 14:00).

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Siem Reap

Our tour guide will meet and pick you up at your hotel to transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Upon arrival at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, we are greeted by our friendly tour guide and transferred directly to the hotel (Check in time is 14:00).

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Siem Reap

Breakfast at the hotel, and visit the antique capital of Angkor Thom (12 century): the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, and the Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Continue to 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.

Afternoon, visit Ta Prohm, one of the area’s most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. After the visit, Ta Prohm if time and energy permitted, visit Old Market for some souvenirs for friends and family.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Siem Reap

Morning, we visit Kulen Mountain in Phnom Kulen National Park. It is an isolated mountain massif located in Svay Leu District and some 48km from Siem Reap. Its highest point is 487 meters. This is widely regarded as the birthplace of the ancient Khmer Empire. During the construction period of the ancient temples in the Ninth century, sandstones were brought from this sacred mountain to Angkor. It was here at Phnom Kulen that King Jayavarman II proclaimed independence from Java in 802 A.D. After exploring the surrounding nature, pay respect to the reclining Buddha statue. Picnic lunch near the waterfall at your own expense.

Then, explore the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Take a traditional wooden boat for a ride on the Tonle Sap Lake, the "Great Lake" of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia and flows into the Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. During your boat ride through Chong Khneas, you will see ordinary Cambodians going about their daily life in the floating village. Your boat will briefly enter the edge of the Great Lake of Tonle Sap Lake. We will see a fishermen's "floating village" with floating schools, a floating police station, etc. It is the same as a big village floating on the lake, and the "village" moves from place to place following water levels and currents.

After the tours, transfer back to Siem Reap and drop off at your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Siem Reap

After breakfast, our guide & driver will pick you up at the hotel lobby, and transfer you to Phnom Penh, it is about 320km and takes about 5.5 hours to transfer.

Along the way, take a visit to Kampong Kdei Bridge (a grand ancient laterite bridge that was built in the 12th century) and rest stop in Skun village, well-known in the local language as "Spider village" because it is famous with international visitors to Cambodia for its fried spiders.

Upon arrival, check in at the hotel in Phnom Penh.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Phnom Penh

Our guide will pick you up at your hotel and start a half-day city tour including the Victory Monument and the National Museum (known as Musee des Beaux-Arts). Next, you’ll visit a French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, who designed it in the Khmer style in 1917. The museum contains a collection of Khmer art, notably sculptures, from throughout the ages. You’ll also discover the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda, located within the grounds of the Royal Palace. The Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90 kilograms, and a small 17th-century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha.

We continue to visit to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21), followed by the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, which is approximately 15Km from the city. You’ll witness Cambodia's horrible recent past. We will also visit the Russian market (Psah Tuol Thom Pong), a lively outdoor market where you will find antiquities, silver and gold jewellery, gems, silk, kramas, stone and wood carvings, as well as T-Shirts, CDs and other souvenirs. End of the day, back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Stay overnight in Phnom Penh

Breakfast at the hotel, free until check-out time (12:00 noon), and then transfer to Phnom Penh Airport for the departure flight.

Meals: Breakfast