From Angkor Wat to Halong Bay: 14-day magical Tour

Welcome to Angkor Wat!

Start your temple tour in the morning at Ta Prohm, the most famous of the Small Circuit Temples. Get there as early as you can to avoid crowds. Built-in the mid-12th to early 13th centuries, Ta Prohm is unique in that it is overgrown by jungle. With many parts crumbling to the ground, it is one of the most picturesque Angkor temples.

Alternatively, depending on the season and the crowds, you may wish to visit the Preah Khan temple. Built by the same king in a similar style, this larger temple complex is also largely left in ruins, and its labyrinthian layout and fewer visitors make it a more intimate experience even in the high season months.

(Please consult your tour guide about crowd levels on the day of your visit; Ta Prohm is best when it opens at 7:30 a.m.)

Next, visit the ancient city of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. This city is surrounded by an 8-meter-high wall, drawing a perfect square. Enter the city through an ancient gate carved with three-headed elephants and capped with four giant faces of the Buddha. On each side of the causeway over the moat leading to the gate, a row of 54 gods and demons stand holding a sacred Naga snake.

From here, continue to Bayon Temple, at the exact center of the city. This 12th-century masterpiece is a study in grandeur and is well-known for its 52 towers with enigmatic faces looking out over the vast provinces of the Great Khmer Empire. Nearby, you should also check out the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King, which are both known for their intricate and unique carvings.

After lunch, begin exploring the crown jewel of the Khmer Empire, Angkor Wat. Built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, Angkor Wat was constructed following the model of the temple mountain symbolizing Mount Meru, the home of the gods.

Inside, the temple walls are covered with stone carvings depicting Hindu mythology and the wars that Suryavarman II fought during his reign. Angkor Wat is well known for the more than 2,000 Apsara dancers decorating the temple. It is thought to have taken around thirty-five years of intensive labor. Today, Angkor Wat is featured on Cambodia’s national flag as the temple symbolizes the soul of the Khmer people. Arrive just before sunset, when Angkor Wat is less visited and the Apsaras will shine in the most beautiful light.

After that, return to your hotel where there is the time at leisure to have dinner (at your own expense) and perhaps relax at the pool.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Siem Reap Bayon temple

This morning, travel to the countryside to see the gem of Angkor area, the pretty temple of Banteay Srey. The so-called Citadel of the Women remains the best-preserved temple in Cambodia. It displays some of finest examples of classical Khmer art as this small temple is noted for its truly remarkable fine bas-reliefs. Banteay Srey is unique in that it is constructed of pink sandstone, which is seen nowhere else in Angkor. Next, take a short hike through the forest to Kbal Spean, one of Cambodia’s earliest Hindu sites and refreshingly different from the other Khmer monuments. A 3-kilometer trek leads to the ‘River of 1000 Lingas’, a riverbed featuring stone carvings of Hindu gods, animals and phallic symbols.

After lunch at a local restaurant at the base of the hill, visit the Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB). ACCB is the first nature conservation project established in Cambodia. A knowledgeable staff member will explain the threats to Cambodia’s wildlife and the efforts of ACCB to protect the environment and promote wildlife conservation through education. On the forested grounds of the compound, you can see endangered species like a squeaky otter, various primates like hooting gibbons, various reptiles like miniature tortoises, and a beekeeping project.

On the way back to town, you can stop at local communities along the way. The guide will help with interaction with the local community to learn about the way of life here. Seize the opportunity to see how rice paper is produced and to taste palm wine and palm sugar, which are popular local products (seasonal). Stop by the Cambodian Land Mine Museum, which was started by a former child soldier in the Cambodian civil war. He taught himself how to deactivate mines and then set up the museum as an educational center and social enterprise to help children whose lives have been changed by these destructive weapons of war.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Siem Rep Banteay Kdei

Xin Chào Việt Nam!

The five towers of Angkor Wat are visible in the distance as you soar through the sky and arrive in Vietnam’s largest city, Ho Chi Minh City. The neighborhoods are vivacious and endlessly energetic. You can be swept up easily in the whirlwind of modern comforts that fill the city. The culture and traditions of the locals persist in the shadows of the spreading skyline. You will find the luscious scent of garlic and freshly made rice noodles. The decadent flavors of pho lure you into many delicious restaurants that hide around every corner.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. 

Meals: Breakfast.

Ho Chi Minh city landscape view

After breakfast, your private tour guide will pick you up and take you to Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by the Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long struggle for independence.

This vast network of tunnels played a huge part in the Viet Cong’s victory over the Americans, allowing them to control a large rural area surrounding HCM City. You will watch a brief introductory video at Cu Chi Tunnels, followed by a walk through the reserve. If you are feeling brave, you can crawl inside the Cu Chi Tunnels to experience how difficult life must have been, and discover the 3 underground levels. There will also be a chilling exhibition of the traps and weapons used against the American GIs. After the visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels, head back to the city center for lunch.

At 14:00, start the afternoon tour in the most dynamic city in Vietnam. You will explore great architecture in one of our largest cities in Vietnam. The architecture of Ho Chi Minh City is a splendid mix of Vietnam’s historical heritage, from French colonial villas to modern steel and glass monuments. The top architectural sights for tourists date back to the time when Saigon, the “Pearl of Indochina” was the capital of French Indochina. More has been added to the cultural heritage since then, and we see interesting times ahead in terms of modern architecture. Our guide would be more than happy to take you to the Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Reunification Palace.

If time permits, you can also visit the Saigon Opera House, Saigon’s city hall.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Ho Chi Minh City Hall

The ‘rice bowl of Vietnam’, the Mekong Delta, is essential to Vietnamese agriculture. As the mighty Mekong River approaches the coast at the end of its journey from China, it begins to spread out into myriad tributaries that bring life to the whole region. Explore these big and small tributaries, and witness a life lived almost entirely on water!

08:00: Pick up at the hotel, leave the busiest city, and start the trip to Ben Tre. On arrival at Ham Luong Pier (Ben Tre town). Take a boat on the Ben Tre River—one of the tributaries of the Mekong River. Sightseeing lively activities along the river, such as fishing and water transport. Stop at Brickwork to see how to make bricks in the traditional style by printing and baking. Visit one of plenty of coconut processing workshops located along the canal. Turn on natural scissors creeks where they look smaller and smaller to go to the village.

Take a walk to the family workshop to make sleep mats and enjoy some fruit and tea. Take a biking trip (or xe loi) on shady paths, pass by green rice fields and vegetable plains to be able to touch on real life, and find out about tropical culture from peasants. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, take a rowing boat along Water Palm Creek and boat back to Hung Vuong Pier. Disembark and return to Ho Chi Minh City airport, and take a short flight to Da Nang.

Upon arrival, you transfer 40 minutes to Hoi An, a major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries whose architecture and relaxed lifestyle have changed little over the years.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Ben Tre boat trip in palm trees village

You start a new day with an orientation walk in Hoi An town. The walking tour will offer you a chance to visit: a private house where members of the same family have lived continuously for centuries in a traditional setting; the Sa Huynh Museum, which contains exhibitions from the earliest period of Hoi An’s history; and the famous Japanese Covered Bridge Pagoda, the iconic symbol of Hoi An nowadays.

The second part of this morning is learning how to make a colorful lantern. Getting the guide from your instructor, you will select from a wealth of different silks, craft a bamboo frame, and create your lantern, which will fold neatly into your luggage and bring it back home as a souvenir.

Enjoy lunch before walking back to the hotel and spending the rest of the day by the swimming pool or beach.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Meals: Breakfast.

Hoi An Japanese Covered Bridge Pagoda

Enjoy a beautiful morning in Hoi An by cycling along the Thu Bon River to visit a local fishing village. You ride leisurely along the country lanes, viewing local life with a view of farmers working with their water buffalo in the fields. Peddle your way through palm forests, bridges, and pons; you will arrive in Cam Thanh Village. Take a short break with a local family before enjoying a 1-hour ride on a traditional wooden boat to explore the water coconut palm forest. While learning how to sail the basket boat, you also get a chance to relax by catching fish and purple crabs in the canal.

After saying goodbye to the Cam Thanh villagers, you continue the bike ride to another village. You stop at the organic vegetable village of Tra Que, where a large variety of vegetables are grown for the local community. There, you will see the environmentally sustainable practices that the local villagers have used for centuries and are still using extensively today. Visit Kum Quat restaurant, and join a cooking class with Thành & his wife. Today, you will cook some Hoi An traditional foods, then sit down for a delicious lunch by yourself. Cycle back to the hotel, and relax by the swimming pool or at the beach.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Hoi An Cooking Class

Today, you transfer to the charming riverside town of Hue. See your guide and driver in the hotel lobby. Take a journey to Da Nang with the first stop being Non Nuoc stone carving village, lying at the foot of Marble Mountain. The distance from Da Nang to Hue is about 95km, takes 2.5 hours, and brings you through the most beautiful part of Vietnam’s coastline. You stop at Hai Van Pass (about 500 meters above sea level), and climb to the viewpoint to enjoy a panoramic view. Do not forget to charge your camera in full for great photos there. Arrive in Hue after midday.

After lunch, you will do a tour to visit Hue Imperial City. Our adventures continue to Hue Citadel for an exploration of the Imperial Capital. You will explore the ancient and atmospheric walled citadel, which contains the former Imperial Palace. Your day comes to an end at the royal tomb of the Khai Dinh King. The tomb was designed in the traditional Vietnamese style with a European touch, making it unique from the other tombs in Hue.

Overnight in Hue.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Hue Imperial City

At 8 am, your professional guide-rider will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Thanh Toan, a 300-year-old bridge in the countryside of Hue. You have the chance to visit a village market where people buy and sell their fresh produce and learn about a farming technique that has been passed down for generations through a visit to a farmer’s family.

The ride continues to take us through small alleys and backstreets to one of the oldest pagodas in Hue before taking us to the inc and conical hat villages. Later in our trip today, we’ll hop off the bike for a short walk to the old war bunkers on the top of a hill to have a panoramic view of the Perfume River. Our tour will be wrapped up by a delicious lunch with the best regional dishes in a romantic restaurant by the riverside.

You are whisked to the airport and find yourself in the charm of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. You are met at the airport by your private transfer and taken to your centrally located accommodation. The sound of bustling motorbikes brings a sense of the modern world harmonizing with the traditional neighborhoods, where the whir of bicycles and jovial conversation in small restaurants are easily heard.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Hue Thien Mu Pagoda

Meet your guide at the lobby for a full-day tour with many exciting outdoor activities. Take a short drive to the outskirts of Hanoi to visit the fascinating Museum of Ethnology. From the outside, you will be attracted by the presentation and layout, from the form to the displayed content, which is very scientific and logical. It is to grasp the cultural colors of each ethnic group. After two hours of learning about Vietnamese culture, you will proceed to Hoa Lo Prison (also known as the Hanoi Hilton), which will tell you about Vietnamese history and wars.

Today you will have Bún Chả for lunch. The Bún Chả will have vermicelli, grilled meat, and side dishes, including pickled vegetables, lettuce, and some herbs. A feature of Bún Chả is that it is served with a bowl of fish sauce seasoned to taste, adding a little spice from pureed chili. Bún Chả will be a wonderful dining experience in the “Asian food paradise” – Vietnam for sure!

To start the afternoon activities, we will visit Hidden Gem, a Vietnamese Coffee Shop. The coffee shop is impressive because the furniture is created by taking advantage of discarded products such as plastic bottles, tires, paint containers, and some parts of motorbikes and tractors. This activity aims to protect the environment. A cup of Vietnamese egg coffee is a must-try there.

Another exciting activity is waiting for you! Our guide and driver will take you to Long Bien Bridge, the first steel bridge in Hanoi and one of the first bridges built by the French in Vietnam. After a short walk on the over-a-century-old bridge, admire the panoramic river view and listen to your tour guide tell stories about history, Red River Delta culture, and local daily life; you will discover the banana island right at the bridge’s foot. The walking banana island activity is a chance to observe the infinite fruit plantation and is also a one-of-a-kind memory for photographers or nature lovers.

Finish the day with a fun cyclo (a three-wheeled bicycle taxi). You will ride through the French colonial architecture of the precinct known as the French Quarter, past the French-style villas, the Vietnam History Museum, the heritage Metropole Legend Hotel, and the Opera House. Of course, you will not miss the Hanoi Old Quarter before returning to your hotel.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Ha Noi Long Bien Bridge

The scenery of Halong Bay, where thousands of limestone islands jut out of the emerald sea, sculpted into bizarre shapes, is truly an iconic image of Vietnam. An overnight boat trip is the best way to enjoy this Vietnamese must-see.

Saying goodbye to Hanoi, you drive through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta to the legendary Halong Bay. It takes you 3 hours, including a 20-minute stop.

Arrive at the jetty in Halong City towards noon and proceed with check-in formalities. After a welcome onboard, enjoy a tasty lunch while cruising to the mythical bay. Around mid-afternoon, you participate in some activities to discover every corner of the bay. Each cruise operates a different itinerary, and caving, kayaking, rowing boat, and swimming are the most popular ones. Towards the end of the day, the cruise sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is on board.

Overnight in Halong Bay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Ha Long Bay landscape view in sunset

Get up early and don’t miss the chance to watch the sunrise at one of the most beautiful places on the planet.

Participating in a tai chi class on the sundeck is a way to welcome a new day full of energy. At the end of the gentle training session, you move to the restaurant and enjoy a hot breakfast with a cup of fragrant coffee. Some gentle activities in the bay will be arranged and announced by the cruise’s staff. Besides, you can choose to relax on board: watching movies, reading books, or sightseeing are also attractive options. After all, a buffet brunch is served while sailing slowly back toward the port. When you return to shore, you will have a private transfer to return to Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, Brunch.

Ha Long Bay landscape view in sunset

Your final breakfast in the country brings the bittersweet flavor of Vietnamese coffee to your palate. The bustling energy of Hanoi begins to swirl through the streets once again. The morning is yours to enjoy the neighborhood once more. Soon, your private transfer will meet you in the hotel lobby and take you to Noi Bai Airport, where you will continue the journey, but this time toward home.

Meals: Breakfast.

Ha Noi train street