After months of planning and preparation the wait is finally over. On arrival in Hanoi you will be greeted by your guide and driver and transfer to your hotel. Once you've check into your room and freshened up after your flight your guide will conduct a full trip and safety briefing. If time allows we will head out on a brief orientation travelling the way the locals do, by cyclo! Tonight we will visit a local restaurant to enjoy Vietnamese food at a warm welcome dinner.

Meals:  D

Hanoi, one of Asia’s most enchanting cities, is full of culture, history and the engaging contradictions of a rapidly developing and deeply traditional society. Today we will explore this vibrant city including Ba Dinh Square and The Presidential Palace (formerly Palace of the Governor-General of French Indochina), Ho Chi Minh’s house-on-stilt and nearby One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature and the city's lively Old Quarter. The day comes to an end attending a wonderful performance of the Water Puppet Show.

Meals:  B,L,D

Departure from the hotel at 9:00. About 3-hour transfer to Halong Bay with a stop en-route. The group boards a private boat and start the cruise over lunch onboard. Afternoon activity could include some kayaking or the visit of a cave. Dinner and overnight onboard.

Meals:  B,L,D

Wake early to enjoy the sunrise, the sounds of the lapping waves, the fresh sea air and the gentle breeze for our morning tai chi session on the sundeck. After a light breakfast, we embark on a cave visit and check out of the cabins. After brunch we leave for the airport and board our short flight to Hue. Transfer to the hotel and check in. Dinner in a local hotel and overnight in Hue.

Meals:  B,L,D

This morning we wake for breakfast before we start exploring Hue. We will visit the Imperial City where Emperors of Nguyen dynasty ruled from 1802 to 1945. The relics inside the city are surprisingly well preserved including royal gates, temples, palaces of the Kings and royal families. This afternoon we visit the vibrant and interesting Dong Ba Market, that stretches from Trang Tien Bridge to Gia Hoi Bridge.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today we visit the quiet Thuy Bieu Village, located 6.5 km (4 miles) from the city centre, and famous for growing thanh tra fruit (a kind of small pomelo). We visit some of the garden houses, a unique feature of the Hue countryside, and enjoy relaxed walking around the village. We visit an old communal house, pass by several ancient ancestral temples and chat with local people. In the afternoon, we continue by road north to Hoi An. The scenery en-route is beautiful as we hug the coastline of the East Sea before winding up the spectacular Hai Van Pass. Here you can stop to admire the stunning views, north over Lang Co Beach and south over Da Nang. We arrive in Hoi An by the afternoon. In the evening you will take a short walking tour through the old streets of Hoi An. The streets are charming at night with lanterns hanging from shop fronts and café patrons spilling onto the streets. Among other things, Hoi An is famous for a particular noodle dish (Cao Lau) which we endeavor to sample during our time here.

Meals:  B,L,D

In the morning we take a walking exploration of the Ancient Streets of Hoi An, lined with Chinese traders’ homes and wooden houses reincarnated as restaurants, cafés, and outlets for local artists, craftsmen and tailors. Hoi An, arguably the most delightful town in Vietnam, was a major sea port in the Middle Ages. Untouched in any of the wars, Hoi An retains influences from Chinese, Japanese, French and even Portuguese and British traders who stopped here between China and India. Adding to Hoi An's beauty is the Thu Bon River which winds its way through the city and out to the South China Sea. The iconic lanterns are a symbol of Hoi An old town and seem to be a part of the spirit of Hoi An. We take a lantern making class to create our own Hoi An lantern, within the home of a local craftsman, we receive a brief introduction to the history, shape, and colour of the lanterns, as well as the many stages of making them. Discover your inner skill and keep your handiwork as a souvenir of this beautiful Hoi An. In the afternoon, there is time to relax or explore further.

Meals:  B,L,D

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our flight to Phnom Penh. Upon arrival, you will be met by our Cambodian guide at the airport and transferred to the hotel for a trip and safety briefing for your Cambodia section of the program. Phnom Penh is a bustling, multicultural city at the confluence of the historic Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac Rivers. After experiencing our first dinner in Cambodia we will walk to the night markets located on the riverfront.

Meals:  B,L,D

This morning we explore the remarkable sights of Phnom Penh, travelling the way the locals do, by cyclo. The cyclo is an original Phnom Penh means of transportation and a fun way to explore the city. We first head to the Royal Palace. This palace dates back to 1866 and houses the Silver Pagoda, named for the over 5000 heavy silver tiles that cover its floors. Its original name is Wat Prakeo, meaning Temple of the Emerald Buddha. In this temple you will view a collection of Buddhas in gold, silver, crystal, and bronze. Continue to visit the National Museum, built in traditional Khmer style. It houses the world's foremost collection of ancient Khmer artistic, archaeological, and religious artifacts from the 4th to the 13th centuries. Over 5,000 pieces are on display, constituting the repository of the Kingdom's cultural wealth. This afternoon, gain insight into Cambodia’s recent dark history on a visit to the remarkable Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, housed in the former school that was taken over by the Khmer Rouge and used as its main detention and torture center named ‘S-21’. Also visit the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. A grim, but important visit that will allow you to dig below the surface and understand Cambodia better. After learning about some of Cambodia’s tragic past it is time to put a smile back on your face and experience modern Khmer life. End the day with a delicious Khmer dinner at Banana Tree restaurant.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today we head overland to Siem Reap (duration 5-6 hours), the base for exploring the fabled temples of Angkor, the ancient capital of the Khmer empire. En route, we stop in the town of Skuon to learn about their most famous delicacy: deep-fried tarantula, which is a favourite snack of many Cambodians. When we arrive in Siem Reap we check into our hotel, and perhaps enjoy a swim in the hotel pool. Later this afternoon, we take a Tuk Tuk tour around Siem Reap. After dinner, those who are interested can enjoy some shopping at a night market where you could purchase some gifts or souvenirs.

Meals:  B,L,D

After an early breakfast, we head out to explore Angkor Wat, built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century. This is a fantastic area to explore by cycling, away from cars on the back streets. If you prefer we can arrange to explore on foot or by coach. Angkor Wat is constructed following the model of the temple mountain symbolizing Mount Meru, the home of the gods. Inside the temple, the walls are covered with stone carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythology and the wars Suryavarman II fought during his reign. Angkor Wat is well known for the more than 2,000 Apsara dancers decorating the temple. Construction is thought to have taken around thirty years of intensive labor. Today, Angkor Wat is figured on Cambodia's national flag as the temple symbolizes the soul of the Khmer people. From here, continue to visit Ta Prohm Temple, unlike most other Angkor temples, has been left just it was when rediscovered: a photogenic and atmospheric maze of trees growing out of temple ruins amidst jungle surroundings, making it one of Angkor’s most popular temples with visitors. After lunch, we visit the ancient city of Angkor Thom, surrounded by an 8m high wall. Angkor Thom was the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. Continue to Bayon Temple in the exact centre of the city. This 12th century masterpiece is a study in grandeur, its exterior gallery walls featuring extensive, superb bas-reliefs, particularly the East and South Galleries. The Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King are also must-visits as they are both known for their intricate bas-reliefs.

Meals:  B,L,D

Transfer to the airport for your flight home

Meals:  B