In Hoi An on day 6, join a Planeterra-supported experience and learn to make regional noodles with youth trainees gaining hospitality skills. Watch dough transform into ribbons for dishes like cao l?u and mì Qu?ng, then sit down together to taste the flavours that made Hoi An a historical trading port.

Your visit directly supports local training and employment. As you sample regional recipes, your hosts share the stories behind broths, herbs, and textures that define central Vietnamese cuisine. It’s a heartfelt encounter—hands-on, delicious, and rooted in community development—adding purpose to every bite.

On day 9, travel beyond Ho Chi Minh City to explore the Cu Chi Tunnels, an extensive underground network used during the Vietnam War. With your guide, learn how hidden trapdoors, field kitchens and infirmaries sustained life below ground, then—if you wish—try crawling through a widened section to sense the close quarters.

The site offers a sobering yet instructive look at resilience and strategy. Hear how guerrilla fighters navigated multiple levels and air vents, and how the surrounding rubber plantations once concealed activity. Return to the city with deeper context for Saigon’s wartime history and its rapid transformation into today’s energetic commercial hub.

Arriving in Cambodia on day 11, settle into a classic pedalled carriage and glide through Phnom Penh by cyclo. From Wat Phnom past elegant French-colonial facades like the Central Post Office and Van’s, continue along the riverside towards the Royal Palace and National Museum, where palm fronds sway above café terraces.

At street level, the capital’s tempo comes alive—orange-robed monks, fragrant stalls of grilled corn and lotus seeds, and breezes off the Tonlé Sap. Your guide’s storytelling traces Phnom Penh’s rebirth, weaving together architecture, river trade, and the cultural life that has reanimated the city.

On day 12, meet a specialist guide to visit Choeung Ek (Killing Fields) and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21). Walk the quiet grounds of Choeung Ek, now a memorial of stupa and orchards, and continue to the former school turned prison to understand the Khmer Rouge regime’s brutality through survivor testimonies and archival displays.

This is a reflective, carefully guided experience intended to honour victims and educate. Your visit supports preservation and dialogue in Cambodia’s ongoing process of remembrance and resilience. The afternoon is free to enjoy a peaceful pause or continue sightseeing with renewed perspective.

In Siem Reap on day 14, rise early to watch sunrise over Angkor Wat, the 12th-century masterpiece built by King Suryavarman II. With your expert guide, continue across two days to Angkor Thom’s Bayon, famed for serene stone faces, and vine-draped Ta Prohm, where silk-cotton roots embrace weathered walls.

Your CEO weaves the Khmer Empire’s stories—Hindu cosmology carved in bas-reliefs, the Buddhist shift under Jayavarman VII, and the sophisticated hydraulics that fed rice fields. Break during the heat of the day, then re-enter calmer corners to pause for photos and reflection. The scope of Angkor is vast; your guided entry over two days reveals both icons and quiet, mossy galleries.

On day 14 in Siem Reap, sit down to a traditional Khmer meal hosted by local partners supported through G for Good. Menus often feature classics like amok trey (coconut fish curry), green mango salad and fragrant rice, prepared and served by trainees gaining hospitality skills.

Your participation helps fund community education and vocational training. Hosts share culinary traditions and daily life, turning dinner into an exchange—tastes, techniques and stories—rooted in Siem Reap’s neighborhoods. It’s a warm, quietly powerful evening that nourishes both travellers and the projects it supports.

Back in Hanoi on day 3, join a guided walk through the Old Quarter to sample street-side specialties—pillowy bánh g?i, charcoal-kissed bún ch? and silky egg coffee in a tucked-away café. Your guide introduces market vendors and explains how northern flavours balance herbs, heat and crunch.

Wander lanes where spice aromas mingle with bicycle bells and temple incense. Along the way, learn how French influence shaped breads and pâtés, and why local diners crowd tiny stools for the best bowls. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; come hungry and curious.

On day 6 or 7, join a local chef to stroll a riverside market, choosing herbs, prawns and fragrant spices before cruising by boat to a countryside kitchen. Under guidance, prep and cook central Vietnamese dishes such as bánh xèo pancakes and tamarind-scented fish, then share the feast at communal tables.

Beyond recipes, you’ll hear how trade routes brought Chinese, Japanese and Portuguese influences to Hoi An’s palate. This hands-on class deepens appreciation for regional techniques and seasonal produce. Optional experience, additional cost, bookable on tour.

Pedal out on day 6 or 7 along quiet lanes to rice paddies, water buffalo and coconut palms, crossing small bridges to village craft workshops. Continue to An Bang Beach where palms shade cafés and the sea laps a long crescent of sand—perfect for a swim and a cool drink.

Your guide shares the rhythms of rural life—from fishing coracles to herb gardens in Tra Que—while you enjoy a relaxed pace and fresh coastal air. Optional experience, additional cost, bookable on tour. Bicycles and helmets provided.

As golden hour settles on day 6, board a wooden boat to drift the Thu Bon River past fishing nets and mangrove islets. Watch lanterns glow in Hoi An Ancient Town as the sky softens from apricot to indigo and the silhouettes of tiled roofs sharpen against the water.

Your crew points out riverside shrines and old merchant houses that hint at Hoi An’s trading past. This gentle cruise pairs beautifully with a night-time wander through lantern-lit streets. Optional experience, additional cost, bookable on tour.

Hoi An is famed for skilled ateliers. On day 5–7, visit a recommended tailor to select fabrics and be measured for custom pieces—from linen shirts to ào dài-inspired silhouettes. Many shops offer same- or next-day fittings, ensuring a precise cut and comfortable finish.

Your CEO can suggest reputable studios that balance quality and fair pricing. Learn how the trade evolved with Hoi An’s maritime history and silk routes. Optional experience, additional cost, bookable on tour. Shipping services are typically available.

Venture out from Hoi An on day 6 to explore My Son Sanctuary, a cluster of red-brick Hindu temples built by the Champa Kingdom. Walk among mossy towers framed by jungle-clad hills, noting intricate lintels and sandstone carvings dedicated to Shiva.

Destroyed in parts during the war, My Son remains a powerful testament to a once-maritime empire that traded across the Indian Ocean. Your guide explains Cham artistry, brick-binding techniques and ongoing conservation. Optional experience, additional cost, bookable on tour.

On day 4, hop on the back (with driver) to cruise Hue’s countryside by motorbike, threading along paddy dikes to village temples, war-era bunkers on hilltops and quiet coastal lagoons. Stop for tea, meet artisans and take in expansive views across the Perfume River basin.

This is an exhilarating, culturally rich way to reach lesser-visited corners while learning about daily life beyond the city’s citadel walls. Optional experience, additional cost, bookable on tour. Helmets provided; routes tailored to conditions.

From Ho Chi Minh City on day 10, head south to cruise Mekong Delta canals by sampan. Navigate palm-shadowed waterways to riverside workshops where families craft coconut candies and rice paper, then sip tropical fruit and tea in a garden homestay.

Hear how the “Nine Dragons” river sustains orchards and floating markets, and how stilt houses adapt to seasonal floods. It’s a gentle immersion into the soundscape of the delta—oars on water, birdsong, and the hum of village life. Optional experience, additional cost, bookable on tour.

Use your free time on day 12 to visit the Royal Palace, a complex of gilded roofs and manicured courtyards that still hosts ceremonial events. Step into the Silver Pagoda, where a floor of gleaming tiles anchors a revered Emerald Buddha and delicate treasures of Khmer craftsmanship.

Your guide shares the story of Cambodia’s monarchy and the palace’s architectural dialogue with traditional Khmer motifs. Optional experience, additional cost, bookable on tour. Modest dress is required for entry.

On day 12, deepen your context at the National Museum of Cambodia. In peaceful red-sandstone halls, trace Khmer art from pre-Angkor pottery to exquisite sandstone lintels and bronzes from Angkor’s zenith.

Guided highlights showcase Hindu-Buddhist iconography and the refined aesthetics that shaped temple sculpture. Optional experience, additional cost, bookable on tour. A quiet courtyard offers a shaded pause after your visit.

Spend part of day 12 exploring Phnom Penh’s vibrant bazaars. At the art-deco Central Market (Psar Thmei), browse jewelers, silk stalls and flower sellers beneath a soaring dome. Continue to the Russian Market (Tuol Tom Poung) for handicrafts, spices and tailors at a lively local pace.

These markets are ideal for soaking in everyday city life, practicing a phrase or two of Khmer, and picking up meaningful souvenirs. Optional experience, additional cost, bookable on tour. Your CEO can help with bargaining etiquette.

In the late afternoon of day 12, climb the gentle stairways to Wat Phnom, the city’s namesake temple shaded by tall trees. Incense curls through the air as locals offer lotus blossoms and prayers, and the hill affords a quiet view over central Phnom Penh.

Your guide shares how a 14th-century legend about sacred statues discovered on the riverbank led to the city’s founding. Optional experience, additional cost, bookable on tour. Modest dress encouraged.

On day 13 in Siem Reap, take your seat for Phare, The Cambodian Circus, an exhilarating fusion of acrobatics, theatre and live music performed by artists trained through a social enterprise. High-energy acts tell modern Cambodian stories with humour, heart and extraordinary athleticism.

Proceeds fund free education and vocational arts programs for vulnerable youth. It’s a joyous night that showcases creativity and resilience in contemporary Cambodia. Optional experience, additional cost, bookable on tour. Evening performance.

On the afternoon of day 14, head to the Tonlé Sap Biosphere to boat among stilt houses and floating villages. Learn how the lake’s unique reversal of flow shapes seasonal fishing, floating schools and markets, and wildlife-rich mangrove habitats.

Guides explain ecology, livelihoods and conservation challenges as you watch daily life unfold on the water. This is an insightful counterpoint to the grandeur of Angkor’s stone—Cambodia’s living culture afloat. Optional experience, additional cost, bookable on tour. Water levels vary by season.

Round out your temple days on day 15 with the Angkor National Museum, where multimedia galleries illuminate Khmer cosmology, kingship and craftsmanship. Detailed exhibits help decode the iconography you’ve seen at Angkor—Apsara dancers, nagas, guardians and celestial scenes.

This curated overview adds nuance to your on-site discoveries and provides a climate-controlled, contemplative close to your Siem Reap stay. Optional experience, additional cost, bookable on tour.

On day 5, trace Vietnam’s dramatic backbone as you drive the Hai Van Pass, a winding ribbon of road between Hue and Da Nang. Pull-outs reveal misty mountain passes, the turquoise arc of Lang Co Lagoon and long beaches merging with the East Sea. When skies are clear, the views stretch for miles.

Historically a weather divide, the “Ocean Cloud Pass” was once a strategic frontier. Today, it’s a serene interlude linking imperial Hue with lantern-lit Hoi An. Pause for photos and reflection at the summit’s old French bunkers and enjoy the sense of freedom that comes with a slow, scenic crossing before rolling down to riverside Hoi An.

On day 2, cruise the emerald waters of Ha Long Bay aboard a traditional wooden junk. Glide among towering limestone karsts, pause to explore dramatic caves, and climb an island viewpoint for sweeping scenes over jade lagoons and anchored sails. Fresh seafood lunch and dinner are served on deck as the bay shifts from bright afternoon to starlit calm.

Ha Long’s maze of grottoes and islets has inspired legends for centuries. As the boat anchors overnight, savour the quiet, then wake to mist-laced peaks on day 3. Your CEO shares context on UNESCO protection and local fisher communities while you enjoy breakfast and a final glide back to port, returning to Hanoi with salt air still on your skin.

Arriving early on day 4, begin in Hue with a guided exploration. At the Perfume River, visit Thien Mu Pagoda, a seven-tiered icon entwined with modern history. Continue to the UNESCO-listed Imperial Citadel to stroll through ornate gates, lotus ponds and quiet courtyards of the former Nguyen Dynasty seat.

Later, travel along the river to the Royal Tombs, where emperors designed their own resting places. Stone mandarins guard elegant pavilions, and dragon motifs echo power and belief in geomancy. Your CEO weaves stories of rulers like T? Ð?c and Kh?i Ð?nh, the French colonial era, and the war-time damage that scarred—but did not silence—the Imperial City’s cultural heart.

Settle into Vietnam’s capital and, in the evening on day 1, meet your CEO and fellow travellers for a friendly briefing on the journey ahead. Get tips on navigating the Old Quarter’s labyrinthine streets, crossing scooter-filled junctions, and tracking down regional dishes, from steaming bowls of ph? to frothy bia hoi.

After introductions, you may enjoy a free evening to wander around Hoàn Ki?m Lake or opt to join the group for a casual dinner in a local eatery. This relaxed start sets the tone: insight from your expert guide, time to get your bearings, and the chance to begin discovering Hanoi’s French-colonial facades, tree-lined boulevards and lively night markets at your own pace.