Departure

Arrival in Hanoi – Upon arrival, we check into our hotel. Then, we enjoy a wonderful introduction to Hanoi, taking a trip into the city’s old town on cycle rickshaws. Later on, we return to our hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Hanoi – Today we explore Hanoi, past and present. The French created this gorgeous colonial city of tree lined avenues, belle epoque villas, grand public buildings and an Opera house, all built around more than a dozen enchanting lakes. This graceful scene blends beautifully with its old quarter, a tangle of narrow streets, the commercial heart of the city for hundreds of years and now full of tiny shops, pagodas and the ever-present populace astride their bicycles and mopeds.

During our guided tour we also see the beautiful Temple of Literature dedicated to Confucius and Vietnam’s first university, and the imposing marble mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh himself, embalmed and eerily on display.

This afternoon is free for you to explore this beautiful city as you wish. You could even visit a traditional water puppet show (book and pay local)- a real spectacle where, as the name suggests, with the aid of fireworks and music, folk stories are played out by skilful puppeteers.

Halong Bay Cruise – Today, we embark on a journey to Halong Bay, Vietnam’s crown jewel and a UNESCO World Heritage site. As we leave Hanoi behind, the landscape transitions to peaceful rice paddies and winding paths through the Red River Delta, leading us towards the sparkling emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Here, we encounter one of nature’s most impressive creations – an expanse of nearly 3,000 limestone islands and jagged outcrops rising dramatically from the sea, creating a breathtaking seascape.

We board a traditional Chinese junk, a beautifully restored wooden boat, and set sail across the jade waters, surrounded by the dramatic karst formations. It’s easy to imagine the mythical legends surrounding the bay, with stories of a dragon whose mighty tail carved these islands as it plunged into the sea. We explore the caves and grottoes, some lit with a soft glow that reveals their mysterious beauty, before enjoying a leisurely lunch on board. After our cruise, we make the short journey to a nearby hotel in Halong Bay, where the rest of the afternoon and evening are free to relax and enjoy at leisure.

Hue – We transfer by coach to Hanoi airport for our direct flight this afternoon to Hue.

Upon arrival in Hue, we check in at the excellent five-star Imperial Hotel Hue, enjoying daily breakfast.

The rest of the evening is free for you to enjoy Vietnam’s former imperial capital and long-standing centre of religion, culture and education. Hue is a wonderful city, split by the peaceful Perfume River, with its dramatic citadel dominating the skyline. This ancient fortress, surrounded by an impressive 6-mile stretch of 65-foot-thick walls and a protective moat, encapsulates the grandeur of the past.

Hue Imperial City – This morning we start with a leisurely river cruise to the magnificent seven-storied Thien Mu pagoda, a working Buddhist shrine, affording beautiful views towards the mountains on the border with Laos. We then visit the incredible complex of the Citadel and within it, the Imperial City.

We see the Palace of Supreme Harmony, which contained the emperor’s throne and was the site of the most important official ceremonies and functions. Everything is painted in the royal colours of red and gold and the whole building is a stunning example of the magnificent lifestyle enjoyed by the Vietnamese royal family.

In the afternoon we visit Emperor Tu Duc’s mausoleum. More interested in poetry than running the country, Tu Duc’s lifestyle suggests he had plenty of free time – he had 104 wives, 50-course meals and tea made from the dewdrops of lotus blossoms! It took 3,000 workers three years to build his amazing mausoleum, which includes a large lake, pavilions and a theatre.

Lunch is included today and the evening is at leisure.

Saigon – Today we fly to Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as the locals still insist on calling it. Brash and boisterous, it has real zest for life. Built virtually from scratch by the French, on a bend of the wide Saigon River, we stay three nights on bed and breakfast at the excellent, five-star Equatorial Hotel.

Saigon is Vietnam’s culinary capital offering a very wide variety of excellent dining experiences, from top class restaurants in swish luxury hotels to French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and Indian options, plus everything in between.

Cu Chi Tunnels – This will be a day to remember! We visit the famous Cu Chi tunnels, a complex underground network stretching for 200 kilometres, which included hospitals, meeting rooms, sleeping quarters and kitchens. Begun during the last years of French rule and vastly expanded during the 1960’s, the tunnels provided a base for the Vietcong from which to attack US forces within just 30 miles of Saigon.

Our visit here is a fascinating insight into these times: we see the tunnels themselves and examples of the many mantraps and stake pits which protected them. Despite being carpet-bombed, the tunnels were never really penetrated and should you wish, you may even try out real period weapons on a firing range.

We continue through rural farming communities back to Saigon. In the afternoon our city tour covers all the major sights including the colonial-style central post office, the cathedral and the Reunification Palace where famously in 1975, a tank burst through its gates in the final defining moment of the Vietnam War.

We also see the War Remnants Museum and the lively Ben Thanh market a fascinating insight into Saigon daily life, you can find anything here, all at extremely good prices!

Mekong River Delta – Today we drive out of Saigon towards the great Mekong River delta. The first stop is at one of the many islands where we walk through a typical village and try out several different types of tropical fruit that are grown in the area. Travelling in small boats we continue our exploration through the narrow canals by visiting the aptly named Coconut Island, where locals specialise in producing rice paper, coconut cakes and other local delicacies. Dappled sunlight filters through the wide leaves of the mangroves as we arrive at a typical local restaurant for lunch. We return to Saigon in the afternoon.

Fly to Phnom Penh – On our final morning in Vietnam, we have little free time to soak in the energy of Saigon with a leisurely stroll through the city centre. You could stop for a fragrant coffee and a delicious pastry at one of the many charming cafés that line the streets for a final taste of the city before we board our short flight to Phnom Penh. Upon arrival in the capital of Cambodia, we transfer to our hotel, the centrally located four-star Palace Gate Hotel for two nights on bed and breakfast.

Phnom Penh – Today we’ll visit the majestic Royal Palace with its silver pagoda and the fascinating National Museum.

After lunch in a local restaurant, we visit the Tuol Sleng Museum – originally a school, turned into the country’s most notorious prison by the Khmer Rouge, it now charts the terrible suffering during their occupation of the city. Finally, there’s time for a stop at one of the local markets before we return to our hotel for the evening.

Phnom Penh to Siem Reap – Today we journey through the heart of rural Cambodia stopping at Kompong Thom for an included lunch en route to Siem Reap.

Angkor – Today we visit one of the largest religious structure in the world, Angkor Wat. We see the haunting soft morning light rise over the eerie temples of Angkor. At its height in the thirteenth century, Angkor had a staggering one million inhabitants. The incredible state of preservation, the beauty of its design and sculptures have, for many, made Angkor one of the great wonders of the world.

We visit the fortified 13th century city of Angkor Thom, with its five monumental gates, and 300-foot wide moat – its centre containing the temple of Bayon. We’ll also visit the smaller temple of Ta Prohm which has been left unrestored, with giant tropical trees bursting through the ruins, their roots clinging like tentacles.

Siem Reap Free Day – Today we have left free for you to return to the many monuments of Angkor, explore Siem Reap or relax around the attractive pool at the hotel.

Alternatively, you could take an interesting tour to the nearby lake of Tonle Sap to visit a floating village (subject to season and water levels – book and pay local) or try your culinary skills by taking an optional half day cooking class (book and pay local).
Personalise your holiday –
Phare, The Cambodian Circus

Seat A with transfers and a complimentary gift.

Phare, The Cambodian Circus, tells of Cambodian folklore, historic and modern society stories through modern circus arts, dance, live music and theatre. More than just a circus, the young performing artists will enthral you with their talent incorporating emotion, enthusiasm and energy. This unique acrobat performance lasts for approximately 1 hour and is located in the very heart of the civilization of Cambodia, Siem Reap. Profits go to PPSA a local non-profit association working to improve the lives of socially deprived youngsters.

From £59pp (2026) & £69pp (2027)

Please contact us for more information and to add the above experience to your booking.

Return home

Arrival home