Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll arrive in Vietnam and check into your hotel in the afternoon. After getting settled, you can wander around Hanoi on your own and start getting a feel for the city at whatever pace suits you.
- Day 2
Hanoi
Today's a guided tour of Hanoi's main sights. You'll ride through the Old Quarter in a cyclo, then head to Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum and cottage. From there, you'll see the One Pillar Pagoda and Presidential Palace before walking through the Temple of Literature. Lunch is at Koto, a restaurant that teaches local kids cooking and service skills.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Koto, a non-profit restaurant and hospitality program that teaches local children restaurant skills for stable employment opportunities)
Included Activities
- Private guided tour of Hanoi
- Cyclo ride through the Old Quarter
- Visit Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum and cottage
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Presidential Palace
- Visit Temple of Literature
- Lunch at Koto restaurant
Landmarks Old Quarter Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum One Pillar Pagoda Presidential Palace Temple of Literature - Day 3
Hanoi to Ha Long Bay
A private transfer takes you from Hanoi through the countryside to Hon Gai, where you'll board your overnight cruise. Once on the water, you'll explore the limestone islands and caves scattered throughout Ha Long Bay, and you can visit the floating villages to see how people live on the water. There's also a working pearl farm to check out, and if you're up for it, you can swim or hike to an island's summit for views across the bay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Private transfer from Hanoi to Hon Gai
- Overnight Ha Long Bay cruise
- Explore tunnels and caves in Ha Long Bay
- Visit working pearl farm
- Island swim or panoramic viewpoint hike
Optional Activities
- Massage or spa treatment onboard the boat
Landmarks Ha Long Bay 
- Day 4
Ha Long Bay to Hoi An
If you're up early, there's an optional tai chi session on deck at dawn. Before leaving the cruise, you'll explore some of the larger caves with their dramatic rock formations. After disembarking, a private transfer gets you back to Hanoi for your flight to Danang, then on to Hoi An, a beautifully preserved old trading town.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore caves in Ha Long Bay
- Private transfer to Hanoi
- Transfer to Hoi An
Optional Activities
- Tai chi demonstration on Sun Deck at dawn
Landmarks Hoi An 
- Day 5
Hoi An
You'll take a walking tour through Hoi An's ancient town, stopping at an old merchant house, the local museum, and a Chinese assembly hall. The Japanese Covered Bridge is on the route too. For lunch, try Cao Lau, a local specialty with smoked, chewy noodles you can't find anywhere else. Later, a cruise on the Thu Bon River includes a visit to a local farmer.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Cao Lau, a distinctive dish with smoked, chewy noodles only made in Hoi An)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Hoi An Ancient Town
- Visit old merchant house
- Visit Hoi An Museum
- Visit Chinese assembly hall
- Visit Japanese Covered Bridge
- Lunch featuring Cao Lau
- Cruise on Thu Bon River
- Visit local farmer
Landmarks Hoi An Ancient Town Hoi An Museum Japanese Covered Bridge Thu Bon River 
- Day 6
Hoi An
You have the full day to do what you want in Hoi An. Spend time at the beach if that appeals to you, or head to historic Hue to see the old imperial sites. The pottery and wood carving villages are also worth visiting if you're interested in local crafts. It's your schedule, so you can move at whatever pace feels right.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Full day excursion to historic Hue
- Explore pottery villages
- Explore wood carving villages
- Beach day
- Day 7
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
A transfer takes you to Danang for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City, which many people still call Saigon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Transfer to Danang
- Day 8
Ho Chi Minh City
Your guide leads a walking tour through Ho Chi Minh City's central streets, passing the Rex Hotel, Ho Chi Minh Square, the Municipal Theatre, the old Post Office, and Notre Dame Cathedral. You'll visit the War Remnants Museum, which is powerful and important to see, then walk through Ben Thanh Market, the city's largest and oldest marketplace.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Private guided sightseeing walking tour
- Walk along Dong Khoi Street
- Pass Rex Hotel
- Pass Ho Chi Minh Square
- Pass Municipal Theatre
- Pass Central Post Office
- Pass Notre Dame Cathedral
- Visit War Remnants Museum
- Visit Ben Thanh Market
Landmarks Dong Khoi Street Rex Hotel Ho Chi Minh Square Municipal Theatre Central Post Office Notre Dame Cathedral War Remnants Museum Ben Thanh Market - Day 9
Ho Chi Minh City
In the morning, you'll take a half-day private guided tour to the Cu Chi tunnels, an extraordinary network that stretches over 120 miles and was used by the Viet Cong during the war. After returning from the tunnels, the rest of your day is open. You can head to one of the city's rooftop bars for drinks and views, or try the local Vietnamese iced coffee at a café. It's a good mix of history and then relaxing time on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Half-day private guided excursion to Cu Chi tunnels
Optional Activities
- Sample Vietnamese iced coffee
- Visit rooftop bars
Landmarks Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 10
Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap
You'll fly to Siem Reap, which serves as your base for exploring the temples of Angkor. These ancient temples were built between the 9th and 13th centuries and are remarkable examples of what ancient civilizations could create.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Angkor 
- Day 11
Siem Reap
Your private guided tour starts at Angkor Wat, which is the best preserved temple in the complex and was built to honor the Hindu god Vishnu. From there, you'll head to Angkor Thom to see Bayon Temple, a Buddhist temple that stands out because of the approximately 200 striking faces carved across its 54 towers. It's quite a sight once you see it in person.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Private guided sightseeing at Angkor Wat
- Visit Bayon Temple in Angkor Thom
Optional Activities
- Apsara dinner show featuring traditional Khmer music and dance
- Phare, The Cambodian Circus performance
Landmarks Angkor Wat Bayon Temple - Day 12
Siem Reap
You'll continue exploring the Angkor temple complex with your private guide. The morning starts at Banteay Srei, a smaller temple built from red sandstone and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. On your way back, you'll stop at a local school to interact with the children there. After that, you'll visit Ta Prohm, where the jungle has completely reclaimed the ruins and tree roots grow over and through the structures, which creates an unusual atmosphere. The afternoon is yours to relax or explore on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Private guided tour of Banteay Srei
- Local school visit to interact with children
- Private guided tour of Ta Prohm
Optional Activities
- Further exploration of the temple complex
- Cruise on Tonle Sap Lake to see a floating village
Landmarks Banteay Srei Ta Prohm - Day 13
Siem Reap to Bangkok
You'll fly to Bangkok, Thailand's capital city, where you'll spend the rest of your trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 14
Bangkok
Your guide takes you on a boat through Bangkok's famous klongs, or canals. You'll visit Wat Arun with its tall 260-foot spire, then head to the Grand Palace with its various halls and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. After that, you'll see the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, Bangkok's oldest and largest Buddhist temple, which houses over 1,000 Buddha images and a massive 49-foot-high reclining figure.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Private guided tour
- Boat ride through klongs (canals)
- Visit Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn)
- Visit Grand Palace
- Visit Temple of the Emerald Buddha
- Visit Temple of the Reclining Buddha
Landmarks Wat Arun Grand Palace Temple of the Emerald Buddha Temple of the Reclining Buddha - Day 15
Bangkok
You have the full day to explore Bangkok at your own pace. You could visit Jim Thompson's House to learn about Bangkok's silk trade history, or take a dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya River if you want to see the city from the water. The Damnoen Saduak floating market is another option if you want to see local vendors selling from boats and canoes. Pick what sounds most interesting to you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Jim Thompson's House
- Dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya River
- Excursion to Damnoen Saduak floating market
Landmarks Jim Thompson's House Damnoen Saduak floating market Chao Phraya River - Day 16
Bangkok
Your trip ends this morning after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
