Itinerary
- Day 1
Phnom Penh
You'll arrive in Phnom Penh with a welcome meeting scheduled for 6pm. If your flight gets in earlier, the French colonial architecture around the city is worth walking through. Dinner takes you to a riverside restaurant serving Cambodian specialties like beef lok lak or fish amok, so you'll get a real taste of local cooking right away.
- Meals
- Dinner (Riverside local restaurant with Cambodian specialties such as beef lok lak or fish amok)
Optional Activities
- Explore Phnom Penh streets and French colonial architecture
- Day 2
Phnom Penh
This is a full city tour covering significant sites. You'll see the Silver Pagoda, the most sacred temple in the country, then visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, both important historical locations. An optional visit to Wat Phnom is available if you want to add more. By evening you'll head to a riverside cafe to relax and decompress.
Included Activities
- Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda visit
- Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) visit
- The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek visit
Optional Activities
- Visit to Wat Phnom temple
- Spend evening relaxing in a cafe by the riverfront
Landmarks Silver Pagoda Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) Killing Fields of Choeung Ek Wat Phnom - Day 3
Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
A scenic 7-hour drive takes you to Siem Reap with stops along the way, including lunch at a local village restaurant. Once there, you'll wander through the old market with its colorful stalls and street food, then browse shops selling silks, cottons, sarongs, silver and statues. Shadow puppetry shows are available at local restaurants if you're interested in catching one in the evening.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local village restaurant)
Included Activities
- Lunch at local village restaurant
Optional Activities
- Visit to old market
- Street food sampling
- Shadow puppetry show at local restaurant
- Traditional Cambodian amok cuisine
- Day 4
Siem Reap
An early sunrise visit to Angkor Wat is optional and needs arranging with your leader. Throughout the day you'll explore the temple complex including Bayon with its famous 200-plus smiling carved faces, meet a Buddhist monk for a ritual blessing, and have lunch at Spoons Restaurant and School. Ta Prohm temple shows how nature has reclaimed the stone structures. A sunset viewing is also optional if you want to stay longer.
- Meals
- Lunch (Spoons Restaurant and School where disadvantaged local youth learn hospitality skills)
Included Activities
- Angkor Temples Guided Tour
- One day Angkor Pass
- Monk Blessing
- Lunch at Spoons Restaurant and School (visit to social enterprise)
- Ta Prohm temple visit
Optional Activities
- Early morning sunrise visit to Angkor Wat before dawn
- Sunset view of the temples
Landmarks Angkor Wat Bayon Temple Ta Prohm Temple 
- Day 5
Siem Reap
After breakfast reflecting on the temples, you'll head to Kampong Phluck, a lakeside village built on wooden stilts. A riverboat takes you through mangrove forests, then an afternoon countryside walk shows you rice fields and family allotments. You'll be welcomed into a local home for sunset drinks and snacks, with a final farewell dinner featuring authentic Cambodian cuisine at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner at local restaurant with authentic Cambodian cuisine)
Included Activities
- Visit to Kampong Phluck lakeside village
- Riverboat exploration
- Countryside village walk & sunset drink
- Farewell Dinner
Landmarks Kampong Phluck - Day 6
Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City
An unescorted flight brings you to Ho Chi Minh City where you'll be met and transferred to your hotel. If you arrive early, the French-influenced city has plenty to see, and a banh mi is worth trying. You can check out Pham Ngu Lao Street open-air market or Vinh Nghiem Pagoda at your own pace before the evening group meeting with your new leader, followed by group dinner with Vietnamese cuisine.
- Meals
- Dinner (Group dinner with Vietnamese cuisine featuring aromas of herbs, lemongrass and rich sauces)
Included Activities
- Complimentary Arrival Transfer
Optional Activities
- Explore French colonial architecture
- Banh mi sampling
- Pham Ngu Lao Street open-air market visit
- Vinh Nghiem Pagoda visit
Landmarks Vinh Nghiem Pagoda - Day 7
Ho Chi Minh City
An early start takes you to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a former Viet Cong stronghold stretching over 120km with trapdoors, living areas, kitchens, storage and command centres. Back in Ho Chi Minh City, you'll visit the War Remnants Museum with its military equipment including an F5A fighter and UH1-Huey helicopter. The afternoon is yours to explore, perhaps Notre Dame, the Post Office, or Reunification Palace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cu Chi Tunnels visit
- War Remnants Museum visit
Optional Activities
- Visit Notre Dame
- Visit Post Office
- Visit Reunification Palace
- Explore city at leisure
Landmarks Cu Chi Tunnels War Remnants Museum Notre Dame Cathedral Post Office Reunification Palace - Day 8
Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta
A private bus takes you south to Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta. You'll board a traditional small boat to explore the waterways through rice paddies, fruit and flower orchards, stopping to sample fresh tropical fruit and visit cottage industries. A home-cooked Vietnamese-style lunch happens at a local family home, then you'll head to your guesthouse for the night with a meal featuring regional specialties.
- Meals
- Lunch (Home-cooked Vietnamese-style lunch at local family home), Dinner (Regional specialties at guesthouse)
Included Activities
- Boat cruise with visits to local producers
- Home-cooked lunch at local family home
Landmarks Mekong Delta 
- Day 9
Mekong Delta to Ho Chi Minh City
You'll enjoy more of the Mekong Delta's finest fruits over breakfast, then head back to Ho Chi Minh City, arriving in the late afternoon. The evening is yours to spend however you like, whether that's searching for the best food with fellow travellers or checking out one of the city's vibrant rooftop bars.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Mekong Delta's finest fruits)
Optional Activities
- Explore city for meals with fellow travellers
- Visit rooftop bars
- Day 10
Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An
A short flight takes you to Danang, then you'll head to Hoi An. On arrival, a traditional Vietnamese lunch specializes in mi quang or cao lau noodles that Central Vietnam is famous for. Your leader guides an orientation walk through the World Heritage-listed Old Town with its Chinese temples, Japanese pagodas, French-colonial houses, wooden shop-houses and old canals. The afternoon is free to explore optional activities or just soak up the atmosphere.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional Vietnamese lunch featuring mi quang or cao lau noodles)
Included Activities
- Old Town walking tour
Optional Activities
- Explore Hoi An Market and street stalls
Landmarks Hoi An Old Town 
- Day 11
Hoi An
This day is yours to spend exploring Hoi An and its surroundings at your own pace. Renting a bicycle gets you to nearby Cua Dai Beach, or you can book optional guided tours like Hoi An Boat & Bike for countryside bike rides and sunset cruises along the Thu Bon River. A Hoi An Food Adventure tour unlocks the flavors of the Old Town's vibrant cuisine if you want to dig deeper.
Optional Activities
- Rent bicycle for Cua Dai Beach trip
- Hoi An Boat & Bike guided tour
- Hoi An Food Adventure
- Explore Old Town at leisure
Landmarks Cua Dai Beach Thu Bon River - Day 12
Hoi An
Another free day to explore at your own pace. An early rise gets you to the local produce market to watch shoppers haggling over fresh fish, spices and vegetables. Optional activities include a Vietnamese cooking class or a visit to the ruins of My Son, Vietnam's most important Cham site set in a verdant valley surrounded by hills.
Optional Activities
- Early morning local produce market visit
- Vietnamese cooking class
- Visit to My Son ruins
Landmarks My Son - Day 13
Hoi An to Hue
You'll drive north over the spectacular Hai Van Pass with incredible views of Lang Co Beach and surrounding mountains. A stop at Lang Co breaks up the journey for lunch. By afternoon you arrive in Hue, Vietnam's former Imperial capital. The Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City, once reserved for the emperor and his concubines, are now partially destroyed but still fascinating to explore. The evening is free to relax and explore the city.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at Lang Co)
Included Activities
- Imperial City entrance and guided visit
Landmarks Hai Van Pass Lang Co Beach Imperial Citadel of Hue Forbidden Purple City - Day 14
Hue
The day starts with a local breakfast of bun bo hue, a spiced beef noodle soup. You'll visit Thien Mu Pagoda, an active Buddhist monastery dating back to 1601, then enjoy a vegetarian feast lunch at a local nunnery. The royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc with its lake, frangipani and pine trees comes next. An evening is free to relax and explore Hue's culinary scene.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Local breakfast of bun bo hue, a spiced beef noodle soup), Lunch (Vegetarian feast at local nunnery)
Included Activities
- Thien Mu Pagoda visit
- Vegetarian lunch at a Buddhist nunnery
- Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc visit
Landmarks Thien Mu Pagoda Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc - Day 15
Hue to Hanoi
A flight from Hue brings you to Hanoi, Vietnam's charming capital. On arrival, you'll have lunch at KOTO restaurant, which is supported by the Intrepid Foundation and teaches disadvantaged youth hospitality skills. A half-day tour captures the beauty and history of this laidback, tree-lined capital. You'll visit the Temple of Literature and One Pillar Pagoda, pass by Hoan Kiem Lake, and explore the '36 Streets' of the historic Old Quarter with its lanes historically selling specific products.
- Meals
- Lunch (KOTO restaurant, an Intrepid Foundation supported program teaching disadvantaged youth hospitality skills)
Included Activities
- KOTO lunch
- Temple of Literature visit
- One Pillar Pagoda & HCM stilt house visit
- Old Quarter Tour
Landmarks Temple of Literature One Pillar Pagoda Hoan Kiem Lake Old Quarter 
- Day 16
Hanoi to Ninh Binh
You'll depart Hanoi for UNESCO protected Ninh Binh, often called 'Ha Long Bay on land' for its winding river etched between towering limestone mountains. The Dinh and Le Temples built in the 10th century honor two kings of Vietnam. A local home welcomes you for a traditional Vietnamese lunch with grilled beef, spring rolls, and fried fish. The day ends with a rowboat cruise along the wetland of Van Long, surrounded by limestone peaks and rice paddy fields.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional Vietnamese lunch at local family home featuring grilled beef wrapped with guise leaves, spring rolls, and fried fish with tomato sauce)
Included Activities
- Hoa Lu (Dinh and Le Temples) visit
- Home Cooked Lunch at local home
- Rowboat cruise along Van Long wetland
Landmarks Hoa Lu Van Long Wetland 
- Day 17
Ninh Binh
The morning is free so you can wake without an alarm and explore at leisure. The afternoon shifts gears with an action-packed visit to Thung Nham ecotourism zone just outside Ninh Binh. A traditional rowboat discovers the largest natural bird garden in northern Vietnam, and you'll explore cave systems including But Cave and Tien Ca Cave. Spiritual sights like the thousand-year-old banyan tree, Gii Dai Temple and Linh Than Mieu follow, then you'll finish at the Thung Nham flower paradise, nursery and vegetable garden.
Included Activities
- Thung Nham Ecotourism Zone visit
- Traditional rowboat bird garden tour
- Cave system exploration (But Cave and Tien Ca Cave)
- Spiritual sites visit (banyan tree, Gii Dai Temple, Linh Than Mieu)
Landmarks Thung Nham Ecotourism Zone - Day 18
Ninh Binh to Halong Bay
A private minibus takes you to the spectacular World Heritage-listed Halong Bay with its emerald waters and sandstone islands. You'll explore Surprise Cave and surrounding rock formations via staircases (the pathways inside are uneven and slippery). In warmer months, optional kayaking or swimming from Ti Top Island is available. Tonight is a real treat, spending the night on a traditional sailing junk with twin-share air-conditioned cabins and private facilities, with all meals included.
- Meals
- Lunch (Fresh seafood), Dinner (Fresh seafood)
Included Activities
- Overnight Boat Cruise
Optional Activities
- Explore Surprise Cave
- Kayaking from Ti Top Island
- Swimming from Ti Top Island
Landmarks Halong Bay Surprise Cave Ti Top Island 
- Day 19
Halong Bay to Hanoi
You'll wake on your floating accommodation and soak up the scenery of Halong Bay one last time before heading back to Hanoi. A stop at Dong Trieu Factory lets you watch locals creating ceramic art pieces. Back in Hanoi, you'll enjoy a unique water-puppet performance hosted by a local family who are experts in this art form. A group dinner gathers everyone together, perhaps trying traditional Cha Ca La Vong, a fish dish bursting with flavor, fresh herbs and noodles, as you reminisce about highlights from your adventure.
- Meals
- Dinner (Group dinner featuring traditional Cha Ca La Vong, a fish dish bursting with flavor, filled with fresh herbs and noodles)
Included Activities
- Local water puppet performance at family home
- Hanoi return trip
Landmarks Dong Trieu Factory - Day 20
Hanoi
Your adventure ends after breakfast with no activities planned for today. If you'd like to spend more time in Hanoi, additional accommodation can be arranged subject to availability.
- Meals
- Breakfast
