Colorful Cambodia & Vietnam

Welcome to Siem Reap!

After clearing customs and picking up your luggage, you will meet our local guide in arrivals. They will transport you to the hotel. 

Check in to your hotel, The Treeline Urban Resort, and enjoy some free time to explore the area before we meet up for dinner at a local restaurant.

After breakfast we’ll head out of town, making our way to the intricately carved and well-preserved temple of Banteay Srei. Along the way, we will make a stop at the Preah Dark village, followed by a visit to the Banteay Samre Temple which is adorned with impressive scenes of Vishunu and Krishna legends.

After lunch, you’ll head back to Angkor Wat, the largest temple complex in the world which covers an area of 200 hectares and is surrounded by a moat. 

We'll spend the afternoon visiting the Chantiers Ecoles - Les Artisans d'Angkor which provides training to young Cambodians in an effort to revive the ancient Khmer traditions of stone carving and wood sculpting. 

We will continue on to one of the city’s lively open markets, the “Old Market”, where anything and everything is for sale!

In early evening, we will take a Tuk Tuk to experience the local street food that Siem Reap is known for. You’ll sample authentic Khmer dishes in a variety of off-the-beaten-tourist-path settings, from street-side food stalls to busy local markets where we'll taste street snacks and a few of Cambodia's exotic tropical fruits. The market is often the best place to learn about local life and culture.

After breakfast at the hotel, you'll visit Angkor Thom built from the late 12th century to the early 13th century by King Jayavarman VII. Consisting of 54 towers, the Royal Enclosure, the Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. 

We will also  visit the Preah Khan Temple, built by King Jayavarman VII and dedicated to his father. It is a huge monastic complex, which served as a Buddhist monastery and school, training over 1000 monks.

After a relaxing lunch, this afternoon, you will visit the jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm, which is an incredible sight. There are enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers which embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure. Remember the setting in Laura Croft Tomb Raider? Later on we will enjoy sunset from the top of Phnom Bakeng.

Dinner will be on your own. Perhaps room service and a quiet night in after a busy day.

Enjoy your morning at leisure. Early this afternoon you will be picked up and transferred to the airport for your flight to Hanoi.

Upon arrival at the Hanoi airport you will be warmly welcomed by our guide and driver and transferred to your hotel.

After some tiime for relaxation at the 5-Star Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel, you will revel in the thrill of a cyclo* ride through the Old Quarter also known as 'Hanoi's 36 streets'. This bustling area of narrow streets and alleys is home to literally thousands of small business and shopkeepers. It's a great place to explore with plenty of photo opportunities all around you. Stop to taste a Hanoi special egg coffee in a 100-year-old traditional coffee house.

After some time back at the hotel, dinner will be at a local restaurant specializing in "Pho".

*A cyclo in Hanoi is a seat for two in front of a bicycle but don't worry, you won't be doing the driving nor the pedaling.

This morning after a filling breakfast, we’ll drive to the nation’s capital mall and start our walking tour. We’ll tour Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum the parliament building, the Presidential Palace and the Communist Party headquarters. This is an important place for Vietnamese to visit, as Ho Chi Minh is the founder and father of the nation. 

We’ll continue with a visit to the Temple of Literature and the Hoa Lo Prison Museum of Hanoi where John McCain was held. 

Lunch will be at “Bun Cha-Obama” - where Barrack Obama and Anthony Bourdain ate their dinner during a visit to Hanoi for the late Bourdain’s TV series on CNN. 

After lunch, we will return to hotel to rest and change into comfortable clothes for a late afternoon Jeep tour. Rest up ladies - this will be a fun, late night!

In the afternoon, we’ll cruise the backstreets of Hanoi in our own jeeps. On the first part of the trip, we will pass by or stop at all the MUST-SEE sites in Hanoi. We will visit the enchanting French Quarter, the bustling Old Quarter, the romantic lakes, the Hanoi Opera House and the famous Long Bien Bridge. 

During the second part of the trip, you will be exposed to the real Hanoi visiting undiscovered parts of the city with a peek inside the backstreets, tiny alleyways, local homes, schools, random markets as well as the black market. 

During the final stage you'll stop at a few different authentic restaurants, eateries and food stalls to savor the tastiest of all Hanoi dishes including family heirloom and secret recipes. 

Lastly we'll make our final stop at Ba Dinh Square in front of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum for the traditional end-of-day flag lowering ceremony.

After breakfast you will be picked up from your hotel for a 2.5-hour drive to the pier where you will board the Paradise Grand Cruise Boat, for a cruise on Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

Halong Bay is said to be one of the most beautiful natural  wonders in the world. The bay consists of thousands of limestone islands soaring up from the emerald waters. The unusual shapes of the islands are the result of millions of years of wind and water pounding down on them. With pristine beaches, floating villages, amazing natural caves and fascinating scenes, Halong and its surroundings is always must-see for first-time travelers to Vietnam. 

Lunch will be served on board while we leisurely cruise to the core of the bay, in and amongst the limestone islands.

In the afternoon we'll rejoice in kayaking through the karsts, breathing in pristine air and wandering by beautiful beaches. There will even be time to take a dip before you head back to the ship. 

Tonight we'll partake in a sunset party on our cruise as we sail to our overnight anchorage. Dinner and your overnight stay will be on board amongst the islands and under the stars.

Note: The cruise itinerary can be different depending on tide conditions, the specific boat and route assigned.

Wake up early in the morning if you wish to catch the sunrise over the Bay’s spectacular landscape with a cup of tea or coffee on your balcony. 

After breakfast, take a rowing boat tour to visit a natural tunnel and floating village.

Later, we will cruise over to visit another part of the Bay. Here we will enjoy lunch alfresco on our boat and then cruise back to the harbor.

It's time to depart the ship and make our way to the airport to catch a short flight to Danang. 

After checking in at the 5* La Siesta Hoi An the afternoon will be yours to explore the resort. Perhaps a dip in the pool will be refreshing. We'll meet for dinner at a local restaurant before heading back to the resort.

Breakfast will be at your leisure at our hotel. 

This morning, we'll head out for a walking tour to discover Hoi An's key sights such as the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, the Phuc Kien Assembly Halls, the Tan Ky Old House, the central market and the Hoi An museum.

Hoi An is a paradise for shoppers, and this afternoon you can indulge in a unique luxury shopping experience - having some clothes tailor-made just for you. 

Along the walk you can try some local specialties such as: Cao lau, Quang noodle, white rose, VAC cake, fried wonton, chicken rice and more.

Tonight's dinner will be at our hotel in Hoi An, La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa.

After a hearty breakfast, our day will begin with a tour of the Hoi An countryside via electric car.

You will visit Tra Que village which is famous for growing special herbs and vegetables using traditional techniques and organic fertilizers. Perhaps you will want to join the locals during their daily farm work. You will observe people working on their farms and have the opportunity to visit homes to learn about local life.

For lunch, we'll experience a cooking class to further learn about local specialties.

Later, we board a round bamboo boat and row through the coconut forest in Cam Thanh which was a hiding place for the Viet Cong during the war.

Dinner will be at a local restaurant before a relaxing night at the hotel.

After breakfast, enjoy some free time until check out.

The core trip officially ends in Hoi An, Vietnam. You'll be transferred to the airport for your flight home. Plan on flying out of Da Nang International Airport to connect to your entry city in Asia on your route home. Our concierge can help! On continue on to our beach extension.

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll hop on a flight to the island of Phu Quoc, Thailand. Our home for the next few relaxing days after a lot of sightseeing is the Salinda Resort Phu Quoc Island.

Upon arrival, you will meet our local guide and together we'll visit a pearl farm such as the Phu Quoc Pearl Farm. Here we will learn about the process of pearl cultivation and witness how pearls are harvested, graded, and processed. 

Next, we will head to Ham Ninh Fishing Village, which is about a 20-minute drive from the pearl farm. Here, you will observe the daily activities of local fishermen and learn about their way of life. You can walk around the village, visit the local market, and watch fishermen unload their catch. 

Next we'll head to the Ho Quoc Pagoda. The temple is located on a hill overlooking the sea and is known for its beautiful architecture and stunning views of the surrounding landscape. 

After our cultural immersion we will be transferred to the hotel. We will check in and rest or enjoy some beach time. Tonight we will dine as a group at the hotel for dinner.

After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel and some beach time we will embark on a snorkel tour that will explore other nearby islands. 

First, stop is at Mong Tay Island for swimming and a snorkel. Next up, Gam Ghi Island's Coral Reef demands some underwater exploration. 

Your lunch will be served on the boat at anchor at the lively “Hang Loose” May Rut Trong*. Afterwards there will be free time to test the many activities on offer on the island. In late afternoon we'll head back to our resort. 

Note: In case of weather conditions - some islands will be changed for other islands.

Dinner tonight will be at your leisure. Perhaps room service or a restaurant in town. It's your choice!

*May Rut Trong is one of the large islands located south of Phu Quoc Island.

After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, the day is yours to enjoy the beach, or venture into town to do some shopping.

In the afternoon, we’ll schedule a spa treatment for everyone. Perhaps a facial or why not try a Pearl Seed Massage.

Dinner will be as a group at a local restaurant as we toast to an exciting time together.

After breakfast, enjoy some free time. Sadly it is time to say our final goodbyes. You'll be transferred to the airport for your connecting flight home. Safe travels, and we hope to see you again!