Colorful Cambodia & Vietnam

Fly into Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI), the gateway to Cambodia’s ancient wonders and vibrant culture. From the awe-inspiring temples of Angkor to the bustling markets and serene countryside, this destination is a feast for the senses.

Since it’s a long journey from most places, consider arriving a day early to adjust to the time zone. You can purchase an additional night at our first hotel in the Add-on section of this page. 

After you clear customs and collect your luggage, we’ll be there to welcome you and whisk you away to the 5-star, Michelin-recommended Treeline Urban Resort, a chic boutique hotel known for its artful design and serene atmosphere along the Siem Reap River.

Take the afternoon to settle in, unwind by the infinity pool, or indulge in a spa treatment. In the evening, we’ll gather in the lobby and walk together to Wild Restaurant, a charming garden hideaway serving creative Cambodian bites and handcrafted cocktails. It’s the perfect setting to toast the start of our adventure!

Our first full day starts off bright and early with a breathtaking sunrise over Angkor Wat. The largest temple complex in the world, it spans 200 hectares and is surrounded by a vast moat and an exterior wall measuring 1,300 by 1,500 meters.

Breakfast awaits us back at the hotel at Seed, and if you're a coffee lover, don't miss grabbing your caffeine fix at Brown Coffee.

Let's head back out to visit Lotus Silk Farm for a gentle walk through lush lotus fields. Here, we’ll explore the captivating craft of extracting silky threads from lotus stems and observe skilled artisans as they transform these delicate fibers into fine silk using traditional weaving methods. 

After the tour, relax with a cup of special lotus flower tea and homemade biscuits made from lotus seeds, enjoying the serene environment of the farm.

After lunch at Haven Restaurant, a social enterprise offering training and opportunities for disadvantaged young Cambodians, we’ll go back to Angkor Wat to properly explore its massive grounds.

Nearby, we'll visit Les Artisans d’Angkor, where artisans continue the ancient Khmer traditions of stone carving and wood sculpting by training new generations in the meticulous craftsmanship needed to work with these natural materials. 

Our last stop on the way back to the hotel will be Psar Chas, also known as the Old Market. Take some time to peruse the labyrinth of silverware, silks, handicrafts, spices, stone carvings, and anything else you could possibly think of. 

As evening falls, we'll set off on the Hidden Gems Siem Reap food tour by tuk-tuk, a flavorful journey through the city’s best-kept culinary secrets. We’ll stop at an elegant gallery for cocktails with the owner, a French-inspired garden restaurant, and a cozy wine bar, indulging in a carefully curated dining experience that blends local flavors with international influences.

After breakfast, we'll visit Angkor Thom, the fortified city of the Khmer Empire, beginning at its impressive South Gate and then exploring the peaceful smiles at Bayon Temple. Next, we're off to Ta Prohm, where ancient ruins are entangled with the roots of towering fig trees.

In the afternoon, a tuk-tuk ride takes us through Siem Reap’s backstreets and suburbs, stopping for a blessing ritual with Buddhist monks and a visit to the APOPO Visitor Center, where trained rats detect landmines, contributing to Cambodia’s recovery efforts.

We're in for a treat tonight, with a tasting menu and wine pairing at The Embassy. We'll relish a truly curated showcase of Khmer cuisine made with fresh, local ingredients, washed down with expertly matched vinos. 

The morning is yours to enjoy—sleep in, take a final dip in the pool, or explore a bit more of Siem Reap at your own pace. Mid-afternoon, we’ll gather and head to the airport together for our flight to Hanoi.

Upon arrival, our local guide and driver will be waiting to transfer us over to Grand Hotel du Lac, an elegant retreat in the heart of the city. 

We'll drop our bags and head for a Pho dinner in town. Back at the hotel, settle in and unwind—after a day of travel, the hotel’s cozy ambiance and plush bedding will make it easy to drift into a restful sleep.

After breakfast, we’ll drive to the capital mall and start our walking tour. We’ll stop at Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, the parliament building, the Presidential Palace, and the Communist Party headquarters. All of these buildings have an important spot in Vietnamese history, and our tour guide will help us better understand how the government has evolved into a single-party democracy. 

Continuing on, we’ll visit the Temple of Literature to see the country's first national university, and then the Hoa Lo Prison Museum in Hanoi, where John McCain was held during the war. 

Lunch will be at Bun Cha-Obama, where Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain ate dinner in Hanoi on the late Bourdain’s CNN TV series. 

It wouldn't be a Girls' Guide trip without a visit to the Vietnam Women's Museum. Wander the halls of this cultural museum that celebrates the history and contributions of Vietnamese women. 

Let's hop on bicycles for a 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 businesses and shopkeepers. Don't miss the chance to try a special egg coffee, one of Hanoi's most iconic beverages. 

As evening approaches, we’ll cruise the back streets of Hanoi in Jeeps. The adventure begins by paying a visit to the famous 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, we'll experience the "real Hanoi", visiting undiscovered parts of the city and exploring its back streets, tiny alleyways, local homes, schools, markets, and even the black market. 

Dinner will be small plates at a variety of local restaurants, where we can sample dishes made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. 

After breakfast at the hotel, we'll set out on a scenic 2-hour drive south to Ninh Binh, where Vietnam’s ancient past and dramatic landscapes converge. 

We'll step into history at Hoa Lu, the country’s 10th-century capital, wandering temple courtyards dedicated to early emperors while limestone peaks rise like sentinels around us. 

Then, we're off to trade main roads for quiet countryside, exploring the shimmering rice paddies and small village homes by bike. This open-air experience offers an intimate glimpse of rural life that simply can't be appreciated from a car.

Lunch is at Spice Garden Tam Coc, where you’re free to choose from a menu of fresh local dishes before the afternoon’s highlight: a sampan boat journey through Trang An. Often called “Ha Long Bay on Land,” this UNESCO-listed wonder unfolds in tranquil beauty as we glide beneath arching caves and alongside jungle-draped karsts, their reflections mirrored in glassy water.

By early evening, we'll drive back to Hanoi and enjoy dinner together at a nearby restaurant.  

After breakfast, we'll drive 2.5 hours to the pier to board the Elite of the Sea Cruises for a cruise to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

Ha Long Bay is one of the world's most stunning natural wonders, with thousands of limestone islands rising from emerald waters. Shaped by erosion over millions of years, it features pristine beaches, floating villages, caves, and captivating landscapes. 

We'll eat lunch on board before cruising to the core of the bay, among the limestone islands. You'll have time to take a dip in the bay or the pool. 

Tonight, we'll watch a cooking demonstration, sip cocktails during happy hour, and enjoy a gourmet dinner on board. The evening offers options to try squid fishing, visit the mini-golf course, or simply relax under the stars.

Note: The cruise itinerary may differ depending on the tides, boat requirements, and the assigned route.

An early morning Tai Chi session welcomes the day before breakfast on deck. We'll visit the Dark and Bright Cave by traditional rowing boat.

After enjoying a farewell brunch buffet, we'll disembark our wonderful cruise boat before departing for the airport for our flight to Hoi An. 

Upon touchdown, a driver will be waiting to take us to the beautiful 5-star La Siesta Hoi An, and we'll have the chance to try Banh Mi and local craft beer for dinner.

This morning, we'll explore Hoi An’s Old Town, a UNESCO-listed gem filled with lantern-lit streets, historic merchant houses, and vibrant markets. Highlights include the Japanese Covered Bridge, Fujian Assembly Hall, and a stop at a local artisan’s workshop.

Lunch will be a home-hosted meal at Long’s house, where we’ll taste authentic home-cooked Vietnamese dishes in a traditional countryside setting. The afternoon is free to relax or browse the town’s tailors and boutiques.

As the sun begins to set, we'll embark on a private dinner cruise along the Thu Bon River, setting paper lanterns afloat as we soak in the magic of Hoi An by night.

Today, we head out in an electric car to explore Tra Que Village, where locals grow fragrant herbs and vegetables using age-old techniques. We’ll try our hand at some of the farming activities before joining a cooking class, where we’ll learn to prepare some of Vietnam’s signature dishes.

After lunch, we’ll board basket boats for a scenic ride through the coconut palm-lined waterways of Cam Thanh Village, once a Viet Cong hideout. Once we get back to town, the afternoon will be free for shopping or relaxing.

Our farewell dinner will be at Morning Glory Signature, a chic eatery overlooking the river.

All good things must come to an end, and today's the day we must bid farewell to our fellow travelers and the beautiful countries we've explored this week.

Enjoy breakfast and free time before checking out at noon. If you'd like to spend an extra day in Hoi An or your return flight is later in the day, you can opt to stay an extra day. 

We'll provide transportation to Da Nang International Airport (DAD). It's about an hour's drive away, so we'll plan each transfer depending on onward flight times. 

If you're joining us on the Ho Chi Minh City (often colloquially referred to as Saigon) post-trip extension, onward!

After we say goodbye to the rest of the group, we'll board our flight to the dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, landing around midday. We'll be met at the airport and transferred to Home Saigon Restaurant for lunch, because all this traveling has surely made us hungry!

We'll jump right in and start exploring the city with a walking tour with stops at the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, and Independence Palace, home to the former president of South Vietnam. 

Our tour wraps up at the Ben Thanh Market, a lively market in the city center that's one of Ho Chi Minh City's oldest surviving structures. Spend time wandering the stalls, maybe picking up a souvenir or two along with a street food snack. 

We'll walk over to the 5-star La Siesta Premium Saigon to check into our room for the next few nights, taking a moment to unpack and settle in. Instead of a sit-down dinner tonight, we're going off on a food tour, each of us zooming around the city on the back of a vintage Vespa. Our guides will show us all the best spots and Vietnamese dishes, ending with a special surprise at the last stop. 

After breakfast, we'll depart Ho Chi Minh City and travel into the lush heart of the Mekong Delta, where the city’s buzz gives way to a landscape of emerald rice paddies, tangled mangroves, and fruit-laden orchards stretching toward the horizon.

At Ham Luong Pier, we'll step aboard a traditional wooden boat and drift along narrow waterways alive with daily life on the river. 

As we come ashore, we'll enter a few cottages to see grassroots industries in action, from hand-pressed bricks drying in the sun to coconut candy bubbling in copper vats and woven mats crafted with precision. 

Taste just-picked tropical fruits beneath the shade of orchard trees, then continue driving along quiet village paths lined with coconut palms and vibrant green fields as we learn about this tropical haven.

To round out the day, we'll hop aboard a sampan for a gentle row through palm-fringed canals before returning by car to Ho Chi Minh City for the evening.

We'll toast to the beautiful time we've shared exploring this part of Vietnam over dinner at the hotel's restaurant, Cloud Nine Saigon Restaurant. 

Enjoy a slow morning, savoring your last few hours in Ho Chi Minh City. Hotel checkout is at 12 pm, so you're welcome to hang around until then. We will arrange an airport transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) at your convenience. Safe travels!