25 days

We Visit:

Vietnam, Cambodia

Costs:

from £5,975 (details below)

Departure Dates

1 January 11

* denotes departed trips

Trip Summary:

• Hanoi
• Stunning Halong Bay NYE cruise
• Imperial capital of Hue
• Charming Hoi An
• Tranquil Dalat
• Bustling Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)
• Phnom Penh
• Angkor Wat temple complex
• 7 night Luxury Mekong River cruise aboard Jayavarman from Saigon to Siem Reap
• All guests booked in Deluxe Balcony Staterooms
• Limited to 32 guests

Explore Indochina and immerse yourself in the beautiful lands and rich civilisations of this extraordinary region. Visit  Vietnam and meet her friendly, cultured people and marvel at her thousands of kilometres of stunning coastline, unchanged  picturesque rural scenes, fascinating cities showing the influence of French Colonial rulers and lovely hill towns. Hanoi is considered Asia’s most beautiful capital city, surrounded by lakes and wide boulevards; stunning Halong Bay is dotted with thousands of limestone islands; Vietnam’s Imperial capital of Hue abounds in historic tombs; Hoi An is a remote, peaceful enclave reflecting the traders of the past; cool Dalat in the highlands presents a unique retreat; and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) is bustling with life. From Saigon we board the luxurious river cruiser, ‘Jayavarman’, for a delightful cruise up the Mekong River to Siem Reap in Cambodia. This cruise offers you a unique opportunity to experience the life, trade and culture along the Mekong River and our deluxe river ship enables a leisurely exploration of this extraordinary region. Our tour concludes with two days to experience the extraordinary temple complex of Angkor Wat. Join us to see the real Vietnam and Cambodia in style and with ease.

Day 1

Depart UK

Join our evening flight to Hanoi via Bangkok. 

Day 2

Arrive Hanoi (Vietnam)

Upon arrival you will be drivne to the Sofitel Metropole Hotel, a luxurious base for our three night visit to the charming Vietnamese capital.
Hanoi is without doubt one of Asia's most beautiful cities - wide tree lined boulevards with French style architechure, narrow alleyways packed with bicycles and merchants, beautiful lakes, a magnificent Opera House and delightful low rise buildings produce a unique ambience.

Day 3

Hanoi

This morning we visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and the former President’s stilt house. We also visit the One Pillar Pagoda and the ancient Temple of Literature, dating from 1070 as Vietnam’s first university. Lunch at the not for profit, Koto Restaurant, set up to assist Hanoi’s street kids.

This afternoon select from a choice of museums to visit – the History Museum, Army Museum or Fine Arts Museum.

We all visit Hoa Lo prison, otherwise known as the ‘Hanoi Hilton’. This evening your cyclo awaits to take you to a performance by Vietnam’s famed water puppets. After the performance we are driven to a fine Vietnamese restaurant.

Day 4

Hanoi

This morning choose from a number of complimentary activities – the active may prefer to travel outside of Hanoi for a rural bicycle tour, taking in the countryside in traditional Vietnamese style; food lovers may partake in a Vietnamese cooking class, which includes shopping at the local market and dining on your culinary achievements at lunch; alternatively, join a one hour cyclo ride through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, 36 streets with over 1,000 years of history make this area a lively and unusual place. This afternoon is free to relax, you may wish to visit the Old Quarter for independent exploration and shopping.

Tonight select from a choice of fine restaurants.

Day 5

Hanoi - Halong Bay

This morning we drive to Halong Bay, one of Vietnam’s scenic wonders, comprising over 3,000 islands rising from the clear emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Halong Bay stretches over an area of 1,500sqm, dotted with islands of every shape and size. This afternoon we cruise this beautiful bay and visit one of the fascinating grottos on our traditionally styled but well appointed, modern sailing junk. Halong Bay is a photographer’s paradise. We stay the night aboard our comfortable ship and enjoy plentiful fresh seafood at dinner this evening.

Day 6

Halong Bay - Hue

After a leisurely morning of sailing we disembark and travel back to Hanoi’s airport for our flight to Hue, the country’s imperial capital.

Day 7

Hue

Named by UNESCO as ‘an adorable architectural poem’, Hue has long been a major cultural, religious and educational centre. This morning we visit some of the remarkable tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty. After lunch we take a boat trip on the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda and Ming Mang Tomb. A special dinner at a local restaurant is planned this evening.

Day 8

Hue - Da Nang - Hoi An

This morning we visit Hue’s huge moated citadel, hiding such treasures as the Nine Holy Cannons and the Palace of Supreme Harmony. We then travel by coach for the scenic trip over the Hai Van Pass (Pass of Clouds) to Da Nang. We continue by coach, past the breathtaking Marble Mountains and beside China Beach, to reach the ancient town of Hoi An. The large community of foreign merchants living in Hoi An between the 16th and 18th centuries resulted in unique architecture, combining Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese cultures. Our accommodation for the next three nights is at the beachside Victoria Hoi An Resort.

Day 9

Hoi An

After breakfast we explore this ancient trading port by foot including the Japanese covered bridge, Chinese assembly hall and one of the traditional Chinese houses. Lunch will be served at the highly regarded Brother’s Café, located on the river. After lunch enjoy some free time for independent exploration and shopping.

This evening enjoy a dine-around dinner at either of our hotel’s two restaurants.

Day 10

Hoi An

Today is yours to do as you wish – relax at our resort; climb the Marble Mountains; or enjoy free time in Hoi An.

Another dine-around evening is planned tonight.

Day 11

Hoi An - Dalat

Today we fly south to Nha Trang and then travel by coach through pleasant countryside, before climbing into the mountains to reach the delightful hill town of Dalat. Our accommodation is the superbly restored Sofitel Palace Hotel – a French style gem in a wonderful location. Enjoy a fine dinner in the hotel’s sumptuous French restaurant.

Day 12

Dalat

Enjoy the cool mountain climate as we visit the town’s lakes, waterfalls, evergreen forests and gardens.

After a leisurely afternoon choose from a selection of restaurants for a dine-around evening.

Day 13

Dalat - Saigon [Ho Chi Minh City]

Enjoy a relaxing morning to stroll around Dalat. This afternoon we drive south to Saigon [Ho Chi Minh City], past tea plantations and rural scenes. The Renaissance Riverside Hotel, in the heart of Saigon, is our home for the next two nights and your room overlooks the Saigon River. Saigon is a much livelier city than Hanoi, its streets are packed with motorbikes and increasingly with cars, the buildings reflect a mixture of architectural styles and the people are devoutly capitalist despite the country’s socialist government. Saigon is a city of amazing contrasts.

Day 14

Saigon

This morning we will tour Saigon and see the site of the former US Embassy, remembering the dramatic helicopter evacuation that took place in 1975. We also visit Reunification Hall, preserved to commemorate the end of the Vietnam War, the War Museum and huge market.

This afternoon is free to stroll around the city’s fascinating streets and indulge in the bargain shopping; or take a tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels, built by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. Viet Cong officers explain the tunnel system and our guide helps us to find the hidden entrances to the tunnels, completing a huge network underneath the nearby US Air Base.

Dine-around dinner this evening.

Day 15

Join 'Jayavarman' - Cai Be

We join our luxurious river cruiser this morning. Bid farewell to the hustle and bustle of Saigon as our ship meanders through busy ports and waterways. We soon find ourselves in the UNESCO listed Mangrove Biosphere Reserve of Can Gio.

Enjoy a cocktail reception and Welcome Aboard Dinner this evening.

Day 16

Cai Be - Chau Doc

This morning we board sampans to cruise amongst the bustling floating market. People from all provinces of the delta converge to sell and trade their fruit and vegetables. We will also observe the fierce activity of Cai Be’s rice stock market. We proceed to Dong Hoa Hiep Island, discovering the beautiful river landscapes and traditional delta life along the banks of the Mekong. Later we disembark and visit a home factory to see how rice paste, rice cookies and coco candies are made. Lunch today is at a charming Indochine villa.

This afternoon choose from strolling or cycling along the edge of the canals for a closer insight into rural life.

Day 17

Chau Doc

Wake to the sun rising over the Mekong for Tai Chi on the Sun Deck.

Welcome to the circus of fish! Brace yourself for an excursion to the exciting floating villages and catfish farms. We watch the masses of bassa fish being fed and take a shore excursion to the local village. This fascinating town of French Colonial architecture and its bustling colourful market will excite the senses. This afternoon we cruise toward Phnom Penh.

Day 18

Phnom Penh (Cambodia)

Early risers will not want to miss the truly indescribable scene while approaching Phnom Penh’s river promenade. After breakfast aboard our ship we embark on a city tour. Phnom Penh retains much of its French Colonial charm and we will see the dazzling white and gold architecture of the Royal Palace and outstanding displays of Khmer crafts at the National Museum. After lunch in a local restaurant our sightseeing takes a more sombre path. We see the heart wrenching reminders of Cambodia’s ugly past under the Khmer Rouge regime with an excursion to the infamous ‘Killing Fields’. A local history professor will guide us through this harrowing site. This evening we reconnect with a more uplifting aspect of Cambodian culture and enjoy a traditional Apsara dance performance with a Khmer dinner.

Day 19

Phnom Penh - Kampong Cham

Our first stop after Phnom Penh will be for a leisurely stroll through the little known Chong Koh silk weaving village. We then cruise past tranquil villages with scores of fishermen at work. Visit Wat Nokor, a wat built within the ruins of an ancient temple that holds a timeless story. Finally we travel to the Cheung Kok Ecotourism Village where we experience traditional village life. Enjoy another fine dinner aboard our ship.

Day 20

Wat Hanchey

Embark on an amazing journey upriver to the pre Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey. Located at the top of a hill overlooking the river it offers some of the best views in Cambodia. Dating from the 8th century these ancient structures do justice to the architecture of the Chenla Empire, which predates the glories of the mighty Angkor.

Day 21

Kampong Cham - Tonle Sap

Today is a day to truly experience rural Khmer life. Before the sun rises we sail to Kampong Chhnang along the meandering Tonle Sap River, which narrows through leafy swaths of the South East Asian jungle. Take a walk through Kampong Louang, one of the last silversmith villages, to see the entire community involved in making various silver items. We enjoy lunch onboard as we cruise towards Kampong Chhnang. This afternoon we board a motorboat from Kampong Chhnang to see the wetlands, floating houses and fish farms. We stop at a floating school to interact with the children and share in some cross cultural learnings. This evening enjoy an alfresco dinner for our final night aboard ‘Jayavarman’.

Day 22

Tonle Sap - Siem Reap

The great Tonle Sap Lake dominates Cambodia and is over 150km in length. The birdlife is copious and from the middle of the lake one cannot even see the shores. Experience the stillness and tranquillity on our way to Siem Reap. We farewell our ship this morning and visit a pre Angkorian temple enroute to Siem Reap. This afternoon we visit the incredible temple of Angkor Wat, arguably the world’s greatest temple, dating from the 12th century. It is the largest religious building in existence and a true wonder of the world. We enter the temple by crossing the moat and passing through two huge outside walls, pausing to marvel at the towers that lie ahead. We stay at the luxurious Le Meridien Angkor.

Select from a choice of excellent local restaurants or dine at our hotel this evening.

Day 23

Angkor Wat

This morning you may like to rise early and view the spectacular sunrise over Angkor Wat, returning to the hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast we explore some other outstanding temples in the complex. Wonderful Ta Prohm, still embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers, is a truly amazing sight. We continue to mystical Angkor Thom and the Bayon, pausing to see the Elephant Terrace and the ornately carved gates. This afternoon is free for relaxation at our wonderful hotel.

Day 24

Depart Angkor Wat

Your room is booked for a late checkout. This morning you can join your guide and explore some of the smaller but equally ornate temples that make this region unique; relax at our hotel; or visit the small town of Siem Reap.

We join our evening flight to Bangkok and connect with our flight to the UK.

Day 25

Arrive UK

Arrive in the UK.

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