Rise and shine — you’re headed for the incredible Ha Long Bay! Your driver will meet you at your hotel this morning, and you will travel through the countryside to Tuan Chau Marina to begin your overnight cruise. After a brief meet and greet with the captain and crew, enjoy a welcome drink and a lunch as you cruise through the strikingly emerald waters of Ha Long Bay. Take in the majesty of the bay’s jungle-topped limestone islands, and take the opportunity to explore the stalactite-lined Sung Sot, a secluded grotto the French termed ‘Grotte des surprises’, or Surprise Cave, for its unexpected size and beauty. Cruise onward to Titop Island and appreciate the views from the summit, before enjoying a sunset party dinner onboard.
Enjoy dawn tai chi and a hearty breakfast on the boat before cruising to Ha Long Bay’s Natural Preservation Zone. Kayak through the serene waters, or visit a floating house and learn about the fishermen who call the bay home. Return to the vessel and disembark at Tuan Chau Marina to return to Hanoi for an evening at your leisure.
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before spending a full day at leisure in Vietnam’s electric capital. There’s a new discovery around every corner in this bustling metropolis. Explore the Old Quarter, stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake, or haggle at one of the city’s many colourful markets.
Optional Activity:
- Hanoi Street Food Tour (from A$45 per person)
After breakfast, enjoy some time to explore Hanoi on your own before your transfer to the airport for your flight to Da Nang. On arrival, you’ll be picked up at Da Nang airport and transferred to your hotel in the charming coastal city of Hoi An. Once a bustling Southeast Asian trading port, the city is still a fascinating mix of cultures, influences and traditions. Marvellously preserved Japanese merchant houses and historic Vietnamese trading warehouses rub shoulders with grand Confucian temples and modern office buildings to form a colourful tapestry.
After breakfast at the hotel, the rest of the day is spent at your leisure. Every street in the peaceful port town is a gift, but the real treasure is a chance to explore Hoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed district that brilliantly preserves the synthesis of cultures that led the city to flourish. Other highlights include the ancient Japanese Covered Bridge, first constructed in the 16th century and surviving even the French fascination with the automobile, and the masterfully preserved merchant residence, Tan Ky House.
If you’re feeling adventurous, visit Ba Na Hills and Golden Bridge to take in thrilling views from the cable car and the climbing train as you rise to the top of the mountain, then explore the nine gardens of Le Jardin d’Amour, Debay Wine Cellar and Ling Ung Pagoda.
Optional Activity:
- Ba Na Hill Tour (from A$130 per person)
After breakfast, you’ll have another full day to absorb the sights and sounds of Hoi An at your leisure. Visit the Hoi An Night Market, the perfect place to pick up a cherished souvenir to commemorate your Vietnamese escape, walk the golden sands of An Bang Beach, taking in the moored fishing boats, or catch a glorious cultural performance at the Hoi An Lune Center for the Performing Arts.
Optional Activity:
- Hoi An cooking class (from A$59 per person)
After breakfast, enjoy a little more time to explore Hoi An before being transferred to Da Nang Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. The rest of the day is spent at your leisure.
Take the time to understand Vietnam’s dazzling southern metropolis and you’ll be rewarded: the streets and thoroughfares run loud and fast and the hustle of the city’s markets is a haggler’s delight. If you’ve got the time, highlights could include a visit to the War Remnants Museum, the incense-smothered and delicately carved Jade Emperor Pagoda, or the colonial-era Fine Arts Museum.
After breakfast, set off on your discovery of the Cu Chi Tunnels. Learn how the tunnels were constructed and how people survived in the harsh conditions of wartime, before spending time exploring the remaining area and tunnel systems. Afterward, sample tea and cassava, a root vegetable similar to potato which formed part of the staple diet for the Viet Cong.
This evening is yours at leisure to experience the city’s nightlife as you please.
Your time in Vietnam has come to an end today, as you rise early and travel toward Phnom Penh, your first stop in Cambodia.
The country’s cultural epicentre, riverside Phnom Penh is home to ornate temples, fascinating museums and fragrant cuisine, all waiting to be uncovered. After your arrival, the rest of the day is spent at your leisure.
After breakfast, enjoy a full day to catch the sights and sounds of Phnom Penh at your leisure.
You may choose to discover the dark history and horror of Cambodia’s past with an optional Killing Fields tour. Begin at Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, used as a prison in the days of the Khmer Rouge regime, before travelling to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. This poignant memorial sits on the site where over a million people are thought to have been executed during the Khmer Rouge rule. Enjoy an authentic lunch at a local restaurant before discovering Phnom Penh from a different angle. Set off on a cruise of the Mekong River, admiring the city’s architecture rising from the banks as daily life unfolds.
Optional Activity:
- Killing Fields tour (A$180 per person, minimum two people).
Today, soak up the scenery as you journey north to Siem Reap. This exciting city juxtaposes ancient history with contemporary culture, from trendy hotels to top-notch dining. On arrival, soak it all in after checking into your hotel in preparation for a full day of exploration tomorrow.
Siem Reap’s famous temple complex awaits you today – a bucket-list attraction for travellers across the world.
Begin at Angkor Thom, the last city of the Khmer Empire, whose 12th-century temples and statues are a fascinating remnant of the Cambodian Middle Ages. Explore the South Gate, Bayon Temple, Baphuon Temple, Phimeanakas Temple, Elephants Terrace, Leper King Terrace, and the Royal Palace.
Next, see Ta Prohm, a 12th-century Buddhist temple reclaimed by nature, with winding vines weaving around its crumbling walls.
Enjoy lunch before continuing to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Angkor Wat. Rising majestically from the jungle, this 12th-century Buddhist temple complex spans 400 acres and is rich in archaeological treasures. Unofficially acknowledged as one of the wonders of the world, this incredibly well-preserved site is an architectural triumph.
Make a final visit to Bakheng Hill, a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, before concluding your sightseeing for the day.
Your Vietnam and Cambodia experience has come to an end. After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
