Day 1 Depart London on an overnight flight directly to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).
Day 2 Arrive and transfer to the hotel, with guide assistance, for breakfast.
Day 3 Morning visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels underground military bases to see how the Vietnam War fighters lived. Taste their rations and see demonstrations of torture gear and traps. Afternoon visit to the Unification Palace, War Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office and Ben Thanh Market.
Day 4 A relaxing day in the Mekong Delta. Travel through the lush countryside to Cai Be. Board a sampan for a cruise on the Tien River. Visit gardens, fruit orchards, paddy fields and see cottage industries such as coconut candies, rice poppies, bee-keeping and rice paper.
Day 5 Morning flight to Danang, followed by an afternoon visit to the Ancient Town of Hoi An built by Asian traders in the 17th and 18th centuries. Visit a Chinese temple, a Japanese covered bridge and old residences selling hand crafts, silk and paper lanterns, fans and dresses. Enjoy a sunset dinner cruise with beautiful views of the Thu Bon and Hoai Rivers.
Day 6 Visit to My Son, a World Heritage site southwest of Hoi An. Located in a lush valley, My Son was a capital and religious centre of the Cham people. See the remaining red brick towers and sanctuaries.
Day 7 Morning coach transfer with panoramic views of the sea and mountains from Hai Van pass and the Lang Co beach. Continue to Hue and visit the Imperial Citadel, the fort and palaces of former Nguyen Kings.
Day 8 From the pier, board a dragon boat and sail down the serene Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda (1601). See the great bell casting and the stele on the back of a marble tortoise. Continue to the Tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh.
Day 9 Morning flight to Hanoi followed by an afternoon tour of the capital including the 'House of Ho Chi Minh'; the mysterious One Pillar Pagoda and the imposing Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university. Proceed to Hoan Kiem Lake and walk across the red wooden bridge to Ngoc Son Temple. Evening water puppet show.
Day 10 Today is free for independent sightseeing.
Day 11 Take a scenic tour from Hanoi to Ha Long bay and board a boat for a cruise around the beautiful limestone karsts (islands) and a visit to the Ba Hang floating fishing village. Overnight on board
Day 12 Begin the day with a morning tea, Tai Chi exercises on the Sundeck and sail to Surprise cave, one of the most beautiful in the bay. Transfer to the airport for the flight to Laos.
Day 13 Today is free for independent sightseeing.
Day 14 Visit the major sights of Vientiane including Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues; the royal temple of Wat Prakeo; Laos' national icon, the precious and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa and the imposing Patuxay Monument. Fly to Luang Prabang and transfer to the hotel.
Day 15 Experience the morning rituals of Buddhist monks collecting offerings. City tour beginning with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum. Then the city's oldest temple and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground in classic Lao style. Visit the Arts and Ethnology Centre, learn about Laos' ethnic cultures before heading to the weaving villages of Ban Xiengkhong and Ban Xienglek and visit Wat Mai. Continue to Mount Phousi to see the sacred, gilded stupa and a view of the city at sunset and visit the famous Night Market.
Day 16 Morning cruise on the Mekong River, with breathtaking views, to Pak Ou Caves, crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues left by pilgrims. Visit the village of Ban Xanghai, where local rice wine is made. Afternoon tour of traditional villages including Ban Phanom; Ban Ouay, a Hmong village; Ban Ou a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, a Khmu village. Ending the day at Khuang Si Waterfall.
Day 17 Fly to Siem Reap and transfer to the hotel. Enjoy dinner whilst watching a show of Apsara dancing, first performed in the court of kings at Angkor.
Day 18 Visit the ancient walled-city of Angkor Thom. The city, the last capital of the Khmer Empire, is accessed through five huge gates. Highlights include the Bayon Temple, the Baphoun, Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King. This afternoon visit Angkor Wat, the largest religious building in the world, built in the 12th century as a temple. Enjoy sunset at Angkor Wat with a cold coconut juice.
Day 19 Morning visit to Ta Prohm, a unique temple that has been left to nature with trees and vines growing amongst the structures; it gained fame in the ‘Tomb Raider' movie. Afternoon visit to Banteay Srei, a charming, compact temple, remarkably well preserved, and decorated with carvings.
Day 20 Morning Flight to Phnom Penh. In the afternoon visit the Royal Palace and the nearby Silver Pagoda (The Emerald Buddha temple) with its display of jewelled Buddha Statues. Visit the Independence Monument and the National Museum. Dinner is at the legendary Foreign Correspondents' Club.
Day 21 Morning tour of the capital beginning at Wat Phnom, the birthplace of the city, with its hilltop pagoda. Then the charming Riverside area before the Old French Quarter with its colonial building. Visit the bustling Central Market, originally constructed in 1937. This Art Deco building has a huge domed roof and four wings full of shops. Afternoon we departure from Phnom Penh for the flight home via HCMC.
All tours are tailored to your requirements and can be adapted for travel by coach and/or air as you prefer. Occasionally itineraries change. Please see our current brochure or contact us for the latest version.