Discover Vietnam & Cambodia

Your Singapore Airlines flight to Hanoi operates via Singapore. Upon arrival in Hanoi, we transfer to the centrally located Silk Path Hotel or REY Hotel where we spend the next two nights. The afternoon is free for us to relax or to take a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake. In the evening, we meet our Tour Manager and fellow travellers for a welcome dinner. A great opportunity to get to know each other and learn about the upcoming adventures.

Today begins with an orientation tour of Hanoi, passing landmarks like Ba Dinh Square, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, and the National Assembly building. We visit the revered One Pillar Pagoda, a Buddhist temple from the 11th century, before heading to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s oldest university, dedicated to Confucius. Our lunch offers an introduction to bun cha, a famous Vietnamese dish. In the afternoon, observe the preparation of a Vietnamese egg coffee, an iconic local beverage, and enjoy a cyclo (rickshaw) ride through the bustling Old Quarter. We also visit the Ngoc Son Temple, known as the ‘Place Touched by Morning Sunbeams’. Our day comes to an end with a traditional water puppet show at Hanoi’s Thang Long Theatre, before we return to our hotel for the evening.

Today, we journey to Mai Chau, with winding mountain roads revealing breathtaking panoramas. The Mai Chau valley presents an idyllic location; expansive rice paddies and grand limestone mountains dotted throughout with tiny villages and bustling communities. An afternoon walking excursion through the valley introduces us to local hill tribe communities, verdant rice fields and serene rural terrain. Our hotel for the next two nights is the Mai Chau Mountain View Resort.

This morning, we travel to Pa Co village, home to H’mong people. We take a walk around the village and witness daily life in the community. There’s an opportunity to visit a family home to learn the traditional methods of making batik and indigo dyeing. We return to Hanoi and the Silk Path Hotel or REY Hotel for our overnight stay in the city.

Our day begins with Tai Chi on the sun deck as the sun rises. We visit the impressive caves of Trung Trang on Cat Ba Island, before our return to the mainland. We travel to Hanoi Airport for our flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival, we are transferred to our hotel in Hoi An, the Little Residence Boutique Hotel & Spa or the Little Riverside. Perfectly located for exploring Hoi An’s ancient Old Town, this is our home for the next three nights.

This morning, we visit Tra Que village, known for its expansive organic vegetable farm. Explore the farm and observe the traditional farming techniques used to cultivate crops and engage in hands-on activities. After our gardening experience, relax with a herbal foot bath and massage, followed by lunch. On our return to Hoi An we visit a community development where they craft soap from recycled cooking oil. The afternoon is ours to spend at our leisure. Perhaps join our excursion to My Son, the former capital of the ancient Cham civilisation.

It’s time to say goodbye to the delights of Hoi An and, following breakfast, we head to Da Nang for our flight to Ho Chi Minh City. En route, we visit the Cham Sculpture Museum, which houses an extensive collection of Champa sculptures dating from the 7th to 15th centuries. Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, transfer to either the Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel, or the Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint Hotel, for a three night stay. After settling in we enjoy our first evening in the city together with dinner at a local restaurant.

We head out of the city this morning towards the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, a former Viet Cong stronghold. Watch a short video before viewing the tunnels and learning more about how the tunnels served various roles, from living quarters to supply routes and makeshift hospitals. Next, we visit an organic farm to learn about farm-to-table practices and savour an organic lunch with fresh ingredients. Back in the city, we visit the War Remnants Museum with graphic yet important exhibits depicting wartime hardships. We also explore the Reunification Palace, and the Central Post Office, a remarkable work by French architect Gustave Eiffel.

This morning we travel to My Tho, gateway to the Mekong Delta. Here, we board a wooden sampan and journey along the Mekong to Tan My and Thoi Son Islands. These islands are home to numerous floating fish farms, some of which have been anchored for decades. Next, we board a traditional rowing boat for a serene ride through narrow canals shaded by water coconut trees. Exploring by bicycle, we pass verdant gardens growing grapefruits, coconuts, bananas, durian, jackfruits and longans, and stop to taste some of the fresh seasonal fruits. Our lunch will be a spread of Mekong delicacies in a local family’s garden, where we watch the host prepare banh khot, a popular and delicious local dish. Afterwards, another gentle bike ride through the tranquil island’s backstreets awaits before returning to the mainland. Today’s adventure over, we return to the city and our hotel.

Our time in Vietnam comes to a close this morning, but new adventures are waiting for us in Cambodia. Travelling to the airport, we board our flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. On arrival, we are met by our Cambodian guide and driver and transferred to the delightful Borei Angkor Resort & Spa, our home for the next three nights. This evening, we venture to Phare, also known as the Cambodian circus. An entertaining evening featuring a group of talented young artists, who showcase incredibly artistic forms of storytelling to offer a unique insight into Cambodian culture and everyday life.

A culinary voyage awaits today, as we are introduced to Khmer cuisine. Upon arrival at a local chef’s residence, expect a warm welcome from today’s cooking instructor. We visit the nearby market, where vibrant stalls reveal the unique ingredients central to Khmer gastronomy. Guided by our expert, we learn to prepare and cook some of Cambodia’s most cherished dishes, before enjoying a lunch of our creations. The afternoon is ours to enjoy at our leisure. As our final evening approaches, we dine together one last time and share the memories of our adventures as we are entertained by an Apsara dance performance.

As our Indochina adventure draws to a close, maybe indulge in some final souvenir hunting in Siem Reap. Later today we return to Siem Reap Airport for our Singapore Airlines flight, via Singapore, to the UK. For those travelling with Emirates, your return flight will operate via Bangkok and Dubai.

After 18 incredible days filled with unforgettable memories, our Vietnam and Cambodia adventure comes to an end as we arrive into our chosen UK airport.