Day 1 – Hanoi Arrival
We will pick you up at airport then transfer to your hotel. The rest of day is at your leisure. We recommend you to take a slow walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, which is vey scenic, so remember to bring your camera. Should you wish to taste famous Vietnamese coffee, you will many coffee shop in French style with a view to the Lake. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2 – Hanoi City Tour (B, L)
You will be picked up for city tour at around 08:00 - 08:30 am, then visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to explore the architectural and historical aspects of Uncle Ho’s final resting-place. Just next door is Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts and lying to one side of the Mausoleum is the One Pillar Pagoda, which was founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049 - the structure has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi. Then continue on to the Buddhist Tran Quoc Pagoda at West lake (One of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam). 12:00: Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, the Guide will take you to visit either Bat Trang pottery village (applied on Mon, Wed & Fri) or the Ethnology Museum (apply on Sun, Tue, Thu & Sat). Then, visiting the Literature Temple and Quoc Tu Giam, see Vietnam’s first university, constructed in 1070 - it’s gardens and well-preserved architecture will offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past. Take you past Hoan Kiem Lake to see the peaceful waters, and the beauty of Ngoc Son temple. At the end, journey through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, where you’ll then have a chance for some shopping and exploration. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 3 – Hanoi - Bai Tu Long Bay (B, L, D)
You will be picked up at around 08:00 for 4 hours trip to Hon Gai Pier. On the way we stop at a handicraft workshop for a short break. Enjoy the journey through Red River Delta with lush rice fields, water buffalos and everyday Vietnamese rural life. After we arrive in Bai Tu Long Bay, check-in on cruise and relax for a while. Then we lift anchor and lunch will be served onboard. In the afternoon, you have time for kayaking (optional) to visit Vung Vieng floating fishing village. We will be cruising between the many lime stones and set anchor at beautiful spot. As the sun sets over the bay, dinner is served on board. In the evening there will also be a cooking demonstration of one or two typical Vietnamese dishes. Leisure time for squid fishing and/or karaoke. Overnight in Bai Tu Long Bay at the cruise ship.
Day 4 – Bai Tu Long Bay (B, L, D)
After breakfast, transfer to your day-trip boat with our crew and cruise to the bay’s most untouched areas. Enjoy swimming on quiet beaches, visiting water tunnels, fishing villages or kayaking. Lunch served on board. Return to the mother boat for the night.
Day 5 – Bai Tu Long Bay - Hanoi (B, L)
The breaking of a new day could start with a Tai chi session (if you are keen on early morning exercise). Breakfast will be served on the boat and you will then have time to enjoy a wholesome brunch as your boat weaves through the magnificent limestone karst formations on your return towards the mainland. Upon disembarkation, you will be transferred back to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi at around 16:30. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 6 – Hanoi fly to Da Nang/Hoi An (B)
After checking out of hotel, you will be transferred to airport for a short flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival, we will pick up and transfer you to hotel in Hoi An town (approximate 45 minutes). The rest of day is at your leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 7 – Tra Que Cooking Class Tour (B, L)
8:30 Tour guide will meet you at your hotel lobby, then you will go bicycle to Hoi An’s colourful central market. Here you will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and learn about the ingredients you will use in the cooking lesson later. Make sure your camera is handy. Continue to Tra Que Water Wheel Take a rest with special welcome drink. You will be taken around the herbs garden where local farmers work on their field using organic methods from 300 years ago. Learn the traditional ways of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food. Made some flowers and animals by vegetables for decoration. After the lesson, enjoy what you have cooked. Return to the hotel. Menu: Tam Huu Spring Rolls Local Pancake Papaya Salad Grilled Fish in banana leaves Steamed rice in banana leaves Dessert. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 8 – Hoi An - Hue by private car (B)
Leave Hoi An for Hue, enroutes we will have some stops for taking photos like Lang Co Beach, Hai Van Pass. Upon Arrival in Hue, check-in hotel, you will have the rest of the day is at leisure to discover the town on your own. Overnight in Hue.
Day 9 – Hue City Full Day (B, L)
You will be picked up at 8.30 am then transfered to visit the Imperial Citadel, this was the center of power for the Nguyen Dynasty who ruled between 1802 and 1945. Here, we will visit Flag Tower, Noon Gate, Nine Dynastic Urns, Nine Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa Palace, and the Forbidden Purple City. We will board a boat for a wonderful trip on Perfume River and a visit to Thien Mu pagoda where you will enjoy a vegetarian meal prepared by the local nuns. The afternoon continues with a visit to the fantastic tombs of the emperors Minh Mang and Khai Dinh. Our guides will give you a deep understanding of the King’s philosophy of geomancy and how this affected royal life. The rest of day is at your leisure. Overnight in Hue.
Day 10 – Hue fly to Ho Chi Minh City (B)
After breakfast transfer to Hue Airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City and transfer to hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure to freely discover the city on your own. Suggested activities are shopping at Ben Thanh Market with a lot of choices for Vietnamese handicrafts and local delicacies, also . Another two other popular shopping places, even for locals are Saigon Square 1 (Nam Ky Khoi Nghia street) and Saigon Square 3 (Hai Ba Trung street). There are many bars and coffee shops nearby for your taste. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 11 – Visit Cu Chi Tunnels (B, L)
We start our tour at around 8 am from hotel and head to Cu Chi tunnels which is about a 1.5 hour drive. Cu Chi is a network of more than 120 km under the ground and were built by sweat and blood of Vietnamese guerrillas to hide and fight against the rival forces. You will be introduced to many kinds of booby traps used during the Vietnam war. We will take time to explain the methods of creating, maintaining and living in these tunnels as well as the special technique of hiding smoke invented by the guerrillas. The visit also includes visiting different type of underground halls, secret working, meeting rooms. You will spend an hour experiencing the tunnels with a guide. Afterwards, enjoy tea and cassava (guerrilla’s food during the war). Before finishing the tour, you can watch a short (15 minutes) documentary about the tunnel. Return to Ho Chi Minh City Centre for lunch at around 2.30 pm. Tour comes to a close with a drop-off at your hotel. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 12 – Ho Chi Minh City - My Tho - Cai Be (B, L, D)
Today we take a bus transfer to My Tho. It is only around 70 kilometers on the highway. You will arrive in the Port by noon. Upon boarding our crew warmly welcomes you and you check in to your prepared staterooms. The ship set sail and your fasctinating journey of exploring the Mekong can begin. Lunch buffet is served in the restaurant while the vessel steadily glides upstream to reach the overnight spot. We drop anchor mid-stream and overnight near Cai Be.
Day 13 – Cai Be - Sa Dec - Chau Doc Cruising (B, L, D)
Everyday, we offer to our guests an invigorating Tai Chi class on the sun deck. Set in your day like many local people do around Asia just as the sun begins its gentle glow. A sumptuous buffet breakfast is the perfect start in your first exploration day in the Mekong Delta. We go on-shore to visit a workshop where we learn about and observe how local produces like rice paste, rice paper, rice cookies, rice wine or coconut candies are manufactured. With our local boat we continue to cruise through the lush and green canel network and can observe farmers working in the fields. Back on board lunch is served and you have some time for yourself afterwards to either enjoy a true Vietnamese coffee at the bar or simply watch the life on the riverbanks floating by. In the afternoon, we reach the area of Sa Dec. We embark a traditional sampan and tour towards Binh Thanh Island, where some communities have settled and make their living by growing water hyazinths. We will meet also an old local people who shares with us their story on this island and they are happy for any chit-chat with you. Back on board you may like to pamper yourself with a spa treatment or take a dip in our pool on the sun deck as the ship continues sailing to Chau Doc - near the boarder to Cambodia. We moor mid-stream near Chau Doc.
Day 14 – Chau Doc - Border Crossing - Phnom Penh (B, L, D)
Welcome to the fish sanctuary of Vietnam. Begin your day with a hearty breakfast at the dining hall or in the quiet privacy of your balcony. Brace yourself for a tour around Chau Doc, a pleasant, slow-paced town near the Cambodian border with a sizeable Chinese, Kinh and Khmer community. Once arrived on-shore we hop on “xeloi” to explore Chau Doc. A “xeloi” is a local vehicle which is still used as a taxi in this region. We slowly move around the streets to see all the workshops, houses and domiciles. Get to feel the laid- back vibes of this place. We stop at the colorful, local market near one of the town’s temples. This is the best time to interact with the vendors of this friendly town and make your own bargain experience. We board our local boats and cruise along floating houses until we finally reach a floating fish farm. This region is the source of a fi sh production that is sold all over the world. We get an exclusive insight in how fish farming works. Back on board our “home” we sail towards the Vietnamese-Cambodian border. The afternoon is at your leisure. Dinner is served before we arrive in the capital of Cambodia around 8 o’clock. The boat docks at the pier of Phnom Penh.
Day 15 – Disembark the Cruise - Phnom Penh Free Day (B)
Welome to Phnom Penh - the once called Paris of the East. After breakfast we bid farewell to the Cruise, and the driver will tranfer you to the hotel. The remaining is at your leisure. Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Day 16 – Phnom Penh City Tour (B, L)
This morning, we will discover Phnom City including: Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) and the National Museum built in 1917-18 dedicated to Khmer arts. We visit the picture perfect Royal Palace built in 1866 followed by the Silver Pagoda located within the Royal Palace compound. After we head for Wat Phnom, an ancient pagoda standing tall on a leafy hill. Enjoy lunch at a local Restaurant before returning to the hotel. This afternoon is then free at leisure. Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Day 17 – Fly to Siem Reap (B)
Breakfast at hotel and you will be picked up from your hotel to airport for flight to Siem Reap. On arrival to Siem Reap, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel. Thes rest of day is at your leisure. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 18 – Siem Reap tour (B, L)
Today is the day many have been waiting for, Angkor Wat! We head off in the morning to visit the most famous of all the temples on the Angkor plain: Angkor Wat. The temple com-plex, cover 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its dis-tinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century master-piece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat's five towers symbolize Meru's five peaks, the enclosed wall rep-resents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat symbolizes the ocean. Continue your visit to the jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm is an incredible sight. There are enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers which embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of man's creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature. We explore this masterpiece as well as some of the surrounding temples including Banteay Kdei, Sra Srong, Ta Keo, Thommanon and Chau Say Tevado. Visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century); See the South Gate (with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk), Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 tow-ers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. We then head back to the hotel for an evening at leisure. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 19 – Siem Reap free day (B)
You have a freeday to discover Siem Reap on your own. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 20 – Siem Reap departure (B)
At the scheduled pick up time airport transfer for your homeward flight.