Vietnam & Cambodia: Water & Stone Kingdoms

In the evening, gather with your guide and fellow travellers for a welcome dinner at a traditional restaurant, offering a relaxed first taste of northern Vietnamese cuisine.

Hotel: Le Jardin Haute Couture, Classic Wing

Meals: D

Pause at a characterful tea house before setting out on foot through narrow lanes, local markets and lively crossroads, gaining an immediate feel for Hanoi’s everyday rhythm. After lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant, continue around Hoan Kiem Lake by electric buggy, passing colonial landmarks and old city gates. Later, follow a tree lined avenue towards Truc Bach Lake and round off the afternoon with a craft beer tasting, sampling local brews while overlooking the water.

Hotel: Le Jardin Haute Couture, Classic Wing

Meals: B, L

Visit Hoa Lu, the former capital of Vietnam, where temples honouring the Dinh and Le dynasties sit among low hills and scattered villages. After lunch at a restaurant near Tam Coc, walk to Thai Vi Temple, then continue to Bich Dong Pagoda, a tranquil complex set against a limestone cliff with gateways, shrines and views over the surrounding fields. Later, board a sampan for a slow, scenic cruise through Tam Coc’s valley, gliding between dramatic rock formations before returning to your hotel to relax.

Hotel: Emeralda Tam Coc, Superior

Meals: B, L

On arrival at the pier, board your comfortable cruise vessel for an overnight journey through Halong and Lan Ha bays. Enjoy lunch as the boat weaves between limestone islands rising steeply from the water, then spend the afternoon exploring a quieter area, with time for optional kayaking, swimming or simply relaxing on deck. As the light softens, take in the changing colours of the bay from the sun deck, before joining a relaxed cooking demonstration or enjoying an aperitif. Dinner is served on board, followed by a peaceful night at anchor.

Cruise: Au Co, Deluxe cabin

Meals: B, L, D

Enjoy a leisurely brunch in the restaurant while the scenery drifts past, then disembark at the pier. Travel back to Hanoi Airport for your flight south to Hue. On arrival, meet your local guide and transfer to your ecolodge, set among riverside gardens and village lanes, where the evening is free to unwind at your own pace.

Hotel: Hue Ecolodge, Junior Deluxe

Meals: Brunch

Explore the Citadel by traditional rickshaw, travelling through broad avenues, quiet backstreets and residential areas enclosed within the old fortified walls. Continue on foot through the Purple Forbidden City, where courtyards, gateways and pavilions evoke the lives of Vietnam’s former emperors.

Return to the nearby village for lunch in a traditional garden house, enjoying local specialities in intimate surroundings. In the afternoon, visit the expansive Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, a complex of ponds, pavilions and wooded paths that served as both retreat and final resting place, before heading back to your ecolodge to relax.

Hotel: Hue Ecolodge, Junior Deluxe

Meals: B, L

Depending on conditions, there may be opportunities to pause at viewpoints to appreciate the landscape. Continue toward Hoi An, arriving in time for lunch at a local restaurant that introduces central Vietnamese flavours.

After checking in at your riverside hotel, the afternoon is free to explore at your own pace. Wander through streets lined with lanterns, wooden shophouses and small temples, or simply relax by the pool and watch boats move slowly along the Thu Bon River as evening lights begin to glow.

Hotel: Vinh Hung Riverside, Superior Garden View

Meals: B, L

You might explore its atmospheric streets, visiting tailors, galleries and tea houses tucked behind wooden facades, or take a gentle bicycle ride through nearby rice fields and along quiet riverside paths. For a change of scene, head to An Bang Beach, where casual cafés and soft sand create a relaxed coastal atmosphere. As evening approaches, return to the old town to see lanterns reflected in the river, finding your own spot for dinner among the many local restaurants.

Hotel: Vinh Hung Riverside, Superior Garden View

Meals: B

On arrival, meet your guide and head into the city for lunch featuring com tam, a much loved Saigon dish of broken rice served with grilled pork, pickles and herbs. In the afternoon, explore some of the city’s best known landmarks on foot, including the Central Post Office, Opera House and Cathedral, which reflect earlier chapters in its history.

Pause for coffee on the city’s book street, where small kiosks and shaded seating create a relaxed corner in busy District 1. Later, check into your boutique hotel and, time permitting, enjoy sunset views from the rooftop pool.

Hotel: Northern Charm, Deluxe

Meals: B, L

Travel by private boat through a quieter area of the delta, visiting local workshops and meeting residents whose livelihoods are tied to the water. Lunch is served at a simple guesthouse on a peaceful island, showcasing home style southern cooking.

In the afternoon, cycle along narrow paths shaded by fruit trees, stopping at a family farm to discover the production of traditional Sâm jelly and to sample the results. Later, board a small sampan to drift through stretches of mangrove before returning to the city. In the evening, gather for a farewell dinner at a characterful restaurant set in a former opium refinery courtyard.

Hotel: Northern Charm, Deluxe

Meals: B, L, D

On arrival, meet your Cambodian guide and driver and transfer to your boutique hotel, conveniently located for exploring the town’s cafés, markets and riverfront. The rest of the day is free to relax by the pool, adjust to the new setting or take a gentle stroll through the central streets, where temples, shopfronts and street food stalls hint at the days of exploration ahead.

Hotel: Hari Residence & Spa, Deluxe room

Meals: B

Begin the day with a relaxed walk to Artisans Angkor, a social enterprise dedicated to preserving traditional Khmer crafts. In the workshops, young artisans practise stone carving, lacquer work and silk painting, demonstrating skills that connect modern livelihoods with long standing artistic traditions. Continue on foot to Psar Chas, the Old Market, where stalls piled with produce, spices, textiles and household goods capture the pace of local life.

Enjoy a simple Khmer style lunch in or around the market, dining alongside residents and sampling everyday dishes. In the afternoon, visit the Angkor National Museum, whose galleries provide an engaging introduction to the history, religion and artistry of the Khmer Empire, adding context before you visit the temples themselves.

Hotel: Hari Residence & Spa, Deluxe room

Meals: B, L

Set out this morning to explore Angkor Thom, the last great capital of the Khmer Empire. Enter through one of its monumental gates, where lines of sculpted figures appear to tug at the mythical serpent that forms the balustrade. Visit Bayon, known for its many carved faces, and walk past royal terraces where ceremonies once unfolded.

Continue to Ta Prohm, a temple where trees grow through moss covered stones, creating an unforgettable interplay between nature and architecture. After a Khmer set menu lunch, visit Angkor Wat, the vast temple complex admired for its balanced design, symbolic layout and extensive bas reliefs. As the day draws to a close, return to your hotel to rest or explore Siem Reap at your own pace.

Hotel: Hari Residence & Spa, Deluxe room

Meals: B, L

En route, stop at the 12th century Kampong Kdei Bridge, one of the few remaining corbelled stone arch bridges from the time of King Jayavarman VII, and a striking reminder of the empire’s engineering.

Continue to the capital and check in at your elegant boutique hotel. In the afternoon or early evening, join a small group for a Khmer cooking class. Visit a local market to choose fresh ingredients, then learn to prepare a selection of traditional dishes under the guidance of an experienced Cambodian chef, before sitting down to enjoy your creations for dinner.

Hotel: La Rose Suites, La Rose Junior Suite

Meals: B, D

Discover Phnom Penh by tuk tuk, beginning at the Royal Palace complex, where gilded roofs, manicured courtyards and the Silver Pagoda reflect the city’s royal heritage. Inside, statues of jade and gold, elaborate stupas and detailed murals offer insight into Cambodian craftsmanship and belief. Continue to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, housed in a former school, for an informative and reflective visit that helps illuminate the country’s recent history.

In the afternoon, take a guided walk through a working class neighbourhood, where narrow lanes, family run workshops and community initiatives reveal another side of city life. Meet residents, observe everyday routines and experience Phnom Penh beyond its main boulevards. Return to your hotel for a final dinner, marking the close of your journey through Vietnam and Cambodia.

Hotel: La Rose Suites, La Rose Junior Suite

Meals: B, D

As you leave the city, impressions of temple spires, river journeys, lantern lit streets and shared meals settle into one final reflection on the cultural richness, resilience and warmth encountered throughout Vietnam and Cambodia.

Meals: B