Day 1 –  Departure to Hanoi

Our guide and driver will meet and greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.

• Board Includes:
• Lunch

Day 2 – Hanoi

Welcome to Vietnam and to Hanoi – a beautiful city laid out around forest-lined lakes near the winding Red River. This is one of the oldest human settlements on Earth. People have lived here for over 20 000 years. Hanoi was a city three hundred years before London, a key centre of the Southern Chinese Empire under the Tang Dynasty, and when Vietnam was born – as a nation independent of China, when Hanoi was known as the city of the Soaring

Dragon. You will have the day at leisure – to wander through its historical streets: the alleys of the Old Quarter, with their bustling markets, shop houses and hidden Confucian colleges and libraries; the swish French colonial buildings that look out over temple-dotted Hoan Kiem Lake, and the monumental mausoleum where the country’s latter day hero, Ho Chi Minh lies eerily embalmed in a lead-crystal coffin. The food in Hanoi is fabulous, there’s a wonderful view at every turn and the energy of the local people invigorating. Your hotel has a rooftop bar, restaurant and pool perched over the city skyline.

Our guide and driver will meet and greet you at the airport and transfer to the hotel for check in (early check in included).

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch

Day 3 – Hanoi → Ha Long Bay

After breakfast you will transfer from Hanoi by shuttle bus to Ha Long Bay (2½-3hrs) and a luxurious converted sailing junk decked out in plush wood with big windows to make the most of the landscapes. The views are spectacular: Ha Long is one of Southeast Asia’s greatest natural wonders – a vast bay of limestone karst islands dotted with caves and covered in rainforest.

Mooring close to Cat Ba Island, we explore a floating fishing village, including a stop at a family home. Afterwards we visit Cat Ba itself, heading to Viet Hai Village, nestled in a valley surrounded by jungle-cladded mountains. Cycling through this valley offers wonderful insights into the isolated life of the local inhabitants. The community, surrounded by thick forests and mountains, and only accessible by sea, is self-sufficient, cultivating vegetables, fruits, and fishing on the bay. Ha Long is particularly magical at the end of the afternoon. Returning to the ship, you unwind on the sun deck with a cocktail as the sun sinks over the islands into the deep green ocean before arriving at our overnight anchorage spot in Lan Ha Bay. The ship’s chef then invites you to a hands-on cooking class in the dining room, showcasing local ingredients and the preparation of classic Vietnamese dishes. You can then either squid fish by lantern light or soak up the starlight views with a cooling drink from the bar before retiring to your suite.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Day 4 – Ha Long Cruise → Siem Reap

You will wake to a gorgeous Ha Long Bay morning, the sun rising golden over the water, mist rising from the sea, birds trilling in the island rain forest. You can enjoy these at leisure with a coffee and pastry in hand, or with a Tai Chi class on the sun deck to awaken your mind and muscles.

The ship then sails to ‘Frog Lake’, a secluded, tranquil lagoon perfect for gentle kayaking. Cliffs rise seemingly sheer from the water and the jade-green ocean is dotted with rainforest-swathed islets. Back on board, we serve a hearty breakfast or brunch while cruising back to the mainland. Our driver will pick you up and transfer to Noi Bai airport for your late afternoon flight (1hr 50mins – 2hrs) to Siem Reap – and Angkor Wat in Cambodia, where you will be greeted at the airport and transferred to your suite in the riverside Jaya House hotel.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 5- Angkor Wat & Wildlife

Today you will have a full day at the Angkor Ruins – the largest religious structure’s ever built by man. They sit in the heart of recovering rainforest, rich with wildlife. Your visit to Angkor will be unique – a tailored, guided wildlife walk through the best of Angkor’s wonderful ruins. You begin early – at the best time for birdlife with a pre-dawn pick-up and a search for crepuscular birds like Brown Boobook and Barred Owl. You will see sunrise over the temples, with breakfast, brought by the guide. After sunrise you will walk through the beautiful rainforests in search for rare Pileated Gibbons, beautiful brilliant-blue Hainan Flycatchers and huge Hornbills, who have returned to the forests since the pandemic. Your guide will choose the best locations for you. You will see Angkor Wat itself, the astonishing Boddhisattva faces at Bayon and Ta Prohm – encrusted with liana vines and giant tree roots and with Red-breasted and Alexandrine Parakeets. And in the late afternoon you will return to the Jaya House hotel in Siem Reap.

Be sure to eat out in Siem Reap. The food is astonishingly good value and the town has an interesting foodie scene, with a number of local chefs who have crafted their art in the region’s five-star hotels, opening their own restaurants offering gourmet takes on traditional Cambodian dishes like Amok.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 6: Kulen Forest Elephant Tour

This morning you will take a shuttle transfer about one hour drive to the Kulen Elephant Forest – an ethical preserve and retirement home, in natural forest surrounds for former working elephants. You will see how the elephants spend their day, accompanied with a guide – walking with them into the forest (and learning about how they survive in their natural Cambodian rainforest habitat), observing their relationships with each other as they swim and forage. You will enjoy a traditional Cambodian lunch at the camp before heading back to Siem Reap in the early afternoon. You will have the rest of the day at leisure – giving you some time for souvenir shopping. If that’s not of interest, there’s lots of other things to see and to do in Siem Reap and we can offer plenty of suggestions for how to spend your afternoon should you wish for that.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 7 – 10: Siem Reap → Cardamom Mountains

After breakfast you will transfer to Siem Reap airport for your flight to Sihanoukville (70 mins) where you will be met at the airport transferred you to Koh Kong in the wilds of Western Cambodia’s Cardamon Forests and Mountains. The transfer time from Sihanoukville is around three hours by car and launch.

The Cardamom Mountains are the last substantial surviving part of the huge tropical rainforests that once swathed the whole of Central Southeast Asia from Myanmar to Vietnam. They are a vital preserve of critically endangered, endangered and threatened species, including Clouded Leopard, Siamese Crocodile, Pileated Gibbons, Asian forest elephants, Sun Bears, Indian civets, banteng, dholes, gaur, and Sunda pangolins. They are also home to Indochinese Tigers. You will visit two lodges in the park – with two nights in the Cardamom Tented Camp – on dry and two at the floating Canvas and Orchids Retreat – ensuring the best possible chances of seeing as many species as possible in the reserve.

Your first stop is the Tented Camp, set on the banks of the Preak Tachan River. On arrival you will get a brief introduction on the conservation and protection work of Wildlife Alliance before walking some of the forest trails. The Tented Camp is an important ecotourism location – protecting a private lowland wetland area on the border of the national park; in a buffer zone which would otherwise be vulnerable to commercial development. The owners have been instrumental in re-wilding and recuperating the habitats and providing training and employment for local people, and they rely on tourism entirely for support.

After the Tented Camp you will journey into the heart of the mountains

to Tatai and your spectacular floating suite in Canvas and Orchids where you will explore the forests by boat, kayak and on trails.

Guided wildlife walks with the rangers, and kayak tours up river and to waterfalls are included. You also have complimentary use of kayaks at the lodges for your own explorations and can walk trails self-guided.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Day 11 & 12 – Cardamom Mountains → Phnom Penh

After breakfast, take the launch to the highway for a private car transfer to Phnom Penh.

Phnom Penh is one of Southeast Asia’s overlooked capitals. But it’s a fascinating place – with a beguiling mixture of colonial French architecture, glittering Theravada Buddhist temples, Royal Palaces and modern shimmering glass towers. In between are rushing food markets, arts and craft fairs, pulsing clubs and bars and sleepy, leafy streets. The city is booming post-pandemic and is a fascinating place to explore: ochre-coloured French colonial buildings, bustling squares, trendy cafés, and frangipani-lined boulevards set around the vast Mekong and Bassac Rivers, it has an atmosphere unlike any other city in Southeast Asia. On your arrival you will set out on an afternoon guided city tour to visit the National Museum, which houses Khmer art and sculptures from different periods of Cambodian history, and the Royal Palace. This magnificent building of stupas and cloisters painted with spectacular murals was the home of King Norodom. At its heart is the famous Silver Pagoda, glittering with over 5000 silver tiles.

In the evening immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of the local night market. This bustling market offers a rich array of Cambodian handicrafts, exquisite silks, authentic Khmer cuisine, and unique souvenirs. Conclude your evening with a delicious dinner at a local restaurant, savouring the flavours of the region.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 13 – 16: Mekong River Cruise

Today you begin a four day cruise on Asia’s most beautiful river, the mighty Mekong. You will learn about the rich history of the river, of Cambodia and Vietnam and of the Khmer and Cham civilisations.

Meet the crew and enjoy lunch onboard. In the afternoon, delve into history with a guided visit to the Killing Fields and Genocide Museum with a survivor of the Khmer Rouge atrocities. Khmer Rouge tortured thousands of Cambodians under the Polpot regime. It is a must for visitors keen to understand the country.

Spend the night docked in Phnom Penh, where you can explore the city’s vibrant nightlife.

The following morning, cruise down the Mekong River to the Vietnam border, proceeding to Chau Doc for an evening stroll along the river and dinner on the ship. On the third day, choose between visiting Sam Mountain or exploring a local market, tour floating fish farms, and enjoy a private Lion dance performance in a nearby village. Continue sailing through the heart of the Mekong Delta, experiencing rich local culture and onboard entertainment. Navigate by sampans through the lush mangroves and fruit orchards of Ben Tre, observe local handicrafts, and journey through the historic Cho Gao Canal to Saigon, concluding with a delightful dinner against the backdrop of the city’s stunning skyline.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Days 17 – 19: Mekong Delta → Ho Chi Minh City → Return flight home

Today you transfer from the Mekong Delta to Ho Chi Minh City or as locals still call it, Saigon. You will stay in one of Vietnam’s classic hotels – the Caravelle, an old war

correspondent’s hotel – where Graham Greene drunk his favourite classic Dry Martinis (with a dash of Crème de Cassis) and the BBC’s Daniel Counihan rubbed shoulders with Walter Cronkite in the rooftop bar, as helicopters thrummed overhead. It is in the best location in the city – in the heart of the French colonial centre.

After a traditional Vietnamese lunch of Pho soup take a guided visit around the Vietnam War Museum; an unforgettable experience which fully documents the war from the Vietnamese perspective.

The next day you will enjoy a tour of the city’s Vietnam War sites. You begin in the morning with the Cu Chi tunnels, where the Viet Cong constructed an underground city, completely undetected by the Americans. You can watch a short introductory video showing how Cu Chi was built, before exploring the tunnels and having the chance to try shooting with real Vietnam era guns, at the firing range.

In the evening, head to a local studio to enjoy an exquisite Art Show. Savour traditional refreshments such as lotus tea, Vietnamese-style coffee and cookies while listening to live folk performances on the piano and flute. Take a guided tour of the studio’s traditional Vietnamese hand-painted artworks and patterns.

As the day draws to a close, enjoy sunset cocktails with panoramic city views from Landmark 81, the tallest building in Saigon. Conclude your evening with a unique farewell dinner at Noir Restaurant, where you’ll experience dining in the dark, served by visually impaired staff. The restaurant offers a variety of multi-course meals with an extensive range of chef-recommended modern dishes, ensuring an unforgettable culinary adventure.

You have much of the next day at leisure.

You can enjoy the French Colonial Centre, exploring the grand avenues, the Opera House and the neo-Gothic Notre Dame cathedral.

Embark on a city tour of Vietnam’s largest Chinatown, renowned for its rich and vibrant history. This colourful area seamlessly blends old and new, featuring traditional shops, bustling markets, and local food stalls. Begin with a visit to Thien Hau Pagoda, originally built in 1760, which has undergone numerous renovations yet retains its serene, timeless charm. Next, explore Binh Tay Market, one of Ho Chi Minh City’s largest wholesale markets, where you can purchase an array of souvenirs for friends and family.

An evening transfer brings you to the airport in time for your night flight home, arriving on Day 20.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast