Hanoi is a green city with its stylish French villas; it still exudes that old French charm and style. Its tree-lined boulevards, romantic lakes and French architecture allow us to step back in time to a quieter, more relaxed Vietnam. We visit the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and Ho’s simple, yet impressive house on stilts, set in beautiful gardens. Then we view the One Pillar Pagoda and the ancient Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university. In the afternoon we visit the Ethnological Museum, one of the most interesting in Hanoi and then take an hour cyclo tour to discover the heart of Hanoi – the bustling Old Quarter – where the narrow streets buzz and bustle with the life of city. It is a shopper’s delight, with beautiful silks, linen, and Vietnamese artifacts. To finish off the day, we attend the performance of the famous Vietnamese water puppetry.

Overnight in Hanoi.

This morning, we leave Hanoi by road for Ha Long Bay by shuttle bus from the cruise, enjoying the timeless scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and daily life of the countryside. On arrival in Ha Long, we board a beautifully appointed wooden junk. A seafood lunch will be served as we cruise among the hundreds of islets in the Bay. Our cruise takes us to Sung Sot cave to witness a splendid sunset.

Overnight on boat.

Early morning coffee and tea will be served on the sundeck followed by a Tai Chi class. We continue exploring magnificent Ha Long Bay. Change to a small motor or rowing boat to see the floating village. When we return to the junk, a sumptuous meal, combining Vietnamese and Western cuisine will be served. On leaving the cruise, we depart back to Hanoi by shuttle bus from the cruise.

Transfer Hanoi airport for our flight to the Hue. Upon arrival at Hue airport, we meet our driver and transfer to hotel for check in.

Overnight at Hotel in Hue.

Your local tour guide and private driver will greet you at your hotel between 8:00 am and 8:30 am, ready to escort you into the heart of Vietnam's former imperial capital.

Begin at the Hue Capital Citadel, a magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site. This 520-hectare fortress-like complex once served as the political and cultural centre of the Nguyen Dynasty. Walk through its imposing gates and imagine the emperors who once ruled from within these ancient walls.

Next, visit the Tu Duc Tomb, the final resting place of the fourth king of the Nguyen dynasty. Set amidst tranquil gardens and lotus ponds, this retreat-like complex reflects the poetic and contemplative nature of the emperor who designed it himself.

Continue to Thien Mu Pagoda, the unofficial symbol of Hue City. With origins dating back to 1601, this iconic seven-story pagoda stands gracefully on the banks of the Perfume River, offering both spiritual depth and stunning views.

Continue to Minh Mang Tomb, where the second emperor of the Nguyen dynasty was laid to rest. Known for its grand, symmetrical layout and lush natural surroundings, this tomb is a masterpiece of feng shui and imperial architecture.

Next drive to Hoi An. It takes about 3 hours to arrive.

You will be free after check in at hotel in Hoi An.

Overnight at Hotel in Hoi An.

This morning, at 09:00 we will start our Hoi An Discovery tour. Hoi An seems to appeal to everyone. This charming town still retains a variety of heritage houses making a stroll around the streets a fabulous option. Guided tour of Hoi An site includes the Quan Cong Temple, the Quang Dong Pagoda, The Phuoc Kien Pagoda, the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Tran Family Chapel, Sa Huynh Museum, and Phung Hung House. Walk along the bank of the lively Thu Bon River, once prosperous and famous as a trading port.

Back to the hotel and free at your leisure.

Overnight at Hotel in Hoi An.

After breakfast at the hotel, you'll have some free time before your private transfer to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City – still fondly known to many as Saigon.

Upon arrival, your first stop is the War Remnants Museum, a powerful and thought-provoking institution that forms part of the Vietnam and World Peace Museums network. Originally established on September 4, 1975, at 28 Vo Van Tan Street in District 3, the museum has since welcomed over 10 million domestic and international visitors. It is especially popular with student groups from across the nation, who come to better understand the sacrifices of their forefathers in the struggle for peace and national independence.

The museum features eight thematic exhibitions, along with extensive collections that present historical truths: the conspiracies and wartime actions of hostile forces, devastating evidence of war crimes, a chilling array of weapons and military tools, and harrowing reconstructions of prison systems, concentration camps, torture methods, and the physical and spiritual oppression endured by political prisoners. A visit here is both sobering and essential for understanding modern Vietnam.

From the museum, you'll move into the graceful heart of French-colonial Saigon. First, admire the Notre Dame Cathedral, a striking red-brick landmark that has watched over the city for over a century.

Next door stands the Old Post Office, an architectural masterpiece built between 1877 and 1883. Designed by Gustave Eiffel – the same genius behind the Eiffel Tower in Paris – this working post office is one of the finest examples of classic French colonial architecture in Southeast Asia. Step inside to admire its soaring arched ceiling, vintage map murals, and timeless atmosphere.

Continuing your journey into Saigon's rich cultural tapestry, you'll visit Thien Hau Pagoda. Built in 1863 by the city's ethnic Chinese community and dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea, this atmospheric temple is filled with incense smoke, ceramic dioramas, and the quiet prayers of sailors and fishermen.

Next, you'll experience the vibrant energy of Cholon, Saigon's historic Chinatown, and wander through the sprawling Binh Tay Market (often referred to as Cho Lon market) – a bustling hub of spices, silks, dried goods, and local life.

Overnight in Saigon.

Meet your guide and driver, then journey south to Ben Tre—a small riverside town that has quietly emerged as a destination in its own right, hidden within the lush labyrinth of the Mekong Delta. This peaceful retreat offers far more than verdant vegetation and winding canals. It offers the warm, enchanting smiles of a people who welcome you not as a tourist, but as a guest.

From the moment you arrive, you are no longer a visitor—you become a true resident, embarking on a sensitive voyage of discovery.

Morning: Hands-On Encounters with Tradition

Watch as age-old techniques come to life. You'll observe how skilled hands shape clay into bricks and weave palm leaves into grass mats. You'll see how the humble coconut is transformed into an astonishing array of products—oil, candy, husk, and fiber—each step a testament to local ingenuity.

As you move deeper into the countryside, stunning panoramic views unfold before you: emerald coconut palms reflected in golden river streams, colorful local products drying under the sun, and wooden boats gliding silently through narrow canals.

Afternoon: Sensations of the Delta

Feel the warmth of the tropical breeze on your skin and the cool touch of water currents as you explore earthy trails along the riverbanks. Pause to taste exotic fruits, freshly plucked from the garden. Savor a "garden-made" lunch, where every dish tells a story of the land. Stop at a rustic workshop to observe—and sample—just-made wet rice paper and coconut candies, perfectly paired with a cup of green tea.

A Symphony of Local Life

Throughout the day, listen closely. You'll hear the gentle splash of oars, the hum of small boat engines, and—most memorably—the banter and laughter of local people. They are modest, yet remarkably hospitable, and their joy is contagious.

As the afternoon softens, you'll be treated to a performance of traditional folk songs—music that echoes the rhythms of delta life. Then, with a heart full of warmth and a camera full of memories, you'll return to Ho Chi Minh City.

A day in Ben Tre is not just a tour. It is an invitation to slow down, feel deeply, and connect authentically with the soul of the Mekong.

Overnight in Saigon.

Transfer to Saigon airport for departure to Siem Reap.

Upon arrival at Siem Reap Int’s Airport, process immigration procedure (visa on arrival is available or obtain in advance via www.evisa.gov.kh), Cambodia E-Arrival Card - https://arrival.gov.kh, clients can apply online or on arrival), then get your luggage and walk straight to the Exit Gate where our guide is waiting. After self-introduced, you’ll transfer to hotel in the city (check in time is 2pm). Time to fresh-up and relax at hotel.

Recommend activities: Walking or use Tuk Tuk to Night market and enjoy local exotic food.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

We start very early in the morning so we can capture the iconic picture of the pre-dawn facing Angkor Wat temple. Sunrise at Angkor Wat can be a busy venue especially during the months of December, January, February and March.

After sunrise, we will explore the vast and rich of Angkor Wat temple, taking pictures at different angles, playing with light and shadows and capturing the most beautiful devatas carved in sandstone.

Next destination will be the Ta Prohm "Tomb Raider" fame. Ta Prohm has been abandoned to the elements, a reminder that while empires rise and fall, the riotous power of nature marches on, oblivious to the dramas of human history. Left as it was ‘discovered’ by French explorer Henri Mouhout in 1860, the tentacle-like tree roots here are slowly strangling the surviving stones, man first conquering nature to create, nature later conquering man to destroy.

Next, will be the impressive Bayon temple with its 54 towers and 216 faces overlooking the defunct city of Angkor Thom. The final stop will be at one of gate of Angkor Thom to capture sunset over the moat.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Start early this morning at 7am to leave your hotel for Phnom Kulen, considered the holiest mountain in Cambodia. Arrive at Kulen Mountain near the Preah Ang Thom Pagoda. First on the agenda is a wander around the mountain-top pagoda which is home to relics, statues, and a large reclining Buddha.

Meet your Motor taxi (motorbike) driver who will take you for the next few hours up the mountain. The first stop is at Poeng Tbal, where a riverbed reveals a well-preserved stone with details of Shiva and Vishnu and the rock carvings of Ganesh and sages. A short trip leads to one of Cambodia's most important sites: a small pedestal that sits on top of three step pyramids called Prasat Rong Chen. Head through more paths to a modern temple with colorful statues and a panoramic view. Enjoy a simple picnic lunch in the temple dining room. Continue after a short break to a bat cave that, with the help of torches, you can enter for a few hundred meters and see a modern sanctuary. Both the cave and the temple attract many pilgrims to the area. A short distance away is Srah Damrei (or Elephant Pond). Head back to the starting point with a few more stone carvings to see at Damrei Khrap (Kneeling Elephant). The Motor taxi adventure ends at Preah Ang Thom.

Two more stops are made before your return, the first is a short visit to see the Thousand Lingas River, hundreds of Lingas carvings can be seen in a section of the river. After visiting the Kulen waterfall, where you can take a refreshing bath. Return to Siem Reap and accommodation.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

We will enjoy a boat ride on the Tonle Sap Lake. This is the largest permanent fresh-water lake in Southeast Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. We will see a fishermen's "floating village" with floating schools, floating police station, etc. It is same as a big village floating on the lake, and the "village" move from place-to-place following water levels and current. We go to local pagoda, where you should change to clothes, we can get wet in as here we will experience the ceremony “Srouch Teok”, which roughly translates into “Water blessing”. A monk will chant in ancient Pali as he splashes water over us, washing away our sins and bad luck so we can start fresh and by being a good person can increase our good luck.

Private transfer to the colonial city of Battambang (Cambodia’s second largest city.) Despite being (not too long ago) a stronghold of the erstwhile Khmer Rouge, the city still boasts a beautiful countryside and some striking French colonial architecture. The former rice bowl of Cambodia, Battambang today still holds a thriving agriculture industry with large orange and jute plantations.

Upon arrival, get your room and spend time for a relaxation at the hotel in Battambang.

After breakfast, we will have full day tours to discover Battambang. Our first stop at local village to let you see how rice noodles are made. Then, at our next stop, we watch cigarettes being rolled. After that, we stop to see how to make rice paper for spring rolls. We take a road through the countryside and stop briefly to show you the Cambodian village lifestyle. We continue our tour with demonstrations of the making of Cambodian cheese, and bamboo sticky rice.

Keep traveling to Wat Samrong Knong, one of the oldest Buddhist pagodas in Battambang featuring Khmer classical art. It is also a historical place used as a prison under the Khmer Rouge Regime 1970-1975. Pay your respect at a memorial shrine festooned with grisly bas-reliefs of Khmer Rouge atrocities.

Drive to the Bamboo Railway Station. The Bamboo Train has been set up by the villagers to facilitate the transportation of goods and people. The train is very basic – one platform on 4 wheels activated by a small motor. Sitting on the platform we travel the 8km to the next station through beautiful landscape and rice paddies.

Departure to Phnom Sampeu Mountain to catch the bats! As darkness falls, we will begin to see thousands of nocturnal bats taking flight from the surrounding caves in a massive formation of dark, black clouds. Be sure to photograph this amazing and staggering sight!

Overnight in Battamang.

09:00: Depart Battambang for the overland transfer to Phnom Penh (duration 5 hours not including stops).

Starting early travel first to Kampong Chhnang, known for its traditional pottery, with many kilns at work in this province. In a village near Kampong Chhnang, to see the different aspects of pottery making and also experience the production of traditional rice wine.

Upon arrival, get your room and spend time for a relaxation at the hotel in Phnom Penh.

Phnom Penh was once considered one of the most beautiful cities in the Orient, and despite its turbulent history and recent development, it still retains a colonial charm. Cambodia’s capital is a bustling city, majestically located at the confluence of the mighty rivers of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

After breakfast, visit to Choeung Ek Killing Field sit just outside Phnom Penh, the best known of the “killing fields” where the Khmer Rouge executed over a million innocent Cambodians. A memorial stupa contains the skulls of around 8,000 victims; bracelets decorate killing sites; and a museum documents the atrocities.

Continue our visit to the Tuol Sleng Museum, the memorial site of the S-21 interrogation and detention center of the Khmer Rouge regime. Located in the heart of Phnom Penh, it preserves a tragic period in history with the aim to encourage visitors to be messengers of peace.

Next, we visit to the Royal Palace compound build in 1866 by the Predecessors of King Norodom, is the most conspicuous feature and one of impressive colorful Khmer-style Palaces. Nearside the Royal Palace is Silver Pagoda (The Emerald Buddha temple), display plenty of Buddha Statues that were decorated and made by diamond, emerald, gold and silver. Next, we head to visit Wat Phnom “Mountain Pagoda” is a Buddhist temple that symbolizes the name of Phnom Penh, located on the hill. According to legend, the first pagoda on this site was erected in 1372 to house four statues of Buddha deposited here by the waters of the Mekong River and discovered by Lady Penh. Wat Phnom is the most popular place for local people come to play healthy spot or praying for their good luck as well as admire the sundown.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Free till our driver pick up from hotel and transfers to Phnom Penh Airport for departure to next destination. It’s time to say goodbye, we thank you for traveling with us and warmly welcome you to come again.