Welcome to Vietnam!

Meet & greet: Today you arrive at the Noi Bai international airport. Upon arrival at airport you will be welcomed to Vietnam by your private English-speaking guide, and then transferred to your hotel. Early check-in at your hotel is subject to availability on arrival.

This early evening you will enjoy well-come dinner at KOTO restaurant – a non-profit restaurant and vocational training program that is changing the lives of street and disadvantaged youth in Vietnam. KOTO – training Hanoi street kids in restaurant skills.

Highlights: Arrival and welcome
Dinner
Overnight in Hanoi at your selected hotel

Morning tour of Hanoi & cyclo tour of the Old Quarter: Start the tour of Hanoi with a visit to a very beautiful Museum of Ethnology to enhance your understanding of Vietnam’s diverse culture through its unique presentation of objects & dress from daily life. Following we will pass by the Soviet style Ba Dinh Square where Ho Chi Minh read out the declaration of the nation’s independence in 1945. Afterwards you will visit the ancient Temple of Literature which was built in the 11th century and was the first university established in Vietnam. End the day by enjoying a cyclo ride through the Old Quarter. The best way to explore the picturesque area of the Old Quarter is by “cyclo” (a three-wheeled bicycle taxi). Also known as the “36 Streets District”, it was once the thriving commercial centre of the city. Each of the 36 short lanes used to specialise in a particular trade represented by one of the guilds. This is still reflected in the names of certain streets: like Silk Street, Gold Street and Fish Street. Among the ancient homes and attractive temples there is a multitude of tantalising souvenir shops. Enjoy lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon guided tour to Duong Lam ancient village: In the afternoon, depart for a 1.5-hour drive to Duong Lam Ancient Village, a typical agricultural village in the north of the Red River Delta. Home to around 300 houses built three or four centuries ago, wander along Duong Lam’s narrow alleyways to explore rural life and Vietnam’s ancient architecture. The cultural and historical vestiges of Duong Lam include Mong Phu Communal House, Princess Mia Pagoda (built in the 15th century), and the old Catholic church. The village well – the traditional feature of communal life – is also worth a look. Finish your tour at an ancient house owned by a couple where you can interact with the friendly owners and share their life experiences over a cup of tea. Drive back to Hanoi.

Highlights: Arrival and welcome
Breakfast and Lunch
Overnight in Hanoi at your selected hotel

Road journey from Hanoi to Mai Chau: Depart Hanoi after breakfast for the scenic drive to Mai Chau taking around three hours passing fields of tapioca, sugar and rice paddies. Arrive in Mai Chau in time for lunch on the terrace of the Lodge overlooking the rice paddies. Mai Chau is an idyllic valley home to many hill tribes including the Dzao, Muong and Thai.

Guided tour of Mai Chau valley: this afternoon, we will enjoy a leisurely two hours cycling tour on local bikes through the beautiful valley of Mai Chau. Through your guide, engage in a chat with local hill tribe people to learn about their daily lives such as planting rice, herding buffalos and building traditional houses. Dinner is at the lodge. Dinner is accompanied by a traditional dance performance by the Thai villagers.

Highlights: Move to Mai Chau valley
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight in Mai Chau at your selected hotel

Guided trekking around Mai Chau: Today you have a guide at your disposal to do some trekking. There are many great trekking routes possible in the hills around Mai Chau and you can discuss what the right length and difficulty is for you with your guide, strolling through local villages and evergreen rice paddies. This nature works out will allow you to experience all that is going on in the fields as you pass by – from buffaloes ploughing to locals planting or harvesting the latest rice crop. Remainder of the day is at leisure. Lunch and dinner are taken at your lodge.

Highlights: Explore Mai Chau valley
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight in Mai Chau at your selected hotel

Morning at leisure: You have time to relax at the lodge or explore the local area independently. Lunch is taken at the lodge.

Road journey from Mai Chau to Hanoi: at the approximated time, travel back by road back to Hanoi, a journey of approximately 3 hours. Check in your hotel upon arrival and relaxation.

Highlights: Drive back to Hanoi
Breakfast, lunch
Overnight in Hanoi at your selected hotel

Road journey from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay: This morning (at approximate 08.00am to 08.30am) you will be met at your hotel by your private guide. Then You will be driven through the Red River delta to the coast and the Gulf of Tonkin, where the waters of Ha Long Bay are found, a journey of approximately 3 hours.

Overnight Ha Long cruise: You will arrive in Ha Long around midday, where you will board your deluxe junk where a welcome drink awaits. After a relaxing break, enjoy a delicious seafood lunch while cruising through the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waters like dragons’ teeth. All activities arranged by the cruise are on a shared basis. After lunch you will explore some of Halong Bay’s famous caves and grottos. There will also be the opportunity for swimming on a quiet beach or sunbathing on the sundeck. In the late afternoon there will be an excursion to a local fishing village, and a water tunnel. Return to the boat in time for a pre-dinner drink as the sun is setting. Please note that the cruise itinerary is subject to alteration dependent on sailing conditions.

Highlights: Overnight on bay, swimming
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight on your selected boat in Lan Ha bay

Morning’s Cruise: Enjoy an early start with Tai Chi on the sundeck, otherwise sleep in until breakfast is served. This morning, you will experience kayaking to discover the lovely Tra Bau area. Back on board a hearty breakfast is served in the dining room. Pack your luggage and check out of your cabin while cruising towards the port. Disembark the junk late this morning.

Road journey from Hai Phong back to Hanoi: On arrival at the quay you will be met by your guide and transferred back to Hanoi, approximately 2 hours drive. Arrive in Hanoi, be transferred to the airport for your flight to Da Nang.

Private transfer: On arrival, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel in Hoi An for the night.

Highlights: Fly to Da Nang and move to Hoi An
Brunch
Overnight in Hoi An at your selected hotel

Morning private cooking class with visit Organic Farm – Tra Que Village: This morning, meet up with your chef at the cooking school in the old town for a brief introduction and a welcome drink. Travel by minivan (10 minutes) to Tra Que Organic Village, and walk through the market gardens where local farmers work their fields using the traditional methods of hundreds of years ago – no electrical machinery here. We pick fresh saw-tooth coriander and Vietnamese mint for our cooking lesson later, before trying a special herbal drink at a local home. To the local village market and with shopping list in hand we purchase a range of local ingredients, including star anise, cardamom, sesame rice paper, water spinach and banana flower. Arriving at the cooking school, we have a chance to freshen up before beginning our class. Working together with our chef, we learn the traditional ways of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food from scratch. Using the freshest ingredients and traditional Vietnamese utensils (still in use today) we cook 4 famous dishes, including the national dish ‘Pho’. After the class we sit down and a chance to savour the dishes we have prepared. Leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River back to central Hoi An.

Mid-afternoon Hoi An walking tour, shopping and cloths made: After sometime at leisure at your hotel, mid-afternoon we set out to enjoy a walking tour of the ancient town center. We will wander around the narrow streets to visit some shops, visit tailors to get measured and order clothes. Hoi An is a good place to buy silk, which can be made upon into fine garments, all within a day. Optional of your choices to visit to heritage sites, including temples, old houses, pagodas and the Japanese-covered Bridge to introduce an insight of Hoi An architecture/ history as well as the restoration plan being implemented by UNESCO. The remainder of the day is free at leisure for your own time of shopping or hanging around.

Highlights: Hoi An cooking class and walking tour
Breakfast, lunch
Overnight in Hoi An at your selected hotel

Day at leisure: Today is at leisure on beach or explores the charming tour of Hoi and surrounding area independently. Further tours and excursions can be arranged locally, including cycle in some beautiful countryside, learn the art of Vietnamese cooking, see your tailor for a second fitting or a day trip out to see the famous ruins at My Son.

Highlights: Free day
Breakfast
Overnight in Hoi An at your selected hotel

Morning at leisure: Morning is at leisure to explore independently and hunt for souvenirs. Lunch is taken at local restaurant. Afternoon, after lunch at your resort, group will check-out and transfer to Da Nang airport for flight to Siem Reap.

Airport ARRIVAL Assistance Service (International terminal): Upon arrival inside the arrival terminal of Siem Reap airport, please look for our representative who will be holding the signboard with your names on it and hand the visa form, who will assist you with your visa handling through the immigration without standing in queue and heading straight out (Cambodia visa stamping fees of USD30/person is NOT included).

Once you have done immigrations and customs formalities, walk through exit gate and look for a tour guide displaying a welcome signboard with your name on it. Embark the comfortable vehicle for transfer to your hotel for check-in and spend the remainder of day at leisure.

Highlights: Arrival and welcome to Cambodia
Breakfast, lunch
Overnight in Siem Reap at your selected hotel

Full day tour of Angkor: Probably the best time to visit Angkor Wat, the largest and most famous of the Angkor temples, is early in the morning, when the light is good and it is relatively quiet. Angkor Wat is visually, architecturally and artistically breathtaking. Continue your exploration with a visit to the picturesque Ta Prohm that had nearly disappeared into the jungle and remains overgrown, an oddly haunting and exotic scene. There are magnificent roots of trees, pushing between the huge stone blocks of the temple in a sort of embrace, emphasizing the ‘lost city’ legend. Lunch is taken at local restaurant

Afternoon, have a fun with tuk tuk ride to visit to Angkor Thom (Big Angkor), it is a walled and moated royal city and was the last capital of the Angkorian Empire. After Jayavarman VII recaptured the badly damaged Angkorian capital from the Cham invaders in 1181, he began a massive building campaign across the empire, constructing Angkor Thom as his new capital city. The giant stone faces of Bayon have become one of the most recognizable images connected to classic Khmer art and architecture. There are 37 standing towers, most sporting four carved faces oriented toward the cardinal points. Further, visit to the surroundings of the complex including the Baphou, Elephant Terraces, Leper King Terrace and Royal Place area. Have optional your choice to stop at the Pre Rup temple to catch the most popular sunset. Or optional your choice at a selected temple – will be advised our guide.

Highlights: Explore Angkor temples
Breakfast, lunch
Overnight in Siem Reap at your selected hotel

Morning guided tour of Banteay Samre and Banteay Srei: Depart your hotel and enjoy a drive to the rural outskirt 35km from the town and visit to Banteay Samre and Banteay Srei, the birthplace of Khmer classical style architecture. Banteay Srei – the petite pink temple is the jewel in the crown of Angkor-era sculpture. The elaborate carvings here are the finest found in Cambodia and the name translates as ‘Fortress of the Women’, thanks to the intricate detail here, considered too fine for the hands of a man. Originally believed to date from the latter part of the Angkor period, inscriptions at the site suggest it was built by a Brahman in 967. However, some architectural historians have suggested that the inscriptions may date from an earlier structure on this site and the temple is in fact later, marking a high-water mark in Khmer sculpture.

Private blessing ceremony: Return back town, enjoy a private blessing ceremony at an ancient pagoda. Located in the heart of Siem Reap town, Wat Damnak is one of the most beautiful pagodas in town with French colonial architecture reflecting its history and a large garden filled with statues. Bring candles and incense sticks to the pagoda and participate in a private good luck blessing ceremony, performed by local monks that reside at the temple. Sit on the mat while the monks chant blessings and sprinkle holy water on you – a traditional way which is believed pass on the good luck of the gods. Afterwards, a sacred thread will be tied around your wrist. This will protect you from any evil spirits or accidents. Before you continue on your journey, you will receive a small keepsake from the monks to remind you of this special moment. Following have lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon at leisure: This afternoon relax at your hotel or explore the town independently.

Highlights: Drive to the rural outskirt from the town
Breakfast, lunch
Overnight in Siem Reap at your selected hotel

The Tonle Sap (The Great Lake) is the flowing heart of Cambodia, giving love and life to this nation. The Tonle Sap has more fish than any other lakes in the world and is a home to an incredible variety of birds, including rare – and endangered – feathered life. Low water season is approximate from January to middle of September. Please be reminded that during low water our guests will embark and disembark in Kampong Cham, a town at the lower Mekong river in Cambodia.

We gather in the morning at our welcome lounge in Siem Reap. Relax with a drink as our staff collects your details for the boarding. Then, we bid farewell to the iconic sights of Angkor and travel over land south to the town of Kampong Cham where our ship awaits us. The transfer takes about 4.5 hours, snacks and water are provided during the trip. Upon arrival you check in to your well-prepared staterooms. A lunch buffet is served in the dining hall. Make yourself familiar with all facilities onboard and take some rest. In the afternoon we learn more about the education of the young Cambodian generation (NGO project). The children join us on board, always excited to show their skills in music and art. Be sure to be bathed in smiles upon your applause.

After the performance, we leave the ship by bus for an afternoon excursion. During low water season, we have the chance to see a bamboo bridge which connects the mainland with an island. Local communities re-build the bridge every year when water levels drop. We continue our land journey to the enchanting pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey (7th century). This small complex sits on a hill top on the shore with a breath-taking view over the Mekong. When returning to the ship, you can enjoy some private time until dinner is served in the dining hall. Our lounge cinema features selected classic movies (every night).

Highlights: Embarking Mekong river cruise
Breakfast, lunch
Package 8D/7N on sharing luxurious boutique cruise ship in private cabin

Every morning, our Tai Chi class on the sun deck will give you energy for the day ahead. Breakfast is served in the dining hall. The ship sails up towards the small Angkor Ban village on the Mekong River. The Angkor Ban village is famous for its unspoiled community and beautiful, traditional houses. It feels like being transported back a hundred years ago, into an era unaffected by modernity. Villagers are characterized by their unbridled warmth.

Back on board a Monks’ blessing ceremony will deliver spirits and wishes for health and prosperity for all. Enjoy your lunch as we set sail downstream the Mekong. In the afternoon a High Tea is offered and our staff is keen to show you the variety of traditional Khmer fashion. We arrive at the Island of Koh Oknha Tey. This spot in the middle of the Mekong owns its fame for manufacturing high class silk products. By tuk tuk we explore the island with its workshops and learn how silk is processed from its source, provided by little silkworms, to a final top quality product made of original Cambodian silk.

After some additional cruising time, passing the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Rivers, the boat achors near Kampong Chhnang. Have a fresh drink before dinner and marvel at the amazing marshlands of this beautiful area.

Highlights: Mekong river cruise
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Package 8D/7N on sharing luxurious boutique cruise ship in private cabin

Wake up early to witness this spectacular scenery at the break of dawn. Our morning Tai Chi class offers the perfect scenery today. Breakfast buffet is served in the dining hall. We are now in Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia’s “water world”, where everything is on sticks balanced on water rich soil. We take a local boat to the shore. By mini buses we head to a rural village nearby and go on a walking tour. Our guides introduce you to the village specialities – Khmer style pottery and the making of palm sugar. You should definitely bring some home.

Before returning to the boat, we explore the floating villages and wetlands of the region. Back on board lunch is served while the cruise continues with a languid meander along the Tonle River towards Kampong Tralach. Gliding through leafy swaths of this jungle-like landscape we reach Kampong Tralach. Cacophonous children wave enthusiastically while bringing their livestock for a bath in the meandering river. We will stop at the “Green School” which is partly supported by the cruise. See all this river life – which is so different than ours – by a local ox cart ride. After some additional cruising time the boat arrives at the pier of Phnom Penh.

Feel free to have your first exploration by yourself after dinner. Stroll along the river promenade and soak up sights and sounds, or have a drink in one of the numerous bars (kindly inform our crew once you are leaving the ship on your own).

Highlights: Mekong river cruise
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Package 8D/7N on sharing luxurious boutique cruise ship in private cabin

Welcome to Phnom Penh – the once called Paris of the East. Despite its rapid development, it has retained a lot of its rustic charm and elegance. It is an amazing town with centuries of incredible history and culture which can still be felt at many street corners.

We start with a full sight-seeing tour right after breakfast. By bus we visit the Killing Fields at the outside of the city and afterwards the centrally located prison “S21”. Both historic sites display the sad and cruel chapter of Khmer history when the Khmer Rouge ruled the country with terror and suppression. Those places have not changed much since this horrific time back in the early seventies and it can be quite heartbreaking. Alternatively, you can explore the city in the morning by your own before re-joining the group. We take lunch at a fine restaurant in town.

Our exploration of Phnom Penh continues on the fascinating cultural heritage of Phnom Penh. The golden edifice of the Royal Palace with its Silver Pagoda and the exceptional Khmer crafts at the National Museum are our afternoon highlights. The day trip ends with a “cyclo” ride back to the ship through the bustling streets of downtown Phnom Penh. Take some rest in your spacious cabin or join other fellow passengers at the bar for refreshing drinks before our captivating evening activities start.

Highlights: Mekong river cruise
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Package 8D/7N on sharing luxurious boutique cruise ship in private cabin

After breakfast we gather at the lounge for a great lecture. The lounge is set up for a captivating lecture about Cambodian modern history, held by a professor of the Royal University of Phnom Penh. Definitely a highlight of this cruise receiving knowledge first hand as our lecturer has studied the subject extensively and personally. The whole afternoon is at your own arrangements. From now on, even the last passenger will turn on his cruise mode and hopefully experience the therapeutic influence that this mighty river radiates.

It is time for massages, relaxation on the sun bed, and private balcony kick-backs – it’s time to merge with the river. Some may like to visit the bridge as the captain always has a little story to share about “his” river. Float into a state of mild bliss. Before totally drifting away, do not forget lunchtime around noon. A culinary class is offered in the afternoon to sharpen your knowledge and skills on the local cuisine. Before slumbering in a nap, join our High Tea with coffee and snacks if you like to. We reach the border and finally arrive in Vietnam.

From here it is just a short distance to Tan Chau, a pleasant, slow-paced border town with a sizeable Chinese, Kinh and Khmer community. We moor near the city with views on the riverbanks. Dinner will be served soon and you can join our evening cinema with another selected classic movie afterwards.

Highlights: Mekong river cruise
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Package 8D/7N on sharing luxurious boutique cruise ship in private cabin

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 Tan Chau, a pleasant, slow-paced town near the Cambodian border with a sizeable Chinese, Kinh and Khmer community. Once arrived on-shore we hop on “xelois” to explore Tan Chau. 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 fish production that is sold all over the world. We get an exclusive insight in how fish farming works. Back on board before lunch is served, you may like to pamper yourself with some spa treatments or take a dip into the pool on the sun deck. Our expert guides offer a presentation on the “Life on the Mekong Delta” as the ship continues to My An Hung near the Sa Dec province. Before we arrive mingle with fellow passengers and share some stories.

We will set off for the My An Hung Village. In the village we receive wonderful insights into the private household of a local family. We are allowed to visit their vegetable garden and access the seasonal vegetable fields via crossing a monkey bridge. We are also invited to their house for a Vietnamese tea tasting. Vietnamese tea is often bitter and locals sweeten it with honey. The honey is produced by the family, a true delicacy in this region. We are offered fruits – juicy, fresh, and right from the tree. A local artist group performs a typical traditional dragon dance while we munch on those natural “vitamins bombs”.

As the sun sets and the light bathes everything golden, we settle on a riverbank gathering with cocktails to recap the day. Back on the ship we cruise downstream the Mekong. Refresh yourself and get ready for dinner. The ship moors mid-river near Sa Dec.

Highlights: Mekong river cruise
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Package 8D/7N on sharing luxurious boutique cruise ship in private cabin

In the morning we arrive the island of Binh Thanh, one of the larger islands in the vast stream of the Mekong. Some communities have settled here and make their living by growing water hyacinths. We exclusively visit one of those untouched areas. By wandering through the village we get a deep understanding of the native life. But moreover, we can follow the whole process of their traditional mat making. You can try to experience traditional handicrafts and all ear a story of this island.

Back on-board lunch is served and you have some time to leisurely spend onboard while we cruise along the Mekong. In the early afternoon we arrive in Cai Be, a charming town which is famous for its Catholic French church and their manufacturing of traditional crafts and food products. The floating market of Cai Be is getting smaller every year, since trading on the water is shifting more and more to the modern central markets. We can still see some boat to boat trading of local goods, such as fruits and agricultural products. Our guide will explain all the particulars of this long lasting trading culture. Each boat has a special marker that lets buyers know what goods they are selling. Afterwards we go on-shore to visit a workshop where we learn how rice paste, rice paper, rice cookies and rice wine is manufactured. Cai Be and its surrounding areas are covered by palm trees and hence the region is also famous for the production of coconut candies.

As the sun sets, we invites you to a farewell event. Before dinner, you can enjoy dances and music together with the crew. The ship moors at My Tho.

Highlights: Mekong river cruise
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Package 8D/7N on sharing luxurious boutique cruise ship in private cabin

Enjoy your last breakfast aboard at the floating hotel. We will disembark the ship after breakfast and take a bus transfer from My Tho to the drop off point in Saigon. It is only around 70 kilometers on the highway. You will arrive in Saigon by mid-morning. Drop off will be at the meeting point in Saigon. Enjoy lunch restaurant at fine dining restaurant.

Afternoon guided tour of Saigon city: This afternoon visit Saigon’s historic landmark including the Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires constructed from materials imported from France. Then head across the square to the Central Post Office, completed in 1891. A short drive away is the former Presidential Palace, the headquarters of the Saigon Government during the American War. Continue to the War Remnants Museum for a vivid perspective of the American War through the eyes of the Vietnamese. Experience Saigon’s famed street coffee culture while your guide provides a brief language lesson as well as insights into daily life of a Saigonese before returning to your hotel.

Highlights: Disembarking and move to Saigon
Breakfast, lunch
Overnight in Saigon at your selected hotel

Morning tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels: After breakfast travel out of the city to the Cu Chi Tunnels. This vast network of tunnels, stretching for over 150 kilometres, was built by the Viet Cong in the battles for the South. The tunnels are a sobering insight into the dedication of the Viet Cong who virtually lived in the narrow and claustrophobic tunnels whilst the war raged. Nearby, a chilling demonstration of the traps and weapons that were used against the Americans is given. The Cu Chi tunnels have been widened in places for visitors, however they can still be dark, hot and claustrophobic inside so please bear this in mind if you do not like enclosed spaces. Then return back Saigon for lunch a local restaurant.

Afternoon at leisure: This afternoon relaxes at your hotel or explore the city independently.

Highlights: Tour of Cu Chi Tunnels
Breakfast, lunch
Overnight in Saigon at your selected hotel

Morning at leisure: This morning is at leisure in Saigon to explore independently and hunt for souvenirs. You will have to check out of your room at noon time and then be transferred to the airport for your departure flight home. **note: check out time at your hotel is at 12:00pm

Highlights: Ends of your trip in Vietnam
Breakfast

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