Essence of Indochina: Vietnam & Cambodia Awakening

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City – Arrival

After a long journey across skies and time zones, you finally land in Vietnam, a country shaped like an elegant S along the sea. The tropical warmth greets you as soon as you step outside, while inside the arrival hall, a smiling guide is waiting with a sign bearing your name.

As the car winds its way through the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, life unfolds in vivid color: scooters buzzing like bees, sidewalks bursting with street vendors. At your hotel, take a moment to unpack not just your luggage, but also your senses. The rest of the day is free. Move at your own pace and let the city’s rhythm gently sink in.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels & City Stories

Morning:
After breakfast, you head northwest, out of the city and into history. Beneath the peaceful green canopy of Cu Chi, a hidden world waits. These 200 kilometers of tunnels once sheltered Vietnamese soldiers during the American War: kitchens, hospitals, weapons storage, even sleeping quarters carved by hand into the red earth. Crawling through the narrow passages, you begin to grasp the resilience, positivity, and hope that lived underground.

Afternoon:
Back in the city, you’ll uncover another layer. At the War Remnants Museum, photographs and artifacts give voice to a heart-wrenching past: raw, confronting, and unforgettable. Yet just a few blocks away, history takes on a different shape. At the Central Post Office, a mix of French elegance and Asian detail tells a story of colonial influence, while Notre Dame Cathedral, with its twin spires and stained glass, stands in quiet contrast to the city’s constant buzz. By late afternoon, you’re back at the hotel, perhaps carrying more questions than answers; and that, too, is part of travel.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City – Ben Tre – Hue

Morning:
The day begins with a drive south, where the roads narrow and rivers widen. Welcome to Ben Tre, the gateway to the Mekong Delta. You board a small boat and drift past villages built on peaceful banks. Along the way, you stop at humble workshops: bricks drying in the sun, coconut candy slowly stirred in iron pans, mats woven by hands that move with speed and ease. A xe-lôi ride (part rickshaw, part motorcycle) takes you deeper into the quiet countryside. Palms sway overhead. Local smiles greet you. Lunch is served at a riverside restaurant, simple and fresh, just like life here.

Afternoon:
After lunch, you hop on a sampan and glide through narrow canals. The water reflects the sky and leaves your peaceful expression. On the return, you pause at a lively local market before heading back to Ho Chi Minh. We continue to the airport for a short flight to Hue.

Overnight in Hue

Day 4: Hue – City tour

Morning:
Your day begins on the Perfume River with a slow boat ride to Thien Mu Pagoda. Standing tall on a quiet hill since the 17th century, this seven-story pagoda is among the oldest in Hue that still exists today. Next, we venture to Tu Duc’s Tomb, not just a resting place, but a reflection of the emperor’s poetic soul.

Afternoon:
After a traditional lunch, you enter the Imperial Citadel, a vast complex where power once resided behind thick red walls. Within this UNESCO Heritage Site, kings held court and lived secluded in the Forbidden Purple City. End the day at Dong Ba Market, where modern Hue pulses in every stall. This hundred-year-old market is full of Hue’s finest crafts and culinary delights, promising to satisfy both your shopping desires and your appetite.

Overnight in Hue

Day 5: Hue – Danang – Hoi An

Morning:
Today, the road is the destination. You set off southward, leaving Hue’s faded glory behind. As the car climbs Hai Van Pass, the view widens. Mountains fall into the turquoise sea, clouds cling to cliffs, and the road snakes like a ribbon between earth and sky. Stop along the way to breathe it in, camera in hand, and wonder in your chest. Reaching Danang, you drive around Son Tra Peninsula, known as Monkey Mountain. Continue to Linh Ung Pagoda, where Vietnam’s tallest Goddess of Mercy Statue is located. From there, you’ll be treated to an incredible panoramic view of the entire peninsula, complete with stunning beaches stretching into the distance.

Afternoon:
Lunch is served in a local restaurant before you explore the Cham Museum. Don’t let its size fool you; this small museum contains the world’s largest collection of Cham ethnic artifacts dating back from the 5th to the 15th centuries. The mountains have a harmonious blend of structures and nature, with caves, tunnels, towers, and pagodas. Sure, you’ll have to tackle a few flights of stairs to reach the summit, but the breathtaking panoramas make every step worth it. By late afternoon, you arrive in Hoi An, golden, lantern-lit, and impossibly charming. Once you settle into your hotel, you can freely explore the town.

Overnight in Hoi An

Day 6: Hoi An – Lantern Craft & Old Town

Morning:
This morning begins not in a museum, but in a small house, where wooden frames, colorful silk, and time-honored patience come together. Local craftsmen teach you the transgenerational art of lantern-making. Your hands follow their leads, bending bamboo, choosing fabrics, tying knots. Slowly, a lantern takes shape: your very own souvenir made with heart.

Afternoon:
After lunch, you follow the cobbled paths of Hoi An’s ancient streets. Every corner of this UNESCO site tells a story: the curve of the Japanese Covered Bridge, the architecture of Chinese Assembly Halls, the soft wood of centuries-old homes. A short stroll to the central market, laughter, and bargaining voices mingle like music. You may not understand the language, but the warmth needs no translation. Hoi An is more than a preserved town; it’s a living memory. And as the sky turns pink and lanterns flicker to life, the journey today ends, leaving you free to explore Hoi An.

Overnight in Hoi An

Day 7: Hoi An – My Son – Hoi An

Morning: 
Just about an hour’s drive from Hoi An, we’ll be as if transported back in time to the mystical My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO Heritage Site. You’ll encounter 20 stunning Cham monuments, each whispering tales of Cham cultures, architecture, and civilization that flourished from the 2nd to the 13th century. Upon your request, we can swing by a nearby theater for a mesmerizing Aspara dance performance, before returning to Hoi An.

Afternoon:
You can freely explore the town.

Overnight in Hoi An

Day 8: Hoi An – Fly to Hanoi

The morning is yours, slow and unscripted. Wander through Hoi An’s alleys once more, sip coffee by the river, or simply sit beneath a silk lantern and watch the world pass. Later, your driver arrives at your hotel and takes you to the airport. One hour in the sky brings you to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, the heart of a thousand-year story. Your guide meets you with another warm welcome, and the drive into the city passes lakes, leafy boulevards, and bustling traffic. Hanoi doesn’t reveal itself all at once. It unfolds layer by layer.

Overnight in Hanoi

Day 9: Hanoi – Capital Explorer

Morning:
Your guide meets you for a day that blends Vietnam’s past and present, intellect and spirit. You begin at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Even if you don’t share the same history, you feel the reverence. His stilt house nearby is modest and quiet, a glimpse into the life of a man who became a national symbol. The nearby One Pillar Pagoda rises like a lotus from stone, simple yet poetic. Next, the Temple of Literature calls. This sanctuary of Confucian thought, Vietnam’s first university, feels timeless. Its courtyards bloom with banyan trees and calligraphy, next to doctoral steles dating back 1000 years.

Afternoon:
After a traditional lunch, you delve into Vietnam’s incredible diversity at the Museum of Ethnology. You’ll discover the intricate cultures of all 54 recognized ethnic groups through clothing, tools, stories, and even full-sized traditional homes. Later, you slow down with a stroll by Hoan Kiem Lake, watching couples pose for wedding photos and elders play chess beneath banyan trees. The day closes with a cyclo ride through the Old Quarter.

Overnight in Hanoi

Day 10: Hanoi – Ninh Binh

Morning:
You’ll leave Hanoi for Ninh Binh, often called ‘Ha Long Bay on land’, known for its winding river flowing amidst towering limestone mountains. Upon arrival, you’ll visit Hoa Lu’s two remaining temples, both built with dark-red lacquered pillars. The first, Dinh Tien Hoang Temple, dates back to the 17th century and honors the Dinh dynasty. Inside, you’ll find bronze bells and a statue of Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang, with the stone pedestal of a royal throne at the front. The second temple is dedicated to monarch Le Dai Hanh, who had great contributions in building and protecting the country in the 10th century. Later, you’ll enjoy a traditional Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon:
With a satisfied stomach, we’ll hop on a rowboat for a leisurely cruise along Ngo Dong River to Tam Coc, where vast paddy fields stretch out beneath the towering karst mountains. We will end the day with a visit to Bich Dong Grotto. Here, you will witness the stunning beauty of nature blending seamlessly with the ancient charm of Buddhist architecture. Afterwards, we’ll return to your hotel in Ninh Binh

Overnight in Ninh Binh

Day 11: Ninh Binh – Halong Bay

Morning:
Leave the lively streets of Hanoi behind and set off toward Halong Bay, a place where myth and nature meet. Legend tells of a dragon descending from the heavens, carving out these emerald waters with its tail. Today, you’ll follow that story to the sea. By midday, you arrive at Tuan Chau Harbor, where the breeze carries a hint of salt. The crew of your cruise welcomes you aboard with a drink and gentle hospitality. After a safety briefing, you settle into your cabin, ready to explore the waters of one of the world’s most iconic bays.

Afternoon:
A delicious lunch is served as the cruise sails through a surreal landscape of limestone karsts and scattered islets. Later, we step ashore to explore Surprise Cave: vast and beautifully lit, its chambers reveal the natural formations carved by millennia. Continue to Titov Island, you can relax on the sandy beach or climb the steep steps to a viewpoint. As the sun dips below the horizon, return to the boat to relax on the sundeck. Enjoy happy hour, followed by a cooking demonstration that brings you closer to Vietnamese flavors. Dinner is served onboard. Finally, you can try squid fishing, watch a film, or simply enjoy the night air under a sky full of stars.

Overnight on cruise

Day 12: Halong Bay – Hanoi

Morning:
The bay wakes early. A Tai Chi session on the sundeck offers a graceful way to greet the day, as morning light filters through the mist over the water. Soon after your light breakfast, you transfer to a bamboo boat rowed by a local and glide into Luon Cave. It’s a serene spot where cliffs close in to form a natural circle, mirrored perfectly on the water’s surface. Return to the cruise to relax and check out. Enjoy your brunch as you gently sail back to the harbor. Take one last look at the limestone towers standing quietly in the bay’s embrace. Later, you disembark and begin the journey back to Hanoi.

Afternoon:
The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your own pace: whether it’s a last stroll through the Old Quarter or a quiet coffee overlooking the lake.

Overnight in Hanoi

Day 13: Hanoi – Fly to Siem Reap

It’s time to say goodbye to Vietnam for now. You transfer to the airport and take a short flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Upon arrival, your guide meets you with the same warm hospitality, and a private transfer brings you to your hotel. Settle in. Breathe. The land of Angkor is waiting.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 14: Siem Reap – Banteay Srei & Angkor Wat

Morning:
After breakfast, you venture out into the countryside. Life slows here — rice fields wave under the sun, and village homes sit on stilts, framed by sugar palms. You arrive at Banteay Srei, the “Citadel of Women.” Small in size but unmatched in beauty, its pink sandstone walls are etched with carvings so delicate, so alive, they seem made yesterday. Nearby, the less-visited Banteay Samre stuns in silence. Walk its corridors and feel like a lone explorer discovering something sacred and forgotten.

Afternoon:
Then comes the moment you’ve imagined: Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument on Earth. You walk beneath its soaring towers and bas-reliefs that stretch like a stone scroll. Battles, gods, and dancers etched into eternity. As the sun dips low, you return to town to visit Les Artisans d’Angkor, where ancient crafts live on through the hands of young Cambodian artisans. Before heading back, you wander the Old Market: colorful, chaotic, and real.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 15: Siem Reap – Angkor Thom Explorer

Morning:
Our day begins with a visit to Angkor Thom, a fortified city that houses iconic sites like the Terrace of Elephants, the Royal Enclosure, and the Temple of Bayon, known for its giant smiling Buddha faces. Then comes Preah Khan, a vast temple of corridors and carvings, where trees curl around doorways and silence reigns.

Afternoon:
We’ll explore the dense tree canopy to discover the moss-covered ruins of Ta Prohm, a Buddhist temple made mainstream by the film ‘Tomb Raider’. Wander through its towers, courtyards, and corridors to find intricate stone reliefs that are hidden by ancient giant roots and lush foliage. Afterward, you continue to Banteay Kdei and the quiet, lesser-known Preah Rup. Climb Phnom Bakheng as golden hour spills across the jungle. From the top, the world is vast. And still. And perfect, just for a moment.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 16: Siem Reap – Tonle Sap – Departure

Morning:
On your final day, Cambodia has one more story to tell. Pack your luggage and hop in your car to Tonle Sap, Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake. Here, you board a small boat and see entire villages float – schools, homes, police stations – shifting with the water’s rise and fall. Children paddle to class, fishermen cast nets, and life moves gently with the tides. It’s a world unlike any other, and as your boat glides between homes on stilts and fields of water hyacinth, you understand something: travel is not just about seeing places; it’s about feeling the pulse of human life in all its forms.

Afternoon:
Finally, your journey across iconic destinations in Vietnam and Cambodia comes to its end. The driver will take you to the airport, ensuring a seamless transition for your departing flight. Until our paths cross again on your next adventure, safe travels!