Classic Touring
All Breakfasts
Day 2 Hanoi
On arrival in Hanoi, we'll transfer to our hotel. This evening you will experience a welcome dinner like no other at the Koto Restaurant, a social enterprise that provides training to disadvantaged and street children. KOTO has trained over 700 students in Hanoi and Saigon, with 200 of them currently enrolled. Come on a culinary journey and enjoy the aroma and the flavours of Vietnamese and South-East Asian specialties, before sitting down to enjoy a three course meal where you will have the opportunity to try a selection of traditional dishes.
Meals included: DDay 3 Hanoi
Hanoi is Vietnam's vibrant capital, and this morning we include a tour here. See the restored Opera House, the One Pillar Pagoda and Ba Dinh Square, where silent sentries guard the marble and granite mausoleum where Ho Chi Minh lies in state. A great way to experience this lively city is aboard cyclos – Vietnam's answer to the rickshaw. Step aboard your cyclo in the afternoon for a tour of the ancient quarter, or 36 Streets district as it is also known. This is a souvenir hunters' paradise, where old homes and temples vie for attention alongside shops selling silk clothing, silver products and more. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to sample local eateries and try the local Vietnamese cuisine., alternatively join us on an optional excursion to see the Hanoi Water Puppet Show. Begin your evening with a trip to Hanoi's famous Water Puppetry Show, a stunning showcase of the traditional Vietnamese performing art at Thang Long theatre, just beside Hoan Kiem Lake. Originating from northern Vietnamese villages as long ago as the 11th century, each performance tells stories of village living, history and folk tales, accompanied by traditional Vietnamese music and dance. After the show, enjoy your dinner in a restaurant specialising in traditional Ha Noi delicacies. Transfer back to your hotel.
Meals included: B,LDay 4 Hanoi - Halong Bay
UNESCO-listed Halong Bay is truly beautiful and today we're going to explore it in style. We'll board a traditional boat for an overnight cruise amongst its idyllic waters. As we sail, we'll admire the dramatic limestone peaks rising out of the sea, and we'll even enter one of the vast caves. On the boat we'll enjoy a lovely seafood lunch, and this evening, dinner is also served on board before you retire to your cabin in this unique overnight accommodation. Meals included: B,L,DDay 5 Halong Bay - Hue
You'll wake to stunning views of Halong Bay, and you can enjoy a morning at leisure. You could take part in a Tai Chi session on deck, or maybe you'll just choose to sit and take in the gorgeous scenery with a coffee. We'll then transfer to the airport and fly to Hue.
Meals included: BDay 6 Hue - Hoi An
We'll explore Hue this morning on an included tour of its main highlights. We'll take in the beauty of the Thien Mu Pagoda, which overlooks the Perfume River. We'll also see the royal tombs of Tu Duc and Khai Dinh, which sits on the side of a mountain. Later, rest your legs as we take a scenic journey by road to Danang and on to Hoi An.
Meals included: B,DDay 7 Hoi An
Discover beautiful Hoi An on a walking tour of this ancient riverside town, which is quite simply the most enchanting place on the Vietnamese coast. We will wander among its quaint streets, where we'll see highlights including the Japanese Covered Bridge, a 200-year-old merchant's house and the 15th century Chuc Thanh Pagoda. If you'd like to explore further, why not join an optional bicycle ride past homes, vegetable gardens and fruit orchards before we reach a quaint village where the locals will offer us a warm welcome. Later today you will visit Oodles of Noodles - a local community project which supports street kids and disadvantaged young people by providing them with training for a career in the hospitality industry. You'll meet some of the students, learn about different types of local cuisine and then possibly have a go at making some yourself. Afterwards, some delicious food made with local ingredients will be served. Meals included: B,L,DDay 8 Hoi An - at Leisure
During a free day you could spend time enjoying the facilities at your hotel or exploring the town and its vibrant temples and markets in the company of your fellow travellers. Alternatively, if you'd like to discover more we offer a fabulous optional excursion to My Son. This is a major religious centre in the Champa Kingdom, and the cluster of ruined Hindu temples you will see were constructed between the 4th and the 14th century AD and dedicated to the god Shiva.
Meals included: BDay 9 Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City
Today we'll fly to Ho Chi Minh City, better known as Saigon. It is a city of amazing contrasts. Evidence of former French colonisation remains, and this, combined with the culture of the predominantly Buddhist population.
Meals included: B,L,DDay 10 Ho Chi Minh City
The Cu Chi Tunnels are an amazing series of underground passages first constructed in the late 1940s by the peasant army fighting the French and later extended by the Viet Cong rebels. You can see them today on our optional excursion. Alternatively, explore Ho Chi Minh City at leisure before joining our afternoon tour of the city's highlights. We will visit the former Presidential Palace, the War Museum and the famous shopping street formerly known as Rue Catinat, we will also make a stop at the market if time permits. We end the tour at East West Brewing know for the local craft beer in Saigon . Your farewell dinner tonight is served in a local restaurant. After dinner, enjoy Saigon walking street before transfer back to your hotel.
Day 11 Mekong Delta
The River Mekong descends for 3,000 miles from the Tibetan Plateau to the South China Sea and is constantly busy with sampans, barges and houseboats. As we journey into the depths of the Mekong Delta, our first stop will be at Cai Be, where we will board a boat to cross the water before cruising through lush forest, narrow inlets and canals to a local restaurant for lunch. We will also visit local workshops along the way. Very little has changed over the centuries in this part of Vietnam, and everything and everybody has to travel by boat. Those choosing to extend their holiday with the Cambodia add-on will continue to Can Tho for an overnight stay.
Meals included: B,LDay 12 Phnom Penh
Rise early for a morning boat trip to the extraordinary floating market at Cai Rang. Observe boats jostling for a position as the locals engage in frenetic trading and be sure to have your camera ready for some great photo opportunities. Return to Can Tho before driving to Chau Doc, where you will board a boat for a river cruise to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia for your two night stay.
Day 13 Phnom Penh
Today you will embark upon a comprehensive sightseeing tour of Phnom Penh. Visits will be made to the Royal Palace complex and the impressive Silver Pagoda. Then you will continue on to the National Museum, where you can view Angkorian and Pre-Angkorian sculptures. You will pass the waterfront cafés and restaurants. Next you will have the opportunity to climb the hill to Wat Phnom, the city's main temple. You may like to go to the Central Market or Russian Market where you will be able to browse through the colourful stalls. Dinner tonight is at The Foreign Correspondents Club with its wonderful riverfront views.Day 14 Siem Reap
Today you will fly to Siem Reap for a three night stay and a first visit to the extraordinary Temples of Angkor, an exotic temple complex. Flight details will be confirmed by your Holiday Director. You begin your tour at the most famous Angkor Wat, where you are able to marvel at the majestic towers as you explore this national treasure
Day 15 Siem Reap
Today you will revisit the Angkor Complex for a comprehensive full day tour. Starting at the southern Gate of Angkor Thom, you will begin your exploration with a visit to the centrepiece of this ancient city, the Bayon. The Bayon holds 54 towers decorated with more than 200 enigmatically smiling stone faces. Within the walls of Angkor Thom you will also visit the Royal Enclosure and Phimeanakas, the Baphuon, the Terrace of Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. Continue your adventure to atmospheric Ta Phrom, covered in lush vegetation.
Day 16 Siem Reap
This morning we drive further into the lush countryside to view the intricately carved temple of Banteay Srei, also known as the Citadel of the Women, which is dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. Later in the day you will head out of Siem Reap to the Tonle Sap Lake where you will board your boat for a cruise on what is Cambodia's largest lake. The trip will take you through floating villages, which are complete with schools, health clinics and even pig farms. Tonight you will enjoy a special dinner accompanied by a Classical Khmer dance performance.
Days 17 & 18 Siem Reap - UK
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK, arriving on day 18.
