Experience 23 unforgetable days. Travel by Private Train to Sapa, board a traditional wooden junk for your luxurious overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay, enjoy a class with the Red Bridge Cooking School in Hoi An and cruise the Mekong River.
Day 1. Arrive Hanoi
On arrival in Hanoi today, you’ll be met at the airport by your local guide and transferred to your luxurious hotel, located close to the centre of the city. Late this evening, you’ll enjoy the opportunity to get to know your fellow travellers and your local guide for the next four days at an informal gathering at your hotel.
Day 2. Duong Lam
After breakfast, travel by coach to the ancient village of Duong Lam. Recognised as a national relic, it has a history of about 1,200 years with many houses dating back 400 years. On arrival, visit one of the oldest houses in the village, the home of the Huyen family, who have lived here for generations. Then choose to explore this quiet village and the tranquil countryside on foot or by bicycle. Visit the restored Phung Hung Temple and Mia Pagoda before enjoying lunch at the house of a local family. Back in Hanoi this evening, step aboard the Victoria Express Train for the overnight rail journey to Lao Cai.
Day 3. Lao Cai, Sapa
On arrival in Lao Cai this morning, disembark your train and transfer to Sapa, a quiet and visually stunning mountain town located in north-western Vietnam. Enjoy breakfast before time at leisure. Later that afternoon, set off on a soft trekking tour to nearby Ta Phin, a picturesque and small village that’s home to the Kinh, Black H’mong and Red Dao people, who are known for their red headscarves and their handicraft skills. This expedition offers great insight into the daily life of these ethnic hill tribes. Afterwards, return to Sapa for dinner.
Day 4. Sapa, Ta Van, Lao Cai, Hanoi
This morning, a guided walking tour of Sapa will take you to the colourful markets. A magical combination of breathtaking landscapes, ethnic cultures and bracing mountain air, the alpine village of Sapa has been a gathering spot for hundreds of years. Here, local hill tribes buy and sell household products, animals, embroidery, silverware and handicrafts, as well as drinking rice wine and corn wine with friends. After time to look around, enjoy lunch, then farewell Sapa and visit the nearby village of Ta Van. Later, return to explore the city of Lao Cai before re-boarding the Victoria Express Train for your overnight journey back to Hanoi.
Day 5. Hanoi, Freedom of Choice Touring
Upon arrival back in Hanoi, check in to your hotel. Then choose from a trip to a local calligrapher’s home in Le Mat village; a walking tour of 500 year-old Bat Trang, famous for its pottery; or a foot massage at your hotel. Tonight, meet your APT Tour Director at a Welcome Reception.
Day 6. Hanoi, Dine Around Dinner
This morning, a tour of Hanoi will take you to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and One Pillar Pagoda, among other attractions. In the afternoon, enjoy a rickshaw ride through the city’s Old Quarter. Later, enjoy front row seats at a water puppet show, a series of short stories and legends presented through the use of traditional music, song, and puppets. Tonight, choose to dine at the Ly Club; the Hanoi Press Club; Nineteen 11; Madame Hien; or Sen Restaurant.
Day 7. Hanoi, Ha Long Bay
After breakfast, travel to World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay. Here, board a traditional wooden junk for your luxurious overnight cruise. Set off to sail among thousands of spectacular limestone islets with a Welcome Drink in hand. Enjoy lunch on board before arriving at Titop Island, where you’ll have time to swim or explore. Then continue to the Bat Cave area and visit the largest floating fishing village on the bay, or take a kayak tour to nearby Bat Cave. Back on board this evening, enjoy dinner and a range of entertainment options before retiring to your cabin for the night.
Day 8. Ha Long Bay, Hanoi, Hue
This morning, early risers might like to participate in a tai chi class on the junk’s deck. Before breakfast, travel by small boat to Surprise Cave, which was used by the Viet Cong as a hideout during the Vietnam War. Enjoy a tour of the cave system and absorb the magnificent bay views from viewing platforms at the top of the cave. Return to the junk and enjoy breakfast as you sail back to your private pier. Then disembark and transfer to the airport in Hanoi for your flight to Hue.
Day 9. Hue
This morning in Hue, board a cruise along the Perfume River. Disembark at Thien Mu Pagoda, the tallest pagoda in Vietnam. Later, drive to the tomb of former emperor Minh Mang, a complex consisting of temples, pavilions and palaces set among tranquil gardens and lakes. Enjoy lunch in a garden setting before visiting Hue’s Imperial Citadel, which occupies a large walled area on the north side of the Perfume River. Tonight indulge in an Emperor Feast unique to this region, featuring Vietnamese royal cuisine, including Minh Mang Liquor.
Day 10. Hue, Hoi An
Today visit beautiful Lang Co Beach and cross the Hai Van Pass, one of Vietnam’s most scenic hillside roads. Arrive in Da Nang and explore the Museum of Cham Sculpture, which houses the world’s largest collection of Cham sculptures. Then travel to the Marble Mountains, a cluster of marble and limestone hills south of Da Nang. Visit one of the pagodas and explore a nearby craft village then continue to Hoi An. Tonight enjoy dinner at Nam Long restaurant, adjacent to the De Vong River.
Day 11. Hoi An, Freedom of Choice Touring
Today attend a cooking tour and class with the Red Bridge Cooking School. Begin with a Welcome Drink before you’ll visit Hoi An’s market to learn about Vietnamese ingredients. Then cruise the Hoi An River to the cooking school. Here, explore the herb garden then learn how to prepare Vietnamese dishes. Afterwards, sample the results of your efforts at lunch. This afternoon, perhaps take a walking tour of Hoi An; enjoy an eco-tour of the surrounding region; ride a rickshaw to the home of a craftsman and learn how to make lanterns; embark on a bicycle tour of the countryside; or take a wet rice planting tour.
Day 12. Hoi An, Saigon, Freedom of Choice Touring
Transfer to the airport this morning for your flight to Saigon. After checking in to your hotel, select from our Freedom of Choice Touring activities. Perhaps enjoy a walking tour of the city then embark on a cyclo ride. Alternatively, visit an artist’s home and learn about traditional lacquer art. Or you may like to take a tour on the back of a motorbike as you’re driven safely through the bustling streets. Tonight, enjoy a special dinner at Xu Restaurant with Luke Nguyen’s menu and matching wines.
Day 13. Cu Chi Tunnels, Tay Ninh, Saigon, Dine Around Dinner
This morning visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible tunnel network constructed during the Vietnam War. Afterwards, travel to Tay Ninh to visit the Tay Ninh Holy See, a temple of the Cao Dai faith. Back in Saigon tonight, This evening enjoy hawker-style dishes at Quan An Ngon; Chinese specialities at Li Bai; Vietnamese fine dining at Hoang Yen; Mediterranean cuisine at Carmague; or Vietnamese cuisine at the Temple Club.
Day 14. Embark Cruise
Transfer to My Tho Port to embark your river ship for your eight day Mekong River cruise. This evening, enjoy a Welcome Dinner.
Day 15. Cai Be, Vinh Long
A local boat will take you to Cai Be today, an intriguing river-land town. Visit the floating markets then go ashore to visit the French Gothic Cathedral as well as the colourful port area. Tour a local rice paper manufacturer and learn how rice paper is made, then enjoy lunch back on board as your ship cruises towards Vinh Long. On arrival here, enjoy a local boat ride and explore the bustling markets, where you’ll see an array of aquatic life being sold.
Day 16. Sa Dec, Tan Chau
In the morning, enjoy a local boat ride past floating markets to Sa Dec, the city where the French writer Marguerite Duras met her Vietnamese lover, Huynh Thuy Le. Here, a tour takes you to Huynh Thuy Le’s old house as well as Thien Hau Pagoda and the beautiful Fujian Temple. Afterwards, re-board your ship for lunch as it cruises to the peaceful town of Tan Chau. On arrival, enjoy a leisurely walk through town.
Day 17. Tan Chau, Border Crossing
This morning, transfer to a small boat and travel along the tiny tributaries to an evergreen island and a floating fish farm. Afterwards, go ashore for a tour of Tan Chau by rickshaw. The rest of today is then spent on board. This afternoon, perhaps attend a fruit-carving demonstration as you cross into Cambodia.
Day 18. Phnom Penh
On arrival in Phnom Penh, a tour will take you to visit the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda as well as the National Museum of Cambodia, home to one of the world’s largest collections of Khmer art. After lunch, an excursion leads to the infamous Killing Fields and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, on the site of the Khmer Rouge’s notorious Security Prison 21 (S-21). After dinner, enjoy a Khmer folk performance.
Day 19. Chong Koh, Oudong, Kampong Tralach
After breakfast, enjoy a leisurely walk around the little-known silk-weaving village of Chong Koh. Then continue cruising to Prek K’dam, where you’ll disembark and set off by coach on an afternoon tour of Oudong, the royal capital of Cambodia from 1618 until 1866. Afterwards, continue to Kampong Tralach for a visit to Wat Kapong Tralach Pleu before an ox-cart ride takes you through rice fields and a small village back to your ship and continue cruising.
Day 20. Kampong Chhnang, Tonle Sap
Enjoy a boat excursion into the wetlands near Kampong Chhnang this morning. Then return to your ship and cast off towards the lake of Tonle Sap. Absorb the tranquillity of the lake as you cruise past floating fishing villages. This evening, enjoy a Farewell Dinner on board.
Day 21. Disembark Cruise, Siem Reap, Dine Around Dinner
After breakfast, disembark and transfer to Siem Reap. Later, head to World Heritage-listed Angkor Archaeological Park. Visit the last and most enduring capital of the Khmer empire, Angkor Thom, where you’ll see the 12th century temple, Bayon, the Terrace of the Elephants and more. On your return to Siem Reap, visit a ‘grass roots’ Orphans and Disabled Arts Association orphanage. Tonight, choose to dine at L’Angelo, Alliance Café, Viroth’s Restaurant, Champey or the Kanell Restaurant.
Day 22. Siem Reap, Angkor
This morning, visit Ta Prohm, a well-preserved temple famous for its intertwined trees (seen in the film ‘Tomb Raider’). Then visit Angkor Wat, the best-preserved temple of Angkor and said to be the world’s largest single religious monument. Tonight enjoy a Farewell Dinner and see an Apsara dance performance.
Day 23. Siem Reap, Freedom of Choice Touring
Depart. Today, perhaps visit the Wat Preah Phrom Rath Temple to be part of a Buddhist blessing, take a tuk-tuk ride to the Senteurs d’Angkor workshops, enjoy a tethered balloon ride to view the temples from above, ride an elephant to Bayon or enjoy a quad bike adventure. Afterwards, you’ll be transferred to the airport.
