Date

Itinerary

24 Jul 20

Hanoi

Check into your hotel. After lunch we will take a cyclo tour in Hanoi’s old quarter and experience traditional street life before watching Water Puppet show

25 Jul 20

Hanoi City

The colonial capital city Hanoi is a unique Asian city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental pagodas and temples dating back a thousand years.

Today is an early morning start to visit Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, and the Museum of Ethnology.

In the afternoon you have the option to visit museums such as the Hanoi Hilton or Hoa Lo Prison, the National Museum of Vietnamese History, the Vietnam Military History museum, and the Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts. Our driver will drop you off at your Hanoi Hotel around 5pm. (B/L)

26 Jul 20

Hanoi 

Our local driver and tour guide will pick you up from your Hanoi hotel at 8am before we transfer via car to Hoa Binh. On arrival we will visit villages of the Muong and Dzao minority groups and interact with the local people. After having met the local villagers we will continue the tour to see the enormous Hoa Binh Dam before embarking on a boat for a wonderful cruise on the reservoir.

After Lunch we will stop to visit one of many villages of the Muong people, situated on the bank of the reservoir and explore the lives of these local Hill tribes and their culture.

In the afternoon our driver will transfer you back to Hanoi. On the way back we will stop at the Ho Chi Minh Trail Museum for a quick visit and insight into the American war. (B/L)

27 Jul 20

Hanoi – Halong Bay

Transfer to Hai Phong and board luxurious Era Cruise. Enjoy a welcome drink onboard while the crew conduct a compulsory safety procedure session and then you are free to check into your cabin and freshen up. Take some time to have a look around the vessel or watch the magical landscape go by.

A special lunch of fresh seafood and an assortment of appetizing favourites will be served. Dining on a luxury junk with fine food and drinks doesn't come much better than this. After lunch we start the entry through Cua Van area to Lan Ha Bay. Afternoon is free to swim or kayak in the crystal clear waters of the bay.  Happy hour with special drink menu is followed by our Vietnamese cooking demonstration -  a great way to learn how to prepare delicious appetizers. (B/L/D)

28 Jul 20

Halong Bay

Early birds are welcome to attend sunrise Tai Chi on our upper deck and it's an excellent way to get your energy levels up for today's adventures. You will be fascinated by the exquisiteness in the early hours as you enjoy a coffee, tea.

After breakfast board our Era Day Boat to head to Viet Hai Village where we will take the bicycle trip along the village path through rain forests and dark tunnel

After lunch enjoy kayaking and swimming at Ba Ham Lake which is surrounded which has all four sides enclosed by vertical cliffs.   (B/L/D)

29 Jul 20

Halong Bay to Hue

The nicest time of the day on Lan Ha Bay is the morning. Head to the upper deck and relax with an early morning cup of tea, coffee or juice and watch the never ending miraculous scenery unfold before you.

Enjoy the last stage of your trip to Dark & Bright cave and islets by local rowing boats which is a wild and mysterious beauty in the middle of the World Heritage.

Check out of your cabin as we draw closer to the mainland. After a final early brunch and a last goodbye from our crew transfer you to Hanoi and check into your hotel.

Afternoon is at leisure (B/L)

30 Jul 20

Hue

Hue, Vietnam’s former Royal Capital, is a city that represents the outstanding demonstration of the power of the vanished Vietnamese feudal empire, including a complex of monuments, tombs and pagodas that attract tourists coming from all over the world. Your day starts with a visit to King Khai Dinh’s Tomb and King Tu Duc’s Tomb. 

After lunch at a local restaurant, we will visit Hue Imperial City, the home of Vietnam’s last royal Dynasty, then travel on to Dong Ba Market to see the daily life of local people. (B/L)

31 Jul 20

Hue

Today is spent exploring Hue. Visit the Thien Mu pagoda - the oldest pagoda ranked one of the twenty most beautiful landscapes in Hue.   Back to the boat for a scenic cruise to Hue Eco lodge in Thuy Bieu Eco-Village.

You will then have 2 hours to stroll or bike around quiet village

-Visit local garden, old ancestral temple and communicate with local people.

-Visit some handicraft families (the incense making family, the joss paper making family and the paper painting family) to discover the daily life of local people while they are working strenuously with joy and enthusiasm.

-Take time to join a special cooking class at Hue Ecolodge by yourself under the instruction of Eco-chief. (Va fruit mixed shrimp and pork; Banh Ram It and Banh Khoai)

-After your practical class; it’s time to taste the Hue traditional dishes that you have prepared.

-At the end of this tour, you will have a great time to relax by steeping your foot in medicinal herb water- a traditional therapeutic practice and enjoy excellent massage by blind people. Back to hotel and overnight in Hue. (B/L)

01 Aug 20

Hue – Hoi An

After breakfast at your hotel transfer to Hoi An. After check in we will explore the town of Hoi An on a walking tour visiting the 400 year old Japanese Bridge, 300 years old Chinese temples and 200 year old Vietnamese former merchants’ houses. Our tour guide will walk you back to your hotel to enjoy your afternoon free at leisure. (B/L)

02 Aug 20

Hoi An & My Son Holy Land

This morning we will participate in a cooking class followed by a visit to My Son.

My Son is located 69 kms southwest of Danang and was an imperial city during the Cham dynasty. My Son is the former capital of the ancient Cham civilization that ruled Central Vietnam from the second to the thirteenth century. It is considered to be one of the best-preserved Cham structures in Vietnam. (B/L)

03 Aug 20

Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City

Transfer from your hotel to the Da Nang airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel and rest of the day is at leisure. (B)

04 Aug 20

Ho Chi Minh City 

Tour Ends – Vietnam & Cambodia Mekong Cruise starts (see itin below) (B)

Date

Itinerary

04 Aug 20

Ho Chi Minh

Day at leisure

05 Aug 20

Ho Chi Minh

Transfer to RV Lan Diep and embark.  Welcome cocktail and dinner onboard.  Ship overnights in Port.

06 Aug 20

Ho Chi Minh – Cho Gao

In the morning we visit Cholon and visit the market and the Thien Hau Pagoda. Lunch on board before our visit to the National History museum and a lacquer-ware factory. Overnight we moor at Nha Be.

07 Aug 20

Cho Gao – My Tho – Vinh Long – Cai Be – Sa Dec

In the morning we visit Cholon and the Thien Hau Pagoda. Lunch on board before our visit to the National History Museum.  Ship sails to My Tho and the My Tho Islands to see local craftsman at work. PM: After we cruise to Vinh Long, Cai Be and Sac Dec. Overnight stop at our mooring point.um and a lacquer-ware factory. Overnight we moor at Nha Be.

08 Aug 20

Sa Dec

Early this morning we visit Sa Dec and tour the small town where some colonial mansions are still in existence and afterwards we can discover the local market. Afternoon is cruising the Mekong.

09 Aug 20

Chau Doc – Phnom Penh

We spend the day cruising and cross the Cambodian Border as we continue our journey to Phnom Penh. After dinner we have a "TUK TUK" trip, and then moor for the night in the port of Phnom Penh.

10 Aug 20

Phnom Penh

After breakfast we tour the city and visit the Silver Pagoda, the Royal Palace and the National museum. Lunch is at a local restaurant and then the option to visit a former detention centre used by the Khmer Rouge during the civil war. In the evening we have an Apsara dance show. Overnight in the port of Phnom Penh.

11 Aug 20

Koh Chen – Kamlon Tralach – Kampong Chhnang

Today we visit Koh Chen, a small village where the inhabitants are experts in silverwork and copper work and visit a school. After lunch we arrive in Kampong Tralach and visit the beautiful Vihara of the Wat Kampong Tarlach LeuPagoda. We cross through the village by oxcart to reach the pagoda. We return and continue our cruise to Kampong Chhnang which is our overnight stop.

12 Aug 20

Kampang Chhnang – Lake Tonle

Today we visit Koh Chen, a small village where the inhabitants are experts in silverwork and copper work plus we visit a school.   After lunch we arrive in Kampong Tralach and visit the beautiful Vihara of the Wat Kampong Tarlach LeuPagoda. We cross through the village by oxcart to reach the pagoda. Rest of the afternoon is cruising to Kampong Chhnang which is our overnight stop

13 Aug 20

Siem Reap

Enjoy breakfast onboard as we continue to cruise towards Siem Rap. Depending on the water levels, we may cross the Tonle Sap lake. Arrive in Siem Reap and transfer to Hotel.

14 Aug 20

Siem Reap

After breakfast we visit The Southern Gate of Angkor Thom, the famous Bayon, Baphuon and Phimeanakas temples plus Terraces of the Elephant and leper King. After lunch at a famous local restaurant Visit Ta Prohm then explore the Angkor Wat temple, the 7th Wonder of the Ancient World. You will climb up to Bakheng Hill to watch the sunset over Angkor Wat and the surrounding area. Enjoy Buffet-Dinner with performance of Cambodia Traditional APSARA dance show. Overnight in Siem Reap Hotel.

15 Aug 20

Siem Reap

Today our driver will transfer to the airport for your flight home.