Vietnam and Angkor in Comfort

Arrive in Vietnam's capital which is famous for its rich culture, bustling life and colonial influences on their centuries-old architecture. Little lakes dotted around the city are encased by busy streets and secret alleyways, which are waiting to be explored.



For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for the welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Hanoi at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Noi Bai International Airport (HAN), which is only a 45 minute drive to the hotel. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will leave a note at the front desk, and call you in your room with details.



If your flight arrives earlier in the day, perhaps you might choose to walk around the peaceful shores of Hoan Kiem Lake.

This morning we make a tour of the main sights of Hanoi. Architecturally styled like a French provincial town with tree-lined boulevards and substantial low-built houses the city is wonderfully nostalgic. Among the interesting sights are the charming One-Pillar Pagoda, Confucius Temple and the Presidential Palace. Ho Chi Minh himself, a spartan-living and scholarly man, chose not to live in the Presidential Palace; he preferred instead a simple teak stilt-house specially built for him in the grounds. This walk through the narrow lanes of the fascinating Old Quarter, where the streets are named after various crafts or specialties: Paper Street, Silk Street, Basket Street and so on. The shops themselves have very narrow frontages but are actually quite deep; they are known locally as tube shops. On the pavements food sellers sell noodles, snacks and stir-fries from shoulder panniers. The smell of food mixes with the smell of incense from small temples dotted around.

Departing the city early this morning we head east, towards the Gulf of Tonkin and the spectacular scenery of Halong Bay. One of Southeast Asia's most spectacular settings, Halong Bay presents a breathtaking vista of thousands of limestone islands that rise from the jade green waters of the bay like the scales of some great submerged dragon. Indeed Halong means 'where the dragon descends to the sea' and local legend tells of a time when this rugged landscape was created by the pounding tail of a mighty dragon as he ran from the mountains into the sea. Boarding our junk around midday we set sail, threading our way through a flotilla of boats, junks and wooden sampans as they ply their way across the gentle waters of the bay; a timeless image of a way of life unchanged for generations. We will overnight on board the junk where we are comfortably accommodated in en suite twin share cabins, all with picture windows and air conditioning.

We cruise back to land this morning and drive back to Hanoi in time to catch the late afternoon flight to Danang. It is just a short drive from here to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Hoi An, a former merchant port and our base for the next three nights.

Hoi An had become one of the busiest international trading ports of Southeast Asia by the 17th and 18th centuries, and it still retains its medieval charm today, with many of its old buildings superbly preserved. We take a leisurely cruise along the river to one of the town's restaurants where we will be taught the flavoursome secrets of Vietnamese cuisine during a dedicated cookery lesson. We also take a walking tour of the Old Town including such sights as the Japanese Bridge and some of the Chinese temples and meeting halls.

Today is left free for you to enjoy Hoi An. There are many shops, bars and restaurants in this charming town and is a great place to buy souvenirs, have clothing tailored or simply watch the world go by in a riverside café. The beach is only a short drive by taxi, alternatively a boat trip on the river as the late afternoon sun lights up the riverfront is a treat. There are also excursions that may be taken further afield such as to My Son one of the holiest and most evocative of Vietnam's Cham sites. The Chams were dynastic lords who rejected the authority of China in 2AD and established their own kingdom. Travel along the track that leads to the site is slow, as we bump through wooded hills southwest of Hoi An. But the site is certainly impressive with several groupings of Cham temples to be visited. Alternatively you may wish to take an optional excursion out the site of the My Lai village massacre memorial. The massacre was a significant turning point in the American War and the horrific story is told through a very emotive exhibition of photography.

Another option would be to take a fishing trip out to the Thu Bon River Delta, where we learn how to fish using a traditional cast net. We travel out by boat where we meet local fisherman and try our hand at cast net fishing as well as trying the bamboo winches used to haul in the huge drop nets from the river. We also have a chance to go out in a Vietnamese 'basket boat' - a circular boat constructed from bamboo that takes some practice to row!

Today we head north along the coast to Hue with several interesting stops along the way. Our first stop is at the nearby five peaks of the Marble Mountains, said to represent the five elements of water, wood, fire, gold and earth. Naturally formed grottoes have been transformed into heavily carved Buddhist sanctuaries. A torch is useful to explore some of the caves and grottos. A short distance from the mountains we find the white sands of My Khe Beach (nicknamed China Beach by American troops - an ideal spot for a brief rest. Pausing in Danang, once the centre of the Kingdom of Champa (2nd century AD - 1720) we visit the Cham Museum, home to a fine collection of Cham sculptures. We enjoy a scenic drive across the spectacular Col des Nuages, otherwise known as the Hai Van Pass en route observing rural scenes of thatched, wooden houses and lime-green rice paddies as well as enjoying panoramic sea views as we make our way to Hue.

Early this morning there is the option to drive out to the peaceful setting of Tu Hieu Pagoda, nestled in a pine forest a short distance outside the city. Here we can witness the morning chanting before taking part in a meditation lesson led by the head monk. The monk will explain how meditation is central to Buddhism, promoting a peace of mind and a healthy mental balance. He will then lead a meditation session for us in the quiet back corner of the temple. We return to Hue for breakfast at our hotel.

Later we time to appreciate Hué's fascinating history with a visit to the Imperial Citadel. Located on the left bank is the river, this palace was built by the Nguyen dynasty, Vietnam's ruling emperors from the early 1800s to 1945. The Citadel has formal moats and impressive ramparts that were constructed by 20,000 men and was a copy of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Although most of the inner part of the city was totally destroyed during the month-long Tet Offensive in 1968, the vast outer walls and the west wing remain an eloquent reminder of the palace's former glory. The remainder of the day is free to perhaps explore some of the outlying Tombs of the Emperors by bicycle.

This morning we fly to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's largest city and former capital of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). In the afternoon we walk around the central sights of Old Saigon, now District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City. We see the Notre Dame Cathedral and the GPO building as well as some of the old French Colonial hotels such as The Rex. We then walk to the Independence Palace (renamed the Reunification Hall) and the graphic War Remnants Museum.

Today we drive to Cai Be in the lush surroundings of the Mekong Delta and take a boat to its colourful floating market. We continue along the river and visit local family houses where rice paper, coconut products and local Mekong whisky are produced. We enjoy a lunch of fresh local produce and specialities within a lush tropical garden by the river among pomelo, longan, mango, coconut and banana trees. After lunch our cruise continues into the countryside, where local houses are still made of wood and palm tree leaves and pass under several small traditional wooden and bamboo bridges. We then return to Ho Chi Minh City.

We drive out early this morning to the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels. This morning we take a short drive out of the city to the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels, which formed an incredible underground command base for 10,000 Viet Cong troops and were a major part of the 1968 Tet Offensive. The site is a fascinating insight into the resourcefulness of the Vietnamese. There is the opportunity to crawl through a small, specially adapted section of the tunnels should you wish to sample the claustrophobic conditions the Viet Cong lived in. Later we fly to Siem Reap in Cambodia; our base for an exploration of the fascinating temples of Angkor.

Our exact programme over the 2 days at Angkor will be organised at the guide's discretion to avoid crowds, coincide with sunsets, etc. Angkor was actually a series of cities, built between the 9th and the 13th centuries by the Khmer kings, with a population of 750,000 in its heyday. The Angkor complex is spread out over some 155 square kilometres, scattered with magnificent carved stone temples, elegant sculptures and incredible bas reliefs. We visit the temples of King Jayavarman Vll, reputedly Angkor's greatest king. The fortified city of Angkor Thom, which he had built at the end of the 12th century, is enclosed by a square wall 8 metres high with five 20 metre high monumental gates decorated with stone elephant trunks. Originally, crocodiles inhabited the moat and huge statues of 54 different gods protected each gate. The city contains another of Angkor's true gems - The Bayon. Although not as impressive as Angkor Wat from a distance, The Bayon is nevertheless incredible for its maze of corridors, gothic style towers and magical central temples. We'll explore The Terrace of the Elephants and the Leper King, the Baphuon and Phimeanakas and some of the surrounding temples such as Preah Khan.



Please note that from the 1st January 2020 the third tier of the Bayon Temple - the striking centrepiece of the ancient city of Angkor Thom - will be closed until 2022 for extensive restoration. As a result, it will only be possible to view the large stone faces from a distance and it will not be possible to get up close. However, the two lower tiers will remain open and accessible, so it will be possible to view the impressive bas-reliefs and intricate stone carvings around the temple.

On our final day we make a visit to the 2nd Angkor capital which includes the temples of Prasat Kravan, Banteay Kdei and Takeo. A highlight for many is a visit to the atmospheric temple of Ta Prohm, where the film Tomb Raider was filmed, lying half consumed by the jungle. We leave the best known and most breathtaking of all the sights, Angkor Wat, to the end - where we stay until the sun sets on the last night of our adventure.

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Siem Reap.



There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Siem Reap at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you need to depart from Siem Reap International Airport (REP), which is 20 minutes from the hotel.



If you have time you may choose to browse the old market for some last minute bargains, or enjoy afternoon tea at The Foreign Correspondent's Club.