Indochina Cultural Discovery Tour

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Start in Saigon, Vietnam’s bustling southern city. Visit the presidential palace (Reunification Palace) and War Remnants Museum to get a sense of the country’s history. Walk through Cholon, the city’s Chinatown, and explore local temples and markets. You can also join guided temple tours with a local guide for deeper cultural insight. Try an iced Vietnamese coffee and a banh mi sandwich. Discover boutiques with local designers and galleries with modern and traditional art. This is Saigon in all its historic, creative and energetic glory – a great start to your Vietnam adventure.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Begin your day with a very early start as you take a day trip out of the city to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a vast network used during the Vietnam War. Then visit the Cao Dai Temple and watch a colourful spiritual ceremony. Back in Saigon, choose from optional activities like a boat trip, private music performance, street food tours, or a cultural talk with a local historian. You can also participate in a community project. In the evening, enjoy free time for personal exploration or relaxation. This day lets you experience Vietnam’s culture in a way that suits you.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Hoi An & Danang

Fly to Danang and drive to Hoi An, a peaceful town by the sea. Check in to your beachfront resort and then head out to explore. Visit the morning market filled with fresh seafood and fruit. Wander through the old town's quiet streets and admire ancient houses, explore temples, and see the famous Japanese Covered Bridge. Dine at local restaurants to experience authentic regional cuisine. See local tailors at work and learn about silk making. Take a gentle boat ride on the river. Hoi An is all about slow pace and strong roots.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Hoi An & Danang

Hoi An & Danang

Continue with a visit to the Museum of Cham Sculpture and the Marble Mountains, with caves and temple visits. Choose from extra activities like village walks, cooking class, or a countryside bike ride that takes you past rice paddies and through small villages. Try your hand at making silk lanterns at a local temple. In between, relax at your resort with spa treatments or beach time. This day balances peaceful moments with cultural experiences – a deeper look into central Vietnam’s way of life.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Halong Bay

Drive to Ha Long Bay and board a luxury cruise boat. Sail among towering limestone cliffs and green waters. Explore the famous limestone caves that make Ha Long Bay a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and enjoy fresh seafood and sunrise tai chi on the deck. Choose from optional activities like kayaking, hiking, cave visits, or exploring floating villages, all set against the dramatic backdrop of limestone cliffs and caves. You can also take a scenic flight for stunning views from above. This overnight cruise is a calm and unforgettable experience surrounded by Vietnam’s most beautiful natural scenery.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Hanoi

After your Halong Bay cruise, travel to Hanoi, one of Vietnam’s major cities and its bustling capital. Start with key sites like the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, and the unique One Pillar Pagoda. Consider joining temple tours to further explore Hanoi's rich spiritual heritage. Visit the simple stilt house and gardens where Ho Chi Minh once lived and see his mausoleum, an important symbol of the nation. These sites give you a glimpse into Vietnam’s history, culture and political journey. From spiritual temples to modern leaders’ memorials, the day blends peaceful beauty with educational insight into the country’s past. Notable landmarks like Notre Dame Cathedral in other major cities can be compared to Hanoi’s own iconic sites, highlighting the region’s diverse architectural and cultural treasures.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Hanoi

Spend the day exploring Hanoi’s old town, known as the Old Quarter, where each street is named after a traditional craft. Wander through narrow alleys full of energy with shops, cafes, and street vendors around every corner, and observe local life unfolding in the bustling streets and lively markets. Visit Hoan Kiem Lake, a peaceful spot in the city centre, and stroll past old French-style buildings now home to boutiques and fine restaurants. For an authentic culinary experience, take the opportunity to dine at local restaurants that showcase the region’s flavors. This mix of history and modern life shows how Hanoi has evolved. Whether sipping coffee in a quiet courtyard or exploring vibrant markets, this day reveals the city’s unique charm and character.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Hanoi

Hanoi

Start the day with one of Hanoi's popular street food tours led by a local guide. Visit markets and taste famous street foods like bun cha (grilled pork with noodles) and pho cuon (fresh noodle rolls). Your local guide will share local knowledge about the ingredients, culinary traditions, and how food plays a big part in Vietnamese life. Later, enjoy a traditional water puppet show or visit the grand Hanoi Opera House depending on your interest. This final day in Hanoi is about enjoying the city’s culture and cuisine – a lasting memory of Vietnam before you head to Laos.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Luang Prabang

Fly to Luang Prabang, a peaceful town in Laos nestled between mountains and the Mekong River. Check in and take time to walk through the quiet streets filled with golden temples and old colonial buildings. Visit the National Museum, once a royal palace, and the stunning Wat Xieng Thong, one of Laos’s most important temples. For a deeper cultural experience, consider exploring the rural villages around Luang Prabang, where you can engage with local communities and traditions. A river cruise to the Pak Ou Caves is a regional highlight, offering a unique spiritual and cultural journey. The Silver Pagoda, a significant religious site, is also worth visiting for its cultural and architectural importance. The town’s calm atmosphere, slow pace and friendly people make it the perfect place to unwind and reflect. It’s where spirituality, culture and history come together in perfect harmony.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Luang Prabang

Today join a traditional baci ceremony, a warm local ritual to wish good luck and harmony, offering a unique immersion into local culture. Visit nearby villages and meet members of Laos’s ethnic communities to learn about their crafts, farming traditions, and daily lives, providing a firsthand look at local life. Explore local markets and workshops where silk weaving and wood carving still thrive, deepening your connection with the authentic cultural fabric of the region. This day helps you understand the cultural richness of Laos and how traditions are passed down through generations. For those interested in similar authentic experiences, rural Cambodia also offers opportunities to engage with local culture and local life through homestays and community projects. It’s a personal and meaningful way to experience Luang Prabang beyond the temples and museums.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Luang Prabang

Take a peaceful boat trip on the Mekong River, enjoying views of forested hills, tiny villages and quiet life along the riverbanks. As you travel through the Mekong Delta, you can visit vibrant floating markets, where boats are filled with local produce and traditional foods, offering a unique cultural experience. Stop at riverside temples or explore the famous Ou caves filled with Buddha images, depending on your route. The slow pace of the journey lets you see how important the river is for transport, farming and community life. This gentle cruise is a relaxing way to experience the natural beauty of northern Laos and to see how people live in harmony with the water and land.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Siem Reap

Fly to Siem Reap in Cambodia and start exploring Angkor's temples, the centrepiece of the famous Angkor temple complex. Your itinerary includes multiple temple visits, such as Angkor Wat—the largest religious structure in the world, renowned for its symmetry and carvings. Head to Angkor Thom, once the Khmer Empire’s grand capital. There see the Bayon Temple with its giant stone faces and walk along the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. These iconic sites reveal Cambodia’s ancient power and artistic skill – a powerful introduction to Khmer civilisation. This tour connects Cambodia and Laos, offering a comprehensive Indochina experience.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Siem Reap

Siem Reap

Explore temples like Ta Prohm, where tree roots twist around stone walls, and Preah Khan, a peaceful site once used as a monastery and school. Consider joining temple tours for a more in-depth experience—guides share local knowledge about the history and significance of these remarkable sites. These less crowded temples offer a more intimate experience of Angkor’s ruins. See how nature and history have blended over time to create a scene that is both mysterious and beautiful. This day is about quiet moments and thoughtful exploration to connect with the spiritual and artistic world of the ancient Khmer Empire.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Siem Reap

Start the day with Banteay Srei, a small temple famous for its pink sandstone carvings and delicate designs. Then visit some of the lesser-visited temples for a quieter experience. During countryside excursions, you will pass by scenic rice paddies and have the opportunity to visit rural villages near Siem Reap for authentic local interactions. If you prefer, you can take a boat ride on Tonle Sap Lake, join a Khmer cooking class or enjoy a private yoga session. You will also have free time for personal exploration or relaxation. Whatever your interest – nature, food or wellness – today is a flexible day to deepen your experience of Cambodian culture.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Siem Reap - Departure

Your journey through Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia comes to an end today in Siem Reap, where the trip ends. Over the past two weeks you’ve visited temples, cruised rivers, walked ancient streets and met people who keep local traditions alive. From the energy of Saigon to the peace of Luang Prabang and the wonders of Angkor, this trip has been about discovery and reflection. After the tour, arrangements can be made for international flights home or onward travel. For those seeking a beach getaway, consider an optional extension to Koh Rong, known for its pristine beaches and vibrant atmosphere. Depart with lasting memories and a deeper understanding of Southeast Asia’s history, culture and beauty.

Meals Included: Breakfast