Grand Tour of Vietnam and Cambodia

We meet our fellow travellers and Tour Manager at London Heathrow airport ready to board our flight. 

Travelling, we can begin to look forward to our southeast Asian adventure that will take in the delights for which Vietnam and Cambodia are renowned. An S-shaped strip of land, Vietnam winds down the coast of the South China Sea for more than a thousand miles. It has become a bucket-list destination for many people who are drawn to the country's golden sand beaches, lush jungle and delicious cuisine. Neighbouring Cambodia also borders Thailand and is renowned for its capital, Phnom Penh, a modern city awash with ancient and 20th-century history, and the sprawling Khmer temples around Siem Reap.

Our plane lands in Vietnam in the morning and we transfer to our 5-Star hotel in central Hanoi, where we have early check-in to unwind and acclimatise to our new surroundings.

As the capital of French Indochina for the first half of the 20th century, Hanoi brims with colonial architecture. One of the most curious sights in Hanoi is a train squeezing through a narrow street, almost touching the shops. 'Train Street', as it has been dubbed, is a short distance from our hotel but note that trains are more regular on weekends.

In the afternoon we enjoy a gentle sightseeing tour of the Old Quarter in cyclos (similar to tuk-tuks), journeying along lively streets dotted with temples. This is a wonderful way to experience the atmosphere of Hanoi and provides a great insight into the daily routine of residents as well as the culture of this fantastic metropolis.

This evening we gather back at our hotel for a welcome meeting and our first group dinner together.

We begin the day with breakfast at our 5-Star hotel in central Hanoi, followed by a visit to Ba Dinh Square. The centrepiece of this grand square is the granite Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, which houses the body of the famous Vietnamese revolutionary who declared independence for North Vietnam in 1945.

Lunch today is at a local restaurant where we enjoy Vietnamese cuisine, before embarking on a three-hour tour of this delightful city. Our tour starts at the Confucian Temple of Literature, which was originally constructed in the 10th century and altered by later dynasties to honour the nation's finest scholars. A well-preserved example of ancient architecture, landscaped courtyards lead to an ornate altar beneath a red-wood pagoda.

Our tour concludes after a visit to a local coffee shop for refreshments, and the evening is free for you to continue exploring on your own. Perhaps pop to the lively International Crossroads area of the Old Quarter for a local drink, or savour authentic flavours at one of Hanoi's wonderful restaurants.

After breakfast at our hotel, we transfer to sensational Halong Bay for a highlight of our holiday.

Understandably popular, Halong Bay is an extraordinary, UNESCO-listed collection of towering limestone karst rock formations, isolated sandy beaches and jungle-topped islands jutting out of the emerald waters. Many day boats ferry tourists around the nearest islands, however our overnight cruise allows us to travel to quieter, iconic sights. After lunch on board our luxury junk, we arrive at Cat Ba Island where you have the choice of a serene saunter around the beautiful bay, or a gentle bike ride to Viet Hai - a small village nestled in the heart of a national park.

Our lovely boat has many great places from which to relax and admire the incredible views, including our deluxe dark-wood cabins, each with balconies, or basking on the stunning sundeck before dinner.

Waking up in Halong Bay, early risers can enjoy sunrise and a tranquil tai chi class amongst these venerable towers, with breakfast served later. One of the finest sunlight-filled caves in Halong Bay is Trinh Nu, covering more than 25,000 square feet. You can walk amongst the ethereal stalactites and stalagmites or join an organised kayak trip into the cave and around the gorgeous lagoon.

After brunch, we disembark for a coach transfer back to Hanoi. This evening we observe a traditional water puppet show. Strongly influenced by Vietnamese folklore, this art form dates to the 11th century and has a symbolic link to the rice harvest as these tales were originally performed in flooded rice fields.

Tonight, we leave the capital aboard the Reunification Express on an overnight journey to Hue in private-use cabins. As the name suggests, this evocative route honours the unification of Vietnam in 1976 and carries locals and tourists alike between the country's two main cities - Hanoi in the north and Ho Chi Minh City in the south.

The Reunification Express rolls into Hue in the morning after a picnic breakfast on board. This historic city is smaller and calmer than Hanoi, and with an early check-in at our grand 5-Star hotel, there is time to relax under royal palms by the pool before embarking on a sightseeing tour this afternoon.

The main attraction of Hue is the impressive Imperial Citadel, the Nguyen dynasty's capital from 1802 to 1945. Modelled on Beijing's Forbidden City and often called the Purple Forbidden City, the expansive palace complex is surrounded by a series of moats fed by the Perfume River. So-called because of orchard leaves that fall into it upstream during autumn, the broad Perfume River flows in front of the palace grounds. Lavish pagodas, temple roofs decorated with dragon motifs and attractive gardens are guarded by towering walls dotted with ten ornate gates.

Later we visit the Thien Mu pagoda, a seven-storey octagonal Buddhist temple built in 1601 that has become a symbol of Vietnam, before returning to our hotel for dinner.

This morning we soak up the atmosphere at the lively Dong Ba market, the oldest in Hue, where we see stalls selling everything from fresh produce and street food to conical hats with poems woven into them.

Afterwards, we hop back on the Reunification Express for a journey down the verdant coast in soft seats. Our destination is Da Nang, renowned for its sandy beaches and fascinating history. On arrival, we explore the Cham Museum, learning about the art and sculptures of the Champa civilisation that flourished along the coast from the 2nd century to 1832, before encountering the Marble Mountains. This cluster of five captivating limestone and marble hills contains atmospheric Buddhist and Hindu grottoes.

We check in to a fantastic 5-Star hotel on the riverbank in beautiful Hoi An for two nights. Hoi An is renowned for its monthly lantern festivals, night markets and bespoke tailors with suits ready in a few hours. Art Nouveau in style, our elegant and refined hotel has a pool in the central courtyard, and the town's highest rooftop bar, providing spectacular views across Hoi An.

We enjoy a guided tour of one of the most charming and attractive towns in Vietnam, Hoi An. Tan Ky Old house reflects Japanese, Vietnamese and Chinese influences and was constructed in 1741 by merchants, the descendants of whom still live on the top floor. Here, we admire the dark wood interiors, lacquered panels and jackfruit wood ceilings.

This picturesque town was historically a melting pot of cultures, and we experience this at the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, which contains an ornately decorated temple with porcelain-capped roof ties, and statues of a monkey and a dog. In Japanese folklore, these gods control Namazu, an underground catfish believed to cause earthquakes.

After a traditional lunch at a local restaurant, we take part in a hands-on craft experience at a lantern-making workshop. The Old Quarter still lights up with rainbow-hued lanterns at night, which you can witness on a free evening as you wander amongst the picture-perfect pastel-yellow façades. For dinner tonight, you might have been inspired by lunch to try some more delicious Vietnamese cuisine or choose to eat at our wonderful hotel.

Rejoining the iconic Reunification Express in Da Nang, we sit down to admire the beautiful scenery on our overland journey south, passing rolling hills and lush coastal views. Rural Vietnam reveals ever-changing views of mist-shrouded mountains, verdant forests and terraced rice paddies. With a picnic lunch to enjoy, we can peer out of the windows to see people in traditional conical hats called 'non la' working the land often accompanied by mighty oxen.

Our destination is the vibrant resort town of Nha Trang, known as the 'Pearl of the East Sea'. Overlooking the palm-lined promenade is our 4-Star hotel, where we check in and have dinner on arrival. Nha Trang is famed for its beaches and our hotel is ideally located to observe the sapphire-blue sea lapping against the golden sand, with the tropical Hon Tre island in the background.

There is free time after breakfast to relax, stroll along the promenade, or take a dip in the sea or the hotel's outdoor pool before we board the Reunification Express for the final time for our journey to Ho Chi Minh City.

With a picnic lunch on the train, we travel along the rugged, gleaming coast, looking out for historic sandstone stupas peering out from jungle-draped hillsides.

Ho Chi Minh City is an exciting place that's modern yet has a rich cultural history. The city was famously known as Saigon under French colonial rule - a name that many locals still use to this day. During their time ruling, the French heavily influenced the layout of the city, with wide leafy boulevards and grand colonial buildings. Our centrally located French colonial-style hotel was built in 1930 and contains a pool, rooftop lounge, bar and restaurant.

Today we learn about the troubled recent history of this beautiful country as we visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. A vast underground complex developed during the war of independence with France and later utilised in the conflict against the US, at their height the tunnels stretched almost 155 miles towards the Cambodian border.

As a base of operations for the Tet Offensive in 1968, there are still aircraft and tanks located near the entrances. Entry to the tunnels is optional, but those who want to can discover the living conditions and methods used to protect the tunnels, field hospitals and weapons factories contained within.

After lunch in a local restaurant, we return to Ho Chi Minh City for a guided sightseeing tour this afternoon, viewing the grand Central Post Office and the modernist Independence Palace. It was here in April 1975 that a North Vietnamese tank dramatically burst through the gates, signifying the Fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War.

There is a free evening tonight, during which you can experience the barter economy at the buzzing night markets near our hotel.

Flowing from Tibet, the Mekong River splits into branches as it enters Vietnam on its way to the South China Sea, creating a vast maze of rivers dotted with lush islands. The sprawling Mekong Delta is home to a wide range of interesting and often unique wildlife - and plays a vital role in the area's daily life.

Arriving in Cai Be, we begin to learn about the those who depend on these waterways during a visit to a floating market and a family-run business producing rice paper and Vietnamese-style corn flakes - a key ingredient in local cuisine. A river excursion gives us front-row seats to observe the fascinating water-based life as houseboats line the fertile and verdant riverbanks.

We have lunch in lively Ving Long before transferring to our stunning 5-Star hotel on the edge of Can Tho, where we have dinner later this evening. A colonial, U-shaped building gathers round an open courtyard of relaxing pools and attractive gardens that lead down to the edge of the Hau River, providing excellent and serene views of the evocative Mekong Delta.

There is a free day today to relax either in our magnificent hotel or head out and explore Can Tho.

As the main city in the delta, Can Tho's wide boulevards and narrow back streets are awash with beautiful temples. Experience incense drifting through the air at the decorative Buddhist Ong Temple or view swirling finials and gold-covered detailing of the Munirensay Khmer pagoda. Connecting the town and our hotel is the curved Ninh Kieu pedestrian bridge with two large sculptures of lotus leaves that are illuminated at night.

Of course, with a gorgeous palm-lined swimming pool and a relaxing spa, it's perfectly understandable that you might not want to leave our fantastic hotel!

To enjoy the full experience, we set off in early morning to Cai Rang, one of the world's largest and most impressive floating markets where traders sell goods from their boats. After time to peruse the items on offer, we return to the hotel for breakfast before transferring by coach to Cao Lan.

Here, we board an express boat for an enjoyable journey up the Mekong into Cambodia and a border crossing with a difference - disembarking to get our passports stamped before continuing by river to Phnom Penh. The broad, majestic Mekong guides us through the tropical flatlands as we drink in the lush scenery dotted with islands, temples and everyday activities.

Arriving in the vibrant capital, known as the 'Pearl of Asia', we discover the city is a meeting point of three great rivers - the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac. Its French-influenced streets are lined with street food stalls and colourful markets. While it exudes an intriguing history, Phnom Penh is also a forward-looking, stylish city. Our central hotel provides contemporary facilities including a pool and a rooftop bar.

We get to know Phnom Penh on a full day guided tour that introduces us to some of the city's main sights. In the morning, we explore the country's older history, visiting the richly ornamented Royal Palace and the impressive Silver Pagoda - two sites that occupy a sprawling park of gleaming, golden temples, and beautiful, manicured gardens surrounded by iconic yellow walls.

We stop at a local restaurant for lunch before learning about an integral part of the country's recent history at the poignant Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, for an insight into the history of Cambodia during the brutal reign of dictator Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979.

There is free time this evening to continue exploring the capital of this warm and friendly country. You could head to one of the markets to admire the local crafts or sample Cambodian street food, or visit one of the city's many excellent restaurants. While similar to Thai food, Cambodian cuisine is less spicy, with one of its most popular dishes being the fragrant steamed fish curry called amok.

After breakfast today we take a fascinating coach journey through the heart of Cambodia, admiring the scenery as it passes by our windows. From lush jungle encroaching on small, roadside towns, to vast lakes shimmering as far as the eye can see, nature provides a captivating backdrop for our travels. On the way, we stop at Skuon market, where you could sample some traditional Cambodian snacks before we stop for lunch in Kampong Thom.

In late afternoon we arrive in beautiful Siem Reap, a small town that has become very popular due to the remarkable temples nearby. As the centre of Cambodian chic, Siem Reap mixes a laid-back atmosphere with world-class cuisine and a thriving cultural scene. Our luxurious 5-Star hotel radiates relaxation, and there is a free evening to unwind by the expansive pool or lounge in the tropical garden area.

Today is a highlight of our holiday as we enjoy a full-day guided tour of iconic Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious structure - covering more than 400 acres. Embracing local culture, we are transported in charming tuk-tuks, providing the flexibility to return to Siem Reap when we choose.

There are few places as enchanting as this once-lost city, built more than 800 years ago. Our visit begins at Angkor Thom, the 'Great City' and last capital of the Khmer Empire, before moving on to the renowned Angkor Wat after lunch in a local restaurant. The temples originally exhibited an extravagant display of golden roofs and whitewashed walls before being abandoned and reclaimed by nature. Appearing amidst dense jungle of overgrown fig, banyan and kapok trees, the weathered stupas and intricate carvings appear even more captivating and are spellbinding to explore.

Afterwards, we attend a pagoda where we receive a blessing from a Buddhist monk before we enjoy dinner with an authentic and colourful Apsara dance show. This graceful artform features dancers in traditional dress and ornate headdresses narrating classical myths.

We have the luxury of a relaxed morning on our final day in Cambodia, and there is the option to do some last-minute shopping at Siem Reap's lively markets where you can purchase local crafts or produce. However, if you prefer, you could relax by the pool at our hotel.

After enjoying our final meal as a group over lunch at a local restaurant, we transfer to Siem Reap's architecturally charming airport to begin our journey home. We say farewell to captivating Cambodia and its mystical temples on board a connecting flight to Ho Chi Minh City's international airport.

Shortly after midnight, we set off on an overnight flight from Ho Chi Minh City direct to London Heathrow, arriving back in the UK in the morning. On the way home, we can look back at the many highlights of this spectacular overland adventure from bustling Hanoi to magical Siem Reap and its spellbinding lost temple cities.

From the breathtaking overnight cruise around Halong Bay and charming Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City's grand palaces and poignant Cu Chi Tunnels, Vietnam has provided some fantastic memories. The mighty Mekong and its laid-back way of life carried us to fascinating Cambodia, where we explored its stylish capital, Phnom Penh, and the iconic Angkor Wat temples.

On landing at Heathrow, we say goodbye to our Tour Manager and fellow travellers with whom we have shared these unforgettable experiences.