Vietnam
Vietnam from north to south, then three days in Siem Reap
Vietnam
The highlights of Vietnam (Hanoi, a night on a junk in Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An, Saigon and the Mekong Delta), extended by a flight to Siem Reap: the stilt village of Kampong Khleang and Tonlé Sap lake, sunrise over Angkor Wat from Phnom Bakheng, Preah Khan, Ta Prohm, Angkor Thom and the Bayon, a dinner with an Apsara dance show, Banteay Srei and Angkor Wat. Group of 24 at most, express Cambodian visa included. Private version from €3,124 per person.
When
Feb to April
Price
From 2 631€ excl. flights
(based on 2 people sharing)
How long
12 nights
Ideal length
Days 1-5
The capital, a night on a junk and 'Ha Long Bay on land'.
Day 1
Flight to Vietnam
Flight to Hanoi. Dinner and night on board.
Day 2
Arrival in Hanoi
Welcome by your French-speaking guide and a tour of the capital: Ba Dinh square, Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, the presidential palace, the Opera House and the old quarter of the 36 guilds, then the Temple of Literature, the country's first university. A walk around Hoan Kiem lake before dinner.
Day 3
Ha Long Bay by junk
Drive to Ha Long Bay and its 2,000 or so limestone islets, a UNESCO site. Board a junk, lunch on board, a cave visit and activities along the cruise. Dinner and night on board.
Day 4
Ha Long – Hoa Lu – Ninh Binh
Tai chi at sunrise, the end of the cruise and brunch on board. Drive to Ninh Binh, 'Ha Long Bay on land', with a stop at Hoa Lu, capital of Vietnam in the 10th century, and its Dinh and Le temples.
Day 5
Tam Coc, Hang Mua – night train
By rowing boat among the limestone peaks and rice fields, then by bike to Bich Dong pagoda. In the afternoon, the steps of Hang Mua and the view over the Tam Coc valley. In the evening, a night train in an air-conditioned sleeper to Hue (flight as an option).
Days 6-8
The imperial city, the Hai Van pass and the lantern-lit old town.
Day 6
Hue, the imperial city
A bowl of bun bo Hue on arrival, then the citadel and the imperial city, Thien Mu pagoda and a boat on the Perfume River. Cycling in the pomelo countryside and a cookery class with a family, Dong Ba market, and in the evening street food by cyclo.
Day 7
The tombs, the Hai Van pass – Hoi An
The imperial tombs of Khai Dinh and Minh Mang, then the road over the Hai Van pass and through Lang Co village. A stop at the Museum of Cham Sculpture before Hoi An and its evening lanterns.
Day 8
Hoi An
The old town of Hoi An, a UNESCO site, and its old houses along the Thu Bon river. A cao lau lunch, then a free afternoon. Optional: a lantern workshop, a boat on the river or a traditional treatment.
Days 9-10
The great city of the south and a day on the water.
Day 9
Flight to Saigon
Flight from Da Nang to Saigon. The Cholon Chinese quarter, Thien Hau temple and Binh Tay market, pho for lunch, then the centre on foot: the post office, the cathedral, the Opera House, Dong Khoi street and Ben Thanh market. In the evening, Nguyen Hue walking street.
Day 10
The Mekong Delta at Ben Tre
By boat on the river at Ben Tre: coconut workshops, arroyos and medicinal plants, then by bike to a lunch of elephant-ear fish. Back by rowing sampan through the narrow canals. Back to Saigon for the night.
Days 11-15
The Tonlé Sap, sunrise over Angkor and the great Khmer temples.
Day 11
Saigon – Siem Reap and the Tonlé Sap
Flight to Siem Reap, express visa on arrival. The village of Kampong Khleang and its houses perched on stilts, then about 1 h 30 by boat to the great lake. A picnic with a family and a walk through the village.
Day 12
Sunrise over Angkor
Before dawn, up Phnom Bakheng to watch the sun rise behind Angkor Wat, then breakfast with a family. By tuk-tuk to Preah Khan and Ta Prohm, then Angkor Thom, the Bayon and its faces, the Baphuon and the Terrace of the Elephants. Dinner with an Apsara dance show.
Day 13
Banteay Srei and Angkor Wat
Across the countryside to the temple of Banteay Samre and to Banteay Srei, the pink-sandstone 'citadel of women', with a stop at the palm-sugar makers. Lunch in a wooden house, then the afternoon at Angkor Wat.
Day 14
Siem Reap – flight home
Transfer to Siem Reap airport, flight to Saigon then fly to France.
Day 15
Arrival in France
Arrival in France during the day.
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