Vietnam & Angkor Wat
ScrollIf you come to Vietnam for the delicious food, dramatic landscapes and bustling markets, you will stay for the people whose complex history and rich heritage continue to seduce even the most seasoned travellers. Be humbled by the recounting of war-time stories with French colonial buildings as a backdrop in Ho Chi Minh City. Embrace the sense of awe that takes over while waking up to the dragon-like island formations dotting Ha Long Bay. Get up close and personal with locals while discovering true foodie culture, spanning from humble broths to rich curries. The sprawling temples of Angkor will leave you speechless, as Cambodia’s ancient traditions contrast with modern culture.
Departure dates
2023 February 9 - February 27
Sold out! Departing Soon
Sold out! Departing Soon
2023 October 12 - October 30
2023 October 26 - November 13
19 days
All-inclusive
$7,495CAD
Per person in double occupancy
Single supplement: $1,000
Total PERKS value: $2,684
Our approach perks
Private car service to and from your home airport
International flights and transportation while abroad
Meals and excursions that are typically sold separately
Tips for all service providers
24/7 Group Guru (in addition to tour guide and local guides)
$5 million of emergency medical travel insurance coverage, as well as protection for lost, damaged or stolen luggage
This tour also includes
Tour essentials
International flights with Cathay Pacific and 3 regional flights (details)
15 nights in first class hotels and 1 night on a traditional boat
Dedicated English-speaking tour guide and local guides
Carefully selected visits, with entrance fees
Luxury coach bus transfers and luggage porterage throughout
Sanitation protocols certified by Safe Travels
Food & drink
All 48 meals, including: 16 breakfasts, 16 lunches and 16 dinners
Farewell dinner with Apsara dancers (included in meal count)
Vietnamese cooking class (included in meal count)
Welcome cocktail
Bottled water daily (2 x 500ml)
This tour’s itinerary
Overview
Detailed View
DAYS 1 & 2 GOODBYE CANADA, XIN CHÀO HANOI!
Enjoy a private car ride to the airport. Travellers departing from the
Toronto airport are assisted with their check-in. Meet your dedicated
Group Guru and fellow travellers and fly to Hanoi. It’s a long way
to Hanoi – but don’t worry, in-flight entertainment (and Group Guru
entertainment) helps time fly by! Upon arrival in the evening, our luxury
coach will be ready to bring you to your hotel. Settle in, enjoy a nice
shower and join us for a welcome cocktail and light snack. A restful
night of sleep awaits! (D)
DAY 3 R&R & HANOI, VIETNAM
Enjoy a leisurely start and lunch at your hotel. In the afternoon, you will
stretch your legs with a walking tour of the peaceful Hoan Kiem Lake, the
Temple of the Jade Mountain, as well as the Temple of Literature, which
housed Vietnam’s first national university. Enjoy a traditional water puppet
show in the evening. Overnight in Hanoi. (B,L,D)
DAY 4 EXPLORING HANOI
Explore Hanoi’s many landmarks, such as the West Lake and its 1,500-year-old Buddhist temple, the Trân Quôc Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh mausoleum
and stilt house, One Pillar Pagoda, President Palace and St. Joseph’s
Cathedral. Visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology before returning to the
hotel. Overnight in Hanoi (B,L,D)
DAY 5 NINH BINH & HIDDEN LANDSCAPES DAY TRIP (192 KM)
Bring your camera, you’re in for an amazing day trip! Visit the
ancient capital of Hoa Lu where you will discover Ninh Binh, also
referred to as “Ha Long Bay on land”. It features a network of waterways
punctuated by spectacular limestone formations rising from
rice paddy fields. You will also visit the temples of Kings Dinh and
Le before setting off on a row boat for an unforgettable ride through
the spectacular landscapes hidden throughout the Van Long Reserve.
Overnight in Hanoi. (B,L,D)
DAY 6 1ST DAY OF HA LONG BAY CRUISE & OVERNIGHT IN A TRADITIONAL BOAT (160 KM)
Take in the lush scenery and rich farmland of the Red River Delta on your
way to Ha Long Bay. Once there, board a traditional boat (colloquially
referred to as a “Junk Boat”, but there is nothing “junky” about it!) and sail
the tranquil emerald waters to discover an enchanting landscape with nearly
3,000 islands, islets and karst reefs full of caves. You will also explore the
Sung Sot Cave, one of the most beautiful caves in the bay. After watching
a splendid sunset over Ha Long, you will set anchor for the night aboard
the traditional boat. (B,L,D)
DAY 7 2ND DAY OF HA LONG BAY CRUISE & RETURN TO HANOI (160 KM)
Rise and shine to a morning stretching session with a Tai Chi class directly
on the boat. Join your new friends on a guided rowboat tour to explore
the picturesque Luon Cave, surrounded by lush trees and high stone walls.
Return to Hanoi for an overnight stay. (B,L,D)
DAY 8 FAREWELL HANOI, HELLO HUÊ (FLIGHT)
Morning pedicab ride to explore Hanoi’s old neighborhoods, each
specialized in a particular craft (such as textiles, shoes and confectionery).
After our mid-day flight to Huê, you will visit Emperor Tu Duc’s
mausoleum, considered one of the most beautiful and grandiose works
of architecture of the Nguyen Dynasty. End the afternoon with a stop
at a village where locals weave Vietnam’s iconic conical reed hats.
Overnight in Huê. (B,L,D)
DAY 9 PERFUME RIVER, DONG BA MARKET & TRADITIONAL MUSIC
Begin your day by exploring the Imperial City, home to the country’s last
royal dynasty. You will discover many of the Nguyen Dynasty’s historical
monuments, such as the Flag Tower, Noon Gate, and the Forbidden
Purple City. Take in an afternoon float on the Perfume River to reach the
oldest pagoda in the city, the Pagoda of the Celestial Lady. Stroll through
the Dong Ba market where a vast selection of Huê specialties are sold.
End the day with traditional songs while cruising on the Perfume River.
Overnight in Huê. (B,L,D)
DAY 10 OCEAN CLOUD PASS & EXPLORING HÔI AN (140 KM)
Enjoy magnificent villages and coastal views while driving through the
Ocean Cloud Pass on your way to Hôi An. Once in Hôi An, stretch your
legs during a guided walking tour and explore the historic town that was
once a prosperous seaport in the 16th to 18th century. Thanks to its rich
heritage, more than 844 historical buildings have been certified as a
UNESCO world heritage site. You will visit former merchants’ houses, the
400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colourful market. Overnight
stay in Hôi An. (B,L,D)
DAY 11 TRADITIONAL VIETNAMESE VILLAGE, GARDENING & COOKING LESSON
We’ll make our way to the village of Tra Que, then enjoy a short bike ride
to a village farm, where you will learn about the history of the village, the
cultivation of certain local vegetables and their use in traditional Vietnamese
medicine. Get your hands dirty with local villagers as they prepare their
land for cultivating, followed by a private cooking lesson with a local chef
renowned for their traditional spring rolls (don’t forget to wash your hands in
between!). In the afternoon, opt for free time or join us for an exciting optional
excursion (at no additional cost). Return to Hôi An for an overnight stay. (B,L,D)
DAY 12 FLIGHT TO HO CHI MINH CITY & EXPLORATION (FLIGHT)
Ease into the day with a late morning flight from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh
City, where you will discover the vibrant and effervescent city known as Saigon
prior to 1975. Enjoy an afternoon excursion to Cho Lon (Chinatown) where
you will visit the Thiên Hâu Pagoda, the lively Bình Tây market, and a typical
lacquer factory. End the afternoon with a tour of the Notre Dame Cathedral,
the Old Post Office as well as the Reunification Palace (previously known as
the Norodom Palace). Return to Ho Chi Minh City for an overnight stay. (B,L,D)
DAY 13 CU CHI TUNNEL SYSTEM, WAR MUSEUM & TRADITIONAL MUSIC CRUISE (72 KM)
History buffs will be treated today. Enjoy a unique guided excursion in the
Cu Chi tunnels system, an impressive network of narrow tunnels and cavities
developed during the Vietnam War. See secret trapdoors, underground
kitchens, living areas and meeting rooms. Feeling adventurous? You can
even explore the deeper second, and even third level tunnels! For those
preferring to remain above ground, there is ample opportunity to view
excavated areas from above. Return to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon
for a guided tour of the War Museum that chronicles the historical events
leading up to, during and following the Vietnam War. In the evening,
dinner cruise with traditional music. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. (B,L,D)
DAY 14 TEMPLES, FLOATING MARKET & LOCAL DELICACIES (214 KM)
Take the scenic route to My Tho, with a stop to visit the colourful Cao Đài
Temple as well as the Vinh Tràng Pagoda, the largest pagoda in the
Mekong Delta. Cruise on the Mekong Delta where you will get a glimpse
of the peaceful way of living of the local community. Visit a floating market,
with many small boats filled with fruits, vegetables and fresh fish. Stop on
a nearby island to visit a local honey bee farm and taste traditional teas
made with their honey. Once on the island of Ben Tre, satisfy your sweet
tooth with a visit to a coconut candy factory. The highlight of your day will
be the horse-drawn carriage ride through a local village. Return to Ho Chi
Minh City for the night. (B,L,D)
DAY 15 GOODBYE VIETNAM, HELLO CAMBODIA (FLIGHT)
Ease into the day with free time in the morning to enjoy your last few hours
in Vietnam at your own pace or join our Group Guru for a visit to the local
markets before catching your afternoon flight to Siem Reap (translated as
Defeat of Siam), the historic capital of the Khmer Empire. Settle in at the
hotel and meet our Cambodian guide. Overnight in Siem Reap. (B,L,D)
DAY 16 EXPLORE ANGKOR THOM
Your day will be fully dedicated to discovering Siem Reap – a city rife
with colonial and Chinese architecture, where artisan shops, sericultural
(silk) farms and rice paddies coexist. Make your way to Angkor Thom,
where you will explore the ruins of the great royal city built in the 12th
century by the Buddhist king of the Khmer Empire. In that location, you will
visit fascinating areas such the Bayon Temple, the Baphuon Temple, the
Terrace of the Elephants as well as the Terrace of the Leper King. Your tour
will end with a visit to the Neak Pean and Ta Prohm temples. Overnight
in Siem Reap. (B,L,D)
DAY 17 ANGKOR WAT
Morning visit of the famous temple of Angkor Wat, an impressive example
of the classical style of 12th- century Khmer architecture. Your guided tour
will then take you to the Banteay Srei Temple, a magnificent 10th-century
Hindu sanctuary carved in pink sandstone and located in the heart of
a forest. Enjoy some free time to explore the Siem Reap Market and
to pick up any last-minute souvenirs from your Cambodian adventure.
As our awesome experience together is nearing its end, we will host a
farewell dinner in the evening, complete with Apsara dancers. Overnight
in Siem Reap. (B,L,D)
DAYS 18 & 19 HOME SWEET HOME
Your final morning excursion will take you to the Tonle Sap Lake, a vast
fresh water reservoir lake where you will visit an impressive floating village
and meet the locals who live there. Still in awe, we will make our way
to the airport for our return flights to Canada, arriving the next day. Your
driver will meet you at the airport to help you with your luggage and drive
you home. (B,L)
Hotels we know and love in Vietnam
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