Itinerary

We meet in Saigon (1 night) and go exploring by bike-powered rickshaw. Just outside the city, we visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, the underground refuge for thousands of Viet Cong during the war. Tonight, dinner is at La Camargue, the city’s finest French restaurant. Southern Vietnam is a lush, classic landscape, carpeted with rice fields and brightly dressed workers in conical straw hats. From Cai Lay, a small town on the Mekong River, we take a long-tail boat to the start of an ultra-leisurely bike ride into the heart of the Mekong Delta. We see no tourists on narrow country roads that curve past fruit gardens and sleepy villages.

An evening flight takes us to Danang (2 nights) where our resort sits on pristine China Beach. From here, we visit Hoi An for a glimpse of a Vietnam that exists almost nowhere else with Chinese, Japanese and European architecture and a riverfront where boats brim with people and wares. In the afternoon, our guide leads us along footpaths to Hoa Chau, a village in the endless rice fields, for a special insight into the everyday life.

In Hue, a local friend joins us to show off the Imperial City, an amazing complex of museums, lakes and gardens. Midday, a vice president of the Hué Monuments Preservation Center hosts us for a traditional lunch and a chance to meet descendants of King Khai Dinh. An afternoon flight takes us to Hanoi (2 nights). In the countryside, we walk from a pagoda through bamboo groves to a small village where we visit a local school to interact with the children and their teacher. Back in Hanoi, we’ll stroll in the lovely French Quarter before dinner at the Press Club, a true local institution.

Halong Bay (1 night) is considered Vietnam’s eighth wonder of the world, and it’s easy to see why. Three thousand chalk and limestone islands sweep like a dragon’s tail across the emerald green bay. From our luxury junk boat, we see local fishermen glide by, selling their catch. We’ll cruise to a traditional floating village. On deck, you can join in a cooking demonstration and discover the tasty secrets of spring rolls.

Next day, a late afternoon flight leads Luang Prabang (2 nights) in Laos. From our glamorous colonial-style hotel, we venture into the town’s night market, known for fine ethnic handicrafts. Early risers will witness a moving ritual as lines of barefoot monks walk silently along the streets on their morning alms rounds. Then we visit a 2,000-acre elephant sanctuary in the unspoiled Nam Khan River valley. Spend the afternoon walking along scenic riverside farms and taking a narrow boat back to Luang Prabang, or take our vehicle back to the hotel to relax poolside or even take advantage of the excellent optional spa treatments.

For the week’s grand finale week, we fly to Siem Reap (1 night) in Cambodia for a stay at the Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, one of Indochina’s finest properties. You’ll meet our good friend Roath, one of the country’s first and most experienced guides. Sleep in if you like, but it’s worth rising before the sun to see Angkor Wat at daybreak. After breakfast, we all return for an in-depth walking tour of the world’s largest temple. Later, you’ll have time to explore more on your own. We’ll also take in the monastic complex of Preah Khan (The Sacred Sword). Late afternoon, you catch your flight to Bangkok.

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