Your exotic cultural journey begins with an overnight flight to Ho Chi Minh City (via Hong Kong), the lively commercial center of Vietnam. You’ll be met upon
arrival on Day 2 in the evening, and transferred to your Deluxe hotel.
On the morning of Day 3, you’ll tour the French-influenced city center still known as Saigon, including the Old Saigon Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the former Presidential Palace. After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll visit the Cu Chi Tunnel, a segment of the vast underground complex built by the Viet Cong.

Embark on a short flight to Danang and transfer to your resort hotel in the picturesque port town of Hoi An, located near famous China Beach. Cultural Connection: Then, visit a lantern workshop, where you’ll learn how lanterns are made, and try your hand at creating your own. Tonight, enjoy a relaxed Welcome Dinner at the hotel.
On Day 5, depart for a walking tour of Hoi An, an ancient trading port and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cultural Connection: Your tour will be led by a Hoi An Restoration Center staff member who will talk about preservation of this heritage town. Your tour showcases the 400-year-old Japanese covered bridge; the Assembly Hall of the Cantonese Chinese Congregation founded in 1786; Tan Ky House built 200 years ago; and the Central Market. The Old Town here is known for its arts and crafts. Cultural Connection: Afterwards, you’ll be a guest for lunch at a farmer’s home in a vegetable-growing village. Your evening is at leisure or join an optional “Cooking Class Tour” to learn about selecting ingredients and preparing fresh Vietnamese dishes, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

Depart for a visit to the Cham Museum in Danang, which houses masterpieces of Champa sculpture. Then, take a scenic drive along the coast, arriving at Hue in the afternoon. This ancient Imperial City of the Nguyen Emperors has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Later, you’ll embark on a dragon boat cruise along the Perfume River to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, and the Central Dong Ba Market. Cultural Connection: This evening’s special dinner is at the home of a local family.
The morning of Day 7, you’ll visit the Imperial Citadel & Palace, the oldest Imperial palace in Vietnam. After an included lunch, your afternoon is at leisure. This evening, join an optional cyclo (traditional tricycle-powered rickshaw) city tour with dinner.

Begin your day with a short flight to Hanoi, where you’ll transfer to Halong and embark an authentic Chinese “junk,” and set sail on enchanting Halong Bay. Activities this afternoon include a beach walking tour, and a fishing village boat tour. You’ll also spend the night aboard this newly built boat (simple and basic accommodations). Lunch and dinner are included on board.

Cultural Connections: Continue cruising Halong Bay this morning, where you can witness daily life on the boats, and enjoy a Tai Chi Class on board. You’ll also visit a cave before disembarking. Next, transfer to Hanoi. Cultural Connection: Visit a ceramic village en route, and try your hand at making pottery. Dinner is included at your hotel.
On Day 10, you’ll visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda, and Tran Duoc Pagoda, constructed entirely of wood. Cultural Connection: After a traditional Vietnamese lunch, visit the Temple of Literature, where you’ll enjoy an exclusive lecture on the temple’s history. The Temple of Literature is considered the first university to focus on the education and social rituals related to Confucianism. Cultural Connection: This afternoon, you’re off on a tour to the fascinating maze of Hanoi’s Old Quarter of “36 streets and 36 wares,” to experience the vibrant small markets along the streets. Cultural Connection: Your day is capped by a performance of water puppetry, a unique Vietnamese art form dating back 1,000 years.

This morning, you’ll visit Hanoi’s fascinating Ethnology Museum. After an included lunch we fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia, the gateway to the breathtaking Angkor complex. Check into your centrally located resort-style hotel.
On Day 12, you’ll explore the Angkor Wat complex — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — where Buddhist temples, towers, terraces and carvings rise from the jungle. You’ll also visit Prasat Kravan, a smaller sanctuary featuring unusual brick bas-reliefs. Enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant then delve further into the Angkor Wat complex. You’ll then visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom and Bayon, Baphoun, and Elephant Terraces. Cultural Connection: You’ll also enjoy a dinner and dance show at Angkor Village tonight.

On Day 13, depart for a boat ride on Tonle Sap Lake. Cultural Connection: Then, observe Cambodian youth learning traditional arts and crafts as you visit their school. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. Then, drive to Phnom Penh, and check in to the French Colonial-style Deluxe Raffles Hotel Le Royal.
Your morning city tour on Day 14 includes Phnom Penh’s Royal Palace, which serves as the residence of the King of Cambodia, and is marked by a high sculpted wall and golden spired Chanchhaya Pavilion. You’ll also see the Silver Pagoda National Museum, part of the same complex, and enjoy an included lunch. Cultural Connection: Later, you’ll tour Wat Phnom, the local park, then visit a local dance school, where children are taught traditional Cambodian dances. Tonight, recap highlights of your trip during a Farewell Dinner at your hotel!

The morning is at leisure. Then, transfer to the airport for your short flight to Saigon.

Very early morning transfer to the airport for return flight home. Box breakfast will be served for the early departure.

Note: If you choose the Laos optional extension, you will fly on Day 15 to Laos and after your last night in Laos you will return for your included night in
Ho Chi Minh City.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The above day-by-day itineraries are preliminary and therefore subject to change. If any major changes occur in advance of your departure, you will be notified in writing by Vantage. If changes occur while on tour, you will be notified by your Vantage Program Manager or local representative.