From Hanoi to Angkor, Indochina in Elegance — 15 Days

Dedicate the morning to the profound spiritual and cultural landmarks of Hanoi. Accompanied by your expert private guide, explore the venerable Temple of Literature (Van Mieu), Vietnam's first imperial academy founded in 1070, where paved stone courtyards and turtle-borne doctoral stelae honor scholar traditions. Continue to solemn Ba Dinh Square, viewing the elegant colonial Governor General's Palace, Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House, and the iconic One Pillar Pagoda.

In the afternoon, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology offers a captivating immersion into the cultural diversity, ornate traditional attire, and vernacular dwellings of Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. In the early evening, attend a traditional performance at the Water Puppet Theatre, an ancestral folk art born in the flooded rice paddies of the Red River Delta.

Overnight at 5-star hotel in Hanoi. Breakfast included.

Depart the capital in the morning by private vehicle towards the Gulf of Tonkin coast. Around midday, step aboard an upscale traditional wooden junk. Settle into your private ensuite air-conditioned cabin featuring a panoramic balcony, then savor a gourmet seafood lunch as the ship sails gracefully into the ethereal seascape of Halong Bay.

The afternoon balances contemplative cruising among thousands of limestone karst pillars rising from emerald waters, an excursion into a spectacular stalactite cavern, and time for swimming or kayaking in a sheltered cove. In late afternoon, join a sunset cooking demonstration on the upper deck before enjoying an exquisite dinner anchored beneath starlit skies.

Driving time: approximately 3.5 hours (180 km). Lunch, dinner, and overnight on board the junk in private cabin.

At daybreak, join a restorative tai chi session on the open sundeck, welcoming the sun as it illuminates mist-shrouded limestone peaks in absolute serenity. After morning coffee and pastries, embark on a rowing boat excursion to a traditional floating fishing village before enjoying a lavish brunch on board while the junk cruises leisurely back to port.

Following disembarkation, your private driver transfers you directly to Hanoi Airport for your scheduled domestic flight to Hue, the former imperial capital of the Nguyen emperors. Upon arrival at Phu Bai Airport, your central Vietnam private guide greets you and escorts you to your charming hotel set along the banks of the Perfume River.

Domestic flight Hanoi–Hue (approx. 1 hour 10 minutes). Overnight at luxury hotel in Hue. Brunch included.

This day is dedicated to the imperial heritage and refined culture of Hue. In the morning, cross the moats and fortified gates of the majestic Imperial Citadel with your private guide to explore the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Dien Thai Hoa), the Royal Theatre, and the restored courtyards of the Purple Forbidden City.

In the afternoon, visit the poetic Mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc, a landscaped sanctuary designed in exquisite harmony with pine groves, lakes, and wooden pavilions. Continue to the octagonal Thien Mu Pagoda (Pagoda of the Celestial Lady), perched high above the Perfume River, before enjoying an evening dinner featuring Hue's celebrated royal gastronomy.

Overnight at hotel in Hue. Breakfast and dinner included.

Depart Hue in the morning driving south in a comfortable private air-conditioned vehicle. The scenic route skirts coastal lagoons and oyster farms at Lang Co before ascending the legendary Hai Van Pass (Ocean Cloud Pass). From this historic vantage point, panoramic views stretch across the entire crescent of Da Nang Bay.

Continue southward to Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage architectural jewel. Check in to your 5-star beachfront resort or luxury heritage hotel. In the evening, enjoy free leisure time strolling along cobblestone lanes illuminated by thousands of colorful silk lanterns reflecting on the Thu Bon River.

Driving time: approximately 3 hours (140 km). Overnight at luxury resort in Hoi An. Breakfast included.

The morning begins with a private walking tour of ancient Hoi An. Your guide reveals the architectural secrets of historic merchant timber mansions (such as the Tan Ky House), the 16th-century Japanese Covered Bridge, and the ornate Fujian Assembly Hall.

Next, travel to the organic farming hamlet of Tra Que, renowned for aromatic herbs cultivated using centuries-old ecological methods. Participate in a private cooking workshop preparing local specialties before savoring your creations during a convivial lunch. Spend the afternoon at leisure relaxing poolside or enjoying the sandy beach.

Overnight at luxury resort in Hoi An. Breakfast and lunch included.

After breakfast, transfer privately to Da Nang Airport for your scheduled domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Upon arrival in the dynamic southern economic hub, your private guide and driver welcome you for an initial immersion into a city blending vibrant modern energy with French colonial charm.

Explore Saigon's grand central landmarks: the Central Post Office with its magnificent iron-vaulted ceiling engineered by Gustave Eiffel's workshops, Notre-Dame Cathedral exterior, and the City Hall. In the afternoon, venture into historic Cho Lon (Chinatown) to visit the atmospheric Thien Hau Pagoda and browse fragrant spice stalls at Binh Tay Market.

Domestic flight Da Nang–Saigon (approx. 1 hour 15 minutes). Overnight at 5-star hotel in Saigon. Breakfast included.

A delightful day excursion takes you south to Ben Tre, the lush coconut kingdom of the Mekong Delta. Board a private boat to cruise along bustling waterways, observing riverine life and traditional family workshops processing coconuts, weaving fibers, and crafting natural products.

Transfer into a small hand-rowed sampan to glide silently through quiet arroyos shaded by water coconut palms (nipa). Following a walk or bicycle ride through fruit orchards and a delicious lunch of regional specialties (including crisp fried elephant-ear fish), return by private vehicle to your 5-star hotel in Saigon in late afternoon.

Driving time: approximately 2 hours 15 minutes each way (90 km). Lunch included. Overnight at 5-star hotel in Saigon.

After a refined breakfast, transfer privately to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your direct scheduled international flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia, traveling in full comfort with a premier regional airline.

Upon arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, your private French-speaking Cambodian guide welcomes you warmly and escorts you to your exceptional 5-star luxury resort—a peaceful tropical sanctuary featuring beautiful pools and Khmer-inspired architecture. Spend the rest of the day relaxing before your upcoming temple explorations.

International flight Saigon–Siem Reap (approx. 1 hour 15 minutes). Overnight at 5-star resort in Siem Reap. Breakfast included.

Begin your archaeological explorations in the magnificent fortified royal city of Angkor Thom (the Great City), founded by King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. Pass through the monumental South Gate flanked by statues of gods and demons, then discover the astounding Bayon Temple, famous for 54 stone towers adorned with over two hundred enigmatic smiling faces.

Walk across the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King, and the former Royal Palace precinct. In the afternoon, explore legendary Ta Prohm Temple, intentionally preserved as early explorers found it: giant silk-cotton and strangler fig tree roots encircle carved stone galleries in an awe-inspiring embrace of nature and human history.

Overnight at 5-star resort in Siem Reap. Breakfast included.

Depart before dawn for an unforgettable spiritual moment: watching the sunrise behind the five lotus towers of Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world. Accompanied by your expert guide, explore this masterpiece of classical Khmer art, admiring its courtyards, libraries, and magnificent galleries of bas-reliefs depicting the Mahabharata and Ramayana epics.

In the afternoon, drive through rural Cambodian landscapes to Banteay Srei (Citadel of the Women), a 10th-century jewel carved from warm pink sandstone with extraordinary delicate reliefs of celestial devatas, considered the pinnacle of Khmer sculpture. Enjoy a contemplative sunset from the upper terraces of a surrounding temple.

Overnight at 5-star resort in Siem Reap. Breakfast included.

Drive in the morning to the shores of Tonle Sap, Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake and an official UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Board a private wooden boat to explore the lakeside stilt village of Kompong Phluk, where wooden homes stand on six-meter stilts to adapt to dramatic seasonal floodwaters.

Returning to Siem Reap in the afternoon, visit the master workshops of Artisans d'Angkor, a renowned social initiative reviving ancestral Khmer arts including stone and wood carving, lacquerware, and silk weaving. In the evening, you may choose to enjoy a gourmet Khmer dinner accompanied by a classical Apsara dance performance.

Overnight at 5-star resort in Siem Reap. Breakfast included.

Enjoy a leisurely morning in the lush tropical gardens of your resort in Siem Reap, relaxing by the pool or browsing fine Khmer handicrafts, silk scarves, and spices at the Old Market (Phsar Chas). Your room is at your disposal until noon.

This exceptional journey blends the discovery of majestic landscapes with warm and authentic human connections, crafting an unforgettable tailor-made travel experience close to the country's soul.

Your French-speaking guide attentively watches over every detail of your itinerary, sharing insider insights and cultural heritage to ensure a harmonious, seamless, and memorable stay. Transfer privately to Siem Reap International Airport for your departure flight.

Land in the morning at your destination airport. You carry home enduring memories of Tonkin's limestone bays, Vietnam's imperial capitals, and the sacred millennia-old monuments of Angkor.

This exceptional journey blends the discovery of majestic landscapes with warm and authentic human connections, crafting an unforgettable tailor-made travel experience close to the country's soul.

Your French-speaking guide attentively watches over every detail of your itinerary, sharing insider insights and cultural heritage to ensure a harmonious, seamless, and memorable stay.