From Tonkin Ethnic Markets to the Temples of Angkor — 21 Days

This day highlights the millennial heritage of the capital. We begin at the venerable Temple of Literature, founded in 1070 in honor of Confucius, whose paved courtyards and doctoral steles borne by giant stone turtles embody Vietnam's scholarly tradition. We then visit Tran Quoc Pagoda on the shores of West Lake and the Ba Dinh historical complex housing President Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum and stilt house.

The afternoon is dedicated to the outstanding Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, an indispensable introduction to the 54 ethnic groups we are about to meet in the highlands. Following dinner in town, transfer to Hanoi railway station to board the comfortable overnight sleeper train to Lao Cai.

Overnight on board the train (air-conditioned 4-berth soft-sleeper cabin).

Arrive at Lao Cai border railway station at first light. After a restorative breakfast at a local restaurant, we take the mountain road up to the karst plateaus of Bac Ha. Depending on the day of the week, we immerse ourselves in the vibrant buzz of a major weekly ethnic market (Bac Ha on Sunday, Can Cau on Saturday, or Coc Ly on Tuesday): hundreds of Flower Hmong, Tay, and Phu La villagers in shimmering hand-embroidered tunics gather to trade silks, cattle, horses, highland tea, and corn wine.

In the afternoon, visit the former colonial mansion of Hoang A Tuong before enjoying a peaceful walk through Ban Pho village, nestled in a cirque of hills and plum orchards. Dinner and check-in at our boutique hotel in Bac Ha.

Drive: approx. 2 hours (70 km). Overnight at hotel in Bac Ha.

We depart Bac Ha on a breathtaking mountain road climbing toward the majestic Hoang Lien Son range. We reach the alpine mountain town of Sapa, perched at 1,600 meters at the foot of Mount Fansipan, the roof of Indochina.

The afternoon is dedicated to a scenic hike accessible to all in the magnificent Muong Hoa Valley. We walk along terraced ridges connecting the hamlets of Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, and Ta Van, admiring amphitheaters of rice paddies sculpted into the mountain flanks over generations by Black Hmong and Red Dao farmers.

Drive: approx. 3 hours (100 km). Overnight at hotel in Sapa.

A peaceful morning to savor the crisp mountain air. We visit the traditional village of Ta Phin, renowned for its wooden houses, hemp weaving, and ancestral knowledge of Red Dao women in gathering mountain medicinal plants and preparing herbal bath remedies.

This exceptional journey blends grand panoramas with warm, authentic human encounters, offering an unforgettable bespoke travel experience close to the country's heart.

Your French-speaking guide attentively oversees each step of your itinerary, sharing insider insights and local customs to ensure a smooth, enriching, and memorable journey.

Drive: approx. 5 hours on express highway. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

We head south to Ninh Binh province, celebrated as the terrestrial Halong Bay. We first visit the ancient royal capital of Hoa Lu, where 10th-century temples dedicated to the Dinh and Le dynasties stand sheltered by soaring limestone peaks.

Next, enjoy an unforgettable traditional sampan rowboat ride in Tam Coc: gliding along the Ngo Dong River through shimmering rice fields, the boat passes beneath three spectacular natural caverns hollowed into the cliffs. A delightful bicycle ride along rural dykes to Bich Dong pagoda completes the day before returning to Hanoi.

Drive: approx. 2 hours each way (95 km). Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

We journey toward the Gulf of Tonkin to reach legendary Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage wonder. Upon arrival at the harbor, board a traditional wooden junk for an unforgettable cruise. While a delicious fresh seafood lunch is served on deck, the vessel sails between thousands of limestone karsts rising dramatically above emerald waters.

The afternoon combines a guided visit to an impressive stalactite sea cave, sea kayaking in a sheltered cove, and swimming in tranquil waters. In the evening, watch the sunset over the seascape before enjoying a refined dinner and night squid fishing on deck.

Drive: approx. 3 hours (170 km). Overnight on board the junk in private air-conditioned cabin.

First light unveils a poetic scene over the calm waters of the bay. Early risers can participate in an invigorating Tai Chi session on the upper deck facing the karst silhouettes. Following a final sampan visit to a floating fishing village, enjoy a hearty brunch on board while the junk cruises leisurely back to port.

Disembark in late morning and transfer directly to Hanoi airport for your scheduled domestic flight to Hue, the imperial capital of Vietnam's Nguyen Dynasty. Warmly welcomed upon arrival by your local French-speaking guide and check into your boutique hotel.

Transfer: 2h30; flight: 1h15. Overnight at hotel in Hue.

This day is dedicated to Hue's UNESCO-listed imperial treasures. We begin at the majestic Imperial Citadel, built in the early 19th century following feng shui principles and Vauban military architecture: Ngo Mon Gate, Supreme Harmony Palace, The Mieu ancestral temple, and the evocative ruins of the Purple Forbidden City.

We then board a traditional dragon boat for a peaceful cruise on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda with its iconic seven-tiered octagonal tower. In the afternoon, explore Emperor Tu Duc's royal mausoleum, a serene landscape of pine groves, lake pavilions, and lotus ponds, followed by an artisanal conical hat and incense-making workshop.

Overnight at hotel in Hue.

We set off for an enchanting escape into Hue's verdant countryside, renowned for aristocratic garden houses and gentle living. By bicycle or horse-drawn carriage, reach the eco-village of Thuy Bieu, tucked inside a bend of the Perfume River and famous for sweet Thanh Tra pomelo orchards.

Visit authentic carved-wood garden residences designed according to ancestral geomantic rules, take part in a convivial home cooking session preparing local Hue delicacies, and relax with an herbal foot bath. Afternoon at leisure for relaxation or exploring Hue at your own pace.

Overnight at hotel in Hue.

We travel south along the coastal road across the natural barrier separating northern and southern Vietnam. Stop at serene Lang Co Lagoon, a turquoise fishing haven, before winding up the spectacular Hai Van Pass (Pass of the Ocean Clouds). From the crest at 500 meters, panoramas sweep over the dramatic coastline and Da Nang Bay.

Continue to the UNESCO-listed port town of Hoi An. After checking in, take an initial stroll through lantern-draped pedestrian alleys lined with centuries-old mustard-yellow shophouses. At nightfall, the town glows with thousands of silk lanterns reflecting in the Thu Bon River.

Drive: approx. 3h30 (140 km). Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

In the morning, cycle along rural lanes to the organic market-gardening village of Tra Que. Observe ancestral chemical-free techniques used to cultivate aromatic herbs, mint, and cilantro that define Hoi An's renowned culinary tradition.

At dusk, the town turns into a fairytale spectacle with floating lanterns on the Thu Bon River. Savor rare artisan tea in an ancient preserved timber merchant mansion.

Throughout this memorable day, enjoy sincere cultural exchanges and contemplative moments in pristine rural settings, revealing the poetry and warmth of the Vietnamese soul.

Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

Enjoy a full day at your own pace in charming Hoi An. Relax on the fine sands of An Bang Beach by the East Sea, have bespoke garments crafted by renowned silk tailors, or book an optional excursion to the sacred Cham ruins of My Son.

At nightfall, the town turns into a fairytale spectacle with floating lanterns on the Thu Bon River. Savor rare artisan tea in an ancient preserved timber merchant mansion.

Throughout this memorable day, enjoy sincere cultural exchanges and contemplative moments in pristine rural settings, revealing the poetry and warmth of the Vietnamese soul.

Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

Morning transfer to Da Nang airport for your scheduled domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), the dynamic economic hub of southern Vietnam. Welcomed upon arrival by your local French-speaking guide and transfer to your boutique central hotel.

The afternoon explores iconic French colonial landmarks: historic Dong Khoi Street, red-brick Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Municipal Opera House, and the grand Central Post Office designed by Gustave Eiffel. Conclude with a sensory exploration of Ben Thanh Market, bustling with spices, silks, and crafts.

Flight: 1h20. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Travel south into the lush labyrinth of the Mekong Delta. In Ben Tre, known as the coconut capital, board a traditional wooden boat to cruise the wide river branches. Disembark on a shaded bank for a bicycle or motorized xe lôi ride along village paths, observing family workshops crafting coconut candy and woven reed mats.

Then board small wooden sampans rowed by hand beneath the cooling canopy of water palms along quiet canal arroyos. In late afternoon, continue to Can Tho, regional capital of the delta, and settle into your hotel by the river.

Drive: approx. 3 hours (130 km). Overnight at hotel in Can Tho.

At dawn, cruise to the spectacular Cai Rang floating market, the largest wholesale floating market in the delta. Hundreds of boats laden with pineapples, watermelons, and seasonal produce trade amidst lively calls, each vendor advertising their wares on a tall bamboo pole.

Following a fruit-tasting stop at an orchard, drive toward the border town of Chau Doc, a vibrant multicultural crossroads of Vietnamese, Cham, Khmer, and Chinese communities. Visit Ba Chua Xu temple at the foot of Sam Mountain before admiring the sunset over frontier rice paddies.

Drive: approx. 3 hours (120 km). Overnight at hotel in Chau Doc.

Early morning, board a comfortable scheduled express boat for a fantastic international cruise ascending the Mekong River into Cambodia. As riverbanks, floating villages, and distant pagodas glide past, the boat crew assists with immigration formalities at the Vinh Xuong / Kaam Samnor river border crossing.

Arrive in late morning at Phnom Penh river port. Warmly greeted by your local Cambodian French-speaking guide and transfer to your hotel. The afternoon is dedicated to the splendid Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda, paved with over 5,000 pure silver tiles and housing the Emerald Buddha.

River boat: approx. 5 hours. Overnight at hotel in Phnom Penh.

We complete our discovery of Phnom Penh with the National Museum of Fine Arts, an exquisite traditional Khmer structure housing the world's finest collection of Angkorian bronzes and stone statues, and the historic hilltop sanctuary of Wat Phnom.

We then drive northwest across the rural Cambodian plains toward Siem Reap. En route, stop in Skun, famed for its seasoned fried tarantula stalls, and cross the historic 12th-century laterite bridge of Spean Praptos from the reign of Jayavarman VII. Arrive in Siem Reap and check in.

Drive: approx. 5h30 (315 km). Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

An unforgettable day exploring the supreme monuments of the Khmer Empire. Enter the walled city of Angkor Thom through its monumental South Gate flanked by statues of gods and demons. At the heart of the city, the Bayon temple welcomes us with 54 towers carved with over 200 giant serene faces smiling with mysterious grace. We also discover the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.

In the afternoon, explore the largest religious monument in the world: the majestic Angkor Wat. We walk its vast concentric galleries adorned with bas-reliefs depicting Hindu epics, before watching its five lotus towers reflect in the moat at sunset.

Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

Early departure to experience the magical atmosphere of Ta Prohm, left largely as discovered by 19th-century explorers. Giant banyan and silk-cotton tree roots envelop moss-covered stone walls, collapsed galleries, and celestial devata carvings in a breathtaking embrace between nature and architecture.

Continue exploring the Grand and Petit Circuits: the lovely sanctuary of Banteay Kdei, the royal pool of Srah Srang, and the vast temple-monastery of Preah Khan with its labyrinthine corridors. In late afternoon, visit the fair-trade workshops of Artisans d'Angkor.

Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

Free morning for your final personal discoveries in Siem Reap: stroll through the shaded aisles of the Old Market (Psar Chaa) for Kampot peppers and handwoven silks, or relax by the hotel swimming pool.

This exceptional journey blends grand panoramas with warm, authentic human encounters, offering an unforgettable bespoke travel experience close to the country's heart.

Your French-speaking guide attentively oversees each step of your itinerary, sharing insider insights and local customs to ensure a smooth, enriching, and memorable journey.

Private transfer to Siem Reap International Airport for your return flight.