Experience Overview
Mythical palaces, colorful markets, and fantastical caves dripping in stalactites—Southeast Asia is a dream for adults and kids alike. On this trip, explore the jungle-shrouded ruins of Angkor, delight in a fascinating water puppet show, somersault with Cambodian circus performers, and more. Brimming with history and adventure, Southeast Asia will dazzle your mind and enthrall the imagination.
Highlights
- Hop on a bicycle taxi for an action-packed tour of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Float aboard a bamboo rattan boat in Tam Coc. Visit a tailor to get fitted for a shirt made especially for you in Hoi An. Cook up oodles of noodles at a G Adventures-supported training kitchen. Explore the awe-inspiring ruins of Angkor. Show off your acrobatic skills with a Cambodian circus.
Trip Details
Product Code: 1685
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: Private bus, boat, cyclo, plane, walking
Guide Language: English
Supplier Code: AVHNF
Starts: Hanoi, Vietnam
Finishes: Siem Reap, Cambodia
Duration: 13 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical rating: Light
Includes
Activities
- Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Oodles of Noodles Local Market Excursion, Hoi An Your G for Good Moment: Oodles of Noodles, Hoi An Your G for Good Moment: New Hope Vocational Training Restaurant, Siem Reap Your Family Journeys Moment: Hoi An Custom Shirt Tailoring, Hoi An Your Family Journeys Moment: Phare Circus Workshop, Siem Reap
- Arrival transfer
- Cyclo tour of Hanoi's Old Quarter
- Water puppet Show
- Temple visit in Hoa Lu
- Bamboo boat trip on Ngo Dong River
- Countryside bicycle tour in Tam Coc
- Hands-on cooking experience in Tam Coc
- Pottery village visit in Bat Trang
- Guided tour of the city and countryside of Hue
- Walking tour of Hoi An Old Town
- Hoi An Countryside cycle and basket boat float
- Cyclo tour of Ho Chi Minh City
- Guided tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels
- Guided tour of Angkor Wat
- Internal flights
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hotels (12 nts)
- 12 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners
Transport
- Private bus, boat, cyclo, plane, walking
Group Leader
- 2 CEOs (Chief Experience Officers) throughout, local guides
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD 3349 (CAD 258 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi
Welcome to Hanoi–your arrival transfer to the hotel is included. Check in and get excited to meet your fellow travelers during a welcome meeting this evening where all families can bond before the Journey ahead.
Day 2: Hanoi
Explore Hanoi's vibrant old quarter on a traditional cyclo—a three-wheel bicycle taxi! Cruise past shops selling everything from wooden handicrafts to fresh fruit juice and traditional candy, and capture the neighborhood's lively vibe on camera. Then hop off to watch a delightful water puppet show—a centuries-old storytelling technique that recounts popular Vietnamese legends and folktales.
Day 3: Hanoi/Hoa Lu/Tam Coc/Ninh Binh
Head south to the ancient Vietnamese capital of Hoa Lu, and get immersed in a fertile landscape of emerald rice fields and towering karst mountains. Step foot in the surviving temples of the Dinh and Le dynasties while learning about the feudal history of the country. After lunch in Tam Coc, set sail on a traditional sampan, or bamboo boat, down the Ngo Dong River. Float through verdant jungle and drift past impressive stalactites in a trio of spectacular caves. Continue to Ninh Binh for an evening at leisure.
Day 4: Ninh Binh
Return to Tam Coc and explore the surrounding countryside by bicycle. Witness local life as you pedal past farms, venture through serene Thung Nang (aka Sunshine Valley), and marvel at the intricate Buddhist pagodas of Bich Dong cave. Head to a local restaurant for a hands-on experience learning to make Vietnamese sweet potato chips. Later, enjoy a free evening at the hotel to relax in the pool or spa, or explore the streets of Ninh Binh on your own.
Day 5: Bat Trang/Hue
This morning, take in the scenery en route to Bat Trang, a centuries-old ceramics village where you can try your hand at making pottery under the guidance of a local craftsman. Then transfer to the airport and catch a flight to Hue, situated on the banks of the picturesque Perfume River. Despite being badly damaged during the Vietnam War, this former capital city retains much of its imperial splendor. Spend the evening at your hotel, or walk along the river for a glimpse of some of the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage sites we'll dive into the following day.
Day 6: Huế/Hoi An
Today, we venture into Hue's grand citadel, guarded by a deep moat and imposing stone walls. Wander opulent palaces and ornate gardens, and hear dramatic stories of former royal inhabitants from your guide. Then venture to the Forbidden Purple City—modeled after Beijing's Forbidden City—a fortified complex where the ruling emperor once lived. This city-within-a-city even has its own moat! Later, head to the countryside, dotted with rice paddies and pagodas. Have lunch at a Buddhist nunnery, then drive to Hoi An via the spectacular Hai Van Pass, winding across the hilly coast of the South China Sea.
Hue is a peaceful central city that has a fascinating history, beginning with its ancient Cham origins, to becoming the capital of Vietnam until 1945, and the site of one of the bloodiest and longest battles of the Vietnam War in 1968. Today Hue is regarded as the cultural and spiritual capital of the country and has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site.
Day 7: Hoi An
Discover the enchanting port town of Hoi An, which thrived between the 15th and 19th centuries. Delve into the city's World Heritage–listed old town, strolling streets strung with paper lanterns and navigating a maze of temples and tailor shops. Visit one of the town tailors to get measured for a custom-made shirt; then travel to a nearby factory to see how your piece of clothing is produced!
Declared a World Heritage site, the architecture of Hoi An is being beautifully restored and preserved. It's also a shopping mecca, with much to browse over and buy. Choose from original paintings, handcrafted woodwork, ceramics, embroidery, lanterns and more. Hoi An has also become famous for its tailoring - there is a huge variety of fabrics to choose from.
Day 8: Hoi An
Return to the old town for a fun-filled noodle tour! The tour is led by guides from the G Adventures–supported Oodles of Noodles program, which trains local youth in the culinary arts. Taste your way through different kinds of noodles at a food market; pick out your favorite fresh ingredients; and take your haul to the Oodles of Noodles training kitchen, where we'll cook up a delectable storm. Later, set out on a leisurely bike ride through the Hoi An countryside, then float down to a nearby farming village in a traditional basket boat.
Day 9: Hoi An/Ho Chi Minh City
Transfer to the airport and fly to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's most populous city and economic hub. Get to know this buzzing metropolis—still commonly referred to as Saigon—on a cyclo tour. Cruise past French colonial buildings and stately monuments; then launch into a frenetic market, where the calls of vendors, the smells of street food, and the fascinating assortment of wares dazzles the senses.
Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is a city of bright neon lights, endless shopping and trendy cafes. Its wide tree-lined boulevards reflect its French heritage, and towering skyscrapers announce it has landed squarely in the 21st Century. As a contrast to this modern backdrop is the chaotic traffic of swarming motorbikes which are generally overloaded or carrying multiple passengers. This is people watching at its best.
Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City
Today, we descend into the fascinating Cu Chi Tunnels, a vast network of underground passageways built and used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. The tunnels connected the residents with subterranean schools and hospitals, and included booby traps smeared with poisonous concoctions to injure enemy soldiers. Try the local cassava root, which sustained Viet Cong soldiers for years, and emerge from the bunkers to enjoy a traditional lunch by the river.
Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City/Siem Reap
Catch a flight to Siem Reap in Cambodia, gateway to the magnificent ruins of Angkor. This evening, we enjoy a delicious Khmer meal at the New Hope Cambodia vocational training restaurant, an initiative spearheaded by G Adventures. The restaurant provides hospitality training to unemployed young adults, and also funds a free community school and a health program.
Day 12: Siem Reap
Who's ready for a jungle adventure? This morning, we'll explore the ancient Angkor temple complex, nestled deep within the Cambodian jungle. Discover hidden passageways and crumbling courtyards where the forest is rapidly reclaiming its territory. Later, brush up your acrobatic skills at a workshop with Phare, a Cambodian circus and social enterprise that employs underprivileged youth. Tumble and somersault to your heart's content; then watch and photograph one of Phare's amazing performances. Celebrate your unforgettable journey at a farewell dinner tonight.
Day 13: Siem Reap
Depart at any time.
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Melissa - Traveled, August 2024
Brilliant tour, very full on itinerary but Minea made our tour amazing from start to finish. Would travel with G adventures again. Great amount of optional activities offered.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/23/2024
Rob - Traveled, July 2024
Great tour and Great tour leader! Love your work Pim. Nothing was too hard for her and the communication was excellent. Loved Laos and Northern Thailand! If I had one thing to say it would have been to spend a few extra days in Northern Thailand! Thanks G-Adventures for a great experience!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/23/2024
Shona - Traveled, May 2024
An excellent itinerary giving good cultural insight, food experience & history lesson. Adequate time was given in each city to have guided tours, explore on our own or choose optional add-ons.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/31/2024
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