Highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia

Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi

Touch down in Hanoi, Vietnam’s storied capital, where rich history meets the pulse of modern Asia. A private transfer will take you to the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, an iconic hotel famed for its French colonial charm, original 1901 architecture, and impeccable butler service. Take time to unwind in your historic wing room, or enjoy a signature Metropole cocktail in the Bamboo Bar.

In the evening, a welcome dinner awaits at Home Hanoi, a refined villa-restaurant blending antique interiors with innovative Vietnamese cuisine. Afterward, take a twilight stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake, where locals dance, meditate, and gather in harmony – a beautiful first glance into Vietnamese culture on your first day.

Day 2: Explore the Cultural Heart of Hanoi

Your local guide will take you deep into Hanoi’s layered past today. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and his traditional stilt house, followed by the Temple of Literature, a sanctuary of Confucian scholarship. Pause for an artisanal egg coffee at a hidden café, then hop aboard a cyclo for a journey through the Old Quarter’s maze of tailors, food vendors, and colonial façades.

Return to the Sofitel Legend Metropole, where history lives in the corridors and secret wartime bunkers. Later, attend a private water puppet show – an art form unique to northern Vietnam – followed by sundowners at the Metropole’s rooftop bar overlooking the glowing cityscape.

Day 3: Cruise Through Halong Bay

Leave the city behind as you head to Halong Bay for an overnight cruise through emerald waters and limestone karsts. Step aboard the Paradise Elegance Cruise, a sleek, boutique vessel offering panoramic decks, refined Vietnamese cuisine, and suites with private balconies. As you sail, enjoy a seafood lunch on the terrace before kayaking through hidden lagoons and sunbathing on the sundeck.

In the evening, sip cocktails as the sun sets behind the bay’s otherworldly formations. Dinner is a multicourse feast under the stars, followed by optional squid fishing or stargazing from your balcony.

Day 4: Travel to Hoi An via Da Nang

Wake with the sun for a tai chi session on deck and breakfast with ocean views. After disembarkation, transfer back to Hanoi for your short flight south to Da Nang. From there, a private vehicle will whisk you to Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An – a sanctuary of sleek beachfront villas, infinity pools, and lantern-lit pathways.

After check-in, sink into a poolside lounger or schedule a massage at the Heart of the Earth Spa, where treatments are inspired by Vietnamese healing traditions. Dine at the resort’s beachside restaurant as the sun melts into the East Sea.

Day 5: Hoi An’s Heritage and Hands-On Cooking

Begin with a private walking tour of Hoi An Ancient Town, where preserved 15th-century buildings tell tales of Japanese, Chinese, and French influence. Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, ancient merchant homes, and local artisan studios. Later, cycle or ride a tuk-tuk through verdant rice paddies to an organic farm. Here, join a charismatic local chef for a hands-on cooking class followed by a shared meal on a shaded terrace.

Return to the Four Seasons The Nam Hai, where the soft glow of lanterns illuminates your private villa – the perfect place to reflect on a rich, sensory day.

Day 6: Leisure or Cham Islands Private Charter

Today is yours to define. Lounge by the infinity pool, indulge in a sound bowl healing session, or take an optional private boat charter to the Cham Islands. Snorkel vibrant reefs, picnic on a secluded beach, and immerse in island life with a guide who knows the best secret spots. Alternatively, remain at The Nam Hai, where your villa’s garden shower and private terrace invite peace and quiet. This is harmonious luxury – where curated indulgence and restorative wellness meet.

Day 7: Fly to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

This morning, fly to Ho Chi Minh City. Your private driver will transfer you to The Reverie Saigon, an opulent city-centre hotel where Italian design meets Vietnamese flair. Check into a Grand Deluxe room with sweeping skyline views before stepping out to explore the Notre-Dame Cathedral, Saigon Central Post Office, and the French-style Opera House. Stop for a locally roasted coffee at The Workshop café, then return to your hotel for an evening at leisure. Enjoy cocktails at the Reverie Lounge, or dine at Café Cardinal, one of the city’s finest French-Vietnamese fusion restaurants.

Day 8: The Mekong Delta

Embark on a private full-day tour to the Mekong Delta, Vietnam’s lush agricultural heartland. Cruise by sampan through floating markets and coconut groves, visit local workshops making rice paper and coconut candy, and dine al fresco on a chef-prepared lunch beside a lotus pond. Along the way, your guide shares personal stories about river life, culture, and resilience.

Return to The Reverie Saigon in time to relax in the spa’s vitality pool or explore the hotel’s private art gallery. Optional fine dining this evening could include a rooftop table at Quince Saigon or cocktails at The Deck – the choice is yours.

Day 9: Siem Reap, Cambodia Awaits

Fly to Siem Reap, where Cambodia’s ancient world awaits. On arrival, your private transfer brings you to Zannier Hotels Phum Baitang, a refined eco-luxury resort that evokes a traditional Khmer village with stilted wooden villas and rice paddies. Enjoy a foot ritual or full-body massage at the award-winning Spa Temple, followed by sunset drinks at the cigar lounge. Dinner tonight is a candlelit affair, with Khmer delicacies served by lantern-light and a gentle breeze rustling the palms.

Day 10: Angkor Wat at Sunrise & Hidden Temples

Rise early for a private sunrise tour of Angkor Wat, Cambodia’s national treasure and spiritual heart. Witness the sun cast its golden glow on ancient towers, then explore lesser-known temples like Ta Prohm, where banyan trees claw through stone, and Bayon Temple, home to 216 serene faces. Your guide—a local historian—shares stories of kings, myths, and gods. Pause for a champagne picnic in the jungle, then return to Phum Baitang for an afternoon by the pool. Dinner can be arranged in your villa or at the resort’s rustic rice barn restaurant.

Day 11: Culture & Connection in the Cambodian Countryside

Today you will venture into the countryside to visit a village supported by responsible tourism initiatives. Learn how rice noodles are made by hand, join in planting herbs or weaving baskets, and engage with locals in meaningful ways. This is not about observation, but about connection. Return to Siem Reap to browse boutiques and galleries, or unwind with a Khmer herbal steam bath at Phum Baitang. Tonight, attend a private Apsara dance performance, followed by a farewell dinner beneath the stars—a tribute to Cambodia’s living heritage.

Day 12: Departure from Siem Reap

Your journey comes to a close today. After breakfast, enjoy a final walk through the resort’s gardens or one last spa indulgence before your private transfer to the airport.