• Stay in Hanoi, Vietnam's beautiful capital and enjoy a tour by cycle rickshaw, seeing the Temple of Literature, colonial belle-époque villas and Ho Chi Minh's thought-provoking mausoleum
• Take a leisurely cruise in UNESCO-listed Halong Bay aboard a converted Chinese junk
• Be inspired by the hauntingly beautiful and inspirational countryside with shimmering rice fields
• Stay in Hue, Vietnam's last royal capital, and visit its awe-inspiring Citadel and Forbidden City
• Stay in the heart of exciting Saigon, visiting the fascinating Cu Chi tunnels, the former Vietcong underground stronghold and a poignant reminder of the US-Vietnam conflict
• Enjoy a full-day trip on the mighty Mekong delta, the world's 10th-largest river system
• Stay and tour in Phnom Penh, Pearl of Asia, considered the most beautiful of Indochina's French colonial cities
• Stay in Siem Reap, the gateway to the Angkor city ruins

• 13 nights' accommodation
• Breakfast and 5 lunches
• All flights and transfers
  All taxes
• Included tours and excursions
• Services of a dedicated Riviera tour manager

Day 1- Departure

You should arrive at Heathrow airport to take your overnight direct flight to Hanoi on Vietnam Airlines.

Day 2 - Arrive in Hanoi

After our morning arrival, we transfer to the five–star Melia Hotel, for three nights on bed and breakfast. This is a fabulous hotel with three restaurants, lovely pool, fitness centre and all the facilities you would expect from a major international property. We have a wonderful introduction to Hanoi on our trip into the city’s old town by cycle rickshaws with time for some lunch before returning to our hotel. 

Day 3 - Hanoi

Today we explore Hanoi, past and present. The French created this gorgeous colonial city of tree lined avenues, belle epoque villas, grand public buildings and an Opera house, all built around more than a dozen enchanting lakes. This graceful scene blends beautifully with its old quarter, a tangle of narrow streets, the commercial heart of the city for hundreds of years and now full of tiny shops, pagodas and the ever-present populace astride their bicycles and mopeds.

Day 4 - Halong Bay Cruise

Today we visit Vietnam’s greatest natural wonder, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Halong Bay. Leaving Hanoi, we enter a timeless landscape of rice paddies, following the Red River delta to the emerald seas of the Gulf of Tonkin. Just offshore, some 3,000 limestone islands and outcrops rise almost vertically from the sea, forming one of the most extraordinary and spectacular bays in the world.

Day 5 - Hue

Today we fly south to Danang and then drive over the stunning scenery of the Hai Van Pass before descending to Hue, Vietnam’s last royal capital and its traditional centre of religion, culture and education. It’s one of the country’s most beautiful small towns, bisected by the serene Perfume River and dominated by its immense Citadel. 

Day 6 - Hue Imperial City

This morning we start with a leisurely river cruise to the magnificent seven-storied Thien Mu pagoda, a working Buddhist shrine, affording beautiful views towards the mountains on the border with Laos. We then visit the incredible complex of the Citadel and within it, the Imperial City. We see the Palace of Supreme Harmony, which contained the emperor’s throne and was the site of the most important official ceremonies and functions.

Day 7 - Saigon

Today we fly to Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as the locals still insist on calling it. Brash and boisterous, it has real zest for life. Built virtually from scratch by the French, on a bend of the wide Saigon River, we stay three nights on bed and breakfast at the excellent, five-star Equatorial Hotel. Saigon is Vietnam’s culinary capital offering a very wide variety of excellent dining experiences.

Day 8 - Cu Chi Tunnels

This will be a day to remember! We visit the famous Cu Chi tunnels, a complex underground network stretching for 200 kilometres, which included hospitals, meeting rooms, sleeping quarters and kitchens. Begun during the last years of French rule and vastly expanded during the 1960’s, the tunnels provided a base for the Vietcong from which to attack US forces within just 30 miles of Saigon. Our visit here is a fascinating insight into these times: we see the tunnels themselves and examples of the many mantraps and stake pits which protected them.

Day 9 - Mekong River Delta

Today we drive out of Saigon towards the great Mekong River delta. The first stop is at one of the many islands where we walk through a typical village and try out several different types of tropical fruit that are grown in the area. Travelling in small boats we continue our exploration through the narrow canals by visiting the aptly named Coconut Island, where locals specialise in producing rice paper, coconut cakes and other local delicacies. 

Day 10 - Fly to Phnom Penh

Our last morning in Vietnam and we have just enough time for a morning walk round Saigon centre, a coffee and a delicious pastry in one of the many cafés before taking the short flight to Phnom Penh and our hotel, the centrally-located four-star Palace Gate Hotel for two nights on bed and breakfast.

Day 11 - Phnom Penh

Today we’ll visit the majestic Royal Palace with its silver pagoda and the fascinating National Museum. After lunch in a local restaurant, we visit the Tuol Sleng Museum – originally a school, turned into the country’s most notorious prison by the Khmer Rouge, it now charts the terrible suffering during their occupation of the city.

Day 12 - Fly to Siem Reap

We leave for the airport and our short flight to Siem Reap, staying three nights at the five-star Angkor Palace Resort and Spa (2018 departures) or four-star superior Borei Angkor Resort & Spa (2019 departures) with breakfast.

Day 13 - Angkor

Today we see the haunting soft morning light rise over the eerie temples of Angkor. Surrounded by jungle, shrouded in mist with a tropical dawn chorus reverberating in the air, this is something you will never forget! We visit the huge fortified 13th century city of Angkor Thom, with its five monumental gates, and 300-foot wide moat - its centre containing one of Angkor's most remarkable sites, the temple of Bayon. 

Day 14 - Siem Reap Free Day

Today we have left free for you to return to the many monuments of Angkor, explore Siem Reap or relax around the attractive pool at the hotel. Alternatively, you could take an interesting tour to the nearby lake of Tonle Sap to visit a floating village (subject to season and water levels) or try your culinary skills by taking an optional half day cooking class.

Day 15 - Return Flight

At the appropriate time you will be taken to the airport for your return flight via Saigon (change of aircraft) connecting to our homeward direct flight to Heathrow.

Day 16 - Arrive Home

We arrive back in the UK in the morning after a truly unforgettable tour.

Please note, prices listed are guide prices only and are based on 2 people sharing and don't include any additional supplements. Holiday prices are fluid and dynamic and may be changed at a moment's notice, prior to booking, at which point they are confirmed. Please call the team free on 0800 707 6229 for more departure dates available and a quote.