Warm Family and Warm Vietnam Holiday with Siem Reap – Angkor Wat – 13days

This morning, we'll enjoy a Cyclo ride through the Old Quarter, where the original layout of Hanoi is preserved before it expanded into the city we see today.

Our tour will include stops at Tran Quoc Pagoda, the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu), or Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and Museum. The Mausoleum, where the remains of Ho Chi Minh, the founding father of unified Vietnam, are kept, is closed from October to November.

In the evening, we’ll attend a performance at the renowned Water Puppet Theatre. Vietnamese cuisine is among the most delightful in the world, and our guide can recommend a restaurant for dinner.

As the sun rises, embark on a journey through Hanoi's early morning streets en route to Halong Bay. Watch as steam billows from roadside food stalls preparing breakfast, and motorbikes navigate the steadily growing traffic. Leaving the city's hustle behind, you'll pass through the captivating countryside on the way to the dock, where your Halong Bay adventure begins. Board a traditional junk boat, crafted with exquisite woodwork and manned by a welcoming crew, and set sail into the bay's emerald waters. The open sea soon gives way as the boat glides through misty waters, passing limestone pillars that rise dramatically from the water. Enjoy a sumptuous lunch while taking in the breathtaking scenery of what is often called the Eighth Wonder of the World. Spend the afternoon relaxing on deck, swimming, or kayaking to explore nearby grottos and caves. After sunset, savor another delicious meal before enjoying the starry night sky, perhaps trying your hand at night fishing, and falling asleep to the gentle lapping of waves against the boat.

Spend the morning discovering the hidden gems of the bay—whether by taking a refreshing swim in the cool, green waters or exploring by kayak. Around midday, the junk boat will return to the dock, and you'll begin your journey back to Hanoi, where this unforgettable adventure will come to an end upon your arrival in the vibrant city.

This morning, we'll check out of our hotel in Hanoi and catch a flight to Hue. Upon arrival, we'll transfer to our hotel.

Hue, once the imperial capital of Vietnam, is rich in history. We'll explore the Citadel, which houses the Forbidden Purple City, inspired by Beijing's Forbidden City. Although heavily damaged during the Tet Offensive in 1968, extensive restoration work has been undertaken. A fantastic way to experience Hue is by taking a trip into the surrounding countryside, either by car or, even better, by motorbike.

On the morning of Day 6, we'll embark on a scenic drive to Hoi An, passing by the beautiful Lang Co Beach and crossing the Hai Van Pass.

Hoi An, a charming port town once known as Faifo, was a significant trading hub with strong connections and influences from southern China. We'll explore this town, which is like a living museum, with visits to the Museum of History and Culture, the Tan Ky House, the Japanese Bridge, and the Fujian Assembly Hall. We'll also enjoy lunch at a riverside restaurant, where you can sample some local delicacies. Hoi An is a shopper's paradise, famous for its tailors who can craft nearly anything overnight, from clothing to silk lanterns, lacquerware, and other crafts. For those who love the sun, Cua Dai Beach is just 4 km from town. Additionally, you can choose to support a Planeterra project by spending an hour learning how to make your own traditional lantern, which helps support local Vietnamese with chronic disabilities.

This morning, take part in an engaging cooking class. You'll start with a visit to Hoi An's lively riverside market, bustling with activity, before spending the morning with a chef who will guide you in preparing traditional Vietnamese dishes. The highlight, of course, is savoring your creations afterward.

Alternatively, you can choose to spend your free time with the kids on one of Vietnam's finest beaches.

This morning, we bid farewell to Vietnam and take a short flight across the border to Siem Reap, Cambodia. After clearing customs and immigration, we'll meet our local guide and drive a short distance into town, where we'll check in and refresh ourselves before beginning our afternoon adventure.

We'll start with a 15-minute ride in a private remork (tuk-tuk) to the South Gate, where you'll walk along the ancient city wall with your guide, pausing for photos of the impressive demons that line the causeway. Spend about an hour exploring the lost temple of Prasat Chrung before continuing to the 12th-century Bayon Temple, which is surrounded by 51 stone towers, each adorned with four serene faces of a smiling bodhisattva.

Next, your knowledgeable guide will lead you to the Terrace of the Elephants, the Royal Palace, and the Terrace of the Leper King, where you'll have up to two hours to explore. Listen to captivating stories about the Khmer kings who once ruled this ancient city.

After your private tour, enjoy your evening at your leisure. If you're in the mood to be social, take a dip in the outdoor pool, which hosts a happy hour. Alternatively, relax in your air-conditioned room and enjoy dinner and drinks ordered from the room service menu.

Rise early and leave your hotel about 30 minutes before sunrise, taking a remork to the jungle-shrouded temple of Ta Prohm. This UNESCO-listed site is one of the most visited in Angkor, with its monuments left largely as they were found in the 19th century.

Afterward, return to your hotel for breakfast before heading out to explore the world-renowned Angkor Wat, another UNESCO World Heritage site and the best-preserved temple in the Angkor Archaeological Park. Your private tour of this stunning 12th-century structure will last a few hours, allowing you to discover numerous stone temples that have survived, while the wooden palaces, public buildings, and houses that once surrounded them have long since disappeared.

Following lunch at a local restaurant in the afternoon, you'll drive to Banteay Srei, a 10th-century temple located 19 miles (32 km) from Siem Reap. This small UNESCO-listed temple, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, is known as the ‘Citadel of Women’ due to its intricate sandstone carvings, which are considered a masterpiece of Angkor art.

After your 1.5-hour private tour, take some time to explore independently and enjoy your lunch. As you head back to Siem Reap, you might even catch the sunset descending behind the prongs of Pre Rup.

After breakfast, enjoy a 30-minute morning ride by remork to the outskirts of Siem Reap, where you’ll take a 15-minute ox-cart ride through the peaceful countryside. From there, continue your journey in an air-conditioned vehicle to Cambodia’s largest freshwater lake, Tonle Sap. This UNESCO Biosphere Reserve feeds the Mekong River during the dry season and expands dramatically during the monsoon months.

At the riverbank, board a local boat for a 30-minute ride to Kompong Phluk, the largest floating village on the lake, where you’ll spend the rest of the morning. Here, you'll witness the captivating daily life of Cambodian villagers living along the shore, gaining insight into how the rhythms of the water influence their way of life.

After lunch at a local restaurant, the remainder of your day is free for you to spend as you wish.

A brief flight brings us to Ho Chi Minh City, a bustling metropolis that was once the capital of South Vietnam and remains the nation’s economic hub.

We'll embark on a short Cyclo tour, passing by some of the city’s key landmarks and stopping to enjoy traditional Vietnamese cuisine. You’ll have the opportunity to visit the Thien Hau and Giac Vien pagodas and wander through the vast Ben Thanh Market. If you prefer, continue your exploration with a visit to the Reunification Palace, which served as the residence for the presidents of South Vietnam before 1975. Alternatively, escape the city's hustle and bustle by heading to the Saigon Water Park.

Travel south of Saigon to experience a change of scenery in the Mekong Delta. Here, the vast Mekong River branches into countless small islands and inlets before flowing into the South China Sea.

A boat journey through the region’s small villages reveals a unique aspect of Vietnamese life. You'll be amazed at how the locals depend on the Mekong for virtually everything!

Depart Ho Chi Minh City at any time on day 13