20 Days - Classic Escorted Tours
Visit the major sights of Vietnam and Cambodia, the very essence of Indochina, experiencing their captivating blend of French colonial history, unique local culture and beautiful rural scenery. Overwhelming image retained by visitors to Vietnam is that of a country blessed with an extraordinary beauty. It’s a mosaic of mist-shrouded mountains, vibrant green forests, a patch-work of rice paddies and pristine white beaches, whilst its villages and cities are custodians of the culture and monuments of a unique 2,000 year old civilisation.
A journey through some of the delightful countryside is like stepping back in time: farmers bent double underneath their traditional conical hats work in fields stretching into the distance, whilst docile water buffalo methodically plough the rice paddies. On the roads there are bicycles being ridden to market, over-loaded with everything from huge sacks of rice to an imponderable number of ducks! Lining the riverbanks are wooden houses, balancing precariously on stilts and thatched with palm leaves.
Vietnam has a long and chequered past: for 2,000 years it was ruled by the Chinese, the Khmers, Mongols, Portuguese and the Japanese. They all left their legacies in the temples and Pagodas, together with palaces, fortresses and innumerable other buildings in every style imaginable. It was then colonised by the French, whose contribution was cathedrals, fine mansions, neo-classical public buildings, not forgetting excellent baguettes and pastries – an eclectic mix! Many visitors also inevitably recall the US-Vietnam war – who could forget those dramatic images of the frantic helicopter flights from the roof of the US embassy?
In the past few years Vietnam has opened its doors to the world and much has changed. Today, in one of the world’s last communist countries, the motorcycles and western dress of the industrious youth happily co-exist with orange-clad Buddhist monks and political posters from a different era. Visitors are invariably impressed by the development of excellent hotels and services in all the major centres and the much-improved road network. Hanoi and Saigon still retain a French flavour in their pavement cafés, architecture and wide tree-lined boulevards. In Hue, the former imperial capital, we see the amazing Citadel and its imperial Forbidden City, modelled on Beijing. Contorted by years of erosion, we’ll also explore the staggeringly beautiful rock formations of Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
But Vietnam is more than just history and scenery. It also boasts a world-class gastronomic heritage: a delicious fusion of Malay, Chinese and Thai cuisines. With plenty of French-run restaurants thrown in for good measure, all at excellent prices, you really are in for a treat! The Vietnamese themselves are a wonderfully friendly people, always smiling, courteous and proud to show off their beautiful country to all.
Our tour in Cambodia includes a stay in the capital, Phnom Penh. Beautifully located at the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers, Phnom Penh, with its vibrant riverside ambience, is one of the ‘hidden gems’ of Asian cities. After being virtually completely depopulated during Pol Pot’s regime, the city is now full of life and thriving once more. A short flight away is the town of Siem Reap, the gateway to the incredible complex of temples within the ancient city of Angkor. At its height in the thirteenth century, Angkor had a staggering one million inhabitants, larger in area than Manhattan. It was the capital of the fabulously wealthy Khmer Empire that stretched from Thailand, through Laos and Cambodia to southern Vietnam. The incredible state of preservation, the beauty of its design and artistry of its sculptures have, for many, made Angkor one of the great wonders of the world.
Vietnam and Cambodia are countries in flux, but bicycles and mopeds still outnumber cars by 100 to 1, so now is the time to visit these most fascinating and colourful destinations, whilst so much of their unique character and traditions are still in evidence!
Highlights
- Happy by day two or we'll bring you home with a full refund
- 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
- Visit the Angkor ruins, a UNESCO-listed temple complex and one of the world’s greatest ancient sites
- Stay in the beautiful colonial city of Luang Prabang, Laos for four nights
- Stay in hand-picked five-star and four-star accommodation, including all local taxes, with daily breakfast and six meals 
Inclusions
- The price of this holiday is per person, based on two people sharing a twin room with sole occupancy rooms available at the relevant supplement. Price includes:
- Seventeen nights’ accommodation in four and five-star hotels
- Daily breakfast and six lunches, afternoon tea included
- All flights as mentioned
- All touring as mentioned
- All transfers
- All local accommodation taxes
- Airport/flight taxes
- Hotel porterage of one item of luggage per person
- The services of a Riviera Travel tour manager
- Included excursions on this Vietnam tour are: Halong Bay cruise, guided tours of Hanoi, Hue, Saigon, Cu Chi tunnels, Mekong Delta, Phnom Penh and Luang Prabang, plus one-day entrance and guided tour of Angkor
- Visas not included.
- Please note that the luggage allowance for internal flights is limited to one bag per person weighing no more than 20kg.
1
You should arrive at Heathrow airport to take your overnight direct flight to Hanoi on Vietnam Airlines.
2
After our morning arrival, we check in to our hotel before 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. The rest of the day is at leisure. (B)
3
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.
During our guided tour we also see the beautiful Temple of Literature dedicated to Confucius and Vietnam’s first university, and the imposing marble mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh himself, embalmed and eerily on display. This afternoon is free for you to explore this beautiful city as you wish. You could even visit a traditional water puppet show (book and pay local)- a real spectacle where, as the name suggests, with the aid of fireworks and music, folk stories are played out by skilful puppeteers.
4
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.
As we board our converted Chinese junk and glide along the jade-green waters it’s not hard to imagine how the myths of their creation began: a dragon is said to have plunged into the sea and its thrashing tail sculpted the craggy islands. We visit some of the vast and beautifully illuminated caves and grottoes before having lunch on board. We return to Hanoi late afternoon.
5
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. This houses the ancient capital, encircled by an amazing 6 miles of high, 65 foot-thick walls and a moat. Tonight we stay for two nights on bed and breakfast basis at the excellent five-star Imperial Hotel Hue.
6
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. Everything is painted in the royal colours of red and gold and the whole building is a stunning example of the magnificent lifestyle enjoyed by the Vietnamese royal family.
In the afternoon we visit Emperor Tu Duc’s mausoleum. More interested in poetry than running the country, Tu Duc’s lifestyle suggests he had plenty of free time - he had 104 wives, 50-course meals and tea made from the dewdrops of lotus blossoms! It took 3,000 workers three years to build his amazing mausoleum, which includes a large lake, pavilions and a theatre. Lunch is included today and the evening is at leisure.
7
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, from top class restaurants in swish luxury hotels to French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and Indian options, plus everything in between.
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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. Despite being carpet-bombed, the tunnels were never really penetrated and should you wish, you may even try out real period weapons on a firing range.
We continue through rural farming communities back to Saigon. In the afternoon our city tour covers all the major sights including the colonial-style central post office, the cathedral and the Reunification Palace where famously in 1975, a tank burst through its gates in the final defining moment of the Vietnam War. We also see the War Remnants Museum and the lively Ben Thanh market a fascinating insight into Saigon daily life, you can find anything here, all at extremely good prices!
9
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. Dappled sunlight filters through the wide leaves of the mangroves as we arrive at a typical local restaurant for lunch. We return to Saigon in the afternoon.
10
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.
11
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. Finally there’s time for a stop at one of the local markets before we return to our hotel for the evening.
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Today we journey through the heart of rural Cambodia stopping at Kompong Thom for an included lunch en route to Siem Reap. (B, L)
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Today we visit one of the largest religious structure in the world, Angkor Wat. We see the haunting soft morning light rise over the eerie temples of Angkor. At its height in the thirteenth century, Angkor had a staggering one million inhabitants. The incredible state of preservation, the beauty of its design and sculptures have, for many, made Angkor one of the great wonders of the world.
We visit the fortified 13th century city of Angkor Thom, with its five monumental gates, and 300-foot wide moat - its centre containing the temple of Bayon. We’ll also visit the smaller temple of Ta Prohm which has been left unrestored, with giant tropical trees bursting through the ruins, their roots clinging like tentacles. (B, L)
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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 - book and pay local) or try your culinary skills by taking an optional half day cooking class (book and pay local.)
15
Later this afternoon we transfer to the airport for a short (1 hr 30) flight to Luang Prabang.
16
The whole of Luang Prabang is a UNESCO-protected area, containing a wonderful fusion of beautiful French colonial buildings and traditional Lao houses. After breakfast our walking tour explores this amazing ancient small town, with its quaint Royal Palace.
We meander through quiet back lanes to the historic Huan Chuan Heritage House famed for architectural charms while learning about the connection it has with the Royal Palace. Our walk continues up the peninsula to the enchanting Wat Xiengthong, an outstanding Buddhist temple featuring a spectacular mosaic of the tree of life, ornately carved walls and a magnificent funeral carriage. After an included lunch in the heart of the old town, we get an insight into the rich and diverse ethnic, cultural blend of Laos visiting the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre.
Our afternoon is completed visiting a couple of textile and weaving villages. In late afternoon there is the option to climb Mount Phousi, featuring a great view of the Mekong River and Luang Prabang itself. As dusk falls the main street in Luang Prabang is closed to vehicles and the fascinating night market takes over, filled with bustling stalls selling delicious stree food and colour handicraft. (B, L)
17
This morning we take a private boat ride upriver on the Mekong through lovely scenery to the Pak Ou caves. Set in a limestone cliff and filled with thousands of Buddha statues, this cave complex is one of the holiest sites in Lao with a history dating back thousands of years.
Lunch will be served on the boat as we make our way back to Luang Prabang for mid afternoon, making a stop at the unique Wat Done Khoun Temple, located on its own island in the Mekong River. (B, L).
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This morning before breakfast you can witness and even partake if you wish, in the early morning ritual of ‘Tak Bat’, or offering alms to the monks, a tradition providing some wonderful photo opportunities. You’ll also visit the market to see the locals shop for superb fresh produce.
Not far from town is the picturesque Kuang Si waterfall, where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the many turquoise pools and walk along the woodland trails. Just adjacent is the Bear Rescue Centre whose worthy mission is protecting and rehabilitating the rare Asiatic black bear.
We arrive back in Luang Prabang by lunchtime, with the rest of the day is at leisure. An included afternoon tea is available for you to enjoy at your hotel.
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Transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK via Hanoi (B)
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We arrive back in the UK early morning after a truly unforgettable tour.