Grand Tour of Indochina

Fly overnight from London (regional connections available) to Hanoi, with Vietnam Airlines. (N)

Arrive and transfer to The Ann Hotel Hanoi for a 2-night stay. Enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant this evening. (D)

Visit Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum*, One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, the Museum of Ethnology, Hoan Kiem lake and Ngoc Son temple. Lunch is at KOTO restaurant, an organisation that provides vocational training for underprivileged youths in Vietnam. In the evening there is an opportunity to see a water puppet show (payable locally). (B, L)

Today, cruise in an area similar to Halong Bay but with far fewer visitors, known as Lan Ha Bay, in the Gulf of Tonkin. Overnight accommodation on board the Indochine. (B, L, D)

Morning cruise around the karst limestone islands. Disembark in the late morning and drive to Hanoi airport for an evening flight to Danang. Transfer to the beachfront Boutique Hoi An Resort for a 3-night stay. (B)

Morning walking tour of Hoi An. Lunch at Streets International restaurant, a social enterprise initiative with the aim of developing and operating sustainable programmes for street children. Afternoon at leisure, or join an optional excursion to the ruined temples of My Son (payable locally). (B, L)

Day at leisure. Optional class at the Red Bridge cooking school (payable locally). (B)

Morning drive over the spectacular Hai Van Pass to Hue (weather permitting), stopping at Cham Museum en route. Afternoon visit to the Tombs of the Nguyen emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. Either lunch or dinner today will be at a restored royal home of the Nguyen dynasty. Stay 1 night at the Pilgrimage Village. (B, L, D)

Morning cyclo ride to the Imperial Citadel and the Purple Forbidden City, followed by a river cruise to Thien Mu pagoda. Transfer to the airport and fly to Ho Chi Minh City. Stay 3 nights at the Grand Hotel. (B)

Morning drive through the countryside to the Cu Chi tunnels. Afternoon city tour, visiting the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame cathedral and the War Remnants Museum. (B)

Drive to Cai Be, and explore the Mekong delta by boat and on foot. (B, L)

Fly to Phnom Penh and transfer to La Rose Boutique Hotel & Spa for a 2-night stay. (B)

Morning visit to the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda and the National Museum. Afternoon tour of the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide and the Choeung Ek Killing Fields. (B, L)

Fly to Siem Reap and stay at Tara Angkor Hotel for 3 nights. Afternoon visit to the Angkor National Museum. (B)

Full-day tour of the temples. In the morning visit the magnificent Angkor Wat. Return to Siem Reap for lunch. In the afternoon explore the Terrace of the Elephants, the Terrace of the Leper King and the Bayon temple. End the day at Angkor Thom with a sunset boat ride by the temple. (B, L)

Morning at leisure. Afternoon excursion to Banteay Srei temple and the small island temple of Neak Pean. Farewell dinner at Khmer House at Srah Srang within the Angkor Archaeological Park. (B, D)

Transfer to the airport and fly overnight to London via Ho Chi Minh City, arriving the following day. (B) (N)