Vietnam & Cambodia

City tour discovering Hanoi — a subtle blend of colonial architecture and modernity that gives the city a charming provincial feel. You'll see from the outside the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Dinh Square. A short walk through the park containing Ho Chi Minh's House and Office, the former Palace of the Governor-General of Indochina, and the One-Pillar Pagoda.

Continuing through the political district, visit the Quan Thanh Taoist Temple and the Tran Quoc Pagoda (Defense of the Country, 6th century).

Visit the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu), founded in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong to honor scholars and writers. Dedicated to Confucius, it is a rare and well-preserved example of traditional Vietnamese architecture.

Cyclo (rickshaw) ride through the narrow alleys of Hanoi. Evening water puppet show.

Included: vehicle, French-speaking guide, entrance fees, lunch, 5-star hotel.

Drive to Mai Chau, passing the capital of the White Thai ethnic group. The road crosses a plateau famous for its orange and sugarcane plantations along the Black River.

Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, walk among the Thai villages to admire the rice plantations.

Overnight in Mai Chau.

• 45 min walking — hiking shoes recommended
• Vehicle: 4 hours

Included: vehicle, French-speaking guide, ticketing, lunch, Retreat / Ecolodge hotel.

Drive to Halong on Land (Ninh Binh / Tam Coc) — 3h30 drive.

Bike ride through the villages of inland Halong Bay. Visit the Thai Vi Temple, dedicated to the Tran kings and generals, and the Jade Pagoda, where the film Indochine was shot.

Late afternoon: rowing boat ride to admire the landscapes of limestone karst peaks. Local lunch.

Overnight at the hotel in inland Halong Bay. Included: vehicle, French-speaking guide, entrance fees, breakfast, lunch, 5-star hotel.

Departure for Halong Bay — a UNESCO World Heritage site — crossing the rice fields of the Red River. Arrival in Halong around noon, welcomed by the crew at the pier. Board a 24-hour cruise aboard a junk to discover one of the world's most spectacular bays.

Around 1:00 PM, a welcome drink will be offered, followed by the crew's introduction and safety briefing. Then seafood lunch on board as your junk sails deeper into the bay, amid extraordinary karst landscapes.

In the afternoon, visit Luon Cave by rowing boat. Weather permitting, you can swim at Ti-Top Island. At the end of the afternoon, return to the boat and free time as the cruise continues toward the night's anchorage point.

Demonstration of traditional Vietnamese cooking on the upper deck. Dinner on board. Various evening activities (fishing, dancing…) depending on the weather.

Overnight aboard the junk.

• Boarding around 12:30 PM
• Vehicle: 3h30 drive

Included: vehicle, French-speaking guide, entrance fees, lunch, dinner, traditional junk.

We recommend waking at dawn to enjoy the calm and magical atmosphere of Halong Bay — if the weather is good, you'll be rewarded with a magnificent sunrise. Tai Chi initiation before breakfast on board.

The cruise continues to explore Halong Bay's most beautiful and peaceful corners. Visit Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave), one of the most stunning natural caves in the bay. Brunch on board as the junk heads back to the pier.

Disembark and drive to Hanoi. Flight to Hue. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Included: vehicle, French-speaking guide, entrance fees, lunch, 5-star hotel.

Morning sampan boat ride on the Perfume River with a visit to Thien Mu Pagoda. The Perfume River runs through Hue and owes its name to the spring fragrance released by fruit tree blossoms along its banks. Boarding takes place at the foot of Thien Mu Pagoda, where medicinal herbs were once cultivated.

Visit the Pagoda of the Celestial Lady and the Minh Mang Mausoleum.

Visit the Imperial Citadel: the Noon Gate, the Palace of Supreme Harmony, the Temple of the Nguyen Emperors, the Royal Theater, and more.

Visit traditional craft workshops: conical hat making and incense stick production.

Overnight in Hue. Included: vehicle, French-speaking guide, entrance fees, breakfast, lunch, 5-star hotel.

Drive to Hoi An crossing the famous Hai Van Pass (Cloud Pass) — the border between the country's two climate zones.

Afternoon: Walking tour of the charming old town of Hoi An (formerly Faifo), long inhabited by the Cham and Vietnamese peoples and frequented by merchants from around the world:

• Phuc Thanh Pagoda — the oldest in Hoi An (1454)
• The Japanese Bridge — a covered bridge built in 1593 connecting the city's two districts, with a small pagoda topped with yellow and green tiles in the middle
• Fujian Chinese Clan Temple — built in 1792, dedicated to Thien Hau, the protector goddess of fishermen and sailors

In late afternoon, a small boat excursion on the Thu Bon River is the perfect way to enjoy the day's most beautiful moment. Arriving at the fishing village of Cua Dai Beach, board a boat to sail to the mouth of the Thu Bon River. At this time of day, you'll capture beautiful images of hundreds of fishing boats heading out for the night's catch.

You'll have the chance to meet local fishermen and try fishing or even rowing a traditional round basket boat. After returning to the main boat, enjoy a fabulous sunset over the Thu Bon River. Dinner on your own.

Overnight in Hoi An. Included: vehicle, French-speaking guide, entrance fees, breakfast, lunch, 5-star hotel

Drive toward Ba Na: visit the Golden Bridge (Cau Vang) — opened in June 2018 and located in the forest above the Ba Na hills outside Da Nang. The bridge draws visitors thanks to its striking structure, held aloft by two giant hands.

Transfer to the airport in Hoi An. Dinner on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Included: French-speaking guide, entrance fees, breakfast, lunch, 5-star hotel.

Departure from Da Nang for the Da Nang – Saigon flight (1h15).

After lunch, city tour: Central Post Office, Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral, City Hall, Chinatown, and the Temple of the Celestial Lady.

Dinner cruise on the Saigon River to admire the city — the economic heart of the country.

Overnight at the hotel. Included: vehicle, French-speaking guide, entrance fees, breakfast, lunch, 5-star hotel.

Drive to Cai Be. Visit the Cao Dai Temple before arriving at the pier to board a boat to discover daily life in the Mekong Delta: caramel candy making, rice paper, puffed rice…

After lunch, sampan ride through the creeks, then continuation by boat to Vinh Long and drive to Can Tho.

Overnight in Can Tho. Included: vehicle, French-speaking guide, entrance fees, boats, rowing boat, breakfast, lunch, 4-star hotel.

Early start to visit the Cai Rang Floating Market by boat — one of the most impressive sites in Can Tho, recognized as intangible national cultural heritage.

Drive toward Chau Doc, the Vietnam–Cambodia border city. Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit a crocodile farm. Continuation to Chau Doc. Dinner on your own.

Overnight in Chau Doc. Included: vehicle, French-speaking guide, entrance fees, boat, lunch, hotel.

Transfer to the pier for the speedboat (hydrofoil) from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh — picnic lunch on board.

Arrival in Phnom Penh by boat. Welcome by the local guide. Local lunch.

Visit the Silver and Gold Pagoda (Royal Palace's Silver Pagoda). Dinner on your own.

Overnight at the hotel in Phnom Penh. Included: minibus, hydrofoil boat, breakfast, lunch, 5-star hotel.

Morning: Visit of the Killing Fields to understand the Khmer Rouge era in Cambodia. Lunch at a local restaurant.

Drive to Siem Reap. Dinner on your own.

Overnight in Siem Reap. Included: vehicle, French-speaking guide, entrance fees, breakfast, lunch, 5-star hotel.

Morning: Visit of Angkor Wat.

Afternoon: Visit of Angkor Thom: the South Gate, the temples of Prasat Baksei Chamkrong, the Bayon, the Baphuon, Phimeanakas, the Terrace of the Elephants, and the Terrace of the Leper King.

Overnight in Siem Reap. Included: vehicle, French-speaking guide, entrance fees, breakfast, lunch, 5-star hotel.

In the morning, drive to Tonle Sap Lake — called "the Sea Lake" by Cambodians, with a surface area ranging from 2,700 to 16,000 km² depending on the season.

Boat ride through the floating villages. Free time until transfer to the airport for the return flight.

Included: vehicle, French-speaking guide, boats, lunch.