13 Day Images of Indochina Tour with Abercrombie & Kent

Day 1: Arrive Hanoi, Vietnam

Arrive in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, and transfer to your colonial-style hotel. 

Accommodation: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

 

Day 2: Hanoi – Asian Grace and Pace

Hanoi is the country’s cultural heart, bearing traces of centuries of changing dynasties. Visit Ho Chi Minh’s house, a simple structure located among banyan and milkweed trees, which served as home to the revolutionary guerilla leader who pursued independence for Vietnam at any cost. Continue to the lotusshaped One Pillar Pagoda, dating back to the first Vietnamese empire independent from China. Also visit the Quan Thanh Temple, the Temple of Literature and the National Museum of Fine Arts. Later, travel by cyclo as a local would through the Old Quarter. This evening, see a traditional Vietnamese roi nuoc (water puppetry) performance, before gathering for a welcome dinner.

Accommodation: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

Day 3: Ha Long Bay – Cua Van Fishing Village

Travel overland through the lush Vietnamese countryside to Ha Long Bay, seeing a traditional way of life en route. Board a luxury junk (boat) and sail through a verdant setting where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the water. After lunch, relax and sunbathe on deck, disembark to trek a nearby summit for panoramic views or a swim by a secluded beach. Later, visit Cua Van, the oldest fishing village in Ha Long Bay, and meet its third-generation fishermen. Spend the night at anchor, so you can witness both sunset and sunrise on this magical body of water.

Accommodation: ‘Halong Jasmine’

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

Day 4: Ha Long Bay to Danang – Art by Nature

Greet the sunrise with a tai chi lesson on deck. After breakfast, sail to a spellbinding limestone grotto. Return overland to Hanoi, and enjoy an Artisan Visit at Phu Lang Pottery Village to observe multi-generational artisans at work. Fly to Danang and ride to your beachfront resort on Son Tra Peninsula near China Beach.

Accommodation: InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

 

Day 5: Danang to Hoi An – Silk Trade

After a morning at leisure, set out to discover lovely Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that retains architectural styles of the many nations that used its port; it includes the Old House of Tan Ky, the Fujian Assembly Hall and the 400-year-old Japanese covered bridge. Visit a local home to see how silkworms are raised and how the silk is produced. Afterward, visit a lantern artist and learn how to make the silk lanterns for which Hoi An is known. 

Accommodation: InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

 

Day 6: Ho Chi Minh City – Vibrant Saigon

Fly this morning to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon. Recently experiencing a resurgence of art and culture, this lively, evocative city is a hub of activity — a sharp contrast to the traditional ambience of Hanoi. Later, visit Quan Am Pagoda and stop at Binh Tay Market for a remarkable Market Visit. Explore the surrounding neighbourhood of Cholon, the city’s Chinatown. Tonight, gather for dinner at a culinary hot spot. 

Accommodation: InterContinental Asiana Saigon

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

 

Day 7: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels

This morning, see the city’s colonial legacy, including the Central Post Office, the Cathedral of Notre Dame and the Opera House. After a lunch of flavourful local cuisine, travel out of the city and into the countryside to explore the expansive Cu Chi Tunnel network, a key Vietcong resource during the Vietnam War. You have the opportunity to shoot a war-era rifle, and squeeze into and crawl through the small tunnels once traversed by Vietcong guerrillas, experiencing for yourself life here as it once was. 

Accommodation: InterContinental Asiana Saigon

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

 

Day 8: Siem Reap, Cambodia – Ruins of Angkor Wat

Fly to charming Siem Reap, the town nearest to the ruins of Angkor Wat, and transfer to your hotel. Over the next few days, explore the region with your guide, who was born and raised in Cambodia and experienced firsthand the challenges under the Khmer Rouge and the country’s optimistic rise above them. Then set off to explore the temple and city of Angkor Wat, a breathtaking expression of Khmer architecture and Cambodia’s most prized national treasure. Visit the Bayon Temple, with its 172 large-scale faces bearing beguiling smiles, and the Elephant and Leper King Terraces. With each step, marvel at the imposing grandeur and remarkable detail of magnificent Angkor Wat. 

Accommodation: Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

 

Day 9: Angkor Wat – Temple of Treasures

Start your day with a lecture on the Angkor complex by a noted authority on Khmer history and culture. Then journey to Ta Prohm temple as it rises in the golden light of early morning, exploring it at leisure before other visitors arrive. Before lunch, discover the Angkor National Museum, which houses goldenera Khmer Kingdom artifacts. Thanks to our local expertise and your small group size, access two less-visited areas — Banteay Srei, also known as the “Citadel of Women,” and Banteay Samre, one of the most complete temple complexes of Angkor. Visit Sam’s Brothers Clean Water Project, an A&K Philanthropy project. 

Accommodation: Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

 

Day 10: Angkor Wat – Spiritual Reflection

Watch the sunrise over the main temple of Angkor Wat, an unforgettable Southeast Asia experience. Then walk amid the moss-peppered pathways or climb the steep temple steps to wide courtyards. Contemplate the temple’s spiritual power while walking its shaded hallways wafting with incense. After lunch, visit Tonle Sap Lake to observe local life unfolding along its floating villages and raise a glass on a Scenic Sundowner as you cruise its waters. 

Accommodation: Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

 

Day 11: Bangkok, Thailand – City of Life

This morning, fly to lively Bangkok, Thailand’s capital. Breeze through customs and immigration upon arrival and departure with special VIP assistance. Transfer to your luxurious hotel on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. The remainder of your day is at leisure to enjoy the amenities at your award-winning hotel. 

Accommodation: The Peninsula Bangkok

Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Day 12: Bangkok – Chao Phraya River

If you wish, rise early to give alms to monks at a little-visited temple. After breakfast, travel by boat to experience life along the Chao Phraya River. Ride Like a Local on a tuk-tuk around the sprawling Grand Palace. Explore the ancient Siamese court, home to Thailand’s most important shrine, the green-jade Emerald Buddha. Discover Wat Pho temple, with its lovely gilded Reclining Buddha and the musical sound of coins dropping into brass offering bowls. Tonight, gather for a special farewell dinner hosted by Abercrombie & Kent. 

Accommodation: The Peninsula Bangkok

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

 

Day 13: Depart Bangkok

After breakfast, transfer to the airport to depart for home.

Meals: Breakfast