Today you fly to Vietnam.

Today you reach Hanoi, Vietnam’s lively capital on the Red River. You are met individually at the airport and taken to your hotel. There, your tour guide or a welcome host is on hand to help you settle in and inform you about the rest of the day. Depending on your flight time, an early check-in is recommended so that you can move straight into your room and freshen up at your leisure (optional, bookable in advance). Your start in Hanoi is deliberately flexible: if you arrive early, you can gather first impressions of everyday life in Hanoi in the morning on an orientation walk around the hotel and through a local market. Over a shared lunch at a local restaurant afterwards, you get to know the first facets of Vietnamese cuisine with the traditional pho soup. In the afternoon, the whole group meets and you discover the city’s highlights together: you stroll through the lively Old Quarter with its narrow lanes and visit Hoan Kiem Lake with the Ngoc Son Temple, among other places. This way – depending on your arrival time – you can spend your first day flexibly and start your travel experience without any idle time. In the late afternoon, you drive to West Lake. Here you enjoy a refreshing drink in a relaxed atmosphere – the ideal moment to get to know your fellow travellers and toast the journey ahead. 2 nights in Hanoi. (L) (Distance: approx. 30 km; driving time: approx. 1 hr)

2 nights · Double room · With breakfast The Lapis hotel offers an urban retreat in the heart of Hanoi! It is located in a lively district near Hoan Kiem Lake, less than 20 minutes away on foot, and is an ideal base for exploring cultural sights such as the Opera House or the university as well as the city’s culinary delights. Enjoy the variety of the restaurant’s international cuisine. The rooftop outdoor pool invites you to take a refreshing dip. If you just want to relax, treat yourself to a massage in the spa and wellness centre; if you prefer to be active, you can use the fitness centre. The Lapis impresses with its modern design. The standard rooms are stylishly furnished and have a private bath or shower/WC.

After breakfast, the morning is at your leisure. Spend the time just as you like, whether on a relaxed walk, an individual stroll through the city or some rest at the hotel. Afterwards, you explore Hanoi’s most important sights together. These include the house and the mausoleum of the famous revolutionary Ho Chi Minh, who is still very popular in Vietnam (exterior visit). Experience the unusual architecture of the One Pillar Pagoda and visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national academy. (B)

After breakfast together, you leave Hanoi and set off for the coast. Your destination is legendary Halong Bay (UNESCO World Natural Heritage). Around midday it’s “cast off” as you board a ship that glides through the spectacular limestone landscape. From the deck, you can relax and enjoy the view of the bizarre and imposing labyrinth of rocks around you and the scattered floating villages of the bay. According to legend, exactly 1,969 rocks and islands, some rising hundreds of metres out of the water, were created by a dragon, around whom countless myths still revolve today. You spend tonight on board the ship. (B/L/D) (Distance: approx. 180 km; driving time: approx. 3.5 hrs)

You wake up on board in the midst of this magical world of limestone islands and start the day with an early breakfast. Glide once more through these unique waters and enjoy the scenery around you. Before disembarking and heading back to Hanoi, you fortify yourself with a generous brunch, which serves as an early lunch today. On the way, you stop in the village of Yen Duc, known as one of the birthplaces of water puppetry. Here you attend a private performance of traditional water puppet theatre, which depicts the daily life of Vietnamese farmers: rice growing, buffalo keeping, fishing, singing and dancing to celebrate a rich harvest. After the performance, you have time for a walk to discover rural life and craftsmen’s workshops before continuing back to Hanoi. You head straight to the airport and take a short flight to Danang in central Vietnam. You are then transferred to your hotel in the picturesque coastal town of Hoi An, where you stay for the next three nights. 3 nights in Hoi An. (B/L) (Distance: approx. 215 km; driving time: approx. 4 hrs)

3 nights · Double room · With breakfast The Allegro Hoi An hotel & spa welcomes you in the heart of the old and beautiful town of Hoi An. The modern rooms all have a private bathroom with bathtub, a balcony overlooking the Old Town and air conditioning. The friendly and attentive staff are available around the clock, and free Wi-Fi is available in all areas. You can treat yourself to a traditional massage in the “Ozone” spa and relax in the sauna or steam bath. The hotel’s “Melody Fine Dining” restaurant is also very popular with locals: it serves traditional Vietnamese dishes prepared by top chefs from fresh regional ingredients. During your stay, enjoy a cool drink in the lounge or at the pool bar and take in the view of the charming town.

This morning, on a walking tour, you discover the diversity of the historic town of Hoi An (UNESCO World Cultural Heritage) and have the unique opportunity to gain an insight into the local craft of lantern making. In a lantern workshop, you learn how the colourful lanterns are made and can make your own lantern as a unique souvenir. Around midday, you take an excursion to a herb village outside the town that is known for its organic farming methods. Villages like this in the area are usually non-profit farming cooperatives whose members receive land free of charge as long as they farm it organically. Learn about the herbs native to the area, which also play an important role in medicine. Look forward to a freshly prepared lunch of local specialities, which you can help to prepare, followed by a relaxing herbal foot massage. The beach is not far from here, so you make a short detour and enjoy a refreshing coconut at a lovely beach café overlooking the sea. This is the life! Back in Hoi An, you can spend the evening entirely as you wish. For example, explore more of the Old Town when, at nightfall, countless colourful lanterns light up the narrow lanes, try the culinary delights of the local restaurants or simply relax at your charming hotel. (B/L)

Today is at your leisure to enjoy the amenities of your charming accommodation. If you don’t want a whole day of rest and relaxation, explore charming Hoi An on your own on a stroll or visit one of the many tailor shops. There you can have made-to-measure pieces of silk or high-quality cotton made for little money in no time at all. It’s not for nothing that Hoi An is also called the “tailor town”. Alternatively, you can use the hotel’s shuttle service or rent bikes to get to the white sandy beaches for a day by the sea. In the evening, when the colourful lanterns light up the streets and lanes of Hoi An, the night market in the Old Town begins. Why not pay it a visit on this free evening and stroll through the town between street artists, small stalls and food stands? Local specialities include the small dumplings filled with minced meat and shrimp known as “White Rose” – highly recommended. (B)

You leave Hoi An towards Hue and first make a short stop at the Marble Mountains on the way. Here you visit some natural grottoes in which Buddhist sanctuaries have been built over the centuries. Through picturesque landscapes, you next reach the Hai Van Pass (Cloud Pass), the natural border between northern and southern Vietnam. During an extended break at Lang Co Lagoon, you can stretch your legs on the beach and enjoy a lunch of fresh seafood before continuing to Hue. After arriving in the old imperial city, you take a short walk on Hen Island and learn more about the local residents’ way of life. To round off the day, a romantic boat trip on the Perfume River awaits you in the evening light. The name is believed to come from the blossoms that float on the river in spring – which also look very pretty. During the boat trip, enjoy the charming, hilly landscape around Hue until you reach the Thien Mu Pagoda. As one of Hue’s landmarks, the famous seven-storey pagoda stands on a small hill and is dedicated to the Heavenly Lady. 2 nights in Hue. (B/L) (Distance: approx. 165 km; driving time: approx. 3–3.5 hrs)

2 nights · Double room · With breakfast The popular Pilgrimage Village Boutique Resort is set in quiet surroundings in extensive grounds with a large pool and subtropical gardens. The resort welcomes you with its authentic Vietnamese atmosphere and offers a range of wellness treatments as well as various bars and restaurants. A fitness centre and the outdoor pool provide an active or relaxing balance after an eventful day. The resort is ideally located for visiting the sights of Hue, but also for retreating to this wonderful oasis of calm. Your room offers amenities such as a TV, minibar and seating area.

Today you take a tour of the imperial city of Hue (UNESCO World Cultural Heritage) and experience the glorious past of the Nguyen dynasty. Around 40% of all Vietnamese still bear this family name today. After breakfast, you visit the Citadel with the Imperial Palace, which was built on the model of the “Forbidden City” in Beijing. You then visit an old mandarin house built in Hue’s traditional style. During a short tea break with snacks, you meet the hosts and hear many interesting stories about the culture and life of the people of Hue. In the afternoon, you can sit back, relax and let the atmosphere of the city sink in on a cyclo ride. Finally, you have the opportunity to stroll around Dong Ba Market and marvel at the variety of goods at the small stalls. In the late afternoon, you return to the hotel and can spend the evening as you wish. (B)

In the morning, you visit the Tu Hieu Pagoda, set in a secluded forest, and the tombs of Emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh; the latter is particularly interesting because of its stylistic blend of Vietnamese and French architecture. You find a nice spot and try some local snacks that you chose at the market with your tour guide the day before. You then head to the airport and fly to Vietnam’s pulsating economic centre – Saigon! 3 nights in the centre of Saigon. (B) (Driving time from Hue to the tombs: approx. 20 min; from the centre to the airport: approx. 25 min)

3 nights · Double room · With breakfast The Grand Saigon Hotel is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most traditional hotels. Opened in 1930 during the French colonial era, it combines historic elegance with modern comfort. Its charming colonial-style architecture still shapes the character of the hotel today and gives it a special atmosphere. Its location right on the Saigon River is one of the hotel’s great advantages. Many sights and well-known places are in the immediate vicinity: the riverside promenade, the Opera House, the City Hall, the Nguyen Hue pedestrian street and numerous restaurants, cafés and shops are within easy reach. This makes the hotel ideal for discovering the lively centre of Ho Chi Minh City. The rooms of around 32 m² offer generous space for a central location in an Asian metropolis. Large windows let in plenty of daylight and, depending on orientation, offer views of the city or the Saigon River. The rooms are furnished in a classic style and have a spacious bathroom and modern amenities for a comfortable stay. A selection of local and international dishes awaits you in the hotel restaurants. The pool area, the spa and the rooftop bar, with a lovely view over the skyline of Ho Chi Minh City, offer relaxation.

In the morning, experience the modern metropolis of Saigon waking up and watch the armies of mopeds and cyclos that are everywhere in Ho Chi Minh City, as Saigon is officially called. Worshippers pray in quiet backyards, young people meet in noodle restaurants and many locals relax with walks and exercise in one of the city’s many parks. Marvel at the city’s architectural diversity as you explore it past modern skyscrapers, colonial buildings and traditional temples. Sights such as the Reunification Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the City Hall, the Opera House (all exterior visits) and the Post Office are on the programme. In between, you take a short break at one of your tour guide’s favourite cafés and try a local coffee speciality. Whether “egg coffee”, Hanoi’s speciality, the latest trendy drink “salted coffee” or the classic Vietnamese “drip coffee” with sweetened condensed milk – you are sure to broaden your coffee horizons here. You then continue to Chinatown to visit the Binh Tay market hall and the Chinese Thien Hau Temple. You also see the old St Francis Church and the “medicine street” before heading back towards the centre. On a panoramic boat trip on the Saigon River in the evening, you see the city from a different perspective. As you cruise past the skyline, you can watch the city’s mood slowly change with the setting sun. Afterwards, you visit a trendy rooftop bar. Here, high above the rooftops, you enjoy a sundowner and feel the pulsating metropolis around you and at your feet. (B)

Early today, you leave the city behind and immerse yourself in Vietnam’s unique nature, as an exciting day trip takes you into the mighty river delta of the Mekong. Also known as Vietnam’s “rice bowl”, several million tonnes of rice are produced here every year. The flat land you cross is dotted with green rice fields, and gradually you cross more and more bridges over the branches of the Mekong. In Ben Tre, a boat trip takes you into the tropical “garden” where many families live scattered across the land. By boat, you reach ever smaller arms of the Mekong and then partly switch to a xe loi, a vehicle similar to a tuk-tuk, which takes you to various local manufacturers, craft workshops and orchards. Rice paper, coconut sweets, woven mats and bricks, for example, are made here according to old traditions, and on your visits you can learn more about the local products. For lunch, you are a guest at a family-run restaurant where food is freshly cooked for you. A variety of local delicacies is served family-style, so you can try the traditional dishes of the delta’s inhabitants to your heart’s content and experience Vietnamese hospitality. You then head back to Saigon and can end the day there as you wish. (B/L) (Distance: approx. 200 km; driving time: approx. 5 hrs)

At the appropriate time, it’s time to say goodbye to Vietnam. On the way to the airport, look back on your travel experiences so far and look forward to Cambodia. You fly to Siem Reap, the gateway to the monumental temple complex of Angkor (UNESCO World Cultural Heritage). 3 nights in Siem Reap. (B) (Distance: approx. 45 km; driving time: approx. 1 hr)

3 nights · Double room · With breakfast The Aviary Hotel is an urban oasis in the heart of Siem Reap! It is just a few minutes from the lively town centre and the famous temple complex of Angkor Wat. Numerous pubs and bars and the lively night market are just 400 m away. Enjoy delicious local and international dishes in the restaurants or relax with a refreshing cocktail at the bar. The outdoor pool offers a lovely view of the greenery. Take a refreshing dip to recover from the heat of the day, or relax on the comfortable sun loungers or in the spa. If you want to be active, you can use the fitness centre. Inspired by nature and Cambodia’s rich heritage of traditional craftsmanship, the hotel is an ideal retreat after an exciting day. The rooms are stylishly furnished and have a private bath or shower/WC.

After breakfast at the hotel, you set off by tuk-tuk to discover the fascinating temples of Angkor, among the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. The vast temple complex covers more than 200 km² and includes many different temples, such as the famous Angkor Wat from the first half of the 12th century. Among other things, you visit the South Gate of the royal city of Angkor Thom and the smiling faces of the Bayon temple. More than 200 faces carved from stone, some several metres high, look out in all directions and show just one aspect of Angkor Thom’s impressive architecture. Next, the Ta Prohm temple lies seemingly untouched and overgrown with roots and trees amid the lush jungle – so breathtakingly beautiful that it has served as a backdrop for Hollywood film productions! In the afternoon, you visit the most famous Khmer temple, Angkor Wat, and marvel at this important archaeological site. Before returning to Siem Reap, you visit another temple, where you take part in a Baci ceremony and are blessed with good wishes and prayers – a spiritual and inspiring experience. After a short break at the hotel, you take a walk around Siem Reap’s night market, where you can sample the varied street food. You end the eventful day with a drink on lively Pub Street. Afterwards, your tour guide accompanies you back to the hotel – or you can spend a little more time in the city’s pubs as you please. (B)

You begin your second day in Angkor with a visit to the Roluos group of temples. These are among the earliest temples of Angkor and probably date from the late 9th century. In the afternoon, you drive further out of town along a newly paved road through the village of Preah Dak to visit the well-preserved Banteay Srei temple, whose delicate reliefs round off your impressions of this imposing site. Finally, you visit the temples of Banteay Samre and Pre Rup before letting the last evening of your journey come to a relaxed end. (B) (Distance: approx. 70 km; driving time: approx. 1.5–2 hrs)

Today it’s time to say goodbye. At the appropriate time, you transfer to the airport and fly back home. (B) (Distance: approx. 45 km; driving time: approx. 1 hr) Day 17: You land back in your home country with lots of new impressions in your luggage.