Grand Indochina Classic Group Tour

Arrive in Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, where you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in the city centre. Located close to the Old Quarter, your hotel provides a convenient base for exploring one of the city's most characterful neighbourhoods, known for its narrow streets, traditional shops and busy street food stalls.

In the late afternoon, meet your guide for a short walk to a nearby bia hoi, a traditional Vietnamese beer establishment where locals gather. It's a relaxed introduction to Hanoi's social culture and a chance to get acquainted with your surroundings. The evening is free to explore independently or enjoy dinner at one of the city's many restaurants.

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Discover Hanoi through its historic streets, neighbourhoods and everyday food culture. Begin with an electric buggy ride around Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter, passing landmarks including the Opera House and St Joseph's Cathedral before exploring Dong Xuan Market. Continue on foot along tree-lined Phan Dinh Phung Avenue, passing the Northern Gate of the former citadel and stopping for a local coffee. Enjoy a traditional Vietnamese family-style lunch before visiting the Temple of Literature, founded in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius.

In the afternoon, choose between two experiences. Explore Hanoi's narrow residential alleys, local markets and historic working-class apartment blocks, or visit the Ho Chi Minh complex to learn about Vietnam's modern history. Both options offer an interesting perspective on how the capital has developed. (B,L)

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Leave Hanoi and travel towards the coast to Halong Bay, one of Vietnam's most recognisable natural landscapes and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thousands of limestone islands and rocky outcrops rise from the water, creating a distinctive seascape shaped over millions of years. Board your cruise boat and enjoy lunch as you sail through the bay, passing towering limestone formations and sheltered waterways.

The afternoon offers opportunities to explore a quieter section of the archipelago or simply relax on deck and appreciate the scenery. As evening approaches, enjoy the changing views across the bay, with the option to attend an onboard cooking demonstration before dinner. Spend the night aboard your cruise boat in a private en-suite cabin, surrounded by the limestone islands. (B,L,D)

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Wake up to the limestone scenery of Halong Bay, with the option to join an early morning Tai Chi session on the sundeck. Continue cruising through the archipelago and visit one of its caves, where centuries of geological activity have created impressive rock formations. Enjoy brunch aboard the boat before returning to the harbour and travelling to Hanoi Airport for your flight to Hue in central Vietnam.

Hue served as Vietnam's imperial capital under the Nguyen dynasty between 1802 and 1945, and much of its historical importance remains visible in its palaces, temples and fortified citadel. On arrival, transfer to your hotel in the city centre. The remainder of the evening is free to relax or begin exploring this former royal capital independently. (B)

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Explore Hue's Imperial City, beginning with the Purple Forbidden City, once reserved for Vietnam's emperors and their households. Discover the remains of the royal complex before taking a traditional cyclo ride through the wider citadel, where historic monuments stand alongside residential neighbourhoods and everyday shops. Continue to Kim Long village, historically associated with imperial officials, and visit a family-run garden restaurant to sample Hue's traditional banh, delicate rice-based dumplings that reflect the city's distinctive culinary heritage.

In the afternoon, travel south towards Hoi An via the Hai Van Pass, a mountain road offering sweeping views of Vietnam's central coastline. The route crosses a natural boundary between the country's northern and southern climatic regions. Arrive in Hoi An, a former trading port recognised for its well-preserved historic architecture. (B,L)

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Explore the historic streets of Hoi An, a UNESCO-listed former trading port where Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese influences remain visible in its architecture. Walk past yellow-painted merchant houses, traditional shops and historic buildings before visiting the local market. Meet your cooking instructor and explore stalls selling fresh herbs, vegetables and spices used in Vietnamese cuisine.

Afterwards, board a boat and travel along the Thu Bon River to a small island farm. Here, take part in a hands-on cooking class, learning how to prepare traditional Vietnamese dishes using local ingredients. Enjoy the meal you have prepared before returning to Hoi An by boat. The remainder of the day is free to explore the old town independently, browse its shops and cafés or spend time at the nearby beach. (B,L)

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Transfer to Danang Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's largest city and commercial centre. Formerly known as Saigon, the city combines French colonial-era architecture with modern developments, busy markets and neighbourhoods that retain a strong local identity.

On arrival, travel into District 1, the city's historic centre, where you can join an optional guided walk past several important landmarks. These include the Central Post Office, the Continental Hotel, the Opera House and City Hall, buildings that reflect Saigon's development during the French colonial period. The walk concludes at your hotel, leaving the remainder of the afternoon and evening free. You might choose to explore the surrounding streets independently, where traditional eateries and contemporary cafés sit alongside some of the city's best-known buildings. (B)

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Leave Ho Chi Minh City for Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta, a vast network of rivers, canals and agricultural communities that plays an important role in Vietnam's food production. Travel by private boat through a less-visited section of the delta, observing riverside settlements and visiting a local production workshop to learn about everyday life in the region. Stop at a small island for lunch at a local guesthouse before exploring its narrow pathways by bicycle. Ride past orchards and small farms, stopping to learn about sâm jelly, a traditional local refreshment made from plants. Continue by sampan, a small traditional boat, through a stretch of mangrove waterways. This quieter part of the delta offers a closer look at the relationship between its communities, agriculture and waterways. Return to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon. (B,L)

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Explore a different side of Ho Chi Minh City, beginning in District 3 with a visit to a historic café established in 1938. Continue through busy street markets and older residential neighbourhoods, where apartment blocks dating from the 1960s offer a glimpse into the city's changing urban landscape. Walk through Ho Thi Ky, known for its flower market and Cambodian food influences, before continuing into District 10. Sample a local Khmer snack and finish your exploration along one of the city's popular street food streets, where lunch is included.

Later, transfer to the airport for your flight to Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The evening is free to relax ahead of your introduction to Cambodia. (B,L)

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Discover Cambodia's royal and cultural heritage with a guided tour of Phnom Penh. Begin at the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Cambodian monarchy, and explore its ornate buildings and the Silver Pagoda, named for its silver-tiled floor. Continue to the National Museum, home to an important collection of Khmer sculptures and artefacts, including works from the Angkorian period. Visit Wat Phnom, the hilltop temple associated with the founding of the city, before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, travel by tuk-tuk to a Khmer cooking class. Visit a local market with your chef to learn about Cambodian ingredients, herbs and seasonings before preparing traditional dishes using techniques passed down through generations. Enjoy your own creations for dinner and take home the recipes to recreate them. (B,L,D)

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Enjoy a free morning in Phnom Penh, with the option to explore independently or join an additional sightseeing excursion. For those interested in Cambodia's more recent history, an optional visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum provides an important insight into the Khmer Rouge period and its impact on the Cambodian people. The optional excursion also includes the Russian Market, known for its textiles, handicrafts and local goods.

Later, transfer to the bus station for your journey by public coach to Siem Reap, the gateway to the temples of Angkor. The overland journey provides an opportunity to see Cambodia's countryside and provincial towns along the way. On arrival in Siem Reap, meet your driver and transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the evening is free. (B)

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Spend the day exploring Angkor, the former heart of the Khmer Empire and one of Southeast Asia's most important archaeological sites. Begin at Angkor Thom, the last great capital of the empire, entering through its monumental South Gate. Visit Bayon Temple, famous for its enormous carved stone faces, alongside Baphuon and the Terraces of the Elephants and Leper King, which formed part of the royal ceremonial complex. Continue to Ta Prohm, where the roots of enormous trees grow around ancient stone walls, demonstrating how the surrounding forest has gradually reclaimed parts of the temple.

After lunch, visit Angkor Wat, originally constructed in the 12th century as a Hindu temple and later transformed into a Buddhist site. Explore its galleries, towers and intricate bas-reliefs, which illustrate religious stories and scenes from Khmer history. (B,L)

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Travel to Tonle Sap Lake, Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake, where seasonal changes in water levels have shaped the lives of surrounding communities. Visit a lakeside settlement, typically Kampong Phluk during the wet season or Chong Kneas during the dry season, to learn how residents adapt their homes and livelihoods to the changing waters. Depending on conditions, you may explore flooded forest waterways by boat.

After lunch, visit the Angkor Silk Farm near Siem Reap to discover traditional silk production, including mulberry cultivation and hand-weaving techniques. Continue to Artisans Angkor, a social enterprise supporting traditional Khmer craftsmanship through training and employment. Watch skilled artisans working with wood, stone, lacquer and silk before visiting Psar Chas, Siem Reap's Old Market, where residents shop for fresh produce, spices and everyday goods. (B,L)

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Enjoy a leisurely morning in Siem Reap, with free time to relax at your hotel or explore the town independently. Later, transfer to the airport for your onward flight to Luang Prabang in northern Laos. Located on a peninsula between the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, Luang Prabang is a UNESCO World Heritage town known for its Buddhist monasteries, traditional Lao architecture and historic buildings dating from the French colonial period. On arrival, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel.

The remainder of the day is free to settle in and explore at your own pace. You might choose to wander through the old town, where quiet streets, temples and riverside cafés provide a noticeably different atmosphere from the larger cities visited earlier in your journey. (B)

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Explore Luang Prabang by vintage tuk-tuk, beginning at the Morning Market, where local residents shop for fresh vegetables, river fish, herbs and other everyday ingredients. Continue to Wat Xieng Thong, one of the town's most significant Buddhist monasteries, recognised for its sweeping rooflines and elaborate decorative mosaics. Visit a craft centre beside the Mekong River to meet local artisans and learn about traditional Lao craftsmanship before enjoying lunch overlooking the river.

In the afternoon, explore the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, which provides an introduction to the history of the Lao monarchy. Later, climb Mount Phousi for views across Luang Prabang and the surrounding rivers at sunset. Finish with a visit to the night market, where stalls sell textiles, handicrafts and locally made products. (B,L)

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Travel by boat along the Mekong River to the Pak Ou Caves, an important Buddhist pilgrimage site containing thousands of Buddha images left by worshippers over generations. Along the way, visit Ban Xang Hai, a village known for producing traditional Lao rice alcohol. Enjoy lunch aboard the boat before returning towards Luang Prabang. Continue to Ban Phanom, a village associated with the Tai Lue community and its longstanding traditions of cotton and silk weaving.

Later, visit a local home to participate in a traditional Baci ceremony, an important Lao custom performed to mark significant occasions and welcome guests. The ceremony involves prayers and the tying of white cotton threads around participants' wrists to symbolise good wishes and wellbeing. Return to your hotel with the remainder of the evening free. (B,L)

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Travel into the countryside surrounding Luang Prabang, stopping at local villages to learn about the traditions and daily lives of the Hmong, Khmu and Lao Loum communities. Continue to Kuang Si Waterfalls, where water cascades over limestone terraces into a series of turquoise pools surrounded by tropical forest. Follow the walking paths alongside the falls, enjoy the scenery or take a swim in designated areas when conditions permit. Lunch is served near the waterfalls before returning to Luang Prabang.

The remainder of the afternoon is free to explore the town independently. Wander through its historic streets, relax at a riverside café or spend time beside the Mekong or Nam Khan rivers. It's a relaxed final full day, offering time to appreciate Luang Prabang at your own pace.

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Enjoy your final morning in Luang Prabang at leisure. Depending on your onward travel arrangements, there may be time for a final walk through the old town, a coffee beside the river or some last-minute shopping. Transfer to Luang Prabang Airport for your onward journey. (B)