Explore the bustling ancient city of Hue. Enjoy a full day of touring in the picturesque former Imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty featuring the Citadel, part fortress and part palace. At the center stands Vietnam’s “Forbidden City,” which was reserved for royalty. Take a boat cruise along the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, a center of Buddhist activism, followed by a visit to the tomb complex of Emperor Minh Mang.

Venture out into Hue’s surrounding countryside to visit the colorful tombs of the Tu Duc and Khai Dinh emperors. Late this afternoon you fly onward to Hanoi.

Begin your exploration of Vietnam’s capital with a visit to Ba Dinh Square, site of Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum and his nearby spartan wartime residence. Continue to the unique One Pillar Pagoda, then on to the Confucian academy known as the Temple of Literature, considered Vietnam’s first university. In the afternoon, enjoy optional excursions such as a street food walking tour, a visit to Hanoi’s Fine Art Museum, the Ethnology Museum, or a traditional Vietnamese Water Puppet show.

Hop on a Vespa for a unique perspective on Hanoi’s history and culture. Whiz through narrow alleyways and across bridges, with stops in different locations to explore what the capital has to offer. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure to explore on your own.

Journey by car to Halong Bay to board your cruise and set sail into the beautiful scenery. Here, limestone “karst” formations create an archipelago of over one thousand pinnacle-shaped islands dotting the sea. Enjoy lunch, dinner, and an overnight onboard your ship.

Enjoy morning activities on the water before disembarking around midday. You will be transferred by private car to the airport for your flight to Luang Prabang, where your private guide will be waiting for you. This ancient capital of the Lane Xang Kingdom was the center of religious life in Laos, and is today a UNESCO World Heritage City.

Discover Luang Prabang, the cultural heart of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Situated at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers, Luang Prabang was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers a lovely mix of French colonial architecture and small town charm.

Begin your day with a look at Laos’ most traditional Buddhist temple, Wat Xiengthong, before boarding your motor canoe for a two hour scenic cruise along the upper Mekong River to the Pak Ou Caves, an important local pilgrimage site. Trek through the jungle to explore a local village and, if interested, a riverside rice wine distillery. Enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking the Pak Ou Caves. In the afternoon, return to Luang Prabang to visit the local weavers at Ock Pop Tok or stroll through the streets to enjoy the special historic architecture, shops and numerous cafes.

Walk with saffron-clad monks on their daily procession through the streets of Luang Prabang to collect alms. Afterward visit the Royal Palace, featuring rooms decorated in traditional Lao style. The palace houses historic relics of the ancient Lao Kingdom, including the historic “prabang” figure, a pure golden Buddha image after which the town is named. After, visit the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre to learn more about the different minorities in Laos. Free time this afternoon to explore town or climb Phousi Hill for a panoramic view of the town.

Fly to the ruined capital of the powerful Khmer kingdom. Angkor flourished from the 10th to the 15th centuries and comprises some 400 sandstone, brick and laterite temples, walls, tombs and other structures surrounded by jungle. Begin exploring this vast archeological and UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site with Angkor Thom, royal city of the 12th century god-king Jayavarman VII. Explore Bayon, with its 54 symmetrical towers topped by giant stone faces, the Terrace of the Leper King, and Phimeanakas, where the god king made a nightly rendezvous with the sex goddess!

Enjoy various options for the evening, such as exploring the Old Market, taking in a Cambodian story-telling performance of Phare, or making a visit to the workshops of the Artisans of Angkor Project, where villagers are trained to pursue their traditional crafts of stone carving, wood carving, textile weaving, and lacquer work.

Discover the jewel of Cambodia: Angkor Wat, whose temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. This 12th century masterpiece of a complex is actually a temple mountain, an elaborate three-dimensional model of the Hindu-Buddhist world. Massive in size and scale – it actually holds the Guinness World Record for largest religious structure in the world – Angkor Wat was built by King Suryavarman II during the 12th century and currently hosts several resident macaques.

The afternoon takes you to Preah Khan, the “Sacred Sword” temple dedicated by Jayavarman VII to his father, and to Neak Pean, a temple built as a sort of healing center, with pools representing water, earth, wind, and fire. Finish the day at Ta Prohm and experience the feeling of a modern day Indiana Jones as you explore this temple that is slowly being swallowed up by the jungle.

Explore the floating villages on Cambodia’s great lake, the Tonle Sap. Village life centers around the water levels of the lake, which is a lifeline for the entire area. This afternoon, explore one of Angkor’s earliest and most prized sites: Banteay Srei. This temple displays the most beautifully preserved carving remaining at Angkor in a small and out of the way location. On the return journey stop by and visit Banteay Samre and Pre Rup.

Fly to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s bustling capital city of over 2 million residents. Today, set out to explore the extensive Royal Palace grounds, including the Silver Pagoda, paved with floor tiles of solid silver. Learn about the grim history of the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot era with a visit to the Tuol Sleng Prison, used for “processing” prisoners. Afterward, wander the nearby markets or enjoy a walking tour exploring the alleys of Phnom Penh.

This afternoon, visit the National Museum with its priceless Khmer and Angkorian art treasures, and make a stop to see the confluence of the three rivers: the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Brassac.

Today you say goodbye to your local guide as you transfer to the airport for your flight home or to your next destination.