Days 1 and 2 - Depart U.S. for Hanoi, Vietnam

Depart on an overnight flight to Hanoi and arrive the following evening. Transfer to your hotel near Hanoi’s Old Quarter.  

Day 3 - Hanoi

Delve into Vietnam’s intriguing capital city, discovering historic monuments and French colonial architecture amid the lively bustle of modern life. Learn the legends of Hoan Kiem Lake and admire the traditional Vietnamese architecture of the Temple of Literature, founded in 1070 and still an active place of worship for students and scholars today.  Step into Hoa Lo Prison, known as “Hanoi Hilton” during the Vietnam War, then take a walk in the Old Quarter, where merchants sell goods of all sorts amid historic houses and temples. Enjoy a festive welcome dinner in one of the excellent restaurants of the Old Quarter. (B,D)

Day 4 - Hanoi and Ha Long Bay

Depart early on a full-day excursion to mystical Ha Long Bay, a waterway set in a dramatic karst landscape of towering limestone formations, expansive grottos, and some 2,000 islands. Explore this World Heritage site by boat, learning about the ancient cultures that existed here as you discover hidden islands and caves. Enjoy a lunch of local seafood specialties on board.  Return to Hanoi for an evening at leisure. (B,L)

Day 5 - Hanoi/Ninh Binh

On a morning tour, stroll through Ba Dinh Square, where Communist Party leader Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam’s independence on September 2, 1945. Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and see the French colonial Presidential Palace and the 1,000-year-old One Pillar Pagoda—built on a single stone pillar to resemble a lotus blossom. This afternoon, travel by coach to Ninh Binh, capital of Vietnam’s Red River Delta. After settling in at your resort, take a sunset walking tour through the peaceful countryside. (B,D)

Day 6 – Ninh Binh

In this breathtaking, World Heritage-listed landscape, sinuous rivers wind through green paddies flanked by vertical karst peaks. Board traditional sampans for a float through Tam Coc, passing between stunning limestone formations, vivid rice fields, and hidden grottoes. Journey by coach to the citadel of Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s capital in the 10th and 11th centuries, and pay a visit to and pay a visit to Dinh Tien Hoang Temple and Le Dai Hanh Temple. Return to your retreat in the afternoon. (B,L,D)

Day 7 – Hanoi/Da Nang/Hoi An

Travel back to Hanoi in time for an afternoon flight to Da Nang.  Continue overland to the World Heritage site of Hoi An, an ancient trading hub that was the commercial capital of the Champa kingdom for more than 1,500 years. Over the centuries, Dutch, Chinese, Portuguese, and Japanese traders left their mark on this important port town, and the remarkable architecture of the old town reflects this cultural diversity. Check in to your riverside hotel and gather for dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Day 8 - Hoi An

Set sail on the Thu Bon River, gliding to Hoi An’s vibrant central market for a taste of its sights and sounds. On a walking tour of the old town, where only pedestrians and cyclists are allowed, meander through narrow streets lined with picturesque houses and see the famous Japanese covered bridge. Then gather for a cooking class with a local chef. Try your hand at making favorites such as dumplings, banh mi, and rice noodles, and dine on the fruits of your labor tonight. (B,D)

Day 9 - Hoi An/Da Nang/Siem Reap, Cambodia

Head into the countryside, taking in quintessential scenes of farmers at work in the paddies and water buffaloes plowing the fields. Pay a visit to a typical farming community and gain insight into rural life on a walk through the village.  After lunch in a nearby restaurant, drive to Da Nang, situated at the mouth of the Han River. At the acclaimed Museum of Cham Sculpture, view the world’s largest collection of Cham artifacts, dating from the 5th to the 15th centuries. In the early evening, transfer to the airport for a short flight to Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor. Check in to your hotel and enjoy an evening on your own. (B,L)

Day 10 - Angkor and Siem Reap

Experience the extraordinary Khmer city of Angkor during a full-day excursion to this World Heritage site. First, encounter the world’s largest religious monument: the temple complex of Angkor Wat. On a guided tour, explore its magnificent carved temples and statuary, crafted by more than 500,000 artisans, workers, and slaves over a period of 37 years. Examine the intricate detail of the bas reliefs and artwork depicting mythological battles and scenes of everyday life during the Khmer era. Then venture to the 12th-century temple of Ta Prohm, where the stone ruins of some 100 temples are evocatively tangled in massive tree roots. After lunch, ride traditional tuk-tuks to Angkor Thom, the walled capital of the mighty Khmer Empire, which dominated much of Southeast Asia between the ninth and 13th centuries. Explore highlights including the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King; the Baphuon temple; and the stunning Bayon Temple, known for the serene faces chiseled into its pillars. (B,L,D)

Day 11 - Siem Reap

Begin the day with a tour of tiny Banteay Srei, an exquisitely carved Hindu temple built for the god Shiva in the 10th century. Continue to Banteay Samre, a beautifully restored 12th-century  temple to the Hindu god Vishnu.  Sit down to lunch at a local restaurant before visiting the ruins of Preah Khan, a complex of halls and pavilions, causeways and moats built by King Jayavarman VII in memory of his father. Gather this evening for dinner and a traditional Cambodian dance performance. (B,L,D)

Day 12 - Siem Reap/Luang Prabang, Laos

This morning, pay a visit to Les Artisans d’Angkor, an organization that teaches young adults traditional Cambodian crafts such as stone carving, woodworking, and lacquer painting.  Later, fly to the royal city of Luang Prabang, situated at the confluence of the Mekong and Khan Rivers. Check in to your hotel and enjoy dinner together. (B,D)

Day 13 - Luang Prabang

Awaken early to witness the tak-bat, a time-honored tradition where hundreds of saffron-robed monks collect alms at dawn. Soak up the sights and sounds of the colorful morning market before returning to the hotel for breakfast. Embark on a half-day cruise along the Mekong, the lifeblood of Southeast Asia. Visit the Pak Ou Buddha Caves, which house hundreds of Buddhist icons. Enjoy lunch on board before stopping at a village that produces traditional Lao-Lao whiskey. (B,D)

Day 14 – Nam Khan Valley and Luang Prabang

Come face-to-face with one of Asia’s most storied creatures on a visit to the Elephant Village. Located in the scenic Nam Khan valley, this community-based eco-project offers refuge and rehabilitation to elephants that have lost their habitats to logging and other threats.  Meet with the mahouts that work with these majestic animals, learn to feed and give commands to the elephants, and spend time with them as they bathe in the river. Continue through the countryside to a rice farm for an inside look at farming life and a lunch of Laotian specialties. Learn about traditional trades such as bamboo weaving, blacksmithing, sugarcane processing, and growing rice; and try your hand at rice farming techniques. Return to Luang Prabang for an evening at leisure. (B,L)

Day 15 - Luang Prabang/Vang Vieng

Set out on a walking tour of Luang Prabang’s World Heritage-listed Old City, including the 16th-century Wat Xieng Thong temple and the National Museum, which showcases the personal collection of the last Laotian royal family and is housed in their former palace. The afternoon is yours to discover more of this delightful town. Later, board the new Boten-Vientiane highspeed railway to travel to Vang Vieng, an eco-tourism hub on the Song River set against a stunning backdrop of karst cliffs and paddies. (B,L,D)

Day 16 - Vang Vieng/Vientiane/Bangkok, Thailand

In the countryside surrounding Vang Vieng lie a number of hilltribe communities. Get acquainted with two of Laos’ 160 ethnic groups today, beginning with a visit to a Hmong village, where you learn about local traditions including basket weaving.  Continue to a Khmu village and learn how residents brew rice wine. Then roll up your sleeves to prepare your lunch during a Lao cooking class at a farm-to-table restaurant. This afternoon, travel to the Lao capital of Vientiane and catch a flight to Bangkok. (B,L)

Day 17 - Bangkok

Delve into the colorful, tumultuous splendor of Bangkok, the heart and soul of Thailand.  Your explorations begin at the Bangkok Flower Market, a riot of blooms located in the Old City. Ride traditional tuk-tuks to Wat Pho Temple, home of the Reclining Buddha.  Covered in gold leaf, the icon measures some 49 feet tall by 151 feet long.  Next, visit the Grand Palace, an immense complex of ornate buildings, halls, and gardens spreading along the bank of Thailand’s main river, the Chao Phraya.  Here, encounter one of the city’s most important sites, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, home to a venerated, 31-inch-high Buddha figure carved from a single piece of jade. Your evening is at leisure. (B,L)

Day 18 - Bangkok

Start the day with a visit to the renowned Jim Thompson House. Hidden away on a quiet street in Bangkok’s city center, the house is an excellent example of traditional Thai residential architecture. Learn the intriguing story and legacy of Jim Thompson, the American intelligence agent who revived the faltering Thai silk industry after World War II, and view his prized collection of Asian art.  Enjoy a final afternoon at leisure before gather for a festive farewell dinner. (B,D)

Day 19 - Bangkok/Depart for U.S.

Transfer to the airport in time for your flight home. Those with evening flights will have hotel rooms reserved for late check-out and will arrive home the following day. (B)