Day 2: Hanoi

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before you meet your Hanoi guide and head off on a full-day exploration of this charming city.

This morning we will visit Van Mieu, otherwise known as The Temple of Literature. The Confucian temple dates back to 1070 and features peaceful walled courtyards and graceful gateways and is one of the best examples of traditional Vietnamese architecture. Following this, we continue on to visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex from the outside; an impressive mausoleum that houses the embalmed body of President Ho Chi Minh.

This afternoon we head to the charming Old Quarter where we’ll enjoy a walking tour through Hanoi’s most historic and picturesque neighbourhood.  The Old Quarter is the oldest continuously developed area of Vietnam, highlighting more than 1,000 years of history. Explore the network of narrow alleyways known as ‘The 36 Streets’. This is a wonderful place to soak up local life and peruse market items from fabrics to crafts and exotic medicines. Each street was named to reflect the specialized trade of the merchants who had shopped there, such as silk traders or jewelers.

Return to your hotel for an evening of leisure, or you may want to join an optional evening tour to explore the city’s incredible food culture.

Inspiring Highlights: Temple of Literature, Ho Chi MInh Mausoleum Complex (outside), Hanoi Old Quarter Walking Tour

Optional Tour – Hanoi Puppet Show & Street Food

This morning we depart for a leisurely drive to Tuan Chau Port. Upon arrival at this port city, we will board our luxury Halong Bay cruise.

Onboard, enjoy a complimentary drink, and take a seat in the lounge before a short welcome briefing with fellow guests. You’ll be shown to your luxury cabin where you can enjoy rich oak interiors, with high windows, a bathtub with a sea view, and private balconies to make the most of the incredible views during your cruise. Enjoy a decadent lunch onboard made with fresh local ingredients as you cruise through Halong Bay and into Lan Ha Bay.

Discover Light and Dark Cave, one of the best attractions on Lan Ha Bay which is best known for its pristine and tranquil beauty. Guests are free to relax, kayak, and swim around the boat. Enjoy a feast of local Vietnamese specialties for dinner before retiring for the evening. Alternatively, you may wish to enjoy the ship’s evening activities including squid fishing with help from the crew.

Inspiring Highlights: Light and Dark Cave, Halong Bay Cruise

Rise early to experience the magical dawn over the sea, and watch the sunrise over the bay’s scattered islets, which is truly a sight to behold. Start your day with a rejuvenating Tai Chi lesson or enjoy some peaceful time in your cabin.

After breakfast, the cruise continues through stunning areas where nearly every islet is named for its shape or unique features. Discover the Cat Ba World Biosphere, one of the most impressive caves in Cat Ba Island.

As the cruise heads back to the mainland, enjoy a leisurely brunch on board. Once docked, bid farewell to the crew and transfer back to the wharf. From there, we will take you to Hanoi Airport for your flight south to Danang, followed by a transfer to the charming town of Hoi An.

On arrival in Hoi An, we check into our 5-star resort, located only a short walk from the ancient town. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure and make the most of the hotel’s beautiful facilities or take a short walk and wander the ancient streets and canals of this beautifully preserved town.

Inspiring Highlights: Sunrise Tai Chi, Cat Ba Biosphere

This morning after breakfast enjoy a guided walking tour through the narrow cobblestone streets of the Old Quarter and spend time mingling with local vendors at the Hoi An Market. Previously known as Faifo, Hoi An was once the most important trading port in the region. Now designated a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the city is one of the best places to discover well-preserved Vietnamese architecture.

The rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy as you please. As the sun goes down, the city lights up with a sea of colourful lanterns, giving Hoi An the moniker ‘City of Lanterns.’ Expect a thoroughly photogenic and romantic atmosphere!

Inspiring Highlights: Hoi An Old Quarter, Hoi An Market

Enjoy a free day in Hoi An! Explore every corner of this ancient town or just relax on the beach, Cua Dai Beach and An Bang beaches are just 4-5km from the old town. Alternatively, you may wish to join the optional tour to the Golden Bridge and Bana Hills.

This evening enjoy an Inspiring Taste as you join a cooking class in Tra Que herbal village and learn to make one of  Hoi An’s traditional dish. Following your class, enjoy a delicious dinner before returning to the hotel.

Inspiring Highlights: Hoi An Cooking Class

Enjoy breakfast before we transfer to the airport for our included flight to Siem Reap, in Cambodia.

You will be picked up at the airport on arrival and transferred to your hotel.

Today, we explore the iconic temples of Angkor Wat.

Early risers can experience the unforgettable sunrise over Angkor Wat before returning to the hotel for breakfast. Afterward, we’ll visit the awe-inspiring temple complex, a 12th-century masterpiece and one of the largest religious monuments ever built, covering 500 acres and comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. This 12th-century masterpiece is considered to be a prime example of classic Khmer art and architecture and its depiction appears on the national flag. Built to represent Mount Meru, its distinctive five towers symbolize the five peaks of the mountain; the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat symbolizes the ocean.

We first visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom City, Byon. Angkor Thom was once the capital of the Khmer Empire. See the well-preserved South Gate, with its huge statues depicting the Hindu mythology of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk. We’ll visit Bayon Temple, famous for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avalokitesvara. We’ll also see the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, and the Terrace of the Leper King.

In the afternoon, we will explore Ta Prohm Temples. The jungle-covered temple of Ta Prohm is an incredible sight with enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers entwined in the stone foundations. We’ll also explore the surrounding temples including Banteay Kdei, Srah Srang, Ta Keo, Thommanon and Chau Say Tevado, before returning to the hotel, where the rest of the evening will be at leisure.

Inspiring Highlights: Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm Temples

Enjoy a leisurely morning before being transferred to the meeting point for your Mekong River cruise.

You’ll then be taken to your luxury cruise ship, the RV Indochine II, your elegant home for the next eight nights as you journey along the remarkable Mekong River. This premium vessel features spacious cabins with private en-suite bathrooms and personal balconies—perfect for taking in the ever-changing scenery.

After settling into your cabin, spend the afternoon at leisure. Unwind on the sundeck, take a dip in the swimming pool, or relax in the spacious lounge bar.
In the evening, gather with your fellow travellers for a welcome cocktail, followed by a delicious dinner served on board.

After breakfast, we will head to Koh Chen, a charming village renowned for its skilled artisans specialising in silver and copper craftsmanship. Enjoy a fascinating tour of their intricate work and witness the artistry firsthand. Lunch will be served on board.

Next, we’ll explore the exquisite Vihara at Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda, a stunning temple of great beauty and cultural significance. To reach the pagoda, we’ll cross the picturesque village of Kampong Tralach, either by ox carts or “tuk-tuk,” along a scenic road surrounded by breathtaking rice fields.

As the day draws to a close, our ship will anchor overnight, allowing you to relish the tranquillity of the river and the memories of the day’s enriching experiences.

Inspiring Highlights: Koh Chen, Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda, Kampong Tralach

Today’s excursion takes us to Kampong Chhnang, a lively fishing port and an important center for fish farming. The region is also famed for its traditional pottery, which plays a vital role in the local economy.

We’ll enjoy a tasting of regional specialties before returning to the ship. Lunch will be served on board as we cruise towards Phnom Penh, arriving in the early evening.
Upon arrival, take a brief city tour by tuk-tuk—a fun and convenient way to explore the vibrant streets. Back on board, enjoy a captivating performance of classical Khmer dance and music, followed by dinner.

Inspiring Highlights: Kampong Chhnang, Phnom Penh

Start your day with breakfast on board before embarking on a guided tour of Phnom Penh’s cultural gems. Discover the magnificence of the Royal Palace, a stunning showcase of Cambodian architecture, and explore the mesmerising Silver Pagoda. Continue your journey to the National Museum, housing a trove of cultural treasures.

After lunch, you have the option to visit the poignant Tuol Svay Prey School, once a harrowing detention, torture, and execution center during the Khmer Rouge regime.

Take some leisure time to explore the local market and immerse yourself in its vibrant atmosphere. We’ll return on board, cruising to Chau Doc, a town on the border between Cambodia and Vietnam, whose territory became Vietnamese 300 years ago.

Inspiring Highlights: Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, National Museum

Indulge in a delightful breakfast on board before venturing to Chau Doc, a captivating city known for its thriving fish and fish farming industry on the Cambodia-Vietnam border. Explore the revered Ba Chua Xu Temple and the serene Tay An Pagoda, both offering insights into the area’s rich cultural heritage. Once we are back on board, we’ll begin to cruise toward Sa Dec.

Inspiring Highlights: Ba Chua Xu Temple, Tay An Pagoda

We embark on a fascinating journey to visit the former house of Huynh Thuy Le, an enigmatic figure who Marguerite Duras immortalised in her literary masterpiece, “The Lover.” This historic residence offers a captivating glimpse into the life and times of Huynh Thuy Le and provides a deeper understanding of the inspiration behind Duras’ evocative storytelling.

Enjoy some time at leisure to explore Sa Dec at your own pace.

We’ll enjoy lunch on board as we cruise toward Vinh Long. From there, we’ll transfer to smaller boats to explore the narrow canals and lush orchards on our way to Cai Be. Along the way, we’ll visit a brick and pottery workshop, as well as a traditional factory producing puffed rice, rice paper wrappers for nems, and rice alcohol. Later, we’ll return to our ship, continue cruising, and enjoy dinner on board.

Inspiring Highlights: Huynh Thuy Le House, Cai Be

We’ll visit a local bee farm, where we’ll enjoy honey tea and a tasting of exotic fruits. Afterwards, we’ll glide through the canals in small sampans, passing beneath arching mangrove palms. Lunch will be served on board as we continue our journey through the narrow Chao Gao Canal, en route to Ho Chi Minh City. In the evening, we’ll enjoy dinner on board and remain docked overnight in the heart of the city.

Inspiring Highlights: Bee Farm

Heavily influenced by French colonialism in the 19th century, Ho Chi Minh City offers a rich blend of history and architecture. We’ll embark on a guided tour to explore key landmarks, including the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Saigon Central Post Office, and the Museum of Vietnamese History. Lunch will be served on board.

In the afternoon, you’ll have free time to relax on the ship, or you may join an optional excursion by coach to the Cu Chi Tunnels (please note the transfer by coach takes approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes each way.)—an extensive underground network once used by Viet Cong soldiers as hiding spots, supply routes, field hospitals, and weapons caches during the war. After the excursion, we’ll return to the ship.

This evening, we’ll enjoy a farewell cocktail and dinner on board. We’ll remain docked in port overnight.

Inspiring Highlights: Ho Chi Minh City Tour

After breakfast, we’ll check out at 9am and disembark, then spend the morning exploring Cholon, the vibrant, Chinese-influenced district of Ho Chi Minh City, known for its bustling market and rich cultural heritage. Lunch will be enjoyed at a local restaurant in town.

You will be transferred to the airport in time for your departing flight.

Thank you for travelling with Inspiring Vacations. We hope you had a memorable experience.