Private Indochina & Angkor Wat

Arrive in Hanoi and transfer to your colonial-style hotel.

Hanoi is the country’s cultural heart, bearing traces of centuries of changing dynasties. Visit Ho Chi Minh’s house, a simple structure that served as home to the revolutionary guerrilla leader. Continue to the lotus-shaped One Pillar Pagoda, dating back to the first independent Vietnamese empire, and visit the Temple of Literature. After lunch at a local restaurant, set foot in the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” prison, where American prisoners of war were once confined. Later, Ride Like a Local by cyclo through the city’s Old Quarter stopping at a local coffee shop to speak with a war veteran.

Travel to the shores of the Gulf of Tonkin, where you board Heritage for a cruise of picturesque Ha Long and Lan Ha bays. Relax on deck as Heritage snakes its way past countless islets, their striking karst outcrops rising dramatically from the emerald waters. Take in the beaches, caves and coves and view the sunset framed against the Gulf of Tonkin shoreline, followed by dinner aboard.

Greet the day on deck with sunrise tai chi overlooking the bay. Set out for an early morning excursion among the towering limestone pinnacles. Return for brunch on board as Heritage sails home to port. Back on terra firma, proceed to Hang Kenh Temple in Hai Phong and take in a local water puppet show. Later, fly to Ho Chi Minh City, the former Saigon, where you settle in at your hotel.

Recently experiencing a resurgence of art and culture, Ho Chi Minh City is a lively, evocative hub of activity. Rise early for a carefully curated, A&K-exclusive experience that starts with a cyclo ride through the streets as the city slowly comes to life. Stroll through Tao Dan Park, a neighborhood gathering place, and then enjoy specialty Vietnamese coffee at a local shop. Round out your morning exploration of local life by sampling some of the city’s most sensational pho at one of its most popular restaurants. Return to your hotel to enjoy the rest of the morning at leisure. At lunch, participate in a Chef ’s Table experience where you try your hand at making banh xeo, a savory Vietnamese pancake. Afterwards, visit the city’s Reunification Palace and stop by a Cao Dai temple to learn about a unique religion in Southern Vietnam.

This morning, explore the Cu Chi Tunnels, the underground paths used by the Vietcong. Return to Ho Chi Minh City and explore the City’s Bustling Culinary Scene, sampling traditional dishes prepared by local street-food vendors, as well as local craft beer.

Fly to Siem Reap, the town nearest to Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat. Check in at your hotel and enjoy some time at leisure. This evening, get a taste of Cambodia’s performing arts scene at Phare Circus, a vibrant show that explores Cambodia history and culture through theater, music and dance.

This morning, visit Ta Phrom, where the roots of great trees seem to have spilled over the roof of this iconic stone temple. Afterward, return to the hotel for time at leisure, perhaps taking a dip in the pool to escape the afternoon heat. Enjoy a late lunch at a local restaurant. Then, visit Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer kingdom, and Bayon Temple, with its carved stone faces — bearing beguiling smiles — of gods, goddesses and other beings from mythology. Toast this grand adventure with a cruise by gondola on the tranquil Angkor Thom moat while sipping a cool drink on a Scenic Sundowner.

Rise early to experience the incomparable serenity and inspiration of watching the sun rise over mystical Angkor Wat before exploring the vast temple complex with a local expert. Return to your hotel for breakfast and time to relax. After lunch at a local restaurant, fly to Luang Prabang.

Step back in time for a day. This morning, explore charming Luang Prabang. Begin with a visit to the National Museum, which was once a royal palace, for an overview of the history and culture of Luang Prabang. Then, follow the quiet back lanes to the beautiful Heuan Chan Heritage House. Afterward, proceed to the enchanting Wat Xieng Thong, a Buddhist Temple noted for its “Tree of Life” wall mosaic. Then, explore Wat Khili, the “Temple of the Golden Mountain.” After lunch at a local restaurant, set off for the cascading waters of Kuang Si Waterfall Park. Explore a path that runs alongside a wide multi-tiered waterfall tumbling over limestone formations. Early this evening, board a private sunset cruise on the iconic Mekong River.

Rise very early to give alms to Buddhist monks, an optional activity that puts you in touch with the local culture and community, before returning to the hotel for breakfast. Later this morning, head to a nearby village to participate in a baci ceremony — a good luck ritual for a safe onward journey that is part of the local culture — before flying to Bangkok, Thailand’s vibrant capital.

Depart the hotel by private boat, travelling along the Chao Phraya River, to explore the sprawling Grand Palace, site of the historic Siamese court and home to Thailand’s most important shrine, the green-jade Emerald Buddha. Continue by tuk-tuk to the 150-foot-long reclining Buddha at Wat Pho. Return to your hotel by boat for an afternoon and evening at leisure.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your departing flight.