Heart of Indochina

The vibrant region of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia (once collectively known as Indochina because of their early Hindu and Chinese cultural and artistic influence) is a feast of emerald mountains, azure seas and enduring legacies. We explore them on this 16-day tour, getting a complete cultural immersion with docent-led visits to museums and galleries, lectures from local experts, some delicious culinary experiences and much scenery gazing.

We kick things off in the lively metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), then venture to the old, evocative port town of Hoi An, a graceful, engaging backwater complete with humpbacked bridges and shops bursting with silks, paintings, embroidered goods, and lacquerware. From here, it’s on to the Nguyen Dynasty capital of Hue, set on the Perfume River, where we discover famous historical sites and charmingly quiet corners. We wander among beautiful French colonial architecture in Hanoi and spend a blissful day cruising among the majestic craggy limestone karsts of Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then we fly on to Laos to linger in the gleaming temples and tranquil streets of colorful Luang Prabang before continuing to Siem Reap, where we thoroughly explore the ancient seat of the Khmer Empire, Angkor.