Gleaming in gold, the Royal Palace is one of Phnom Penh's most splendid architectural achievements. It is home to His Majesty Preah Bat smdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk and Her Majesty Preah Reach Akka-Mohesey Norodom Monineath. The palace was built in 1866 by His Majeaty Preah Bat Norodom, great grandfather to our current King. The Royal Palace is built on the site of the old town. This site was especially chosen by a Commission of Royal Ministers and Astrologers because it had great geographical significance in relation to the King, who was regarded as a direct descendant of the gods, whose role it was to live and govern on earth under the influence of heaven.

The National Museum of Cambodia is housed in a graceful terracotta structure of traditional design (built 1917-20) just north of the Royal Palace. It is open daily from 8:00am to 05:00 pm; entry is $10. Photography is prohibited inside. The School of Fine Arts (École des Beaux-arts) has its headquarters in a structure behind the main building.
 

You may also want to check out Wat Phnom which sits on a tree covered hill about 30m high in the northeast of the city.  It is said that the first pagoda was built in 1373 to house four statues of the Buddha deposited here by the Mekong river. It was discovered by a woman named Penh.  Thus, the name Phnom Penh, the hill of Penh. The people believe that this temple is powerful in that anyone who makes a wish will have it granted. It is not surprising to see many people coming here to pray for protection or healing.  Many bring lotus flowers as offerings for prayers answered.

A full day to explore the architecture and history of Hanoi. In the morning, visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh’s former residence, the One Pillar Pagoda (CLOSED ON MONDAY & FRIDAY & EVERY AFTERNOON) and the Temple of Literature. In the afternoon, visit the Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts, the Lake of Restored Sword, Ngoc Son Temple and the Old Quarter. The tour includes a stop at an ancient Vietnamese “long house”. 

Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site found on the coast of Northern Vietnam. Ha Long Bay is one of the best examples of a karst limestone landscape anywhere in the world, and consists of around 1600 islands and islets topped with lush green rainforest. Not only is Ha Long Bay biologically diverse, but it also holds historical and cultural significance with artefacts found on the islands mountains and caves dating back to ancient cultures of the New Stone Age. Today the Bay is perfect to explore by boat where you can do day trips, or stay for multiple days on a 5* luxury junk ship, exploring different islands, kayaking and swimming in the emerald waters.

Why not depart your hotel in Hanoi early in the morning through the beautiful countryside of Northern Vietnam down to Ha Long Bay. Upon arrival, transfer immediately to a boat and begin a four-hour cruise through the limestone monoliths where you’ll see a plethora of marine life, and perhaps if you’re lucky you’ll see some of the rare gibbon primates of Ha Long Bay. You can then enjoy a fresh seafood lunch after cooling off in the beautiful emerald waters before returning to enjoy the rest of your evening in Hanoi.

Ninh Binh is a beautiful and diverse province in the north of Vietnam that is often referred to as Halong Bay on land, for the simple reason that it looks like Halong Bay but on land. The landscape is dominated by karst limestone, the same mountainous features that make Halong Bay so mesmerising. As you’d expect from a mountainous limestone landscape, rivers and caves are prominent in the region, with some of the caves being accessible by boat allowing you to admire their beauty up close. Ninh Binh is also in close proximity to Hanoi, with a day trip being possible from your hotel in the city.

Imagine this… Upon arrival, you will take delight in a scenic bicycle ride around paddy fields, pagodas, small villages and markets. A visit to Vuon Thi Village will offer you a chance to interact with the local people by partaking in their daily activities. Discover the lifestyle, hospitality and friendliness of the Northern Vietnamese people when you prepare lunch with a local family.

Drive to the extraordinary Cu Chi tunnels, just outside Ho Chi Minh City. During the war for independence, Vietnamese guerillas built the labyrinth of narrow tunnels virtually underneath U.S. bases, using them to hide during bombing raids and to stage surprise attacks. Afternoon, half-day city tour to visit the former Presidential Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Post Office, and Ben Thanh market.

Take a morning drive to Ben Tre, the island province most renowned for its grown coconuts in Vietnam. Board a local boat for a cruise on the Ben Tre River. Stop and gain more knowledge of the production of bricks, coconut candies, and other coconut products by the local cottage industries. Stop your boat journey and take a walk to the sedge mat making house. Whilst strolling, explore the flora, fauna as well as the typical Mekong Delta characters of generosity and straightforwardness. Learn the weaving techniques whilst tasting on a great variety of tropical fruits. Your day will continue with the ride by “Xe Loi”, a local cart drawn by motorbike, to a farmer’s home for lunch. Freely join in with the host for the lunch preparation. After lunch, relax and take a sampan ride on the quiet creek to the boat for a cruise back to the pier before returning to Ho Chi Minh City.

Drive to Cai Be and take a boat to visit the floating market. Continue by river to see family-run business producing a local version of popcorn and rice paper. Lunch is in a local house. Afternoon continue to Binh Hoa Phuoc islet for a sampan ride before disembarking in Vinh Long. Drive back to Ho Chi Minh city.

Spend a morning traveling to the extraordinary ruins of My Son in a remote jungle valley. My Son was formerly the centre of the Cham Kingdom and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Over 20 well-preserved monuments remain. In the afternoon, visit a village specializing in copper casting before returning to hotel.

Early morning depart from Hoi An to Hue. Morning boat cruise through the centre of Hue on the romantic Perfume River. Visit the elegant Thien Mu Pagoda along the riverbank. Then drive to visit the elaborate tombs of Emperor Khai Dinh & Tu Duc. In the afternoon visit the Imperial Citadel and Dong Ba market. Return to Hoi An in the late afternoon.

The Golden Bridge, stands 1,400m above sea level above the Ba Na Hills near Danang, offering majestic panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. The gold-colored footbridge is lined with purple Lobelia Chrysanthemums and extends for almost 150 metres, curving around in a neat design. But it is the sculpted hands holding the pedestrian bridge that give it the true wow factor. 

Reviving the Golden Age of Travel, the stylish, Indochina-inspired Victoria Express Train is all about a restful 8-hour overnight journey between Hanoi and Lao Cai ( Sapa )  

Train carriage features:
2 elegant sleeper carriages accommodating 48 passengers (part of local train), 13 cabins (4 shared berths - can be converted to 2 private berths), Snack cabin (refreshments and drinks for purchase), Restroom facilities, Free Wi-Fi

Train cabin features:
Air-conditioning, Individual reading light, Individual amenity kit / slippers, Luggage storage, Large picture window

Train schedule
Hanoi to Lao Cai (SP3): Depart at 10:00 pm, arrive at 6:10 am (Daily, except Saturday)
Lao Cai to Hanoi (SP4): Depart at 9:40 pm, arrive at 5:30 am (Daily, except Saturday)

Hoi An was once a bustling trading port, welcoming merchants from far across the seas. Between the 15th and 19th centuries, Chinese, Japanese and Europeans settled along the banks of the winding Thu Bon River. Today, 30 hectares of this ancient town is preserved as a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site.

Hoi An’s unique fusion of cultural influences reveals itself within its narrow streets. Weathered shop-houses squeeze shoulder-to-shoulder alongside ancestral homes, their tiled roofs decorated in exotic wood carvings. Tucked away from the old ferry quay, you’ll find an open market, pagodas and a timber bridge that once connected the town's Japanese and Chinese communities. Hoi An is even better in the evenings, when the faded streets glow in the light of thousands of lanterns.

Sapa town stands at the head of a deep valley of magnificent rice terraces that are still farmed today as they have been for centuries. Backdrops don’t get much more spectacular. Enticing ribbons of road lead the eye down to the valley floor, white-water rivers rush among rice fields, and lush green mountains stretch into the distance as far as the eye can see. The highest peak in the region, Mount Fansipan, crowns the ragged ridge line high above town.

The Mai Châu’s proximity to the capital makes it an ideal escape for nature lovers. Here, small ethnic minority villages sit among a patchwork of paddy fields surrounded by green mountains. Spend a night or two immersed in Vietnam’s rural culture, dining on delicious home-cooked cuisine, and learning about the traditions of the ethnic groups. The Mai Châu Valley is home to two excellent homestay tourism villages: Lác and Pom Coọng. In both villages, White Thai families offer simple accommodation in stilt houses in an idyllic setting of verdant jungle, limestone outcrops, and mountain tops. Explore the many quiet ribbons of paths that connect clusters of stilt houses might be the greatest pleasure you'll have in Mai Châu. It doesn’t take long to feel like you’ve found your own quiet corner, riding past humble villages and rice paddies.