Welcome to Vientiane, the capital city whose name means “city of sandalwood.” Upon arrival, your guide and private car will transfer you to your hotel for check-in.

Explore Vientiane at your leisure today. You might choose to stroll along the Mekong River, stop to enjoy a cold drink, or sample a snack from one of the many local food stalls. This area is popular with locals who exercise in the park in the evening. You can also browse the evening market for souvenirs.

Enjoy dinner at Xang Khoo, one of the friendliest restaurants in town.

Today, you’ll begin your culinary tour of Asia with a half-day guided tour of Vientiane, one of the most laid-back capital cities in the world.

Your tour begins at Talat Sao, the morning market to discover Lao ingredients that you can’t find at home! Next, you’ll visit the serene Wat Sisaket, the only temple left intact after the Siamese (Thai) invasion of 1828. One of the most beautiful temples in the capital, its breezy, teak-covered hallways are filled with thousands of miniature Buddha statues.

Continue to the nearby temple and religious museum, Wat Phra Keo, which displays a collection of Lao and Khmer art. Nearby is the Presidential Palace. Although you are not allowed to visit inside, it offers a glimpse into the town’s colonial past as this building formerly served as the French governor’s palace.

(Please note: Certain wings of the Wat Ho Phra Keo Museum may be undergoing renovations. We recommend discussing access or alternative visits, such as to the National Museum, with your guide.)

Next, visit the headquarters of COPE, an association working to help landmine victims. A visit to the center provides in-depth information about the history of the American/Vietnam War, the lasting impact of unexploded ordinances (UXO), and the efforts underway to clear them.

Continue to the Patuxay Monument, Laos’ version of the Arc de Triomphe. You can climb the stairs to the roof for sweeping panoramic views of the city.

Next, your tour takes you to That Luang, the holiest site in Laos. This resplendent temple with a golden spire was constructed by King Setthathirat in the 16th century.

Now, dabble in Lao flavors with a delicious Lao-style lunch at Makphet Restaurant. Established by Friends International, Makphet is a charity-run restaurant that trains street children in the hospitality industry. Professional chefs from around the world have volunteered their time in developing the menus and training the staff. The food is excellent, and the staff excels in Lao hospitality.

After lunch, you’ll begin the drive to Vang Vieng. After roughly 2.5 hours, you will reach Nam Ngum Lake, Laos’ largest lake and a beautiful spot.

This artificial lake was built to produce electricity and was the first hydroelectric dam ever built in Laos. The dam generates 160 megawatts of electric power. Electricity is one of the most significant sources of income in Laos.

From here, the drive to Vang Vieng is around 1.5 hours. Arrive in Vang Vieng, a small town on the banks of the Nam Song River surrounded by spectacular limestone karst scenery. The rest of the day is free to spend at your leisure. Don’t forget to enjoy sunset on the Nam Song River!

Enjoy dinner in a local restaurant.

This morning, you will cross the Nam Song River for a short drive to Tham Pou Kham (Golden Crab Cave). After passing through a small entrance, descend 100 meters into the ground. Once inside, the cave widens and a reclining Buddha statue welcomes visitors to a place that once served as a home to bats, gibbons, monkeys, and antelopes. Tham Pou Kham has several wet rock formations, including a pair of “Golden Crabs.” After exploring the cavern, you might like to go for a swim in a Ka River water hole. The water is clean, deep, and safe for jumping in if you feel brave.

The next stop is considered by many as Vang Vieng’s most important cave. Tham Chang (or Jang) sheltered local people during a civil war. The locals, who were farmers from Meuang Xong Village, stumbled upon the cavern while seeking refuge deep in the forest. Because its high location offered perfect views of Vang Vieng, the entire village moved there to sit out the war and named their haven Tham Jang (or “Hang Around Cave”). Years later, during the colonial era, the locals returned to cultivating the nearby fields, but they would bathe in the cave’s basin where the bracing water was said to be so cold that it could freeze one’s legs stiff. They then adjusted the cave’s name to Tham Chang, which means “unable to move,” leaving locals no choice but to “hang around”! Inside you will find spectacular stalactites and stalagmites and a viewpoint with an impressive panorama. Once you climb back down you have the option to swim in the natural spring water.

Next, take a local longtail boat (2 people per boat) to cruise for approximately 1 hour upstream on the Nam Song River, enjoying the beautiful scenery as you go.

You’ll arrive at the extensive Organic Farm, which specializes in refreshing mulberry tea as well as raising livestock and organic crops. Take a short tour of the Organic Farm and learn about local foods and agriculture. Enjoy lunch here.

After lunch, depart for a 5-hour scenic drive up Route 13 towards Luang Prabang. Stop in Kasi, a fruit-growing area, along the way. This journey takes you through spectacular scenery—you may want to stop for photos. Please be aware that there are numerous sharp bends and you will climb and descend many mountains along the way.

Upon arrival at Luang Prabang, the spiritual capital of Laos, your guide will greet you and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.

A short tour will orient you in Luang Prabang this evening. Climb the 328 steps to Mount Phousi and watch the sunset over the city. Transfer back your hotel, stopping along the way at the hill tribe evening market for some shopping.

Enjoy dinner at l’Eléphant, one of the finest restaurants in town.

This morning, take a half-day guided tour of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Your guide will pick you up from your hotel.

Start your city tour at the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, where you will explore the history of Laos. Continue on foot to Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief, and Wat Sensoukarahm, which features a dazzling golden façade. Finish the tour at Wat Xieng Thong, the most revered temple in Luang Prabang. Located at the end of the peninsula, close to the Mekong, this temple was built in 1560 by King Setthathirat and is decorated with ornate carvings and mosaics.

Enjoy lunch at Coconut Garden Restaurant and transfer back to your hotel for a little relaxation.

Next up is a unique culinary experience: your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel at 15:30 and transfer you to the Tamarind Cooking School for a join-in evening class.

The expert chefs will first demonstrate how to prepare authentic Lao dishes. Then it’s your turn to try your hand at cooking local Lao cuisine. Slice and pound your way through the ingredients before cooking each dish the traditional way. You will be given a cookbook to take home so you can practice your new cooking skills and relive your time in Laos.

After a few hours of learning about the wonderful flavors of Indochina, you’re sure to enjoy tucking in to your creations for dinner.

Your guide and driver will meet you for a private transfer to your hotel. You can expect to be back around 21:00. Or, if you prefer to be dropped off at a bar and make your own way home, feel free to discuss this with your guide.

Please note: The cooking school is closed Saturday and Sunday.

Early this morning visit Luang Prabang’s local market where a selection of sometimes wild, mountain produce can be seen. Walk through the market, discovering and sampling the specialty foods on sale. After the market visit, try for breakfast the town’s best ‘Khao Soi’. This delectable noodle dish is a beautiful combination of minced pork, tomatoes, fresh herbs paired with a rich broth.

After the market visit and your local breakfast, enjoy free time for last-minute shopping or sightseeing before your guide and private car meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.

Suggested flight: Depart Luang Prabang at 14:20 on QV931 (Lao Airlines), landing in Siem Reap at 16:20.

On arrival at Siem Reap, the charming riverside city that is the gateway to the majestic temples of Angkor, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel for check-in. Enjoy some free time to freshen up before dining tonight at the renowned Sugar Palm Restaurant, owned by Cambodian-New Zealand chef Kethana Dunnet. Considered an expert on Cambodian cuisine, Chef Kethana has served as a consultant to some of the world’s best chefs, including British chef Gordon Ramsay and Australian chef Luke Nguyen.

Rise early today to experience the magic of sunrise at the world’s largest religious temple, Angkor Wat. Built by Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, Angkor Wat was constructed following the model of the temple mountain, symbolizing Mount Meru, home of the gods. The walls are covered with detailed carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythology, including the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics, and Khmer historical events, including battles and processions during the reign of Suryavarman II.

After exploring the temple, try a typical Cambodian breakfast at a noodle stall near Angkor Wat before continuing to explore the star attractions of Angkor Archaeological Park, including the ancient city of Angkor Thom. Angkor Thom was the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII and is surrounded by an 8-meter-high wall that forms a perfect square. We will enter the city from the impressive stone South Gate, carved with elephants and four giant faces.

From here, we’ll continue to Bayon Temple in the center of the city. This 12th-century masterpiece is distinguished by its 54 towers with enigmatic faces representing the 54 provinces of the Great Khmer Empire. However, Bayon is especially interesting for its galleries of bas-reliefs featuring scenes of daily life that tell us much about the culinary culture of the Khmers during the Empire. In a gallery illustrating the Khmer army on the move, someone blows on a fire, a woman holds a turtle to be cooked, and men butcher a deer. One vignette features Chinese merchants standing next to food being cooked in a pot and the carcass of a deer. In a market scene, women sell fruit and chickens and weigh produce. In yet another, an elaborate banquet is being prepared.

You will also visit the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King for more intricate bas-reliefs and stroll the grounds of the former Royal Palace to discover small hidden temples that are rarely visited. Lastly, you will visit Ta Prohm Temple, built in the mid 12th to early 13th centuries. Ta Prohm is unique in that it has been left largely as it was found: overgrown by jungle trees, roots, and vines, with many parts of the structure lying on the ground.

Return to Siem Reap in the late morning to relax at the hotel and have lunch (own expense).

This afternoon you will depart for Beng Mealea, a 12th-century temple located some 65 kilometer from Siem Reap. We’ll clamber over the dilapidated yet atmospheric ruins shaded by towering trees and tangled in vines. Hidden beneath undergrowth for centuries, Beng Mealea remains one of the few temples that give you an “Indiana Jones”-like experience of discovery.

This evening your guide will pick you up from your hotel with a local remok (tuk tuk). Then, get ready for a highlight of this culinary Asia tour: you’ll zip off the tourist trail straight into foodie heaven.

Your local guide will take you to the famous Bugs Café. Experience the gastronomical discovery of these typical Cambodian delicacies by savouring sophisticated tapas, cooked in a fusion of French and Khmer cuisine by a former chef of a five-star hotel. (Note that certain dishes can be served without insects for the not-so adventurous eaters!)

Next, explore the streets around Psar Chas (Old Market), which are lined with various stalls selling pancakes, fruit shakes, fried bananas, waffles, coconut rice cakes, and various fried rice and noodle dishes. Sit down anywhere and enjoy anything at leisure! Make sure to stop at one of the many fresh fruit stalls to try a range of exotic local fruit, including dragon fruit, longans, mangoes, mangosteens, snake fruit, and the pungent but very tasty durian!

Then, head over to the Sombai rice wine workshop to sample a selection of spirits made from fermented rice. Taste the unusual concoctions infused with local fruits and herbs, accompanied by local snacks. This is a great break of the culinary adventure!

Continue the culinary adventure around Wat Damnak, where a handful of smoke-filled corrugated-iron roofed shacks and fancier open-sided eateries serve one of Siem Reap’s most popular street food snacks, sach ko ang jakak (beef skewers marinated in palm sugar, soy, and kroeung (a paste of lemongrass, galangal, turmeric, kaffir lime, garlic), and then barbecued over coals on a traditional clay grill). There are other meats available too like BBQ frog, eel, chicken, or fish.

End the evening at one of the family-run dessert stalls near Wat Polanka. Combining a myriad textures, from silky glutinous surfaces and crunchy shaved ice to smooth medicinal jellies and creamy coconut milk, and flavours that are exotic to foreign palates, from yellow bean to durian, Khmer desserts are an acquired taste for many visitors. This stop will mark the end of the tour. Be driven safely back to the hotel, or dropped off at anywhere in the city center of Siem Reap.

This morning discover the secrets of authentic Khmer cuisine in a half-day cooking class in the Siem Reap countryside. Begin with an introduction to the morning’s activities with a professional chef, where you will have a hands-on culinary experience, creating your own local delicacies. After which you will get to eat what you have created.

Return back to Siem Reap in the afternoon for a two-hour explore tour around local village, which gives an insight into village life in Cambodia and the challenges faced by rural Cambodians. Take an ox cart ride, a traditional countryside method of transporting people and goods. The 30 minute journey passes through the village on the way to the local market. Explore the colourful displays of vegetables, herbs and other locally-grown produce, and mingle with the shoppers who come every morning to buy the fresh ingredients.

Continue your culinary tour of Asia on foot through the village, providing ample opportunities to stop and chat with locals and to observe their activities. Depending on the time of year, they may be planting rice, weaving thatch coverings for their roofs, harvesting vegetables, or other similar tasks. For a truly immersive experience, lend a hand and join the locals in these activities!

Before leaving the village, partake in a special Buddhist tradition. Local monks will impart wishes of good luck and success in a solemn, age-old ceremony.

Return to hotel for refreshing and relax.

This evening, enjoy an incredible dinner at the Embassy Restaurant, an exclusive fine-dining experience unparalleled in Siem Reap and headed by executive chefs Pol and Sok, the “Kimsan Twins.” After traveling to different continents and being mentored by Michelin-starred chefs, they have created one of the most unique five-star quality cuisines that can be experienced in Siem Reap. With a constantly changing menu based around seasonality, guests can savor skillfully prepared masterpieces from multiple-course set menus paired with a selection of fine wines.

After dinner you’ll go directly to Phare, the Cambodian Circus, for a quirky, high-energy show starting at 8 pm. The young professional performers trained at the circus school at Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS). A visual and performing arts school, PPS was set up in Battambang in 1994 by young Cambodians returning from refugee camps, where they had learned to use art as a means of coping with trauma. PPS has played an influential role in promoting and developing Khmer culture in the years since the Khmer Rouge genocide. The hour-long show mixes traditional and modern theater, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling, and contortion to tell a story about Cambodian lives and society.

This morning you will depart on a 3-hour drive to Battambang, Cambodia’s second-largest city. Like many of the cities of this beautiful, gentle country, Battambang has recently re-opened to the outside world, and it feels like a big country town. One fortuitous result of its isolation and lack of development is that Battambang has some of the most well-preserved colonial French buildings in the country. You will also find the friendly local people here have not been exposed to many foreign visitors, and they will be as interested in you as you are in them! Battambang was formerly the rice bowl of Cambodia, although these days rice production is augmented by orange and jute plantations.

On arrival, check-in and have some free time to swim, eat lunch (own expense), and rest.

This afternoon you will go on a tour along Banan Road through some of Cambodia’s most beautiful countryside to Wat Banan. Along the way we’ll stop at Prasat Phnom Banan Winery, Cambodia’s only commercial winery. Enjoy a wine tasting that includes a red wine blend of cabernet and shiraz, a brandy, and ginger juice. It’s worth a visit to meet this passionate wine-making family and see the vineyards flanked by palm trees.

You’ll continue through lively local villages and farms to Wat Banan, where we’ll climb stairs up to an 11th-century hilltop temple set amongst fragrant flowering trees, offering sweeping vistas over the countryside.

The last stop on today’s countryside tour will be the Bamboo Train station. The “Bamboo Train” runs on an old, single gauge railway line built by the French during the colonial era. After the train services were halted, locals began using it to move between villages. The “train” itself is very basic: one bamboo platform on 4 wheels is activated by a small motor. Sitting on the platform (we will provide some cushions), you will travel the 8 kilometers to the next station through lush rice fields. It’s an exhilarating experience! On the return journey, we’ll stop to watch the sunset over the rice paddies.

There will be time to rest and freshen up before heading to dinner tonight at stylish Jaan Bai (“rice bowl” in Khmer), a social enterprise restaurant established by the Cambodian Children’s Trust to provide training and employment for disadvantaged youth. All profits support the activities of the Trust. The restaurant was set up with the ongoing support of Asia’s best chef, David Thompson, of Nahm Restaurant in Bangkok, and restaurateur John Fink, owner of Australia’s best restaurant, Quay, in Sydney.

Today, have a fun morning cycling around local villages with Soksa Bike, a social enterprise set up to provide scenic and informative bike rides through the local countryside. During the 30-kilometer cycle tour there are plenty of stops to learn how the locals produce rice paper, prahoc (Cambodian fish paste), grolan (sticky rice stuffed in bamboo), and other Cambodian delicacies. The local countryside is beautiful and the Battambang area is known for the high-quality rice and oranges grown here.

After dropping off your bikes, head to Kinyei Café to try some award-winning coffee before stopping for a lunch of hand-pulled noodles and handmade dumplings at Lan Chov Khorko Miteanh. Nicknamed “Noodle Guy” or “Chinese Noodle” by expats, this restaurant is a simple, no-frills eatery with a stall-like kitchen of boiling pots and woks. This is where the most unlikely of noodle masters, wearing low-slung shorts, singlet, and flip-flops, makes hearty handmade dumplings and silky noodles to order.

After lunch, stroll to nearby Ancient House, the oldest standing Khmer timber house in Wat Kor Village. The lady of the house will give you a guided tour, showing you everything from how they milled their own rice to demonstrating the after-dinner betel leaf ritual.

Head out on a 3-hour drive back to Siem Reap for the evening flight to Hanoi.

Suggested flight: Depart Siem Reap at 20:30 on VN834 (Vietnam Airlines), landing in Hanoi at 22:10.

Upon arrival in Hanoi, meet with your guide and transfer to your hotel.

Today’s culinary tour of Asia will begin at 09:30. Join with a local foodie to sample the best food that Hanoi has to offer. Start with a ‘wet market’ and browse the aisles of fresh produce and exotic items such as live frogs. The market is always busy with shoppers buying ingredients for the day’s meals.

Step out of the market and back onto the streets in search of some daily snacks of local which are displayed along road side. Stop to taste a piece of fresh spring roll or a crispy pancake before   wandering through narrow streets to the corner with full flavor of bun cha, fresh rice noodles with grilled pork. Continue to savor Vietnamese dessert by traditional sweet cakes made from some kinds of local herb or a little cup of fresh fruit mixed with greasy coconut milk.

Then stroll around the bustling Old Quarter, Find a street side café and sip a cup of traditional Vietnamese coffee especially coffee with eggs while watching a bit of people passing by

With a better understanding of Vietnamese gastronomy and unforgettable impression of Hanoi street food, return to the hotel

This afternoon is free at your leisure.

Your destination for the evening is a house in southwest Hanoi, where the crowded streets are intersected by small, narrow lanes. Our host family worked for the Vietnamese army during the American/Vietnam War. This neighborhood received the first bomb from B52 planes, and the area was destroyed. Start with a cup of Vietnamese tea followed by a traditional meal. After the meal your host will play a traditional one-string musical instrument that he has made himself. At the end of the dinner, return to your hotel.

Please note: The family will cook specialty Vietnamese dishes, however, vegetarian/non-seafood requests will need to be given in advance. Lunch can be arranged according to advance requests.

Depart the hotel at 8:30 a.m. for the Temple of Literature. In 1076, Quoc Tu Giam, Vietnam’s first university (also referred to as Van Mieu), was established inside a temple to educate Vietnam’s royalty and members of the elite. The university functioned for 700 years. Its gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a fascinating glimpse into Vietnam’s past.

Next up is the One Pillar Pagoda, founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049. This structure is one of Vietnam’s most iconic temples. Close by is the mausoleum of the father of modern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh. (Viewed from outside; closed Mon and Fri and from Oct–Nov; possible to visit without the fee before 11.00. Order of the visit may be changed for this cost saving.) Also visit his former home on stilts, where he lived from 1958 to 1969, which illustrates the modesty of this Vietnamese revolutionary.

Continue to picturesque West Lake and the 6th-century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda.

For lunch, your culinary tour of Asia brings you to an eatery with a cause: KOTO Restaurant, where guests enjoy Vietnamese food with international twists. KOTO, or “Know One Teach One” is supported by Street Voices, an NGO offering a brighter future to disadvantaged youth in Vietnam. KOTO trains youth in hospitality, English, and life skills.

In the afternoon, visit Hanoi’s Old Quarter, also known as the “36 streets.” Take a walking tour through charming Hang Be Market and around Hoan Kiem Lake. This bustling area of narrow alleys is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. It’s a great place to explore with plenty of photo opportunities. Head back to your hotel to freshen up before tonight’s exciting program to discover Hanoi after dark.

The best way to travel in Vietnam is by scooter! This evening you’ll experience Hanoi on the back of vintage Vespa for a glimpse into the past, present, and future of Hanoi. Enjoy some of the most popular street eats on red plastic stools, zigzag through hidden alleyways, and visit some of the local places where only true Hanoians hang out with their friends.

After breakfast, we’ll depart from Hanoi for a 4-hour drive to Halong Bay, including a 20-minute stop on the way. Arrive at your jetty in Halong City around noon and proceed with check-in. Lunch will be served while cruising towards Southeast Halong Bay. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and activities, or just spend some time relaxing onboard. The boat will drop anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is served onboard.

Please note: This tour is subject to change depending on weather conditions.

Start your day with a Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck while the sun rises over the sea. Breakfast is served in the dining room.

Today you’ll get the chance to explore Cat Ba Island’s tropical jungle, swim, and kayak in the bay. Lunch will be served while the boat cruises towards Bai Tu Long Bay. In the afternoon, spend free time at your leisure—enjoy some drinks by the bar or unwind on the sundeck with the gorgeous views of Halong Bay. Dinner is served onboard.

Enjoy your morning in the middle of the bay as the sun rises over Halong. Breakfast is served (brunch on some boats) while the vessel cruises through the magnificent rock formations and back towards port. Disembark and transfer to Noi Bai International Airport for your onward flight.