Refresh by Yoga in Vietnam and Cambodia – 10 Days

Xin chào! Welcome to Hanoi, the Capital city of Vietnam! On arrival at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi, we will be welcomed by our guide and transferred to the hotel for check-in and relaxation.

(Note: Hotel’s check-in is at 14.00, early check-in is based on the hotel’s vacancy)

After a short rest, we will start walking around the Old Quarter along different streets, trying many kinds of local food such as beef/chicken noodle soup, oil-fried pastry, tofu, rice pancake, pillow cake, sweet soup, stuffed pancake with pork, draught beer… and one of our best surprised is a stop at Dong Xuan whole sales market where we know many kinds of ingredients being sold.

Last but not least is our happy ending at a hidden coffee in the Old Quarters enjoy its famous ‘egg coffee’ in the pleasant surroundings overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake. Fortunately, as it’s Friday so there’s a night market and walking street around Hoan Kiem Lake. It would be a great chance to immerse in the local life at the local at weekend here. After the tour, we return to the hotel in the old quarter of Hanoi.

After breakfast and checking out the hotel, we transfer to Pu Luong Nature Reserve via a breathtaking mountain pass. Enjoy the panoramic view of the whole valley along the way. We arrive at Pu Luong Retreat in time for a delicious lunch with local dishes. After lunch, check in the room and have some free time to explore the beautiful retreat, with its captivating views of the surroundings and tranquil setting.

This afternoon, drive to a suspension bridge over Cham River, where we begin our walk passing stunning water wheels to reach a local fisherman’s house. Have a short rest to gear up for the rafting adventure with the local expert team. Float along the calm river enjoy the scenic views, and learn how to paddle and steer the handcrafted rafts. Arrive at Tan Lap Bridge, disembark, and drive back to Pu Luong Retreat for dinner.

Wake up early for our first Yoga exercise following the instruction of the local master (Vietnamese master or Indian master). After breakfast, take a light trek into the beautiful rice terraces, through small paths to a picturesque village sitting on the foot of a towering mountain. Trek through the villages, wild fields, ponds, rivers, mountains, and open land until we reach our lunch spot. After a picnic lunch, enjoy free time refreshing at a nearby river. Walk up to our pickup point and drive back to the Retreat.

Wake up early for our second Yoga exercise following the instruction of the local master (Vietnamese master or Indian master). After breakfast and checking out the Retreat, let’s get closer to the village life and interact with locals living on the hills above the Retreat. We get to know the daily life of the locals, walk around working farmland and rice fields, and learn to make rice wine and weave colorful textiles. Lunch will be served at a local house with a local family.

After lunch, we return to Hanoi with a stop en route for The Quintessence of Tonkin Show. The Show draws inspiration from the spiritual history of the nearby Thay Pagoda. With years in the making, hundreds of performers, an interactive stage, state-of-the-art technology, and a stunning setting, this live spectacle is an unamicable highlight of any trip to Vietnam. A Buffet Dinner will be served before we enjoy the show. After the show, return to Hanoi and check in the hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.

Around 08:30 The cruise’s limousine will pick you up at our meeting point. We will take a 10–15-minute break by a station for guests to rest on the way.

11:30 Arrive at Cruise's Lounge in Halong International Cruise Port to check-in. Guests will be offered a “welcome drink” and listen to instructions before boarding.
12:00 Guests will start boarding.
13:00 A splendid lunch is served at Tahiti Restaurant while the cruise travels across primitive Lan Ha Bay. The bay has hundreds of islands and islets, making it a wonderful background for guests to look at while dining.
15:00 Arrive at Sang Cave by kayaking or rowing boat as the path towards the cave is 70m long of water. On the way, guests will be amazed by sparkling karst arcs through sunlight. Afterward, guests are invited to enter Ech Lagoon, an extremely serene and emerald spot to kayak and swim. It’ll be a wonderful chance to immerse in one of the most remote parts of Lan Ha Bay. The shape of this lagoon looks like a giant frog resting, hence it explains the name “Ao Ếch” in Vietnamese.
17:00-17:30 Return to the cruise to relax and admire the sunset on the sundeck. Watching the sunset over Lan Hạy Bay is one of the moments that shouldn’t be missed. During this time, there will be either a Sunset Party in Sky Bar or a cooking class hosted by our Chef (depending on the season).
From 17:30-18:30: it is Happy Hour meaning Buy One Get One Free - this promotion is applied to our limited drinks menu. Guests can also choose to watch the sunset by catamaran while sipping fresh cocktails (this is surcharged).
19:00 Fine-dining dinner will be started along with a fun and interactive cultural exchange between all the guests and our Vietnamese host.

06:30 Begin a new day with a Tai Chi session while welcoming a magnificent sunrise. (Guests can also choose to take photos and enjoy the scene if they prefer so)
06:45 - 07:30 A light breakfast is served, enjoy in the refreshing and peaceful beauty of the Bay.
07:30 Explore Lan Ha Bay by catamaran to more remote destinations that cruises cannot reach.
09:00 Get ready to check out.
09:30 Guests will be served with succulent buffet brunch in Tahiti Restaurant.
11:00 - 11:30 Disembark at the Port and the cruise’s bus services will transfer you back to your hotel stay in Hanoi. From here, be picked up by our driver and guide who will escort you to the Airport (approx. 1.15 hours driving) in good time for your departure flight to Nha Trang

Wake up early for our third Yoga exercise following the instruction of the local master. After breakfast, enjoy a relaxing morning in the capital city. Check out the hotel at noon time then transfer to the airport for a flight to Siem Reap – the Treasure of Cambodia Kingdom. Upon arrival, pick up by our local tour guide and transfer to check in our hotel.

After breakfast, we explore the South Gate of Angkor Thom known as Big Angkor, a 3km2 walled and moated royal city and was the last capital of the Angkorian Empire, The famous Bayon Temple was an architectural muddle, in part because it was constructed in a somewhat piecemeal fashion for over a century.

Terrace of the Elephants is an impressive, two-and-a-half meter tall, 300-meter long terrace wall adorned with carved elephants and gradual that spans the heart of Angkor Thom in front of Baphuon - a huge temple mountain in the heart of Angkor Thom, Royal Palace Area, and Phimeanakas - impressive rite and sandstone pyramid. The Terrace of the Leper King is at the north end of the Terrace of the Elephants, a double terrace wall with deeply carved nag as, demons and other mythological beings. Last visit Ta Prohm temple which is a wonderful combination of human genius and natural beauty! Giant trees have grown here for centuries!

This afternoon we visit Angkor Wat temple, Cambodia's ancient temple is one of the wonders of the oriental world. Masterpieces of decorative details as well as architectural style, its awe-inspiring ruins survive as a testament to the spectacular achievements of Southeast Asia's greatest civilization. It is a replica of the universe according to the Hindu mythology. It is composed of Mount Meru, surrounded by the continents and the oceans. Its extraordinary bas-reliefs, describe some Khmer epics and myths. Angkor Wat's five famous towers rise into the sky, a geometrical arrangement of numerous galleries, adorned with beliefs and the stone images of celestial Apsara dancers, as well as portals, chambers, and courtyards. Last we visit Pre Rup was built in the 10th Century by Rajendravarman and enjoy the sunset here. Evening enjoy a buffet dinner with Apsara dance show – a taste of classical Khmer culture.

Wake up early for our fourth and last Yoga exercise at Phnom Krom Pagoda, following the instruction of the local master (Khmer master). After the exercise, return to the hotel for breakfast and a short rest.

This morning, we visit Wat Thmei (Killing Field) contains a unique glass-walled stupa containing the bones of victims of the Khmer Rouge. Some of the bones were recovered from a nearby well while others are the remains of soldiers who died on a nearby battlefield. Continue to visit the "Les Artisans d'Angkor – Chantiers Ecole" the Finest Authentic Khmer Arts and Crafts.

This afternoon we visit Floating Villages, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Take a ride in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap, the "Great Lake" of Cambodia and the largest in Asia. Here we will see plenty of examples of the Khmer way of life on the Tonle Sap. Then visit Wat Bo, a highly respected pagoda founded in the 18th century, which contains very unique wall paintings of the Reamker (Ramayana) that are said to be from the late 19th century. We continue to one of the city's lively open markets, Psar Chars, also called the “Old Market”, where anything and everything is for sale.

After breakfast, at leisure until check out hotel (standard check-out time is 12h00) and transfer to the airport for our onward flight. On the way if time permits, we visit Puok, the real and original place of the Artisans d’Angkor silk, where we see the full process of silk production, from the silk worms munch on the Mulberry leaves to spinning their cocoons which used to make silk warp. Continue to Siem Reap Airport for our departure flight. End of services. See you again in the next Cambodia & Vietnam vacation package!