Explore Hanoi, the historic capital of Vietnam, and discover its history and heritage. See the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” and explore the streets in the city’s Old Quarter. Visit the Trấn Quốc Pagoda and enjoy its tranquility, and see the stunning Temple of Literature. Please note: sites on this program are not accessible and cannot accommodate guests who rely on a walker, wheelchair or motorized scooter/wheelchair.

Day 1 Hanoi, Vietnam

Disembark your ship and journey to Hanoi. Steeped in history, the Vietnamese capital has been an important political center for centuries. With your guide, you will enjoy a city tour of some of Hanoi’s highlights and a visit to its Old Quarter. Your first stop is Hỏa Lò Prison, built by the French in the late 19th century to hold political prisoners and later, used by the Vietnamese to hold American prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. It was nicknamed the “Hanoi Hilton” by American GIs. Your tour will then continue by electric car to Hanoi’s Old Quarter, a bustling district brimming with charm. Explore its maze of narrow streets, known as the shopping capital of Hanoi, where you will find everything from silk garments and herbal medicines, to jewelry and cosmetics. After your tour, check in to your First-Class Hanoi hotel and enjoy a traditional Vietnamese dinner. Cap you day with a visit to Ba Dinh Square and witness the flag ceremony—a ritual that takes place twice daily outside the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, each morning and evening. (D)

Day 2 Hanoi, Vietnam

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and embark on a tour of the city of Hanoi. Visit the Buddhist shrine Trấn Quốc Pagoda—the oldest of its kind in Hanoi. A royal favorite for centuries, the shrine dates back to the reign of Emperor Ly Nam De (544 - 548). Take a stroll amid its tranquil surroundings and admire the lotus flower statues on display. Your next stop is the Temple of Literature. With its peaceful walled courtyards and graceful gateways, this monument is one of the best-preserved examples of traditional Vietnamese architecture. Founded in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius, this was also the site of Vietnam's first university. After your tour, board your motor coach for the return journey to your ship. (B)

Spend the night at a boutique hotel and visit the Yên Tử Mountain, a sacred Zen Buddhist site. Discover local culture and history as you try your hand at meditation and traditional Vietnamese crafts, visit a night market and ascend to the peak of the Yên Tử Mountain.

Day 1 – Quang Ninh, Vietnam

Transfer by motor coach to the Legacy Yen Tu Hotel, pausing along the way to enjoy a vegan lunch. Upon arrival at the hotel, you will participate in a Zen relaxation therapy session with a meditation expert. After check-in, you will take part in two guided craft workshops. Learn how to decorate conical hats and make your own Đông Hồ paintings, folk art pieces created using woodblock prints and natural pigments. Following dinner, visit a local night market before returning to your hotel. (L, D)

Day 2– Quang Ninh, Vietnam

Set out early with your guide to watch the sun rise over the peak of the Yên Tử Mountain before returning to your hotel for an authentic Vietnamese breakfast. After, venture out to the mountain once more to ascend its peak. You will complete your journey on foot and by cable car, allowing you to take in the sweeping views from different perspectives as you learn about this sacred Buddhist site. Later, check out of your hotel and cap your excursion with lunch at a local restaurant. (B, L)

Experience the mix of traditional and modern life in vibrant Ho Chi Minh City during an overnight stay. Take a traditional pedal cab ride through Old Saigon and enjoy a colorful folklore performance. Savor Vietnamese cuisine and immerse yourself in traditions and customs.

Day 1 - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

After lunch on your ship, travel by motor coach to Ho Chi Minh City. After check-in at your hotel, head out to experience one of the city’s main methods of transportation on a “pedal cab” ride. Enjoy the architecture of Old Saigon, and observe local life and culture as your guide pedals you through this vibrant metropolis. Continue on to Saigon’s Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater for a lively folklore performance. Mua roi nuoc, or “water puppetry,” originated in North Vietnam during the 10th century; after the harvest, the ponds and rice paddies served as stages for impromptu shows. Backed by a Vietnamese orchestra, singers tell the story as the puppets appear to “dance on water.” Often the plays have a rural theme relating to Vietnamese folklore and are closely connected with the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people. After a memorable performance, sample delicious Vietnamese cuisine in a local hotel. (D)

Day 2 - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Enjoy breakfast before visiting the Museum of Vietnamese History. The museum’s collection of historical treasures and artifacts includes valuable relics taken from Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, a fine collection of Buddha statues, a perfectly preserved mummy dating back to 1869 and some exquisite, stylized mother-of-pearl Chinese characters inlaid into panels. See the famed neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office, as well as classic European-style landmarks such as the ornate City Hall and the old Opera House. Continue on to Reunification Palace, former residence of the president of South Vietnam before the fall of Saigon in 1975. You will also visit the Minh Phuong Lacquer Factory to discover the art of handmade lacquerware—one of Vietnam’s most popular exports. After lunch, visit Bến Thành Market and head to Chinatown to admire the Taoist Thien Hau Pagoda before returning to your ship. (B, L)

Discover the rich history and vibrant waterways of the Mekong Delta during this two-day exploration. Admire Ong Pagoda and take a scenic river cruise to visit a bustling floating market. View traditional houses and fruit plantations and mingle with residents to learn about local life. Please note: sites on this program are not accessible and cannot accommodate guests who rely on a walker, wheelchair or motorized scooter/wheelchair.

Day 1 - Cần Thơ, Vietnam

After lunch, board your motor coach for a scenic drive through the Mekong Delta to the city of Cần Thơ, located on the southern bank of the Hau River. Upon arrival, you will proceed to Ong Pagoda in the heart of Cần Thơ. Situated on the riverbank, the temple was built by Chinese immigrants in the late 19th century to worship the god Kuan Kung. Admire its red-brick facade and green striped tile roof topped with exotic porcelain statues. Inside, smell the incense that wafts from the many burners hung from the ceiling, and view the statue of Kuan Kung flanked by the gods of earth and finance. After, you will check in to your hotel and have dinner. (D)

Day 2 - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

After breakfast, head to Ninh Kiều Wharf, where you will board a boat for a panoramic cruise along the Cần Thơ River through the verdant Mekong Delta. Visit the bustling Cái Răng floating market, where vendors advertise their wares by hanging a sample off the top of a long pole. After checking out of your hotel, journey by motor coach to Vĩnh Long. Here, board your boat for a leisurely cruise through the small canals that dot the region. View the traditional stilt houses and tropical fruit plantations that line the banks. Meet local fishermen and learn about their fishing techniques, then visit a brick kiln to see how locals create beautiful ceramics. After, you will return to the pier and transfer to your ship. (B, L)

Behold the world’s largest religious structure on a visit to Angkor Wat and tour the sights of Ho Chi Minh City. Marvel at the magnificent temples of Siem Reap’s Angkor Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and explore Vietnam’s vibrant capital city during your three-night excursion. Please note: sites on this program are not accessible and cannot accommodate guests who rely on a walker, wheelchair or motorized scooter/wheelchair.

Day 1 - Siem Reap, Cambodia

Take a morning flight from Sihanoukville airport to Siem Reap, gateway to the Angkor Archaeological Park. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel, where you will have free time to relax on your own before enjoying an dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, followed by a traditional Cambodian show. (D)

Day 2 - Siem Reap, Cambodia

Enjoy breakfast before driving to Ta Prohm Temple, famous for its towering fig trees. Admire classic examples of Khmer art and architecture at the Angkor Thom complex. Delight in a cooking demonstration, where you will discover the key components of Khmer cuisine and sample them for lunch. Rest at your hotel, then drive through the countryside to see traditional villages. Watch the sunset from a panoramic viewpoint before having dinner at the renowned farm to table restaurant, Lum Orna. (B, L, D)

Day 3 - Siem Reap, Cambodia & Ho Chi Minh City, Cambodia

Wake up for an early morning visit to the magnificent temple complex of Angkor Wat, the largest of the monuments of Angkor. Here, watch the sunrise before returning to your hotel for breakfast. Journey back to Angkor Wat to explore more of this ancient site. After lunch, transfer to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Drive to your hotel, to enjoy free time. In the evening, discover the bustling city of Saigon and experience a lively, colorful folklore performance, followed by dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 4 - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Have breakfast, then visit the Museum of Vietnamese History. Explore collections of historical artifacts, including valuable relics from Angkor Wat, Buddha statues and mother-of-pearl inlays. Continue to the famed neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral and the Reunification Palace, the former residence of the president of South Vietnam, then visit the Minh Phuong Lacquer Factory to discover the art of one of Vietnam’s most popular exports. After lunch, explore Bến Thành Market before heading to your ship. (B, L)

Enjoy an overnight stay in the Cambodian capital and learn about its royal heritage and political past. Phnom Penh is the nation’s modern center of commerce, explore its cultural heritage with a visit to the Royal Palace complex and learn about its political past at the genocide museum. Please note: sites on this program are not accessible and cannot accommodate guests who rely on a walker, wheelchair or motorized scooter/wheelchair.

Day 1 - Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Depart your ship in Sihanoukville and enjoy a scenic drive through stunning scenery and a patchwork landscape of rice paddy fields. You will arrive in Phnom Penh to check in at your First-Class hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Your Viking Tour Director will be on hand to help you make the most out of your visit. This evening, enjoy a delicious welcome dinner with your fellow guests. (D)

Day 2 - Phnom Penh, Cambodia

After breakfast, join your guide for a tour of Cambodia’s iconic landmarks, first heading to the Royal Palace by motor coach. Within the Royal Palace compound lies the Silver Pagoda, often called the “Pagoda of the Emerald Buddha.” Admire the Baccarat crystal sculpture atop its gilded pedestal and the adjacent gold Buddha adorned with more than 2,000 diamonds. Depart the palace and continue your tour to the Tuol Sleng Museum. Discover the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge, when in 1975 Tuol Svay High School became an interrogation and torture center known as Security Prison 21. The museum showcases photographs and exhibits that tell the story of thousands of victims who suffered a terrible fate in their captors’ hands. Finally, visit Wat Phnom, a sacred Buddhist pagoda that has graced the capital’s skyline since 1373. Rejoin your ship this evening, enjoying a stop for lunch en route. (B, L)

Immerse yourself in Thailand’s cultural treasures during visits to the Grand Palace and ancient Ayutthaya. Discover some of Bangkok’s most celebrated sites during an overnight stay in the city, where you will call at the Grand Palace and walk through the magnificent temples of Ayutthaya. Please note: sites on this program are not accessible and cannot accommodate guests who rely on a walker, wheelchair or motorized scooter/wheelchair.

Day 1 – Bangkok, Thailand

Transfer from your ship to the 18th-century Grand Palace, once home to the Kings of Siam—modeled on Ayutthaya’s old royal palace, it consists of dozens of buildings, temples and courtyards. View its towering spires and colorful tiled roofs, and see its famed Emerald Buddha statue. After lunch, travel by tuk-tuk to the Pak Khlong Talad market, then embark on a boat ride along the city’s waterways. Later, check into your hotel and enjoy dinner, accompanied by a dance performance. (B, L, D)

Day 2 – Bangkok, Thailand

After breakfast, depart for Ayutthaya, the former capital of Thailand. Founded during the mid-14th century, this ancient city was once one of the largest and wealthiest in the world. Explore this UNESCO-listed site and visit two of its major temples, Wat Phra Si Sanphet and Wat Maha That. Following lunch at a nearby restaurant, continue to the Bang Pa-In Palace to view its impressive collection of pavilions, designed with international influences. After, return to your ship. (B, L)