Vietnam and Cambodia

We explore more of this city today, first visiting the National Museum of Vietnamese History, which contains bronzes from the Dong Son culture of 3 BC. In the afternoon we visit Ho Chi Minh’s simple traditional Stilt House, his Mausoleum, which demonstrates the honour still paid to him today. We take a walk past the walls of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 11^th century, to the Temple of Literature, a Confucian temple for scholars which dates from 1070, and also the excavations at Hanoi Citadel.

We hop on a flight south to Hue this morning, Vietnam’s capital until 1945. Upon arrival, we view the Nam Giao esplanade, once a site where Nguyen Kings offered sacrifices to heaven and earth and now inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list as part of the Hue Monument Complex. Before dinner, we enjoy a welcome reception at the former garden house of Princess Ngoc Son.

This morning we travel to the Thien Mu Pagoda, a seven-storey symbol of the city, built in 1601, and home to a mighty bell said to be audible up to 10 kilometres away. We enter the 19th century Imperial City of the Nguyen Dynasty, where the remains of the Forbidden Purple City lie. Little is now left of this once magnificent residence, to which only the emperor, his concubines, and eunuchs were admitted. Before lunch, we have a short transfer by buggy to the renowned Museum of Royal Antiquities, then in the afternoon, we visit the Royal Tomb of Thieu Tri, the only royal tomb not enclosed by physical walls.

We start the day with a visit to Tu Duc’s Mausoleum — one of the most beautiful works of royal architecture of the Nguyen Dynasty designed by the Emperor himself, and built amid frangipani and pine trees. We depart Hue by heading south along the coast, via the spectacular Hai Van Pass, from where we enjoy dramatic views of the Annamite Range and the glittering South China Sea. Arriving in the city of Da Nang, we follow lunch by the river with a visit to the Cham Museum. This quaint building houses the world’s best collection of religious sculptures from the Cham culture, dating from the 5th to the 15th centuries. Our journey continues through the Marble Mountains to the well-preserved trading port and World Heritage Site of Hoi An, a delightful city whose patchwork of styles and architecture reflects a rich cultural heritage.

Today, we make our way inland to My Son, the religious centre of the Cham people, stopping at the Champa empire’s first capital, Tra Kieu, along the way. My Son is believed to be the longest inhabited archaeological site in Indochina. More than 70 Hindu temples and tombs are nestled amongst the wooded hills here, all dedicated to the goddess, Shiva. The site was also a burial place for the Cham kings. We spend a full day exploring these romantic ruins before returning to the sea breezes and bustle of Hoi An in the late afternoon.

This morning is free to discover Hoi An at our leisure. Browse the shops for local arts and crafts, stroll past the creaking old merchant houses, cross the famous covered bridge, or breathe in the city’s ambience with a local coffee in hand. This afternoon we return to Da Nang for a flight to Siem Reap in north western Cambodia.

Our journey this morning takes us to the Roluos group of 9th century temples – some of the earliest Khmer structures ever found, and once the seat of the ancient Khmer capital Hariharalaya. A magical site fringed with palm trees. Following lunch, we continue to the remote temple complex of Banteay Srei (‘Citadel of Beauty’) where exquisite Angkorian reliefs shine out from pink sandstone, many as detailed and precise as if they had been carved only yesterday, not several centuries ago. Among the many highlights here are the ornate library buildings, and the three central towers, adorned with deities.

We rise early and delve into the fortified city of Angkor Thom. An astounding location dominated by giant stone heads of the Buddha, and which features the stunningly carved ceremonial Terrace of Elephants and the Leper King, the temples of Phimeanakas, Baphoun and Bayon, and the Royal Palace. If time permits, we discover some of Cambodia’s lesser-known temples, including Ta Prohm, a Buddhist monastery held together by banyan and strangler fig roots.

An early start brings us to Cambodia’s most famous wonder: the outstanding Angkor Wat. We cross the moat into the site just after sunrise to avoid the crowds, and maximise our time exploring this enormous complex, with its assortment of Khmer capital buildings; a testament to the powers of this incredible civilisation. As well as taking in the site’s best-known monuments, we also visit the smaller temples of Ta Som, Preah Khan and Baray Reach Dak, which are rarely visited by Western tourists. Enjoy time at leisure in the afternoon.

We spend a day at the Kulen National Park, the site of the first capital, founded by King Jayavarman II. We visit the famed River of the Lingas, the bed of which is carved with 1000 carved lingas, dedicated to the god Shiva, and the giant reclining Buddha at Preah Ang Thom.

Today we visit the large Angkor National Museum. The museum’s eight galleries cover the history of Khmer civilization and it is particularly noted for its fine collection of sculpture from the Angkor period and later. Enjoy free time this afternoon in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, we transfer to Siem Reap airport for our independent onward journeys.