We’ll start the day with a stroll along Hoan Kiem Lake, a prime destination for early morning joggers, tai chi practitioners, and more. If you’re feeling a little grumpy and groggy from jet lag, you might benefit from partaking in some lakeside laughter yoga! Later, we’ll stop into a local cafe to learn how to make egg coffee, a sweet, frothy, and distinctly Hanoian beverage made of egg yolk and condensed milk. With some caffeine in the system, we’ll wind through the maze-like alleyways of the Old Quarter, pausing for our first slurp of pho, followed by a hands-on class for making bun cha (pork belly meatballs), and a meal at one of the city’s iconic courtyard restaurants, nestled in a French villa. Between bites, we’ll be learning about Vietnam and the many wars it has endured—meeting with a former fighter pilot and talking with former PBS host and journalist Nguyen Qui Duc.

This morning, we’ll drive southwest, snaking through suburbs, villages, rice fields, and rolling farmland en route to the Mai Chau River Valley. We’ll stop to visit a local hill tribe here in the valley, and learn about the community’s farming practices. For lunch, we’ll prepare a regional dish under the guidance of our hosts. In the afternoon, we’ll venture deeper into the valley, pausing to stop in and say hi at a local school before ending the day at a nearby village.

We’ll start the day with a rousing walk through the Pu Luong Nature Preserve, a lush, scenic landscape studded with terraced rice fields, carved out and maintained over generations. After a lesson in the complex process of rice cultivation, we’ll return to Noi Bai Airport and hop on a short flight to the old imperial capital of Hue. Arguably the most beautiful city in the country, it was the capital from which Vietnamese emperors ruled the country until French colonization in the late 1800s. We’ll enjoy drinks and views from a rooftop lounge before digging into some distinctive Hue dishes in a Mandarin-style wooden home.

Hue is known for its iconic royal tombs: seven imperial structures adorned with intricate carvings. We’ll visit the tombs of Tu Duc, the longest-reigning monarch of the Nguyen Dynasty, and Khai Dịnh, whose intricate if not flamboyant tomb took over a decade to construct. After, we’ll board a dragon boat back to Hue, where we’ll visit a Buddhist monastery and the vast imperial citadel, modeled after Beijing’s Forbidden City. Of course, we’ll be doing all of this while steadily snacking—munching on some of the world’s most savory banh mi, visiting the local market of Dong Ba, and trying an assortment of treats, including me xung, an addictive sugary sesame snack. Be sure to save some room; tonight we’re breaking bread with Miss Boi Tran, a prominent local artist. 

We’re hitting the road early and heading to Hoi An! This is one of Vietnam’s most scenic routes, and you’ll have the option to cycle if you prefer to travel on two wheels. We’ll pass colorful tombs; endless, emerald rice paddies; white, sandy beaches; and gleaming, blue lagoons. It’ll be a full day on the road, but we’ll pause at local farms, relics from the French and American Vietnam Wars, and, if we’re lucky, a local spot that makes nuoc mam, the highly addictive, oh-so-pungent Vietnamese fish sauce made from concentrated fish brine. With fish on our minds (and possibly our breath), we’ll arrive at our destination. Only 80-odd miles from Hue, Hoi An feels like a separate world from its northern cousin. We’ll spend our first night exploring its distinct architecture, charming coastal city life, and unique cuisine, sampling dishes like savory cao lau soup and delicate white rose dumplings.

Having spent a few days doing lots of eating, today we’re going to cook some of our own! This morning, we'll tour the local market at sunrise, just in time to see local fishermen begin selling their catch. Inspired by the sights and smells, we’ll pick out our own ingredients and tote them to a private studio for a hands-on cooking class. After trying our hand at a few dishes, we’ll take a well-earned break and stroll through the city to explore its galleries, temples, and tailoring shops. Then it’s back to the chopping board—tonight’s dinner entails more cooking!

Today it might feel like we’ve hopped forward a few centuries into the future—or more precisely, to modern Ho Chi Minh City. Also known as Saigon, the city is swarming in an endless sea of scooters (over eight million of them!), battling for space with new luxury sedans. Hidden between gleaming skyscrapers and fast-food chains, however, are alleyways crammed with vendors selling small bowls of soup, grilled meats, sugary sweets, and more. After some serious snacking, we’ll clink glasses atop one of Saigon’s towering skyscrapers overlooking the up-and-coming megalopolis and head to a beloved local restaurant for our farewell dinner. We’ve saved one of the most important cultural experiences here for last—karaoke!

Today, you’ll either head home or continue on our three-day cultural and culinary tour of Cambodia's magnificent Angkor Wat. For those joining for the extension, we'll take a short (1-hour) afternoon flight to Siem Reap, home to both a "bug restaurant" and street spas where adorable, tiny fish nibble on your toes (what's not to love?). No longer simply a base for exploring the nearby Angkor temples, Siem Reap boasts vibrant night markets, a renowned street circus, world-class restaurants, and shopping boutiques. This afternoon, we’ll get our first taste of Khmer cuisine in town before heading out during the day to visit the Rolous group, some of the oldest standing temples built by the Khmers.

Today, we’re exploring some of the most enigmatic temples of Angkor, including the famous Ta Prohm. Erected in 1186 AD by King Jayavarman VII, Ta Prohm has long been abandoned, and powerfully reclaimed by nature—strands of silk cotton hang like delicate tentacles and thick fig tree roots strangle the surviving stones of the ancient monastery. Around midday, we’ll visit a local farm to learn about the ingredients, methods, and preparation of classic Khmer dishes like fish amok. After tasting our creations, we’ll wander through the walled city of Angkor Thom until we arrive at Bayon, a colossal, dizzying 12th-century temple erected for Cambodia’s most celebrated king. Gazing up at its 54 towers—each bearing the softly smiling faces of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion—is an otherworldly experience. Later, we'll meet a street circus troupe and learn about their training at the performing arts center in Battambang. In case you haven’t been dazzled enough today, they’re putting on a show for us!

Nestled in the jungles of Angkor lies one of the site’s most mysterious and quietly alluring marvels. At Kbal Spean, or “Valley of 1,000 Lingas,” water rushes over a series of intricately carved stones. Likely dating back to the 11th or 12th century, the carvings depict a variety of designs, from Hindu deities to circles believed to be phallic symbols of divine power. Once we return from our hike, we’ll visit a temple known as Banteay Srei, or "the citadel of women,” an old moniker meant to suggest that the carvings are too elaborate and fine to have been done by men. Later, we’ll learn about the longstanding impact of war and genocide on the country, and the many victims of landmines in Cambodia. We’ll visit a nearby silk farm for lunch, where we’ll get a tour, explore the production of silk products from cocoon to loom, and even try our hands at weaving.

Built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat is the largest religious building on the planet. The spellbinding structure was once the centerpiece of what is now thought to have been the largest pre-industrial city in the world, with an elaborate water management system connecting at least 620 miles of urban sprawl and over a million inhabitants. This morning, we’ll explore the grounds and check out the delicately carved bas-reliefs, which chronicle eight different Hindu stories. Later, we’ll return to Siem Reap to bid adieu to Cambodia while munching on street snacks and a traditional Khmer lunch. With full hearts and bellies, we’ll say our goodbyes. Until our next adventure!