Vietnam & Cambodia Tour: Getaway for Couples

The maze-like streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter have acted as the heart of the city for over 1,000 years. Medieval architecture holds a sense of drama that surrounds the fast-paced movement of motorbikes and pulsating calls of street vendors. The scent of fresh noodles and fish soup fill the air in the morning with merchants squeezing between the rows of alleys and narrow two-story buildings. The aromas of anise and clove spill out of a shop selling traditional medicines and religious Buddhist paraphernalia.

Your guide will greet you in the lobby of your hotel after breakfast eager to introduce you to the wonders of Hanoi and the romantic ambiance hidden inside the city. Hoan Kiem Lake acts as a charming respite from the surrounding movement of the city nestled into the southern edge of bustling Old Town. The picturesque Huc Bridge reflects in the calm waters, and the lake reaches an area of 30 acres with the bridge acting like a favorite spot for couples to stroll.

The slight arch over the lake creates a grand viewing point for seeing the grass fields and the banks of the famous Red River. In the morning, locals practice T’ai Chi on the shore as you can continue to the 18th-century Ngoc Son Temple on Jade Island. The Turtle Tower stands beside the temple overlooking the group of large soft-shell turtles paddling in the lake waters. The temple itself was dedicated to General Tran Hung Dao who defeated the Mongolian hordes of 300,000 troops in the 13th century.

In the morning, the twin bell tower of St. Joseph Cathedral’s 19th-century façade soars above the small plaza, and the sunlight shines through the remarkably designed stained-glass windows. The preserved structure of Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House remains standing in the quiet garden above the carp-filled pond. After breakfast, your private transfer will escort you to the shores of Halong Bay. The gorgeous scenery encompasses more than 1,600 limestone islands spanning 580 square miles. You will board your traditional wooden junk ship and venture out onto the crisp turquoise water.

The briny aroma fills the air as you pass the captivating karsts protruding from the South China Sea. For a romantic excursion along the water, you can take kayaks to the serene sands of Monkey Island. The beach is named for the long-tailed macaques populating the island and the sands in search of forgotten foods. They can grow up to 22 inches tall with a tail reaching an extra 26 inches in length.

For a more adventurous outing, you can scramble up the rocky ridges leading to the peak of the island for sensational views over the rising karsts and a tranquil sea of Halong Bay. Back on Cat Ba Island, you can enjoy one of the best views of Vietnam at Cannon Fort. The astounding panoramas overlook the hills flush with jungle leading down to the tangle of fishing boats filling the harbor. The battlements and large antique gun emplacements were installed by the Japanese during World War II but used in subsequent conflicts by both the French and Vietnamese.

In the morning, an instructor leads willing participants in T’ai Chi on the deck of the boat at sunrise. The slow movements imitate the water for a relaxing experience offering a different perspective on the traditions of Vietnam, as well as a new view of the glassy waters and powerful karsts. The boat returns to dock at Halong Bay, where you will continue back to Hanoi by a private transfer. Before you reach Hanoi, you can stop at Thay Temple, an 11th-century edifice built during the reign of Nhân Tông of the Ly dynasty.

The structure is one of the oldest preserved temples in Vietnam and remains the home of monks known for maintaining the grounds and performing water puppet theater during certain festivals throughout the lunar calendar year. The complex has three sections, including the entrance prayer hall and the middle chamber, which hosts images of Buddhas and an eclectic array of demons. A triptych of Buddha and the disciples in the main hall dates back to the temple’s founding. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy the fascinating movement of the capital city and the charms scattered across the high-rises and hidden alleyways.

Over breakfast, you can indulge in the rich flavor of celebrated Vietnamese coffee, made of roasted beans sourced from the hills of the countryside while slow-dripping condensed milk into the brew for an extra layer of decadence, thickness, and elevated sweetness. Your private transfer will greet you in the lobby and escort you to the airport for your brief flight to Phu Quoc Airport. Phu Quoc Island is the largest island in the country and popular for its fringing white-sand beaches and dense tropical jungle. Scuba divers and snorkelers travel to the illustrious reefs and kayakers paddle in the serene glassy waters of the various bays.

The aroma of fresh lobster cooked with lime juice and salt drifts out of the seaside restaurants and black pepper plants flower across the fields. Bask in the luxuries of your gorgeous accommodations and the romantic ambiance of the tropical destination within Vietnam at your preferred pace for the remainder of the day. Sao Beach is celebrated for the picturesque, soft, white sand and the delicate curve of the coastline as it bends outward toward the water. Small restaurants offer delicious seafood blending the scent of grilled prawns with the briny aroma of the sea. You can relax on a lounge chair and scour the water searching for signs of corals. Starfish and sea urchin wash onto the sands in October and September shining beneath the shallow waters of the rising tide.

In the morning, you can make an excursion into the Phu Quoc National Park, which comprises more than half of the northern region on the island encompassing more than 337,988 square feet. The biosphere reserve was established in 2010 to protect the distinctive flora and fauna of the region, which includes dense mountain ranges and evergreen forest crowned by Mount Chua, the tallest peak in the park at over 1,968 feet above sea level. You will travel the path on a motorbike and roll over the dirt roads in search of active wildlife in the cooler morning air. Your guide will stop the bike and point into the trees at a perching oriental pied hornbill.

The medium-sized bird can grow to 23 inches with a wingspan that extends to 14 inches wide. The sunlight shining over the plumage reveals a slight green sheen to the feathers. Males have a yellow bill and a black base with bright red eyes, along with the notable features of the horn-like feature above their beak. They call out with a crackle and bray similar to a crow. You can also notice the Blue-eared barbet twittering in the trees. Their green feathers blend in with the surrounding leaves, but their bright blue throat and orange cheeks stand out like fruits against the lush backdrop for a vision unlike anywhere else in the tropical climate of Vietnam. They are often found in the mixed woodlands climbing to over 5,000 feet above sea level.

After breakfast, you can venture out onto the roads of Phu Quoc Island to visit some of the remarkable temples, beginning with Ho Quoc Pagoda. The remote coastal road leading past Sao Beach hosts a stairway leading to the temple gates. The winding pathway highlights the light blue sky reflecting in the water of Bai Dam Beach below with a series of green hills rolling away from the coastline. Ho Quoc Pagoda was erected in 2012 in the traditional style of a historic Vietnamese temple hosting a Quan Am statue and a giant bell.

The mixture of the sea breeze and jungle warmth creates a dynamic ambiance before you continue to Dinh Cau Rock Temple. The structure was erected in 1937 to commemorate the sea goddess whom local fishers continue to pray to each morning before venturing out onto the water. The temple’s rooftop terrace offers a marvelous view of the sunset as the classic fiery colors of the dusk layer the horizon and replicate on the white sands of Dinh Cau Beach. The fishing boats wading in the small marina add another layer of charm to the beautiful coastline.

In the evening, you will meet your guide eager to introduce you to the traditional flavors and simple techniques for making proper Vietnamese cuisine. Enter a private kitchen where the aromas of lemongrass and ginger fill the air while the food culture of the island involves the popular ingredients of black pepper and fish sauce. One of the dishes your instructor will help you to craft is the special dish known as boletus soup. The mushrooms needed to produce the dish only last for a week after the rain. The chef includes squid, shrimp, minced meat, and spicy black pepper for a combination of unforgettable, mouthwatering flavors.

The sensual sounds of water trundling over granite boulders along Soui Da Ban lead to deep pools ready for visitors to dip into the cool, refreshing spots away from the whitewater. Indulge in the comforts of your luxury accommodations on Phu Quoc with a couple’s spa treatment taking the time to relax in view of the swaying palm trees amid the scent of fresh pineapple sharing in the delights of the island. The traditional signature treatments ease you into the soothing ambiance with warm herbal aromas and compress. Your muscles unwind as your massage therapist explains the importance of utilizing the four elements of fire, water, air, and earth to help revitalize your body.

You will notice that the interior décor offers a combination of bronze and wood elements, as well as textured stones that interplay the beauty of light and dark for a more intimate experience. Before your massage, you can spend time in the couple’s steam room allowing the heat and the moisture to relax in a private setting. After relaxing in the comforts of the spa, you have the evening to spend at the vibrant Dinh Cau Night Market. The pedestrian-friendly marketplace consists of nearly 100 stalls brimming with street snacks, popular beverages, and fresh seafood, and local delicacies. The scent of rice noodles and deep-fried shrimps joins the comfortable sea breeze. Souvenir booths offer t-shirts, slippers, and handmade jewelry taking place each night until midnight.

At breakfast, the aroma of Vietnamese coffee fills the hotel dining room before your private transfer greets you in the lobby. You will quickly reach the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon. The metropolis buzzes with an unparalleled energy that blends the fast pace of commerce with modern culture, pulsating over the vitality of the historical life. As the city pushes towards the future, it retains a sense of timelessness infused in the alleyways and protruding pagodas rising to meet the shadows of the contemporary high-rises.

The 19th-century twin bell-towers of Notre Dame Cathedral juxtapose the traditional architectural style of the 18th-century Giac Lam Pagoda, the oldest temple in the city. After spending time relaxing in the comforts of your luxury accommodations, you can reach the banks of the Saigon River and board an elegant riverboat to cruise down the atmospheric waterfront. The skyline glitters with light as the dining room fills with the aromas of delectable Vietnamese cuisine accompanied by live, traditional entertainment. The air of romance drifts down the shores of the Saigon River with the sounds of the two-string guitar known as Dan Nguyet accompanying the delicious scent of bun cha.

In the morning, delve into the distinctive history of the Vietnam-American War with a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels. The network of caves spread through much of Vietnam and account for over 155 miles of meandering systems instrumental in helping the Viet Cong. Soldiers hid during combat but also used the networks as supply routes, hospital stations, dining areas, weapon caches, and living quarters. Approximately 75 miles of the tunnels have opened to tourists as part of the war memorial park with many of the tunnels enlarged to accommodate visitors. You will enter through the narrow hole in the ground that is nearly camouflaged in the soil.

The cool air of the tunnels contrasts with the tropical heat above the ground while displays offer insight into the different types of booby traps used during the war, as well as examples of simple meals soldiers ate. You will return to Saigon with a different view of the city’s evolution between its stance as the center of American forces, a city taken back by Vietnam, and a modern capitalist enclave.

After breakfast, your private transfer will take you from your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap. The city in Cambodia is considered the gateway to the Angkor complex and the cultural capital of Khmer heritage. While most people visit the city for access to the ancient temples, the epicenter of Siem Reap has revitalized itself with a range of luxurious hotels, fantastic restaurants, full-service spas, stunning markets, and remarkable shopping. Enjoy a moment of relaxation in the comforts of your accommodations before setting out to view an Apsara dance performance in the evening. The recital captures the artistic heritage of Cambodia stretching back thousands of years to pre-Angkor times, most notably during the 7th century AD.

Apsaras were believed to be ancient female creatures shining with beauty who descended from the heavens to entertain kings and gods with slow, hypnotic movements. The elaborate costumes accentuate the beauty of the motions by adding a layer of luster to majestic dances with each piece of ornamentation maintain their own meaning. Before entering the recital, you learn that the dancers must know 4,500 basic moves and gestures before performing, perfecting deceptively simple gestures like rolling hips or small motions for the arms resulting in strenuous, elegant postures.

Wake up before sunrise in the comforts of your luxury accommodations and meet your guide in the lobby for an exceptional view of Angkor Wat’s famous sunrise. Instead of lining up in the complex of the most notable temple for which the greater archeological treasure is known, you will step into a gondola for one of the most unique experiences in all of Southeast Asia. A helium balloon will lift your gondola upwards of nearly 394 feet in the air for the most romantic morning view in Cambodia. The breathtaking panorama spreads across the iconic towers of Angkor Wat. The stunning complex encompasses 402 acres with temples dating back to the 12th century during the reign of King Suryavarman II.

The central tower on the temple represents Mount Meru, the home of the gods, with the walls circling the exterior symbolizing the mountains encircling the cosmos. Friezes spanning the interior contain images of apsaras and dancing male figures mounted on prancing animals. You can get a glimpse of monks draped in burnt-sage robes emerging from the trees as the sunlight peaks over the horizon. The morning glow frames the temple spires glinting against the main wat. After witnessing sunrise over the elegant and dramatic figure embodying the spirit of Cambodia, you can enter the magnificent architectural feat to view the famous bas-relief depicting the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, which hosts 88 asuras battling 92 devas churning the sea and possessing the elixir of immortality.

The unique “Great Lake” of Cambodia is known as Tonle Sap, and is located less than nine miles north of Siem Reap but encompasses an area of 1,000 square miles. The waters of the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers account for the tapestry of natural and agricultural habitats scattered across Cambodia with Tonle Sap Lake reflecting the slow constant shift of the lower Mekong basin. During the wet season, the waters rise, resulting in an average depth of 45 feet and a greater covered area reaching 4,500 square miles. In the dry season, the water can average depths of three feet.

You will board a boat on the shoreline bound for the famous floating villages on the lake. During the dry season, the homes can tower up to 17 feet above the water but in the wet season, they look as though they float effortlessly as boats along the surface of Tonle Sap. Many of the villagers work as fishers catching upwards of 150 species of freshwater fish, as well as turtles, otters, crocodiles, and snakes. The stilts of the village houses are plunged deep into the marshland and refurbished each season when the waters recede. The village of Chong Kneas if famous for fishers living on houseboats and using similar floating properties for churches and schools on the water.

Pieces of the French influence of Cambodia remain in place, most notably in the morning when the aroma of baguettes and cheese emanate from sporadic street stalls across the city. The artisans at Les Chantiers Écoles return for the day eager to prepare traditionally inspired wood, stone, and silk works nearly lost during the reign of the Khmer Rouge. The artisans hone their skills with young Cambodians, teaching the trade to a new generation to carry forward traditions nearly lost in the civil war. After one last morning to take it all in, your private transfer will greet you at your hotel after breakfast and escort you to Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport for your flight home.