Vietnam & Cambodia: from Ho Chi Minh to the Temples of Angkor

Transfer and immediate check-in to a central hotel on the Saigon River. The hotel has twenty newly-refurbished floors, with a rooftop swimming pool, and all the usual amenities including restaurants, lounges, a spa and gym.
Included in the itinerary - Must-sees of Ho Chi Minh City otherwise known as 'The Pearl of the Far East'. Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, the Central Market and the Museum of Vietnamese History all mark the various stages of French colonisation, from the Roman Gothic architecture of the cathedral to the Indochinese motifs on the museum and the Eiffel-designed post office. Then, take a rickshaw to Cholon, the Chinese quarter, to see the temple of Thien Hau (goddess of the sea), the church of Saint Joan of Arc and the Binh Tay Market. You could also visit a lacquerware workshop.

Included in the itinerary - Head to Sa Dec. The famous French noverlist, Marguerite Duras's, mother ran a school in the Mekong Delta village (now Trung Vuong Elementary School), which you'll visit as well as the family home of the famous French novelist's Chinese lover. The small Confucian temple Kien An Cung is beautiful; it was built in the 1920s by the Hoa, a Sino-Vietnamese minority, and is also well worth a visit.
You'll stay overnight stay in Can Tho on the bank of the Hau (a branch of the Mekong Delta). The hotel has modern, clean and bright colonial architecture, a large outdoor swimming pool (which flows into an indoor swimming pool), beautiful airy rooms, elegant furniture and wonderful bedding. Its lovely gardens, spa and fantastic restaurant all make your hotel the best place to stay in the delta. Enjoy an evening stroll along the hotel pier on the Bassac or Hau rivers.

Included in the itinerary - In the morning, board a boat for a tour of the floating market, where colourful and flavourful produce from the surrounding farms are sold. Then cycle a few miles around the Can Tho countryside.
Spend the night in Chau Doc on the banks of the Hau River (which you will have just sailed along). The features of the hotel are very similar to your hotel in Can Tho. The restaurant's terrace, which overlooks the caramel waters of the Bassac river, is particularly pleasant. Chau Doc's breakfast is one of the highlights of the trip. The spa here is also a particular highlight.

Included in the itinerary - Visit the Chau Phu Temple, built in 1926 in memory of a high-ranking official of the Nguyen Dynasty who established the border with Cambodia. Then, head to Sam Mountain, three miles south-west of Chau Doc. Many pilgrims visit the temples and pagodas on this mountain. On the way to the top, there are refreshments and hammocks available (however, we recommend carrying on – even if it means stopping on the way back for a rest – because the view over the delta and the rice paddies is truly magnificent). Finally, take a boat to a village on stilts which is home to a Cham bani community, which practises Islam with hints of Hinduism and Buddhism. Enjoy a free afternoon. Overnight stay in Chau Doc.

Boat transfer to Phnom Penh. Stay in a central hotel, just minutes from the west bank of the Bassac River, the right branch of the Mekong. The hotel has colonial touches with its motifs, furniture and references to famous hotels in Southeast Asia. The rooms are lovely. The restaurant serves Cambodian, European and Argentinian asado cuisine. There's a swimming pool and spa for a spot of well-deserved relaxation.
Included in the itinerary - A tour of Phnom Penh in a rickshaw. Go on a walk with an archaeologist private guide to discover the remarkable buildings from the protectorate era. The Central Market is a splendid Art Deco building whose renovation is still ongoing.

Included in the itinerary - Phnom Penh Khmer. Discover the extraordinary collections of Khmer ethnography and art at the National Museum; the Royal Palace, whose construction began in 1866 under King Norodom I (the silver pagoda at the palace has a Baccarat crystal Buddha and a golden statue of the Bodhisattva Maitreya set with diamonds); and the hill-dwelling Wat Phnom, after which the city was named.
Transfer to the airport and flight to Siem Reap. Four-night stay in a hotel that, like many others, is located in a garden, displays suitable modern art and serves seasonal cuisine. But, unlike many others, it doesn't try to be rustic, and boasts a comforting urban feel.

Included in the itinerary - Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. Ride in a tuk-tuk as you visit two great landmarks of the former capital of the Khmer Empire. Angkor Wat, the temple and capital city of Suryavarman II, was built in the 12th century and is the largest and best-preserved monument on the site. Restoration projects here remain ongoing with teams of archaeologists working with the latest technologies to make new discoveries. The collection of statues is particularly impressive. Buddhist worship continues in the shrine (which was first dedicated to Vishnu). Jayavarman VII built the Royal City of Angkor Thom in the early 13th century. The immense carved faces of the southern gate are unforgettable; the natural Bayon bas-relief sculptures and the central temple are astonishing. One of our favourite experiences is an evening spent watching a contemporary circus show (using traditional and modern techniques) featuring the students of the Phare Ponleu Selpak association, which works to improve the development of local communities through education in the arts.

Included in the itinerary - An expert guide will take you to Beng Mealea, a 12th century temple whose design was used as a model for Angkor Wat. Phnom Kulen, which translates as the Mountain of the Lychees, is also a must-visit. The sandstone riverbed at Kbal Spean, with its linga (representations of Shiva) and yoni (representations of Shakti) carvings, is a masterpiece of ancient art. Then, head to the site of the former city of Isvarapura, 12 miles north-east of Angkor; here, there's the Banteay Srei temple, dedicated to Shiva, which was looted by French novelist Andre Malraux. This is a beautiful, well-preserved pink sandstone temple from the 10th century, adorned with a wide array of art. A visit to a palm sugar producer brings you back into touch with everyday life in the area.

Included in the itinerary - Take a boat out on Tonle Sap lake. You'll visit the lake's floating village and the flooded forest of Kompong Phluk. This life on stilts, where everything depends on the river, feels like a different era and a different world. In the afternoon, travel east of Angkor Thom to see the Ta Prohm temple, a 12th century Buddhist school. Its beauty lies in the invasion of the sprawling roots of false hemp trees, and it's in the same state that it was in when the sacred area was rediscovered by the first archaeologists. Day with an expert guide.