Highlights of the Vietnam Tour include:
$5,450+
9 days / Nights
$800 deposit secures your spot!
SOLD OUT – JOIN THE WAITLIST!
Final payment due by January 21, 2027
Cancellation fees apply. Please read our Booking Terms and Conditions before registering. If paying via PayPal, click on the ‘Click here to register’ button. You can sign in as a guest and do not need a PayPal account.
* SORRY – THIS TOUR IS SOLD OUT!
If you would like to be put on the waiting list in case of a cancellation OR would like to be alerted about future tours to Vietnam & Cambodia, please contact us!
Vietnam & Cambodia Itinerary: March 22 – April 6, 2027
Our adventure starts in Hanoi on March 22, 2027. If you’d like to arrive early, we can arrange additional hotel nights prior to the tour.
The tour ends in Ho Chi Minh City (unless you are joining us for the Cambodia add-on, in which case the tour ends in Siem Reap).
Day 1 – Hanoi
Monday, March 22, 2027
Meals: Dinner
Upon landing at Noi Bai International Airport, you’ll be met by a driver and taken to our hotel in Hanoi (about 35 minutes away) for the start of our adventure!
Depending on your arrival time, you may have a chance to relax before we convene for a welcome dinner.
Overnight at the Grand Mercure Hotel or similar in Hanoi.
Day 2 – Hanoi
Tuesday, March 23, 2027
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today after breakfast, we’ll begin a full day of sightseeing in the country’s capital. We’ll start with a visit to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where the former leader lies in state. We’ll also tour the modest home where he lived as well as the Ho Chi Minh Museum.
From there, we’ll visit the One Pillar Pagoda, a Buddhist temple that’s considered the most unique pagoda in Asia.
We’ll have lunch at a local restaurant before visiting and walking the grounds of the Temple of Literature, built in 1070 to honor Confucius.
After visiting these popular sites, we’ll visit a serene teahouse, where a master tea artisan will guide us through the steps of crafting lotus tea, Vietnam’s prized brew. We’ll then head to Craft Link, a fair trade organization that supports artisans (many of them women) by selling and promoting their handicrafts so they can better support themselves and their families.
We’ll take a break in the late afternoon to give you a chance to relax a bit at the hotel before having dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight at the Grand Mercure Hotel or similar in Hanoi.
Day 3 – Hanoi – Mai Chau / Avana Retreat
Wednesday, March 24, 2027
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast at our hotel, we’ll start the four-hour journey to Mai Chau. This mountainous region is inhabited by ethnic minority people who settled here from Thailand many years ago. It includes the Muong, the White Thai and the Hmong.
We’ll arrive in time for lunch at the home of a White Thai family where we’ll learn about their culture and see how they live.
Afterwards, we’ll take a short walk through beautifully terraced rice paddies and small villages, where locals sell souvenirs to help sustain themselves in this relatively remote area.
We’ll then meet up with our bus and drive to our accommodations, a five-star resort located deep in a tropical forest. Here, we’ll not only connect with nature, but we’ll also get to learn more about the tribes who reside nearby.
Dinner will be on your own tonight at the resort so as to provide you with some flexibility. The restaurant here is fantastic, but you might also want to enjoy some downtime at the pool with a cocktail or schedule a spa treatment for yourself!
Overnight at Avana Retreat or similar near Mai Chau.
Day 4 – Mai Chau / Avana Retreat
Thursday, March 25, 2027
Meals: Breakfast
After coming all this way to such a wonderful resort, we don’t want to rush off, so we’ll spend a full day here. While it’s a free day, there are many workshops and programs to attend at the resort. These vary by day, but they include yoga, meditation, batik painting, rattan weaving and more. We might do these as a group or, if there’ssomething special you’d like to try on your own, there’s time to do so today. You might even decide to lounge by the pool or schedule a spa treatment.
Lunch and dinner are not included so as to provide you with the maximum amount of flexibility.
Overnight at Avana Retreat or similar near Mai Chau.
Day 5 – Avana Retreat – Hanoi
Friday, March 26, 2027
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Following breakfast, we’ll have some time in the morning to enjoy the resort before we check out and make our way back to Hanoi (about four hours). You might choose to sleep in a bit and have a late breakfast before our departure as lunch is not included today.
We’ll arrive back at our hotel in Hanoi in the late afternoon. Tonight, dinner is on your own so you can enjoy a meal at the hotel or try one of the fantastic restaurants in the city.
Overnight at the Grand Mercure Hotel or similar in Hanoi.
Day 6 – Hanoi – Ha Long Bay
Saturday, March 27, 2027
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After an early breakfast, we’ll make our way toward Ha Long Bay, about two and a half hours away.
Upon arrival at the port, we’ll transfer to a beautifully outfitted boat for a cruise through the waterways. We’ll sail through emerald green waters and around the limestone karsts that make this area so famous.
After a wonderful lunch served on the boat, we’ll explore the area by bamboo sampan. Locals will row our small boats to and through nearby caves while we relax and take in the views. (Our activities will be at the captain’s discretion and will depend on the weather.)
Back on the boat, the ship will drop anchor in the late afternoon and we can enjoy a refreshing drink while taking in the sunset and having a leisurely dinner on board.
Note: Our itinerary in Ha Long Bay will be subject to the specific boat we’re on as well as the weather conditions. Expect to be flexible on this part of the journey!
Overnight on board our boat in Ha Long Bay.
Day 7 – Ha Long Bay – Hanoi – Da Nang – Hoi An
Sunday, March 28, 2027
Meals: Breakfast, Brunch
If you’re up for it (literally!), you can start the day with coffee and pastries and then a sunrise tai chi class on the upper deck. Afterward, a visit to Cat Ba Island is offered, where you can make the easy hike to caves perched on a hillside. If you’d like to sleep in, you can hang back on the boat for a more relaxing experience.
Once everyone is back on the boat, we’ll make our way to port while enjoying brunch along the way.
We’ll meet up with our bus and driver and make the drive back to Hanoi. Along the way, we’ll stop at a pearl factory to see the fascinating art of crafting pearl jewelry. There is a large gift shop here as well (no pressure!).
We’ll then drive to the airport for our flight to Da Nang and then immediately head to our hotel in Hoi An (about an hour away from the airport).
Dinner is on your own so you can enjoy a leisurely meal at the hotel or at one of the many nearby restaurants.
Overnight at the Moire Hoi An Hotel or similar in Hoi An.
Day 8 – Hoi An
Monday, March 29, 2027
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, we’ll start with a tour of Hoi An’s vibrant central market, where we’ll learn all about the fresh ingredients used to prepare Vietnamese food. We’ll then take a private cooking class with Ms. Vy! Well known to many, Ms. Vy is an authority on Vietnamese cuisine and culture and is also quite the entrepreneur.
During our class, we’ll get to put some of our skills to work and then enjoy the meal we’ve prepared. Of course, we’ll also receive a copy of the recipes!
After lunch, we’ll embark on an afternoon tour of the charming town of Hoi An. We’ll meander through the back streets of the town and explore the merchant homes, temples and markets. We’ll also walk along the busy waterfront, where fishing boats are moored.
We’ll finish our walking tour at a tea house that supports disadvantaged youth.
Dinner will be on your own again as you may be full from lunch and treats from the market!
Overnight at the Moire Hoi An Hotel or similar in Hoi An.
Day 9 – Hoi An
Tuesday, March 30, 2027
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today will be another wonderful day in Hoi An.
We’ll start the day with a scooter ride in the countryside, where we’ll be passengers behind a local driver.
We’ll get outside of the busy central area of Hoi An and pass through many rice paddies on our way to visit villages where locals have small businesses, including making rice crackers, traditional lanterns and growing herbs and spices.
After the scooter tour, we’ll have lunch at a local restaurant and then have the afternoon free to explore Hoi An on our own.
Dinner is on your own this evening to give you the chance to relax at the hotel or enjoy a meal in town at one of the many nearby restaurants.
Overnight at the Moire Hoi An Hotel or similar in Hoi An.
Day 10 – Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City
Wednesday, March 31, 2027
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, we’ll make our way to the airport for our flight to Ho Chi Minh City (which many know as Saigon).
Our flight arrives around noon, so we’ll stop at a restaurant in the city for lunch before taking in some of the city’s sights.
We’ll begin our afternoon tour with some sightseeing that may include the Presidential Palace and Notre Dame Cathedral. These sites will give us a chance to learn about the South’s history, including when Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese on April 30, 1975, as well as why there is such a strong French influence in the country.
Depending on our time, we might visit a museum before finishing our afternoon tour with a stop at the Mekong Quilt Shop. This non-profit store provides jobs to more than 100 underprivileged women in Vietnam and Cambodia. These women work from home, making handicrafts such as beautiful quilts, clothes, jewelry and other products.
We’ll then check in to our hotel. Dinner is on your own tonight to give you a chance to relax and enjoy one of the many nearby restaurants or have a meal at the hotel.
Overnight at the Sofitel Saigon Plaza or similar in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 11 – Ho Chi Minh City
Thursday, April 1, 2027
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today will be a long but very rewarding day as we head out to the Mekong Delta. This is a rich, fertile region that includes countless waterways that crisscross the landscape.
We’ll start by driving about two hours to the port of Ben Tre, one of the country’s most southern provinces. Once here, we’ll board our boat and explore the area via water.
We’ll start with a visit to a coconut processing plant before traveling onward to a brick-making shop.
From here, we’ll take a spin on a bicycle to the village of Phong Nam, where a factory for coconut spirits (yes, alcohol!) is located. We’ll peddle around the village and gardens and visit the home of a local family who rely on fishing, shrimp and farming.
From here, we’ll embark on a sampan and be rowed through small canals to get back to our boat where we’ll have lunch.
We’ll continue touring by taking village roads via bike or foot (your choice) and meet some other locals. Finally, we’ll make our way back to our boat and on to the port at Ben Tre, where our bus will be waiting for our return to Ho Chi Minh City.
Dinner will be on your own so that you can choose to relax after a long day or, if you like, explore the hotel’s restaurant or one of the many eateries nearby.
Overnight at the Sofitel Saigon Plaza or similar in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 12 – Ho Chi Minh City
Friday, April 2, 2027
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
For some, it will be your last full day of the tour, while others will travel on to Cambodia. In either case, today is a free day to explore the city on your own! There are a wide range of things to do, so you can make arrangements as you please. For example:
- Souvenir shop at the local markets (like Ben Thanh Market)
- War Remnants Museum
- Fine Arts Museum
- Notre Dame Cathedral
- Rex Hotel
- Walk the waterfront
Tonight, the group will have a final dinner together in order to say goodbyes for those not continuing on to Cambodia.
Overnight at the Sofitel Saigon Plaza or similar in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 13 – Ho Chi Minh City – Home OR onward to Siem Reap, Cambodia
Saturday, April 3, 2027
Meals: Breakfast
This is our final morning together for the Vietnam portion of the tour. You may take a flight home today, continue your travels onward, or if you like, join us for the Siem Reap, Cambodia add-on where we’ll visit Angkor Wat!
If you’re flying home or onward today, your transfer to the airport is included.
If you’re continuing on to Cambodia with us, the following is our itinerary.
Check out is at noon, and our flight is scheduled for late afternoon. You may leave your bags at the hotel and then explore on your own until our departure for the airport in the early afternoon (exact time to be determined). Lunch is on your own so you can grab a bite to eat at the hotel or while you are out and about.
Upon arrival at Siem Reap Airport, we’ll be met by our guide and taken to our hotel.
Because we’ll be arriving so late in the afternoon/early evening, dinner is not included. You can relax at the hotel or go into the bustling downtown area of Siem Reap to choose one of the many restaurants to have dinner on your own.
Overnight at Treeline Urban Resort or similar in Siem Reap.
Day 14 – Siem Reap
Sunday, April 4, 2027
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, we will depart very early (before 5:00 AM) in order to catch the sunrise at Angkor Wat. This will be a spectacular way to experience this ancient Buddhist complex that was built in the 12th century. At the time, it served as the capital of the Khmer Empire.
While here, we’ll tour Angkor Wat, which covers 81 hectares. We won’t walk the whole complex, but our guide will make sure we see the highlights.
We’ll then head back to the hotel for breakfast and to freshen up a bit.
By late morning, we’ll make our way back to the complex of temples that make up this UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll start by visiting Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm (the jungle temple).
We’ll stop for lunch before going to Banteay Srei, which means citadel of the women. Though relatively small, it’s considered to have some of the finest stone carvings on the planet, and they feature women!
We’ll return in the afternoon so you can relax at the hotel pool or take a walk into town for some shopping.
In the evening, we’ll reconvene for dinner together and attend a performance called Phare Circus. Using theater, music and dance, the performers tell the story of Cambodian culture through a variety of art forms. The school here was started by young refugees who wanted a way to overcome the trauma they endured when living for years under the Khmer Rouge regime. It now helps about 1,200 students every day to hone their skills so that one day they can earn a livable wage.
Overnight at Treeline Urban Resort or similar in Siem Reap.
Day 15 – Siem Reap
Monday, April 5, 2027
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, we’ll visit a couple of fascinating locations that will help us understand Cambodia’s recent history, as well as stop at a number of artisan workshops, specifically ones that support women and young people.
We’ll start by visiting the Apopo Center, where people, rats and dogs are trained in de-mining the countryside. (Cambodia is one of the most mine-affected countries in the world.) This will help add some context to Cambodia’s history.
IAfterward, we’ll go to Wat Thmey Pagoda, informally known as the killing fields of Siem Reap. While there are no “fields” here, like in Phnom Penh, there are exhibits and photographs that will give us the opportunity to learn more about the Khmer Rouge and the genocide that took place in the late 1970s.
We’ll leave the past behind and then visit a couple of places that are helping people secure a better future.
One such place is Artisans Angkor. Created to help young rural people find work near their home villages, it does so by providing them with professional skills where they might otherwise only have limited educational opportunities.
We’ll also visit Satcha, the country’s first handicraft center. Here, they teach artisans to utilize their traditional knowledge while incorporating it into contemporary design. The resulting products appeal to international visitors and also help preserve the local culture and traditions.
We’ll have lunch at a local restaurant, and then you have some free time to relax or do some last-minute shopping in town.
Tonight’s final dinner is at a cultural center, where we’ll learn about the food, music and dance of Cambodia. It all comes together over a fantastic meal and a performance during this very special evening.
Overnight at Treeline Urban Resort or similar in Siem Reap.
Day 16 – Siem Reap – Home (or onward travels)
Tuesday, April 6, 2027
Meals: Breakfast
Today, we’ll return to the airport for our flights home or onward for more travels.
Checkout is at noon, but you can leave your bags at the hotel should your flight be late in the day and you want to do some wandering before heading to the airport.
** Itinerary subject to change without notice.
Booking Details
Dates: March 22 – April 6, 2027
Number of Days: 13 (or 16 with Cambodia)
Land cost for Vietnam: $5,450
Land cost for Cambodia: $890
Flights from Hanoi – Hoi An, Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City: $315 (approximate)
Flights from Ho Chi Minh City – Siem Reap: $380 (approximate)
Single Supplement for Vietnam: $1,525
Single Supplement for Cambodia: $325
Secure your spot by registering with a deposit. As a boutique tour company, we really appreciate checks (mailing address below) as it helps cut down tremendously on bank fees. We ask that if you’re able, please pay the deposit or full amount by check, Venmo or wire transfer.
WanderTours
PO Box 16102
Seattle, WA 98116
For questions, please contact us:
info (at) wandertours (dot) com
206-317-1860
Note: Cancellation fees apply. Please read our Booking Terms and Conditions before registering. If paying via PayPal, click on the ‘Click here to register’ button. You can sign in as a guest and do not need a PayPal account.
Yes! We have payment plans!
Please let us know if you’d like to pay over time. We can invoice you regularly or guide you through setting up regular payments through your bank.
Inclusions
Exclusions
Trip Leader: Beth WhitmanBeth is beyond excited to be escorting this inaugural women-only group to Iceland.
After visiting the country on her own adventure (including a 200+ mile run down the center of the island), she knew others would love to experience the beauty of this dramatic island.
Beth is the author of the Wanderlust and Lipstick guides including The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo and For Women Traveling to India. She is the publisher and founder of Wanderlust and Lipstick and WanderTours and the host of the She’s Bold podcast, which can be found through your favorite podcast provider.
If you’re traveling on your own and are interested in sharing the cost of a shared room with another traveler in Buenos Aires, we’ll do our best to pair up travelers so as to avoid the single supplement. Priority is given to the first deposits received. If you’re interested in sharing, please send in your deposit as soon as possible in order to take advantage of this benefit. (Why a single supplement charge? See this FAQ page for an explanation.)
Looking to share a room? Check out this post to see what’s available.
Testimonials…
The itinerary was great, covering a lot of ground (geographical, historic, rural/urban, etc.) in an effective manner. Highlights for me were the mystical Avana retreat setting, the canoe ride on the Mekong, our welcoming hostess in Mai Chau, and the sobering tour in Siem Reap of the Apopo Center and the Killing Fields.
Barbara T.
WanderTours are full of learning opportunities, enjoyable experiences and new friends. The educational opportunities for learning about the countries and cultures and the camaraderie of the women worked particularly well on this tour. Learning about the suffering of citizens in Vietnam and Cambodia and their gracious approach towards recovery was very meaningful.
Sharon A.
The itinerary, the food and the accommodations all worked well on this tour. It was meaningful for me to see the contrast of North and South Vietnam and visit infamous sites in Saigon. Beth’s attention to details and her wonderful personality make each tour participant feel special.
Joanne M.
We partner with Travel Insured International so that you have ability to purchase “cancel for any reason” insurance. We HIGHLY recommend travel insurance (no matter who your provider is) to protect your travel investment from any future issues.