Vietnam & Cambodia: A Tailor-Made Adventure From Hanoi to Koh Rong

Hanoi: A Vintage Welcome & Streetlife Energy
We touched down in Hanoi and after a short rest were whisked through the city by vintage jeep, winding past vibrant markets, whirring motorbikes and the world-famous Train Street. For the bold, our local experts arranged Vespa adventures—zipping through the alleys before a delicious local lunch at Hidden Gem. Also we included the hair-raising experience of Train Street.   Every detail of our day was flawlessly organised by our Hanoi ground team, the kind of insider service our clients love.

Foodie Heaven

The next 24 hours were a food lover’s dream sampling authentic Hanoi street eats during a guided night tour, before diving into the night markets for some shopping. A morning spent at a local cooking school saw us create spring rolls, pho, and beef salad from scratch - an immersive, hands-on highlight.

Halong Bay: Mystical Waters & Limestone Majesty
Journeying through Halong Bay felt almost mythical.  After the recent storms cleared, we cruised between surreal limestone pinnacles, kayaked amongst playful monkeys and explored ancient caves. Dining on deck with twinkling lights all around then sleeping onboard made for memories I’ll never forget. At sunrise, we climbed over 500 steps atop Ti Top Island for unbeatable views before a cooling swim - true bucket-list material.

Hue: Trains, Temples & Local Hospitality
Next came the legendary overnight train to Hue. While not for the faint-hearted, it was a classic Vietnamese adventure! In Hue our days were filled with rickshaw rides, quiet pagoda visits, a feast with a local farming family (complete with a dragon dance from their children) and the highlight for me was zipping by motorbike through historic streets and countryside. Want an authentic, deeper look at Vietnam? This is it.

Hoi An: City of Lanterns & Laid-Back Magic
Hoi An stole my heart twice over. By night the river sparkled with lanterns while we made wishes and soaked in vibrant nightlife. By day we cycled through emerald paddy fields, visited local farmers, spun wildly in coconut boats and relaxed on An Bang beach. There’s simply nowhere like it for shopping, reflection, or soaking up that quintessential Southeast Asian magic.

Ho Chi Minh City & The Mekong Delta: Life on the Water and Underground
Flying into Ho Chi Minh City we reflected on the contrasts of the War Remnants Museum and its horrors to the thriving, modern city it now is.  We explored the Mekong Delta cruising jungle-fringed rivers, hopping from village to village via tuk tuk and sampan,and tasting the region’s best local produce. A speedboat journey took us out the Cu Chi Tunnels followed, soaking up Saigon’s dynamic skyline on the way.  Then venturing underground to experience the resilient spirit and of the Vietnamese people during the hardest times of war.

Siem Reap, Cambodia: Living History & Contemporary Buzz
An early morning flight brought us to Cambodia’s brand new airport in Siem Reap and a seamless welcome by our local guide. Our whirlwind began with exploration of Bang Mealea’s Indiana Jones ruins, before exploring Tonle Sap Lake by longtail boat seeing its stilted, floating fishing villages. Siem Reap itself surprised me - a lively centre teeming with night markets, happy-hour bars, Pub Street, and every kind of restaurant you could imagine, all just a stone’s throw from the ancient serenity of Angkor’s temples.

Our stay at the Aviary Hotel was sublime.  A chic oasis just five minutes from the action, with two pools and wonderfully spacious, stylish rooms. I highly recommend it for any client seeking comfort, design and boutique calm.

Angkor: Lost Cities, Ancient Temples & Jungle Mystique
Bucket-list dreams truly came to life at Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument, where we wandered quiet corridors and marvelled at intricate stonework as the sun rose. Bayon Temple brought 54 enigmatic towers, while at Angkor Thom, giant fig roots entwined ancient stones—pure cinematic magic (thanks to Tombraider) rain and all.

Koh Rong: Ultimate Barefoot Luxury in Paradise
The finale: True paradise on Koh Rong island. After a thrilling hour’s speedboat ride from the Cambodian mainland I arrived at The Royal Sands— set on a stretch of powdery white sand and turquoise sea that rivals the Maldives. The vibe here is pure barefoot luxury.  Private villas (with pools available), world-class cuisine and the chance to truly unwind.
What set it apart?  The sunsets! Each evening we treated to a stunning fireball on the horizon as we sipped cocktails at Happy Hour.  These were quite simply some of the best sunsets I’ve ever seen, capping off my South East Asia journey in the most magical way imaginable.

My travel arrangement were a mix of styles combining our local ground team, an Intrepid Small Group Tour and one of our direct partner hotels.

Why Book with Me?

From Hanoi’s buzz to Koh Rong’s tranquillity, every moment will be created with care, my own insider knowledge and constant support. Our expert ground teams and authentic tours can provide unique local experiences (think private food tours, temple explorations and family-hosted meals) paired with handpicked hotels to ensure that every adventure is safe, memorable and utterly unique.

Are you dreaming of exploring Vietnam, Cambodia, or any of Southeast Asia’s wonders? Let me craft your perfect adventure—from vibrant city streets to hidden beaches and beyond. Get in touch today and let’s make your dream trip a reality.