Cambodia & Vietnam Explorer

Day one of your Cambodia and Vietnam adventure, and it starts slow. Chill for the day, then meet your group for the welcome speech this evening. We head out for a meal near the legendary Pub Street, home of bonkers bars and weird and wonderful food. Fancy a drink or two? There's no better way to get to know your new crew.

Our first exclusive experience, and you won't find it anywhere else. We hop in tuk tuks through the busy streets of Siem Reap to a local mango and rice farm, learning how the harvest works (if in season) and how the family lives. Then it's on to our Local Legend's family home for a sunset BBQ with your new crew. Early night: tomorrow starts before dawn.

Rise and shine, it's a big one. We arrive at Angkor Wat, the world's biggest religious monument, just in time to watch the sun rise golden behind its towers, then explore the temples of this UNESCO site. The afternoon is yours to explore Siem Reap, call home or nap, before our last night out on Pub Street.

Wave goodbye to Siem Reap and settle in for the minibus ride to Cambodia's capital, a good chance to catch up on sleep. We stop in the countryside for lunch before checking in and freshening up. This evening we head out for a stroll and dinner, then it's bargain hunting at the night market or straight to the bars.

Today asks a lot of us, and it matters. We visit the Killing Fields and S21 Prison, where the Khmer Rouge held 17,000 people and very few survived. It's a hard, honest look at the history that shaped modern Cambodia. Afterwards we head back for dinner, and the evening is yours to talk, walk or simply take it in.

Today we travel to riverside Kampot, ringed by mountains, and stop for lunch on arrival. This afternoon we're kayaking the local rivers, paddling past waterfront houses and soaking up the scenery. As the day winds down we make our way to a local bar to watch the sun set over the water.

This morning we visit a local pepper plantation to learn how the famous Kampot pepper is grown. Then we put that knowledge to work in a traditional Cambodian cooking class, making a Khmer meal you'll be showing off back home. In the evening we wander streets of faded blue and green shutters down to the water for dinner overlooking the river.

Picture it: sun on the water, white sand ahead, beach huts and boats bobbing in the bay. Today that's you, arriving on Koh Rong. Check in and spend the afternoon on the beach, cocktail in hand, watching the sun set over the island. Slow down. You've earned it.

Lie in, enjoy a late breakfast and stroll along the sand. Later we island hop by long tail boat across emerald water, try a traditional way of fishing and snorkel over coral full of marine life. This evening, back on the island, it's cold beers, music and dancing with your crew. Our last night here, so make every minute count.

Time to leave paradise behind. We travel by boat and bus back to Phnom Penh and check into our hotel, with a few hours to chill. Then we get dressed up for our last night in Cambodia: we grab some food together and see where the night takes us.

Eleven days in Cambodia, and now Vietnam is calling. Today we cross the border from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City, with some time to relax on arrival. This trip combines our Cambodia Explorer and Vietnam Explorer, so this evening we meet the travellers joining just for Vietnam and head out into the busy city together.

Comfy shoes on: we're heading to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Nearly 250km of passages built from the late 1940s housed troops, moved supplies and hid booby traps, some just 80cm wide and high. We get up close, exploring the tunnels and underground hiding holes for a real sense of life here 70 years ago. Then it's dinner and drinks with your crew.

This morning we take a walking tour of the city once called Saigon, visiting the War Museum to learn the story of a war that still shapes lives today. We walk past Independence Palace to the cathedral and post office, then feast at a local food market. After lunch and a relaxing afternoon, we fly to Hoi An.

Welcome to Hoi An, the World Heritage town that glows at night. First we choose our silk and learn from locals how to make our own lantern. Next, a local tailor shows us how their clothes come to life and gifts us an offcut TruTravels tote. Then it's Thinh's coffee shop to learn how he roasts his beans and taste the results. Afternoon free.

A free day, so sleep in as long as you like. Join a Hoi An walking tour, stroll by the calm river through winding streets and little bridges, or head out to the famous Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills. Our tip for later? A local beach club for sunset cocktails. Go on, you know you want to.

Fun levels are high today. This morning we cycle through the countryside and local villages to Coconut Woods, where we try traditional basket boats, used for crab fishing for centuries. Expect spinning, slipping and splashing. Then we make rice noodles and share lunch with a local family. Tonight is our last in Hoi An, so it's dinner and drinks on the boardwalk.

Wind in your hair, music up. Today we drive the legendary Hai Van Pass in open-top war jeeps, made famous by Top Gear, with some of Vietnam's best scenery around every bend. We stop for photos, lunch and maybe a dip (pack a swimsuit) before reaching Hue late afternoon. Check in, chill, then hit Hue's nightlife for local beers and rice wine.

Hue was once home to Vietnam's emperors, and their Imperial City still stands. Today we follow the Perfume River to a tranquil garden, where we spend the day learning to cook the Vietnamese dishes we've been devouring, then eat every bite of our handiwork. Tonight we say goodbye to Hue and board the overnight sleeper train to Ninh Binh.

Welcome to the Halong Bay on land. We jump aboard small boats and glide through caves, past islands, forest and rice paddies, then head to Tam Coc valley and its limestone hills. The afternoon is free, or grab a bike with the group. Mid-afternoon we climb around 500 steps to Hang Mua viewpoint, then it's dinner, beers and sunset over the mountains.

Today we sail into the screensaver. We leave Ninh Binh early and board our boat in Halong Bay, where 1,600 limestone islands rise from green water. After lunch on deck, it's kayaking, viewpoints and beaches. Back on board we learn to make spring rolls, then spend the evening on the open deck with a beer, watching the sunset and the stars.

Wake up, rub your eyes: yes, you're really here. Breakfast and a big coffee on the open deck, surrounded by limestone and teal water. We spend time relaxing and swimming before saying goodbye to the bay and travelling to Hanoi. The late afternoon is yours to explore, then we meet for dinner, drinks and Hanoi's nightlife.

Over 1,600km in, and Hanoi is our last stop. It's chaotic and full of life. We start with a demonstration of how Vietnam's famous egg coffee is made, then a walking tour. The rest of the day is yours: the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, the Opera House and plenty more. Tonight we dress up for our big final night out together.

A day for sore heads and emotional goodbyes. The tour ends here, but your adventure doesn't have to. Your Local Legend knows Southeast Asia inside out and can help with onward travel, wherever you're heading next. You're part of the group now, for life. See you soon.