Delve Deep: Vietnam & Cambodia

Blaring horns. French Colonial buildings. Picturesque lakes. And the smell of incense in the air. Welcome to historic Hanoi! Meet your fellow explorers and kick things off with a DE-licious street food tour through the Old Quarter. Our in-the-know Trip Leader will take us to all the local spots for goodies like bánh mì, pho, spring rolls and egg coffee – trust us, it's tasty.

Then: head to Bai Hoi (aka Beer Corner). No guesses how this place got its name. Pull up a roadside stool with a cold Bia Hà Noi and get to know the gang – we might be a mixed bunch, but we're all in it together. Cheers to that! (D)

Ready to delve deeper into this incredible city? We thought so. Slip on the Birks and explore with your Trip Leader – ticking off the likes of One Pillar Pagoda, Lenin Park, Northern Gate, Cua Bac Church, B52 Lake and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (you can visit later, if you like). Then, we're heading to a local bún cha eatery for lunch. How many spring rolls is too many? Stupid question.

What you do this afternoon is 100% up to you, but if you're chasing that off-the-beaten-path experience – jump aboard a locally guided Vespa tour. History buffs should check out Hoa Lo Prison. Catch a water puppet show at Thang Long theatre. Or stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake before hunting down a local hole-in-the-wall for a bowl of pho. (B/L)

Halong Bay: World Heritage Site. The jewel in Vietnam's crown. One of the ‘New 7 Wonders of Nature'. Whichever way you look at it, Halong Bay is pretty damn special. So, today we're gonna do it properly with an overnight junk boat cruise. Spend the day swimming in glittering turquoise water, exploring limestone islands, digging into freshly made meals, and dancing into the sunset with your travel buds. This? This is what makes the memories.

*Heads up! If you selected twin-share accommodation for this trip, you might be bunking with an extra trip mate for the duration of the cruise. All part of the experience, right? (B/L/D)

Rise and shine, sailors! Kick off the day with a refreshing dip and hearty brunch. Then: we're dropping anchor back in Hanoi, where there's free time to get your explore on.

Afterwards, we're moving on to ancient Hoi An the traditional way – by overnight train! This is your chance to catch up on some zzzs and swap tales with your trip mates. It doesn't get more authentic than this. (B)

Hop off the train and wave chào to the locals – after a short drive from Da Nang prepare to be SERIOUSLY charmed by the ancient city of Hoi An. This stunner is a patchwork of all the civilisations to leave their imprint here. Expect: rustic Chinese shophouses, multicoloured French Colonial villas, and one helluva spectacular Japanese bridge.

Want help discovering this gem of a place? We got you. There's an optional basket boat ride followed by a delish local cooking class up for grabs – your mad new gastro skills are sure to impress the Tinder matches back home. Or soak up views of the forest and surrounding villages on a sunset paddle boat adventure along the river. Dreams = made.

You wanted more free time to explore. So, here it is. Need some suggestions? Opt for a full day private tour of the Ba Na Hills. You'll head up into the clouds in a cable car and tick off several epic sights, including the Insta-worthy Golden Bridge (Google it and get excited). Rather do your own thing? Explore the buzzing Central Market. Get a custom piece made by the city's famous tailors. Or cycle to An Bang Beach for chilled boho vibes.

Tonight, we'll have free time to explore the lantern-filled magic of Hoi An Old Town. There's also a delish evening street food tour to get stuck into. You'll wanna come with an appetite (and probably an elastic waistband). (B)

Great news guys: you've got another free morning to soak up Hoi An. Take one last pic of the Japanese bridge and pick out your fave silk lantern souvenirs before we hop back on the bus. Our next stop? The Marble Mountains. These spellbinding limestone rock formations are like being dropped into a screensaver. Just: wow. Lunch is included today, so prepare for more lip-smacking Vietnamese goodness.

Later: grab some snacks for tomorrow's brekkie cos we're choo-choosing the overnight train once more as we make tracks for Nha Trang. Shotgun top bunk! (B/L)

Jump off the train in Nha Trang like the local pro you now are. Grab some brekkie at a local café before exploring this beaut coastal city. Nha Trang is Vietnam's diving capital – but it's not just underwater marvels that you've got to look forward to. Need some recs? Soak up the city's top sights on an optional guided tour followed by a visit to one of the city's famous mud baths. Or get horizontal lying on paradisical white-sand beaches during a full-day tour of Nha Trang's nearby islands. Can't get enough of Vietnamese grub? There's also an evening cycle and street food tour on offer.

Tonight, show off your best moves at a beach party. This is livin'.

You wanted more time to explore, and we LOVE making you happy. So here it is! Grab your travel buddies and hit Nha Trang Beach for some sunshine, swimming and snoozing. Or tick off the city's best hiking trails. Your Trip Leader has heaps of food recs for when you get peckish. Then, pack up your bags ‘cos we're taking to the skies this afternoon. Our destination? Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) – a capital with nearly 9 million people, it's a bubbling pot of energy, excitement and hidden gems. Aka your perfect match. (B)

This morning, it's time to pull out your history hat – we're off to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. Surrounded by jungle that was once a stronghold of the Viet Cong, take a guided tour of the area and learn all about how this underground network was used by guerilla fighters during the Vietnam War. Then: we'll drop into an organic farm for a lesson in local produce and a traditional homemade lunch. Tasty times.

Back in the city, the evening is up to you. Grab the whole group for dinner at a rooftop restaurant. Get lost in the streets and find yourself along the way. Or there's an optional beer tasting on the cards at the Saigon Skyview observation deck – the highest point in HCMC. (B/L)

This is not over Ho Chi Minh – we're coming back for you later. Today's all about the wet stuff as we set our sights on the 'rice bowl' of Vietnam: the Mekong Delta region. This tropical maze of rivers and swamps looks like it's dropped straight outta The Jungle Book. For real. Wanna know how to make markets more fun? Put them on boats, obvs. We'll check out the world-class pineapple tossing skills of the traders at the traditional floating market in Cai Be.

Then: time to take to the waterways with a pit stop at a local bonsai gardener's home for an included lunch. Hope you like leafy greens. And tonight? We're hunkering down in a traditional homestay with a local family, where our host will give us a masterclass in Vietnamese cooking. Heads up: rooms are shared here, so settle in and swap notes on the adventure so far. (B/L/D)

Wake to the sound of the village stirring to life, and catch sight of the locals preparing for a new day. After a group brekkie at our homestay, we'll jump back on a boat towards the waterfront city of Vinh Long for an included lunch – stopping along the way to see how some of the locals make their living.

Afterwards: it's time to return to HCMC where there's an optional motorbike tour on the cards. Soak up allll the city's highlights, including Saigon Central Post Office (designed by the same guy as the Eiffel Tower), Dong Khoi Street, Gia Long Palace and the Old Central Market. And tonight? Seek out some shellfish, rice paper pizza, and the city's specialty – com tam *wipes drool from chin*. (B/L)

No lies, it's an early wake-up call this morning. But you'll have plenty of time to catch up on some zzzs as we roll into Cambodia! Ancient wonders. Serene landscapes. And a fascinatingly diverse history – Cambodia delivers on all fronts. We'll kick off in Phnom Penh, where the evening's yours to sample some sizzling street food along Sihanouk Boulevard. OR go full-out with an optional cocktail tour of the city. Be rude not to, right? (B)

We'll begin the day with a sobering visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum – documenting the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge during their ‘revolution'. There's a lot to take in, but learning about this devastating period of the country's history is important to fully understand modern Cambodia.

Later on, quiz your expert Trip Leader on the best bargains to sniff out at the iconic art deco Central Market. And this evening? We'll take to the water for a sunset cruise on the mighty Mekong. This is what you came for. (B)

We'll swap Phnom Penh for Siem Reap this afternoon, with time to spare for some immense optional activities. Wanna do some good? There's an optional half-day tour around some local social enterprises. Learn about a range of awesome projects that are helping make Cambodia a better place. Or discover the treats on the streets with a finger-lickingly good evening food tour. There's even a night under the big top with the Cambodian Circus on offer. Can't say we don't spoil you!

Later, immerse yourself in the neon-jungle of Angkor Night Market or experience the crazy that is Pub Street. Go steady – tomorrow is packed with memory-makers that you're not gonna want to miss. (B)

Ready for a real-life temple run? This is it. First up: we'll explore the Angkor Thom complex with our local guide. Venture through statue-lined South Gate, the intricately decorated Bayon Temple and check out the Elephant Terrace. Then it's onto Ta Prohm – a ruin filled with crumbling towers and overgrown tree roots. Think: Tomb Raider.

Refuel and rehydrate – next we're headed for Angkor Wat temple. The biggest temple complex in the world, ‘otherworldly' doesn't even come close to describing this place. Afterwards, soak up an epic sunset during an optional quad bike tour. Then, we'll settle in for our final group dinner at a local eatery. WHAT an adventure it's been. (B/D)

17 days of incredible adventures with a pack of strangers who are now like family. Get down to breakfast and swap those socials – you'll need them for next year's reunion trip. Not ready for The End? There's a final chance to flex your chef skills with an optional cooking class at a local farm. Or why not set off on an e-bike tour and immerse yourself in the beauty of the local countryside? Ngl, it's pretttty dreamy. Then, it's time to really say goodbye. Unless you're gonna keep the adventure going on our Delve Deep: Northern Thailand trip? We love your style. (B)