We meet in Hanoi (2 nights) for a stroll in the atmospheric Old Quarter and to the tomb of Ho Chi Minh. Next day, a walk along rice fields and through bamboo-covered villages leads to a colorful pagoda with its lacquer-and-gold Buddha.

On our chartered sailing junk, we'll cruise emerald Halong Bay…and spend a tranquil night aboard. Then it's on to our resort on the magnificent stretch of sand known as China Beach (2 nights). We explore the finely preserved town of Hoi An before a walk offers us a special glimpse into rural life as we are welcomed at a small village in the rice fields. In the imperial city of Hué (1 night), we'll shop the local market and roam the Forbidden Purple City.

We'll take a brief flight to Ho Chi Minh City (2 nights), where a series of guided walks introduce us to this lively and resurgent city. For our unforgettable finale, another short hop brings us to Angkor Wat (1 night) in Cambodia. We've reserved plenty of time for exploring this massive Khmer site—including a sunrise visit to the largest temple in the world. On our last evening, we part company at the airport in Siem Reap for flights home.