The journey begins with excitement at Sofia/Varna airport. You pack your luggage, think about the exotic places you are about to see, and board the flight to Istanbul. A short connection – and here you are, heading to distant Asia. The excitement intensifies with every passing minute in the air.

After a long night flight, you land in Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam, once called Saigon. From the very first steps, you can feel the pulse of the metropolis – a mix of colonial charm and dynamic modernity. Colorful mopeds race along the wide boulevards, temples and pagodas alternate with modern skyscrapers, and the aroma of Vietnamese coffee and street food wafts through the air. After transfer to the hotel, you have time to rest or take your first sightseeing walk. For those who want to delve deep into history right from the start, there is an option for an additional excursion to the legendary Cu Chi Tunnels – an incredible underground labyrinth used during the war. There you will literally feel how thousands of people lived and hid in this unique underground city. In the evening, the city lights up with thousands of lamps, and you fall asleep with the thought that the next day you will get to know it even better.

Breakfast is delicious, and the day begins with a tour of the most important sights. You will see the War Remnants Museum with impressive exhibits that tell the story of the Vietnam War. Then you will walk to the Reunification Palace, take pictures in front of the impressive Notre Dame Cathedral and in front of the Central Post Office, designed by Gustave Eiffel himself. The afternoon takes you to the Chinatown of Chợ Lớn, filled with temples, incense and a mystical atmosphere. You will immerse yourself in the color of the Bình Tây market, where you will see the daily life of the locals. In the evening, you can choose an unforgettable cruise on the Saigon River – the city looks magical from the water, illuminated by neon lights, while you enjoy a gourmet dinner with Vietnamese specialties.

After breakfast, we break away from the hustle and bustle of the big city and head to one of the most authentic corners of Vietnam – the Mekong River Delta. About two hours of travel takes us to Ben Tre province, known as the “gateway to the Mekong”. On the way, the view changes – the skyscrapers are left behind us, and endless rice fields, coconut palms and fruit orchards unfold before our eyes. The Mekong, the giant river, has crossed China, Laos, Cambodia and finally branches into countless branches right here, in the southern part of Vietnam. It is called the “rice bowl of the country” because it provides most of the rice, fruits and seafood for all of Vietnam. We board a traditional wooden boat and glide along the calm water channels. On both sides of us are alternating green banks, fishing huts and small villages where time seems to have stopped. We pass by the floating coconut market Thom – a scene of everyday life that you can’t see in the city. We will stop at a small local workshop to see how traditional Vietnamese coconut sweets are made or how cocoa wine is made. We will cross narrow paths to an isolated island where there are no cars, asphalt or noise – only people living in harmony with nature. There we will learn the intricacies of Vietnamese cuisine in a small cooking lesson – from aromatic spices to serving methods. We will have lunch in the home of local people who will welcome us with a smile and treat us to traditional specialties. We will have free time to walk or cycle along the peaceful village paths. In the late afternoon we return to Ho Chi Minh City, bringing with us one of the most authentic experiences in Vietnam.

After breakfast, we leave Vietnam behind and head north to the Cambodian border. The journey takes about two hours to the Moc Bai border crossing, then we cross into Cambodia via Bavet and continue for about four hours to the capital, Phnom Penh. Phnom Penh, once called the “Pearl of Asia”, welcomes us with an exotic chaos of motorbikes, markets, Buddhist temples and colonial buildings. The city is not only the capital, but also the political, cultural and economic center of the country. Its name comes from the legend of a woman named Pen, who found Buddhist statues in a tree, brought by the Mekong River. Today, these statues are placed in a stupa on a hill in the city – and it is from this “Pen Hill” that Phnom Penh gets its name. After arrival, we have time to adjust to the new atmosphere. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

We start the day with a tour of the most notable places in Phnom Penh. We will enter the Royal Palace – an impressive complex of buildings with classic Khmer architecture, gilded roofs and rich ornaments. We will see the Chan-Chaya Pavilion, used for royal ceremonies, the Silver Pagoda with the Emerald Buddha and the monumental Throne Hall. Then we will visit the National Museum, created by a French archaeologist in the early 20th century. Here are collected rare artifacts from the time of the ancient Khmer Empire and the rich history of Cambodia. In the afternoon, we will have a five-hour trip to Siem Reap. On the way, we will stop in the village of Skwon, famous for an unusual local delicacy – fried tarantulas and crickets, which are sold at roadside stalls. You will see how the locals offer these crispy specialties with a smile. In the evening we arrive in Siem Reap – the city that is the gateway to the magnificent Angkor temple complex. Overnight.

This is the day we will touch the greatest cultural heritage of Cambodia – the temples of Angkor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We start with Angkor Thom – the last capital of the Khmer Empire, surrounded by massive walls and moats. We will enter through the South Gate and visit the temples of Baphuon and Phimeanakas. We will face the mysterious Bayon – the temple with hundreds of huge stone faces that seem to watch us with a mysterious smile. We will see the Terrace of the Elephants, where the king welcomed his army and held ceremonies. Then we will visit Ta Prohm – the temple swallowed by the jungle. Huge trees and lianas wrap around the walls and create the impression that time has stopped. Here one truly feels like in a lost world. In the afternoon we will visit Angkor Wat – the largest religious monument in the world, a symbol of Cambodia. Originally dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, it later became a Buddhist temple and tomb of King Suryavarman II. With its five towers and endless corridors with bas-reliefs, Angkor Wat is an architectural wonder, depicted even on the national flag of Cambodia. In the evening we return to the hotel in Siem Reap, full of impressions.

The day begins with a departure from Siem Reap to the outskirts of the city to visit a true jewel of Khmer architecture – the Banteay Srei temple. Its name means “Citadel of Women”, and legends say that it was women’s hands who carved the extremely fine and precise ornaments on the red sandstone. Built in the 10th century and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, this temple impresses with its delicate beauty. Even centuries later, the carvings have remained amazingly well-preserved and provide a rare opportunity to peek into the heyday of the Angkor civilization and its beliefs. Walking among these majestic ruins, one can easily imagine how powerful and developed the culture was, leaving behind such exquisite traces. On the way back to Siem Reap, the road passes by another testament to the grandeur of the past – the Banteay Samre temple. Built in the 12th century, it is often called “the little Angkor Wat” because it is a miniature copy of the most famous Khmer temple. Its walls, although smaller, also carry the power of ancient art and tell the story of the Hindu culture that spread in this part of the world. In the afternoon, the adventure continues in a completely different direction – to the shores of the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, Tonle Sap. Here, in the village of Kampong Pluk, life flows in a completely different way. The houses are built on high wooden stilts, because the water often floods the land, and people are used to living in harmony with the lake. Boarding a small local boat reveals a magical picture before our eyes – submerged mangrove forests, narrow water channels along which boats pass, and floating markets where women sell fruits, vegetables and all kinds of products directly from their boats. After this peaceful and educational day, full of contrasts – from the exquisite ancient temples to the simple and harmonious life on the water, the evening ends back in Siem Reap. The overnight stay is there, under the stars of Cambodia.

The morning is free to enjoy the atmosphere of Siem Reap once more – perhaps a short walk through the local streets or time for some souvenirs and last photos. For those who want more adventure, there is the opportunity to join a special Vespa tour of the surrounding villages and rural areas. This is a unique way to see how people live outside the tourist area – stop at an old Buddhist temple, try traditional fortune telling, see family workshops where rice noodles or bamboo cakes are made, and finally visit the magnificent ancient reservoir of West Baray, which reveals a peaceful and sacred place untouched by time. In the afternoon, it is time to say goodbye to Cambodia. Transfer to the airport and flight to Vietnam – to the coastal city of Da Nang. There, after a quick formality, a local guide is waiting to take the travelers to Hoi An. The city welcomes with its romantic atmosphere and ancient lanterns, which begin to illuminate the narrow streets in the evening. The night is in Hoi An, and the evening brings the promise of new impressions.

The morning begins with a walk through ancient Hoi An – a small town that seems to be frozen in time and preserves the spirit of the 16th and 17th centuries. At that time, it was the most important port in Vietnam and ships from Japan, China, Portugal and even distant Europe docked here. Today, the entire old town is like an open-air museum with over 800 preserved historical buildings. The walk passes through the famous Japanese Covered Bridge – a true symbol of the city, built back in 1590 by the Japanese trading community. This is the only covered bridge in the world that has a Buddhist temple attached to it. You also pass through Chinese assembly halls, impressive with fine wood carvings and colorful altars. Then come the small workshops and shops – here you can see Vietnamese craftsmen making lanterns, wood carvings, paintings and jewelry. Hoi An has always been famous for its tailors, who still sew custom-made clothes in a matter of hours. One of the most beautiful moments of this tour is a visit to a local lantern workshop, where everyone can decorate a small lantern themselves and take it as a souvenir - as a piece of the magic of Hoi An. In the afternoon, there is an opportunity for an additional excursion to Ba Na Hills - a mountain resort located about an hour and a half away. There is the famous Golden Bridge, known as the "Hands of God". This is a 150-meter pedestrian bridge, supported by two huge stone hands that seem to come out of the ground. Seen from the side, it looks like a golden thread held high in the sky by divine hands. The most impressive view is revealed when the valley under the bridge is covered in fog and one has the feeling that one is walking on clouds. After this day, full of beauty and history, the evening ends in peaceful Hoi An, where lanterns once again illuminate the night.

After a leisurely breakfast and time for some last moments in the atmosphere of Hoi An, it is time to head to the airport in Da Nang. The short flight to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, marks the next stage of the journey. After checking into the hotel, the afternoon is dedicated to exploring one of the most valuable cultural and historical complexes of the country – the Temple of Literature. Built in the 11th century, it was the first imperial university in Vietnam and is an outstanding example of traditional Vietnamese architecture. Passing through the five courtyards, each symbolizing the natural elements – water, wood, fire, earth and metal, you feel the spirit of ancient knowledge and the pursuit of wisdom. The impressive stone steles, erected on the backs of turtles, are inscribed with the names of distinguished students and teachers, and this symbolism is so important that it is also depicted on the 100,000 dong banknote. Then you go on a one-hour bicycle rickshaw ride through the narrow streets of Hanoi's Old Quarter. Known as the "36 streets of 36 crafts", this area preserves the living heritage of old traditions and crafts. Each road here had its own purpose - silk, rice, paper, lacquerware, jewelry. During the walk through these winding streets you feel the pulse of the city - the noise, the aromas of Vietnamese cuisine and the diversity of local life. The walk ends on the shores of Hoan Kiem Lake - "Lake of the Returned Sword". The legend of Le Loi, who led his people against the invaders with the help of a magic sword given by the sacred turtle, gives the place a special magic and symbolism. The opportunity to walk along the water, observing the locals and the cozy atmosphere, contributes to ending the day with unforgettable impressions. Overnight in Hanoi, where many more stories await their travelers.

The new day begins with breakfast and a trip to Ninh Binh province, a place that was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. The landscape here is like something out of a painting – majestic limestone karst peaks rising above green rice fields and calm rivers that you can sail on. The first stop is the ancient capital of Hoa Lu – a place that gave rise to the first centralized feudal states in Vietnam. Although the fortress walls have not been preserved, the temples of the Dinh and Le dynasties still tower in the middle of nature, surrounded by endless rice fields and mountains. Here it seems that time has stopped, and the tranquility and grandeur of history conquer everyone who sets foot. Then the road leads to Bich Dong – a cave that the King of Vietnam called “the second most beautiful cave in the country”. Inside, stalactites and stalagmites intertwine in bizarre shapes and colors, and the climb to the top of Ngu Nhac Son offers a breathtaking panoramic view - limestone mountains, rivers, pagodas and temples scattered across green fields. The afternoon is dedicated to one of the most magical parts of Ninh Binh - a boat trip to Tam Coc, also called "Ha Long Bay on land". The Ngo Dong River winds through three caves, and sailing on the water between the high karst peaks is an experience that is imprinted deep in the heart. After getting off the boat, the path leads to the Tai Vi Temple, hidden among the rice fields, where the power of the spiritual atmosphere and the natural beauty of this amazing place are once again felt. The overnight stay in Ninh Binh gives time to relax in this idyllic nature and prepare for the next day.

After breakfast, you head to Tuan Chau Port, where the cruise around Lan Ha Bay begins – a neighbor and even a rival in beauty to the more famous Halong, but calmer and less commercialized. As you sail through the waters surrounded by impressive limestone karst formations, you immerse yourself in the magic of this natural masterpiece. Lunch on board is exquisite, with fresh seafood specialties that complement the feeling of complete harmony with nature. Then you visit the Bright Cave – with its pristine appearance and poetic views, it is a true hidden diamond among the natural beauties of the bay. The afternoon passes peacefully, and dinner on board is a perfect end to an unforgettable day filled with natural wonders and a cozy atmosphere. Overnight is on the ship, under the starry Vietnamese sky.

Early rising is rewarded with a Tai Chi lesson, which takes place outdoors, under the first rays of sunlight over the water. A light breakfast, tea and coffee prepare the body and soul for a new adventure – a visit to the majestic caves of Halong Bay. This bay, known as the “Descending Dragon”, is one of the natural wonders of the world. According to legend, a golden dragon descended from the mountains and with a powerful blow of its tail broke the earth, creating the thousands of islets and limestone cliffs that impress every visitor today. Here, nature has shown its best, and the views create the feeling of a real fairy tale. After lunch on board, the sailing ends, and the transfer takes travelers back to Hanoi. The rest of the time is free – ideal for a short walk or shopping in the city.

This day offers the opportunity for one last exciting experience in Hanoi. With its mix of dynamic energy and slow traditional life, the capital of Vietnam reveals its essence to you through a motorbike ride. Under the guidance of an experienced driver, you dive into the small back streets that are not described in any guidebook. You stop for photos in front of the impressive Opera House and touch the French heritage in the architecture of the city. You visit the Gioi Market, one of the largest markets for mechanical parts and second-hand electronics, where you can find the most unusual objects and souvenirs. Then you enter the Old Quarter – a labyrinth of narrow streets filled with shops and cafes, where the taste of traditional Vietnamese coffee is felt from the first sip. The final stop is the historic Long Bien Bridge, an architectural and cultural treasure from the time of the French occupation, with beautiful panoramic views of the Red River. After an emotional day, there is a transfer to the airport and a night flight to Istanbul, where this part of the journey ends.

You arrive at the airport in Istanbul in the morning, and then head to Sofia / Varna, where the trip ends. All that remains are the memories and photos that will take you back to each of the unforgettable destinations, cultures and moments experienced during these days.