A Dream of Indochine. 18 Days.
Jungles are secret places (just ask Bogie and Hepburn). They’re full of mystery, history, and not a few surprises.
Indochine’s shy jungle nations wait to be revealed. Vietnam and Cambodia have survived colonialism, war, and deep political intrigue—and have come through still graceful and serene. And plainly beautiful. Get past the impulse to shudder when you 
hear “the Mekong” or “Da Nang,” and you'll find (ancient) history and meet incredibly warm and hospitable people.
Your first taste of Indochine on Crusoe's custom guided tour? Vietnam. Hanoi amazes us. Put aside your small-screen memories, and take a good look at what’s here now: authentic French colonial splendor, gentle souls, seductive sights, smells, sounds. Have we mentioned the baguettes? Take a rickshaw ride through the French Quarter. Poke around the ethnology museum with a top scholar to assess the country’s ethnic diversity and the 21st century’s impact on the country’s population. Visit the “Hanoi Hilton” and the Temple of Literature. Experience a traditional water-puppet performance.
Then, options for you. Head for the chalk cliffs of gorgeous Halong Bay (at additional cost, opt for a helicopter ride to and from the bay instead of driving); take 
a day at leisure in Hanoi (after all, you are on holiday); or tour historic Quan Thanh Temple and Tran Quoc Pagoda, among Vietnam’s oldest treasures.
Jet to Hue, next, one of Vietnam's foremost religious, cultural, and educational centers. Step inside a historic home and have lunch with the owner. Take some time in the citadel and the Forbidden Purple City. To the Nguyen Tombs, each one unique, each a reflection of the emperor buried within.
In Da Nang, get familiar with the Cham people during a visit to the excellent Cham Museum. Day trip to Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site and an interesting mix of cultures. The streets speak volumes about its interesting past as a trading outpost. Take a private cooking lesson at a wonderful restaurant in town.
Next, a day at leisure in and around Da Nang. Golf is a possibility, if you'd like. So is a day of retail therapy in Hoi An. Or simply take advantage of the amenities at your five-star resort.
Excavations at My Son round out our understanding of the ancient Cham people. UNESCO recognizes the site’s value and recently added it to the World Heritage list.
To Ho Chi Minh City (once upon a time, Saigon), having reread your dog-eared copy of Graham Greene's The Quiet American. The city draws our focus to the future of Vietnam. But the past is a part of the scenery here, too. If you'd like, have an adventure in the Cu Chi Tunnels, whose very existence changed the shape of Indochina’s history during the Vietnam War. At the War Remnants Museum, get a handle on the conflict from the Vietnamese perspective.
On to Cambodia, monument to the mighty Khmers, who moved in during the early ninth century and never left. Phnom Penh first. For those who wish, get an eye-opening dose of reality at Tuol Sleng Prison and at the haunting and notorious Killing Fields. We suggest you have a private dinner with a top foreign expat reporter we know at the Foreign Correspondents Club for a lively discussion of current affairs in Cambodia.
Reach back to a glorious past at Angkor, ancient capital of the empire and one of the best sites in Southeast Asia. Watch dusk, and then dawn, creep over this incredible complex. There are options to consider here: a helicopter ride over the vast site (at additional cost); a visit to an artisans’ center and a cruise on Tonle Sap, Indochina’s largest lake; an exploration of Banteay Srei, the Citadel of Women. There's also the option to visit Ta Phrom and Preah Khan, untouched treasures in the Cambodian jungle.
We hope you'll opt to join us on our pre-tour exploration of the Vietnam Highlands and/or our four short journeys that work brilliantly in combination with R. Crusoe’s Dream of Indochine journey. Those are: Bangkok, Laos, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai.
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