Vietnam & Cambodia

Travel Vietnam & Cambodia Wellness Style

Engrossing cultural exploration, sunrise chanting with Buddhist monks, biking Angkor Wat, authentic local cuisine and more. Our adventure yoga retreats to Vietnam and Cambodia take you on the journey of a lifetime. From the bustling capital of Hanoi, to the ancient temples of Siem Reap, our adventures give you access to the bounty and diversity of life in these Asian countries. Travel Vietnam and travel Cambodia our style and find your adventure/wellness balance.

Put yourself in the hands of our expert guides as you travel by bike through the ancient town of Hue, set sail on the clear waters of Ha Long Bay, explore floating villages and ancient caves, motor on scooters through Hoi An and, of course, journey into the past at Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world.

Join locals in their morning exertions and center yourself with every yoga practice. Each session preparations you for adventure bike tours, walks, sailing, swimming and cultural immersion in the day ahead. Meals will be our opportunity to get out in the world to savor the best of authentic, local Vietnamese and Cambodian cuisine.

Enjoy luxury accommodations throughout your trip, from boutique hotels to a night aboard our cruise ship in Ha Long Bay. Experience through the day then reconvene on your mat and take a moment to savor the day’s revelations and express gratitude for the opportunity to experience adventure world travel and prepare for a night of juicy, restorative sleep.

Yoga Retreat Adventure Duration: 11 days / 10 nights • Starting at $4495 per person

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October 21 - 31, 2019 *1 female roommate spot available*

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October 14 - 24, 2020

What's included

Eleven days location specific English-speaking expert guides
Flight from Hanoi to Hue
Flight from Da Nang to Siem Reap
Breakfast each morning at our hotels
All lunches including local eateries and restaurants
All dinners in a local restaurant or at our hotels
Vietnam visa approval letter (traveler passport required)
Morning and evening yoga on most days (please see the full itinerary for yoga schedule)
Three nights luxury boutique hotel in Hanoi
One night onboard our Ha Long Bay cruise
Two nights luxury boutique hotel in Hue
One night luxury boutique hotel in Hoi An
Three nights luxury boutique hotel in Siem Reap

Full day tours of cultural, historical and religious significance in Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An & Siem Reap
Private sailing, swimming, cave exploring and floating village visit in Ha Long Bay
Half day bike tour through Hue along the Perfume River
Cultural visits with locals in Ha Long Bay, Hue & Hanoi
Sunrise chanting with Buddhist monks and individual blessing (if desired) in Cambodia
Vespa tour through Hoi An countryside
Exploration, with guide, of Angkor Thom, Bayon, Ta Prohm & Banteay Srei
Up close and personal with the world’s largest religious monument – Angkor Wat
All entry fees for the above sights and additional activities as listed on the itinerary

What's not included

International flights into Hanoi, Vietnam (HAN) and out of Siem Reap, Cambodia (REP)
Any video or still camera fees assessed by the monuments or places of interest
Cost of Vietnam & Cambodia visa-on-arrival
Alcohol and drinks at meals
Gratuities
Items of a personal nature (phone calls, souvenirs, spa services, etc)
Travel Insurance (required)

Hanoi

Centrally situated in the heart of Hanoi, we begin our yoga retreat in comfortable luxury. Each room has en suite bathroom facilities with all of the amenities, including AC. Wi-Fi is available in each room. Double occupancy rooms will always feature two beds and all rooms will have balconies overlooking the city streets below.

Ha Long Bay

Cruise Ha Long Bay in style. Our onboard amenities include a large top deck for yoga and Tai Chi classes, private dining under the stars and boats or individual kayaks for inlet excursions and exploring. All rooms will have en suite bathroom facilities and amenities (please note wifi will not be available on Ha Long Bay). *All rooms for this one night are double occupancy.*

Hue

Situated on the banks of the Perfume River, our boutique eco-resort in Hue invites comfort luxury in a natural setting. All rooms will look out over the gardens to the river and will have en suite bathroom facilities and AC. Enjoy the calm of the greens and river around you and the views of the Van Thanh Temple just across the water.

Hoi An

Just outside of the ancient town of Hoi An we will find our quiet oasis on the banks of the Song Do River. Our accommodations will have beautiful balconies with views down to the river below as well as en suite bathroom facilities. We’ll take in the best of beautiful Hoi An and enjoy the tranquility of nature in the evening.

Siem Reap

While our days will be spent exploring the mysteries and beauty of Cambodia’s past, our Cambodian home will be an oasis of green and tranquility. Each room will have its own private veranda and en suite bathroom. Wifi and AC are available in each room.

Each of our amazing Vietnam and Cambodia yoga retreat itineraries will be unique, with slight changes based on local holidays and/or events. Below is a sample of what can be expected as you explore these two amazing countries with The Travel Yogi:

Day One

Fly into Hanoi and get ready for adventure…
- Our guide will meet you at the airport and escort you to our first hotel
Opening airplane-twist-move-it-out yoga class
Welcome dinner and a taste of the ‘local’ at a neighborhood restaurant
- Hoan nghênh to Vietnam!

Day Two

Wake up like a local and head out to Hoan Kiem lake
- Join a local group in a tai chi session as they wake up mind and body before a busy day
Journey to the middle of a lake to Ngoc Son Temple
Head into Hanoi’s Old Quarter
- Tour the crazy mix of Vietnamese and French influence and sample cà phê su’a dá
- Sample some street food báhn mì
Truck to the Hanoi railway tracks and walk the rails for some of the most beautiful pictures in the city
Back at the hotel unwind with the evening yoga class before dinner at a local restaurant

Day Three

Morning yoga centered on balance so that you can get your sea legs on!
After breakfast we head out to the beautiful, amazing, UNESCO World Heritage Site Ha Long Bay
- Cruise through the limestone karsts landscape
- Visit Vung Vieng floating village by bamboo rowboat or kayak
- Chill with the kids at their floating school and experience a-day-in-the-floating-life
Sail to Drum Cave to ooh and ahh at the stalagtites and folklore of this ancient site
Spend the mid-afternoon swimming in the bay or chilling on deck
As the sun goes down head to the top deck for a sunset-360-ocean-view yoga extravaganza
Enjoy dinner on deck under the stars

Day Four

Rise and shine with the sun for either yoga or Tai Chi on top deck
After a light breakfast we set sail for Sung Sot Cave
- A once-in-a-lifetime 100ft high cave experience
- Water filled grottos, stalagtites and stalagmites in a wonderland setting
Disembark and transfer back to our hotel
Last afternoon in Hanoi is yours to explore and wander
Early evening yoga
Head out for a farewell Hanoi dinner on the town

Day Five

No yoga this morning as we’re up early for our flight from Hanoi to Hue
Check in and drop off at our new hotel and head out for lunch
Get your bearings in Hue with a walking tour
- Head to the royal tomb of Tu Duk King
- Take in the fusion architecture and the “is he/isn’t he” buried here mystery…
Head back for early evening yoga at our riverside hotel
Enjoy the tastes of Hue with a local flavorful dinner in town

Day Six

Morning yoga will focus on hamstring and hip stretches as we get ready to bike through our day
Mount up and cycle through green orchards and shady lanes as we peddle along the Perfume River
- Our bike breaks will be at local villages for some hands-on helping and engagement
- Dig in and make a local sesame cake delicacy or wander with the locals and collect the evening’s veggies
Stop in the ancient village of Thuy Bieu – long know as a symbol of transition and harmony
- Wander through the communal houses and the nostalgic beauty of the garden-houses
- The architectural mix of wooden structures and Fengshui-based gardens highlight a rustic life and the mingling of the countryside’s royal legacy
- Get historical as we explore some of the Nguyen Dynasty’s ruins such as the Roman Colosseum-styled Tiger Arena
- Learn about the ancient tiger and elephant duels that the arena used to host and discover the temple-cemetery dedicated to the King’s loyal elephants
We trade our bikes for a boat as we cruise down the Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda and the Forbidden Purple City
- Although badly damaged during the Tet Offensive of 1968, the Forbidden Purple City, the cultural, political and religious center, of a unified Vietnam in 1802
Evening outdoor yoga (weather dependent) at the hotel
Group dinner at a local restaurant

Day Seven

Early morning yoga and packing before breakfast
Today we drive to Hoi An via Da Nang
- Take a ride on Vietnam Highway 1 over the soaring Hai Van Pass (Sea and Cloud Pass)
Stop in Da Nang for lunch and exploring
- Head to the stone carving villages in the Marble Mountains that peak just south of Da Nang
- Explore the caves and Buddhist sanctuaries dotting the mountains
Arrive in Hoi An and spend the afternoon strolling the centuries-old lanes
- Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hoi An reflects the centuries of cultures that have sailed through its port
- Walk the streets enjoying the mix of Chinese, Dutch, French and Japanese influence
- Stroll the 400 year old Japanese Bridge that used to divide the Japanese settlement from the locals
Walk or taxi back to the hotel for the evening yoga class
Dinner at a local Hoi An restaurant

Day Eight

Rise and shine yoga and breakfast
Time to get your Vespa on!
- Hop a local bike ferry to the island fishing port of Cam Kim
- Zigzag on your Vespa through gorgeous farmland and scenic rice paddies with stops at the local villages for a crash course in: mat weaving, laughing, making (and eating) the perfect banh dap/rice cracker
- Another Vespa ride to a village for some drip coffee in preparation for our 300 meter dash across the local bamboo bridge to the seaside
- Cruise our way over to the Duy Hai market and local harbor
From the harbor we’ll ferry to the coconut palm fringed Cam Thanh and beyond to beautiful Ha My beach
Zooming back to our hotel we’ll pack up and prepare for our flight to Cambodia
Our early evening flight takes the place of yoga today but your adrenaline will still be pumping as you catch your first glimpse of Siem Reap
Head to our final hotel and relax
Group dinner at a local restaurant

Day Nine

Early morning yoga and breakfast
Head out on a remork (tuk tuk) for a temple journey day
- Begin your journey to ancient Cambodia at the South Gate of Angkor Thom
- We will leave the tourist path as we take a 1km walk into the jungle to the hidden temple
- Walk on to Khmer King Jayavarman VII’s official state temple of Bayon in the heart of Angkor Thom
Take a break to absorb this astounding morning with lunch at a local restaurant
Dive back in to ancient times at the jungle temple of Ta Prohm
- Originally build in the 12th or 13th century as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university, little has been touched at Ta Prohm since it’s discovery; prepare your cameras for jungle/temple amazement
The afternoon is for the splendor that is Angkor Wat
- As the largest religious monument in the world, you will have hours to explore the complex and absorb the artistry, emotion and history of this ancient site
We will head back for a calm, restorative, absorb-it-all evening yoga class
Head to a local restaurant for dinner followed by a traditional Cambodian dance performance

Day Ten

This morning we’ll get up with the sun and head to a local pagoda
- Our morning will be a blessing of sounds as we sit and listen to the chanting of the pagoda’s monks
- After the chants we will each by blessed by a monk with holy water flicked from a jasmine flower for wishes of happiness and good health
We’ll return to the hotel for breakfast and a quick relax before more ancient exploration
Heading out we’ll journey to Banteay Srei temple, or, “Citadel of the Women”
- Off limits for many years due to it’s remote location and Khmer Rouge activity, we’ll spend the morning investigating this Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva
- Diminutive in its size, especially when compared to other Angkorian wonders, this temple is also known as the “precious gem” or the “jewel of Khmer art”
Coming out of the deeper jungle we’ll take a break for lunch at a local restaurant
Heading to the Old Market in town, this final afternoon is yours to wander and bargain the stalls and town-life
Closing yoga class in the early evening back at the hotel
Final group dinner at a local restaurant – email, phone number, photo exchanges and goodbyes!

Day Eleven

Morning packing and breakfast prior to your flight home or onward
A final “Choum reap lear” as you say goodbye to Cambodia and your amazing travels

What are the passport and visa requirements?

For U.S. travelers both a passport and visa will be required in Vietnam and Cambodia. Your passport will need to be valid for at least 6 months after your date of entry in Vietnam and will require at least one blank page per entry stamp. The Travel Yogi can obtain your Letter of Introduction for you for Vietnam as long as the required information (sent in your welcome email once booked) is received at least 6 weeks prior to departure. Many nationalities can process their visa faster online. You can attempt an evisa by clicking here. You will need a clear electronic copy of the data page of your passport, payment and a passport photo. Please print your evisa and carry it with you. Cambodia visas can be obtained before travel or upon arrival. Getting a visa at the airport will require two passport photos and a passport that is valid for 6 months past your date of entry. A blank page is required for each entry stamp. At this time, the visa on demand for Cambodia is $30US. Entry information can change so for up to date information please visit the State Department's page for Vietnam and Cambodia. Nationals of all other countries should check entry requirements with their government.

Are any inoculations required?

No shots are required at this time for either country. Of course we recommend that you be up to date on all of your vaccinations. Any specific inoculation or health questions should be directed to your personal physician.

Can my dietary restrictions/requests be accommodated?

In general, yes! Vegetarians will have no difficulty in either country and all other requests should be able to be accommodated as long as we have sufficient notice of at least four weeks prior to departure. Please contact The Travel Yogi with any dietary questions.

Do I need travel insurance?

Yes, travel insurance is required for this trip. Please make sure you have a policy purchased before departure and, ideally, once you book. While we recommend Travel Guard, you may purchase your insurance through any reputable company.

Do I need to bring my own mat?

On this adventure, yes, you will need to bring your own mat. Your mat and luggage will be transported for you once on the trip, but you will need to bring a mat from home. The Travel Yogi teachers that embark on this adventure will be designing classes that do not require props, so no need to bring a strap or a block.

Will there be wifi?

Absolutely. All of our lux locations will have wifi available.

What is the electrical currency/outlet situation like in Vietnam and Cambodia?

Vietnam and Cambodia both use the same plug styles so we're all in luck there. In each country you can find a mix of the standard, non-grounded North American plug (type A), the European two-prong (type C) and the UK three-prong (type G). The voltage is 220-230V but we recommend that you take a surge protector along with any adaptors and converters and fluctuations happen and can damage your electronics.

What will the weather be like?

As this trip is a moveable feast, so is the weather. In northern Vietnam you can expect a cool to cold season from November thru March and a warm to hot season April thru October. The wettest months in the Hanoi area are July and August. In central Vietnam you can expect rain, light to heavy, September through December. April to December can still be rainy, but a good deal less, generally, than other parts of the country. For Cambodia, November thru February is the best time to visit as there is little to no rain and it's not super hot. October will see a bit more rain but fewer crowds and March/April will be a bit hotter, but again, fewer visitors. The strong wet season is from May to October. Remember to take this with a grain of salt and an intrepid spirit because Mother Nature will do whatever Mother Nature wants to do.

After I book and pay the deposit, can I make payments on my yoga retreat?

Yes! Of course. Once you're booked you'll receive an email with important logistical information and a link to your invoice. You can pay any amount at any time on the invoice; you can use it as a payment plan or leave it alone until the final due date. Remember that deposits are non-refundable so, on all trips, we recommend purchasing travel insurance.

After I book and pay the deposit, can I make payments on my yoga retreat?