Vietnam and Cambodia Tour in 16 days

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN HANOI

Arriving at Noi Bai airport, after clearing immigration and customs, you will be met and privately transferred to the hotel. Check in and relax after a long flight. Stay overnight in Ha Noi.

DAY 2: HANOI CITY TOUR (B)

After having breakfast, meet your guide and start for full day city tour exploring Hanoi. Start with the Mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh and the Presidential Palace, followed by the serene One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature known as the site of Vietnam’s first university. Next, visit the National Museum of Vietnamese History – it has a total area of more than 2,200m2, displaying nearly 7,000 documents and objects. It also has over 100,000 specimens of precious objects from the cultures of Nui Don, Hoa Binh-Bac Son, and Dong Son. In the afternoon, walking around the Ha Noi Old Quarter, ending at the historic Hoan Kiem Lake, visit Ngoc Son, enjoy the Water Puppet Show. Stay overnight at hotel in Ha Noi.

DAY 3: HANOI – HALONG BAY (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the hotel and then start a 4-hour driving to Ha Long City. Arrive in Halong City about 11h00AM. We then transfer to a refurbished wooden sailing junk for a cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay to enjoy a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone this World Heritage Site.

While being on board, we will be served a sumptuous fresh, local seafood lunch followed by swimming and exploring some of the limestone caves in this area. Try the feeling of witnessing the sunset on boat is really great. Have a dinner on board. The captain then will anchor for the night nearby a remote island.  In the evening, there is the option for night fishing or just sit out on the deck and relax under the stars. Stay overnight on Junk.

DAY 4: HALONG BAY – HANOI – FLY TO HUE CITY (B, L)

Waking up surrounded by the tranquil beauty of the bay, we have time for an early morning dip with joys and emotions for watching sunrise on sea followed by breakfast. The cruise continues to move around the bay for us to discover more secluded areas; we then take kayaking and swimming in the stunning bay. The junk will be near us at all times serving as a backup vessel for those that require it. At around midday we will return to the main harbor before transferring to our awaiting vehicle for a 4-hour journey toward Noi Bai airport for flight to Hue City. Arrive in Hue City, meet your guide and transfer to city center for hotel check in. Stay overnight in Hue City.

DAY 5: HUE CITY TOUR (B, L)

Today we will do full-day city tour. Starting by boat trip on Perfume River to visit the picturesque Thien Mu Pagoda, then visit Minh Mang King Tomb. Transfer back to Hue center for lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, take a visit to the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City. After that, walking around and shopping in Dong Ba Market. Stay overnight in Hue City.

DAY 6: HUE – DA NANG – HOI AN (B)

After having breakfast, drive to Hoi An ancient town. The scenery on the way is very beautiful, do not forget bring your camera, taking a lot of pictures. Stop at Lang Co beach for coffee and refreshments before winding our way up the spectacular Hai Van Pass to admire the stunning views north to Lang Co beach and south to Da Nang City. Arrive in Hoian, check in the hotel. In the afternoon, visit Hoian Ancient Town: visit Temple Kwan, Phuc Kien Temple, Tan Ky Ancient House, Phung Hung house, Japanese Bridge and cultural show rooms in Hoi An. Stay overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 7: TRA QUE VILLAGE AND COOKING CLASS (B, L)

Morning guide pick up you at the hotel. Take a bike to the downtown, stop by Hoi An’s colorful central market. Here you will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and learn about the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later. So make sure your camera is handy. 10:00 bike to Tra Que vegetable village. Welcome drink for rest and walk through the vegetable gardens where local farmers work on their fields using the traditional methods of hundreds of years ago, no electrical machinery here. 11:00 Work together with the chef. Learn the traditional ways of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food. After the lesson, enjoy what you have cooked. Free rest of the day. Stay overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 8: HOIAN FREE AT LEISURE (B)

Free explore Hoian ancient town.

DAY 9: HOI AN – DA NANG – FLIGHT TO HO CHI MINH CITY (B)

Transfer to Da Nang airport for morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, car and guide pick up for half day city tour visit: Reunification Palace, War Remnant Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Post office, Dong Khoi Street, Ben Thanh market, Thien Hau Pagoda, China Town. Free at the rest of day. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY 10:  HO CHI MINH CITY – MEKONG DELTA (B, D)

In the morning, car and guide transfer from Ho Chi Minh City to Cai Be (Tien Giang Province). Arrive in Cai Be, transfer toward the tourist boat station, you will be welcomed with cold towels, fresh coconut. Boating and enjoying the fresh air on the Mekong river, the tourists visit the floating market, the original style of commerce on the Mekong river, will be dizzy of boats on the river. Visiting the local poprice, coconut candy workshop and knowing the ways bee-breeding tasting honey tea by breezy river. Crossing the Mekong river to An Binh island visiting a hundred year ancient house (Mr.Cai Cuong), a landlord’s one in the past, a combination between Vietnamese-French architecture in the Mekong delta (if low tide, tourists will visit another local house, knowing about the daily activities of the locals). Taking about 20 minutes for rowing sampan or cycling along the village paths with discovery feelings. Boating to the local family. In the afternoon, walking to village paths, stop at the local house to know the real rural life in the early evening. Preparing and having dinner, is the wonderful things for tourist in cosy evening with the local ones. Overnight in local family home.

DAY 11: VINH LONG – CHAU DOC (B)

In the early morning, having breakfast, say goodbye to the family. Boating to An Binh Garden, enjoying a cup of tea and some of the local tropical fruits and listening to the traditional music, is the best chance for relaxation. Cruising along Co Chien river, visiting brick & pottery kilns where the tourist  know how to make the brick and the pottery from the local clay and styles with the traditional technique. Visiting Tien Chau, a  national cutural relic. Finish at An Binh ferry station.

Drive to Chau Doc – a city in An Giang Province, bordering Cambodia, in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. It takes about 4 hours to get to Chau Doc. Check in the hotel. Stay overnight in Chau Doc.

DAY 12: CHAU DOC – SPEED BOAT TO PHNOM PENH (B)

Morning, after having breakfast transfer to harbor for speedboat from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh (about 4hours). Upon arrival, meet your guide, transfer to the hotel in Phnom Penh. In the afternoon, take 1/2 Phnom Penh city tour: The capital city of Phnom Penh was once considered the loveliest city of Indochina. Despite its recent turbulent history, it still maintains considerable charm. A city tour acquaints us with some major sights of Phnom Penh. The private quarters of the Royal Palace are now home to the royal family and are therefore very close to the public. At the northern area of the palace grounds is Silver Pagoda, the most sacred temple in the country. And visit the National Museum, which is dedicated exclusively to Khmer art and sculpture. The majority of the exhibits are from the Angkor period from 9th to 15th century, but some date from as early as the 4th century. Stay overnight in Phnom Penh.

DAY 13: PHNOM PENH ARCHITECTURE TOUR – FLY TO SIEM REAP (B)

After breakfast, at 8am we set out for Phnom Penh Architecture Tour by Cyclo, started from your hotel by cyclo for a three hour tour through the streets of Phnom Penh to admire the mix of Khmer and French colonial architecture. A local professional escort will explain the history, structure and style of the buildings such as the Old Post Office, the Railway Station and the Central Market. Some of the buildings you are able to enter and explore the interior in more depth while others can only be observed from the outside. Cambodia’s most famous architect, H.E. Vann Molyvann had a big hand in developing many of the structures you admire today. Transfer to airport for departure to Siem Reap, on arrival meet and transfers to hotel for check in. Stay overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 14: ANGKOR TEMPLE TOUR (B)

Beat the crowd early morning by 7am, visit the picturesque Ta Prohm that had nearly disappeared into the jungle and remains overgrown, an oddly haunting and exotic scene. The magnificent roots of a tree, pushing between the huge stone blocks of the temple in a sort of embrace, evoke feelings that you may remember forever. And continue to visit the intricately carved Khmer ruins at Angkor Wat – one of the world’s most impressive ruins.  The temple still owns fine Apsara carvings in Angkorian era art. Lunch is own account. Afternoon, explore the mysterious Royal city Angkor Thom. City & Bayon Its 54-tower temple is an awesome sight. At first glance it seems a shapeless mass of stone, but further scrutiny reveals a face, and then another and another until suddenly you are engulfed by the silent, heavy, enigmatic and silent gaze through half-closed eyes, staring out from a primitive and remote time. Further, visit to the surroundings of the complex including the Baphou, Elephant Terraces, Lepper King Terrace and Royal Place area and visit one more ruin in Angkor Area of Preah Khan temple, built in 12th century by King Jayavarman VII and it is the same style to Ta Prom Temple. Stay overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 15: ROLUOS GROUP & KOMPONG PHLUK FLOATING VILLAGE (B, L)

Today you will start with a short drive to the Roulous temple group which are among the oldest Khmer monuments in the area, dating back to the 9th century reign of Indravarman I and part of the former city of Hariharalaya. Explore these peaceful temples and soak up the local atmosphere away from the crowds before you continue to Kampong Phluck, located a short drive away. Kampong Phluck is a permanent settlement on the Tonle Sap Lake with a small land based village attached to it. Its remarkable mangrove forest is unique in the Siem Reap area. You will board a local boat and cruise the waterways observing the authentic and diverse lifestyle of the local floating community. One the way back to Siem Reap lunch with local house in the Chress Village learning the local life style by talking to the old man who was the village chief during Khmer Rough regime and visit the local orphanage, primary school. (Suggested visit period is between September and early February). Back to Siem Reap. Stay overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 16: SIEM REAP DEPARTURE (B)

Free until the car transfer to Siem Reap airport for flight back home or next destination. End of our services.

INCLUDED:

– 3 or 4 star hotel accommodation on a twin-share basic with daily breakfast
– Meals as mentioned in the itineraries.
– All landed transfers within the tour by air-conditioned vehicle.
– Boat trip in Halong Bay, Cai Be, Vinh Long
– Speed boat: Chau Doc – Phnom Penh
– Air tickets: Hanoi – Hue City; Da Nang – HCM City; Phnom Penh – Siem Reap.
– Sightseeing English speaking guide (On demand: German; French; Dutch; Russian; Spanish).
– All entrance and sightseeing fees as mentioned in the program.
– 1 bottle of mineral water and 1 wet tissue per person per day.