The best of Vietnam and Cambodia

12 days 11 nights

Siem Reap – Ho Chi Minh city – Mekong Delta – Hue – Hoi An – Ha Noi – Ha Long Bay

Day 1: Arrival in Siem Reap

Day 2: Siem Reap (B/L)

Day 3: Siem Reap (B/L)

Day 4: Siem Reap – Flight to Ho Chi Minh City (B)

Day 5: Mekong Delta tour (B/L)

Day 6: Ho Chi Minh – Flight to Hue (B)

Day 7: Hue city tour (B/L)

Day 8: Hue – Hoi An (B)

Day 9: Hoi An – Danang – Flight to Hanoi (B)

Day 10: Hanoi City tour (B/L)

Day 11: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B/L/D)

Day 12: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Departure (B)

Day 1. Arrival in Siem Reap

Welcome to Siem Reap, the gateway to the majestic temples of Angkor.

On arrival in Siem Reap airport, your tour guide will meet and bring you to the hotel in the city center. Check-in and relax after a long journey.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 2. Siem Reap (Breakfast/Lunch)

Start your day with a tour to the temples of the Small Circuit. The tour includes the impressive 12th century temple of Ta Prohm which is overgrown by gigantic jungle trees and vines, with many parts of the temple crumbling to the ground. This makes Ta Prohm one of the most picturesque and memorable of the Angkor temples.

Your visit will also include Preah Khan temple, Banteay Kdei, a Buddhist monastery from the late 12th Century, and Srah Srang, also known as the “pool of ablutions”.

Later today, visit the ancient city of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. Enter the city through the ancient South Gate, then continue to Bayon Temple in the exact center of the city. This 12th century masterpiece is well-known for its 52 towers with enigmatic faces looking out towards the provinces of the vast and great Khmer Empire. The nearby Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King are also must-visits as they are both known for their intricate relief carvings.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 3. Siem Reap (Breakfast/Lunch)

Wake up early in the morning and enjoy a pre-dawn drive to Angkor Archaeological Park. Select a good viewpoint at Angkor Wat, sit back and watch the sunrise over the back of the temple. Seeing the temple emerge from darkness to being bathed in early morning light is an unforgettable experience.

Once the sun is up, go inside to explore Angkor Wat temple, a World Heritage Site since 1992, famous for its beauty and splendor. Angkor Wat features the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls and narrates stories from Hindu mythology.

In the afternoon, visit the unique temple of Banteay Srei. The so-called “Citadel of the Women” was constructed in rose-colored sandstone and displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art. The unique charm of this temple lies in its compact size, remarkable state of preservation, and the excellence of its decorative carving.

Return to town and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 4. Siem Reap – flight to Ho Chi Minh city (Breakfast)

Today visit Beng Mealea, known as the ‘Pond of Lotus’ temple. The temple was hidden in a maze of the jungle for hundreds of years before being found and opened for visitors. After that, drive to the abandoned Koh Ker to explore the pyramid temple of Prasat Thom and some other beautiful temples covered by jungles.

On the way back to Siem Reap, you will embark on a boat trip on the Tonlé Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in SouthEast Asia. Board a local boat and visit Kampong Khleang floating village where you will have the opportunity to learn about life on the lake.

Return to town and free time at leisure. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh city.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Day 5. Ho Chi Minh city – Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh city (Breakfast/Lunch)

After breakfast you will depart from Ho Chi Minh city to explore Ben Tre in Mekong Delta. Take a boat for a cruise along the river  and make some stops along the way to discover different local workshops, allowing you to better understand the local specialities. Wander around the village on a bicycle or tuk tuk to learn about rural life and the industry created around coconut products before stopping at a small local restaurant to taste a delicious lunch made of regional specialities, such as “elephant ear” fish, freshwater shrimps.

Return to Ho Chi Minh city and spend the evening at leisure.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Day 6. Ho Chi Minh – flight to Hue (Breakfast)

Discover Ho Chi Minh city with a half-day city tour of iconic colonial sights. Start with a visit to the Reunification Hall, one of the most recognizable icons of the city. Then wander your way through Ho Chi Minh’s colonial quarter where you can admire the colonial architecture of the stunning Opera house, Saigon Post Office, City Hall and more.

Return to Ho Chi Minh city to catch a short flight to Hue city, the former imperial capital of Vietnam.

Overnight in Hue.

Day 7. Hue (Breakfast/Lunch)

Spend a morning exploring Hue’s bucolic countryside. Set off early in the morning in order to capture the villages at their most lively.

On the outskirts of the city stop at Thanh Toan, a remarkable bridge built more than 200 years ago. One of only two covered bridges in Vietnam, Thanh Toan has stood the test of time, lasting through wars, floods and numerous storms.

Carry on through the countryside to Thanh Tien. For hundreds of years the residents of this village have made beautiful paper flowers including chrysanthemums, orchids and lotus designs. Witness the locals crafting these delicate creations and learn about their role in traditional Vietnamese culture.

Nearby is Sinh, a scenic village situated on the lower stretch of the Perfume River. Visit family-run workshops where skilled craftsmen make woodblock prints, another of Central Vietnam’s ancient art forms. These hand-made items are used during the Lunar New Year as burning effigies for ancestor worship. See the prints being made from start to finish, using techniques handed down from generation to generation.

Return to town with a relaxing trip along the Perfume River, or better known as The Perfume River. The boat drops you off at the beautiful Thien Mu Pagoda, dating back from the year 1601, which is also home to many young people who want to try out and learn from life as a monk.

In the afternoon, explore the ancient capital of with stops at the Imperial Citadel and the last resting place of the 12th King Khai Dinh, he left behind a magnificent and huge burial idyllically located in Chau Chu Mountain just outside of Hue, home to a mix of eastern and western architecture. It took 11 years to build his final resting place and was completed in 1931.

Overnight in Hue.

Day 8. Hue – Hoi An (Breakfast)

This morning you leave for Hoi An through the spectacular Hai Van Pass which offers a superb panoramic view of the bay below. Stop en route at Lang Co Beach and then the Cham Museum, which homes the world’s finest collection of Cham statues and works of art.

Up on arrival, walk through Hoi An ancient town center and visit old merchant homes, the stunning 400-year old Japanese Bridge, and a Chinese communal hall filled with bustling vendors and colorful sights.

This afternoon, meet with a local lantern-making artisan whose family has been making lanterns for decades. Have fun with a hands-on lesson from the artisan on lantern making, choosing your own silk fabric, colours, and pattern.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 9. Hoi An – Da Nang – Flight to Ha Noi (Breakfast)

Spend the morning traveling to Hoi An’s countryside village of Tra Que, where you can join local farmers in picking herbs and other daily routines. Learn about their everyday lives while preparing traditional dishes together for lunch. At lunch, enjoy the village specialties: Tam Huu (small skewers of pork and prawns), various kinds of shrimps, pork and herbs, as well as other dishes of the region.

Return to town and free time at leisure until transfer to the airport for a short flight to Hanoi. Overnight in Ha Noi.

Day 10. Ha Noi (Breakfast)

Set off on an exploration of Vietnam’s bustling capital.

First, you’ll visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, founded in 1076. Known locally as Quoc Tu Giam, this place of learning was established inside a temple to educate Vietnam’s nobles, scholars and society’s elites. Its well-preserved architecture and tranquil gardens offer intriguing glimpses into Vietnam’s past.

Next, continue to the One Pillar Pagoda, founded in 1049 by King Ly Thai To. Today this pagoda is widely recognized as one of Vietnam’s most iconic temples. Head to the nearby mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, then to the former president’s house where Ho Chi Minh lived from 1958 to 1969. (The house can only be viewed from outside; closed Monday and Friday and from October to November.)

In the afternoon, take a walk around the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem lake area to taste a wide variety of Hanoi authentic street food. Café culture is a huge part of Hanoi life, thus stopping at a coffee shop is highly recommended for coffee lovers!

Overnight in Ha Noi.

Day 11. Ha Noi – Ha Long Bay (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

After breakfast, depart by private vehicle for Ha Long Bay, Vietnam’s best-loved UNESCO World Heritage site! Meaning “dragon descending into the sea,” Ha Long owes its name to a Vietnamese myth. The 1,600-plus limestone karsts and islets that dot the bay are thought to be the dragon’s back poking out of the jade green water.

At around noon, you’ll arrive at the Halong Bay jetty. Here, you’ll hop aboard your boat and begin your join-in, overnight Halong Bay cruise.

In the afternoon enjoy various activities planned by the boat’s staff, or just relax on the sundeck.

Lunch and dinner will be served on board with an excellent menu of fresh seafood.

Overnight on the bay amongst the karst formations.

Day 12. Ha Long Bay – Ha Noi – Departure (Breakfast)

After spectacular dawn over the bay and breakfast onboard, you will continue your cruise trip to explore the limestone formations of Ha Long Bay. Enjoy a brunch during your returning back to the pier. Arrive at the pier and meet your local guide to travel ahead to Noi Bai airport for your onward flight.

End of your services.

Inclusions services: 

• Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast
• Land transportation by private air-conditioned vehicles
• Experienced and skilled English-Speaking Guide
• All admission fee at attractions as mentioned in the itinerary.
• All meals as mentioned in the itinerary.
• Sharing cabins in Halong tour as mentioned in the itinerary.

Exclusions services: 

• Visa handling fee,visa stamping fee.
• Internal airfares in the tour (please refer to the airfare supplement)
• International airfare from/to Vietnam
• Any other meals not mentioned above.
• Any kind of drinks in meals
• All other services which are not mentioned in INCLUSIONS
• Early check-in and late check-out at all hotels
• Travel insurance in all kinds
• Personal expenses such as Bar, telephone, Laundry bills …
• Tipping/ Gratuities Guideline
• Any additional expenses caused by reasons beyond our control such as natural calamities (Typhoon, floods), flight delays, rescheduling or cancellations, any accidents, medical evacuations, riots, strikes etc.
• Surcharge for peak season/public holidays if any.