Vietnam Cambodia – Mekong Delta journey

12 days 11 nights

Ha Noi – Lan Ha Bay – Hoi An – Hue – Ho Chi Minh city – Mekong Delta – Phnom Penh – Siem Reap

Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi

Day 2: Sightseeing in Hanoi (B/L)

Day 3: Hanoi -Halong (B/L/D)

Day 4: Ha Long – Flight to Danang – Hoi An (B)

Day 5: Hoi An (B/L)

Day 6: Hoi An – Hue (B/L)

Day 7: Hue – Flight to Ho Chi Minh City (B)

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh – Cai Be – Chau Doc (B/L)

Day 9: Chau Doc – Phnom Penh (B/L)

Day 10: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap (B/L)

Day 11: Siem Reap (B)

Day 12: Siem Reap – Departure.

Day 1. Arrival in Ha Noi

Welcome to the thousand-year old capital of Vietnam! On your arrival at Hanoi airport, you will meet your tour guide and travel to your hotel in the city center. Relax and explore Hanoi on your own.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2. City tour in Ha Noi (Breakfast/Lunch)

Today you will explore the charming capital city of Hanoi visiting significant sites including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh’s traditional stilt house, Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam.

In the afternoon, you will visit Ethnology Museum (close on Monday) which offers an insight into the 54 different ethnic groups of Vietnam.

After that, continue with a cyclo tour to the Old Quarter, named after the original 36 artisan guilds that date back to the 13th century, then stroll around the Hoan Kiem Lake area. Finish the day with a traditional Water Puppet show, an art form which was invented a thousand years ago by the farmers of the Red River Delta area, that depicts scenes from the country’s history.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3. Ha Noi – Halong (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Following breakfast, leave Hanoi for a 2,5 hour drive to Halong. Arrive at Tuan Chau towards noon and proceed with check-in formalities. After the welcome onboard, lunch will be served while cruising towards the bay itself. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and/or activities (according to the boat’s itinerary) or just spend some time relaxing on board. Towards the end of the day the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is served on board.

Overnight on board.

Day 4. Halong – Flight to Da Nang – Hoi An

Early risers can enjoy the sunrise and the quiet breath-taking beauty of the bay. Continue cruising to explore more of the bay and enjoy the brunch breakfast before returning to the Jetty at noon time. Drive transfer directly to Noi Bai airport for flight to Da Nang city. After landing, transfer to your hotel overnight in Hoi An.

Day 5. Hoi An (Breakfast/Lunch)

After breakfast, explore Hoi An’s charming Ancient Town on a walking tour. Declared as a World Heritage Site in 1994, Hoi An is a beautifully preserved town and exudes a tranquil ambiance. Here, you can stroll around to see the old Japanese covered bridge, Chinese assembly halls, ancient houses and the colorful local market. You can also join a lantern workshop where a craftsman will guide us how to make our own lanterns. Bring home your creatures as a souvenir of gorgeous Hoi An.

In the afternoon, hop on a bicycle and take a ride through picturesque scenes to Cam Thanh village. Embark on a boat to cruise to Cua Dai River. Here, you’ll witness traditional fishing methods where the local fishermen throw a giant nest to catch the fish. Move to a bamboo basket boat. This fun ride will take you into a beautiful mangrove forest.

Return to the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day on your own.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 6. Hoi An – Hue (Breakfast/Lunch)

This morning, you will depart from Hoi An to Hue, taking the spectacular “Hai Van Pass” route, which offers you an incomparable panoramic view of Vietnam’s massive coastline.

On arrival in Hue, explore the ancient capital with stops at the Imperial Citadel and the last resting place of the 12th King Khai Dinh, located in Chau Chu Mountain just outside of Hue, which is home to a mix of eastern and western architecture.

The day ends at 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.

Overnight in Hue.

Day 7. Hue – Flight to Ho Chi Minh city (Breakfast)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

Once affectionately called the diamond of the Far  East, Ho Chi Minh City is now the most populated city in Vietnam, with modern office skyscrapers amidst chinese style pagodas and street food stalls, creating a dynamic urban area.

Upon arrival, visit the historical War Remnants Museum then continue to visit the major colonial landmarks of Ho Chi Minh City: the Old Saigon Post Office, the atmospheric neighborhood of Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), the Continental Hotel, City Hall, and the Opera House. All will give you a complete insight of the vibrant Saigon city.

Return to the hotel and be free at leisure.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 8. Ho Chi Minh city – Cai Be – Chau Doc (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Day 9. Chau Doc – Phnom Penh (Breakfast/Lunch)

This morning, depart early in the morning for Cambodia via the Mekong river. The speedboat will take you to Phnom Penh in 5 hours.

On arrival in Phnom Penh, visit the Royal Palace. The palace dates back to 1866 and houses the Silver Pagoda, named for the over 5000 heavy silver tiles that cover its floors. Next stop is the National Museum, built in traditional Khmer style. It houses the world’s foremost collection of ancient Khmer artistic, archaeological, and religious artifacts from the 4th to the 13th centuries.

End today’s journey at the famous Wat Phnom, founded by Lady Penh, whom the capital city is named after. Pay a visit to Russian market before heading back to your hotel.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 10. Phnom Penh – Siem Reap (Breakfast/Lunch)

After breakfast, leave for a long journey to Siem Reap through rural villages in the countryside. Along the way make a stop at Skoun famous for its traditional snack, deep fried tarantula spiders!

Continue to Kampong Thom to explore its town and Sambor Prei Kuk, the most important complex of pre-Angkorian monuments in Cambodia.

Continue driving towards Siem Reap and 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.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 11. Siem Reap (Breakfast/Lunch)

Wake up early in the morning and treat yourself to a stunning sunrise over Angkor Wat.

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 12. Siem Reap – Departure (Breakfast)

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.

Return to town and free time at leisure. Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

End of all 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.