Best Vietnam & Cambodia

Itinerary in details

• DAY 1: HANOI - ARRIVAL

  Upon arrival, our driver will welcome your Vietnam Holiday to Hanoi, a city where the exotic chic of old Asia blends with the dynamic face of new Asia. Where the medieval and modern co-exist. A city with a blend of Parisian grace and Asian pace, an architectural museum piece evolving in harmony with its history, rather than bulldozing through like many of the region’s capitals. Hanoi is where imagination becomes reality.

  Free at leisure.

  Overnight in Hanoi.

• DAY 2: HANOI - CITY TOUR (B,L)

  08:00am: Transfer to visit Ho Chi Minh complex with first stop at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum – a large memorial to the national hero - President Ho Chi Minh who led the country to independence and reunification. The Mausoleum is located at Ba Dinh Square where Ho Chi Minh President read the Declaration of Independence on 02nd Sep 1945 establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Then take a short walk to the Presidential Palace & House on Stilt. Near from Ho Chi Minh complex, One Pillar Pagoda – symbol of Vietnam with unique architecture of lotus flower is a must-see destination for all Vietnam tours.

  Our next stop will be the Temple of Literature which is the first university in Vietnam. It was constructed in 1070, first to honor Confucius and nowadays to celebrate the doctorates and high rank scholars of Vietnam.

  After lunch time, we continue our Hanoi city tour to the Museum of Ethnology offering an insight into the 54 different ethnic groups of Vietnam. It introduces Vietnamese traditional ways of life from religious events to the symbolic rituals as well as displays a variety of Vietnamese homes as full-scale replicas outside.

  End the day with a short cyclo ride around the old streets observing daily life of Hanoian, take exotic photos of Hanoi traffic and enjoy a fantastic water puppet show.

  Overnight in Hanoi.

• DAY 3: HANOI - HA LONG CRUISE (B,L,D)

  We start at 8:00am for the 3 hour drive (170 km) through the Red River Delta, which offers plenty of chances for taking photos of Vietnamese farmers tilling the vast green paddy fields. At half way, we'll have a visit to a handicraft workshop with fine clothes, embroidered paintings, stone statuettes and all kinds of gems mined in Vietnam such as star rubies or sapphires...

  Our destination is the World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay. The bay offers some 3000 mountain islands and islets towering in the Gulf of Tonkin in the East Vietnam Sea.

  Upon arrival, you'll be welcomed on board our luxury junk and treated with wine and fresh local seafood. As our junk gliding further into the tranquility of Ha Long Bay amid the towering mountain cliffs and on the emerald green water, you'll have relaxing time combining the fine tastes of the wine and the freshness of Ha Long Bay. During the cruise, we'll stop some times for visiting the amazing Sung Sot cave and the Ti Top white sand beach before anchoring for the night.

  Overnight on board the junk in the wild of Halong Bay.

• DAY 4: HALONG - HANOI - HUE  (B,L)

  After breakfast, we'll take a little sampan to visit a secret lagoon of Ha Long Bay while the surrounding mountains are just waking up. After that our cruise takes us further into the Bay of Bai Tu Long traveling past the Human Head Island, the Turtle Island, and the Duck Islet... to the studio site where the famous Indochine film was shot.

  Around noon, our junk travels back to the harbor, pick up and drive back to Hanoi. Stop in Hai Duong to visit the famous Con Son pagoda. Transfer to the airport for the flight to Hue.

  Arrive at Hue then transfer to the hotel.

  Overnight at Hue

• DAY 5: HUE - City (B,L)

  Discover the Imperial Citadel then make your way to the Hue Royal Antiques Museum to see a collection of ornaments. The main exhibition house of the present museum used to be a palace under Nguyen Dynasty, called Long An Palace. It was built in 1845 by Thieu Tri King, located on the north of Ngu Ha River. It was a type of "isolated palace" for the king.

  Continu the trip to visit the seven-storey Thien Mu Pagoda. Thien Mu pagoda is one of the most beautiful and ancient architectural structures of worshiping in Vietnam now, it has become one of the most famous tourist attractions in Hue City.

  Overnight in Hue.

• DAY 6: HUE - HOI AN (B,L)

  After breakfast, leave Hue for Hoi An, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. In Danang visit the Cham Museum, before climbing over the "Pass of Ocean Clouds". Arrive in Hoi An and transfer to hotel. Enjoy free time at leisure

  Overnight at the hotel in Hoi An

• DAY 7: HOI AN (B,L)

  Today is a free day to explore Hoi An. Browse the town’s cobbled streets and art galleries, or hire a bike and cycle through rice paddies out to Cua Dai Beach. Shop for paintings, ceramics and colourful cloth lanterns in the town’s markets and preserved Chinese shop houses.

  Perhaps visit one of the hundreds of tailors in the city to get something special made. Hoi An is also known for its delicious regional food, so be sure to enjoy a meal at a riverside restaurant or perhaps partake in a cooking class.

  Overnight in Hoi An

• DAY 8:HOI AN - DANANG - SAI GON (B,L)

  Today take a short early morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City has a fascinating history and is arguably Vietnam’s capital of commerce and culture. After landing, take a sightseeing bus tour around the city.

  Pass the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Opera House, stopping in at the War Remnants Museum to discover some of the sobering stories of the Vietnam/American War, characters from the Ramayana –Hanuman.

  Overnight in Saigon

• DAY 9: SAI GON - VINH LONG - CAN THO (B, L)

  After breakfast, we drive three-hour through the lush fields and farms will take us to the southernmost region of Vietnam - the Mekong Delta, often referred to as the rice basket of Vietnam as it produces three harvests per year.
  Upon arrival, we embark on a boat trip to visit Cai Be floating market before visiting Dong Hoa Hiep, a village that makes rice paper - a crucial element in Vietnamese cuisine!
  We will also visit one of many local orchards where we can enjoy some of the exotic fruit before transfer to Can Tho.

  Overnight in Can Tho.

• DAY 10: CAN THO - CHAU DOC (B, L)

  After breakfast we take to the water to witness Vietnam’s largest floating market. See local farmers trading their produce on the water as they have done for centuries. Continue on to a fruit orchard where you can sample the tropical fruits grown in this region and try some local tea then drive deeper into the Mekong to Chau Doc.

  On arrival in Chau Doc, boat to cruise through Islamic Champa village and fishing breeding house on Mekong River. Continue to Tri Ton, a place renowned for its numerous Khmer sanctuaries.

  Overnight in Chau Doc.

• DAY 11: CHAU DOC - PHNOM PENH (B)

  Check out hotel for the speed boat trip along Mekong River to Cambodia. Upon arrival Phnom Penh International port, you are met and transfer direct to hotel for check in.
  The rest of time is free at the leisure.

  Overnight in Phnom Penh.

• DAY 12: PHNOM PENH - FLIGHT TO SIEM REAP (B)

  In the morning, visit the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles.

  Then continue your visit at the National Museum. This is one of Phnom Penh's true architectural gems. The Museum is instantly recognizable with its warm red terracotta and its gracefully cured roof topped by dozens of guardian nagas. It was designed in Khmer style in 1917 by famed French architect Georges Groslier & Ecole Des Arts Cambodgiens.

  In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for flight to Siem Reap. Arrival Siem Reap, meet and transfer to hotel for check in and free at your own leisure.

  Overnight in Siem Reap

• DAY 13: SIEM REAP (B)

  Visit to Ta Prohm, one of the area’s most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake). Then, visit Ta Som, built in late 12th century C.E. the most distant temple on the grand circuit, small but classic.

  Preah Khan temple, built by the King Jayavarman VII. Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, the temple of Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation.

  Lunch not included.
  Visit to the unique interior brick sculptures of Prasat Kravan, Srah Srang ("The Royal Baths" was once used for ritual bathing), Banteay Kdei (surrounded by 4 concentric walls), Ta Keo, constructed in late 10th early 11th century C.E, the first temple to be constructed wholly of sandstone.

  Overnight in Siem Reap

• DAY 14: SIEM REAP (B)

  Drive to Visit the antique capital of Angkor Thom (12 century): the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk. The Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.

  Lunch not included.
  It is time to visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Enjoy wonderful sunset from the top of Phnom Bakheng Hills.

  Overnight in Siem Reap

• DAY 15: SIEM REAP - DEPARTURE (B)

  This morning we will enjoy a boat ride on the Tonle Sap lake. This is the largest permanent fresh-water lake in South East Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. We will see a fishermen's "floating village" with floating schools, floating police station, etc. It is same as a big village floating on the lake, and the "village" move from place to place following water levels and current.

  Transfer to Siem Reap International airport for your flight home.

  End of services!