15 day Vietnam Cambodia tour

Day 1: Arrival Ha Noi

Our driver will meet you at Hanoi airport and transfer you to your hotel in the Old Quarter of Hanoi.

After check in, you can explore the exciting Old Quarter or simply relax until morning.

Overnight stay in Hanoi

Day 2: Ha Noi city tour (B/L)

08:00 – Guide will meet you at your hotel & you will depart to visit: Ho Chi Minh Complex: Completed in 1975 the complex contains Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, his former stilt house residence, the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh museum. Next stop is a visit to the Temple of Literature: Originally built as a temple to Confucius.

12:00 – A delicious set menu lunch will be provided for you in a local restaurant.

13:00 – Your tour recommences with a visit to the Museum of Ethnology which is widely acknowledged as the best in Vietnam and has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic minority peoples. Then it is on to the Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake: The Ngoc Son temple is set on a tiny island on the Hoan Kiem Lake and was erected in 18th century. The temple is reached by crossing the Huc Bridge which literally means “Place Touched by Morning Sunbeams”. Hoan Kiem Lake is a focal point of the city and the source of many legends including the legend of the returned sword which dates back to the 15th century and refers to a magical sword used to free Vietnam from Chinese rule. The Old Quarter, also known as the 36 streets, is a bustling area of narrow streets home to literally thousands of small businesses and street vendors, selling a wide variety of goods. Originally each of the 36 streets names’ were related to the products being sold there. Hence you can walk from Fish Street to Tin Street to Bamboo Street and you will enjoy exploring the area while riding in a traditional cyclo.

17:30 – Overnight stay in Hanoi

Day 3: Ha Noi – Ha Long – Bai Tu Long Bay (B/L/D)

07:30 – Pick up from your hotel in Hanoi and start the road journey to Halong Bay. Along the way you will enjoy the peaceful scenery as you travel through the countryside and farmlands of the Red River Delta.

12:30 – Arrive at Hon Gai wharf where you will meet the Captain and crew and enjoy a welcome drink while you receive your cruise briefing and safety instructions before checking and being shown to your cabin. 1300h – A delicious fresh seafood will be served as the boat passes through many of the thousands of islands and islets within Ha Long Bay towards Bai Tu Long Bay and Vong Vieng floating village.

15:30 – Drop anchor at the picturesque Vong Vieng floating village and visit local houses, fish farms, schools and have a chat with the friendly locals. You will have time for a swim or go paddling in a kayak on the calm waters of the bay before returning to the main boat.

17:00 – Back on board, enjoy the sunset and continue cruising to Luom Bo where you will enjoy dinner and overnight stay on board the boat.

Overnight stay on the Junk.

Day 4: Ha Long Bay – Ha Noi – Hue (B/L)

06:30 – Enjoy your breakfast with a cup of tea or coffee while cruising on the bay.

08:30 – Explore the mystery of Sung Sot cave, one of the most beautiful caves in Ha Long Bay. Sung Sot or “Surprise Cave” is located on Bo Hon Island, and is one of the most spectacular and largest caves in Ha Long Bay. The cave is reached by climbing approximately 100 stone steps and the journey up allows some excellent views of the bay below.

09:30 – Back on board you will continue cruising while you enjoy the stunning views of the Bay and relax.

10:30 – Lunch is served on board while cruising back to the pier at Ha Long. Unfortunately, after lunch it will be time to check out ready to start your journey back the Hanoi.

12:00 – Arrive in Hon Gai wharf and after saying your farewells to the crew and new friends, it will be time to start the drive back to Hanoi.

16:30 – Arrive in your hotel in Hanoi .

Free time until the car will pick you up from the hotel to Ha Noi airport for flight to Hue . Arrival in Hue airport the driver will pick you up and transfer to Hue hotel .

Overnight stay in Hue

Day 5: Hue City Tour (B)

Once the ancient capital of Vietnam, Hue is the home of several wonderfully interesting world heritage listed sites and the area has a lot to offer visitors. Although many historical sites were damaged in the recent war with America it is still a fascinating place.

09:30 – Your English speaking guide will meet you at the Hotel and take you on an interesting tour of the city and perfume river. You will visit the impressive complex of the Imperial Citadel. Built in the 19th Century and surrounded by high stone walls and moat, the Citadel was once the exclusive home of the Nguyen Imperial Family. It is similar to Chinas’ Forbidden City and is not to be missed. You will also take a cruise on the famous Perfume River and visit Bao Dai and Tu Duc tombs.

Overnight stay in Hue

Day 6: Hue – Hoi An – Via Hai Van Pass.(B)

09:00: Pick up by private car and depart from Orchid Hotel & transfer to Hoi An via Hai Van pass and visit Marble Mountain en-route.

The scenery from the top of Hai Van pass is spectacular and offers some great photo opportunities out over the bay and down to the fishing village of Lang Co. Marble Mountain actually consists of a group of 5 separate mountains known as the Element Mountains named Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth. Thuy Son or Water Mountain is the largest and most beautiful of the mountains and several large Buddhist temples have been built into the caves and grottoes. Recently two new elevators have been constructed that make it only a short trip to the most popular area on the mountain.

13:30 – Arriving in  Hoi An and check into your hotel.

You will then have free time to begin exploring the old town or to go shopping for those special items.

Overnight stay in Hoi An

Day 7: Hoi An – Cooking Class – Spa Treatment (B/L/D)

08:00: Driver will meet you at your hotel and take you to your Vietnamese cooking class at a venue in Hoi An. After you have practiced your new skills, you will get to enjoy what you have cooked for your lunch.

Enjoy the rest of the day to yourself to self sitting around the pool, walking along the beach or catch the hotel shuttle bus into town to check on your new clothes.

12:00 – 18:00: Please refer to your confirmation slip to arrange your 60 min Spa appointment.

Day 8: Hoi An – Da Nang – HCMC (B)

Your driver will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to Da Nang airport to board your morning flight to HCMC.

Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City where our driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in the exciting district 1 area of Ho Chi Minh.

14:30: Your City tour will start from your hotel with a local guide for a walking tour through back streets of Ben Thanh Market

Once you finish lunch you visit the haunting but very interesting War Remnants Museum and take a walking tour to Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, General Post office, Opera house and downtown Saigon. The War Remnants Museum was originally opened in September 1975; it displays items from the American War. In the courtyard there are some larger exhibits including a F5A fighter and a UH1-Huey helicopter. The Reunification Palace, formerly known as the Presidential Palace was the sight of South Vietnam’s surrender in April 1975. Notre Dame Cathedral, General Post Office and the Opera House are beautiful examples of architecture from the French colonial period. The trip is designed to give you an insight into the history, culture and the daily life activities of the locals in Ho Chi Minh City.

17:00: Return to your hotel and stay overnight at the Hotel.

Overnight stay in HCMC

Day 9: HCMC – Mekong Delta (B/L/D)

08:00: Depart from your hotel and drive to the Mekong Delta Region which is known as the land of nine dragons. Getting out of the city, you will see the mighty delta with its quaint rural landscape and immense network of waterways.

1000h: Arrive at Cai Be River Wharf and transfer to a charming shuttle boat to reach your accommodation. The boat transfer is part of the trip experience itself as it is your first contact with the Mekong’s fertile alluvial water, which shapes the richness of the land.

On arrival you will be met by smiling staff in local traditional costume who will arrange your check in and show you to your Bungalow.

A delicious lunch will be served in the Mekong Riverside Restaurant.

After lunch begin your private walking tour to discover the nearby village where you will visit families making coconut candy and see the traditional production of goods in Mekong Delta. You will have the opportunity to meet and talk with local people, known for their friendliness, warmth and generosity.

In the evening, get some hands on culinary experience by joining a Vietnamese cooking class. Our chefs will instruct you to prepare some interesting recipes to take home with.

Enjoy dinner in a cozy atmosphere and stay overnight Mekong Delta.

Day 10: Mekong Delta – Floating Market – HCMC (B/L/)

Begin our second day with buffet breakfast, then board a rowed sampan to visit the Cai Be floating markets which have become a cultural feature of Mekong Delta. Visiting the markets early will allow you to see the most vibrant scene on Tien River with hundreds of boats and people gathering to trade fresh produce.

Return to your accommodation and join a cycling tour along the tranquil winding lanes and cross over many canals. Take in the fresh air, beautiful view and taste some freshly picked fruit in local orchards.

1100h: Cycle back for check out and the shuttle boat will transfer you back to Cai Be harbor for your return drive to Ho Chi Minh City.

1500h: Arrive HCMC and check back into your hotel and overnight in HCMC.

Day 11: Ho Chi Minh – Phom Phenh (B)

Your driver will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to Ho Chi Minh airport to board your morning flight to Phom Phenh

Arrive in Phom Phenh where our driver will meet at the airport and transfer you to your hotel .

Overnight stay in Phom Phenh

Day 12: Killing Fields – Tuol Sleng Museum – Russian Markets (B/L)

0800h – Your guide will meet you at your hotel and you will drive approx 15 km south to the killing fields of Choeung Ek. In the short period between 1975 & 1978 approximately 17.000 men, women and children were detained and tortured at the notorious S-21 prison and transported to the extermination camp of Choeung Ek. After lunch in a local restaurant, you will return to Phnom Penh and visit the Notorious Tuol Sleng Museum. In 1975, Tuol Svay Prey High School was taken over by Pol Pot’s security forces and became the infamous S-21 prison. S-21 became the largest detention centre and torture facility in the country where more than

Next is a vist to the Russian Market which is one of the premier shopping destinations in the Cambodian capital. Known as Psar Tuol Tom Pong, it earned its nickname in the 1980s, when Russians were the only tourists in Cambodia. You will find a wide range of goods on sale and is a great place to shop for your souvenirs

17:00: Return to your hotel and stay overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 13: Phom Phenh – Siem Reap

0900h: Your driver will meet you at the hotel and you will depart on your road journey to Siem Reap in a private air conditioned vehicle.

1500h: Arrive in Siem Reap and check into your hotel. Stay overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 14: Siem Reap – Angkor Wat Temple (B/L)

07:30: After breakfast your English speaking guide will meet you at your hotel and you will leave 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 Lunch at local restaurant and in the afternoon and visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century). See the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and Bayon Temple

Overnight stay in Siem Reap

Day 15: Departure (B)

Free time until your driver pick you up for the transfer to international airport for your departure.