Vietnam Cambodia Holidays [14D/13N]

The post-colonial capital city of Hanoi is a distinctive destination in Asia, featuring tree-lined streets, French colonial-style buildings, numerous lakes, pagodas and temples. This comprehensive day tour covers key attractions such as the Ho Chi Minh Complex, Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and Stilt House, the Presidential Palace, One Pillar Pagoda nearby, and the Temple of Literature. The itinerary also includes visits to the Museum of Ethnology and Hoan Kiem Lake, followed by a one-hour cyclo tour around Hanoi's old quarter. The city exploration culminates with a Water Puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi.

We depart for Ha Long Bay and travel through the beautiful countryside. Ha Long Bay is an incredibly stunning natural sight in Vietnam. After leaving the town, we board a boat to explore this legendary bay. During the exciting five-hour cruise, we will marvel at the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and witness around 3,000 limestone islands emerging from the clear emerald water. These limestone formations feature beaches, grottoes, and exquisite caves scattered throughout them. We'll also have opportunities to anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and visit one of many hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. Our overnight stay will be on a Junk Cruise. 

Starting your morning by practicing Tai Chi on the Sundeck while enjoying complimentary tea and coffee. Enjoying breakfast served onboard before continuing to cruise around the bay. Disembarking in Ha Long city around midday, followed by a direct drive to Hanoi airport for a short flight to Hue. Upon reaching Phu Bai Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay.

You will explore the city by visiting landmarks such as the Citadel, Forbidden Purple City, Imperial Museum, and Dong Ba market. End your day with a cruise along Perfume River while enjoying traditional Hue music.

Rising in the historic region, savor your morning meal at the hotel. Afterward, hop on a private boat to cruise along the enchanting Perfume River, and visit Lady Pagoda as well as the elaborate Minh Mang's tomb. Depart from Hue, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and head towards Hoi An. You'll journey across the Hai Van pass and make a stop in Da Nang to explore the Cham Museum and handicraft villages near Marble Mountain before reaching Hoi An. Upon arrival in Hoi An, you'll check into our hotel and have some leisure time to discover this charming town.

Drive to My Son, a UNESCO World Heritage site located 40 kilometers southwest of Hoi An. It served as the capital and religious center of the Cham people and is now characterized by its remaining red brick towers and sanctuaries. My Son is often compared to some of Southeast Asia's most significant archaeological sites such as Angkor in Cambodia, Bagan in Myanmar, Ayutthaya in Thailand, and Borobudur in Indonesia. These structures were constructed between the 7th and 13th centuries.

In the afternoon, return to Hoi An ancient town for a guided walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter with visits to Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Halls, Tam Ky ancestral house which dates back 200 years, and the iconic Japanese Bridge. Afterward, there will be free time for shopping or relaxation.

Transfer to Da Nang International Airport for the flight to HCM city. Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, you will be greeted and taken to Cu Chi Tunnels, an intricate underground network spanning over 200 km. This system features numerous interconnected tunnels leading to hideouts, shelters, and other passageways. The tunnels contain trap doors, living quarters, storage areas, weapons facilities, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. Today these remaining tunnels have transformed into a popular tourist attraction that provides visitors with a glimpse of what life was like underground during the U.S.-Vietnam War.

In the afternoon we'll return to HCM for a brief tour encompassing key sites in this vibrant city. Our first stop is Notre Dame Catholic Cathedral followed by a visit to the French-built Post Office nearby. Next on our agenda is a visit to Reunification Palace formerly governed by the US-pro government of the Republic of Vietnam followed by a tour of the War Remnants Museum dedicated primarily to exhibits related to the American phase of the Vietnam War.

Depart from HCMC for the scenic My Tho, where we take a private boat ride through lush green canals to reach an orchard. Enjoy a delightful lunch at a local restaurant in the heart of the Mekong, featuring tropical fruits. Explore Dong Tam snake farm and visit Vinh Trang pagoda, which showcases both Asian and European architectural influences. Afterwards, journey to Can Tho city, nestled in the heart of the Mekong Delta region. Spend the night in Can Tho.

After enjoying your morning meal, embark on a boat excursion to discover the charming branches of the Lower Mekong River. Then, make a stop at the renowned Cai Rang floating market - known as one of the finest in the area. If you've indulged in Vietnamese vermicelli soup before, take this opportunity to observe its preparation. Afterward, meander through the village and engage in conversations with local residents. Gain insights into crossing a "monkey bridge" constructed from single bamboo poles. Break for lunch before continuing onwards to Chau Doc, with an interlude at Long Xuyen to tour the Thot Not Bird Sanctuary. Finally, marvel at breathtaking views of the Vietnamese-Cambodian border region from atop Sam Mountain.

Transfer to a speedboat at 07:30 AM for the final leg of the journey to Phnom Penh. Arrive at Sisowath Tourist Dock in Phnom Penh around noon. In the afternoon, begin with Tuol Sleng, also known as S21, which originally served as a school in central Phnom Penh before being repurposed by Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge regime for imprisoning, torturing, and executing individuals suspected of disloyalty or opposition to their beliefs. Today it stands as a museum portraying this harrowing period of history; its cells, beds, torture devices, and photographs from that time are preserved on site. Conclude the day with a visit to the Russian Market—so named due to Russian influence during the 1980s—offering an extensive variety of traditional and contemporary goods for sale.

After having breakfast, you can explore the Royal Palace. Situated on the banks of the Mekong River, this palace was built in the 19th century when the capital shifted from Oudong to Phnom Penh and has served as the residence for Cambodia's monarchs since 1866. The architecture of the palace showcases Khmer expertise and artistic flair seen in their royal and religious structures. Inside, you'll find the Silver Pagoda which houses Watt Preah Ko Royal Temple where Cambodia's most revered national treasures are kept including gold Buddhas, a baccarat emerald Buddha, and even a Buddha statue adorned with approximately 9,584 diamonds.

In the afternoon, consider taking public transportation or a domestic flight to Siem Reap City (if your group is under 10 people). Located about 300 km northwest of Phnom Penh and just north of Tonle Sap lake lies Siem Reap Town – an ideal modern base for exploring Angkor Wat World Heritage site nearby. Once there, our team will arrange for your transfer to your hotel so that you can check-in comfortably.

In the morning, we will kick off our day by exploring the famous and highly esteemed Angkor Wat. This architectural masterpiece is considered the most significant of all the temples in Angkor, serving as an enduring legacy from Suryavarman II. Following that, we'll visit Ta Prohm, a renowned site associated with the movie Tomb Raider; it remains a valuable treasure of the Angkorian era.

In the afternoon, our journey through Angkor Thom will begin at what is known as 'The Great City'. We'll start by entering through Victory Gate and then head to Elephant Terrace before moving on to explore adjacent sites like Terrace of Leper King and Preah Palilay located within a forested area. Our exploration continues with visits to Phimeanakas and Bayon before concluding at Bakheng Hill where we can take in breathtaking views of this ancient land at sunset, including vistas encompassing Tonle Sap Lake, West Baray, and naturally—Angkor Wat.

In the morning, explore the Great Tonle Sap Lake- Kompong Pluk, the largest lake in Southeast Asia. After a scenic journey through the countryside to reach the water’s edge, we will board our boat and sail through mangroves, visit floating and stilted villages, and immerse ourselves in a captivating traditional way of life. This expansive lake spans 16000 square kilometers during the height of the wet season and is incredibly important to Cambodia and Southeast Asia as a whole. It's also home to a wide variety of rare wildlife species as well as resourceful communities. On our return journey, we'll stop at a local temple for an insight into monk life.

Afterwards, we will tour the Chantier Ecole-Artisan d’Angkor, a museum and vocational center focused on preserving Khmer art. Established with the goal of maintaining Cambodia's heritage of skilled craftsmanship despite significant losses in expertise throughout its recent history, Artisans d’Angkor was created by CEFP to provide training and employment opportunities for some of the most disadvantaged community members in this art form. Visitors have the opportunity to witness modern artisans utilizing traditional methods in crafting metalwork, stonework, lacquer, and silk. Afterward, visit the Old Market and Siem Reap town before transferring to the airport for your onward flight.