This majestic Vietnam and Cambodia in 21 days offers an immersive experience through the highlights of these two stunning Southeast Asia countries. The journey starts in Hanoi and includes 2 nights cruise to Ha Long Bay to admire its spectacular limestone formations. The tour then walks you through Da Nang and the beautiful Hoi An where visitors can uncover the charming beauty of this ancient town. After that, you will visit the bustling Ho Chi Minh City and cruise on the Mekong River to learn about the local life. In Cambodia, visitors will explore the ancient wonders of Angkor Wat, Bayon Temples, and Ta Prohm to admire the Cambodian unique architecture and rich heritage. This comprehensive tour will offer visitors a more well-rounded perspective about the culture and history of Vietnam and Cambodia.
Welcome to Vietnam!
Upon arrival at the airport, a driver will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel in or around Hanoi’s historic Old Quarter. Check-in and have a short break.
The Art of Water Puppetry in Vietnam
Later in the afternoon, you’ll attend a traditional water puppet show. Known as “mua roi nuoc” in Vietnam, this cultural expression dates back over 1,000 years, originating in the Red River Delta rice fields.
Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: Dinner.
Today you will engage in a full-day tour of Hanoi’s historic landmarks. It starts around 8 am in the Old Quarter at Hang Be Market. Then, head over to the Tran Quoc Pagoda, which is the oldest Buddhist shrine in Hanoi.
Hoan Kiem Lake – Temple of Literature – Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Next is the Museum of Ethology, which preserves the cultural heritage of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. After lunch, continue to the 11th-century Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national university. Then, visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the final resting place of revolutionary leader “Uncle Ho”. Other highlights include visiting the 11th century One Pillar Pagoda, a Buddhist Temple regarded as the most unique pagoda in Asia due to its lotus-flower design perched on a stone pillar rising out of a pond. Afterward, you’ll return to the hotel.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: Dinner.
Having breakfast at your hotel and then transferring to the south of Hanoi to the Red River Delta and Ninh Binh province. Upon your arrival, you’ll check into your countryside accommodation.
Then, head out on a day tour, first dropping at Trang An. Enjoy a bike ride between villages before hopping on a sampan (flat-bottom boat) for a leisurely tour down the waterways, exploring limestone caves as you go.
Ninh Binh’s grotto
Next up is Hoa Lu, a district that was the capital of Vietnam during the 10th and 11th centuries. After touring Ho Lu’s historic pagodas, you’ll visit the Bai Dinh Temple, a massively popular pilgrimage site, and you will see all its highlights on a walking tour.
At the end of the day, you’ll return to your hotel.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fee, Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Today, you will transfer by a private car about 3.5 hours north to the coast and Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a natural wonder of the world. Here, you’ll board a ship for a two-night luxury cruise.
Halong Bay
After settling into your cabin, head up to the deck, where a delicious seafood lunch awaits. Then, you can spend hours relaxing on the sun deck as the ship sails across glassy waters to the most secluded corners of the bay. Later that afternoon, you’ll stop at a secret cove for a swim and a kayak trip to explore hidden beaches and grottoes.
Return to the ship and spend the remainder of the evening relaxing, or cast a line off the ship’s stern and do some squid fishing.
Overnight on board.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Wake up early and participate in the morning tai chi session on the sun deck. After that, you’ll sit down for a light breakfast of coffee, tea, and pastries.
Halong Bay cruise
Then, you’ll participate in a host of daily activities, starting with a trip by transport boat to a nearby fishing village on the water. Later in the morning, you relax on a nearby beach and swim before returning to the cruise ship in time for lunch.
After lunch, explore sea caves by kayak, then enjoy some free time to relax before dinner, followed by a nightcap (and maybe some karaoke) at the onboard bar.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Wake up and participate in another morning activity on the sun deck before enjoying an al fresco breakfast. The ship will then begin its return journey to the Ha Long harbor. The fun isn’t over yet, as on the way, there will be one last stop to explore another limestone sea cave. Back at the port, you’ll hop in a vehicle for the three-hour transfer back to Hanoi.
Perfume River, Hue
Once you arrive in Hanoi, you’ll head to the airport to catch a one-hour flight south to Hue, the ancient capital of Vietnam’s feudal Nguyen Dynasty. Check into your hotel and the remaining time at your leisure.
Overnight in Hue.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: Dinner.
Today, you will spend time to explore Hue’s highlights.
Meet your local guide in the morning and hop on a traditional dragon boat for a ride down the Perfume River to the sacred Thien Mu Pagoda. While here, you’ll also visit the Royal Antiques Museum to see its fine collection of artifacts from the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), the last imperial dynasty in Vietnam.
Hue’s Imperial Citadel
Continue to the Imperial City, the citadel where the former kings of Vietnam’s last feudal dynasty ruled for nearly 150 years. You’ll tour major landmarks inside this 520-acre (210 ha) complex. These include Flag Towe, Noon Gate, Nine Dynasty Urns, Nine Holy Cannons, and Thai Hoa Palace and its Khai Dinh Royal Tomb, where the 12th king of the Nguyen Dynasty is interraced. Afterward, you’ll head over to Dong Ba Market. At Hue’s most popular municipal market, you can shop for fresh produce, street food, clothing, bags, souvenirs, and more.
Overnight at your hotel.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: breakfast, dinner.
After having breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Hoi An. You’ll cross over the magnificent Hai Van Pass, also known as “Cloudy Pass” on the way and make plenty of stops to snap pictures of the seaside vistas.
Upon arrival in Hoi An, transfer to your hotel. Then, meet a local guide for a sightseeing tour of Hoi An’s beautiful waterfront and historic Ancient Town. The city was a major trading port dating back to the 16th century. You’ll visit the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation, which dates to 1845.
Hoi An
Afterward, you can browse the waterfront market for fresh produce and seafood. Perhaps order a custom-made suit or outfit – Hoi An is famous for its tailors. Cap the evening dinner in Ancient Town, followed by a riverfront stroll to see Hoi An’s famous colored lanterns.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Today, you will leave the city in the morning on a bicycle for a ride into the surrounding countryside. During this half-day excursion, you’ll follow the river around farms and villages, stopping to chat with locals along the way.
Eventually, you’ll arrive near the mouth of the river and the waterfront region of Cam Thanh. Here, you’ll hop in a Vietnamese circular basket boat (called a thung chai) for a ride along the nipa palm forests of the Thu Bon River. You’ll even get to try your hand at traditional net fishing.
Cooking class in Hoi An
Later, you’ll participate in a cooking workshop to learn how to prepare regional specialties like green papaya salad, spring rolls, pancakes, fish in a clay pot, or lemongrass chicken.
Afterward, you’ll return to Hoi An and will have the evening free.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: dinner.
Today is yours to discover more of Hoi An on your own. Sip an egg coffee, or try banh mi baguette loaded with pate, veggies, egg, and herbs. And don’t miss the shrimp-stuffed, white-rose dumpling – a local specialty.
Cua Dai Beach, Hoi An
You can join a street food tour and bike your way in and around the historic center – a great way to indulge in the food scene while soaking up the city’s charm and culture. Or else, you can grab your tower and get yourself to one of Hoi An’s beaches such as An Bang, Cua Dai. And in the evening, take a stroll along the riverside to admire some of the town’s prettiest buildings.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees. Meals: breakfast.
In the morning, you will transfer to Da Nang Airport, and catch a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, meet your driver transfer to your hotel and take a short break.
Saigon Opera House
In the evening, you’ll get dressed up for a night at the Saigon Opera House, a stately French colonial theater venue dating to 1898. The production you’ll enjoy tonight is a “bamboo circus” – a one-hour spectacular inspired by Vietnamese folk culture. It consists of live music, dancers, acrobatics, visual arts, and songs, with the performers utilizing traditional bamboo props/items like baskets, blinds, and poles, to reveal the rich culture of rural Vietnam.
Overnight at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh City Flight ticket, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: dinner.
Today, you will visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. This immense network of underground passages was constructed in 1945 to protect the Viet Cong guerrillas from French attacks. They also served as living quarters, communications hubs, and supply routes with storage areas and hospitals.
Cu Chi Tunnels
Having at a local restaurant, then return to Ho Chi Minh City for a highlights tour in the afternoon. First up is Reunification Palace (also known as Independence Palace), the Saigon government’s headquarters during the American War (as the Vietnam War is known locally). After that, visit the historic 19th-century landmarks like Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. You’ll also stop at Ben Thanh Market, one of the largest municipal markets in the city.
Overnight at your hotel.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: breakfast.
This morning, you’ll transfer south to the lush Mekong Delta. Known as Vietnam’s rice bowl, this region is full of mangroves, sugar cane plantations, and flourishing rice paddies.
Board a boat for a ride down the Ben Tre River, one of the tributaries of the mighty Mekong. Along the way, you will visit local businesses like a brick workshop and honeybee farm. The region is also famous for its coconut candies, and you’ll stop at a factory to see how these tasty confections are made.
Mekong River
Next, you’ll visit a small riverside village for tea with a family that makes hand-woven rush mats. Then, explore the town by bike or xe loi (motor cart) and witness scenes of peaceful riverine life. You’ll pass verdant rice fields, coconut groves, vegetable farms, and exotic fruit orchards.
Have lunch at a restaurant on the banks of the river. Then, hop on a traditional raft and paddle down a creek. Afterward, you’ll transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City and will have the evening free.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and catch a flight to Siem Reap. Welcome to Cambodia!
Siem Reap Night Street
Upon arrival in Siem Reap, transfer to your hotel and do check-in procedures.
Later, you’ll sit down for an Apsara dinner and dance performance. This traditional Khmer art form dates back to the seventh century and is even depicted on the walls of Cambodia’s ancient temples.
Afterward, return to your hotel and rest up for tomorrow’s busy day.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, Ho Chi Minh City – Siem Reap flight ticket, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: breakfast, dinner.
Today, you will visit the star of the show – explore the Angkor Temples.
In the morning, meet your guide and visit one of the most famous temples in the world: Angkor Wat. This 12th-century complex covers 200 acres (81 ha), and its five towers are so iconic they’re emblazoned on the Cambodian flag. On this walking tour, you’ll immerse yourself in the ruins as you stroll through its galleries, libraries, pavilions, and courtyards.
Angkor Thom
Then, you’ll explore Angkor Thom (literally “Great City), once the most impressive royal city of Cambodia’s Angkor period, and its looming Bayon Temple. Other structures you’ll visit include the Terrace of the Elephants (featuring sculptures and bas-reliefs of elephants), Phimeanakas (a three-tiered pyramid), and the Terrace of the Leper King, known for its carvings of demons and mythological figures.
End the day with a visit to Ta Prohm, a 12th-century Buddhist temple whose crumbling towers have been all but absorbed by the surrounding jungle. Here, you’ll receive a blessing from a Buddhist monk wishing you prosperity, happiness, and a safe trip. Afterward, you’ll return to Siem Reap.
Overnight at your hotel.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, Transportation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: breakfast, dinner.
This morning, you’ll transfer north of Siem Reap to the foothills of Phnom Kulen (Kulen Mountain) and the Kulen Elephant Forest, an elephant sanctuary and rehabilitation center. You’ll get to spend time with these majestic animals, many of which have been rescued/retired from the tourism industry.
Wat Bowonniwet Vihara
In the afternoon, return to Siem Reap and cap the day with a visit to Wat Bo, a marvel of Khmer architecture. This 18th-century Buddhist Temple is located in the heart of the city and has been an icon throughout its history, from the French colonial era to modern times.
At the end of the afternoon, return to your hotel and spend the remaining time at your leisure.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: dinner.
Today, you’ll visit Battambang, a city located on the northwest edge of the country. This city is the capital of the province of the same name and is famous for its beautiful architecture and, like Siem Reap, its ancient Khmer temples.
Battambang Provincial Museum
Upon arrival, you’ll check into your hotel and head out on a sightseeing tour, Highlights include a walk around famous French colonial landmarks as well as a visit to the central market. For a bit of fun, you’ll head over to the Bamboo Train – an old railway track offering rides on a rickety old bamboo platform.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: breakfast.
Spend another day visiting Cambodia’s breathtaking temple ruins.
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Sangker River and Wat Slaket, an ornate centuries-old pagoda that today is the residence of the provincial Buddhist patriarch. A little way north, you’ll find Wat Ek Phnom. This Angkorian temple dates to the 11th century and features a mix of architectural styles and intricate carvings that reflect Hindu and Buddhist influences.
Wat Ek Phnom
After that, you will visit a local market to see how the famous prahok is made. Later, you’ll transfer southwest of the city to Phnom Sampeou. Steeped in legend, this mountain features prominently in Cambodia’s cultural and religious lore.
Overnight at your hotel.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: breakfast, dinner.
Bid farewell to northern Cambodia is a private car picks you up at the hotel for the scenic drive south to Phnom Penh. You’ll find café, bars, street-food vendors, and night market abuzz with activity. Upon arrival, you’ll transfer to your hotel in the city.
A fishing man on Tonlé Sap River at sunset
Then, make the most of your first night in Cambodia’s capital with a relaxing sunset cruise on the tranquil Tonlé Sap River. You’ll board at the pier and set out on a traditional wooden boat, enjoying views of the city lights as the sun sets over the water. Watch as the fishermen bring in their boats, enjoying the riverfront scenery with a refreshing beverage in hand.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: breakfast.
Wake up early for a guide tour of Phnom Penh. Your first stop is in the city center at the Independence Monument, built in 1958 to memorialize Cambodia’s independence from France. Then, stop at the Royal Palace, which was commissioned by King Norodom in 1866.
Cambodia Independence Monument
After lunch, you’ll stop at Toul Sleng Museum (S-21 Prison), which chronicles the Cambodian genocide. This former school was used as a prison by Pol Pot’s security forces. From there, continue on to Psar Toul Tom Pong, known as the Russian Market. This large municipal market is a great place to hunt for souvenirs, pottery, curious, silks, and more.
At the end of the day, return to your hotel.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Visit fees, Meals: breakfast.
Enjoy leisure breakfast at the hotel. Your grand journey through Southeast Asia winds down today here in Cambodia’s dynamic capital.
Then, your driver will take you to the airport, where you’ll catch your flight home. Safe travels!
Included: Airport drop-off and breakfast.
– There may be cancellation fees charged by suppliers (hotels, airlines, boats, trains…) once these bookings are made and paid. These fee shall by paid by travelers.
– These are maximum cancellation fees to be flexible applied:
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