Vietnam and Cambodia Combination

The overwhelming image retained by visitors to Vietnam is that of a country blessed with an extraordinary beauty. It’s a mosaic of mist-shrouded mountains, vibrant green forests, a patch-work of rice paddies and pristine white beaches, whilst its villages and cities are custodians of the culture and monuments of a unique 2,000 year old civilisation. But Vietnam is more than just history and scenery. It also boasts a world-class gastronomic heritage: a delicious fusion of Malay, Chinese and Thai cuisines. With plenty of French-run restaurants thrown in for good measure, all at excellent prices, you really are in for a treat! The Vietnamese themselves are a wonderfully friendly people, always smiling, courteous and proud to show off their beautiful country to all. Our tour in Cambodia includes a stay in the capital, Phnom Penh. Beautifully located at the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers, Phnom Penh, with its vibrant riverside ambience, is one of the ‘hidden gems’ of Asian cities. After being virtually completely depopulated during Pol Pot’s regime, the city is now full of life and thriving once more. A short flight away is the town of Siem Reap, the gateway to the incredible complex of temples within the ancient city of Angkor. At its height in the thirteenth century, Angkor had a staggering one million inhabitants, larger in area than Manhattan. It was the capital of the fabulously wealthy Khmer Empire that stretched from Thailand, through Laos and Cambodia to southern Vietnam. The incredible state of preservation, the beauty of its design and artistry of its sculptures have, for many, made Angkor one of the great wonders of the world.

Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi (D)

We’ll be greeted upon arrival and transferred to the hotel for check-in and tour briefing. We’ll take an orientation tour and a chance to acclimatize ourselves if time permits. A welcome dinner awaits us tonight.
Day 2: Hanoi (B, L)

Today we'll be touring the most outstanding attractions of Hanoi. First, we pay a visit to the complex of memorials to Ho Chi Minh to know the amazing life of the founder of modern Vietnam. Continue to the Temple of Literature to gain understanding of one of the driving forces in Vietnam culture. Our next stop is the Museum of Ethnology which exhibits a large collection of artifacts about the 54 ethnic groups in the country. Enjoy a rickshaw ride through the lively Old Quarter, a series of 36 ancient streets where peddlers still trade the way they have done for centuries. The rickshaw tour ends up at an old house on Ma May Street, an example of dwellings in the 19 century. Enjoy a performance of the water puppetry, the famed traditional art form created by village farmers around the Red River Delta region. Unique but widely known.
Day 3: Hanoi / Halong (B, L, D)

Today we journey east to Halong Bay, the greatest natural wonder of Vietnam, through the Red River Delta, where we see daily Vietnamese village life. On arrival, we board a beautiful traditional junk and spend a full day and night cruising the bay's 3000 magnificent limestone islets. In the evening when the boat is anchored in the middle of the stunning lagoon, we enjoy a wonderful seafood meal and later there is opportunity for an evening swim from the side of the boat. Spend the night on our boat.

NOTE: Kayaks are available if specified at time of booking.
Day 4: Halong / Hanoi / Hue (Brunch)

Wake up to fresh coffee then further cruising and sightseeing. En route the junk weaves through more rock formations that invite comparisons from fighting cocks to dragons and even further! Disembark after lunch and return to Hanoi for a late afternoon/early evening flight to Hue in Middle Vietnam. Meet up with our local guide at Hue airport and drive to the hotel.
Day 5: Hue (B, L)

After breakfast we set out on a full day tour to look into the beauties of Vietnam’s former capital city. We first take a tour of the Imperial Citadel, workplace and home of the Nguyen Emperors, a complex of palaces and temples built in the early 19th century and a recognized UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Next site is the beautiful Thien Mu pagoda on the bank of the Perfume River. After lunch, we visit a typical garden house of Hue city, which was built according to precise rules of geomancy. Experience the serene and pleasant feelings it might bring. Continue to the grand mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc on a serene hill, which nicely reflects Vietnamese thinking about life after life. It is also an opportunity to learn about the history of Nguyen dynasty and the French colonial invasion. Later, we visit the nearby villages crafting incenses and conical hats. A wonderful photograph opportunity!
Day 6: Hue / Danang / Hoian (B, L)

This morning we leave Hue and journey southwards to Hoian, passing through the quiet, white sandy beach of Lang Co, climbing over the scenic Hai Van Pass overlooking the central coastline. We also make a short stop in Danang to visit Cham Museum and its well-preserved collection of statues. Late afternoon, we’ll be on foot exploring the ancient quarter of Hoian, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site because of its historic role in international trade, unusually well-preserved ancient streets and homes. Sites include the Japanese Bridge, a Sino-Vietnamese merchant house, a Chinese Temple, and the Central Market.
Day 7: Hoian (B, L)

After breakfast we ride a bike to the herb farming village of Tra Que, located 30 minutes of cycling from Hoian. The village is home to about 100 families organically farming vegetables and herbs of various kinds such as mint, lettuce, basil, cilantro and broccoli, etc. We park at a family and get acquainted with the host before joining them in their daily farming works. Learn how to rake the soil, sow the seeds, water the greens, transplanting the seedlings, and so on. Enjoy an herbal treatment then prepare lunch along with the host. We’ll be instructed on how to make Tam Huu - a set of shrimps, pork and aromatic herbs, and Banh Xeo pancake. Enjoy lunch and then some tea before returning to the hotel. The rest of the day will be at own leisure.
Day 8: Hoian / Danang / Saigon (B, L)

We fly to Saigon in the morning and sample lunch in local style, bowl of "Pho" noodle soup or spring roll of various kinds. Afternoon, we’ll be visiting the best known sites in the very center of Saigon, taking in the Reunification Palace, the War Museum, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Post Office, the Opera House, Ben Thanh Market, etc.
Day 9: Saigon / Cu Chi Tunnels / Saigon (B)

This morning we travel to Cu Chi to explore the legendary network of underground combat tunnels. This incredible system, covering almost 250km in length, served as communication routes, storage facilities, hospitals and living quarters for Vietnamese fighters throughout the wartime. Known as the "Iron Triangle" during the war of the 60's, the story of Cu Chi is one of struggle, determination against all odds, and eventual victory. Now the tunnels are a major site of interest for tourists and historians, and those interested in Vietnam's military history. After the tunnels we return to town and enjoy the balance of the day at own leisure.
Day 10: Saigon / Can Tho in Mekong Delta (B, L)

After breakfast we leave the hustle and bustle of Saigon behind and travel into the Mekong Delta, a world that lives and works on the waters. Arriving in My Tho, 80 km from Saigon, we get on a boat trip on the Mekong River, then into a palm-shaded canal towards an island. Disembark and roam into the insular village to see production of handicrafts and candy from coconut, taste freshly picked seasonal tropical fruits, enjoy folk musical by amateurs, and ride a horse cart along the village road. Row a sampan along a side arm of the river to further experience river life. For lunch, we’ll sample some regional specialties such as Elephant Ear Fish, Rice Ball, Coconut Salad, etc. After a pleasant break we travel to Can Tho, the largest city in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, for the night.
Day 11: Can Tho / Chau Doc in Mekong Delta (B)

This morning we take a boat to visit the extraordinary market of Cai Rang. Being the largest markets on the complex of waterways that comprise the Mekong Delta, Cai Rang receives hundreds of boats packed with local produces gather every morning. Boats come from all sides, offering fruits, vegetables, plants, foods, etc. Sellers advertise their wares by hanging samples high atop bamboo poles so that their customers can find from afar. The boat tour ends up at an orchard where we’ll see and taste tropical fruits. We then continue overland to Chau Doc on the border with Cambodia. In Chau Doc, visit a floating village where people that farm fish under their living quarters, a Cham village marked by stilt houses and a mosque.
Day 12: Chau Doc / Phnom Penh, Cambodia (B)

After an early breakfast we take a speedboat upstream the Mekong River into Cambodia. Upon arrival at the jetty in Phnom Penh, we’ll be greeted and driven to the hotel. In the afternoon we’ll be walking through the opulent Royal Palace with the dazzling Silver Pagoda. Next stop is the impressive National Museum that houses a large collection of Khmer art sculptures, ceramics and bronzes. At sunset, stroll along Sisowath Quay to see lively river life as well as riverside stalls selling fried cockroaches, spiders, crickets or grasshoppers or other culinary delights.
Day 13: Phnom Penh / Siem Reap (B, D)

Following breakfast, we visit the Central Market housed in a distinctive domed Art Deco building, a labyrinth of stalls selling everything from CDs and DVDs to silks, crafts, jewelry and more. Learn about the tragic history of Cambodia through the horrific Museum of Tuol Sleng and the Killing Field of Choeung Ek where nearly 10,000 were executed during the 03 years of Khmer Rouge regime. Take an afternoon flight to Siem Reap and enjoy dinner with entertainment from Apsara dancers.
Day 14: Siem Reap (B)

Today we start exploring the wonders left by a highly complex civilization that controlled the greater part of Southeast Asia for four centuries. First, visit Angkor Thom – the last capital of the great Khmer Empire, taking in the sprawling Terraces of Elephant and the Leper King and the enchanting Bayon. This 12th century masterpiece lies at the very center of Angkor Thom and is an archaeological wonder of symmetry and grandeur. Afternoon, we continue with the fascinating jungle-clad temple of Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei as the Citadel of Chambers, the mountain temple of Takeo, the elegant Hindu temple of Thommanon, the badly ruined temple of Chau Say Thevoda, and the Royal Bath of Sras Srang. Hike up Phnom Bakheng to behold the magnificent sunset over the land of temples.
Day 15: Siem Reap (B)

We break the temple tour with a visit to Kompong Khleang, one of the largest settlements on the Tonle Sap Lake. Over 20,000 people live in high stilt houses which tower up to 10 meters over the water. It is a spectacular place which only gets a small number of visitors. There is a small island at the centre of the village which has a bustling market. We take a boat tour to see life on the waters of the Great Lake of Tonle Sap and get a taste for life ruled by monsoonal rains and water-based agriculture. One of the world’s most productive bodies of fresh water, Tonle Sap was classified as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1997. After the noon break back in the hotel, we’ll visit Angkor Wat, a vast rambling complex of diverse temple structures dating from the 9th to the 13th centuries. Many are adorned with exquisite carvings and bas-reliefs; some are so entwined with trees and vines that they almost returned to the jungle. Angkor Wat is the apogee of classical Khmer architecture and has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on the national flag, and stands on par with such other monumental achievements as Machu Picchu and the Great Pyramid.
Day 16: Departure (B)

Free before transfer to the airport for your departure flight.