18 Days Vietnam Cambodia Explorer Tour

Destinations: Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Chau Doc, Can Tho, Vinh Long, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Hoian , Hue, Halong Bay , Hanoi

Starts Siem Reap

+ 9 Destinations Phnom Penh, Chau Doc...

Ends Hanoi

Excellent 3 reviews

Trip overview

On this fascinating 18 Days Vietnam and Cambodia Tour you’ll explore several of the world’s greatest treasures, behold spectacular scenery, learn about different cultures, and experience the warmth and hospitality bestowed by the locals. It’s a vacation of a lifetime!This trip starts in Siem Reap ..More

Duration: 18 days / 17 nights
Activities: Sightseeing, Cultural, Historical, Beach Relaxing, Cruising, Nature Discovery
Tour type: Private Tour
Themes:Vietnam Cambodia Tours

Highlights

Siem Reap - Gateway to the Angkor Wat temple complex
Phnom Penh - Capital of Cambodia surrounded by the Mekong River; home to majestic palaces and pagodas
Mekong Delta - ‘Rice basket of Vietnam’ and home to many living, working and travelling along the river
Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) - Vietnam’s most cosmopolitan and vibrant city
Nha Trang – Home to tranquil beaches and has a thriving fishing industry.
Hoi An - Discover this charming UNESCO World Heritage listed site
Hue - The country’s former imperial capital
Hanoi - Exploration of this charming, historical centre and its French provincial influences
Halong Bay - Vietnam’s ‘Jewel in the Crown’; the stunning beauty of the 3,000 islets of the Gulf of Tonkin

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Tour itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Siem Reap – Welcome To Cambodia (N/A)

On your arrival in Siem Reap, you are met by our guide and driver at the airport for the transfer to the hotel in town center. Free time to rest. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 2: Siem Reap – Angkor Wat Tour (B)

In the morning, 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. Angkor Wat’s five towers symbolize Meru’s five peaks - the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond.

Afternoon, Visit the South Gate (with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk), the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century), Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Enjoy Sunset at Angkor Wat before return to the hotel. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 3: Siem Reap – Angkor Wat Tour (B)

Morning, transfer to Banteay Srei temple (10th c), regarded as the jewel in the crown of Classical Khmer Art. Continue 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.

In the afternoon, you continue your temple visits to Preah Khan. 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 Prea Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), Ta Som and Banteay Samre, built in the third quarter of the 12th century. It consists of a central temple with four wings preceded by a hall and accompanied by two libraries, the southern example remarkably well preserved. Two concentric walls enclose the ensemble. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 4: Siem Reap – Phnom Penh, City Tour (B)

Morning, take the 50 minute flight to Phnom Penh. On arrival in Phnom Penh, we will visit this charming city of Phnom Penh: The Tuol Sleng PrisonMuseum and the notorious ‘Killing Fields’ of Choeung Ek are not to be missed. A visit to these sights provides a deep insight into the painful bloody rule of the Khmer Rouge. VisitWat Phnom temple. Before ending the tour of today, we enjoy the Cyclo ride along the Mekong River side to visit Children Khmer Dancing School. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Day 5: Phnom Penh Tour – Chau Doc / Vietnam (B)

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. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. Visit to the National Museum, also called Musee des Beaux-Arts. A French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, designed it in Khmer style in 1917. The museum contains a collection of Khmer art - notably sculptures - from throughout the ages. We continue to one of the city’s lively open markets, Psar Toul Tom Pong, all called the “Russian Market”, where anything and everything is for sales.
Early afternoon, you will be transfer to the boat station for the express boat trip to Chau Doc, the border town of Vietnam. To enter Vietnam at border with Cambodia, you will need to have Vietnam visa in advance. Arrive Chau Doc in late afternoon, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Overnight at hotel in Chau Doc.

Day 6: Chau Doc – Mekong On Private Sampan (B/L/D)

Located on the upper Mekong Delta, Chau Doc town is 280 km (174 miles) south-west of Ho Chi Minh City close to the Cambodian border. With such proximity to Cambodia, the local population is an eclectic mix of Cham, Khmer, Chinese and Vietnamese, sharing different cultures and historical richness. Your cruise journey on the private sampan will start at noon in Chau Doc at 10am. Your crew welcomes you with cold towels and a refreshing drink while your Song Xanh private sampan sets off for its leisurely cruise on the busy waterways cruise down towards Long Xuyen along a narrow canal, passing by several monkey bridges and along peaceful villages. Lunch is served on board, before arriving in Long Xuyen. Visit Tiger Island (Cu Lao Ong Ho), a small island that was once the home of Vietnam’s second president – Ton Duc Thang. Take a stroll around the park surrounding the Museum and cycle around the island. Your last stopover before sunset is at a local people house. The owner will welcome you and acandlelit dinner will be served there. Enjoy your first night on board Song Xanh on the Hau River.

Day 7: Discover Mekong On Private Sampan (B/L/D)

Breakfast is served on board around 7h00am while your sampan cruising downstream. Arrive in Sa Dec and take a stroll around the city. Visit the local celebrity: the ancient house of Huynh Thuy Le, real-life character of the novel and film “The Lover by Marguerite Duras. The little town is well worth exploring as it played an important role in the development of the Mekong Delta. Large Chinese and Khmer communities live there, while the French also left their imprint on the local architecture. As a result, all religions are represented side by side: a Cao Dai Temple, a Catholic Church, a Chinese Temple, Vietnamese Pagodas… Lunch and dinner are served on board. Enjoy your second night on board Song Xanh on the Mekong River.

Day 8: Mekong – Saigon (B/L)

The journey starts at 6h00 cruising downstream to Cai Be. Observe from your boat the life on the shore, the people, the stunning landscapes, while your attentive crew serves breakfast onboard. Stop here and there for a glimpse of pottery factor and local handicrafts production: coconut candy and pop-rice (the local equivalent of pop-corn), handicrafts that provide a living for the river people. Your cruise ends up at the Longanier Restaurant in Cai Be where you will enjoy lunch. After lunch, take our car for the trip to Saigon. Transfer to your hotel in Saigon. Overnight in Saigon.

Day 9: Saigon – Cuchi Tunnels (B)

Depart this morning for the Cu Chi Tunnels, a network of underground tunnels begun in 1948 by the Viet Minh in their struggle against the French. These tunnels were expanded and used by the Viet Cong during the war between Vietnam and America. American called this area the “Iron Triangle” and was a Viet Cong strong hold for almost thirty years. You may walk underground in the tunnels. Return to the city before lunch time.
Afternoon, you will explore this cosmopolitan city on a guided tour. High lights are the famed Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, Reunification Palace (outside visit), War Remnant Museum, Ben Thanh Market. Overnight at hotel in Saigon.

Day 10: Saigon – Nhatrang Beach (B)

Take the morning flight to Nhatrang. You will be met at the airport by your guide for the transfer to your hotel.

Nha Trang has one of the most popular beaches in all of Vietnam, with clear turquoise water and mountains backdrop. The coconut palms provide shelter along most of the 6 km beachfront. Today, enjoy free time on the beach. Overnight at hotel in Nhatrang.

Day 11: Nhatrang – Boat Trip To Island (B/L)

You will have one day boat trip. Firstly we will go to Mun Island, the best site for snorkeling where you will see lots of live colorful corals and fish. Relax, sunbath and swim at Tam island. Then visit Tri Nguyen Aquarium on Mieu Island where you will have chance to see the life of the many sea species of Nhatrang Ocean in this aquarium. Return to Nha Trang at about 16.00. Overnight in Nha trang.

Day 12: Nha Trang – Fly To Danang - Hoian (B)

You will take a morning flight to Da Nang. On arrival at Da Nang Airport, you are met and transferred to visit to Cham Museum (rich collection of Cham sculptures from in 14-15 century back with Indian influences) before transferring to Hoian town, which was originally one of major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century. Visit of Hoian Town with mixed the culture of Vietnam/Chinese/Japanese with Chinese tiled houses, Chinese temples, Japanese covered bridge. Overnight in Hoian town.

Day 13: Hoian – Myson – Hue (B)

Morning, take a discovery trip to My Son, 40km from Hoi An. Located in a lush valley, My Son was a capital and religious center of Cham people, now remaining with red brick towers and sanctuaries. My Son, considered being in the same league as some of Southeast Asia's greatest archaeological sites, including Angkor in Cambodia, Bagan in Myanmar, Ayutthaya in Thailand and Borobudur in Indonesia. These towers and sanctuaries were built from the 7 to 13 centuries. Admiring great architectural and art works of the Cham lost Kingdom. Having a brief understanding of the history, culture for which My Son was recognized the World Cultural Heritage.

Afternoon, we drive 4 hours northwards to Hue, the ancient capital of Vietnam. Take some stops on the way to see the spectacular view on the top of “Hai Van Pass”and the legend beach of Lang Co.

Late afternoon, enjoy a leisure boat-ride along the scenic Perfume River to visit Thien Mu pagoda. Overnight at hotel in Hue.

Day 14: Visit Hue – Night Train To Hanoi (B)

Today, take the sightseeing in Hue to the Ancient Imperial Citadel, a complex of palaces and temples built by the Nguyen from early 19th Century for which Hue was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage. Then you will embark on a drive to Hue’s countryside, through scenic villages and green rice fields to reach the Emperor Ming Mang’s tomb. It is one of the most beautiful of all Emperors tombs, in a complex of pavilions, temple, courtyards and lakes.

Afternoon, explore more of Vietnam life with the effected of Royal life, garden house in Hue is one of them. "Garden house" is a typical and unique characteristic of Hue city. You will visit the traditional handicraft village: Thuy Xuan Hat - Incense making village, you will see how Hue Hat (non Hue) - a symbolized for the beauty of Hue lady.

Late afternoon, visit Dong Ba, the local market in Hue, and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local seller. Then transfer to the train station for the night train to Hanoi SE4 leaving Hue at 17:06. Overnight on the train in soft berth A/C cabin.

Option: We can replace the night train by the one hour flight to Hanoi and stay overnight at hotel instead.

Day 15: Hanoi – Halong Bay Cruise (B/L/D)

The train arrives in Hanoi around 5am, you are met and transferred to a dayuse hotel for few hours resting and having breakfast.
8AM: You will leave for Ha Long Bay, one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas and the world’s largest marine limestone ‘karst’ landscape. There you will board your boat, a wooden junk built from the model of the old Vietnamese court vessels with sails, a wide transom and rectangular superstructure, that will take you first to the busy World Heritage area and then to some of the less well-known grottoes and caves. Weather permitting, you will be able to swim, fish, climb a hill for an overview of the Bay’s remarkable seascape, or venture into some of the sea level caves in a small sampan. All your meals will be provided on board, usually based on fresh seafood. Overnight on boat.

Day 16: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B/L)

Participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply watch the sunrise over the magnificent bay. Enjoy your morning cup of coffee or juice before setting out to the near- by cave by row boat. Return back to the junk, where breakfast is served, while sailing around Bay Tu Long bay where the movie “Indochine” was filmed.
Your cruise will end at noon and you will be met by your driver for the transfer back to your hotel in Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi around 4pm, check in hotel and leisure time. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 17: Hanoi City Tour (B)

Today we will take a sightseeing of the most Hanoi's outstanding historical and cultural sites. The visit includes:

- The complex of Ho Chi Minh historical sites, also called the political center of Vietnam.

- One-pillar Pagoda and The Temple of Literature for the brief understanding about the two most popular religions in Vietnam (Buddhism and Confucianism).

- Visit one of the museums in Hanoi (Museum of History, Museum of Ethnology, Museum of Fine Art, or Hoa Lo Prison musuem).

- You will know our legend/history about Hoan Kiem Lake (the lake of the Restored Sword), our architectural and our way of with small streets and its name (Old quarter) on a cyclo ride.

- Late afternoon, enjoy our welcome show of northern rural of Vietnam – Water Puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 18: Hanoi – Departure (B)

Breakfast in hotel and free time until the pick up from the hotel to the airport for your departure flight. End of the 18 Days Vietnam Cambodia Tour.

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Trip Inclusion

Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast based on double/twin sharing
2 nights on private boat cruise in Mekong
1 night on boat cruise in Halong Bay (sharing boat)
Meals as indicated in the itinerary (B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner)
All airport pickups and airport transfers and tour transfers by A/C car
3 domestic flights: Siem Reap-Phnom Penh, Saigon-Nhatrang, Nhatrang-Danang (Economy Class, including 20kg checked baggage and 7kg handbag each adult)
Night train in soft sleeper A/C cabin from Hue to Hanoi
Boat trips as in the program
Local English speaking tour guides
All entrance fees and permits where applicable

Trip Exclusions

Meals that not mentioned in the program
Travel insurance
Vietnam visa must be obtained before the tour
Cambodia visa (can get at the airport on arrival at 30 USD/Person)
International flights from/to the start/finish point of the trip
Tipping, drinks and other personal expenses

Accommodation Categories

Standard:
Standard accommodation equates to a Western 3-star standard, always featuring en-suite rooms and usually a restaurant. Sometimes these are a good affordable choice in cities where accommodation is very expensive, but where being centrally located is a prime consideration.

Superior:
Superior accommodation equates to a Western 4-star standard, featuring en-suite rooms and usually a restaurant and often a swimming pool and/or a fitness centre. This is the 'classic' hotel standard we use on most of our group based tours.

Deluxe:
Deluxe accommodation equates to a Western 5-star standard, usually featuring spacious, en-suite rooms, a restaurant, swimming pool and fitness centre and an array of amenities, excellent service and customer care. India and Southeast Asia have a fabulous array of top notch 5-star properties.

Luxury:
Luxury accommodation equates to a Western 5-star plus standard - the creme de la creme. Featuring spacious, en-suite rooms, a restaurant, swimming pool and fitness centre and an array of amenities, this accommodation is a cut above the rest. Sheer opulence!

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Julie Windfield
5.0 - Excellent
We had a fantastic trip, thanks once again for your advice and excellent planning to ensure we had a smooth and safe holiday. We loved Cambodia and Vietnam and all the people we were fortunate to meet.
Shivaram Jagannathan
5.0 - Excellent
Fantastic experience. Well organised. Will recommend to any one undertaking a trip to Cambodia and Vietnam. Keep it up.
Alan Hardcastle
5.0 - Excellent
Excellent from start to finish. I would most certainly recommend VietAsia Travel and especially Mr Ha Do. He was a pleasure to work with.