Cultural Highlights of Vietnam and Angkor

When you arrive at Noi Bai International airport in Hanoi, you’ll be welcome by one of our representatives and transferred to your hotel in the downtown. The remainder of the day will be your own. Overnight in Hanoi.

The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, is a modern city that retains a unique old world charm and some of Asia’s most striking colonial architecture. The many lakes and parks give the city a relaxing atmosphere.

Meals: None
Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals:
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

Your Vietnam Cambodia itinerary 14 days begin with a city tour of Hanoi takes in essential sites which will commence from your hotel lobby at 08.30 am. In the morning, you’ll visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex including the Mausoleum, his former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh Museum; The Temple of Literature – Vietnam’s first university dating back to 1070.

After lunch at a local Vietnamese restaurant, you’ll continue visiting the Museum of Ethnology, widely acknowledged as the best in the country, containing an extensive display of life-size structures dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minority peoples; Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake – the Ngoc Son Temple is set on a tiny island on Hoan Kiem Lake, its history dating back to the 13th century; a cyclo ride for 1 hour touring through the narrow, chaotic streets of the Old Quarter – a must for any visitor to Hanoi! The day finishes with a traditional performance of the famous Vietnamese water puppets.

Note: the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed all day on Monday and Fridays, as well as from 1st October to 30th November (approx.) for annual conservation.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

After breakfast, you’ll leave for Halong Bay with a refreshment break en route. Meet the crew upon boarding the traditional wooden junk, then relax and enjoy lunch while the boat heads towards the secluded islands. Visit ancient limestone caves and go sea kayaking and swimming if the weather permits. Return to the junk refreshed and invigorated and relax on deck with a drink to watch the sunset. Enjoy a freshly prepared seafood dinner under the stars.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight on a wooden junk in Halong Bay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight Cruises
Transportation: Shuttle Bus

Enjoy an early morning swim (if weather permits) followed by breakfast. The tour then visit one of the famous caves in the middle of the bay before cruising back to the main harbor for the 4 hour drive straight to Noi Bai airport in Hanoi for a late afternoon flight to Danang. On arrival, met and transferred to your selected hotel in Hoi An.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Plane

8:30 a.m., your guide will meet you at your hotel lobby and show you around the old town. You’ll start a walking tour with numerous places of interest: the 400-year old Japanese Covered Bridge, the Phuc Kien Assembly Halls, a museum and the colorful local market. Following the narrow lanes, you walk along tiny streets with houses influenced by Chinese, Japanese, French and European architectures.

After your walking tour, your time will be at leisure to wander around or go shopping. Your lunch will be at a local restaurant. The remainder of the day will be your own.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

A free day at leisure in Hoi An.

Note: There are various optional activities for your free time in Hoi An such as joining a cooking class, visiting rural villages around Hoi An by bicycle, take a day trip to My Son Ruins. Those options can be added at additional cost.

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight in Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation:

This morning you’ll drive north to the Royal City of Hue with en-route stop to visit either the Cham Museum in the city centre OR the famous Marble Mountain, which stands for the five essential elements that establish nature. Continue the scenic route to Hue, enjoy the view of the coast line and Danang from the top of the Hai Van Pass (Pass of the Clouds) makes your journey interesting and have your camera ready for some great photo opportunities. In the afternoon, you will cruise the Perfume River by a dragon boat to serene Thien Mu Pagoda and drive to visit the majestic Royal Tomb of King Ming Mang or King Khai Dinh. Return to your hotel by road just before sunset.

Note: You might consider a candle-lit dinner set in a garden house which is a traditional feature of Hue’s culture. Both the garden house and the cuisine are great introduction into Hue’s culture.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Hue

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

After breakfast, you’ll spend the full day for a city tour of Imperial City of Hue, firstly with the ancient walled Citadel including the former Imperial Palace. You’ll then visit the Dong Ba market to learn about local produce and specialties of Hue. You might get some great deals done at the local Dong Ba Market.

In the afternoon, drive to Phu Bai airport in Hue for an afternoon flight to Ho Chi Minh City. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle, Plane

An 1,5 hour drive will take you to the Cu Chi Tunnels where you will visit the amazing network of underground tunnels was used during the Vietnam War by the Viet Cong. This huge construction was a habitation for villagers in the war time. With 3 levels of depth, it was never discovered by the US during the Vietnam War despite its proximity to Saigon. Visit the fighting tunnel system with your local guide.

After lunch, return to Ho Chi Minh City for a guided city tour starting with the War Remnants Museum – a real eye-opener to a part of Vietnam’s proud history, followed by the Reunification Palace, the former Presidential Palace for the president of the South of Vietnam, the Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post office to get good shots for our memory of the big, modern city of Vietnam. We delve deeper into Chinatown visiting the amazing Cholon and Binh Tay Market (or Ben Thanh market) for an insight into where locals shop. Then you’ll be back to hotel at around 17:30.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

This morning you’ll head south to visit of Cai Be floating market cruising among local barges full of fruits and vegetables. Then, an optional stop can be made at local workshops where you can see how to make rice paper, coconut candy and pop-rice, pop-corn …Visit a handicraft village where you can see how they make rice-net for spring-rolls, fish sauce & soya sauce, cooking salt, sewing coconut-leaves for cottage roof. Later, a rowing boat will take you deeper into the countryside on smaller canals to enjoy peacefulness of the Delta. You will also see traditional houses made of wood and palm tree leaves and see some activities of the local farmers with an opportunity to interact with them and see how they catch fish or pick up fruits by ancestral ways in Mekong Delta. A tasty lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Afternoon walk around and then enjoy some fresh fruits while listening to the traditional music. The trip today also takes in some gentle cycling along village paths to see the local farms, houses, real life and the ancestral ways to pick up fruits in Mekong Delta. The cruise will end at Vinh Long city where you will be transferred to Can Tho, in the heart the Mekong Delta.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Can Tho

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle, Boat

Today an half hour boat cruise will take you to visit the vibrant Cai Rang floating market to experience a special type of market in which all purchasing activities take place on boats and ships. Then continue to small a canal to visit a fruit garden where your guide will show you around before having a plate of delicious fruits. Return to Can Tho and observing the rural life and the lush vegetation along the riverbanks. Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City with lunch en-route, arriving in the late afternoon.

Note: Cai Rang market is one of the three biggest markets (Cai Be, Phung Hiep, Cai Rang) in the Mekong Delta. You can visit the market at any time of the day but it is most crowded and busy from sunrise to 9:00 am.

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

Your time will be your own until being picked up to Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City for your regional flight to Siem Reap.

Arriving at Siem Reap airport, you will be met and driven to your hotel. The whole afternoon is devoted to the Angkor Wat, the largest, and for most people, the most impressive temple in the complex. Later, take a walk to the summit of Phnom Bakheng Hill for a panorama of the whole complex lit by the rays of the setting sun (if weather permits).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle, Plane

Today you will continue with a guided tour of Angkor Temple complex. Visit Angkor Thom, starting with the Bayon, a bizarre structure of several architectural changes reflecting a switch from Hinduism (the foundations) to Buddhism (the superstructure). Next, visit the Elephant and Leper King Terraces, followed by the Baphoun Temple, which is now nearing the end of an eight-year multi-million dollar restoration programme.

After lunch, a short drive will take you to Ta Prohm, strangled by massive tree roots and typical of the condition of the whole complex when French naturalist Henri Mouhot discovered it in 1860. You’ll also visit the Prasat Kravan (also known as the Cardomom Sanctuary) and Srah Srang lake and landing terrace. The Srah Srang is less visited and could be sunrise alternative to Angkor Wat.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

After breakfast, drive to Siem Reap River where you will take a boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake to visit the village of Kompong Pluk. You can ‘go native’ aboard a dugout canoe for a paddle through the flooded forest near the village. You’ll then return to the hotel to a short break till being picked up for your departure flight.

Meals: Breakfast

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation:
Transportation: Private vehicle