Travel in Vietnam and Cambodia 16 days

Trip in Vietnam and Cambodia, 16 days

Here we present to you a 16-day tour of Vietnam and Cambodia. A trip where you will get the chance to see everything, from the hustle and bustle of Vietnam's major cities, to the shimmering green landscapes of its mountains and rice paddies. All with the added bonus of the majestic temples of Angkor in Cambodia. But, like always, all trips offered are flexible and open to change. This, after all, is your holiday and our aim is to help you visit the places you really want to see.

DETAILED ITINERARY

DAY 1: ARRIVE IN HANOI
At your arrival to Hanoi, you will be greeted at the airport by our driver and transferred to your hotel.  This first day, our guide will be at your disposal to start introducing you a little bit to the city by doing a xiclo- tour in the old quarter.
Overnight stay in Hanoi

DAY 2: HANOI – HALONG BAY
(Meal Inc.: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
2 days and 1 night
The bus to Halong Harbor leave at 8 am. The ride will be about 4 hours with 30 minutes break on the road.
The bus leaves our office at 7.30 am and then will go to pick you up at your hotel at 8. This schedule is not flexible because the bus is also going to collect other customer in different hotels.
You will arrive on board around 12.30 and during the time the cruise is sailing down the bay, the lunch will be serve. After that, you will check-in in your room. Then, the boat will stop at an island where you will visit one of the Halong Cave, the cave of Sung Sot. You will the time to practice kayak there before going to see another cave, the cave of Bo Nau. You will also stop on the Ti Top Island where you will have free time to swim and to climb the 400 steps leading to a panoramic view. Afterward, you will go back on the boat where a free 15 minutes-foot massage will wait for you. If you like fishing, you will have this opportunity after the diner. If you want it, a karaoke can also be arranged on board.
Overnight in the traditional junk boat.

DAY 3: HALONG BAY - HANOI – SAPA
(Meal Inc.: Breakfast and Lunch)
Early risers can practice Tai Chi, or just watch the sunrise. Breakfast in the middle of Halong Bay, and continue marveling at this wonder of the world from a small boat and you will go through different areas of the Bay. Time to kayak, swim or just relax ... back to junk boat for lunch, and to say farewell to the Bay. Upon your arrival at the port, the bus will take you back to Hanoi which would be roughly at 16:30 pm. Regarding the option you will be chose, you will find be transferred to an hotel or to our office. Back in Hanoi, you will have the afternoon free to rest and enjoy the city. And later you’ll be transferring to the train station, where you will board the night train to Lao Cai.
Night train in a 4-bed compartment.
 
DAY 4: LAO CAI-SAPA - Y LINH HO, LAO CHAI, TA VAN
(Meal Inc.: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
<Sapa - Y Linh Ho - Lao Chai - Ta Van>
Upon your arrival to Lao Cai, our staff will be there waiting to take you to the town of Sapa which is where the tour begins. Today awaits you a 4 miles trek southwest of Sapa. From Muong Hoa valley to Y Linh Ho village of the Black H'mong. We continue walking these trails and you head down to Lao Chai. We will walk through rice fields; visiting places where time seems to be stopped. You will arrive at the Ta Van village, home to the minority Dzay and have lunch in a local family’s home. After having another walk around Ta Van, you will be called to start preparing dinner with the local family, where you will spend the night.
What Routes Vietnam recommends you?
One of the best way to visit Sapa is to do it by motorbike. In this itinerary, you have two days in Sapa so we suggest you to do a trekking in group in the first day, but  to ride a motorbike on the second day  on the so beautiful mountains roads. A private excursion in which you will discover more places of this amazing area. For those who cannot drive a motorbike, it is not a problem, we can provide you a motorbike with a driver.
Regarding the accommodation, for those we want to try the homestay and share a moment with a Vietnamese family, we recommend you to choose a private tour of Sapa because you will have the opportunity to have the homestay for yourself and it is much better to exchange with local people then.

DAY 5: TA VAN - GIANG TA CHAI - SU PAN CHAI- HANOI
(Meal Inc.: Breakfast & Lunch)
After having breakfast, the last day in Sapa you will spend it visiting the Reds and H'mong villages and the villages of Giang Ta Chai and Su Pan, waterfalls and a nice walk of the rattan bridge await you today.
After visiting everything, a jeep will pick you up to take you to Sapa. You'll have a couple of hours, free to visit Sapa. At the scheduled time you will head to the station to take the train back to Hanoi.
Night spent on a night train in a cabin with four-bed compartment.

DAY 6: HANOI CITY TOUR – HUE
(Meal Inc.: Breakfast & Lunch)
You will arrive in Hanoi at 5:30 am. You will take a taxi to your hotel where you can relax and have breakfast. You will get your suitcases back. After a well-deserved break, you will be ready to start your tour of Hanoi. It will start around 8 am.
We start the route in Hanoi with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Complex: Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, House of Ho Chi Minh Pile-dwelling and the One Pillar Pagoda. We will get to admire this cultural route with what was the first university in Vietnam, the temple of Literature. After all this, you will need to rest a little. You will lunch at a local restaurant and during the afternoon we will have a trip to the Ethnology Museum, have a walk around the nice Hoan Kiem Lake and visit the Ngoc Son Temple on this lake.
(Please be advised that the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed every Monday and Friday. The museum of Ethnology is closed on the same days. If you are visiting Hanoi on this day, you will visit the village of Bat Trang, famous for his ceramic handicraft).
At the scheduled time, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Hue. Once in Hue, our partners will take you to your hotel.
Overnight in Hue Hotel

DAY 7: HUE  TOUR
(Meal Inc.: Breakfast & Lunch)
The picturesque and hilly Hue has a special place in the history of Vietnam. Selected capital of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), Hue takes us back to the old, the origin Vietnam. It’s the place that has been keeping hundred years of architectural works, including palaces and royal tombs of the Nguyen dynasty.
We will pick you up at your hotel around 9:30 am. We will begin with a visit to the tombs of Minh Mang and Khai Dinh.   Khai Dinh Tomb is 10km from Hue City and is among the most interesting tomb of the Nguyen Kings. The construction of Khai Dinh Tomb was started on 4th September, 1920 and works were done only after 11 years. Khai Dinh was the last king of the Nguyen Dynasty to build a tomb for himself. Minh Mang was the ruling king of Vietnam from 1820 to 1841. In 1826, the King ordered the search for a good site to build his tomb and found the place only in 1840. The construction of the tomb had been underway for a few months when Minh Mang died and the successor, King Thieu Tri continued the work based on the design chosen by his father. The construction of Minh Mang's tomb was done only in 1843, 2 years after the king died.
After visiting those tombs, we will pass through a small village where they are specialized in the development of classic items like conical hats and incense made. We will finish the tombs visit by seeing the most interesting one, the tomb of Tu Duc. Tu Duc Tomb was built from 1864 to 1867. The king selected the site and designed the whole complex himself. The tomb was finished when Tu Duc was still in reign and the king would often have retreats from Hue Royal Citadel to live and work from his going-to-be tomb.
After our visit to the tomb of Tu Duc, a buffet lunch will be ready at your disposal. And after you have rested, the bus will take you to the Citadel. You will visit the Citadel of Hue, a World Cultural Heritage. It was built on the banks of the Perfume River, Western style combining so great with the citadel oriental architecture. It consists of three campuses: the defensive citadel, the Imperial Citadel and the Purple Forbidden City. You will visit Thien Mu pagoda, and to complete the tour of Hue awaits a boat ride on the Perfume River. At 5:30pm we begin to transfer you back to your hotel.
Overnight in Hue Hotel

DAY 8: HUE - HOI AN
(Meal Inc.: Breakfast & Lunch)
Around 9 am, a car will pick you up at your hotel to continue the trip touring the country and be on our way to the South Vietnam, heading down to Hoi an.
On the way we stop at the Hai Van Pass, Lang Co Beach and the Marble Mountains.
In the afternoon, we will have free time to stroll through the charming Hoi An.
The architecture of Hoi An has no equal, with its low houses and wooden painted facades. Visit the Japanese Bridge, which according to local legend is indestructible. You can also enter the Pottery Museum; pass by the amazing Tan Ky house (which was the first monument of historic interest) and the cantons temple. Hoi An is also the city of made-to-measures garment.  You will have no time to get bored.
Overnight stay in Hoi An

DAY 9: FREE DAY IN HOI AN
(Meal Inc.: Breakfast)
The ninth day of our adventure will be the time for you to be in control of the schedule. One of the classics things which is recommended for you to do in Hoi An is the bike
ride, it will surely make the place feel like being on an deserted place compared to the busy streets of other cities in Vietnam !
There are many other things to do in Hoi An: you can climb on the marble mountains; snorkeling and diving at the cham island which is close to Hoi An; relaxing all the afternoon at the Cua Dai beach…. This place offers a lot of opportunity.  
What Routes Vietnam recommends you?
Have a look into the shop Ngoc Anh (58 Nguyen Thai Hoc), in the Ancient Town who are selling antiques.
For made-to-measures garments, you will find below two addresses who warmly suggest you to visit:

  • Yaly Couture : en 47 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street
  • Thang Loi Fashion: en 92 Phan Chu Trinh Street

If you want to try the Vietnamese sandwiches, one of the best places in Hoi An is the Banh Mi Phuong, next to the market :Street Hoang Dieu .
For a laugh, we recommend coffee des Amis and also at the bottom of all the Bup Restaurant Café 96.
Overnight in Hoi An

DAY 10: HOI AN - DA NANG - HO CHI MINH CITY
(Meal Inc.: Breakfast)
After your breakfast at the hotel, at the scheduled time we will take you to Danang airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh. Depending the time of your arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, you will be able to see by yourself: China Town; the Binh Tay market; Thien Hau (a Chinese temple with 150 years of history); War memorial museum and the Reunification Palace, a building that symbolizes the government of South Vietnam and takes us back to 1975 when communist tanks entered Saigon. In Ho Chi Minh, it will also surprise you to see the mix of architecture styles. We'll leave the afternoon free for you explore on your own: The Cathedral of Notre Dame, Central Post Office, Thien Hau Pagoda and Quan Am, the Jade Emperor Pagoda is also very interesting; it’s also recommended that you visit the Ben Thanh market, where EVERYTHING are sold.
You will have to choose! Upon request, we will arrange for you another free day in the former Saigon.

DAY 11: CU CHI TUNNELS IN HO CHI MINH
(Meal Inc.: Breakfast)
At 8:00 am we take a trip out of the hotel for a visit to the Cu Chi tunnels. Cu Chi is one of the best examples of the ability to survive and overcome adversity in the Vietnam War. At 2 pm you will be back in Ho Chi Minh. You will have the rest of the afternoon.
Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh

DAY 12: HO CHI MINH - CAI BE - VINH LONG - HO CHI MINH
(Meal Inc.: Breakfast, Lunch)
Today we visit the Mekong Delta. From Ho Chi Minh it’s a journey of around two hours and a half to get to Vinh Long. There you will take a boat that will take you through the canals of the Mekong Delta. You will visit the fruit market of Cai Be. Have lunch in a quiet place in the Mekong Delta, surrounded by greenery and gardens. In Cai Be and Vinh Long around will also make a boat tour, visit local families to get an idea of their day to day lives and after seeing Thoi Son head back to My Tho by boat to retake the route back to Ho Chi Minh.
Around 15:00 there will be a car or bus to take you back to Ho Chi Minh.
Will spend the night in Ho Chi Minh

DAY 13: HO CHI MINH – SIEM REAP
(Meal Inc.: Breakfast, Diner)
Today is your last day in Vietnam because you are taking a plane to Cambodia. At the scheduled time we will transfer you to the airport for you to take the flight to Siem Reap. In Siem Reap, Cambodia, after completed the formalities of visa, passport control and collected your luggage, you will go to the terminal departure where the guide and private transport will be waiting to take you to the hotel. After registration, and depending on the time of arrival, you will have free time to relax, enjoy the hotel facilities or go out to explore the city. The guide will give you any information you will ask. In the evening, you will enjoy a welcome diner in a restaurant out of the hotel, in the city center, at the Cassia Restaurant (diner with the guide). You will have the chance to taste some gastronomic examples of traditionnal Cambodian cuisine and exchange some views with the guide. After diner, you will visit the night market where you will have the opportunity to get lost in the many colorful stalls selling handicraft and souvenirs. You can choose to return to the hotel or to stay hanging out in the city (tuk-tuk for 4 people is 4 $).
Overnight in Siem Reap

DAY 14: SIEM REAP - ANGKOR TEMPLES
(Meal Inc.: Breakfast, Lunch)
After breakfast we will pick you up at the hotel to begin to explore magnificent ancient ruins, with the South Gate of Angkor Thom, which is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone, the Bayon temple, the impressive Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Terrace Elephant, Terrace of the Leper King, and then continue to Preah Khan, built in 1191 during the reign of King Jayavarman VII. He was a famous warrior king of the Khmer Empire reconstruction after a period of fragmentation. Jayavarman first made a name for himself in 1165, when the news of a rebellion reached his ears. Rushing home from the Cham Kingdom, where he resided, came too late to stop the Tribhuvanadityavarman usurper king of the Khmer crown. In the afternoon, visit the jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm is an incredible sight. There are enormous fig trees and vines giants adopting the foundation stone of the structure giving the impression of man's creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature. This afternoon, we will complete our tour complete temple to temple of Angkor Wat. This architectural masterpiece was built in the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares. We stroll around this huge building, watching the many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple. You finish the day by enjoying the sunset at Pre Rup Temple Mountains.
Overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 15: SIEM REAP - FLOATING MARKET - BANTEAY SREY- PREAH KANG-SUNSET CRUISE (OPTIONNAL)
(Meal Inc.: Breakfast, Lunch)
After your breakfast, you will move to the edge of Tonle Sap Lake to visit one of the floating villages: Komplong Plukk (from September to February), Komplong Kleang (from May to June) or Chong Knea (during the summer). You will see many houses on stilts, arranged to avoid the rising waters of the Tonle Sap Lake while talking advantages of their location for fishing.  After passing through the village, you go on the lake where you can have a real idea of its size. We then head to Banteay Srey temple with its impressive carvings in the beautiful pink sand stone located about 35 km in the north. Along the way, you can enjoy watching the Cambodian countryside go by, dotted with beautiful rice fields, traditional houses and farm animals. You will have lunch at the Angkor Archaeological Park Temples. After lunch, we will move to the Temple of Preah Kang.  A perfect end of the day.
Optional:  After a tour of the area, around 4h30 pm, a small boat will be waiting by the pier right at the East Gate of the Temple. From there, we will begin a great journey at sunset through the lush nature of the artificial lake Reach Dak Baray (9 $ /person)
Optional: at about 6.30 pm, you can leave the hotel to go to the Cambodian Circus (14 $/person)
Overnight in Siem Reap Hotel.

DAY 16: SIEM REAP-DEPARTURE
(Meal Inc.: Breakfast)
After breakfast and depending on your departure time, you may have time to go shopping at the markets or arrange some other activity, or just chilled out! At the appointed time, you will be transferred to the airport you flight back home.

Inclusions

  • English speaking guide for all excursions
  • Private and group tours. Most of the tours are in private. The tour in Sapa, on the Halong Bay and at the Cu Chi Tunnels. If you are 4 or 6 people travelling, all the tour will be private except the Halong Bay. For only private tours (and private junk on the bay, please tell us, we will quote the new price for you).
  • Meals mentioned in the itinerary
  • All transfers described in this itinerary: transfers to and from the airports, tours transfers
  • Night train to Sapa
  • Domestic flights to Hue, to Ho Chi Minh and to Siem Reap
  • Entrance fees to places of interest
  • For your Sapa trip, we will give you the price if you want to do it on motorbike or private car
  • Visa arrangements
  • A mobile phone with credits to join us whenever you need

Exclusions:

  • International flights (if you need we'll help you find the best flights)
  • International Travel Insurance (we recommend Intermundial Travel Insurance)
  • Payment of $ 65 per person to get the Vietnamese visa multiple entries to your arrival at the airport.
  • Payment of $ 20 per person to get the Cambodia visa upon your arrival at the airport in Siem Reap

Accomodations

Destination

 3 ***
 4 ****
Hanoi Medallion Hotel Hotel Golden Silk
Halong Bay Deluxe Dragon Cruise Emotion Cruise
Night train to Sapa colspan="2">4 beds compartment
Sapa Cha Pa Hotel Garden /
homestay		  Chau Long Hotel
Hanoi-Hue colspan="2">Flight/night train depending
Hue Asia Hotel Hue Gerbera Hotel Hue
Hoi An Hotel Thuy Duong 3 Vinh Hung Riverside Resort
Ho Chi Minh Hotel Signature Saigon Grand Silverland Hotel
Siem Reap Angkor Home Hotel Miracle Hotel Resort
You can choose to stay in a mix 3,4 and 5 stars hotels. This is only our proposition but you can change everything you want in this itinerary. We are flexible, just ask us, we will adapt the itinerary to your desir

Contact us for a quote

This trip is available throughout the year. If you wish to book this trip please contact us. If you want us to send you more information on this tour or tailor this tour to your requirements (dates, tastes ...) you only have to ask.

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