Vietnam and Cambodia in Style

Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City! Your holiday through Vietnam and Cambodia begins now! You will be welcomed at the international airport in Ho Chi Minh City by your driver and transferred to your hotel. Ho Chi Minh City has recently experienced a revival of art and culture making it the hub of activity in the south of Vietnam. Explore this vibrant city at your leisure, taking in the contrast of the colonial buildings and the busy streets of the city. In the evening, consider a walk along the riverfront to take in the sights and sounds. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast, your driver and guide will pick you up for a full-day city tour. Start with a visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Post Office, built between 1877 and 1883, these are the best examples of classical French colonial architecture. Next, continue to the War Remnants Museum, which contains an interesting photography exhibition and jets, tanks and cannons captured from the American army. Continue your tour by visiting the Giac Lam Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh City's oldest pagoda, dating back to 1744 and one of the finest in the country. Get ready now for an exciting stop: Binh Tay, Vietnam's largest market, located in the The Cho Lon district which houses a large proportion of the city's Chinese population and many beautiful temples and pagodas - visit the Thien Hau Temple. Your last stop is the Ben Thanh Market, a bustling market with a wide selection of products. Enjoy an evening at leisure to try some of the delicious Vietnamese cuisine.

After breakfast, your driver and guide will pick you up to bring you to Ben Tre. Cruise along the Ben Tre River, taking in the sights and sounds of the lively activites along the river such as brick-making in the traditional technique. Vist a coconut processing workshop located along the canal as you continue deeper and deeper through the waterway to reach a village where you can observe a family workshop making sleeping mats and enjoy some fruits and tea. Then, swap your boat for a traditional motor cart (xe loi) or a bicycle and ride along the shady paths, passing rice fields and vegetable gardens. In the afternoon, take a sampan back to the pier where your driver will be waiting to bring you to Can Tho City. Enjoy the evening discovering Can Tho on your own. Overnight in Can Tho.

Wake up early today and head to the Cai Rang Floating Market, the biggest wholesale floating market in the Mekong Delta. Known for its variety of fresh fruits and other local products, the Cai Rang Floating Market attracts hundreds of boats which gather there to trade each morning. Take a walk to visit a nearby fruit orchard and a local noodle factory before continuing to visit the Ba Cong fruit orchard. After your visit, your driver will drop you off at the airport of Ho Chi Minh to catch your flight to Danang, from where you will be transferred to your hotel in Hoi An. Enjoy a free evening to explore the city at your leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.

Today, enjoy a free day to explore Hoi An at your leisure. Spend your afternoon strolling the narrow streets of this picturesque town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, visiting the Japanese Bridge, Quan Cong Temple, Fujian Temple and the local market. If you're in the mood for relaxation, why not head to one of Hoi An's numerous beaches to enjoy the white sand and blue waters or lounge by the pool in your hotel. In the evening, set out to taste some delicious Vietnamese specialities - call your Travel Expert for suggestions on the best restaurants in town! Overnight in Hoi An.

After breakfast you leave your hotel to drive towards Hue. On the way, stop to visit the Marble Mountains, a cluster of 5 mountains which are said to symbolise the five elements, before continuing to the nearby Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village. The highlight of your drive today will be the Hai Van Pass, a 21km long mountain pass that is one of the most scenic roads in Vietnam. Make a quick stop at Lang Co Beach, a beautiful white-sand beach that stretches over 10km long - an ideal place for relaxing, swimming and taking photos. Upon arrival in Hue in the afternoon, enjoy some free time to explore the city at your leisure. Overnight in Hue.

Today, get ready for a full-day tour of Hue, the former capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Start your day with a cruise in a traditional sampan along the Perfume River to reach the Thien Mu Pagoda, a Buddhist shrine dating from the mid-17th century. Next, visit the Citadel, the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty emperors which is composed of three sections: the Capital City, the Imperial City and the Forbidden City. In the afternoon visit the Tu Duc Tomb and the Minh Mang Tomb, two of the most impressive of the royal mausoleums, before continuing to the Conical Hat Village to witness the meticulous stages in the crafting of these iconic hats (non la) by local artisans. In the evening you will be transferred to the train station to board an overnight train to Hanoi. Overnight on board the train.

Enjoy the view from your train window, taking in the scenes of the morning activities and the beautiful countryside and before your arrival in Hanoi at around noon. Jump right into action with a city tour dedicated to an in-depth discovery of Vietnam's capital, starting with a visit to Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum. Visit Ho Chi Minh's House and the One Pillar Pagoda, a symbol of Hanoi, located nearby. Next, visit the Temple of Literature, a temple dedicated to Confucius built in 1070, which also became Vietnam's first university. To end your day, attend a traditional Water Puppet Show, a unique experience! Overnight in Hanoi.

After an early breakfast, your driver will meet you to bring you to Hon Gai Pier, the departure point for your cruise through Bai Tu Long Bay. Once on board, enjoy a welcome drink while the captain briefs you about safety on board before settling in to your cabin. As you cruise further into Bai Tu Long Bay, enjoy a delicious Vietnamese set menu lunch, while taking in the impressive limestone formations. At around 3pm you will arrive at Cap La Island, a great place to set off on your kayak and explore the breathtaking nature, or just hop in for a swim or relax on the boat. Admire a beautiful sunset from the deck before enjoying a sumptuous dinner on board. In the evening, you have free time to play board games or try your luck at squid fishing. Overnight on board.

Another early starts gives you the opportunity to practice Tai Chi on the deck of the boat at sunrise before enjoying a peaceful breakfast on board. Continue the cruise to explore the well-hidden Thien Canh Son Cave. Once back on the boat, freshen up and finish packing before attending a Vietnamese cooking demonstration and enjoying a traditional Vietnamese lunch on board. Enjoy your last moments in this beautiful bay as you head back to Hon Gai Pier where your driver will be waiting to bring you to Hanoi airport for your flight to Siem Riep. Upon arrival in Siem Reap, your driver will welcome you and escort you to your hotel. It may be dark, but you will still be able to sense the magical atmosphere that is unmissable in Siem Reap. Overnight in Siem Reap.

 

Be sure to eat a hearty breakfast this morning in preparation for your tour of the Angkor Temple Complex as you will spend most of the day walking amongst the most spellbinding temples of Cambodia. Begin your tour in Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world, believed to have been designed to represent the universe and the cosmic world. After lunch, your guide will take you to the famed Angkor Thom, the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer Empire, with its numerous temples including Bayon, the Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King. Your last visit of the day is to Ta Prohm Temple, famous for its overgrown trees which featured in the movie 'Tomb Raider'. After this exciting day, enjoy a free evening to relax and try some Cambodian specialities. Overnight in Siem Reap.

After a leisurely breakfast your guide will take you to Kbal Spean, an intricately carved riverbed deep in the foothills of the Cambodian jungle. Next, head to Banteay Srei, a 10th century Cambodian temple which unlike yesterday’s temples, is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Banteay Srei is considered by many to the jewels in the crown of Angkorian arts due to it’s pinkish tones. Continue with your guide to Banteay Samre, a temple which takes its name from the Samre people who inhabited the area. This temple is believed to have featured an interior moat, which when  filled with water must have given an ethereal atmosphere to the temple. You will have the afternoon at leisure to continue exploring the temples with your guide or to take a rest. Overnight in Siem Reap.

As the sun rises over Angkor Wat, your holiday to Vietnam and Cambodia slowly comes to an end. Your diver will be ready to transfer you to the international airport of Siem Reap depending on your flight schedule, however if you have an afternoon or evening flight, this morning is your last opportunity to explore this mystical region of Cambodia. Amongst the temples are kind street vendors, a perfect opportunity to purchase last-minute gifts and souvenirs! We wish you a safe flight home and look forward to welcoming you on your next adventure in Asia!