Best of Vietnam and Cambodia 18 Days

Brief information

Tour type: Classic, Private

Hotel options: 2-star; 3-star; 4-star

Duration:18 days

Departure/end: Hanoi/Siem Reap, Cambodia

Highlights: Hanoi, Mai Chau valley, Hoa Lu ancient capital, Tam Coc water cave with boat rowing, Halong Bay cruise, Hue Imperial Citadel, My Son Holly Temples, Hoi An charming town, Ho Chi Minh city, Mekong river tour and homestay, Cu Chi tunnels, Siem Reap - Land of Mysterious Temples

Features:
- Various means of transportation: car, flight, boat
- Different accommodation type: hotel, home-stay, on boat, on train
- 5 World Heritage Sites, includes Halong Bay, Angkor Thom, Angkor Wat
- Combination of activities, landscape, life style, climate in different parts in Vietnam and mysterious temples of Cambodia.

Price: From US$1373

Brief itinerary and service:

Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi arrival
Our driver and tour guide will pick you up at Hanoi airport then transfer to your hotel in Hanoi. Depending on your arrival time, you may have time to explore a little of downtown and enjoy a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake by yourself. 
Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi city tour
After breakfast at your hotel, be ready for a city tour escorted by an English speaking guide. We will visit Tran Quoc pagoda, the oldest one in Hanoi, located on a semi island in West lake. Then heading to Ho Chi Minh mausoleum complex, visit his stilt house and museum telling you about his life and revolutionary cause. The next stop is One Pillar pagoda, located right within the mausoleum complex area, one of the most iconic pagoda in Vietnam. The morning tour ends with a visit to the Literature Temple, the first university of Vietnam, built in 1070 at the time of King Ly Thanh Tong. This ancient site offers a lake of literature, the Well of Heavenly Clarity, turtle steles, pavilions, courtyards and passageways that were once used by royalty.

After lunch at local restaurant, we continue to visit Vietnam museum of ethnology where introduce lifestyles and cultures of 54 Vietnamese ethnic groups. Beside the indoor exhibition, the museum also has out-door area displaying number of houses modeling after the traditional architecture of ethnic minorities which makes the museum stand out from others. Optionally, we visit Hoa Lo prison, built by French colonist to keep Vietnamese political prisoners. After this visit, have some time hanging around until the Water Puppet show being started. You are free in the evening for dinning or relaxing. Stay overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi - Mai Chau
Depart from Hanoi to Mai Chau – an idyllic valley home to many hill tribes including the Dzao, Muong and Thai. Arrive in Mai Chau around noon, check in your room and enjoy lunch.
In the afternoon, cycle to explore Mai Chau beautiful ethnic villages including Na Thia, Nhot, Pom Coong, Lac and Chieng Chau villages. Be welcomed by the friendly local people, talk with them and discover their traditional culture. Total cycling time is around 2 – 3 hours on flat village paths. Take it all in: the spectacular scenery of Mai Chau and the relaxed rhythm of local life.
For evening enjoyment, you may choose to take part in a traditional dance show with Ruou Can (a local wine) or  Thai traditional weaving demonstration. Overnight at hotel in Mai Chau.

Day 4: Mai Chau - Ninh Binh
After breakfast, spend full morning to relax with the comfort of your room or unwind at our swimming pool and massage centre. You can also explore the surroundings by yourself before the check-out time. After lunch at the lodge, depart for Ninh Binh province. Stay overnight at hotel in Ninh Binh.

Day 5: Tam Coc countryside tour
After breakfast, we will visit Hoa Lu ancient capital with the old temples of Dinh's Dynasty and Previous Le's Dynasty. Learn about the history of Dai Co Viet's foudation (Dai Co Viet means The Great Viet, one of the old names of Vietnam). From here, we will start our biking trip to Tam Coc, which is so call "Halong Bay in land". After having lunch at local restaurant, we embark a small hand-rowed boat, rowing along the river passing through 3 grottoes (Tam Coc means three grottoes), enjoy spectacular landscape of rice fields lying among limestone mountains and rain forest.

Back to the dock, we continue to visit Jade Cave, visit the three ancient pagodas built on the mountain cliff (Lower, Middle and Upper pagoda). Spend sometime at the souvenir shops near the entrance of Bich Dong (Jade Cave) before coming to your hotel. Stay overnight at hotel in Ninh Binh.

Day 6: Ninh Binh - Halong
Leave Ninh Binh in the morning to depart for Halong Bay. Upon arrival, board our traditional wooden junk boat, have a brief introduction about your trip with welcome drink before checking in. Feast on a delicious lunch as you cruise among hundreds of islets (Dinh Huong islet, Ga Choi – Fighting Cock islet, Dog islet, Finger islet, etc.) to discover untouched pockets of Halong Bay; and visit Sung Sot cave, one of the most imposing grottos of the Bay. You will then go kayaking from the Soi Sim beach to Luon Cave to enjoy the quiet atmosphere of the bay. When the night comes, enjoy dinner on boat with seafood, then attend squid fishing or just relax with your friends or family. Stay overnight on board.

Day 7: Halong - Hue
Enjoy Sunrise with light breakfast served on board. Continue to explore the amazing beauty of the Bay when sailing past through numerous rock formations such as: Man’s Head islet, Tortoise islet, Butterfly cave, Lion islet, Bai Tho Mountain. Arrange your luggage and do the check out onboard at around 9.00 am. Enjoy a wholesome brunch as your boat weaves through strange-shaped limestone rock formations.
At about 11.45am, arrive back at Halong city for disembarkation where your driver waits to take you back to your Hanoi, on the way call on a ceramic village to see craftsmen do their works. Upon arrival, you are free to have dinner on your own until the boarding time for night train to Hue. Stay overnight on train in 4-soft-berth cabin.

Day 8: Hue City Tour
Breakfast at your hotel. Then our guide and car will transfer you to the dock for a nice boat cruise on Perfume river. The boat will stop in front of Thien Mu pagoda, a historic architecture that is considered the symbol of Hue. Take your time to make a visit into the pagoda then continue by car to discover Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen’s Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945 including Flag Tower, Noon Gate, Nine Dynastic Urns, Nine Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa Palace, and Forbidden Purple City. After lunch at local restaurant, we will visit royal tombs of Emperor Tu Duc or Khai Dinh, given a deep understanding about King’s philosophy of geomancy and how this affected royal life. On the way to go back Hue city centre, stop at some handicraft villages for a short visit. Stay overnight at hotel in Hue.

Day 9: Hue - Hoi An - My Son
Say goodbye to Hue, we leave for Hoi An via Da Nang. On the way, we will stop at Cham museum and Marble Mountain for short visits. Then continue the trip through Hai Van Pass, the highest and one of the most scenic hillside road in Vietnam. On nice days, you can enjoy the whole vista of Da Nang city, the Tien Sa sea port, Son Tra peninsula, Cham island and long sandy beaches from the pass.

Upon arrival in Hoi An, have lunch then take a half day trip to My Son Holly land, a World Heritage Site of UNESCO, about 50 km southwest of 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 to be 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 was built from the 7 to 13 centuries.

Back to Hoi An, free in the evening and stay overnight at hotel.

Day 10: Hoi An city tour
Today, we will enjoy a walking tour to visit Hoi An old town. We follow the narrow lanes lined with centuries-old houses influenced by Chinese, Japanese, French and European architectures, and visit its numerous places of interest: the 400-year old Japanese Covered Bridge, the Phuc Kien Assembly Halls, the local fish market. Around the town we will see numerous art galleries and tailor shops, and you can even get some made-to-order clothes if you like. After lunch in a local restaurant, you will enjoy a short boat ride to a nearby village that specializes in ceramics and crafts – including boat building. Free in the evening. Stay overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

Day 11: Hoi An - HCMC
Today, you will take the early flight from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh city, also called Saigon. This is the largest city in Vietnam and the nation's economic capital. The metropolitan area Ho Chi Minh City and surrounding towns, is populated by more than 9 million.
We take a short city tour to the Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum and Notre Dame Cathedral. You will also admire the many beautiful French colonial buildings such as the main post office and the former Hotel de Ville (city hall). If time permits, we will visit the bustling Cho Lon Market (Chinatown). This trip helps you view the city from another perspective and to see the abundance of fresh local produce that is such an important feature of Vietnamese cuisine.
Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 12: HCMC - Mekong
You will be transfer from Ho Chi Minh City downtown to Cai Be district on morning. Arriving in Cai Be, you will be welcomed by the hospitable smile of the host and invited some fresh fruits before embarking on boat to visit Cai Be Floating Market and traditional handicraft villages. You’ll have an opportunity to talk to the sellers on their boats. The boat will then lead you to the home-stay on Tan Phong Island for checking-in and having lunch.
In the afternoon, local host will lead you to his orchards where you can learn how to take care for the garden and how to pluck the ripen fruits as the host does every day. Then, you will visit the vegetable garden and gather the vegetables for your dinner. Go back to your home-stay and prepare your own dinner with the help of local host.
Stay overnight at the homestay.

Day 13: Mekong - HCMC
Waking up in the early morning to enjoy the fresh air of Mekong region and then taking a stroll around the home-stay, start your second day in Mekong. Back to your home-stay where a delicious breakfast in await. Then, join a bicycle tour around Tan Phong island to visit traditional handicraft workshop of handbags and rice papers. After that, we go back to your homestay for checking out, having lunch and being transferred to Cai Be harbour by boat. Here you will get your private car/van to return to HCMC.

Day 14: HCMC - Cu Chi
Half day to visit Cu Chi tunnels, an interesting historic site in the war with American. Before entering the tunnels for a real experience, you will view a short video film and presentation about the construction of the tunnels and how it was built. After that travelers can try delicious manioc which is the main food in Cu Chi during the war. For those interested there is an opportunity to fire off rounds from an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range. Back to the city centre; free in the afternoon. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.

Day 15: HCMC - Siem Reap - Angkor Wat Tour
You are free for your own activities until pick-up time to go to the airport for departure flight to Siem Reap.
Upon arrival at Siem Reap airport, meets and transfers to hotel for check in.
Visit to Rolous Group : Lo Lei, Preah Ko and Ba Kong temples. Have welcome dinner at local restaurant.
Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 16: Siem Reap - Angkor Wat Tours
Today we will visit the antique capital of Angkor Thom (12 century): the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.
After lunch, continue to 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. Enjoy wonderful sunset from the top of Pre Rup Temple.
Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 17: Siem Reap - Angkor Wat Tours
Breakfast at hotel. Car and guide pick up to visit Banteay Srey, known as Citadel of Women or a Pink Temple, and Banteay Samre Temples.
Visit to the unique interior brick sculptures of Prasat Kravan, Srah Srang ("The Royal Baths" was once used or ritual bathing), Banteay Kdei (surrounded by 4 concentric walls), 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. Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake) and Preah Khan temple, 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 Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation.
Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 18: Siem Reap - Boat Trip – Departure
In the morning, we will enjoy a boat ride on the Tonle Sap lake at Kampong Phluk Village. This is the largest permanent fresh-water lake in South East Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. We will see a fishermen's "floating village" with floating schools, floating police station, etc. It is same as a big village floating on the lake, and the "village" move from place to place following water levels and current.
Transfer to Siem Reap airport for departure flight back to your home country.

2020 Quotation & Services

Hotel categories	Net rate in US$/person in group of					Single supplement
	1	2-3	4-5	6-7	8 up
Tourist **	3119	1962	1624	1435	1373	246
Superior ***	3288	2047	1708	1520	1458	316
First Class ****	3845	2325	1987	1798	1736	548

Note: The price is not applicable on National Holidays, Christmas and New Year.

Includes:
Accommodation:
- 14 nights twin/double sharing at hotels with daily breakfast.
- 1 night on boat (private cabin for 2 people with bathroom).
- 1 night on train (4 berths, AC cabin)
- 1 night homestay with local people.
Transportation:
- Land transfer by private vehicle for the whole trip.
- Sharing boat cruise in Halong Bay (private AC cabin for 2 people with bathroom)
- Boat trip in Tam Coc, Hue and Mekong.
- Train tickets: Hanoi - Hue
- Air tickets and all taxes: DAD-SGN, SGN-REP
Others:
- Meals as mentioned. B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: dinner
- English speaking guides.
- Admission fees for all sightseeing places on tour.
- 1 bottle of mineral water and wet tissue per person on touring day.
- Free Vietnam visa approval letter.
- Service charge and Government taxes
Excludes:
- International air tickets.
- Visa stamping fee.
- Personal expenses.
- Drinks.
- Tips and gratuities.
- Services not clearly mentioned above.

LIST OF HOTELS ON TOUR