Vietnam Cambodia Package: 18 Days of History, Culture, and Adventure

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival.
Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam’s bustling colonial capital. Your driver and guide will meet you outside the baggage claim of Noi Bai Airport and take you to your hotel in the city center. In the afternoon, enjoy an orientation walk, visiting Hanoi’s main attractions: the Opera House, Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. In the evening, savor a welcome dinner of authentic Vietnamese food at one of Hanoi’s finest restaurants.
Meals: Dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi City Tour – Drive to Sapa.
With its wide tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and ancient oriental pagodas, Hanoi is an eclectic mix that offers something for everyone. This morning you will visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and stilt house), the nearby One Pillar Pagoda, and the Ethnology Museum.
After lunch in a local restaurant, leave Hanoi for Sapa on a 5 hour journey on the Vietnam’s longest and modern highway which just opened to public in September 2014.
On arrival, check into your hotel and overnight in Sapa Town.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa.
Day 3: Sapa Trekking Tour (Sa Seng – Hau Thao – Ta Van).
Enjoy breakfast in the hotel while breathing fresh mountain air.
At 10:00 A.M, leave Sapa by car toward Lao Cai City, after a 3 km drive you will ascend a hill to a remote ethnic minority village of Sa Seng where you will be able to see how the Black H'mong's daily life is, This community has recently shifted from a migratory lifestyle. Notice the traces of past villages with stone wall foundations that would have been seasonally used. Enjoy lunch in Sa Seng, before trekking uphill along the side of Den Thang Mt. After an hour arrive at Hang Da Village, at the elevation of 1,800m. Take in the breathtaking view of the Muong Hoa Valley. The next 30 minutes are level walking before descending through Hau Chu Ngai village. Continue descending into Hong Den Hamlet, consisting of only a few homes scattered on a rocky point. Take a moment to enjoy some of the best scenery in the area. Keep trekking down the trail to Hau Thao village and then go across the suspension bridge to Ta Van village where you will experience your night at home-stay with Dzay tribal family.
The hard work is rewarded this evening with a delicious home cooked dinner!
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner.
Accommodation: Homestay in Ta Van Village.
4: Sapa – Hanoi.
After a breakfast of pancakes with honey and bananas, coffee and tea, farewell the local host and continue on with some more trekking – from Ta Van to Lao Chai village via rice paddies and trail. You will visit a number of H’mong houses and a local school along the way. The trek finishes at Lao Chai Bridge where you meet your driver then transfer to Sapa. You will have a couple of hours to shower and enjoy lunch in town before driving back to Hanoi.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.
Day 5: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Overnight on cruise.
Your guide and driver will meet you at the lobby of your hotel then set out on a 3 to 4 hour drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Halong Bay.
Spend 24 hours on a traditional Junk Cruise in the amazing bay: a natural wonderland composed of jutting limestone islands and sparkling turquoise waters. Arrive at the dock around noon and board your junk. Savor a gourmet lunch of fresh seafood onboard as we sail out into the mystical bay. In the afternoon, cruise around some of Halong’s many islands, including Dinh Huong and Ga Choi. Along the way visit one of the bay’s 3 largest caves (Thien Cung, Dau Go or Sung Sot). Stop at an island cove with a sheltered white-sand beach and take a dip in the warm waters of the Gulf of Tonkin (weather permitting). Pass the night on your junk, lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of calm waters.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Accommodation: Cruise on the bay.
Note: The below itinerary is subject to change without prior notice and depends on weather condition. It is a sample for our standard service on a 3 star boat/ cruise. Different programs are available through our luxury cruise itineraries on the Violet, Jasmine or Paradise. Please contact us for more details.
Day 6: Halong Bay – Ninh Binh.
Awake early and participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands. Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea, before setting out to explore the nearby islands by rowboat. Return to the junk for brunch then take advantage of the sundeck and admire the amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay as you navigate back to Halong City, where driver will meet you at the dock and transfer to Ninh Binh (about 4 hours).
On arrival, check in to your hotel and spend a night at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Ninh Binh.
Day 7: Ninh Binh – Quang Binh.
After breakfast, board your sampan to Tam Coc, a river landscape dotted with caves, pagodas and jagged limestone formations in the late afternoon before the crowded excursion groups coming. As the boat gently slices through the water, notice limestone karsts jetting skywards out of electric green rice paddies – you won’t be able to stop taking photos in the sunrise!
Bid farewell to Ninh Binh and head to Quang Binh, a province on the North Central Coast of Vietnam.
Check into the Sun Spa Resort, located along pristine white sand Bao Ninh Beach and on the banks of the legendary of Nhat Le River. Spend rest of the day on beach.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Quang Binh.
Day 8: Quang Binh – Paradise Cave – Quang Binh.
Discovered by local man Ho Khanh in 2005, members of the British Cave Research Association (BCRA) then explored it and came up with the name "Paradise”. It is 31.4km long, but only the first kilometer has been opened to tourists. This morning, head to Paradise Cave (or Dong Thien Duong), in the Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, a UNESCO-recognized World Natural Heritage Site, opened to the public in 2010. You will have a chance to see one of the larger and most impressive accessible caves in the area. You will see the large entrance of this cave after climbing 524 stairs. Descend into the cave on a wooden walkway, made to protect and preserve the fragile cave formations. This walkway continues for 1 km through the enormous, well lighted cave.
Then the trail traverses the dense forest along the sparkling waters of the Chay River and the Nuoc Mooc spring. This river comes from an underground cave. The water is a striking light blue color, and the temperature stays at a constant 19°C. You may admire the birds, butterflies, dragonflies or endangered monkeys and also refresh yourselves at a delightful swimming area.
Have lunch at a local restaurant with a beautiful view on the nearby lake and the pine forest. Take the short drive along the strategic Ho Chi Minh trails and got brief information of the Wars from the local guide before getting back to hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Quang Binh.
Day 9: Quang Binh – Hue.
After breakfast, head off for Hue via Quang Tri with some visits and short breaks en route. You will go through the DMZ, where some of the bloodiest battles were fought during the American War. Late morning, take a fascinating tour of the Vinh Moc Tunnels kept as a monument to the determination of the Vietnamese to continue living in their traditional village areas. Whole villages moved underground and lived in these tunnels and caverns. Visit Hien Luong Bridge and museums containing photographs and memorials of the war. Continue on and cross the Ben Hai River, used to demarcate the division between North and South Vietnam. Have lunch in a local restaurant in Dong Ha town and drive to Hue with a stop at a small church showing the signs of mortar attack in the area. On arrival, check into your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue.
Day 10: Hue – Hoian.
Start the day with a visit to the Imperial Citadel, home to the Imperial City and Forbidden Purple City – once the Emperor's private residence. The Imperial City was created in the 19th century and modeled on the Forbidden City in Beijing. The Imperial Enclosure houses many palaces and temples within its walls. Continue on your tour stopping at the Imperial Museum, Tu Hieu Pagoda and vibrant Dong Ba riverside market.
Then depart Hue for the scenic mountainous drive to Hoian. Stop at the fishing village of Lang Co for a drink and at the dramatic Hai Van Pass, the high dividing line between the climate zones of North and South Vietnam, to admire the spectacular views. Arrive in the sleepy riverside town, Hoian, in the late afternoon, check in hotel and then enjoy the rest of the evening free at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian.
Day 11: Hoian Walking Tour.
Enjoy time for relaxation as you immerse yourself in the tranquility and charm of this sleepy riverside town. From the 16th to 18th centuries Hoian was a thriving international port frequented by Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab traders, who came to trade in the high quality silk still produced in the region. Today, Hoian is a relaxing resort popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, skilled tailors and numerous cafes. Take a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the ancient quarter, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year-old Tan Ky ancestral house and the famous Japanese Bridge. In the afternoon, enjoy free time to shop, explore the town or relax on Cua Dai Beach.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian.
Day 12: Hoian – Danang – Fly to Ho Chi Minh City.
Have breakfast at the hotel then drive to the airport to catch your flight to Vietnam’s modern metropolis: Saigon. Arrive in the late morning and enjoy an orientation tour through Ho Chi Minh City’s bustling streets en route to the hotel. Have lunch at a downtown restaurant of your choosing then set out on a guided city tour. The rest of this afternoon you will visit such sites as the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, the City Post Office and Ben Thanh Market.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – Can Tho.
After breakfast, you leave Saigon and travel to the Mekong River Delta. Arrive in Cai Be at around 11:00 AM and start your tour of the delta with a private cruise to visit Cai Be floating market, passing by a beautiful cathedral. Proceed to local cottage industries, home factories to see how rice paste, rice cookies and coconut candies are made, along with the longan fruit drying process. Sail along some of the Mekong’s innumerable branches and creeks and visit local orchards and an ancient house over 170 years old built by the French. Then cross Tien Giang River, one of the two large “arms” of the Mekong, by motorized boat to visit some fluvial islands and explore the countryside by bicycle. Your driver will be waiting for you on the other side of the river to take you on a 45 minute journey to the largest city in the Mekong: Can Tho, a buzzing town with a lively waterfront and a colorful mix of narrow back streets that make for some rewarding exploration. Rest of the day, you are at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Can Tho.
Day 14: Can Tho – Ha Tien – Kep.
Wake early and leave the hotel to visit the famous Cai Rang floating market by motor boat. Experience the daily life of the Mekong River Delta as vendors from around the region gather to sell fresh fruits, local delicacies and handmade goods. Continue to the Xa Xia (Ha Tien) border crossing, where you will farewell Vietnam to enter Cambodia. Meet your Cambodian tour guide and driver on the other side, Prek Chak, and then spend a 45 minute journey to Kep, home to numerous small calm beaches.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Kep.
Day 15: Kep – Phnom Penh.
After breakfast, enjoy some time at leisure on beach until your transfer to Phnom Penh. The journey is about 3 hours (170km).
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Phnom Penh.
Day 16: Phnom Penh – Fly to Siem Reap.
After breakfast, visit the Tuol Sleng Prison Museum and the notorious ‘Killing Fields’ of Choeung Ek. A visit to these sights provides a deep insight into the painful bloody rule of the Khmer Rouge. Then your driver will transfer you to the airport to take a short flight to Siem Reap, the gateway into the ancient Angkor temples. Rest of the day, you are free to relax or enjoy a wander around town.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap.
Day 17: Siem Reap – Angkor Temples.
Enjoy an entire day dedicated to discovering the mysterious Angkor temples. Wake before dawn and take a “tuk-tuk” ride to visit the magnificent Angkor Wat - the largest Khmer temple and finest example of Angkorian art and architecture. Return to hotel for breakfast then set back out on the tour to visit the jungle-entwined temple, Ta Prohm. From there you will proceed to Angkor Thom’s imposing South Gate, topped with the four serenely smiling faces of Avalokiteshvara. Next, visit Bayon Temple, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap.
Day 18: Siem Reap – Tonle Sap Lake – Departure.
This morning, take a short walk through a tranquil Siem Reap neighborhood to learn about the local way of life before driving to Tonle Sap Lake, South East Asia’s largest freshwater lake with its size varying greatly depending on the season. A boat trip on the lake reveals rural Cambodian life as it co-exists with the seasonal floods, with floating and stilted villages where communities dwell in an aquatic world.
Return to Siem Reap for lunch then drive to the airport to catch your departure flight.
Safe travels & See you again!
Meals: Breakfast.