Day tour – Vietnam and Cambodia 23 days

Tour Program

Summary itinerary

 Day 1: Welcome to Ha Noi

Arrive at Noi Bai airport. Picking up and transfer to the city center. Overnight at in Ha Noi.

 Day 2: Ha Noi – Trang An – Bai Dinh Pagoda (Meals: Breakfast, lunch)

 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM: pick you up at your hotel in the Old Quarter and depart for Ninh Binh province.

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Arrive in Buddha Prayer place in Bai Dinh Pagoda, the biggest pagoda in Vietnam with  500 La Han statues, biggest bronze Buddha statue in Vietnam with 10 meters in height, 100 tons in weight.

12:30: Have lunch in local restaurant with some local special dishes such as Goat meat with elderberry, pork.

14:30: Depart to visit Trang An tourist attraction, take boat trip to visit cave complex: Sang Cave, Toi Cave, Ba Giot Cave, Nau Ruou in mystery and wildness, see scenery of mountain and rivers. Trang An is considered as Ha Long on the land.

16:00: Proceed  to Ha Noi

18:00: Arrive to Ha Noi. Overnight in Ha Noi.

 Day 3: Ha Noi city – night train to Lao Cai (Meals: Breakfast, lunch)

Morning, visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, containing the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts and the One Pillar Pagoda.

Continue to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university. You will also visit the famous prison that American POWs sarcastically dubbed the “Hanoi Hilton” during the Vietnam War.

Take a relaxing walk along Thanh Nien street next to the famous West Lake. Visit Dong Xuan market and enjoy traditional food Cha Ca La Vong a Ha Noi specialty.

Wandering around 36 streets in the Old Quarter. You will have many chance to see local product handmade as well as doing shopping. Watching water puppet show in the late afternoon

Take a short rest then transfers to the train station for the night train to Lao Cai. You will sleep on soft sleeper with air conditioner.

 Day 4: Lao Cai – Bac Ha market – Sapa (Meals: Breakfast, lunch)

Meeting your local tour guide and driver upon arrival. Transfer to a restaurant for having breakfast. Then driven to  Bac Ha market.

The beginning of the day on which you visit a big market filled with many different hill-tribe peoples.

This is the most colorful market in Northern Vietnam. At the market, you have chance to enjoy Bac Ha people’s simple but unique kinds of food with special wines made from rice, cassavas, corn and different sorts of fruits such as plumps, apples, peaches or talking to the minorities. Leave the market for the H’mong King’s house (King Hoang A Tuong) built by the French colonists and the Chinese in 1920. Return the town for lunch.

In the afternoon, spend time visiting Ban Pho village.

Then proceed to Sapa town. Overnight in Sapa

 Day 5: Sapa – Lao chai Village – Ta Van Village – Lao Cai (Meals : breakfast, lunch)

Start trekking to Muong Hoa valley to visit 3 villages of the H’mong and the Dzay (Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, Ta Van).

Return to Sapa by car.

Transfer to Lao Cai Station for the night train to Hanoi. You will sleep on soft sleeper with air conditioner.

 Day 6: Return Ha Noi – Ha Long Bay (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, dinner)

Arrive to the train station in Ha Noi, pick up and transfer to a mini hotel for take a short rest and having breakfast.

7.45am – 8.15am: Pick up at your hotel in Ha Noi by bus. After that we leave Hanoi for a 3.5 hour to reach Halong Bay.

12.00 – 12.30: At Tuan Chau International Marina, a tender boat will take you to our Cruiser. A refreshing welcome drink is served and you can check into your cabin.

13.00: A delicious set menu lunch is served in the restaurant while you can enjoy the amazing scenery. Cruise amongst the hundreds of islands. You will pass by Duck and Thumb islets to go to Bright cave area – (the border between Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay)

14:45 : Stop at Luon cave for kayaking (A bamboo boat will be arranged for the elderly or people who cannot kayak) to visit the small cave and beautiful lagoons. Kayaking provides the opportunity to explore the beautiful lagoons and get closer to the island.

16:20 : Boat will take you to Titop Island for you to enjoy the beach and swimming, or you can climb up to the top to get an overview of a corner of the bay.

17.00: As the sun sets over the bay, we head back to our cruise and relax. Coffee, tea and fruits will be available on the sundeck or you can order your favorite drink while our boat cruises to the night’s anchorage area.

19.00: Dinner will be served with local seafood. After dinner you may choose to enjoy  drinks from the bar or top deck or experience squid fishing before retiring. Overnight on cruise.

 Day 7: Ha Long Bay – Ha Noi – Hue (Meals: Breakfast, lunch)

7.00am – 7.45am: Enjoy the morning view of the beautiful landscape with a cup of coffee or tea. Have breakfast in the fresh air.

8.00am – 9.00am: You will visit the impressive Cave of Halong Bay – Surprising Cave (Sửng Sốt) with your tour guide, a truly awesome and amazing cave to experience.

10.00am: Check out of your cabin and begins cruising back to the harbor. Experience more views of Halong Bay such as Fighting Cocks Island (Symbol of Halong Bay), Incense Burner and Stone Dogs Islands.

10.30am: A cooking demonstration onboard shows you how to make authentic Vietnamese Spring rolls. You will learn about the recipes and techniques that create this popular dish of Vietnamese people.

11.00am: Lunch is served on board during cruising towards the harbor.

11.45am: Travel by tender boat back to Tuan Chau International Marina where you then board the bus for your return journey to Hanoi.

Transfer to the airport for boarding the flight to Hue. Pick up and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hue.

 Day 8: Hue city (Meals: Breakfast, lunch)

Our guide pick up you at your hotel in city center and take you to the boat pier for making a dragon boat trip to visit Thien Mu pagoda, one of the oldest religious buildings in Hue and Vietnam. Next, you on on visiting Imperial Citadel where is the home of Vietnam’s last royal dynasty – the Nguyen Dynasty. Especially you will have chance to visit Hue Royal Antiques Museum – A collection of ornaments from the Nguyen dynasty. After that, stop to visit at Dong Ba  Market – most famous market in Hue to discover daily life and get more experience about local people here. Have lunch at the restaurant.

Afternoon is the time for exploration of Royal Mausoleum of Nguyen’s Kings. You have chance to visit two of six tombs still remain as original architecture. Khai Dinh tomb is a blend of Western and Eastern architecture while Minh Mang tomb is impressed by the majesty and symmetry of the architectural constructions. Stop on the way to see conical hats village and incense stick making village. Back to your hotel. Overnight in Hue.

 Day 9: Hue – Lang Co beach – Hoi An – Tra Que village (Meals: Breakfast, lunch)

Today, we depart to Hoi An via Da Nang. Over Hai Van Pass – to enjoy the wonderful panorama from the top of the Pass. On the way, visit the Marble mountain, the Cham museum and Lang Co Beach.

Arrive in Tra Que Vegetable Village you can experience the living and working of local farmers at this organic vegetable and herb garden. Your learn how to prepare soil, grow vegetable, water to get fresh vegetables as you see at the garden from previous tourists.

You have 15 minutes foot massage by herb to fresh yourself. Overnight in Hoi  An.

 Day 10:  A full day exploring Hoi An ancient town and My Son Holy Land (Meals: Breakfast, lunch)

At 8.00am, pick up at your place in Hoi An and depart to My Son Holy land to learn more of Cham Pa culture and tower. Here is the chance for you to enjoy traditional music show. The driver takes you back Hoi An and make a boat trip along Thu Bon river to visit Thanh Ha ceramic village. You have chance to try to make a product under the guidance of workshop owner. The boat takes you back Hoi An ancient town.

Having lunch at a restaurant in Hoi An

This afternoon you will make a walking around old streets to discover the charm of Hoi An Ancient Town including Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese Assembly Halls, Sa Huynh Museum, old houses and the local market… Hoi An is an ideal for shopping and making tailor with reasonable price. 

The tour ends at your place around 17.00

 Day 11: Hoi An – Da Nang – Nha Trang (Meal: Breakfast)

Today, we take a flight to Nha Trang from Da Nang. Pick up and transfer to the city center. Overnight in Nha Trang.

 Day 12: Nha Trang and its island (Meals: Breakfast, lunch)

08h30: Pick up at hotel in Nha Trang and transfer to Cau Da port.

Cruising to visit Nha Trang Bay, you can see the great landscape of over 19 islands on Nha Trang Bay.

Visit Tri Nguyen Aquarium: the biology sea inside Neptune’s place with hundred of fishes

Visit Mun Island: Snorkel on the coral reefs which are covered with the multi colored fishes

Visit Mot Island: having lunch on the boat. Enjoy the exchange relations music with many tourists come from many countries.

Cruising to Tranh Island for enjoying water sports such as: Jetski, parasailing, volley-ball….

After that, back to Cau Da port and return to Nha Trang. The tour ends around 16.30. Overnight in Nha Trang.

 Day 13: Nha Trang beach (Meal: Breakfast)

Full day at leisure. Overnight in Nha Trang

 Day 14: Nha Trang – Ho Chi Minh city (Meal: Breakfast)

Leisure until take a flight to Ho Chi Minh city. Pick up and transfer to the city center. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

 Day 15: Ho Chi Minh city sightseeing – Cu Chi tunnels (Meals: Breakfast, lunch)

At 08.30am, meeting our tour guide and driver at your hotel to start a full day sightseeing around Ho Chi Minh city.

Stopping at the 30 – 40 park, taking a walking tour to visit the Independence Palace, which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of the war in April 1975

Then seeing some of French colonial structures including Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Central Post Office.

Continue your sightseeing to Jade Emperor Pagoda which was built in the first years of XX decades. At here, you can see many of Statues of wooden Deity that is always mentioned in Vietnamese’s tales stories.

In the afternoon, proceed to Cu Chi tunnels. The tunnels contained hospitals, accommodation, etc. and were used as a military base for the Vietcong during the American war. After visiting the tunnels, you can try for shooting (on guest’s account) or enjoying cassava and drinking green tea .Both were as food used by Viet Cong during the War.

Return to your hotel. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

 Day 16: Ho Chi Minh city – Mekong Delta – overnight in Can Tho (Meals: Breakfast, lunch)

07.00am, pick up at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh city and depart for Vinh Long.  Stopping to take photos in Tien Giang town and overlooking the picturesque flat rice fields.

Arriving to Cai Be district, getting on motorized boat along Tien River, visit the locals trading fruit and many other commodities on board their vessels.

Wandering into the small villages to visit the orchard and fruit plantation.

Cruising to Vinh Long through the small canals to explore the charms of the Mekong Delta. Visit a small family business to see how coconut candy, rice paper, rice wine and crispy rice popcorn are made.

Arrive in An Binh village. Enjoy a lunch of fresh river food served in the heart of the garden.

Getting on hand –rowed sampan a long canals where you can immerse yourself in nature.

Return to the dock and proceed to Can Tho. After two hours driving, we arrive to Can Tho.

Leisure in the evening. Overnight in Can Tho.

Optional: Overnight at homestay in Can Tho (Meal: dinner)

Arrive to Can Tho city. Transfer to a village in Cai Rang district by motorize boat, you will meet a friendly local farmer’s house where you will stay the night at their house. In the late afternoon, wandering around the village to see orchard garden or chatting with local people to experience the rural lifestyle of the Mekong Delta resident. 

Having dinner with family and enjoy some of kind traditional local cuisines. Overnight at farmer’s house.

 Day 17: Cai Rang floating market – Tra Su sanctuary bird – Chau Doc (Meals: Breakfast, lunch)

Have breakfast at the hotel. At 06.30am, boarding on a motorized boat to Cai Rang floating market. In the way, you can see many bustling activities along Can Tho riverbanks. You have chance to know how local people go fishing and transport passengers as well as product by the waterway.

Approaching Cai Rang floating market, you can reappear the selling activities in the past by using a traditional “offering pole” for exchanging consumer goods.

The tourist will visit the local rice-noble factory and learn about the traditional method for producing the rice-noble

To understand more about lifestyle over there, you keep going into some small creeks, you will fell the pure atmosphere and enjoy the Southern countryside.

Visiting Ba Cong garden where you can enjoy some special seasonal fruits.

9:45: Cruising back to Ninh Kieu Wharf.

Visit Can Tho market and Binh Thuy ancient house village.

Then proceed to Chau Doc and visit Tra Su sanctuary bird which is renowned for not only its almost-untouched natural beauty but also its sanctuary of flora and fauna. Take a boat trip into the forest, you will immediately feel like you are harmonizing with nature because of all of the impressive pictures of cajuputs, the fragrance of the flowers and the music-like noise of birds, insects and animals making people relaxed and comfortable. From the observation post, you can overlook the forest with an area of nearly 900 ha, home of many birds and animals, including some rare ones.

Dinner on guest’s account. Overnight in Chau Doc

 Day 18: Chau Doc – Phnom Penh (Meal: Breakfast) 

After breakfast. At 07.15am, transfer to the ferry for boarding the speed boat to PhnomPenh.

Arrive in Phnom Penh around 12.30pm at the Sisowath tourist dock. You will be met by our local guide and driver transferred to your hotel. Then we start the city tour that includes the visit to the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda. We climb up a small hill to visit the legendary Wat Phnom and catch a fantastic view over the surrounding areas. Overnight in Phnom Penh

 Day 19:  A full day exploring Phnom Penh – cruising on Mekong River (Meal: Breakfast)

This morning, we visit the National Museum, which is exclusively dedicated to Khmer art and sculpture. Then head on to the Killing Fields. On the way to the killing fields we stop at the bustling market of Toul Tumpong also known as the Russian Market.

In the afternoon, we visit the Independent monument and the Victoria monument.

Later in the afternoon we enjoy the sunset boat cruise on the Mekong River. Overnight in Phnom Penh

 Day 20:  Phnom Penh – Sieam Reap – Angkor Wat – Angkor temples (Meal: Breakfast)

The following destination of our trip will be Siem Reap via a short morning flight from Phnom Penh.

Upon arrival to Siem Reap, we set off on a short drive to the South Gate of Angkor Thom which is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone, the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, and the Terrace of the Leper King and the architectural masterpiece of Angkor Wat. We stroll around this massive monument, exploring the many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple. Overnight in Siem Reap.

 Day 21:  A full day exploring Angkor Complex (Meal: Breakfast)

Today, we continue exploring the wondrous Angkor Complex with the jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm.

We visit this masterpiece and some nearby temples including Banteay Kdei, Sra Srong, Ta Keo, Thommanon and Chau Say Tevado. They almost belong to the small circuit according to the archaeologists’ division.

We see various famous temples of the grand circuit such as Preah Khan, Kravan, Neak Pean, Krol Ko, Ta Som, East Mebon and Pre Rup.

We round off our exciting day with a walk up to Phnom Bakheng Hill to admire the spectacular sunset over these sandstone monuments. Overnight in Siem Reap.

 Day 22: Banteay Srei – Banteay Samre (Meal: breakfast)

This morning, driven to the rural of Siem Reap to visit Banteay Srei, the birthplace of Khmer classical style architecture. This is a small temple but its carvings are so impressive. It is nearly everyone’s favorite’s site.

The second visit will be to Banteay Samre, with elaborate architecture and exceptional carvings, and we will visit a local village.

Today we also have a chance to explore the ancient Khmer civilization site of Hariharalaya which flourished in the late 9th and earlier 10th centuries. These are the earliest temples in the Angkor area and are referred to the Rolous group. Overnight in Siem Reap.

 Day 23: Cruising Tonle Sap Lake – departure (Meal: Breakfast)

We visit the famous Tonle Sap Lake on a boat trip out. The traditional boat navigates along a small river towards the gigantesque lake, giving us a chance to explore floating village, local life style, friendly children in small boats and fishermen pulling in morning.

Transfer to the airport in Siem Reap. End service.

Tour price includes: 

• Air conditioned transport transfer & sightseeing as per program
• Train ticket: Ha Noi – Lao Cai – Ha Noi
• Domestic flights: Ha Noi – Hue & Da Nang  – Nha Trang & Nha Trang – Ho Chi Minh
• Express boat ticket: Chau Doc – Phnom Penh
• Domestic flights: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap
• English speaking tour guide
• Boat trip in Mekong Delta and hand – rowed sampan
• Boat trip in Trang An, Hue, Nha Trang, Tonle Sap Lake
• Cruise for sightseeing in Ha Long Bay
• All entrance fees
• Meals as indicated in the tour program
• One night on cruise in Ha Long Bay
• Nice and clean hotel accommodation base on two people share a room
• Nice and safe accommodation for homestay optional in Mekong Delta

Tour price excludes:

• International flight to Vietnam and from Cambodia
• Visa for Vietnam & Cambodia
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses
• Option, additional, person activates during free time.
• Drinks & other meals not mentioned in the program
• Excess luggage charges

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