Vietnam and Cambodia tour 12 days

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, G=Guide

Day 1: Arrival at Hanoi (G)

Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. You’ll spend the night in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi (B, L, G)

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll be picked up to start a Hanoi city tour. You’ll visit Ba Dinh Square, where silent sentries guard the marble and Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum where Ho Chi Minh lies in state (closed on every Monday & Friday and October & November) and see the simple cottage where Uncle Ho lived and worked. You’ll continue to visit the One Pillar Pagoda and hear the legend of its construction, born from the love of an emperor in the 11th Century. You’ll drive to visit the serene Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest in Hanoi, on the banks of Hanoi’s West Lake. You’ll also call the Temple of Literature, built in 1070 and the dedicated to Confucius, it is a serene retreat from the busy streets outside and later become Vietnam’s first university.

After lunch at local restaurant, driver and guide will take you to visit the Ethnology Museum for an overview of Vietnam’s 54 distinct ethnic and enjoy an orientation of the tree-lined streets of Hanoi, resplendent with French colonial architecture, including the recently restored Opera House. Pass by Hoan Kiem Lake, also known as Lake of Restored Sword from the legend that surrounds it en-route to one of the city’s fascinating museums.

In the afternoon, you’ll take to the streets by walking tour of the Ancient Quarter of 36 streets District. This densely populated corner of the city was once a centre of commerce where goods were sold under the street name of a particular guild. Still a thriving community of sellers today, you’ll see streets name such as Sugar Street, Tin Street and Paper Street. Ancient homes and temples are interspersed with stores in this souvenir hunter’s paradise. You’ll then be free until be picked up to watch the Water Puppet show an art form unique to northern Vietnam, and a good, light-hearted introduction to its rural culture.

You’ll spend the night in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi/Ha Long (B, L, D, G)

You’ll leave for Ha Long Bay, which is often called Vietnam’s eighth wonder of the world and once visited, it is hard to dispute that claim. 4000 spectacular limestone outcroppings, cliffs, arches and coves compete for space in an area that is without doubt the most outstandingly naturally beautiful in the country – incomparable coastal scenery.  On arrival, you’ll board your boat, a wooden junk that will take you first to the busy World Heritage area Ha Long Bay, which is translated as “Descending Dragon”. You’ll stop off at an islet and climb though a series of breathtaking caves and grottoes, marveling at some of the most impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations anywhere in the world and then making a stop secluded beach where you can enjoy cruising among the cave dotted island and seeing the small fishing boats with are always feature of this lovely bay. Weather permitting, you’ll be able to swim, fish, climb a hill for an overview of the Bay’s remarkable seascape. All your meals will be provided on board, usually based on fresh seafood. You’ll spend the night on the boat.

For your two-day Ha Long excursion, you’ll board one of the best quality boats on the Bay, a wooden junk based on the model of the old Vietnamese court vessels with sails, a wide transom and rectangular superstructure. The boats vary in size, accommodating between ten and eighteen people, so you’re likely to be joining other travellers for the cruise. Your cabin will be about six metres square, and furnished with twin bunks, two fans, an air-conditioner, pillows, white cotton sheets, and an en suite toilet and shower.

Day 4: Ha Long/Hanoi/Hue (B, L, G)

You’ll have western breakfast on boat and then spend the morning cruising Ha Long Bay, followed by lunch just before docking to the harbour at around 11.30. On the way back from Ha Long, you’ll enter one of the villages nearby to enjoy the life of the Northern farmer. If the time permits, you can visit a school for children. You’ll return to Hanoi for your flight to Hue. On arrival, you will be picked up to your hotel. You will spend the night in Hue

Day 5: Hue (B, L, D, G)

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll have a boat cruise to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the most famous structures in Vietnam on the banks of the Perfume River.

You’ll be picked up to visit Imperial Citadel, once the seat of the Emperors of the powerful Nguyen Dynasty that ruled Vietnam from 1802 to 1945. You’ll begin with a stroll around the area between the Citadel’s massive walls and the defensive moat, now filled with lotus flowers. You’ll then enter via the Noon Gate to wander around the Thai Hoa Palace, the Pavilion housing the Nine Urns of the Nguyen rulers, and the remains of the Royal Palaces.

You’ll then be driven to the Royal Tombs of Minh Mang, the most majestic emperor and a staunch follower of Confucianism with many wives, concubines and a small army of children. Planned by the Emperor and built shortly after his death in formal Chinese style, it’s opulent and exotic, and a good example of classic Sino-Vietnamese architecture. You’ll drive to visit Royal Tu Duc tomb, the “poet Emperor”, is set in an elegant garden with a magnificent lake and pavilion complex. The simplest of the actual tomb (a monument – he was buried elsewhere to thwart grave robbers) is at odds with the lavish opulence of his reign.

In the evening, you’ll sit down for dinner in the pleasant surroundings and a comfortable atmosphere of another of the garden houses. The owner will prepare and serve a traditional meal based on the distinctive characteristics of classic Hue cuisine. The garden houses are a unique feature of Hue. The houses are traditional, privately owned, and set in attractive formal gardens. Some have connections with the old Royal Imperial Court. Hue traditional architecture has long had close associations with the natural environment. The garden houses reflect this association. Each is highly individual – house and garden, people and scenery, plants, clouds and water co-exist and blend with each other in a harmonious context. The narrow streets and abundant flora give the garden house area a country village feeling.

You’ll spend the night in Hue.

Day 6: Hue/Hoi An (B, L, G)

Breakfast at your hotel, you’ll then be picked up to travel to Hoi An. You’ll drive to Lang Co Beach and the lagoon far below. You’ll then cross the high mountain pass of Hai Van with excellent view to see Danang spread out. After lunch at local restaurant, you’ll have a brief visit to Cham museum, remarkable Hindu statuary. The Cham left a legacy of excellent sculptures as they were pushed south by the advancing Vietnamese invaders. Driver and guide will take you to visit China Beach, immortalised for many by the US television show and still one of the most spectacular beach in Asia. You’ll then visit the Marble Mountain, Stone Carving village where you can admire the stone products of local people. You’ll travel to Hoi An to have a visit the town, and enjoy its considerable significance in the history of Vietnam town. You’ll enter a narrow street to look at unique Japanese covered bridge, Chinese communal house, shop for art at one of the numerous galleries and enjoy riverside ambience. You’ll spend the night in Hoi An.

Day 7: Hoi An/My Son/Ho Chi Minh City (B, G)

Breakfast at your hotel, your driver and guide will pick you to visit the World Heritage My Son Sanctuary, the guide will show you the remains of the remarkable brick towers, and explain their origins and purpose. You’ll return to Hoi An. Rest of day will be free perhaps to stroll around the Old Quarter of relax on the beach until our driver will come to pick you to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival, you will be picked up to your hotel. You will spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Once, the My Son Sanctuary was the spiritual capital of the Cham Kingdom that dominated SE Asia for nearly a thousand years. Its remarkable brick towers were badly bombed, but are still impressive, as is its remote valley setting. It’s set in a quiet, richly forested area, bisected by a clear stream. However, the tree cover is not complete, and the valley acts as suntrap, so good sun protection is important.

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City city tour/Cu Chi (B, L, G)

In the morning, you’ll visit the Cu Chi tunnels, a byzantine maze of underground passages, chambers, rooms and booby traps used by both the Vietminh and the Viet Cong to suddenly materialise as if from nowhere, launch a lightning ambush, and vanish equally rapidly. You’ll drive back to Ho Chi Minh City to have lunch at local restaurant.

In the afternoon, you’ll visit Centre Post Office with colonial building and the Cathedral Church.  Your next place is the Museum of War Remnants provides a very partial, but riveting, perspective of the ‘American War’. You’ll have approximately two hour to visit Ben Thanh market, one of the liveliest areas of Ho Chi Minh City, is packed with every conceivable commodity and a visit to lacquer workshop to see the complex processes and meticulous workmanship involved in this traditional Vietnamese craft product. You’ll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City/Vinh Long (B, L, G)

Drive to Vinh Long, a city famous by the Mekong River and floating market. You’ll cruise to visit Cai Be floating market, fruit orchards, a traditional family-run brick kiln. You’ll have a lunch at one of the local family and have a shot show of traditional music in Mekong Delta which is operated by the local people. You’ll have time to wonder around the fruit market to buy some kind of famous tropical fruit such as banana, pomelo, dragon fruit, and mangostin and so on.

You’ll return to Ho Chi Minh City. You’ll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City/Siem Reap (B, D, G)

Your time will be your own until your private car and driver arrives to take you to Tan Son Nhat airport for your international flight to Siem Reap.

Warm welcome upon your arrival in Siem Reap, Siem Reap, one of the major tourist hub in Cambodia and the gateway to the world famous temples of Angkor.  Your guide and driver will meet you at the airport for a transfer to your hotel.  Free time to relax, then your guide will see you again for a Tuk Tuk ride around the suburb of Siem Reap city followed by a blessing ceremony by Buddhist monks for happiness, prosperity and safety. Tonight you enjoy dinner with Apsara Dance show at the local restaurant.

Day 11: Siem Reap/Angkor Wat (B, L, G)

Early wake up in the morning for a transfer to enjoy the sunrise over the Angkor Temple, then you continue to discover the Angkor Wat, a temple complex built for king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. Return to your hotel breakfast. Later this morning, you continue to explore the ruins including the South Gate of Angkor Thom, the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and the Preah Khan temple. In the afternoon you explore the fabulous Ta Prohm temple which embraced by fig and silk-cotton trees puncture the roofs of Ta Prohm’s towers. End of the day you will enjoy the sunset at the Preah Rup temple.

Day 12: Siem Reap departure (B, G)

Today is the last day in Cambodia. We will spend our last morning visiting the Floating Village on Tonle Sap Lake and take boat trip to see the daily life on the village. The natural wonder of Tonle Sap offers an insight into the old tradition of riparian life and the natural splendor of the countryside and followed by Artisan Dangkor workshop before transfer to airport for your flight home