18 Day Vietnam & Cambodia Exploration

On arrival, you will be picked up and transfer to your hotel for checking in. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.

You will be picked up for city tour at around 08:00 – 08:30 am. We first head to visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, a 1400-year-old temple, the oldest in the city and is located near West Lake offering a watery landscape, the pagoda is a very scenic attraction. The next destination is the Ho Chi Minh Complex, where you have chance to visit President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Uncle Ho’s House and the One-pillar pagoda – a very iconic temple in Vietnam. Temple of Literature will be your next stop, here education and study is center point . Aftench, we will explore Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of Jade Mountain) dedicated to Confucian and Taoist philosophers and the national hero Tran Hung Dao. The temple with its famous Huc bridge is in the center of Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake. Tour ends with a drop off back to your hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.

A day at leisure for you to enjoy the beach, go swimming in the ocean, relax by the pool, have a good massage, trying new seafood dishes or if you are keen on water games, you could also try jet skiing, parasailing, snorkeling or diving, there are some diving clubs for your choices. You may also spend the whole day at Entertainment Park on Vinpearl Island, experience the cable car running over the bay could offer you a spectacular view.

The beautiful sunrise in Halong bay should never be missed, especially if you are into photography. The breaking of a new day could start with a Tai chi session (if you are keen on early morning exercise). Breakfast will be served on the boat and you will then have time to enjoy a wholesome brunch as your boat weaves through the magnificent limestone karst formations on your return towards Halong City. Upon disembarkation, you will be transferred back to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi at around 16:30. Overnight in Hanoi.

After breakfast, you have free time until airport transfer for your flight to Hue. On arrival, our driver will pick you up to hotel. Overnight in Hue.

You will be picked up at 8:00 AM then transferred to visit the Imperial Citadel,, this was the center of power for Nguyen Dynasty who ruled between 1802 – 1945. Here, we visit Flag tower, Noon gate, Nine Dynastic Urns, Nine Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa palace and the Forbidden Purple City. We will board a boat for a wonderful trip on the Perfume river and a visit to Thien Mu pagoda where you will enjoy a vegetarian meal prepared by the local nuns. the afternoon continues with a visit to the fantastic tombs of the emperors Minh Mang and Khai Dinh. Our guides will give you a deep understanding of the King’s philosophy of geomancy and how this affected royal life. You will be dropped off at hotel around 5:00 PM. Overnight in Hue.

9:00 Today, leave Hue for Hoi An. Today trip takes you over the famous Hai Van Pass. The Hai Van Pass crosses over a spur of the Annamite Range that emerges from the west and just into the South China Sea, forming the Hai Van Peninsula and the adjoining Son Tra Island.The Pass, which once formed the boundary between the Kingdom of Dai Viet and Champa, also forms a boundary between the climates of Northern and Southern of Vietnam, sheltering the city of Da Nang from the “Chinese Winds” that blow in from the Northwest. During the winter months (November – March), for instance, weather on the North side of the Pass might be wet and cold, while the South side might be warm and dry. On the other side of the Pass, find yourself in the charming ancient town of Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An.

Our guide picks you up at around 8:15 AM and takes you to My Son, a World Heritage site, 50 km Southwest of Hoi An. You will learn about the Cham history and how this massive Sanctuary was built. My Son is a complex consisting of more than 65 architectural towers and temples dating back to 4th century. The site was used for religious ceremonies for Kings of the ruling dynasty as well as burial site for national heroes and royal family up to the 19th century. My Son is considered to be of same historical significance as Southeast Asia’s greatest archaeological sites, including Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Bagan in Myanmar, Ayutthaya in Thailand and Borobudur in Indonesia. After the visit, you will be taken about 30 km by bus and embark on the boat for the trip along the Thu Bon River back to Hoi An. You will have a short break and visit Kim Bong, a carpenter village, which is famous for wooden products. You can buy some souvenirs for your family and friends there. Back to Hoi An around 2:00 PM. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.

Today is at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.

At the pick up time, you will be picked up to airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival in Saigon, our driver will transfer you to hotel for check in. The rest of your day is free. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

We start our tour at 8 am from hotel and head to Cu Chi tunnels which is about a 1.5 hour drive. Cu Chi is a network of more than 120 km under the ground and were built by sweat and blood of Vietnamese guerrillas to hide and fight against the rival forces. You will be introduced to many kinds of booby traps used during the Vietnam war. We will take time to explain the methods of creating, maintaining and living in these tunnels as well as the special technique of hiding smoke invented by the guerrillas. The visit also includes visiting different type of underground halls, secret working, meeting rooms. You will spend an hour experiencing the tunnels with a guide. Afterwards, enjoy tea and cassava (guerrilla’s food during the war). Before finishing the tour, you can watch a short (15 minutes) documentary about the tunnel. Return to Ho Chi Minh City Centre for lunch at around 2.30 pm. Tour comes to a close with a drop-off at your hotel.

Today is at leisure. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

You will be picked up from your hotel to Bus station going to Phnom Penh (8:30 – 15:30). On arrival to Phnom Penh, our driver will transfer you to your hotel. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Today we will discover the Phnom City including: Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21), the National Museum built in 1917-18 is exclusively dedicated to Khmer arts. Royal Palace built in 1866, Silver Pagoda located within the Royal Palace compound and then Wat Phnom, an ancient pagoda stand up on the hill. Have lunch at your own account. We can continue exploring the city or get back to your hotel upon request. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Breakfast at hotel – transfer to Bus Station for departure to Siem Reap. Free time on your own. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Breakfast at hotel – In the morning departure to visit the most famous of all the temples on the Angkor plain: Angkor Wat. The temple complex, cover 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. Angkor Wat’s five towers symbolize Meru’s five peaks, the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat symbolizes the ocean. Continue your visit to the jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm is an incredible sight. There are enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers which embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of man’s creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature. We explore this masterpiece as well as some of the surrounding temples including Banteay Kdei, Sra Srong, Ta Keo, Thommanon and Chau Say
Tevado. Visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century); See the South Gate (with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk), Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Overnight in Siem Reap.

You have a free day to explore Siem Reap at your own pace. Overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, you have free time until airport transfer for your homeward flight.