12 days. Essential Vietnam & Cambodia for Randa Mahmoud

Day 1: Hanoi (arrival)

Arrival in Hanoi. We welcome and transfer you to hotel. Rest of the day is your leisure time to explore the city on your own.

• Overnight at hotel in Hanoi
• N/A

Day 2: Hanoi → Halong Bay

Morning, enjoy breakfast at hotel and depart for Halong Bay at approximately 8:00am.

Upon arrival in Halong Bay, we will board the vessel and partake in a delectable lunch. During the meal, we will cruise through thousands of stunning islands and islets. Following lunch, you may freshen up in your room before embarking on a visit to the Surprising Cave, kayaking, swimming, and other activities. Later, return to the vessel, get a drink and enjoy the picturesque sunset scenery in the bay. Halong photo.

• Overnight on cruise
• B,L,D

Day 3: Halong bay → Hanoi

n the morning, breakfast will be served on board. We will then proceed to cruise to a Pearl Farm village and continue exploring the enchanting Halong Bay, navigating through numerous captivating islands and islets.

During lunch on board, we will make our way back to the pier before transferring back to Hanoi.

• Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
• B,L

Day 4: Hanoi → Hoi An

After a refreshment, take a city tour, visit the most famous places in Hanoi: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Museum, the Temple of Literature, the Ethnology Museum & Ngoc Son Temple. 

After that, transfer you to airport for flight to Danang, transfer you to Hoian

• Overnight at hotel in Hoian.
• B,L

Day 5: Hoi An (My Son Sanctuary)

Morning breakfast at hotel. Today, we start the tour by visiting My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Afternoon, visit Hoi An town on foot: Hoi An’s Colorful Local Market, Old House of Tan Ky, Fu Jian Assembly Hall, and the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge.

• Overnight at hotel in Hoi An
• B,L

Day 6: Hoi An → Ho Chi Minh

Morning, breakfast at hotel in Hoi An. Your leisure in Hoi An until we transfer you to airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh.

Rest of the day is your leisure time to discover the city on your own.

• Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh
• B

Day 7: Ho Chi Minh (Cu Chi & city tour)

Morning, we explore the Re-Unification Palace, which was the home and workplace of the president of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, and played a pivotal role in the war’s end. Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, a stunning example of French colonial architecture, and learn about its unique history. Continue your tour at the War Remnants Museum, which provides a thought-provoking look into the harsh realities of the Vietnam War.

Afternoon, we leave the city and drive 60km to Cu Chi, where you can delve into the intricate system of tunnels and explore the Cu Chi Tunnel, an impressive feat of engineering that played a significant role in the Vietnam War. Afterwards, enjoy tea, cassava (guerrilla’s food during the war). Once the tour is complete, we will make our way back to the city.

• Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh
• B,L

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh → Mekong tour

Following breakfast at the hotel, we will depart from Ho Chi Minh and head towards Ben Tre. Our journey will include a boat trip along the Mekong River, during which we will visit a family-run business that exemplifies the idyllic rural lifestyle. We will also have the opportunity to stroll through the fruit plantation village. Finally, we return to Ho Chi Minh city

• Overnight at hotel in Can Tho
• B,L

Day 9: Mekong tour → Ho Chi Minh

After breakfast, we pick you up to visit the Cai Rang floating market which is wholesale market of fruit and vegetable at its busiest at this time of the day. Keep cruising through the small channels system and visit a rice noodle making village. Experience the “Monkey Bridge” in the Delta.

• Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh
• B,L

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh → Siem Reap

Morning, enjoy breakfast at hotel. Your leisure time to explore the city until we transfer you to airport for flight to Siem Reap.

Enjoy leisure time in Siem Reap on your own.

• Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap
• B

Day 11: Siem Reap (Angkor Tour)

In the morning, visit to the antique capital of Angkor Thom (literally: “Great City”), located in present day Cambodia, was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. Continue your visit at 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. Continue your visit to Ta Prohm, one of the most beautiful temples in Angkor. 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), Ta Som, built in late 12th century C.E. the most distant temple on the grand circuit, small but classic. In the afternoon, visit Angkor Wat the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor. 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. In the evening, enjoy a delicious dinner at a nice local restaurant in Seam Reap. Watch a Apsara dance show while dining.

• Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap
• B,L,D

Day 12: Siem Reap (Departure)

Morning, start the tour by visiting the National Museum. Here, you can explore a collection of Khmer art, artifacts, and historical exhibits that provide insights into the culture and history of Cambodia.

After the museum, take a boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake, one of the largest lakes in Asia. This is an opportunity to enjoy stunning views of the lake and see some of the local fishing villages and floating communities that call it home.

After the lake tour, head to downtown to visit Artisan’s D’angkor, the carving art school, where you can witness the intricate art of stone carving and other traditional crafts. Next, continue your visit to Wat Thmei, a beautiful pagoda that is known for its memorial stupa that contains the skulls of Khmer Rouge victims.

Afterward, enjoy lunch and spend some leisure time in Siem Reap until it is time for your departure flight home.

• N/A
• B,L

End of service!