16 DAYS DISCOVERING VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA 

OUTLINE ITINERARY:

Day 1 Hanoi - Arrival [Guide]

Day 2 Hanoi - street food by cyclo [Guide/B/D]

Day 3 Hanoi - Ninh Binh [Guide/B]

Day 4 Hanoi - Ha Long Bay [B/L/D] - shuttle bus 

Day 5 ha Long Bay - Hanoi [b/L] - shuttle bus 

Day 6 Hanoi - Flight to Hue [Guide/b]

Day 7 Hue city tour [Guide/B]

Day 8 Hue - Hoi AN Ancient town [Guide/B]

Day 9 Hoi AN - Fishing Village [B/L] - Group tour

Day 10 Hoi AN - My Son sanctuary - flight to Ho Chi Minh [Guide/B]

Day 11 Ho Chi Minh - Cu Chi Tunnel - City Tour [Guide/B/L]

Day 12 Ho Chi Minh - Mekong Delta [Guide/B/L]

Day 13 Ho Chi Minh - Flight to Siem Reap [Guide/b]

Day 14 Siem Reap - Angkor Wat [Guide/B/L/D]

Day 15 Siem reap – Kulen Mountain [Guide/B]

Day 16 Siem Reap – Great Lake – Departure [Guide/B]

DETAILS ITINERARY:

DAY 1 HANOI - ARRIVAL [GUIDE]

Arrival in Noi Bai International airport, our guide will pick you up from airport to hotel for check in and take a rest. 

Check in time at 2PM

Overnight in Hanoi. 

DAY 2 HANOI - STREET FOOD BY CYCLO [GUIDE/B/D]

Take a short rest, then you will discover Hoan Kiem lake with The Huc Bridge and Ngoc Son Temple by cyclo.

Exploring Train Street – an iconic destination in Hanoi. 

Then you will have a street food tour in Hanoi. 

Below is some suggestion for you: 

1. Banh My – a simple Vietnamese baguette 
2. Bun Cha – made of grilled pork & noodle, a well-known local food in Hanoi. 
3. Banh Trang Tron – Rice Paper Salad – one of best street food
4. Tasting Egg Coffee or Sweet Soup (chè) 
5. Nem Lui – Grilled ground pork on stick 

Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 3 HANOI - NINH BINH [GUIDE/B]

Breakfast at hotel, then our guide will pick you up from hotel to Ninh Binh in around 2.5 hours.

Arrival in Ninh Binh, you will visit Hoa Lu, an ancient capital dating back to the 10th century, packed with temple & fortress ruins. 

Then you will visit the Temple of King Dinh and King Le and learn more about Vietnamese history under the Dinh, Le, and Ly Dynasties.

Lunch by your own account 

In the afternoon, you will visit Tam Coc, known as “Halong Bay on the land”, where you can spend 1.5 hours on the bamboo boat to explore this area. On this excursion down the Ngo Dong River, you will pass through the beautiful paddy fields, limestone karst formation, and a stunning cave system including Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba for an unforgettable experience. 

We continue to visit Bich Dong Pagoda - Nestled into a mountainside, this ancient tiered pagoda is near 3 natural caves & reachable by boat.

Then back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi

DAY 4 HANOI - HA LONG BAY [B/L/D] - SHUTTLE BUS 

In the morning you will depart Hanoi at 08:30 for a three and a half hour drive through the Red River Delta to Ha Long Bay City. On the way, you will stop for refreshments, and upon arriving in Halong City, you will take a tender transfer to your junk and set sail through the bay while lunch is served. As you cruise the magical bay, you will notice thousands of sculpted limestone islands rising from the waves like dragons' teeth. Later in the afternoon, you'll visit a fishing village with the opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. Back on board, you'll enjoy cocktails or a cooking class while watching the sunset, and later you can unwind at a restaurant with a lavish dinner. To end the day, you can enjoy some evening activities such as movie night, board games, or a beauty treatment, before an overnight stay on the junk.

***Special Note: Cruise Itineraries may be subject to change due to weather condition without prior notice.

DAY 5 HA LONG BAY - HANOI [B/L] - SHUTTLE BUS 

Wake up on the bay to the sounds of waves and bird welcoming the new day. You will have an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, visit a beautiful limestone grotto then walk back to the boat for a final glimpse of Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock.

Disembark on cruise, then back to Hanoi.

Free and easy in Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi. 

DAY 6 HANOI - FLIGHT TO HUE [GUIDE/B]

Free and easy, then our guide will pick you  up to Hue. 

Arrival in Hue, check in at hotel and take a rest. 

Overnight in Hue. 

DAY 7 HUE CITY TOUR [GUIDE/B]

Breakfast at hotel, then you will discover Hue ancient capital. 

Once the imperial capital of the Nguyen Lords from the 17th to the 19th centuries, Hue’s splendid emperors’ tombs, ancient pagodas and the remains of the Citadel contribute to its undeniable royal charm. Discover the Imperial Citadel at the centre of the Complex of Hue Monuments inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Enter through the towering main gate and appreciate the magnificent architecture and gardens while your guide explains the events and the intrigue surrounding the former royal court. Despite being heavily bombed during the Vietnam War, there are some incredibly well-preserved sections intact and others which are being carefully restored. Take the boat on Huong River, then you wil visit Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue’s best-preserved religious monument. Built in 1601, the seven-storied tower pagoda, perched on top of on a hill overlooking the Perfume River, is one of Vietnam’s most recognisable icons. 

In the afternoon, visit the elaborate Khai Dinh Royal Tomb. Its architecture showcases elements of Eastern art and Western design. Notice the tomb’s blackened concrete exterior and colourful mosaic interior. Continue to visit Tu Duc Tomb – Covering the area of 20 hectares, Tu Duc tomb consists of nearly 50 architectures constructed in groups at different heights.

Then visit Incence Stick Village - Thuy Xuan incense has its distinctive fragrance and high quality. Incense-making is considered as local main means of livelihood. It is said that generations of villagers have lived and breathed in it. Although hand-made incense requires hard work, it seems to be sold at a disproportionate price. No matter how hard their life is, locals still welcome visitors with big bright smiles.

Transfer back to your hotel with an optional stop en route at an incense stick making house. 

Overnight in Hue. 

DAY 8 HUE - HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN [GUIDE/B]

Breakfast at hotel, then you will take a private car transfer to Hoi An. On the way, you will come across Hai Van Pass with the panoramic view of Lang Co Beach & East Sea.

Arrival in Hoi An, check in at hotel and take a rest. 

In the late afternoon, you will discover Hoi An Ancient Town -– the well-preserved ancient architecture of a trading port from 15 – 19^th century. 

In the the late afternoon, Take a walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the ancient town centre, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year old Tam Ky ancestral house and the famous Japanese Bridge. 

Back to hotel and take a rest

Overnight in Hoi An. 

DAY 9 HOI AN - FISHING VILLAGE [B/L] - GROUP TOUR

Pick you up at your hotel by private car and transfer you down to PHƯỚC HẢI- CỬA ĐẠI Fishing Village 

Board  Jack Tran’s  boat cruise and commence cruising on CỬA ĐẠI River

Enjoy Thúng Chai basket boat demonstration by Jack Tran’s crews.

Learn to paddle the unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boats and join in a basket boat racing for fun while exploring waterways palm coconut canals waterways of a past war and hear of the extreme conditions endured by soldiers of both sides of V.C & US army. Enjoy your fun catching purple crabs 

Join local fishermen life on the river and enjoy hands-on experience cast net fishing

Enjoy learning and experiencing cultural folk music of singing and rowing Bả Trạo with local fishermen  

Keep arriving to an islet fisherman for big net fishing            

Back on-board our boat, enjoy lunch and cold beer or soft drink.

Then come back hotel and take a rest. 

DAY 10 HOI AN - MY SON SANCTUARY - FLIGHT TO HO CHI MINH [GUIDE/B]

Breakfast at hotel, then our guide will pick you up to discover My Son Sanctuary – “the spirit and art valley” is a symbol for a brilliant period of Champa kingdom. Since 1999, My Son has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage

Arrive in My Son Temple, a special electric car will pick you up at the main gate and take you to the place where was chosen to build the temple tower of the Champa Royal for nearly 1000 years with many ancient towers hidden in a discreet valley. The place where the most exquisite focus of ancient Champa culture – is considered to be the Holy Land.

There, you will hear the stone bricks tell about the dancing gods, tell about the gods of worship in the Champa culture, and so many secrets that until now still have no explanation and maybe you will be the first decode them.

After visiting and listening to the tour guide talk about the mysteries here, you will be back to the main gate of My Son Ruins by special electric car. Leave My Son Holy land behind.

Then take a flight to Ho chi Minh.

Arrival in Ho Chi Minh, our guide will pick you up to hotel for check in and take a rest. 

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh. 

DAY 11 HO CHI MINH - CU CHI TUNNEL [GUIDE/B/]

Depart in the early morning for a 2hr drive northwest to the Cu Chi Tunnels. The ingenious tunnel complex was initially started in 1948 to protect the Viet Cong guerrillas from the French air and ground sweeps. The tunnels also served as communication routes, storage facilities for food and weapon caches and contained hospitals and living quarters for guerrilla fighters throughout the American War.

Lunch by your account

Then back to Saigon

Overnight in Saigon. 

DAY 12 HO CHI MINH - MEKONG DELTA [GUIDE/B/L]

The program will start with a visit of Vinhlong market in the town. This is the best choice for you to take pictures of fish, shrimps, prawns, crabs, snakes, rice-field rats, tropical fruits, vegetables...

Mekong Travel boat will take you downstream on Mekong River seeing many floating cages for farming fish. Then, the first stop to visit the local workshop to see how to make rice paper, coconut candy, pop-rice... Enjoy some sweets with a cup of hot tea. 

The rowing boat will take you deeper into the countryside on smaller canals to enjoy the peaceful time. Then, we’ll walk to visit the orchard & traditional house of Ut Trinh family. Here, we will enjoy some kinds of fruits and tea when listening to the traditional music. The optional lunch can be served at this local house. 

Biking can be made for a leisure! It will be so amazing to do cycling on village paths to see the daily life of the rural people: orchard, school, church, pagoda, traditional houses... On the way back to VinhLong city, we can make one more stop to visit the brick kilns where you can see how the local people create beautiful potteries from clay.

The cruise will go back VinhLong city. Back to Hochiminh.

DAY 13 HO CHI MINH - FLIGHT TO SIEM REAP [GUIDE/B]

Breakfast at hotel, free and easy, then you will take a flight to Siem Reap. 

Arrival in Siem Reap, our guide will pick you up to hotel for check in and take a rest.

Overnight in Siem Reap. 

DAY 14 SIEM REAP - ANGKOR WAT [GUIDE/B/L/D]

After breakfast, enjoy a full day excursion to discover Angkor Thom and Temples. Firstly, you will visit the wonderful Angkor Thom (the Great City) including the Southern Gate, famous Bayon temple (12th century in the centre of city remains one the most enigmatic temples of the Angkor group composed of 54 gothic towers decorated with 216 smiling faces of Avalokitesvara. Baphuon temple is lying just to the north of Bayon a pyramidal representation of mythical Mont Meru. Terrace of Elephants used   as a giant reviewing stand for public ceremonies and served as a base for the king’s grand audience hall ; Terrace of the Leper King  a platform 7m high, with statue and temple walls covered in emerald-green moss intertwined with roots which many deem the most charming of all, Ta Prohm. 

Lunch is Khmer style in a local restaurant. Regain your energy enjoying a sumptuous Khmer feast near Sras Srang, the Royal Pool of Ablutions, originally reserved for the King and his consorts. Enjoy a spread of great local food followed by a nap lazing in a hammock, or explore to see the traditional way of life and say hello to the Cambodians near here.

Afternoon, it is time to visit the wonderful Angkor Wat Temples – one of the seven greatest architectural wonders of the world, as a temple and mausoleum forKing Suryavarman II at the peak of the Khmer empire in the first half of 12th. Angkor Wat is probably the best-preserved of the Angkorean temples, with a central tower surrounded by four smaller towers. The central monument represents the mythical Mount Meru, the holy mountain at the centre of the universe, which was home to the Hindu God Vishnu. The whole complex covers 81 hectares, a rectangular wall measuring 1025 meters by 800 meters borders the inner edge of the moat, and temple's greatest sculptural treasure is its 2 km-long bas-reliefs around the walls. In the late afternoon, visit to the Phnom Bakheng temple, is the first temple in Angkor region build by the Yacovarman I King in the first of 9th century, located on a slope gently hill where thousands tourist are grouping on the hilltop to catch a memorable time of life when viewing the marvellous sunset, the distant Angkor Wat in the jungle. This evening, enjoy buffet local dinner with Cambodian Cultural Performance including Apsara Show

DAY 15 SIEM REAP – KULEN MOUNTAIN [GUIDE/B]

Breakfast in the hotel. Excursion to Mount Phnom Kulen.

• We will see the river “thousands of lingams” - the bottom of which is decorated with stone carvings from the image of deities for hundreds of meters. Climbing the holy mountain Phnom Kulen and visiting the 16th-century temple with a carved 8-meter silhouette of the “recumbent” Buddha. A visit to the waterfall (optional, you can swim - we recommend taking towels and bathing accessories). Then will continue to visit the  getting to know about the recent civil war in Cambodia was ended 1998 . On the way back stop at Pradark Village, where you will see the villagers making palm sugar, handicraft for selling to tourist. It’s a nice chance for you to see the local people living at the country side with their struggling for daily life.

DAY 16 SIEM REAP – GREAT LAKE – DEPARTURE [GUIDE/B]

Breakfast at hotel, and then visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located south of 10 kilometers Siem Reap. We take a boat trip in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap Lake, the "Great Lake" of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia. We spend the rest of time visiting the "Chantiers Ecoles - Les Artisans d'Angkor" which provides training to young Cambodians in an effort to revive the ancient Khmer traditions of stone carving and wood sculpting. Spend the rest of time to visit one of the city’s lively open markets, Psar Chars, also called the “Old Market”, where anything and everything is for sale! The rest of day is on your own leisure until transfer to the airport for your flight to the next destination. 

End of trips! 

We look forward to seeing you again on your next adventure with Vinasoul Travel!

SERVICE INCLUDES

+ Private door-to-door pick-up & drop-off services; 

+ All private transfer and transportation, except for coconut forest discovery tour 

+ Accommodation shared in Twin/Double room with daily breakfast 

+ Tissues and water on coach; Services charges and government tax; Exclusive and personalized single agent/single customer service; No extra charge after services confirmation; 24/7 hotline support guaranteed;

+ All Meals as stated in the itinerary (B: Breakfast ; L: Lunch ; D: Dinner)

+ Halong Bay cruise program as specific

+ Domestic Flights: Hanoi to Hue, Da Nang to Saigon,  Economy class

+ Experienced English-speaking guide during all tours and transfers

+ Private boat trip for sightseeing as mentioned in the program, Entrance fees for all visits as mentioned in the itinerary

SERVICES EXCLUDES

+ International flight tickets

+ Visa on arrival in Cambodia (usd30 / pax) 

+ Evisa fee from/ to Vietnam 

+ Meals, if not specified in the itinerary

+ Tipping for guides, drivers, hotel staff, restaurant staff, boat rider, etc. Personal expenses, such as laundry, telephone, drinks, etc. All other services not specified in the itinerary Surcharge for Peak season, Tet Lunar New year holidays, and compulsory dinner at some hotel & resort on Xmas and New year’s Eve

+ Travel insurance (we highly recommend that you purchase adequate insurance).

Suggestions for tipping and gratuities: 

+ Group under 6 pax: 20 USD per Group per day.

+ Group from 6 pax up: 3 - 5 USD per pax per day 

+ Group under 6 pax: 10 USD per Group per day. 

+ Group from 6 pax up: 2 USD per pax per day