Highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia

On arrival at the airport, you will be greeted and transfered to your hotel for check-in. 

This comprehensive day tour takes in all of Hanoi's essential sites. In the morning we will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and historical presidential relics and then the Temple of Literature nearby. Afterwards we head to Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake. The Ngoc Son temple is set on a tiny island on the Hoan Kiem Lake and dates back to the 13th century. The lake itself is a picturesque focal point of Hanoi, frequented by tourists and locals alike. In the afternoon, we will visit Museum of Ethnology, widely acknowledged as the best in the country which houses a display dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic minority peoples. Then we will take 1 hour by cyclo ride through Hanoi`s Old Quarters to experience daily life of people who are living in the oldest parts of the city.

Following breakfast at the hotel, start your journey to Halong Bay and arrive midday to board a traditional junk for an overnight cruise. Halong Bay is widely considered to be one of the natural wonders of the world. Thousands of towering pillars of sea and wind-carved limestone karsts make the bay an unforgettable sight. After lunch, explore some of the huge limestone caves dotted around the bay and visit a floating fishing village. The captain will then find a secluded spot where you can swim, soak up the sun on the top deck, or try your hand at kayaking. In the evening enjoy a seafood feast for dinner.

During the summer months, enjoy an early morning swim followed by breakfast as you cruise through more spectacular scenery. In the afternoon drive back to Hanoi, where you will have one more evening to sample the fabulous cuisine of the region and explore the Old Quarter.

In the morning, fly to the former Imperial Capital of Hue. This beautiful city is rich in history, culture and ancient temples. Spend the day exploring the Citadel, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, before relaxing on a sunset cruise on the Perfume River.

Drive south along a beautiful stretch of coastline and over the scenic Hai Van Pass, to the picturesque riverside community of Hoi An. On arrival, enjoy a walking tour of this charming traditional town now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Spend the day at leisure on the beach or having clothes made by one of the expert, inexpensive tailors that Hoi An is famous for. If you like to cook, you can spend a fabulous day exploring the local produce market with an expert chef who will teach you the secrets of Vietnamese cuisine.

Fly to Ho Chi Minh City and spend the afternoon on a guided tour of the highlights of this bustling, cosmopolitan city. The city tour covers the main highlights of the city including the Saigon Post Office, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Reunification Palace.

After breakfast, we set off to Cu Chi district, 50 km to the Northwest of Saigon City. On arrival, you will watch a video presentation on the construction of the tunnels before making your way into the tunnels. Here you can spend around an hour exploring the maze of tunnels and also view the various mantraps on display and the remains of an American tank as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500 pound bombs dropped by B52 bombers. This unique experience gives a fascinating insight into what underground life in the war must have been like. Then, we make the return journey to Ho Chi Minh City with free time at your leisure.

The Mekong Delta is the southernmost region of Vietnam. It is often referred to as the rice bowl of Vietnam as it produces three harvests per year. The fertile Mekong Delta is also famous for its tropical fruits and flowers. The Delta area marks the end of a 4,500km journey made by the Mekong River after having traveled through six countries. Traditional transportation in the Delta is by boat along a vast network of canals and channels. Boating along these canals and visiting the floating markets always proves to be a fascinating and rewarding experience for all visitors. Our tour starts with a drive through the Mekong Delta to Cai Be floating market; from here we board our river boats for a cruise along the endless waterways of the mighty Mekong. We will cruise to visit a Bonsai Garden and the handicraft village to see how bricks and pottery items are made. The visit also allows you to discover how candy and pop rice are made. One of our stops will be to a small restaurant serving the local delicacies. We boat to Vinh Long town where we are picked up by van and transferred to Can Tho the delta’s economic hub for overnight.

Rise early this morning at 6am to visit the township of Cai Rang by the boat. It’s a great chance to see the hustle and bustle of a largest floating market in Mekong area. Head back to the city for three hours drive to riverside town of Chau Doc. This is a peaceful and quiet town near the border of Vietnam and Cambodia. Once settle in at the hotel, start your afternoon with a half day tour cruise along the Vinh Te Canal which helps define the border between Cambodia and Vietnam. From here, continue to Sam Mountain for breathtaking sunset views over a chequered patchwork of rice fields and earthen dikes.

Following breakfast at the hotel, take the speed boat up the Mekong River to the capital city of Cambodia. The journey takes around four hours. After a relaxing break, you will set out to discover the most remarkable sights of Phnom Penh. First, head to the Royal Palace. This palace dates back to 1866 and was the last palace built during the French colonial period. The same complex houses the Silver Pagoda, named for the over 5000 heavy silver tiles that cover its floors. Its original name is Wat Prakeo, meaning Temple of the Emerald Buddha. In this temple you will view a collection of Buddhas in gold, silver, crystal, and bronze. Continue to the National Museum, which was built in traditional Khmer style. It houses the world's foremost collection of ancient Khmer artistic, archaeological, and religious artifacts from the 4th to the 13th centuries. Over 5,000 pieces are on display, constituting the repository of the Kingdom's cultural wealth. In addition, the roof space is home to a large bat colony! Your sightseeing concludes with a visit to Wat Phnom temple, the founding place of the city on a small hilltop and a great place to people watch as the locals come to pray for good luck.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. On arrival in Siem Reap, your local English speaking guide will greet you and accompany you to the hotel for check in. This afternoon start your visit to ancient ruins of the Roluos group of temples. Roluos is a small modern town and archaeological site around 13km east of Siem Reap town. There are 3 main temples to discover and explore within the Roluos complex. Mostly built out of brick, these permanent structures are some of the earliest temples built by the Khmer, and mark the beginning of the classical period of the Khmer civilisation during the 9th century. The three major temples are Bakong Temple, Lolei Temple, and Preah Ko Temple.

Your private tour of Angkor Wat starts from the South Gate of Angkor Thom City. Explore the centrepiece of the ancient city, The Bayon. The Bayon is known for it's decorative Khmer temple and it`s distinctive features are the serene and massive stone faces that tower around the central peak. Your tour continues with visits to Baphuon temple, the Royal Enclosure and Phimeanakas as well as the Terrace of Elephants and Terrace of Leper Kings. Enjoy lunch in front of Angkor Wat before entering this magnificent temple - easily the most famous and best-preserved of all structures within the Complex. Enjoy most of the afternoon here to watch sunset over the Angkor before heading back to Siem Reap.

Free at leisure until we will transfer you to the airport to take your flight onward. End of service.