Authentic Vietnam And Cambodia

Start your Best Vietnam and Cambodia 16 Days by taking the flight to Hanoi.

Welcome to! Upon your arrival at Hanoi Airport, you will be warmly greeted by your private tour guide and driver from Incredible Asia Journeys for the drive to the city center for hotel check-in (Kindly be advised that the standard check-in time is at 14.00 so the early check-in is subject to the hotel availability and attracts a surcharge). The remainder of the day is your free time at leisure. Stay overnight in Hanoi.

After a refreshing night’s sleep, you will embark on Hanoi City Tour, commencing with Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed on Monday to Friday, from beginning of October to the end of November annually) and Ho Chi Minh Museum, giving you the chance to learn more about the architectural and historical values of Uncle Ho's final resting-place. Situated right next door, Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts is the place where he used to live in the past. Another site also in the complex is the One Pillar Pagoda. The picturesque structure which was constructed by King Ly Thai To in 1049 has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi. 

Your next destination is the Temple of Literature (Quoc Tu Giam) – Vietnam’s first University. The 11th-century temple offers a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past thanks to its gardens and well-preserved architecture. 

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then, continue to venture to the Ethnology Museum. Leaving the famous museum in Hanoi, we proceed to get back to Hanoi Old Quarter to see the peaceful water of Hoan Kiem Lake and pay a visit to Ngoc Son Temple. After that, you will hop on the cyclo so that the driver can drive you around the bustling old quarter to see the ordinary life of locals. 

At approximately 18.00, return to your hotel. Spend your free time to have dinner and explore Hanoi as you please. Stay overnight in Hanoi.

Today you will take the Halong Bay Overnight Cruise which is the most highlighted destination in your Vietnam and Cambodia tour.

After an early breakfast, your tour guide will pick you up at your hotel’s lobby and travel to the legendary Halong Bay. You will spend around four hours in a private car, having the chance to see many typical North Vietnamese towns and villages. Arriving in Halong Bay at mid-day, the captain and crew welcome you aboard. Following is a stunning local seafood lunch onboard whilst your boat passes through thousands of islands and islets with different shapes. 

After lunch, you will have the opportunity to visit one of the most stunning caves in Halong Bay. Climb few hundreds of stone steps to the mouth of the cave whilst listening to some fascinating stories relating to the formation of karst caves. Then, continue to explore the bay by kayaks, to venture to the local fishing village and discover the life of community there. Back on board the junk, enjoy the sunset party before having the lavish dinner in the dining room which is the perfect atmosphere for you to socialize with other guests. 

In the evening, spend your free time to participate in some onboard activities such as squid fishing, karaoke program, stars watching on the sundeck, and so much more. Afterwards, retire to your cabin for a good sleep in the cruise.

Wake up early to practise the morning Tai Chi session on the top deck or watch the sunrise over the bay before having breakfast in the restaurant. Cruise further to the bay, en-route, make a stop at a pearl farm to sea real peace cultivated by local fisherman. You will have more chance to admire the hidden charm of the bay as the boat continues to cruise further through many islands and islets. Back on board the junk, join in the cooking demonstration from the onboard chef before having lunch whilst the boat cruises back to the dock. Disembark the boat and transfer straight to the airport for flight to Hue.   

Upon reaching Hue Airport, you will be picked up by your tour guide and driver & transferred to the city center for hotel check-in. Stay overnight in Hue.

After breakfast, start your story of the fascinating Hue tour with cruising along the peaceful Perfume River, make a quick stop en-route, get off the boat to explore the iconic seven-storey Thien Mu Pagoda which was constructed on a hillock overlooking the Perfume River. The charming pagoda is considered as the unofficial symbol of the city. 

After finishing your visit at Thien Mu Pagoda, hop in your car waiting outside to transfer to the Imperial City of Hue, one of Vietnam’s Seven UNESCO World Heritage Site, including The Citadel and The Forbidden City to learn about the history of the ancient capital of Vietnam.

Then, your next destination is Hue Royal Antiques Museum which is housed in the former Long An Palace, widely regarded to be one of Vietnam’s most beautiful palaces. While at the Royal Antiquities Museum, you have the chance to see a huge collection of ornaments, furniture, jewelry, clothing, and other items relating to royal life during the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945).   

Take your time to explore the museum before moving to Dong Ba Market, Hue’s largest market where you can find anything and everything.  

After having lunch at a local restaurant, we continue on to the city’s outskirts to visit the final resting places of the Emperor under Nguyen Dynasty, Minh Mang Tomb and Khai Dinh Tomb which allows you to learn more about Nguyen Kings, as well as enjoy the spectacular landscape. 

Leaving the royal tombs, we head to the nearby village to see locals making incense stick and conical hat.

In the late afternoon, hop in your car to get back to the city center. Stay overnight in Hue.

After breakfast, we depart from Hue and head to the riverside town of Hoi An. The 3-hour drive is totally worthwhile as it provides you the breathtaking landscapes. Make a stop at Lang Co Beach for the break before we continue on to drive over the Hai Van Pass (Ocean Cloud Pass). En-route, stop on the pass for stretching your legs, enjoying the magnificent views, as well as taking stunning photos of Vietnam coastline.

Enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant, then, we transfer to My Son for visiting My Son Holly Land. Inscribed as a World Cultural Heritage Site, the ruined temples were an imperial city during Cham Dynasty. While there, you will have the chance not only to explore and understand of the technique of Old Cham people in making red bricks to build a tower which is still now a secret to everyone but also to see a large complex of religious relics that consists of over 65 architectural works. The huge complex will surely leave those who are curious about architectural art in awe.

In addition to that, the visit allows you to watch traditional music performed by Cham girls in their colorful uniforms.

Hop in your car to drive to Hoi An for checking in your hotel or resort. Stay overnight in Hoi An.

Today you will have free day after 1 week travelling so that is a good time in your Vietnam and Cambodia 16 day tour.

After breakfast, spend your free day to explore Hoi An as you please. You may walk around to discover the ancient town on your own or do shopping. Stay overnight in Hoi An.

Enjoy another free day for Hoi An beach and town. You may spend your free time in going shopping in Hoi An or going to the beach for swimming. Stay overnight in Hoi An.

After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy your free time at leisure in the charming town before being picked up to transfer to Da Nang Airport for taking the flight to Ho Chi Minh City to discover the destinations in  the Southern Vietnam.

Upon reaching Tan Son Nhat International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your private tour guide and driver for the transfer to the city center for hotel check-in. After that, enjoy your free time at leisure in Ho Chi Minh City, still called as “Saigon” by many locals. 

In the evening, welcome you to the cosmopolitan city by a dinner on a restaurant boat. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Today, you will explore some of Saigon’s highlights and Cu Chi Tunnels outside of the city. Begin your morning with Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office before exploring the Reunification Palace, and the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum. Conclude your morning with a visit to Ben Thanh Market for shopping if time permits. 

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then you will depart from the city center and head to the countryside for an afternoon excursion, towards the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. Upon reaching the complicated underground system, you will watch a short introductory video showing how the tunnels were built before entering. Spend the next hour discovering the tunnels before being sit down to sample tea and cassava (guerrilla’s food during the war). 

Being stretched for over 155 miles (250 km) from the South Vietnamese capital to the Cambodian border, the Cu Chi Tunnels played an important role in the Vietnam War in that they allowed the Viet Cong to take control a huge rural area only 30 to 40 km from former Saigon. Included storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, constructed living areas, command centers and innumerable of nightmare trap doors, the network was like a secret city to support Viet Cong during the war.

During the wartime, there were plenty of destruction, damage & defoliation over this whole area, caused by bombing and mines which happened in the fierce battle that took place here during the 1960s when Cu Chi was a “Free Target Zone”. When visiting the tunnels, you will find it hard to imagine that scene as you will witness ducks and water buffalos happily co-exist in the rivers along the side of the road. 

Hop into your car to get back to the city center. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

After a refreshing night’s sleep, we leave the bustling Saigon for Mekong Delta. It promises to be the scenic journey as you will travel along the National Highway surrounded by green rice paddies. Upon reaching to My Tho, start to visit Vinh Trang Pagoda before climbing aboard a boat to leisurely cruise along the river, giving you the chance to witness stilt houses, fruit plantations and fishing villages along the river bank.

Continue on to venture to Tortoise Islet, then, enjoy lunch in the orchard garden. After that, take a boat ride to An Khanh, a less touristy attraction in Ben Tre, and jumping on a sampan rowed by a local for a relaxing cruise under the shade of the water coconut trees along natural canals. Next, sit down to taste seasonal fruit & honey tea whilst listening to “Southern Vietnamese folk music”, performed by the locals.  

Proceed to pass by a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle, sample delicious coconut candy and see the pastoral life as you stroll through fruit plantations and villages. Hop in your car for transferring to Can Tho City. Stay overnight in Can Tho.

After breakfast, start your tour today by floating down the picturesque tributaries of the Lower Mekong river (Bassac River) by boat, then, venture to Cai Rang Floating Market which is the liveliest in the whole region. Alternatively, you may visit Phong Dien Floating Market if you prefer a less crowded market. 

En-route, make a stop to try a bowl of Vietnamese vermicelli soup and also see how the dish is made. After tasting the local food, we proceed to stroll around the village, talk with the friendly local people, as well as experience how to pass a “Monkey bridge” which is constructed by only one stem of bamboo. Explore the orchard garden before stopping at a local restaurant for lunch. 

Continue on to transfer to Chau Doc to tour around Tra Su where you get to the wild birds Sanctuary, take a cruise smoothly with small boats to discover the arrays of splendid canals deep into the forest, and watch storks, cranes, along with some other tropical birds. Return to the town for hotel check-in. Tonight will be the last night for Vietnam Tours before moving to Cambodia the next morning. Stay overnight in Chau Doc

After breakfast, take a speedboat for the boat ride to Phnom Penh for our Cambodia Holidays. Upon arriving at Sisowath tourist dock in Phnom Penh at around 12.30pm, your car will be waiting to pick you up for the drive to a local restaurant in Phnom Penh for lunch. 

After having lunch, hop in your car again for the transfer to your hotel for checking in. The remainder of the day is free time at your leisure. Stay overnight in Phnom Penh. 

After breakfast, commence your tour today with Royal Palace - one of Phnom Penh’s most brilliant architectural achievements which is also the official residence of Royal Family. Continue to the Silver Pagoda. Located at the north of the palace grounds, the Silver Pagoda is the most sacred temple in the country. 

Next, we set out to the notorious Choeung Ek Killing Field which is approximately 17km south-west from Phnom Penh town. Looking at this peaceful green fields of Cheung Ek today, you may not imagine what kinds of horrors that were buried here decades ago. Back to the darkest period in the Cambodia history, about 17,000 men, women, children and infants who had been confined and tortured at S-21 (now Tuol Sleng Museum) were sent to the extinction camp of Choeung Ek. In order to memorialize the dead victims under the reign of Khmer Rouge leader, Pol Pot, a huge memorial was constructed in Choeung Ek. This place is a chilling reminder of the cruelty of the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime. An exploration of the Killing Fields brings you the incredible sadness that surrounds the site. On the other hand, it shows you how admirable Cambodia people are when they left the painful past and moved on to rebuild their nation. Then, we will explore the S21 Prison Museum.

Alternatively, you may choose to visit Wat Phnom, the most famous Buddhist temple in Phnom Penh if you feel that Choeung Ek Killing Field and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum are not suitable for you. Built in 1373, the 27-meter Wat Phnom is the tallest religious structure in the city. It was given the name of Wat Preah Chedey Borapaut. 

In the afternoon, take the transfer to Siem Reap which takes approximately 6 hours Tours . Stay overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, start your story of Siem Reap Tour with Angkor Thom or “Great City”. You will be fascinated by the line of 54 divinities and demons that create a dramatic, charming spectacle beside the road; not to mention the enchanting Bayon Temple which is renowned for the large faces carved into the temples. Afterwards, you have the chance to stroll around the surrounding areas such as the Baphuon, Elephant Terrace, Leper King Terrace and Royal Palace area. 

Your next destination will be the picturesque Ta Prohm, but is better known as the ‘Tomb Raider’ temple due to its prominent showing in the famous Lara Croft movie. The mystical temple in which tree roots entwine with ancient ruins will leave you in awe for sure. Continue to venture to Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), followed with a visit to Ta Som which was built in late 12th century C.E. the most distant temple on the grand circuit, small but classic.

This afternoon, we proceed to explore the world-famous Angkor Wat and be awestruck by the longest continuous bas-relief anywhere on earth surrounding the outside of the central temple complex which tells the story of history. Considered to be the largest religious structure on earth, this World Heritage Site will give you a unique and remarkable experience.

Leaving the legendary Angkor Wat, we will watch a wonderful sunset scenery from the Top of Phnom Bakhen Hill.

In the evening, you will enjoy the Apsara dance show whilst having a delicious dinner at a nice local restaurant in Siem Reap. Stay overnight in the lovely town.

After breakfast, you will set off to Tonle Sap Lake where local houses on the water are up and down throughout the seasons, passing the lush rice paddy fields, cattle on the road as well as local houses in the outskirts. Upon reaching the pier, you will embark on a relaxing boat along this natural wonder. While on the boat, you will pass the floating villages complete with schools, restaurants, and hospitals.

Leaving the lake, we proceed to visit Artisan’s D’angkor, the caving art school. Then, we continue to explore Wat Thmei which is near Charles de Gaulle Boulevard in Siem Reap. While there, you will find a small memorial stupa which contains the skulls and bones of victims killed during the regime of the Khmer Rouge (between 1975 and 1979).

Take the transfer to Siem Reap Airport for your departure flight. End of Best Vietnam and Cambodia 16 Days.

Thank you for choosing Incredible Asia Journeys - Local tour operator in Vietnam during your Vietnam and Cambodia trip.