Overview

The Highlights of Vietnam & Cambodia engages our travelers into the rich culture and the stunning natural beauty of Vietnam and Cambodia in 18 days/17 nights. The pace of the trip is easy.

The highlights of the tour include the World Heritage Sites of Ha Long Bay, Hue Imperial Citadel, Hoi An Ancient Port Town, the fabled temples of Angkor. We also tour the charming capital city of Ha Noi and enjoy timeless moments a relaxing beach holiday in Nha Trang. Also take a hiking trip to the holy Buddhist world of the Perfume Pagoda...

The tour activities include walking, hiking, boat cruising, culture-touring, history touring, beach vacationing. Accommodation for the tour include boutique hotels and luxurious resorts for our beach vacations, unless otherwise requested by the traveler. Most meals are not included for the traveler to have different food adventures themselves.


Day1    Arrive in Ha Noi (no meal)
Day2    Ha Noi City Tour (B)
Day3    Ha Noi - Silk Village - Thay Pagoda – Tay Phuong Pagoda - Hai Phong (B)
Day4    Hai Phong - Cat Ba - Ha Long Bay - Ha Noi (B/L)
Day5    Ha Noi - Perfume Pagoda – Ha Noi (B)
Day6    Ha Noi - Hue (VN245: 1240-1350) (no guide at Ha Noi) (B)
Day7    Hue – Hoi An (B)
Day8    Hoi An Morning Tour/Free Afternoon (B)
Day9    Hoi An - Da Nang - Nha Trang (VN337:1410-1530) (no guide at Hoi An & Da Nang) (B)
Day10    Nha Trang at leisure (B)
Day11    Nha Trang at leisure (B)
Day12    Nha Trang-Sai Gon (VN455: 1545-1645) (no guide at Nha Trang, no late check-out) (B)
Day13    Sai Gon City Tour (Half a day)/Free afternoon (B)
Day14    Sai Gon – Phnom Penh (VN817: 1155-1245) (no guide at Sai Gon) (B)
Day15    Phnom Penh - Siem Reap (FT 992: 0955-1040)/Tour of Angkor (B)
Day16    Siem Reap Angkor Temples (B)
Day17    Siem Reap Angkor Temples (B)
Day18    Depart Siem Reap (B)
 
Inclusions

• English-speaking guide as per itinerary: no guide for free day;
• Private car for transportation+ airlines tickets for Ha Noi-Hue/ Da Nang – Nha Trang (Cam Rranh) - Sai Gon – Phnom Penh - Siem Reap as indicated in the program;
• Private boat cruise on Ha Long Bay, private boat cruise on the Perfume river in Hue  as in the program;
• Double-sharing accommodation as indicated in the program;
• Meals as indicated in the program: (B-Breakfast/L-Lunch/D-Dinner);
• All admission fees during the guided times as in the program;

 
Exclusions

• Insurance of any types;
• International airport taxes;
• Drinks, phone bills, laundry or personal expenses;
• Others not clearly specified in the Inclusions;

Itinerary

Day1 Arrive in Ha Noi (no meal)
Arriving at Noi Bai Airport, you’ll be welcomed by our tour guide. Then we’ll travel to the hotel in Ha Noi. Overnight in Ha Noi.

Day2  Ha Noi City Tour (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Our tour starts with Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace; this whole area reminds you some parts of the Vietnamese history and the most revered man of the nation. Then we’ll tour Tran Quoc Pagoda - Nation founding pagoda, Quan Thanh temple where you can enjoy the freshness of the West Lake and learn about the spiritual life of the Vietnamese.  

In the afternoon, we’ll tour the Temple of Literature-1st University of Vietnam and the Ngoc Son temple. We’ll have a walking tour of the Old Quarter and free time for shopping in the narrow hustling bustling streets of the Old Town which dated back from the 11th century.

In late afternoon, we'll take you to a traditional water puppet show for sampling this Vietnamese unique art of water puppet performance. After the show, we'll travel back to the hotel. Overnight in Ha Noi.

Day3  Ha Noi - Silk Village - Thay Pagoda – Tay Phuong Pagoda - Hai Phong (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Today is for touring the old villages of the Red River Delta with the Vietnamese traditional culture. We travel 20 km (45 minutes) from Ha Noi to Van Phuc Silk village specializing in weaving silk from the 11th century. Then we go on with the tour of Tay Phuong Pagoda which was built in the 17th century and very famous for the 18 statues of La Han coated with lacquer paint. Then we will move onto the Thay Pagoda which was first built in 11 century. This one is located at the foot of Thay Mountain. It has a neat setting with perfect combination of Feng Shui (Water and Wind). Also you'll have an opportunity to adore the oldest stage for performing water puppet in Vietnam dated back from the 17th century.

In the afternoon, we travel to Bat Trang ceramics village starting the ceramics business from 500 years ago with old traditional and modern products. Then we travel onto high way 5 for Hai Phong colonial city charmed with side walk cafés and French architecture from the 19th century. Overnight in Hai Phong.

Day4 Hai Phong - Cat Ba - Ha Long Bay - Ha Noi (B/L)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Travel by speed boat from Hai Phong to Cat Ba Island, then embark our private boat for the cruise through the most stunning area of the Summer Orchid Bay and Ha Long Bay. We’ll tour a limestone cave and have fresh seafood on board for lunch. In the afternoon, we’ll disembark our boat at Ha Long City and join our car for the road trip back to Ha Noi. Overnight in Ha Noi.

Day5  Ha Noi - Perfume Pagoda – Ha Noi (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
We travel 60 Km (2 hours) from Ha Noi to Perfume Pagoda. Upon arrival, we board the little rowing boats and travel 1.5 hour on the Yen River surrounded by mountains to the Perfume Pagoda. On the way, we will tour Trinh Temple just right on the river bank. We get off the boat at the foot of Huong Tich Mountain and from there, we start our hiking tour to the top which is 4000 m away to visit the main cave pagoda.  There are plenty of opportunities to pay respect at the many pagodas built in to limestone cliffs on the way to the top. After getting lost in the Buddhist world, we’ll take the boat trip back to the village and join our car for the trip back to Ha Noi. Overnight in Ha Noi.

Day6    Ha Noi - Hue (VN245: 1240-1350) (no guide at Ha Noi) (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Free time at leisure until have a transfer back to the airport for the flight to Hue. Meet the tour guide in Hue and have a cruise on the scenic Perfume River to visit the legendary Thien Mu Pagoda and the Tomb of King Tu Duc. Overnight in Hue.

Hue is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Vietnam. The Perfume River flows through the middle of Hue dividing the city into 2 parts: the ancient citadel area to the north and the tourist area to the south. The Citadel boasts its weathered gates and kilometer-length walls surrounded by moats filled up with lotus flowers in the summer, the towering flag towers, the old rustic cannons, wide tree-lined roads and the vast green lawns. The tourist area is where hotels, restaurants, bars and riverside cafes are found.

The western side of the city is where the royal tombs are located amid trees-covered hills. Hue is also  famous for hundreds of century old pagodas, temples and tombs. For the Vietnamese, Hue royal cuisines seem to be the finest in the country. Always check with the restaurants before tasting the food here, since the spices may make someone remember Hue for the rest of their life!

Day7  Hue – Hoi An (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning, we'll have a tour of Hue Imperial Citadel which was home to the Royal Court of Vietnam from 1802-1945. Then we move onto the Royal Tombs of King Khai Dinh and King Minh Mang. Each was designed by the king himself expressing his attitude and characteristics.
In the afternoon, take the scenic drive to Hoi An ancient town with stops for sightseeing at Lang Co Beach and Hai Van (Sea Cloud) Pass. Overnight in Hoi An.

Hoi An was once a major international port trading in silk, ceramics, and spices. Hoi An has the blend of Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese culture which has been retained in parts of Hoi An architecture. If you look for some cultural discovery, or for fine silk clothings, or just simply some easy time hanging around the beach, then Hoi An is the place! Hoi An is a World Heritage site and has always been one of our tourists’ highlights.

Day8 Hoi An (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning, we’ll visit the Japanese bridge, Hoi An Museum, one of the Chinese Congregational Assemblies, old merchant houses.

In the afternoon, you have free time at leisure.
Overnight in Hoi An.

Day9    Hoi An - Da Nang - Nha Trang (VN337:1410-1530) (no guide at Hoi An & Da Nang) (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
You have free time at leisure until we transfer you to Da Nang airport for your flight to Cam Ranh. Arriving at Cam Ranh Airport, our guide and car will escort you to Nha Trang Beach City. We’ll check into the hotel and have the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Nha Trang possesses the most outstanding beaches in Vietnam. With turquoise transparent water, many white sand beaches and the superb coral reefs around the magnificent offshore islands, Nha Trang is no doubt a paradise for snorkeling and scuba-diving. Also around Nha Trang City, there are the Po Nagar Cham tower, the Thap Ba Hotspring, a very interesting Oceanographic Institute and Yersin Museum. During your stay those may be the places to visit.

Day10  Nha Trang at leisure (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Free at leisure. Only accommodation with breakfast is provided by Private Vietnam Tours. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day11  Nha Trang at leisure (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Free at leisure. Only accommodation with breakfast is provided by Private Vietnam Tours. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day12   Nha Trang-Sai Gon (VN455: 1545-1645) (no guide at Nha Trang, no late check-out) (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Free time until having a transfer back to Cam Ranh Airport for the flight to Sai Gon. Meet the tour guide at Tan Son Nhat Airport and drive to the city. Overnight in Sai Gon.

Day13   Sai Gon City Tour (Half a day) (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
This special tour brings you around the most vibrant city of Vietnam. At first, we'll visit the War Remnants Museum where there are lots to learn about Vietnam in the War. Then we move onto China Town with visits to Binh Tay market and the Thien Hau Temple. Traveling back to the city center, we'll have a tour of the Reunification Palace, once the headquarters of South Vietnam Republic and here you'll find some historical memories of the country.

We'll also tour the Emperor of Jade Temple, the Cathedral, the General Post Office, the Municipal theater - the former Parliament. In the afternoon, enjoy free time at leisure.
Overnight in Sai Gon.

Day14   Sai Gon – Phnom Penh (VN817: 1155-1245) (no guide at Sai Gon) (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
You have free time at leisure until we take you to the airport for your flight to Phnom Penh- the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Arriving at Phnom Penh International Airport, our guide will welcome and escort you to the hotel. We’ll check into the hotel, then head out for the tour of Phnom Penh. We’ll visit the Toul Sleng Museum where the Khmer Rouge questioned and tortured the victims before they were brought to the Killing Field, Wat Phnom where the story of Phnom Penh started, the Silver Pagoda and the Royal Palace. We’ll check into the hotel and you’ll have free time at leisure. Overnight in Phnompenh.

Day15   Phnom Penh - Siem Reap (FT 992: 0955-1040) (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the domestic airport for the flight Phnom Penh - Siem Reap. Arriving at Siem Reap Airport, our guide will meet and we start the discovery of the ancient temples and ruins that are found next to Roluos Town - Preah Ko, Ba Kong and Lo Lei which mark the beginning of the Khmer Classical Arts.

In late afternoon, we’ll travel to Phnom Bakheng to climb to the hilltop temple for the stunning sunset view over Angkor Wat and the countryside of Siem Reap.
Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day16   Siem Reap (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning tour of Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King, Royal Enclosure and the Phimeanakas.

In the afternoon, we’ll get lost amid the fabled world of Angkor Wat. After sharing the secrets of Angkor Wat with our tour guide, you’ll have free time to explore the upper levels of the Angkor Wat Temple. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day17   Siem Reap (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Take a long morning tour through the countryside to visit Banteay Srey with some of the most impressive deep sculptures found in the region, then we continue onto Banteay Samre Temple.

In the afternoon take a trip to visit Banteay Kdei, Ta Prohm and Takeo. Overnight in Siem Reap.  

Day18  Departure (B)
You have free time until we take you back to Siem Reap Airport for your departure flight. We trust you had a wonderful holiday in Vietnam and Cambodia with Private Vietnam Tours.