10 day Vietnam and Cambodia Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport, get a friendly welcome from our guide, and transfer to your hotel (the distance is approx. 40 minutes).
Hanoi, or 'River-bound city,' the capital of Vietnam, has a thousand-year-old history dating back to 1010. The city's unique cultural relics, elegant Fresh colonial buildings, ancient streets of antique houses, tree-lined boulevards, and pristine lakes make Hanoi one of the most charming cities in Asia.
Meals: No Meal
Accommodation: A hotel in Hanoi
Day 2: Hanoi Full Day City Tour
Morning you will visit Ho Chi Minh Complex, which showcases the life of the nation's founder Ho Chi Minh. In the complex, explore Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, and the Colonial Presidential Palace in the complex. Afterwards, continue to the Temple of Literature, the first university of Vietnam (built in 1070).
In the afternoon, continue the tour to one of the following museums of your choice: the National Museum of Vietnamese History, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Military History, the Museum of Revolution, or the Museum of Ethnology.
Next, in the late afternoon, visit Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple, situated on an islet in the lake. The Hoan Kiem Lake is the center point of Hanoi and is renowned for being home to a rare endangered giant turtle species. Finally, shop or walk leisurely in the Old Quarter of 36 ancient streets.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: A hotel in Hanoi
Day 3: Hanoi – Ha Long
In the morning, pick up at 8:00 am from your hotel for transfer to Ha Long Bay, located 160 km or 3.5-hr drive away. You will experience rural areas of the Red River Delta with Vietnamese farmers working in paddy fields. Stop halfway to explore a handicrafts workshop involving fine clothes and embroidered paintings.
By 11:30 am, arrive in Ha Long City and check in aboard the booked Cruise right after the welcome drink is served. Then, start cruising while having lunch on board and enjoy the mighty bay view. Along the way, you will see Dinh Huong Island, Ga Choi Island, Dog Island, Sail Island, Sung Sot Cave, and a swimming stop at Titov Beach.
Ha Long Bay, meaning Descending Dragon Bay, is said to be where a holly dragon landed down from the sky. The bay consists of 2,000 karst islands and islets scattered over an area of 1,553 km2.
At sunset, relax to enjoy the bay view, have dinner afterward, then go fishing around 09:00 pm, and spend the night on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: A cruise in Ha Long
Day 4: Ha Long – Hanoi – Flight To Saigon
Early risers will have the opportunity to experience the splendid yet tranquil view of the bay at the crack of dawn. Breathe the sea's fresh air, enjoy the morning breeze and hear the sounds of birds above. Then, enjoy a wholesome breakfast and cruise to the Human-head shaped island and the Tortoise island.
Keep cruising into Ha Long Bay to discover an adjacent bay called 'The Little Dragon Bowing to His Mother'. Check-out and have lunch on board while heading to the shore. Disembark and transfer to Hanoi airport for flight to Ho Chin Minh.
Arrive in Ho Chin Minh (formerly Saigon city), get welcome by our friendly guide, and transfer to the hotel for check-in.
Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city and economic center of Vietnam. It is where businesses converge, and shoppers indulge in a variety of choices. The city also carries a rich historical legacy retaining its dazzling glamor.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch or Brunch
Accommodation: A hotel in Saigon
Day 5: Saigon Full Day Cu Chi Tunnel And City Tour
In the morning, get on a half-day tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels, located 75 km Northwest of downtown Ho Chi Minh City, which was once a major underground hideout and resistance bases of Viet Cong forces. The tunnels are a highly intricate network of interlinked multilevel passageways. Their complexity is a spectacle consisting of meeting rooms, wells, kitchens, schools, deports, clinics, trenches, and emergency exits, all for guerrilla warfare. After exploration, back to Saigon.
In the afternoon, you will take a half-day city tour to visit outside Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica (renovating until 2022), a neo-Roman Cathedral built by the colonial French. Next, visit the War Remnants Museum, which contains an extensive collection of exhibits of weaponry, photos, and documentation on Vietnam's wars with the Americans and French.
End of the day, you have free time to go shopping at the city's biggest market, Ben Thanh Market.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: A hotel in Saigon
Day 6: Saigon – Full Day Mytho (Mekong Delta) 65km–2hour Driving
Have breakfast in the morning, then hit the road to the Mekong Delta, the world's largest delta and Vietnam's largest rice bowl. On arrival in My Tho City in Mekong Delta region, embark on a boat and navigate through intricate canals, appreciating the local daily life up close along with the landscape of waterways and lush islands.
Land on Unicorn Island to explore verdant orchards to taste delicious fruits while listening to some Southern-style traditional music. Next, move on to the second delta province Ben Tre, where we will experience local villagers making coconut candy in a rural workshop. Briefly walk around and try riding a horse-pulled carriage. Do more cruising to some bee-keeping households to taste fresh homegrown honey and honey tea.
Head back to Ho Chi Minh City and spend time at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: A hotel in Saigon
Day 7: Saigon Departure - Siem Reap Arrival
Free at leisure till your transfer to the airport for the departure flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. On arrival at Siem reap airport, you will be met and transferred to the hotel by our local representative for Check-in and Overnight at the hotel in Siem Reap.
Meals: No meal
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap
Day 8: Siem Reap – Fullday Angkor Tour (B)
You will start by exploring the South Gate of Angkor Thom, also called Big Angkor, the royal city of the Angkorian empire, and the renowned Bayon temple. Then, keep exploring the Terrace of the Elephants, an impressive 300-meter terrace wall, and the Ta Prohm temple.
In the afternoon, visit Angkor Wat temple, the founder of the temple was Suryavarman II, who reigned Cambodia from 1,113 to 1,152 and built the five towers in the 12th century dedicated to the Hindu deity Vishnu.
The plan for the pyramidal conception of the temple combines spaces, alleys, and ditches, an ancient masterpiece of architectural design and construction.
Enjoy your time at bars and pubs at Angkor night market. Overnight at the hotel in Siem Reap.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap
Day 9: Siem Reap – Visit (B)
This morning, visit Wat Thmei (Killing Fields), a unique glass-walled stupa containing the bones of victims of the Khmer Rouge, members of the infamous Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK). Then you will visit the notorious Puok, the original place of the 'Artisans d'Angkor' silk, where you can experience silk production from silkworms. Next, see West Baray (a "baray" means a water reservoir built by the ancient Khmer people.)
In the afternoon, you will visit Floating Villages, 10 km South of Siem Reap. Get a ride in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap, Cambodia's "Great Lake" and the largest in Asia. Next, visit Wat Bo pagoda, 18th century old with unique wall paintings of Reamker (Ramayana). Finally, visit the "Les Artisans d'Angkor – Chantiers Ecole" the Finest Authentic Khmer Arts and Crafts. Overnight stay at the hotel in Siem Reap.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap
Day 10: Siem Reap Departure (B)
In the morning, head to the airport for your flight back home or your next destination.
Meals: Breakfast
