Explore Vietnam & Cambodia intensively

17 Days | 9 Citys

A trip to Vietnam and Cambodia is ideal for anyone who wants to experience the essence of Indochina. The trip begins with many highlights in Vietnam and takes you to the magnificent city of Siem Reap in Cambodia, to the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, and via the paradisiacal beach destination of Sihanoukville, back to Vietnam, where your trip concludes in the vibrant city of Saigon.

If you want to discover the highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia, this trip is perfect for you.

Itinerary

Day 1 > Hanoi – Arrival

Arrival at Noibai International Airport.

Welcome by your English-speaking tour guide and transfer to Hanoi.

Check-in: from 2:00 PM

Overnight stay in Hanoi.

Day 2 > Hanoi – Sightseeing (F)

Breakfast at the hotel.

A full-day city tour to discover Hanoi, including a visit to the Jade Mountain Temple on the Lake of the Returned Sword, followed by a stroll through the labyrinth of narrow streets and alleys of the Old Quarter, where you’ll gain insight into the daily life of Hanoians. This is followed by a visit to the Temple of Literature, built in 1070 and often cited as Vietnam’s first university.

Overnight stay in Hanoi.

Day 3 > Hanoi – Duong Lam Village - Hanoi (F)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure to visit the ancient village of Duong Lam, 65 km from Hanoi. The village is known as the hometown of two kings of Vietnam and has a history spanning nearly 1,200 years. Here, you’ll find several 400-year-old houses built with laterite bricks. Enjoy the unique experience of strolling through ancient alleys lined with old houses.

A short bike ride takes you along the rice fields to the “Mia” Pagoda and the royal tomb “Ngo Quyen”.

Return to Hanoi and visit the Ethnological Museum. Built in 1998, this museum now displays exhibits reflecting Vietnamese culture and typical aspects of everyday life among all 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam (of the total population of 93 million, approximately 10 million are members of minority groups).

Overnight stay in Hanoi.

Day 4 > Hanoi - Halong (F, M, D)

Breakfast at the hotel and bus ride to Halong.

In Halong, you will take an impressive boat trip to the bizarre limestone cliffs of Halong Bay and visit one of the numerous caves and grottos.

Includes lunch and dinner with various seafood on board.

Overnight stay on the junk.

Day 5 > Halong – Hanoi (F, M)

Light breakfast on board in the morning (bread, butter or cake, tea, coffee, etc.).

Today, you’ll take a short rowboat ride through a beautiful grotto and see some smaller islands and limestone cliffs. Brunch is included.

Return to Halong port and bus ride to Hanoi.

Overnight stay in Hanoi.

Day 6 > Hanoi – Siem Reap (F)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free time until transfer to Hanoi International Airport.

Flight from Hanoi to Siem Reap.

Arrival at Siem Reap International Airport and transfer to the hotel.

Siem Reap, the gateway to the world-famous Angkor temple complex, which includes the magnificent Angkor Wat, is located in northwestern Cambodia. The province also has a vibrant capital with many luxury hotels, beautiful colonial buildings, silk farms, markets, and much more.

Overnight stay in Siem Reap.

Day 7> Siem Reap – Angkor Thom (F)

Breakfast at the hotel, followed by a bus ride from the hotel to the south gate of Angkor Thom.

Here you start your cycling tour to explore the famous “Big Angkor”, the last capital of the Angkor Empire.

The famous Bayon Temple was built in the 12th century and took almost 100 years to complete. The Terrace of the Elephants is an impressive, 2.5-meter-high and 300-meter-long terrace wall. At the northern end of the terrace is the Terrace of the Leper King, a double terrace wall with deeply carved demons and other mythological creatures.

Afterwards, you’ll visit Ta Prohm Temple, a wonderful combination of human genius and natural beauty. For centuries, giant trees have grown here, their roots clasping the temple walls.

In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Angkor Wat temple, continuing by bike. The temple’s founder was Suryavarman II, who ruled Cambodia from 1113 to 1152. He had the five towers built to dedicate them to the Hindu god Vishnu.

It is then time to enjoy the beautiful sunset over the Angkor temple complex from Phnom Bakhen Mountain or Pre Rup Temple.

Overnight stay in Siem Reap.

Day 8> Siem Reap – Kulen Mountain (F, M)

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning, you’ll meet your guide at the hotel and travel by bus to the foot of Kulen Mountain. Your trek begins there. The first 2 km of your hike will be a steep climb up the hill. On the mountainside, you’ll see, among other things, the source of the Buddha River and enjoy the magnificent panorama. You’ll continue hiking through a dense forest and experience the magnificent waterfall of Kulen Mountain along the way. (Lunch box included)

In the afternoon, the trek takes you to the Thousand Linga River, the Grand Reclining Buddha, and finally to a 30-meter-high waterfall where you can swim. Afterward, you’ll walk back to town.

Drinks should definitely be taken along for the trek.

Overnight stay in Siem Reap.

Day 9> Siem Reap – Phnom Krom -Prek Toal (F)

Breakfast at the hotel. The morning is at your leisure. In the afternoon, drive to the village of Prek Toal.

Around 3:00 PM: Arrival in the village of Prek Toal and check-in with your host family. Prek Toal is one of the so-called “floating villages” and offers a unique opportunity to experience the daily life of the villagers.

Among other things, you will visit the Prek Toal Information Office, where you will gain interesting insights into the history and architecture of the village, and the Sary cooperative, which grows and harvests water hyacinths.

Dinner in a local village restaurant and overnight stay with the host family.

Day 10> Prek Toal – Boat trip Battambang (F, M)

After an early breakfast with your host family, you’ll set off to observe the region’s many waterfowl. Lunch will be ready around 11:00 a.m., and in the early afternoon, you’ll take a boat to Battambang, the capital of the province of the same name.

Upon arrival, you will be picked up by your driver at the pier and then taken by bus to check in to your hotel.

*** In case of low water levels (occasionally between March and July), you will travel to Battambang by bus instead of boat. The bus ride from Prek Toal to Battambang takes approximately 5 hours.

Overnight stay in Battambang.

Day 11> Battambang - Phnom Penh (F)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Battambang is located in northwestern Cambodia. It is the country’s second-largest city after Phnom Penh. The provincial capital, Battambang, has long been a popular tourist destination, known for its temples, French colonial architecture, and Buddhist shrines. We begin with a ride on the famous “Bamboo Train,” a unique raft-like vehicle made of bamboo that locals use to transport goods. After this interesting and unforgettable bamboo train ride, we walk to Banon Mountain, where we visit a beautiful ancient temple. On the way back, we make a short stop at a vineyard. We then continue by bus to the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh.

Overnight stay in Phnom Penh.

Day 12> Phnom Penh - Ta Tai River (F)

Breakfast at the hotel.

We’ll be picked up from the resort at 8 a.m. and take a 25-minute boat ride to Ta Tai. From there, a car will take us to the trekking trail. A local guide will accompany us on this full-day trek on Cardamom Mountain. We’ll return to the resort in the late afternoon.

Cardamom Mountain is one of the largest jungle areas in Southeast Asia. A remarkable number of wild plant and animal species that are critically endangered or even threatened with extinction elsewhere in the world are well preserved here. An important natural resource in this region is a more than 4 million-hectare area of cardamom plants that has not yet been thoroughly explored.

Overnight stay in Ta Tai.

Day 13> Trekking from Ta Tai River to Cardamom Mountain (F)

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning, we’ll take a tuk-tuk tour through Phnom Penh, once considered the most beautiful city in Indochina, to visit Phnom Penh’s most important sights. These include the Independence Monument, the legendary temple of Wat Phnom, the Royal Palace built in 1866 during the reign of King Norodom, and the Silver Pagoda, formerly known as Wat Uborsoth Rotannaram.

In the afternoon, we drive along National Highway 48 to the Ta Tai River. Our boat guide will be waiting for us beneath the Ta Tai Bridge. This is followed by a 25-minute boat ride to our resort.

Overnight stay in Ta Tai.

Day 14> Ta Tai River – Ta Tai Waterfall - Sihanoukville (F, M)

Breakfast at the resort.

The excursion to Tatai Waterfall begins around 10:00 a.m., including a picnic with barbecue, soft drinks, and mineral water. Kayaks are also available today. The boat ride takes approximately 45 minutes.

As you cruise down the Ta Tai River, you’ll be captivated by the scenic beauty. Keep your cameras ready to capture exotic birds and hidden wildlife. Shortly afterward, you’ll disembark the boat and walk to the stunning Ta Tai Waterfall. Here, you can swim, kayak, or take another walk.

Afterwards, you will drive for approximately 2 hours to Sihanoukville.

Preah Sihanuk (Sihanoukville) is Cambodia’s most famous port city. It offers visitors white sandy beaches, pristine tropical islands, and a pleasant nightlife.

Overnight stay in Sihanoukville.

Day 15> Sihanoukville (F)

Breakfast at the hotel

The whole day is at your leisure.

Overnight stay in Sihanoukville.

Day 16> Sihanoukville (F)

Breakfast at the hotel

The whole day is at your leisure.

Overnight stay in Sihanoukville.

Day 17> Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh - Saigon (F)

Breakfast at the hotel

You will be picked up from the hotel lobby and then transferred to Phnom Penh International Airport for your flight to Saigon (driver only, no tour guide).

In Saigon, you will be picked up by your driver and taken to your hotel (driver only, no tour guide)

Overnight stay in Saigon.

Hotel list

Location	Hotel	Ratings
Hanoi	Thien Thai Hotel	4⭐
Halong Bay	Victory Cruise	4⭐
Saigon	Vien Dong Hotel Saigon	4⭐
Siem Reap	Kou Prey Hotel	3⭐
Prektoal	Host family (simple)	3.5⭐
Battambang	Classy Hotel	3.5⭐
Sihanoukville	Mangrove River Resort	4⭐
Phnom Penh	Phnom Penh 51 Hotel	4⭐
Ta Tai River	Ta Tai Eco Resort	3.5⭐

GOFINDVIETNAM