Highlights of Vietnam & Cambodia 12 days

Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam’s bustling former colonial capital. Your driver and guide will meet you outside the baggage claim area at Noi Bai International Airport and transfer you to your hotel in the city center.

In the afternoon, enjoy a cyclo ride through the narrow streets of the Old Quarter, lined with French colonial buildings. Afterwards, experience a traditional water puppet performance, a unique Vietnamese art form rooted in the country’s wet-rice culture.

In the evening, savor a welcome dinner at one of Hanoi’s finest restaurants.

Meals: D

Accommodation: Hotels in Hanoi.

Today, enjoy a full day exploring Vietnam’s charming capital. With its wide, tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes, and ancient Oriental pagodas, Hanoi offers an eclectic blend of cultural influences and attractions to suit every visitor.

Your city tour will take you to Hanoi’s key landmarks, including the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and stilt house), the Presidential Palace, and the nearby One Pillar Pagoda; the Temple of Literature; West Lake, including the tranquil Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple; and one of the city’s museums, with a choice between the Vietnam National Museum of History and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotels in Hanoi.

Your guide and driver will meet you in the lobby of your hotel before setting out on a 3- to 4-hour drive to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Spend 24 hours aboard a traditional junk cruise in this amazing bay, a natural wonderland of towering limestone islands and sparkling turquoise waters. Arrive at the dock around noon and board your cruise. Enjoy a gourmet lunch featuring fresh seafood onboard as you sail into the mystical bay.

In the afternoon, cruise among some of Ha Long Bay’s many islands, including Dinh Huong and Ga Choi. Along the way, visit one of the bay’s three largest caves: Thien Cung, Dau Go, or Sung Sot. Stop at an island cove with a sheltered white-sand beach and take a dip in the warm waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, weather permitting. Spend the night aboard your junk, lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of the calm waters.

Note: The itinerary below is subject to change without prior notice and depends on weather conditions. It is a sample itinerary for our standard three-star junk cruise service. Different programs are available through our luxury cruise options aboard the Violet, Jasmine, Ginger, or Paradise. Please contact us for more details.

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: Halong Cruise

Wake up early to participate in a Tai Chi session on the top deck, or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands. Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea before setting out to explore the nearby islands by rowboat.

Return to the junk for brunch, then take advantage of the sundeck and admire the spectacular rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay as you cruise back to Ha Long City. Your driver will meet you at the dock and transfer you to Noi Bai International Airport for your short flight to Hue, Vietnam’s former royal capital. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in the city.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Hue.

Start your day with a visit to the Imperial Citadel, a vast complex built in the early 19th century. Enclosed by a six-mile wall and a surrounding moat, it was modeled after the Forbidden City in Beijing. Explore the spacious courtyards and visit Dien Tho Palace, Thai Hoa Palace, the Hall of Mandarins, and the original Nine Dynastic Urns.

Continue into the countryside to visit the Tomb of Tu Duc. The longest-reigning Vietnamese emperor, Tu Duc designed and built this elegant tomb during his lifetime as a retreat for meditation, reading, and theater performances.

Depart Hue for a scenic drive through the mountains to Hoi An. Stop at the fishing village of Lang Co for a drink, then continue to the dramatic Hai Van Pass, which marks a natural divide between the climatic regions of northern and southern Vietnam. Admire the spectacular views along the way.

Upon arrival in Hoi An, check in to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian.

Enjoy some time to relax as you immerse yourself in the tranquility and charm of this peaceful riverside town. From the 16th to the 18th centuries, Hoi An was a thriving international port frequented by Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese, and Arab traders who came to trade in the high-quality silk still produced in the region.

Today, Hoi An is a popular tourist destination known for its eclectic architecture, skilled tailors, and numerous cafés. Enjoy a half-day walking tour through the narrow, winding streets of the ancient town, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year-old Tan Ky ancestral house, and the famous Japanese Bridge.

In the afternoon, enjoy free time to shop, explore the town, or relax on Cua Dai Beach.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian.

After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Da Nang Airport for your flight to Saigon, Vietnam’s modern metropolis. Upon arrival in the late morning, enjoy an introductory drive through Ho Chi Minh City’s bustling streets en route to your hotel.

Have lunch at a downtown restaurant of your choice, then set out on a guided city tour. Amid the hustle and bustle of this vibrant metropolis, discover centuries of tradition and the enduring beauty of Vietnamese culture.

Visit the War Remnants Museum to learn about Vietnam’s recent history, followed by Reunification Palace. Continue to the nearby neo-Romanesque Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office before passing by the ornate Opera House and City Hall. Finally, visit Ben Thanh Market, where vendors display a wide array of goods and handicrafts to suit every taste.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.

Today, escape the hustle and bustle of Saigon and travel to Ben Tre Province. En route, visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, an ancient architectural gem in southern Vietnam, located in Tien Giang Province.

Upon arrival at Hung Vuong Pier, board your private boat and enjoy a glimpse of the Mekong Delta’s scenic waterways while sipping fresh coconut juice. Experience the unique lifestyle of the Mekong Delta as you visit fruit orchards, coconut groves, brick workshops, and local producers of homemade specialties such as coconut candy, rice cakes, and handicrafts.

After a short walk, visit a local family to learn how they make sedge mats, while enjoying tea and tropical fruits. Then, take a ride on a xe loi, a type of motorized rickshaw, or hop on a bicycle and pedal through picturesque villages for about 20 minutes.

Stop at a riverside restaurant for a delicious and satisfying lunch. Afterwards, board a sampan for a relaxing ride along narrow canals. Your boat will be waiting at a nearby pier to take you back to Ben Tre, where your driver will transfer you back to Saigon.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.

Enjoy free time until your transfer to the airport for your flight to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital. Once known as the “Pearl of Southeast Asia” and one of the most beautiful cities in the Orient, Phnom Penh retains an undeniable charm despite its turbulent recent history. Its wide, tree-lined boulevards and faded colonial mansions reflect the city’s rich past.

Enjoy a leisurely city tour, visiting the National Museum and the Royal Palace, home to Cambodia’s royal family. Continue to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, important sites for understanding Cambodia’s tragic history.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh.

After breakfast, fly to Siem Reap, the main gateway to the Angkor Archaeological Park. Upon arrival, meet your driver and begin your tour with a visit to the Angkor National Museum for an introduction to the region’s history. The modern museum showcases artifacts from the Khmer Empire’s golden age, using multimedia technology to bring this fascinating historical period to life.

In the afternoon, head to Happy Ranch Horse Farm, located about 10 minutes outside the city center, and enjoy a trail ride through Siem Reap’s peaceful countryside.

Alternative travel option: You can also choose to travel by speedboat from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. The best time for this river journey is from September to December.

Note: We do not recommend driving from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, as the journey takes approximately 6 to 7 hours and road conditions may be challenging.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap.

Spend a full day exploring the mystical and ancient temples of Angkor. After an early breakfast at the hotel, set out for the imposing South Gate of Angkor Thom, crowned with four serenely smiling faces of Avalokiteshvara. Continue to Bayon Temple, the Elephant Terrace, and the Terrace of the Leper King. Leave Angkor Thom through the North Gate and travel to Preah Khan (Sacred Sword), one of Angkor’s largest temples, built in the 12th century by Jayavarman VII.

After enjoying a traditional Khmer lunch, head to the mystical Ta Prohm Temple, embraced by the surrounding jungle, before continuing to the most famous Khmer temple, Angkor Wat. Originally constructed as a Hindu monument and later dedicated to Buddha, Angkor Wat is the largest temple in the Angkor complex and one of the finest examples of Angkorian art and architecture.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap.

Immerse yourself in the rich culture of Siem Reap with a boat tour on Tonle Sap Lake. After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a short walk through a peaceful Siem Reap neighborhood to learn about the local way of life. Then, drive to Tonle Sap Lake and board a local boat for a cruise through the floating villages.

Return to Siem Reap for lunch before driving to the airport for your departure flight.

Goodbye, and have a safe journey!

Meals: B

Accommodation: