18 night tour of Vietnam and Cambodia
It covers a total area of over 740,000 square kilometres stretching south from the Chinese border as far west as the Thai and Burmese borders.
This is a superb tour which visits Vietnam, Cambodia & Hong Kong, spending 18 nights in total (9 in Vietnam, 6 in Cambodia, 1 in Hong Kong).
Vietnam and Cambodia have incredibly varied and beautiful landscapes. Their climates vary from the relative cold of Hanoi in the north to the tropical climate of Saigon and Phnom Penh in the southern reaches of the peninsula.
Each country has its own highlights from the amazing temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia to the UNESCO heritage sites of Hoi An in Vietnam.
The great link between them all is the huge snaking Mekong river which provides some awe inspiring river cruising options, particularly between My Tho in Vietnam and Tonle Sap lake, a few hours drive from Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
There is much to see in Cambodia: the Royal Palace at Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital city, is home to the Cambodian royal family and a symbol of the nation. The Silver Pagoda is named after the 5,000 silver tiles covering the floor, each weighing 1kg.
Ta Phrom is a former complex in Cambodia which has been abandoned to the elements: a reminder that while empires rise and fall, the riotous power of nature marches on, oblivious to the dramas of human history.
TOUR DETAILS
- 18 nights
- £POA
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- The Reunification Palace in Vietnam
- Cu Chi Tunnels in Vietnam
- A cruise along the Mekong Delta River
- Hoi An’s vibrant markets and food stalls
- Angkor temples in Cambodia
ITINERARY IN BRIEF
- Hoi An x 4 nights (Vietnam)
- Ho Chi Minh City x 2 nights (Vietnam)
- Mekong Delta River cruise x 2 nights (Vietnam)
- Chau Doc x 1 night (Vietnam)
- Phnom Penh x 2 nights (Cambodia)
- Siem Reap x 4 nights (Cambodia)
- Hong Kong x 1 night
day one
Depart UK
Depart UK and fly to Ho Chi Minh international airport.day TWO
Arrive Ho Chi Minh and fly to Danang for Hoi An
Arrive in Danang and transfer to your hotel in Hoi An.day THREE
At leisure in Hoi An (Vietnam)
We suggest renting bicycles and exploring the surrounding countryside or take a boat trip on the Tu Bon River.day FOUR
At leisure in Hoi An (Vietnam)
We suggest taking a walking tour of the Old Town where you can visit an ancient house, Chinese Assembly Hall, the Japanese Covered Bridge and a museum.day FiVE
At leisure in Hoi An (Vietnam)
We suggest visiting the floating markets and sampling fresh produce.day SIX
Fly to Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
On arrival, visit the amazing Cu Chi Tunnels where Vietnamese guerillas built a labyrinth of narrow tunnels as hideouts during the war. Return to HCMC via the crash site of the C-5 aircraft participating in Operation Babylift.day SEVEN
Explore Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
Guided tour of the Reunification Palace (formerly South Vietnam’s Presidential Palace), War Remnants Museum, the French-built Notre Dame Cathedral and the Gustav Eiffel-designed Central Post Office.day EIGHT
Mekong Delta River cruise (Vietnam)
Leave HCMH and embark on the river boat at Cai Be. Cruise along one of the world’s most famous waterways in a region known as the ‘bread basket’ of Asia. Lunch onboard. Disembark in the afternoon for a stroll through a village and surrounding fruit fields. Dinner onboard.day NINE
Mekong Delta River cruise (Vietnam)
Visit Cai Rang floating market, the region’s busiest. Visit some local sweet and cake-making factories and sail past boat-building yards. Disembark to visit local villages or cycle along the river. After lunch onboard, visit Sa Dec and help the chef select fresh produce for dinner then cook it under tuition during an onboard cookery course. Dinner onboard.day TEN
Disembark cruise at Chau Doc (Vietnam)
Disembark the cruise mid-morning and transfer to the Cambodian border and town of Chau Doc. Afternoon at leisure.day ELEVEN
Enter Cambodia / Phnom Penh (Cambodia)
Enter Cambodia by speedboat with visa formalities taking place along the side of the river and enter Phnom Penh. Transfer to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day visiting the stunning Royal Palace complex, home to the Cambodian royal family.
Continue to the Silver Pagoda, named after the 5,000 silver tiles covering the floor, each weighing 1kg. Inside are some of the country’s most cherished treasures, including a life-sized gold Buddha studded with 9,584 diamonds, the largest of which weighs 25 carats. Continue to the National Museum, home to the world’s finest collection of sculpture from the Angkor period.
day TWELVE
Phnom Penh tour (Cambodia)
Spend the morning visting Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek and learn about the atrocities committed during the Vietnam War. Alternatively, visit a wildlife sanctuary for a hands-on experience. In the afternoon begin a tour of Phnom Pen which starts with the city’s first pagoda, Wat Phnom, and continues to tell the story of the city through the years.
Explore Post Office square, including the gorgeous French colonial-era buildings that have been restored. Visit the striking national library and the classic Raffles Hotel. End the tour with a view over the city from one of its highest points and take a bird’s-eye look at the renovated art deco-style Central Market, finishing off with a fresh fruit juice or iced coffee.
day THIRTEEN
Fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia)
Transfer to your hotel to freshen up then visit the brick temple of Lolei and then Preah Ko temple. Afterwards visit Bakong, the earliest of the temple mountains, then the Banteay Srei temple, considered to be the jewel of classical Khmer art because of its small size, then Pre Rup temple.day FOURTEEN
Beng Mealea (Cambodia)
Visit the lost temple of Beng Mealea, the most accessible of Angkor’s lost temples and a mirror image of Angkor Wat yet totally consumed by trees. Next head into the bush to the remote Angkor capital of Koh Ker followed by Prasat Thom.day FIFTEEN
Ta Phrom (Cambodia)
Rise early to travel to Ta Phrom in the dawn light to see how nature has reclaimed man’s endeavours. Continue to Sala Kdei for breakfast then on to Banteay Srei, Angkor’s ultimate art gallery ending with a rare visit to one of the last remaining fully integrated silk producers in the world.day SIXTEEN
Temples of Angkor (Cambodia)
Take an early journey to Angkor Wat, built in the 12th century and believed to be the world’s largest religious building. Take a guided tour inside to the inner sanctuary then to the very top of the building. In the afternoon visit the immense walled city of Angkor Thom whose scale is simply staggering.day SEVENTEEN
Fly to Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
Leave Siem Reap today and fly to Hong Kong. Arrive Hong Kong and transfer to your hotel. The rest of your day is at leisure in Hong Kong.day EIGHTEEN
Fly home to UK
Your day is at leisure before you transfer to Hong Kong airport this evening for your onward flight home to the UK.
Download our Indochina: Explore Vietnam & Cambodia itinerary here.
Itinerary
Flight information
Direct flights from the UK to Ho Chi Minh city in approximately 14 hours