Cambodia and Vietnam Diaries

On arrival, the Vietnam and Cambodia tour guide and driver will welcome you at the Noi Bai International Airport and drive you to the hotel and you check into the hotel.

Later, you proceed on a Hanoi city tour. As part of this, you visit the Temple of Literature and continue to the Ba Dinh Square - the biggest Square in Hanoi, you make a photo stop at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Later, get an overall view of the capital by going on a “cyclo” visit. A cyclo ride in Hanoi is not to be missed. It will start around the Old Quarter of Hanoi, and you will stop at Ngoc Son Temple located on the Hoan Kiem Lake (the “Sword” Lake).

You stay overnight in a hotel in Hanoi.

After a leisurely and sumptuous breakfast on your holiday in Vietnam, you check out from the hotel. You head East by a shuttle bus to Halong Bay. Upon arrival in Halong Bay, you will go on a cruise around the Bay to discover the magnificent beauty of this “Descending-dragon” bay, created by thousands of odd-shaped limestone rocks and karst grottoes. After lunch on board, visit the Surprising Grotto, stop for a round of swimming or kayaking, passing floating villages and approach islets and savor and enjoy their beauty at close distance. Later, transfer to the boat for dinner and attend activities organized on the boat.

You stay overnight on the boat docked near the Titop Beach.

After breakfast, you go on a boat ride to Luon Cave situated on Bo Hon Island. The ring-shaped cave is only accessible by a small boat or kayak. The changing tides impact the height of the caves. While here, enjoy the beautiful fresh air and quietness of this absolutely tranquil landscape and emerald green water. For this, you arrive at the Halong Bay wharf around 1100 hrs. After your Hanoi travel, you return to Hanoi and transfer to the airport to take a flight to your next destination, Saigon.

On arrival in Saigon, an airport transfer takes you to the hotel. You check in to the hotel and spend the rest of the day in leisure. You stay overnight in a hotel in Saigon.

After breakfast, you proceed on a drive to My Tho, the homeland of rice and coconut factories that make local products like coconut candy, and rice paper. Upon arrival, you embark on a boat cruising down the largest River in South East Asia, the mighty Mekong River and learn a lot about the local life and culture and learn about how people live by the riverside.

Later, we will make your Vietnam trip special with a horse-cart trip through the tranquil roads in the village. Enjoy a light lunch at a local restaurant by the Mekong River. In the afternoon, you drive back to Saigon. Enroute visit the Vinh Trang pagoda. It is known for its art and architecture which is a good mix of Chinese, Cambodian, and French cultures.

You return to the hotel and stay overnight in Saigon.

After breakfast, you visit the architectural marvel built underground, the Cu Chi Tunnels. Cu Chi Tunnels is a popular spot for both Vietnamese and foreign tourists - it is a network of over 200km of tunnels which has become legendary because of the role it played during the Vietnam War. During the war, the tunnels were functioning as underground cities. It had trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers, and kitchens.

You return to Saigon and drop off at the hotel. In the afternoon, you are free to do things on your own and you can go to Vietnam sightseeing or shop in the downtown area.

You stay overnight in the hotel in Saigon.

After breakfast, transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for a midday flight to Siem Reap, the final leg of your Vietnam and Cambodia tour. Upon arrival, you are welcomed by the tour guide in Siem Reap. You transfer to the hotel and check in to the hotel. Later, you proceed on a visit to West Baray Big Pond. A “baray” is a water reservoir built many centuries ago by the ancient Khmer people. You also visit Wat Thmei (Killing Fields), a unique glass-walled stupa containing bones of victims of the Khmer Rouge war. Your next stop is Wat Bo founded in the 18th century, a highly respected pagoda containing unique wall paintings of the Reamker (Ramayana) that are said to be late 19th century.

You stay overnight in the hotel in Siem Reap.

After breakfast at the hotel, you set out to visit Cambodia, starting with exploring the South Gate of Angkor Thom which is regarded as Big Angkor. Angkor Thom served as the last capital of the Khmer Empire and it is spread over 10km. The Bayon Temple which was the State temple of King Jayavarman VII is situated in the heart, in the center. In the center, the monuments include the Bayon temple, the Royal Enclosure, the Baphuon - the tower of bronze, the Phimeanakas - a temple mountain and the Terrace of Elephants.

In the afternoon, you visit the world-famous UNESCO nominated Cambodia World Heritage Site, Angkor Wat Temple, situated just south of Angkor Thom. It is one of the largest religious complexes in the world. The temple flanked by 5 towers is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, it is filled with carvings of apsaras or fairies and you can find over 3,000 apsara carvings here.

In the evening, visit Angkor night market and you stay overnight in the hotel in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, a tour of the Small Circuit is arranged. This includes a visit Ta Prohm temple which is a neat blend of intellect and natural beauty, dedicated to Lord Shiva and Vishnu.

In the afternoon, the highlights of the Grand Circuit tour include a visit to Preah Khan temple - meaning The Sacred Sword, a visit to the Neak Pean temple which highlights and showcases the delicate intricacies of the Khmer art. Lastly, you visit the Pre Rup temple which was built in the 10th century and while here you can get a view of the lovely sunset. You stay overnight in a hotel in Siem Reap.