Highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia Tour 24 days

Today we visit Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha.

Then we continue to explore the Toul Sleng Prison Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek-both grim reminders of Cambodia's bloody past under Pol Pot. It is almost inconceivable to confront the nature of true evil here in this gentle land, but the Buddhist memorial at Choeung Ek, commemorates the 1.7 million victims of the 1975-79 Pol Pot regime. This excursion may prove distressing for some. It is, however, an important piece of this country’s historical and cultural puzzle. We will also visit Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh's namesake, from where you can enjoy views over the tree-lined avenues of Phnom Penh during sunset. 

Breakfast at hotel and transfer to airport for your flight to Siem Reap. Pick up from airport and transfer to hotel for check in.

Start your sightseeing tour of Angkor area we spend a full day exploring the wondrous ancient ruins with the South Gate of Angkor Thom, which is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone, the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and the largest as well as the most complete temple of Angkor Wat. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares. We stroll around this massive edifice, seeing the many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple and the jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm is an incredible sight. There are enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers which embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of man's creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature. 

We explore this masterpiece as well as some of the surrounding temples including Banteay Kdei, Sra Srong, Ta Keo, Thommanon and Chau Say Tevado. 

Transfer to airport for your departure flight. 

Upon your arrival, our tour guide will pick you up and help you transfer to your hotel in Hanoi.

This morning city tour will have you drive to Ho Chi Minh's complex, including the mausoleum of the nation's founder and leader. Here, large crowds gather to pay their respects to the man they simply call “Uncle Ho” as they silently file past his glass sarcophagus. The Presidential Palace and Uncle Ho's wooden stilt house can also be seen here. One of must-see places in the complex is the One Pillar pagoda dating back to the 11th century.

The next stop is the Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam's oldest university and dedicated to one of the world's most famous scholars, Confucius. Inside the temple grounds, huge steles rest on the backs of even larger stone turtles (in Vietnam's culture, the turtle represents longevity). The stele recorded the names of the successful candidates who later became mandarins in the Emperor's court. From here you will visit the peaceful West Lake (with lovers street Thanh Nien), the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple 

Please note that the HCM Mausoleum is closed on Fridays and Mondays and most museums are closed on Mondays.

On this morning city tour, you will take a 20 minute drive from your hotel to the very impressive Museum of Ethnology, among the finest of Vietnam's museums. You will see many exhibits, photographs and actual houses inhabited by some of the 54 ethnic people in Vietnam. It will offer a truly colorful introduction to these ethnic tribes.

From here, you will enjoy a one hour"xich lo" tour of Hanoi's vibrant Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake, the focal point of the city. Lastly, in the late afternoon, you will be enchanted by the legends and stories told at the Thang Long Water Puppet Show that no one should miss while visiting Hanoi. We will have a short walking to visit “Nha Tho Lon” (St. Joseph’s Cathedral) to see the architectural style of this place which is described as resembling Notre Dame de Paris.

After lunch, you can have a free afternoon to explore the city by yourself. 

Today you leave Hanoi for Halong Bay (a World Natural Heritage site) via the Red River Delta. Upon arrival, you will set out on a junk cruise on the bay while lunch is served. You will pass through the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons' teeth.

After lunch, you will take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay, swimming on a quiet beach or sunbathing on the sundeck. In the late afternoon, you will visit an interesting fishing village with an opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. At sunset, you can kayak or simply take a bamboo row boat to discover a water tunnel with many coral reefs in a scenic lagoon. Back on board, you can enjoy watching the peaceful sunset and later unwind at a restaurant. You will stay overnight onboard.

You'll wake up on the bay to the sounds of waves and birds welcoming the new day. You will have an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay and after breakfast, visit a beautiful limestone grotto. You will have a walk back to the boat for a final glimpse of Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock. Then you will drive back to Hanoi for your short flight to Hue.

 Upon your arrival, our tour guide will pick you up and transfer to your hotel for check-in. Overnight in Hue.

At 8:30 a.m., you will be greeted at the hotel by a driver and guide. You will go for a boat ride on the romantic Perfume River heading out for the countryside. Being the ancient capital, Hue is surrounded with ancient tombs of emperors past, and a visit to the most beautiful tombs will be on the itinerary for today.

The charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) will be the first stop of the day. You will enjoy a great view on the Perfume River and surrounding area. Thien Mu Pagoda is considered the symbol of Hue, and of Buddhism in Vietnam. From here you rejoin your car and go visit King Minh Mang's Tomb and King Tu Duc's Tomb. You will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to visit Hue Imperial Citadel and Dong Ba Market.

We'll continue south, going by road toward the riverside town of Hoi An. Our five-hour route, hugging the coastline along the South China Sea, serves up breathtaking views that grow even more spectacular as we wind our way up Hai Van Pass (Pass of the Clouds).  We'll continue on heading to Hoi An.

Upon your arrival, our tour guide will help you with the check-in. Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.

From the 16th to 18th century, Hoi An was a thriving international commercial port for Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab traders. These people came primarily to trade in the high grade silk, which is still produced in the area, as well as ceramics.

Today, Hoi An is a quaint riverside town, popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, tailors shops, and numerous cafes. Some of the buildings in the narrow streets have remained unchanged for more than a century.

You will enjoy a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter , visiting Chua Ong Pagoda , the Chinese Assembly Halls , the 200 year old Tam Ky Ancestral House, and the Japanese Bridge .

You will have a free afternoon to discover the city on your own by foot or on bicycle. Hoi An is not only famous for its ambiance as it is for its tailors. Here tourists can get any manner of clothing made in 24 hours for a fraction of a price that it would cost back home. For those interested in tailoring, we can arrange a visit to one of the best tailors in the city to design your own outfits, bags, and shoes.  

Breakfast at your hotel. Free time until your transfer to the airport for your flight to Nha Trang

Upon your arrival, our tour guide will pick you up and help you transfer to your resort. 

Rest of the day is at leisure.

Today is your day at leisure to enjoy the beach, sun and relax.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to VinPearl Nha Trang Golf Club. You can enjoy the one 18-hole round of golf.

End of the day, transfer back to your resort.

After leaving Nha Trang, you will drive to Cam Ranh Airport for a short fly to Ho Chi Minh City aka Saigon, where you will transfer directly to your centrally located hotel. (Private van and driver only)

 Upon your arrival, you will be picked up and transfer to your hotel in 

This personalised private tour is one of the best ways to explore and to discover what Saigon has to offer to visitors. Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is the largest and busiest city in Vietnam with a population of 7 million people. Much of the daily life takes place on the streets, which are lined with shops, stalls and vendors with their wares spread out on the footpath. Don't miss the bustling Ben Thanh Market - a fantastic place for bargains of every kind! There are several interesting sights in Saigon . The War Remnants Museum has a wealth of images from the wars, the most moving being a gallery entitled 'Requiem' which is dedicated to Vietnamese and foreign journalists and photographers who perished during the French and American conflicts.

The Reunification Palace was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until April 30, 1975 when the North Vietnamese tanks came crashing through the front gates, bringing the U.S.-Vietnam War to a dramatic end. Close to the Palace some of the best examples of French colonial architecture are represented in the forms of Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. Notre Dame Cathedral was built between 1877 and 1883, and the stones used to create it were exported in its entirety from France. Next to the cathedral stands the Central Post Office, finished in 1891. It is another fine example of French architecture and is Vietnam's largest post office. For all of its French colonial history, Ho Chi Minh City is by far Vietnam's most modern city. It has numerous shopping malls, cinemas, discotheques and a bewildering number of bars.

Starting the day, we have an excursion to the famous Cu Chi tunnels. At its height, the tunnel system stretched over 250 kilometers, from Saigon to the Cambodian border, and was three levels deep. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens.

Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life during the U.S.-Vietnam War must have been like. You will stay overnight in HCMC. For those interested there's even the opportunity to try an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range.

After lunch, you will have an afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Ben Tre is the best option for a day trip to the Mekong Delta from Saigon, since it is only around 2 hours away, and 15 minutes from My Tho. However, this wonderful destination retains an authenticity which has been somewhat lessened in nearby My Tho.

This picturesque and friendly Mekong Delta town has historically seen very few travelers, but the recent opening of a bridge connecting Ben Tre and My Tho has made it far easier for day trippers to visit from Saigon.

Our one day cruise excursion starts at 8:00 am from the lobby of your hotel in Saigon with a drive to Ben Tre. While there, you can take a walk along the waterfront, lined with French era shops and houses, and you'll see plenty of coconuts being unloaded from boats for dispatch around the country. Then, jump on a boat for a couple of hours of cruising on the Mekong River. You will enjoy your delicious lunch at a local restaurant or on board. The excursion will end at around 4:00pm where the vehicle will await you for your transfer back to Saigon.

Breakfast at your hotel. Free time until your transfer to the airport for your short flight to Phu Quoc.

 Upon your arrival, the driver will pick you up and transfer you to your resort. Day at leisure.

Day at leisure

Day at leisure

Day at leisure

There is no activity planned for today, so you can enjoy your free time souvenir shopping until transfer to the airport for your onward flight