Trekking Tour in Vietnam Cambodia 23 days

This full day tour takes you around Hanoi's most interesting sights, including the Ho Chi Minh Complex: Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and his Stilts House, the Presidential Palace and the One Pillar Pagoda and, nearby, the Old Quarteralso known as the 36 streets and guilds where you will enjoy a one-hour "xich lo" ride. Also on the tour, the Lake of the Restored Sword and Ngoc Son Temple, the Temple of Literature, peaceful West Lake (with lovers street Thanh Nien), the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple and one of the city's museums, the Ethnology Museum.

In the evening, you will enjoy a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show.

You drive to Pu Luong Nature Reserve by road via a breathtaking mountain pass giving you a panoramic view of the whole valley. You arrive at your accommodation in time for a delicious lunch, followed by free time to explore the beautiful retreat, with its captivating panoramic views and tranquil setting.

Then, you will be transferred to a suspension bridge over the Cham River, where you begin your walk in search of stunning water wheels. Get up close to each wheel and discover how water is moved from the river to handmade bamboo aqueducts via simple constructions of all sizes. Arriving at a local fisherman’s house, you have a short rest to gear up for the rafting adventure with Dinh and his team.

Float along the calm river and enjoy the views, in between learning how to paddle and steer your handcrafted rafts. Arriving at scenic Tan Lap bridge, you disembark to be transferred back to Pu Luong Retreat for dinner. Overnight in Pu Luong Retreat.

AM: Start early to descend into the beautiful valley facing the Retreat where you walk around tumbling rice terraces. Trek through small paths shrouded in vegetation to slowly reveal a picturesque village sitting at the base of a towering mountain. Your camera will not be able to sit still! Continuing to the base of the valley, you weave between roads and farmland, villages and wild fields, ponds and rivers, mountains and open land. Savor the ever-changing scenery as you trek to a beautiful spot to enjoy a simple picnic lunch.

PM: After enjoying delicious food, you have free time to explore the refreshing water to the nearby river, before moving to our pick up point to be transferred back to the Retreat

After breakfast at Pu Luong Retreat, you will leave Pu Luong for Ninh Binh tocontinue on your journey to visit the ancient capital of Hoa Lu – the capital of Vietnam in the 10th century, admire the architecture of the two templesdedicated to the kings of the Dinh and Le dynasties.

Then, hop aboard a sampan boat to explore Tam Coc grottoes (Halong Bay on land), enjoy the spectacular scenery whilst gliding along the river amongst rice paddies and ranges of the limestone mountains that tower above (2 hrs). Overnight in Ninh Binh.

You will leave Ninh Binh 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 Da Nang.

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

Overnight in Hoi An.
 

All of your day is free at leisure 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. 

Free time until your transfer to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon your arrival, our tour guide will pick you up at the airport and transfer to your hotel.
 
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
 

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.

In the afternoon, we will see 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 HCMC. 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 stone used to create it was 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 its French colonial history though, Ho Chi Minh City is by far and away Vietnam 's most modern city. It has numerous shopping malls, cinemas, discotheques and a bewildering number of bars.
 

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. (with driver only)

Upon your arrival, the driver will pick you up and transfer you to your resort. 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 to Ho Chi Minh to continue your trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia.
 
Upon your arrival, our tour guide will welcome you at the airport and help you transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Siem Reap.
 

Breakfast at hotel: 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.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Breakfast at hotel, Heading out of town we make our way by traveling on a newly paved road to the intricately carved and well preserved temple of Banteay Srei.

Along the way we make stopover at the Preah Dark village and we follow these with a 1visit the Banteay Samre Temple adorned with impressive relief’s depicting scenes of Vishunu as well as Krishna legends. We spend the rest of day visiting the "Chantiers Ecoles - Les Artisans d'Angkor" which provides training to young Cambodians in an effort to revive the ancient Khmer traditions of stone carving and wood sculpting.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Transfer to Phnom Penh by private car with tour guide. Check in at hotel and the same afternoon, visit the 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. We also visit Phnom Penh’s Psar Toul Tom Pong, known as the Russian Market, a great place to hunt for souvenirs, curios, and silks.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Breakfast at hotel. This morning we visit Independence Monument. We continue visit 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. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Breakfast at hotel and transfer by private car to Sihanouk Ville pier to join boat to Koh Rong. Check in at hotel and overnight at hotel.

Breakfast at hotel and free at your own leisure. Overnight at hotel

Breakfast at hotel and return by boat to Sihanouk Ville then continue by private car to Phnom Penh. Check in and overnight at hotel

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.