Cambodia Vietnam Tour 7 days: Mekong & Cambodian Heritage

Upon arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport, meet and transfer by the local guide to the hotel for check-in (Early check-in is NOT included and is subject to the hotel’s availability). Phnom Penh is the capital and most populous city in Cambodia. Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonization of Cambodia and has grown to become the nation's economic, industrial, and cultural center. Set out on a tour to visit the National Museum which houses Khmer art and sculptures from different periods of Cambodian history. Continue to visit the Central Market and end the trip with a visit to the Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh’s namesake, from where you can enjoy views over the tree-lined avenues of Phnom Penh. Enjoy the boat ride along the Mekong River to view the sunset and a welcome dinner at the local restaurant on the riverbank.

Meals included: Welcome dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh

After breakfast at the hotel, visits Toul Sleng, which was a high school prior to 1975, an interrogation prison known as S-21 during the Khmer Rouge era, and today it is a genocide museum. It tells the sad story of the thousands of innocent Cambodian people who were tortured on its grounds. Walking through the narrow corridors and former classrooms of the buildings will give you an eerie feeling of being part of Cambodia’s turbulent past. The stories of the victims are documented and some torture devices are on display for visitors to learn about the suffering the people endured. Photographs were taken of each prisoner passing through the prison and hundreds of the haunting black and white photos are now on display in the museum. While this experience may be depressing, it is recommended to visit in order to truly understand the cruel methods of control the Khmer Rouge implemented over the country.  Continue to visit the Cheung Ek Killing Field, the peaceful stretch of green fields of Cheung Ek may not indicate what kinds of horrors have taken place there. Situated 17km from Phnom Penh town, Cheung Ek was made famous by the movie “The Killing Fields”. Nowadays, a large memorial has been built to commemorate the 17,000 victims who died here under the reign of Khmer Rouge leader, Pol Pot. The remnants inside the memorial and the mass graves that dot the area remind you of the suffering of the victims. This journey into Cambodia’s past will provide you with a background on the cruelty of the Khmer Rouge regime. It will also give you an appreciation of the struggle that Cambodian people have faced and their tremendous courage to move on and rebuild their nation. Visit the Russian Market. Lunch is on your own, our guide will recommend one of the best local restaurants in town. Afternoon, visit The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda two of the most striking buildings in the capital and are considered some of the finest examples of Khmer architecture. They were initially constructed in 1866 by the French. The Royal Palace is home to the current King Sihamoni. The neighboring Silver Pagoda stands out in its own distinctive way. The floor consists of 5,329 solid silver tiles to which the building owes its name. The building houses many golds and jeweled Buddha statues including the highly prized 17th-century baccarat crystal Buddha. Other important buildings that can be found within the compound include Wat Preah Keo Morokat, where Royal ceremonies are performed, and stupas such as King Ang Doung Stupa – the burial site of former King Norodom.

Meals included: Breakfast  

Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh

Morning is free at your own leisure until noon time, our driver will meet you at hotel lobby and transfer to boat pier for boat trip on Mekong river downstream to Chau Doc.

Arrival in Chau Doc at the end of day.  Check in hotel. Time free.  Overnight in Chau Doc.

Meals included: Breakfast  

Accommodation: Hotel in Chau Doc

After breakfast at hotel, you will visit by boat to the Bang Lang stork sanctuary in Thot Not, which offers also the view of the local people’s vivid life on the water.

In the afternoon, visit Sam Mountain, Lady Xu Temple, Thoai Ngoc Hau Temple, floating fish farm and boat trip to Champa Village. After that, heading to Can Tho. Overnight stayed in Can Tho

Meals included: Breakfast  

Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho

Morning after breakfast transfer to little town of Cai Be. Where our boat trip start pass through floating market, viewing the people of Mekong Delta are doing business on the water.

Tourist will be on board at the tourist boat station in Cai Be and welcomed with cold towels, fresh coconut.

Boating and enjoying the fresh air on the Mekong river, the tourists visit the Cai Be floating market, the original style of commerce on the Mekong river

Visiting the local poprice, coconut candy workshop and knowing the ways bee-breeding tasting honey tea by breezy river.

Boating to visit the local fruit gardens and a way of horticulture and listening to the traditional music, is the best chance for relaxation. Taking about 20 minutes for rowing sampan with discovery feelings.

Crossing the Mekong river to An Binh island to see the daily life along the river.

Visiting the brick & pottery factory where the tourist know how to make the brick and the pottery from the local clay and styles with the traditional technique.

End the tour in Vinh Long. Afternoon transfer to Saigon, check in the hotel and the rest of day is on your own. Overnight in Saigon.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Morning we departure for the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground network constructed by Vietnamese soldiers in the American war. Nowadays, the tunnels have become a popular tourist attraction of Vietnam.

Return to HCM for lunch. Afternoon we will visit some major sights of the city. We pass the now-demolished wartime American Embassy before we visit the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975, and some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Saigon Post Office.

After seeing the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnant Museum, we continue our trip on to the bustling Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale! Overnight at the hotel in Saigon

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Morning free until time to transfer to airport for flight back home.

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation: None